Maybe it was exhaustion. Dark-haired brunettes with soulful brown eyes always got him going. But all Dev could think about was a girl with straight caramel-brown hair and bright blue eyes who unglamorously paired skinny blue jeans with an oversized hoodie most of the time.
Suddenly, Dev was grateful for the four years Cheri had been in college where the band had really gone off the rails. But still, the sins he and the band had to confess would keep a legion of angels busy listening.
Dev felt a tug at his waist, and he looked down to see the girl working to unbuckle his belt.
"Hey--" he said, then stopped short. Embarrassment crept over him as he realized he didn't know the girl's name. "Sweetheart," he said grabbing hold of the first endearment his brain could muster, “let me introduce you to a friend of mine.”
He looked over to Rory and Quinn and could see that Rory was striking out big time with the blonde on the couch who had, at some point, become more enamored of the golden-haired Quinn.
Excellent.
He motioned to Rory. "Come here. I want to introduce you to this beautiful gal."
Rory smiled and pushed off the couch toward them.
"You know our drummer, Rory Galveston, don't you?"
"Of course I do. It's fabulous to meet you, Rory. I’m Sandy.” She stuck out her hand, apparently game for the change in plans as she angled her body toward his buddy. “I so enjoy your drum solos."
"Thanks, gorgeous," Rory said, appreciation glimmering in his eyes.
"Rory makes the best tequila sunrises. Rory, make her a drink, eh? I have a phone call I have to make."
"Absolutely," said Rory.
And with that, Dev pushed into one of the bedrooms of the suite and hurried to close the door.
"Who does he have to call?" said the girl before Dev could click the latch. "Does he have a girlfriend?"
"Dev? Hell no. No one can run fast enough to catch him. Here, darling, let me show you how to make a tequila sunrise."
Sandy laughed, and Dev let out a long sigh of relief as the pair moved away from the door, chattering happily. Since when had partying with his boys and a bunch of beautiful women felt like a chore?
He locked the door and then sank into a chair in the corner of the room, fidgeting with his phone. Antsy, but not sure why. And then it hit him.
He had no one to call.
Not a single person to check in with or tell what happened to him during his day. No one to laugh over flubbing the opening number, and how he pissed Bill off by playing an extra encore.
The people that were important to him, that were his real family, were in the next room, having the time of their lives. But this time, Dev didn't feel like joining in the fun. He had done it too many times, slept with too many women whose names he didn't remember, drank too much liquor, and had one too many hangovers.
He needed a break.
His thumb strayed over Bug's number, and he held it there for a long second trying to decide whether to call her or not. He let the thumb fall to initiate the call, telling himself it was purely for practical purposes. They needed to set up a time tomorrow to meet for her 'lessons’.
"Hey, Dev. W-what's up?" she said. And just those few words and hearing her husky voice made him feel better.
"About tomorrow--"
"You're not backing out on me, are you?" Her voice was tinged with something that sounded like panic and he set her straight fast.
"Moi? Not a chance. I just thought we should plan a time to meet, considering the logistics of living on the road."
"Well, it's a short ride, this time. Five, maybe six hours. We should hit Charlotte by two in the afternoon. Then I have a few hours before I have to report for set-up…does that work for you, or?"
"Sure,” he said, a plan already forming and making him truly smile for the first time in hours. “I'll pick you up."
There was a long pause. "You'll pick me up? In what?"
"I'm a man with a plan. Get on your high-heeled sneakers, sugar. Uncle Dev is taking you someplace special."
"Where?" she demanded, sounding a little breathless in a way that made his cock stiffen.
"Never you mind. That's for me to know, and you to wonder about all night long."
"You're evil. I'm rethinking this."
"Bock, bock, bock," cackled Dev.
"That might’ve worked when I was ten, Dev," Cheri shot back, but he could hear the grin in her voice, and it warmed him from the inside out. "Whatever. I'll see you then."
"Good."
