As his thumb traced her bottom lip of its own volition, she turned her head and nipped the tip of his finger. Her cheeks turned red but she didn’t pull away as blood pounded in his ears and lower.
“And what would a man think if a woman did that in return?” she asked, her voice almost a whisper.
“A man would think a woman was asking for trouble.”
“What kind of trouble?”
Now Dev was trapped, caught between his lust for this gorgeous woman, and the boundaries he was trying to uphold. The space between them crackled with tension and promise as Cheri’s face came too close to his, her lips parted, waiting.
The car stopped with a jolt and a knock on the partition shattered the delicate moment. She jerked away, covering her mouth with her hand.
“Um…so, we’re here. I better go. Wait a minute to get out so no one sees us together.”
She practically fell out of the car and Dev could hardly blame her.
He was almost dizzy with desire for her, and, despite the fact that she’d left, there was no escaping it. The memory of her scent…those pearly teeth closing around his finger…those eyes, practically begging him to take her.
Because if the combustion between them from the mere promise of a kiss was this hot, and they took it further?
It could consume them both.
Chapter 7
Cheri trembled as she walked toward the entrance to the venue. Her legs felt as unsteady as a newborn foal, and her mouth was bone-dry.
She had been a mere inch from Dev’s face, soaking in his woodsy male scent, willing him to kiss her. The clothes he bought her were as sexy as sin, and for the first time she felt truly grown up in his eyes. The look he’d given her when she’d first walked out of the dressing room had made her knees weak.
His eyes said he wanted to devour her, making her ache inside. Making her forget that she was Bug, the tagalong, and confirming she was a woman. A sexy, desirable woman.
The look in his eyes was unequivocal. She might be inexperienced, but she recognized lust when she saw it. It thrilled her that his lust was focused on her. But would he look at her like that again? How could she get closer to him when circumstances kept forcing them apart?
She was still daydreaming about it when a young man dressed in an orange security t-shirt held up his hand to stop her.
"Sorry, miss. You can't come back here."
"But I work here. I'm on the road crew."
The security man looked her up and down with a skeptical frown. Dressed as fancy as she was, she probably didn't look like any road crew member he’d ever seen road, who usually showed up in t-shirts and jeans.
"Move along, miss, or we'll have the venue security hold you until the cops arrive."
"Call Bill or one of the guys in the band. They'll identify me. And I tell you, they’re going to be pissed I'm not back there helping them."
"Cheri!" called Gina coming out the back door and pushing toward her. The fangirls crowded the door as she tried to leave, then pulled back with a groan of disappointment when they saw Gina and not a member of the band. "There you are. Where were you all d--"
Gina stopped in her tracks and gawked at Cheri.
"Holy shit. How?"
"I'll give you all the gory details if you vouch for me. This security person doesn't think I work here."
"That's Cheri Galveston," said Gina, tapping her foot impatiently. "Not only is she the drummer's sister, she's our Social Media Director. Please let her pass."
"She should be wearing her ID," the security man grumped.
"We’ll make sure to get on that. Let's go, girlfriend." Gina threw an arm around her shoulder and they strolled into the bowels of the amphitheater. "Look at you. Hair, nails, clothes. Those black boots are wicked. What the hell happened to you? Did a beauty bomb drop out of the sky and you were standing at ground zero?"
“Nope. Apparently, this was lesson one with Dev.”
Gina let out a low whistle. “Wow, he’s not kidding around about this, huh?” She was still smiling, but Cheri could see the worry in her eyes.
“I’m not going to get hurt, Gina. I’m going to take life by the balls and go with it for now, with the knowledge that, once this tour is over, so are me and Dev. Don’t kill the dream for me, okay?”
Gina nodded. “Okay. Last word on the subject, I promise.”
She’d had an amazing day with Dev, a memory she would cherish forever. Maybe Dev didn't want her for the long haul, but she would take what time she could get with him. And she wasn’t going to waste a second of it on fears for the future.
