Logan rolled his eyes and caught Rock with a soft, but swift punch to the arm. Gina scrambled behind him, readjusting her clothes to cover herself as she peered over Logan’s shoulder at his two band mates. Both men were full on laughing now as Logan’s face went bright red.
“So, you comin’ to sound check, dude? Or do you have something else you need to check first?” Dylan continued his snarky commentary as he leaned around Logan to wink at Gina.
“Shut the fuck up, man. I’m comin’. You jackasses are the ones who were late. You expect me to sit there like a dick and wait for your sorry asses?” Logan quickly followed them, leaving Gina standing there with an irritated look on her face.
“Oh no, you definitely found a way to keep yourself busy,” Rock chimed in, earning himself a second punch to the arm as the men headed back into the bar.
Logan was the last one to walk in and he glanced in Gina’s direction before entering, seeing her walking around the corner of the building. He gave her a sheepish smile and nodded his head in her direction, which seemed to perk up her scowling expression.
He felt a twinge of guilt for just dropping her like that, but he hadn’t known how else to react. His band-mates had never seen him with a woman before because of how busy his life was. He just didn’t have the time to devote to flirting or dating. Taking care of his family and playing gigs took center stage and groupies and all the drama that came with women just got in the way of that.
Why did I just let Gina sidetrack me like that? Logan wondered, scolding himself, as he turned away from her and followed his friends into the bar.
Dylan and Rock were already hollering across the bar to the stage where Charlie was setting up his keyboard. Like a bunch of teenage girls, they were eager to gossip and embarrass Logan with what they had just witnessed.
“...just going to fucking town, man!” Dylan was recanting to Charlie, who was smiling at the antics. “Didn’t even hear us come up behind him!”
“Hell, at least we know he still likes girls,” Rock joked, just as Logan caught up to them, and all three men burst out laughing at Logan. A few patrons looked their way, then went back to their drinks.
“Why don’t you fuckers just shut up?” Logan smacked Dylan in the back of his head and stalked over to his gear on the side of the stage and picked it up. “Stop busting my balls just ‘cause you’re jealous.”
All the men calmed down and began assembling their instruments and electrical equipment on stage, while still throwing in the occasional barb at one another.
Logan purposefully avoided any eye contact with Gina who was now sitting back at the bar, turned to look at them, with a martini in her hand. He did not need a distraction tonight, not when the record label scout would be here. All the players occasionally glanced around the bar during sound check, wondering if the scout was already there, no one knowing what he would look like. Tonight was the night.
This was his chance.
3
Haven’s first set was only eight songs and the bar was still only partially full since it was earlier in the evening. None of them knew when the scout would be coming, but they had figured it best to save their best songs for later on in the evening when the crowd was thick and cheering. McGinny’s patrons loved Logan and even though they had no official band name or logos, they were well known locally.
“Take five, guys,” Logan told his friends as he slipped the guitar strap over his head and placed the instrument gently onto the stand.
He loved his red electric guitar more than anything else he owned, the Fender Stratocaster went everywhere with him and he carefully cleaned and polished it regularly.
“More like ten, bro. I need a beer. Or three.” Dylan, always the loud mouth, slid his drumsticks into his back pocket and stalked off to the bar.
Rock was fast behind him, always eager to pound away a few drinks. Logan took a deep breath, releasing it slowly as he contemplated joining them.
“Relax, man. They still play just as good hammered. Hell, maybe even better.” Charlie slapped Logan on the back as he walked past him to go grab a drink himself. Logan knew he was right. Charlie was always the level headed one in the group. The guys were as nervous as he was about the scout and a drink or two would probably only benefit them.
“What’ll it be?” The female bartender leaned across the bar, purposefully showing off her cleavage to Logan.
Her eyes raked the length of his body, pausing a bit too long on his tight, black jeans. He felt a sudden confidence boost at the thought of this pretty blonde flirting with him, even though she was definitely not his type. She looked like she dunked her head in makeup every morning and her face was a different shade of color from the rest of her body. Not interested.
“Jack and coke.” Logan smiled back at her politely as she moved around gathering the ingredients, intentionally putting on a show for him. He pretended to notice which was easy since his mind was already running through the chords for the next song.
“Switching to hard liquor, baby?” Gina was suddenly beside him purring, her arms wrapped around his waist as she looked up at him, grinning mischievously.
He had completely forgotten about her until just then, having been so focused on the set. The bartender took one look at Gina hanging all over him and dropped the glass down on the bar with a hard thunk, sliding it to him. She tossed her hair over her shoulder and walked away.
“Oh, hey Gina,” he said awkwardly, pushing his arm down to detach her from him, while pretending he was just reaching for his drink. She visibly pouted and scooted around to stand in front of him.
“You mixed up some chords in the last song, you know,” she declared, the purr of sensuality no longer in her voice.
Her hand was on her hip and she cocked one eyebrow at him. Logan was taken aback, genuinely surprised that she had noticed that, let alone called him out on it. He tilted his head to the side to look at her, narrowing his eyes.