Dev clicked off the phone call, his grin fading. Now he was a man on a mission. If he was going to teach Cheri about seduction, he was going to do it right.
Which meant, he had work to do.
The sleek, black ride rolled up into the venue's parking lot at almost the same time as the buses, and Dev watched as it pulled around back as instructed. He hopped off to meet the driver but slowed at the sound of Rory’s voice behind him.
"Hey," said Rory, trailing Dev down the bus stairs. "Where are you going?"
"Field trip.”
The less he said, the better. He hated lying to Rory.
"Need a buddy? There’s safety in numbers and you know,” he said with a waggle of his eyebrows, “safety first."
"Nope."
"Because that hotel idea was sweet," Rory pressed, dramatically raising his arms over his head and yawning.
"And I didn't get the sleep I needed last night because of you goofballs carrying on, so I'm flying solo today."
He saw Cheri get off her bus. She waved when she caught sight of him and then stopped short when she saw Rory standing beside him.
Shit.
Before he could think of another excuse to try to dissuade Rory, his friend shrugged and saved him the effort.
“Eh, whatever. I could use another couple hours sleep anyway. Catch you later.”
Rory trotted back onto the bus and Dev blew out a sigh of relief. Guilt tugged at him, but when he saw Cheri closing the distance between them, a smile lighting her face, the guilt sizzled away.
He jerked his head to the left and she nodded, catching his drift. They walked in separate directions around the back of the building and met a minute or so later at the car. Dev quickly opened the back door.
"After you."
Cheri lifted her eyebrows. "Where are we going?"
"You'll see," he said with a smile.
She gave him a skeptical look, then slid into the town car.
"We’re set to go," he said to the driver.
The car pulled out of the parking lot and Cheri stared through the tinted window at downtown Charlotte, wringing her hands nervously. Dev was all too aware of her sitting next to him. He could smell her shampoo and their thighs brushed as the driver took a corner too fast. His cock snapped to attention, and he ran through the list of their tour cities to take his mind off that fact.
Keep it together, Lachlan, he scolded himself mentally. But her sexy scent claimed the small space and he couldn't breathe without thinking about putting her body under his. He called to the driver to turn up the air conditioning.
"Hot?” Cheri asked innocently.
Her words killed him. If she only knew. He was more than hot. He was steaming. He looked out the window to keep from looking at her. The bigger buildings melted into the one-story ones of the suburbs and strip malls. Soon they were at the shopping center where he booked the first of his lessons for Cheri.
She shut the door of the car as she stared at the day spa in front of her.
"What's this?" she asked.
"If you want to attract a man, you need confidence. In order to get a boost of that, we’re going to make sure you feel great about yourself. You’re getting the whole works, hair, make-up, nails and whatever other voodoo they do in there. While you do that, I'm going to get you some new clothes."
He could see the panic brewing in her wide, blue eyes. "This isn’t exactly what I…” She trailed off and her throat worked as she swallow
ed hard. “Don't you think I should pick those out?"
"Did you pick out the clothes you're wearing?"
She looked down at the simple jeans and t-shirt that clothed her body.
"Well, yeah."
"Point made," Dev said bluntly. "Now, git. They’re waiting for you. And don’t come out until you feel like a movie star."
"Aren't you coming in?"
"To a day spa?" he scoffed. "No. Just whatever you do, don't let them talk you into a short haircut."
"Why?"
Because I love all that dark hair, he thought.
"Trust me. Men like long hair. And you want to attract a guy, don't you?" For some reason, the thought made his fists clench. “So go.”
"You're the boss,” she murmured.
"Damn straight. I’ve got a few errands to run, but by the time you’re done, I'll be next door at the boutique."
She started for the door then turned, and Dev couldn't help but notice the curve of her ass as she looked over her shoulder. As far as he was concerned she looked like a movie star already.
"Don't you want my clothing sizes?" she said.
"I think I’ve got a handle on it," he said with a smirk.
Size smoking hot.
