Casting a look over at Brooke, Sidney sighed, “Oh god, life is so good since I met you, Brooke.”
Shaking her head, she replied, “Sidney, I had nothing to do with handing you into the care and keeping of two able-bodied Marines. That was your own personal lottery, honey. Run with it, girl. Run. With. It.”
Rex got on his bike and Brooke lowered her legs, dropping lightly to the seat behind him. “Woman, we have so much to talk about. I’ve missed you today.” Glancing over his shoulder, he added, “But I didn’t have time to dwell on it since my business grew like three hundred percent due to some plug by a celebrity. Several times. I’ve also been getting calls and emails from my old unit about how jealous they are. If I hadn’t brought these four with me tonight they threatened violence against my person. That was before you produced hot friends.”
She chuckled and slid her arms around his hard body. “Let’s play and we can talk later, Rex, because, baby, I have damn well missed you too.” Stroking her hands down his torso and gripping his belt, she whispered, “I’d like to ride the ride again, Mr. Black. I’ve been wet since I saw you in the front row. Think you can handle that for me later?”
He flexed his hands on her thighs. “Damn, somebody up there fucking loves me, Brooke.”
Chapter Fifteen
Rex started the bike and tore out of the arena. At every light he massaged Brooke’s legs. By the time they pulled up to a military bar with two dozen motorcycles parked out front, she was wound up like nothing she’d ever felt before.
He got off the bike and turned her sideways on the seat, stepping between her thighs. Crossing her legs behind him she said, “Kisses, lots of kisses, Rex.” As his mouth angled over hers, she sighed. He loved over her mouth and worked his cock so gently against her that no one passing would notice. Brooke’s hands held him like she never wanted to let him go.
Sidney’s gentle voice broke the moment, “Honey, I love you and I want you to be happy. Rex obviously makes you real happy but you know the fucking press is gonna catch up to us eventually. They are not getting you on camera like this. Come inside and accost him, babe. I bet there are some nice dark corners just waiting for you inside, Brooke.”
Boyd and Zane were standing just behind Sidney and staring down at her in awe. “Don’t make me fight a reporter tonight. I painted my nails.” She showed her fingertips to Brooke and tried to pout but couldn’t hold it, bursting out laughing. “You know I suck at the girly expressions.”
At the hungry looks on the two friends’ faces, Brooke offered, “Sidney’s something of a hellion. My first concert, I got clipped with a camera in the cheek. Since then, she rides in with me and is much stronger than she looks. She almost got arrested when a photographer would not move no matter what I said. She had the guy up against the wall, his camera strap around his neck.”
“You said please several times. Hell, even I said please. Brooke has to be precious and sweet. Me? I simply do not give a damn. I can get a little ignorant when people do stupid shit.” Smiling at the men behind her, she added, “I’m nice until it’s time not to be nice anymore, only I don’t have Patrick Swayze to give me the heads up. Without him, sometimes I forget the nice part altogether.” They laughed loudly and she did a little spin, grabbing their biceps so they could escort her inside. “You’re such gentlemen but I’ll be honest, I’m really just groping you.”
Snorting disbelievingly, Rex set Brooke on her feet and took her hand, kissing her fingers and giving her a dimpled grin that did funny things to her insides. Mack and Jeanette pulled up as they stepped up on the sidewalk and she had never seen Jeanette smile so much.
When they entered the bar a few feet behind the others the entire place went silent and still. Even the band stopped playing mid-song. A couple of “Holy shit, isn’t she that country singer?” comments made their way around the place. Awkward silence greeted her.
Brooke said cheerfully to the room, “Hi, I’m Brooke Kincaid. I’m a normal person but please feel free to stare anyway. You have a live band.” When there was no response, she put on her biggest country girl smile and cocked her hip, putting her hand on it. “At ease, darlin’s.”
That caused the place to break out in laughter and Rex pulled her to the table they always staked out in the corner.
Jeanette was snickering with Mack. “You do know how to make an entrance, Brooke.”