"Bout time,” said Rory as Dev entered the amphitheater.
"I’m here, aren’t I," said Dev. He tried to keep his tone light, but Rory frowned at him anyway.
"It’s not like you to be MIA all day."
There was no point in lying when he didn’t have to. They hadn’t done anything wrong anyway.
Not for lack of desire, his conscience bleated.
He shoved it aside and shrugged. “I took Bug shopping for some new clothes."
"That was you? Her old clothes were fine," Rory said with a groan. “Now I’m going to have to deal with dudes trying to hit on her left and right.”
"She’s worked hard for the band all these years without any pay. And you see how Gina dresses."
Rory shrugged. "Yeah, but she's our publicist. She’s gotta look sharp."
"And Cheri is our Social Media Director. She gets seen as much as Gina does. It's good for Cheri to present a slick image, especially now."
Rory rubbed the back of his neck. "Yeah, I guess. Just promise to back me up if I have to kick a motherfucker’s ass for trying to bang her."
"Will do,” Dev muttered, silently vowing once again not to be that motherfucker. “Now let's get to work."
They did, running through sound check, but it was all Dev could do not to trail Cheri’s every move with his gaze. By the time the show started, he’d given in to the urge.
Her new layered haircut swept back as she moved energetically toward the sound board. Dev's stomach twisted as he caught Cobb staring at her, practically panting as she spoke to him. And when she put her hand on the sound man's shoulder, Dev wanted to toss her over his shoulder and carry her out.
Ridiculous. He had no right to be jealous.
Memories flashed through his mind. Maybe she had always looked at him differently than she did the other guys. And maybe he mostly ignored it because of his relationship with Rory. But it was more than adoration, or hero worship whenever she looked at him. It was as if she saw straight into his soul and didn't shy away.
Dev never thought of himself as a complicated man. He was into his music and hanging out with good friends. Life was simple on that front. As long as he wrote songs, and his basic needs were taken care of, he was a happy guy.
Until recently, when he began to question the band's lifestyle. How many times did he need to entertain a string of faceless women while drinking far too much for that to get old? Was there something more to life that he was missing?
Unlike his parents, Cheri never judged him for living his freewheeling life as a musician. She knew him. All sides of him, and she liked him anyway, without reservation. What he couldn’t pinpoint was, when her opinion of him had started to matter so much? Because today? Right now?
The thought of her looking at another man the way she looked at him wrecked him.
He was still grappling with that realization when she moved away from Cobb and he couldn’t hold back his sigh of relief.
The rest of the evening rushed past. Before he knew it, they’d performed the encore and walking off the stage dripping with sweat and satisfaction.
"You nailed it, guys!" Bill, backstage, was jumping on his toes showing rare excitement. "Excellent work, just excellent!"
"What's the plan, plan-man?" said Connor bursting with enthusiasm. "What are we going to do now?" He was always keyed up after a show and needed something to do to wi
nd down.
"I'm up for some late-night dinner," said Rory. "I didn't get much to eat before the show."
"What about it, Bill, where can we go to wind down?"
"Oh," said Gina passing by, "he's the wrong person to ask. Get Hawkins to tell you a place to go in Charlotte. He knows all the good ones."
"Did anyone ever tell you that you’re bossy?" asked Rory, cocking an eyebrow.
"Me?" said Gina, all innocence.
"Trouble," insisted Rory in a teasing voice.
"Yes," she said. "Just the kind of trouble you don't need, band boy. Richard," she called as she saw Richard pass by, "food, drink and dance in Charlotte. Where to?"
Richard rubbed his chin, "Yeah, there's a place. Let me check to see if it’s still there. Here it is. I just sent all you guys an email."
The email tone on Dev's phone sounded. He opened to find Richard's mass email to the cast and crew.
"Randy Andy's?" he said with skepticism.