She shrugged and entered the spa.
Okay, so far, so good. He’d managed to keep his hands and dick to himself. Next stop, the record store to look for a couple vintage albums he’d been on the hunt for and then he’d hit the boutique and find something sexy for Cheri to wear.
Two hours later, he was handing the saleswoman another skirt to finish the last of three outfits he’d selected. All three would complement her perfectly, but he’d already had his favorite in mind.
The little bell jingled at the door and a woman holding a tiny shopping bag entered. Dev did a double take because she was gorgeous. It took a second for him to realize it was Cheri.
He swore under his breath as his blood pressure spiked.
Her hair was layered to float around her face, and red and gold highlights streaked through it. The make-up emphasized her blue eyes, making them seem bigger, and her cheeks were more prominent too. Her fingernails were painted a sassy peach.
"Wow," smiled Dev appreciatively. "You almost look like a goddess."
"Almost?" she said, putting one hand on her hip. But if she was trying to look annoyed, she failed miserably. Her cheeks were pink with pleasure and her eyes sparkled with delight.
"Well, those jeans and t-shirt don't do you justice. Now you just go along with this lady here, and we'll fix that right away."
He almost regretted picking the outfits he did, because if she got any hotter, he was going to burn to ash like a phoenix in a crush of flames.
"Dev," she protested. "I've got to work for the show. I can't be overdressed."
"And you won't be. We don't have time for arguments. I've got sound check soon and I'm hungry."
The sales lady led her to the dressing rooms.
"And don't wear the spike heels. That's a special lesson I'm planning."
"Spikes?" she squeaked. “I can barely manage two-inch heels, Dev.”
He jerked a thumb toward the dressing rooms. She grumbled all the way, but a few seconds later, she was closing the door behind her.
Dev let out a long breath, silently praying for patience. This exercise was as much for her as it was him. He’d let his jealousy get the better of him, but once he’d agreed to this insanity, he wasn’t about to bail on her. That wasn’t what friends did. But surely focusing on the peripheral stuff would be way safer than getting to the nitty gritty. He had hoped that, by the time the serious lessons started, her newfound confidence would make them unnecessary.
Instead, so far, all he’d managed to do was make the lessons--and his dick--a whole lot harder.
Fuck.
Cheri didn't waste any time coming from the dressing room dressed in the tight black satin skirt, thigh high black boots and shiny royal blue button down opened to the navel that clung to her curves. But the killer was the satin, sleeveless undershirt that he took next door to have special lettering applied. In elegant silver embroidered script it said, "Cheri."
"I love it," she said, her eyes suspiciously glassy.
"You said you didn’t want anybody calling you Bug anymore. I figured that was a good way to let them know.” Although, as he looked at her now, any memory of the little girl who’d earned the name by following them everywhere had been obliterated by the stark truth.
Cheri Galveston was a grown ass, gorgeous, sexy woman.
“Do you think my butt looks too big, though?” She turned, and cocked a hip in his direction, her face screwed into a worried frown. “Everything is kind of…tight.”
It sure was.
Her ass was pert and round and perfect for spanking. Hair flirted with the alluring swell of her tits and those lips? He could just picture them, all plump and pink and glossy, wrapped around him.
His cock thickened, throbbing relentlessly against his zipper as he tried to remind himself that this was Rory’s little sister.
“You know what? I don’t think we need to try the rest on,” he muttered in a rush. Even thinking about her in the black leather pants he’d selected made his pulse go haywire. “I’ve clearly got your sizes down, so we’ll just get it and go. That way we have time to grab a quick bite to eat." He had turned his head to the saleslady. “We’ve got a little of everything there, right?”
"Unless you wanted to purchase the lady some lingerie?"
The woman’s smooth smile did nothing to calm Dev’s pounding pulse.
"That's another lesson," said Dev quickly. One he would save for a day when he wasn’t a walking time bomb about to explode in his pants like a teenager over his best friend’s sister. "Dinner is fast food if we want to make the sound check on time. Otherwise Bill will blow a gasket."