Rex sat and Brooke sat on his lap facing the table, “I was stumped since I’ve never made a place go quiet before. There is so much testosterone in here you could cut it with a knife. I’ll make this observation though. Military groupies are more ‘trampy’ than country band groupies. Sorry, they are. Y’all needed some class around here.”
The four men fell out laughing and Zane pulled Sidney down on his lap. “There’s another chair, I’ll sit in it so your leg doesn’t go numb.” Zane’s response was to grab the empty chair and push it to the table beside them. “O-kay. This is good, too. I’m trying not to seem like a slut.” He grinned at her and she thought he had the prettiest puppy dog brown eyes she’d ever seen surrounded by long brown lashes.
“Sidney isn’t a slut in any manner and God knows Jeanette is the most elegantly lovely woman I’ve ever met. She reminds me of Audrey Hepburn. Also, I’ve learned in the past twenty-four hours that if you’re really picky and the man who matches your specs exactly shows up on radar, slutty behavior is well within bounds.”
Turning back to Rex, she laid a smacking kiss on him before clearing her throat and adding, “One more thing…I’m the only one at this table not fucking old enough to drink.” The entire table burst out laughing and she blushed hot. “Thanks. Thanks a lot. Sidney, a few months back and you’d be in the same boat. Jeanette, you’re only a year older than her so both of you need to shut it.”
That made them even more hysterical. “Grr, so frustrating and embarrassing.” Everyone laughed for a long time and it was loud. Rex tried to soothe her ruffled feathers. When the waitress approached she said, “Before you ask, I’ll take a stupid Coke.” That set them off again.
They’d barely gotten control of themselves when a young man approached their table and asked her if she’d sign the inside of his beret. She did and asked his name. “Max Davis ma’am.”
Taking out one of her business cards, she wrote his name on the back and signed it. “When you’re deployed, Max, call this number and we’ll get you a kick-ass bag shipped out filled with all the things we’ve heard are most missed when you’re away from home. If you say I wrote your name on the back and signed under it, you’ll get some other crap you can keep, trade, or give away.” They talked for another minute and she smiled, “I’m glad to meet you, Max.”
The young soldier almost fell over shaking her hand, “My god, you too, ma’am. Thank you.”
“You can call me Brooke. Be safe.” He nodded and left grinning from ear to ear. She lay back on Rex’s chest and realized his friends were staring at her. “What?” Before they could answer, two more enlisted men approached and she did the same thing. “Bobby and Jason Owens. Y’all brothers?” They nodded and she smiled brightly. “I’d trust my brother more than Jesus himself to watch my back in a fight. Y’all be careful.” They said they would and shook her hand, looking star struck as they each walked away with her card and instructions in their hands.
When a young woman approached her, her smile was brilliant and she sat up straighter. “Thank god, a woman in uniform. We are sorely underrepresented in here, honey. Excellent, what’s your name?”
The pretty young woman said, “Siena Hart ma’am. I just wanted to say I love what you stand for. I’ve been following your blog since my little sister told me about it. You sure don’t seem eighteen and you don’t act like a celebrity. I love your music, it has soul to it.”
“Thank you so much, Siena . That means a lot to me.” She pulled out a card and put the same details on the back then added three stars. “Call this number and make sure you tell them about the stars.
Don’t forget. Keep my info when you get back. I work with a lot of charities for at-risk young women. Girls mixed up in gangs, drugs, teen pregnancy. I think you’d be a great face for them to see. They need to see pretty, strong women in charge of their lives. Be safe so you can come back and help me.”
Jeanette stood and took Siena aside and spoke quietly for a few minutes, the soldier occasionally nodding her head. Mack watched as she’d approached each of the soldiers as they’d left the table and taken down pertinent information in her phone. When she shook Hart’s hand and joined them back at the table, she told Brooke, “I got them all this time.”
“Thank you, honey. You know I always forget then I have to wait until they call. It’s bad when they never do.” Now the three men and Rex were staring at her. “Okay, really, what? Do I have something on my face?”