"The crab mac and cheese alone is worth the price of admission. Now, if you don't mind, rock stars, I've got to put this show to bed. Come on, people," Richard yelled to the crew milling aimlessly. "We have contractual obligations. Move it! Bug, excuse me, Cheri, go see what's holding up hair and make-up."
Cheri nodded and made tracks toward the dressing room.
"You boys," said Gina, "go ahead, and scout the place out while we finish load out."
"Ride with us, Gina," said Rory.
"Nope. If I don't hang around and drag him to the bar, Hawkins will go back to bed like a lame-o. See you later, boys."
"You guys can't go out without security," said Bill. In a flash he was on the walkie-talkie and, soon, two huge guys in black t-shirts and jeans joined them in their tour bus on the way to Randy Andy's.
It was a redneck bar, plain and simple, though it did have a kitchen and a small stage for their music acts. The walls were covered in wood paneling plastered with neon signs advertising different beer and liquor. The bar stools sitting in front of the long wooden bar were stainless steel topped with red vinyl and white seats. Tonight there was a country band on the stage and the clientele of the restaurant was gathered on the dance floor line dancing.
"This is Charlotte?" said Mac with incredulity.
"A very special piece of Charlotte," said Connor grinning ear to ear. "Hey, look, pool tables. I haven't played in, like, forever."
The waitress seated them in the corner with a good view of the stage and the dance floor.
"Can we put a bunch of tables together?" said Dev. "We've got a few more people coming."
"Sure, sugar," said the waitress with wink and a southern drawl. "You boys aren't from around here, are you?"
"We're here just tonight," said Dev.
"Business or pleasure," she said.
"A little of both," said Rory.
"That was your bus out there?" she said.
"Yes," confirmed Quinn.
"I knew it! Sub-Zero here at Randy Andy's. You have to play for us."
"Love too," said Dev. "But the lawyers have us all locked up. We can only play our contracted venues."
"Oh, bummer."
"But I'll have our publicist bring a picture when she comes, and we'll autograph for you right here."
"Cool. Okay, boys. What are you drinking, and eating?"
They were well into their second round of drinks, having eaten their midnight snacks already when the crew showed up. Dev searched for Cheri in the group, feeling a sense of disappointment as he reached the end of the crowd. When she walked in a few minutes later, Cobb's arm was around her waist and Dev’s gut twisted. Her face was shining with excitement as Cobb whispered something in her ear. She laughed with a sexy confidence Dev hadn’t seen before, and he noticed other men stripping her naked with their eyes.
Fuck. Rory was right. He’d blown it. Just a little makeover to shine what had been there all along for anyone taking the time to look, and now guys would be crawling all over her.
Dev downed his drink, slamming his glass to the table too hard, and stood.
"Where are you going?" said Connor.
"Line dancing," he rasped.
Connor stood. "Sounds like fun."
Maybe, maybe not, but it was better than drinking, since looking at Cobb draped over Cheri made him want to down the whole goddamned bottle.
All this time, he’d been trying to make good on his promise to Cheri without crossing the line. But that line was fading by the second. Pretty soon, he wasn’t going to be able to see it at all if he wasn’t careful.
And no one had ever called Dev Lachlan careful.
Chapter 8
Cheri shivered as she stepped into the seedy roadside tavern, but it wasn’t from the chill in the air outside. She was about to see Dev again close up for the first time since they’d left the back seat of the town car, and she couldn’t wait.
The band had completed another performance and had nailed it. The audience had been in the palm of Dev’s hand…the same hand that had trailed a path of fire down her cheek just hours before. Maybe it was her imagination, but she’d felt like he’d been singing to her all night long.
She felt an arm settle around her waist as the door closed behind her and she turned to see Cobb giving her a big smile.
"We killed it tonight."
"Definitely. The guys nailed every song."
"What, no kudos for the hearty souls behind the scenes that make it all happen?"
"Aw, we all appreciate the crew. I'll have to write a blog post about the unsung heroes," she said with a grin.