The saleswoman packed up the rest of the outfits and handed three large bags over the sales counter.
"What did you do? Buy out the store?" The incredulous look on Cheri's face was priceless. "Dev," Cheri said, "this is too much."
He shook his head. "How many years did you work for us for free helping us with our gigs? Consider this payback."
"But it must have cost a fortune! I can't."
"You can and you will," said Dev firmly. "Are you going to help with these? Or should I get the driver in here?"
The saleswoman had been super professional to that point, but now her professional facade crumbled.
"You’re so lucky to have Devlin Lachlan as your boyfriend," she whispered. But Dev heard it and turned toward the two women.
Cheri barked out a laugh. "Oh, Dev isn't my boyfriend," she said too quickly.
A lead weight thudded in Dev's stomach. Of course he wasn't her boyfriend, but, for the briefest second when the saleswoman had said that, a thrill ran up his spine. Any man would be lucky to have Cheri. The fact that she dismissed the possibility with a laugh was like a razor cut, swift but lingeringly painful.
But he flashed a smile at the saleswoman. "That's right. Cheri is our Social Media Director. She's been so busy working for us that she hasn't had time to shop. I dragged her out to do this under protest."
"Before you go, can I get a picture of you?"
"How about one better?" Cheri fished around in her purse. "Here are a couple of tickets for tonight's show."
The young woman's eyes got very wide.
"Really! Thank you. This is so awesome."
They left the store, Cheri in her new boots bouncing with every step. He’d done good. She looked so happy. She’d always been pretty only now she looked like she actually believed it herself.
Now if he could get the image of her ass out, looking at him with those wide eyes, giving him a ‘come hither’ look, he could breathe much, much easier.
Once they got in the car, he instructed the driver to find a fast food place. They drove through and he ordered a pile of burgers and fries.
The driver
passed their food back and Dev quickly doled it out, handing Cheri hers. He saw disaster in the greasy burger and, without thinking, tucked one corner of a napkin into the top of her shirt.
"What am I, five?" said Cheri stunned. "Do you think I can't eat without messing my clothes?"
Shit. What had possessed him to do that? In a flash he tucked a napkin into his shirt too.
"See? Safety first," he said.
Her eyes narrowed with suspicion.
"I've never seen you do that," she said.
"Now there, right there. Check that attitude at the door. If a guy does something nice for you, acknowledge it. Women are always complaining men don't do enough nice stuff for them, but maybe you ladies just fail to pick up on it."
She gave him the dead eye that told him she wasn’t buying his attempt at back-pedaling. "So, you shove a napkin into my shirt like I’m a long-road trucker about to tuck into a stack of twelve pancakes and I’m supposed to thank you? Is this lecture part of the lesson too?" she said.
"Yeah, it could be. I know you think I did that like you were a kid or something, but I did it because I knew you’d be sad if you got grease on your new shirt and you looked really happy with it.” He hadn’t realized it consciously at the time, but as he said it, it felt like the truth. “Maybe I didn’t stick the landing, but the thought was there. Guys want to be appreciated for trying, even if we don’t always get it right."
She let that sink in before nodding slowly. "Okay. Give me an example," she said around bits of her sandwich.
He put his burger on the paper wrapper in his lap.
"Like," he said, "when we give a girl a compliment, or, like, wipe ketchup off her face." He grinned and reached over to trail a finger over her jaw with his index finger.
Her lashes fluttered closed and her lips parted slightly. The tip of her tongue ran over her bottom lip and he swallowed hard. Every line of her face stood in sharp relief and she never looked more beautiful.
What should have been something simple turned into a moment of raw lust that filled his head with visions of her breasts swelling from the top of her black silk top.
She was leaning very close and her breathing went shallow. His cock’s reaction was immediate, throbbing in his jeans.
Hard Sell: A Bad-Boy, Rock Star Romance Page 21