“Are you, you know, always like that?” Boyd asked her.
Sidney turned to him, “Like what?”
“So good to people, military people especially, do you do that all the time?” Mack explained quietly.
Jeanette leaned forward, “One of the main reasons I was hired was because Brooke specified an assistant who could and would keep up with all her interests. Her two primary personal interests are children and the military. She keeps hundreds of goody bags at our main office in her home town.”
Warming to her topic, she straightened her spine which pushed her small breasts out and up beautifully. “There are some for regular members of her fan club and special ones she sends to kids in need. Then there are the ones she ships out to enlisted men and women around the world. They’re filled with all kinds of stuff, basics like shampoos and razors; candy and mixed nuts; any treat that doesn’t melt; stationary sets and rolls of stamps; playing cards, dominoes, and mini board games; crossword puzzles and an MP3 player loaded with a massive playlist from just about every genre.”
She leaned towards the others, “Now, if she handwrites their name, that tells us she spoke to them personally. Those people also get a tour bag filled with autographed goodies, the most popular being a calendar of Brooke. The soldiers use them to trade for stuff wherever they’re stationed. On the rare occasion she meets a female enlisted she adds three stars. That young woman is going to love receiving lotions, soft t-shirts and underwear, as well as gift certificates she can use when she gets back for her hair and nails. The chick bags were Sidney’s idea and we love them.”
There was a long moment of silence. “That must cost a fucking fortune,” Zane whispered.
“She earmarks thirty percent of her take-home earnings for charity.” Jeanette saw the bombshell hit and smiled. “One of the many reasons I will work for her as long as she’ll have me. No less than one-fifth of her fan base consists of people in the military. They love her.”
Uncomfortable with the attention, Brooke glanced back at the band and changed the subject. The lead singer was smiling at her. “Do you think he’d be offended if I wanted to jam with them?”
“I think John would be fucking honored or else.” Rex stood and put her on her feet. “I do have a really important question, honey.” She waited with her eyes focused on his intently. “Where the hell can I get a calendar?”
Snickering softly she told him, “Oh baby, I’ll make you one special. And send you a standard one for the shop.” He kissed her then Brooke approached the stage and propelled herself up. Shaking the man’s hand, his eyes flicked carefully down her body.
“Brooke Kincaid. You seem so different in person. Wanna sing one of your songs, honey? We don’t do a lot of country but I’m sure the gang wouldn’t mind.”
One hand on her hip, she ignored the unintentional patronizing tone, “Actually, I was thinking some Simple Man.”
Rex laughed and John smirked, “Honey, I have jeans older than you. No way you can rock Skynard.”
Slipping off her jacket, Brooke dropped it to the floor and let the appearance of her in a halter top sink in. She lifted her hat and raked her fingers through her hair. “Honey, I like vintage. I’m open to Sympathy for the Devil, any Seger, CCR, or Eagles. I don’t have the range for Journey but I can lower it. We can move forward to some Black Crowes, Nickelback, a little Buck Cherry. Crazy Bitch always makes the crowd happy. Please, I insist you pick.”
“Well, shit. Alright, how about She Talks to Angels?”
She nodded and he handed her the mic. “For Max, Jason, Bobby and Siena, here’s a little rock before you roll.” John stepped back and they started to play, Brooke tapping beat with her fingers on the mic. When she came in, the place went so silent it was more like a church than a bar.
Patrons slowly gravitated to the stage, staring at the beautiful teenager with the powerful voice as the soulful lyrics washed through the room. Hearing it from a woman made it rawer somehow and Rex could not take his eyes off her.
The crowd erupted on the last note and the band gathered around to congratulate her and introduce themselves. John kissed her hand while the crowd wolf-whistled. “My god, girl, I apologize. We’re not worthy, honey. Please tell me you know Wanted Dead or Alive?”