For the life of him, he could not figure this woman out. Something about her was so irritating and he couldn’t stand it, yet there was also something sultry and unexpected that made his heart quicken and his pupils dilate when he saw her. She was absolutely obnoxious and unusually clingy, but when her eyes blazed into him he could feel the heat in his very core.
Desire thundered through him at her defiance and spunk and he knew that he wanted her right then and there. She was definitely his type.
“What’s your point?” he snapped back at her, angry at himself for how he was letting this woman affect him. She shrugged her shoulders and looked down at her hands, fidgeting slightly.
“You’re going to need to be better than that tonight,” she stated simply.
It wasn’t a question or an encouragement, it was just a fact. Logan took a step toward her, closing the gap between them and causing her to step back only to find the bar behind her preventing that. He looked down at her, his towering figure shadowing her beneath him, and he felt a shiver go through her body.
He wasn’t sure if it was fear or arousal but it was all he needed.
In a flash, his mouth was on hers and she might have fallen upon impact if his hand hadn’t already grabbed the back of her neck. He tossed his already empty glass onto the bar, then used that hand to press her lower back forward, crushing her against his pelvis. She responded instantly, snaking her tongue against his and letting out a slight moan at the feeling of their hips pressed together.
Just as quickly as he took her, he let her go and Gina stood there with a surprised look on her face at the sudden parting. He had taken a few steps back from her, but then quickly changed his mind and wrapped his arms around her, grabbing her hair and pulling her head back slightly.
“Meet me outside after the show. You’re mine tonight,” he growled into the groove of her neck below her ear.
He bit down softly, then followed it with a soft kiss. Gina’s entire body was on fire as he let go of her and strutted back toward the stage. She leaned back
against the bar and took a deep breath, trying to slow her pulse to normal. She doubted her plan for a moment, but then shook the thought from her head.
This was the road she chose.
***
The liquor, plus the surge of adrenaline from his encounter with Gina, had been just what Logan needed to amp up his performance during the second set. It was later in the evening now and the bar was full of twenty-somethings, downing drinks and cheering on Haven. The atmosphere was lively and intoxicating, only feeding more into the band member’s excitement as they focused on their music and poured their soul into the notes.
Logan was lead vocal, as well as guitar, and moved all over the stage. This gave him the perfect opportunity to scope out where the scout was sitting when he arrived. He expected him to be a bit older than the crowd and there were a few possibilities in the crowd, leaving him unsure of which man it might be.
Logan also kept a close eye on Gina who sat on a barstool off to the side, watching him, as she rested her chin in her hand and propped her elbow on the bar. She smiled and winked when their eyes met, but he didn’t acknowledge her back. At least not in a way anyone else could notice.
He was just finishing up their third song when he saw Gina motion to someone at the door, hopping off her barstool to head to him. A surge of jealousy hit Logan and he cleared his throat in surprise, as he announced the name of their next song- Thief in My Bed.
He smiled at the crowd and masked his emotions immediately, introducing the audience to his band members as they cheered for each one. He swaggered back to center stage and grabbed the microphone, belting out the first lines of the song as the band surged in with loud and intense harmony.
Stole my heart just to throw it away,
No explanation for the games you play.
Am I just a Friday night to you,
or are we going to see this through?
Logan couldn’t help but glance over at Gina as he sang about a past unrequited love. She was sitting with an older gentleman now, chatting away and motioning toward the stage. He knew she must be talking about him from her body language, but he still felt pangs of envy tear through him as he watched her eagerly look up to the older man.
He wondered what their relationship was, but quickly chastised himself for even caring. He forced himself to pull his eyes away and focus on something else in the room.
Between our kisses, you said “forever”,
but behind my back, you laughed “never”.
So, I tossed the thief from my bed,
but damn it all, she’s still in my head.
Logan finished the chorus and then stepped to the side, pointing both hands at Dylan who immediately launched into a drum solo that had the entire bar on their feet in seconds. The rest of Haven cheered him on as he skillfully banged out a rhythm on his set, sweat beading on his forehead as he concentrated on each hit.
Dylan was oblivious to the screaming, Logan smiled as he recognized the musician’s trance. Dylan Moore may be a jerk at times, but he loved his music just as much as Logan did, and that was what solidified their friendship.
Dylan finished with several slams on his cymbals and then he stood up, his hands in the air holding his drumsticks proudly as he grinned at the crowd that ate up his performance. The rest of the band immediately jumped back into the song and Logan grabbed the microphone, facing the exuberant crowd. The energy from the audience and his friends behind him surged through him as he sang the final lyrics to the song with every part of himself.
Even if I lock up my whole heart,
you pierce your way in like a dart,
now your reign of power’s through,
I’m not the one you’ll come home to,
Did you hear, girl, what I said?
No more damn thieves in my bed.
Did you hear, girl, what I said?
Get the fuck out of my bed!
Logan slammed his hand down on the strings with the last line and yanked up the whammy bar, causing an amazing sound that everyone could feel inside their bodies, shaking their inner core, and physically humming through their veins.