He still didn’t release her and she was racking her brain to figure out how to get Cobb's arm from around her waist without insulting him. She made a mental note to ask Dev if letting someone down easily might be one of their upcoming lessons. If anything, he’d only gotten more persistent since her makeover, and it was only a matter of time before he made a legit move on her. She didn’t want to hurt his feelings, but friendship was the only thing on the menu between them.
"You want a drink?" he asked.
"No thanks," she said. "I have some posts to do first, and drinks and social media is a bad mix."
To her relief, he nodded reluctantly and then moved to the bar. She spotted the table where Rory sat, but Dev and Connor weren't there.
She made her way to the table and sank next to Rory, shoving aside the prickle of guilt she’d been harboring for sneaking around with Dev behind his back. She was a grown woman. If Rory would open his eyes and see that, she wouldn’t have to sneak.
"Hey, big bro," she said. "Long time no see."
He laughed. "I guess you’re right. We haven't spent any quality family time together lately." He eyed her up and down and shook his head. “I’m glad Dev took you shopping, I know you deserve it. But I gotta admit, the new look is going to take some getting used to.”
“I’m going to take that as a compliment,” she said with an eye-roll before giving him a sisterly squeeze. Apparently, Dev had decided to come clean about their day trip, which was actually good. One less thing to hide from her brother.
She opened her laptop.
Rory arched an eyebrow. "Working still?"
"Every day in every way. Gina was right about cutting short on personnel during a tour."
"What do you mean by cutting short on personnel?"
"Bill wouldn't hire a production assistant, which is nuts for a tour this size. We’re all having to fill the gaps."
Rory looked away, and he grunted in disapproval.
"I never liked Bill," said Rory. "And I'm liking him less each day."
"You always get grumpy on the road after a few nights of no sleep."
"Well, I'm grumpier this time around. Seriously, this schedule is going to kill us."
"But, as Dev says, this is your big break."
"Yes," he said sourly. "Our big break. So why are we being treated like kids by our manager?"
It was a rhetorical question that she wasn’t a
bout to answer. The band already had enough members to muddy the waters with opinions. They didn’t need another captain trying to steer that ship.
"Where is Dev, anyway?" she asked, trying to keep her tone light.
"He and Connor are line dancing," her brother said, gesturing toward the dance floor ten yards away. "Really, Bug, you should get a picture of that. That would be hilarious for the website."
Cheri looked up from the laptop to see Dev and Connor in the front line, matching the movements of the other, more seasoned dancers, step for step. She shook her head in amazement. Some people were naturally gifted that way. She had two left feet but Rory was right. As good as Dev and Connor were making it look, their fans would eat it up.
She hopped up.
"You know what? I think this would make a great video." Grabbing her phone from her purse, she stood at the edge of the dance floor pointing her phone toward Dev and Connor as they danced to the country western band playing on the stage.
She’d always found men that could dance sexy and, right now, Dev Lachlan was looking extremely sexy. His strong legs moved deftly and with precision, and the lightning turns of the dance took her breath away.
She was still watching, her heart pounding with every move, when someone sidled up next to her.
"You with the band?" said a low, masculine voice. Cheri looked up to see a man with sandy hair, blue eyes and a broad grin towering over her.
"Uh, yes. I handle their social media."
"Wicked. I'm Steve.” He stuck out a hand and she shook it. “And you’re Cheri,” he said with a grin, nodding toward her shirt. “Want to dance?"
"Well, I'm working right now."
He shrugged. "I'll wait. Want a drink?"
The band had stopped playing and she waited for Dev to look her way, but the woman next to him had taken opportunity of the lull and threw her arms around him.
And he didn’t pull away as the band shifted gears, playing a romantic ballad obviously meant for couples. The dark-haired woman clung to Dev's neck and they started to dance, bodies so close that a piece of paper couldn't fit between them.
Her stomach twisted into a knot and she faced Steve with a pasted-on smile.
Hard Sell: A Bad-Boy, Rock Star Romance Page 22