“Are you kidding me? Hit it.” They opened and she was thrilled when it was time for her to sing. This was one of her favorite songs. Rex watched just below her, watching the muscles of her stomach tighten as she sang. This was a song every biker and soldier loved. That she, an eighteen-year-old country singer, was doing it, and doing it well, boggled more than a few minds.
As it ended the bar went wild and got louder when the opening bars for Sweet Home Alabama started. Brooke’s smile was huge as she jumped off the stage with the mic and walked around the bar. Putting her arm around people’s waists, she made them sing with her. By the time the song finished, the entire bar was singing and she was keeping time clapping with the mic in her hand.
When the band started Metallica’s version of Turn the Page, she went to the stage and Rex lifted her up to sit on the edge. He made to move away and Brooke kept him with her, her arm over his shoulders, her legs around his ribs. It sounded haunting and when it was done, she handed the mic back to the lead singer and he told her to come back up anytime.
They started playing Desperado as Rex lifted her down and cupped her head for his kiss. Her hands went hard around him and he danced with her while he made love to her mouth as if they were the only two people on the planet. When the song finished, the room clapped, not for the music, and she smiled up at him.
They went back to the table and all the men fist-bumped her. Mack said, “Brooke, I thought John was going to pass out when you started singing Angels. You should have seen his face behind you. Fucking priceless.”
“Bon Jovi, good lord, you’re welcome in our bar anytime, Brooke. You have excellent taste in music,” Boyd said with respect.
“Thanks, I was raised on all kinds of music. I can sing gospel to rock to some hip hop even. I love music. I stick mostly with country but any of my songs could just as easily have a rock beat.” There was a beer sitting in front of her. “Alright not funny.”
Zane shook his head, “Not meant to be funny. You’re old enough to give to charity like you do and still blow away Turn the Page you’re old enough to have a goddamned beer. You’re not driving, Brooke, and no one will bother you here.” She toasted the military and they shouted “Semper Fi!”
When a good song came on, she dragged people out to dance. The band took a break and Brooke went to the jukebox. She came back to the table and handed Jeanette a shot. All she had to do was quirk her finger at Sidney and she was up. Knocking it back and choking, Jeanette let herself be dragged out. The three of them stood in a circle as the first song started.
“Jesus Christ, Rex, what the hell have you brought us?” Boyd asked in awe. “Oh sweet lord, they’re doing Hands To Yourself. Someone save me. I mean, how much can I stand?”
“Is it Christmas? Did I just come out of a coma?” Zane added. “I can’t walk around with wood all fucking night…how old am I?”
“I think I’ll marry that sweet girl. Not. Even. Kidding.” Mack never took his eyes off Jeanette as she laughed and danced. His expression told his oldest friends he was dead serious.
Rex smiled, watching the women. They were all way too young for any of them but the men wanted them any-fucking-way. He said with a smug smile, “Guys, you are so welcome.”
Brooke and Sidney were singing. They pretended to put the moves on Jeanette, who was being coy and telling them no. They went to the floor playing air guitar and Jeanette’s shot hit her hard. She was laughing and dancing around them and they pretended to be enjoying the view under her skirt from below. Standing, Brooke and Sidney traded her back and forth between them and she blew them a kiss as she walked off the dance floor and was pulled onto Mack’s lap.
She was laughing hard and watching her friends. Taking her chin gently between his fingers, Mack kissed her and she put her hand on his face as he licked across her lips and she opened for him with a careful smile. “We love this song. They do it for the kids all the time when we’re bored. Usually Brooke has her Fender,” she said and watched them battle with invisible guitars. Going back to the floor, they rocked it to the very end then popped up like fucking ninjas. Mack laughed as the other three men groaned.
They headed back to the table with a fist bump. Sidney was pulled across Boyd and Zane’s laps while Rex held Brooke tightly. The band came back and gave their table a thumbs up. “Let’s hear it for the halftime show. Ladies, may we say…damn.”
They were laughing and talking when the band started to play Free Bird. Brooke looked down at the table and Rex turned her face to him. Something had made her suddenly sad. “What is it, baby?”
Yes to Everything Page 14