The rest of the band was on their feet with the crowd, clapping for Logan, and whooping while fist pumping the air. Logan had been so intently staring at his guitar, focusing on that last note. When he finally realized the crowd’s overwhelmingly positive reaction, he allowed himself a rare moment of pleasure to soak it in.
“Give it up for Looooooogan Clay!” Rock grabbed his microphone and screamed to the audience, elongating Logan’s name as the screaming became inaudible and the bar walls almost shook with the deafening noise.
Logan grinned at his friend then turned back to the crowd and raised one fist in the air. He spotted Gina in the crowd, almost drowned out by the bobbing heads in front of her. Her thin frame was taller than the average woman and even some men, but the crowd still hid her well as people waved their arms and cheered.
“You guys have been great tonight! If anyone wants a CD, we will be selling them over there!” Logan pointed to a side table off the stage as he shouted into the microphone and then placed it back on the holder.
He took off his guitar and sat it down, then high-fived his friends as they all congratulated each other on a great performance. Off stage and slightly to the side, Logan spotted Gina clearly waiting for him.
He saw the bright smile across her face and her green eyes were swimming with excitement causing a warmth to spread through him, feelings of arousal he didn’t even question as he winked at her. He turned back to his band mates as he put his guitar away in its case and registered a surprised look on their faces.
“Did you just fucking wink at the chick you were banging in the alley?” Rock started and Dylan pointed at Rock as if to agree with his question. Charlie smiled at Logan, with a cocky look on his face.
“Our little Logan is falling in love,” Charlie teased him, smacking him on the back. Logan pushed him away and raised his chin up in the air, sticking out his chest in defense.
“What the fuck are you guys talking about? Keep your loud ass opinions to yourself,” Logan scoffed at them as he put his guitar case with the other cased items to go to the van. “It’s just a one-night kind of thing, maybe not even that.”
“Yeah, sure thing, lover boy.” Dylan chuckled as he worked on disassembling his guitar. Logan rolled his eyes at them and stalked off stage, irritated. They had no idea what they were talking about.
Why the fuck did I wink at her? Logan thought to himself.
4
“I told you that you could do better.” Gina grinned, leaning against the wall at the end of the stairs off the stage.
Her legs were crossed and propping her up against the wall, showing her long silky skin traveling up to the hem of her short skirt. Her arms were folded across her chest in a way that highlighted her breasts, pressing up against the low cut top. He slowed down on the last few steps as he approached her, feeling wary of this woman who was causing changes in him he didn’t even know about yet.
Her black hair was swept around to one side of her neck, showing off the neon colored highlights that hid beneath. He noticed a small red mark on her neck and felt a stirring inside as he remembered putting it there. He reached the bottom of the stairs and looked at her squarely, putting one hand on the wall next to her head as he leaned closer.
“You like to be right, don’t you?” He smiled back, slightly conceding.
The first time he had actually said something to her that wasn’t full of hostility. Her eyes lit up at the invitation and she quickly looked away, placing her hands down and fiddling with her skirt.
“Everyone likes things they are good at.” She looked back up into his stormy eyes, taunting him. He leaned closer to her, smelling the perfume she wore, and brushing his lips against her cheek.
“Damn it, Gina, who are you?” He groaned softly in her ear.
She smiled and turned to look at him, their faces inches apart. “Come on, you
need to meet someone!”
She kissed him softly on the cheek and took his large hand, pulling him away from the stage and into the crowd. He remembered that she had been talking to someone earlier in the show, but he didn’t have time to meet her friends right now. He had to find the talent scout which he had yet to spot.
“Gina, I can’t.” He pulled back and stopped in his tracks, making her turn around to look at him. “I’m busy.”
“No, you’re not. Trust me, this is who you are looking for.” She gestured her hand as if to wave away his concerns and then looped her arm around his, pulling him forward. He was easily stronger than her, but he allowed her to lead him since he was curious by what she had just said.
“Daddy! This is Logan.” Gina came to a stop in front of a tall, older gentleman who shared Gina’s jet black hair and pale skin. He hadn’t noticed the similarities before when he had seen Gina with this man during the show due to the distance between them, but up close he knew instantly that this must be her father.
Shit, is she crazy? Meet the parents already? Logan thought to himself, bewildered and unsure of what to do.
“Great to meet you, Logan.” The gentleman stuck his hand out and Logan accepted the firm handshake. “That was quite the performance.”
“Thank you, sir,” Logan replied, feeling uneasy and looking between Gina and him. There was a slight pause in conversation and then Gina’s face lit up with understanding as she realized that she hadn’t introduced them.
“Logan, this is my father, Garrett Vile. Daddy, this is Logan Clay. There! Official introductions over, I’m going to get a drink and let you boys chat.” She grinned at them and then winked at Logan as she flounced off into the crowd, leaving Logan wide eyed and anxious.
“My daughter has always been a bit headstrong, but I knew when she first played me a recording of one of your songs that I had to meet you. I’m from New York New Music, I think you heard I was coming.” Garrett raised one eyebrow and crossed his arms over his chest, assessing Logan whose face suddenly lit up in recognition.
Not A Hero: A Bad Boy Marine Romance Page 23
