by Thia Finn
Ryan spoke up. “Let’s do this. I’ve got places to be. Hayden’s got both boys this afternoon, and Peri and I are going to have the whole fucking house to ourselves the whole damn evening. There are a few locations left to christen in our new house.”
When Krissy walked away and left Hayden with his son, poor kid had nowhere to go to raise the little dude. It was a good thing Peri was a saint because I knew she did not want to take in Krissy’s kid after all the shit she put Peri and Ryan through. What Krissy did was fucked up in my opinion, but Ryan, Peri, and Hayden were doing great with the situation.
Chandler made an awful noise. “That’s TMI, Ryan. We could go all day without knowing that since we’re always at your house. I’ll never look at your couch the same way.” Chandler had the nerve to roll her eyes and make gagging noises. After all the places they’ve had sex on our tour bus and the times we’ve all caught them bare naked running around on it? How could she judge the rest of us?
“Okay, let’s play this last song one more time, and if we can nail it down, we’re done.” KeeMac drew us back, and we finished practice.
Lola was going to be at the house in a few hours. I wanted everything to be perfect for her and the crazy girls while they were here. After our set at the festival on Saturday night, our label planned a big party to celebrate the success of our last CD release which went platinum. An epic party would be perfect for those chicks to have some fun. I had no clue who the label invited, but with all of the extra bands in town for the festival. I knew there would be some people the girls would find exciting to meet and young enough to be perfect for them. Maybe even some of those new bands Cash scouted would attend.
I planned to take Lola home and spend some quality alone time with her. We only had one night in Paris, but believe me; it was a night to remember. I don’t know if those French guys she dated were freaks in bed or not, but she sure was, and I planned to let her bring out that inner freak every chance I got … at least for the next two weeks.
She was the kind of woman my dad always said I needed to find, a lady on the street and a ho in the bed. I used to laugh at him when he said that because I could never, ever picture my mother being that, but he told it to me from the time I was old enough to date girls. “Son, find a respectable woman to bring home to your momma, but if she’s not full of adventure in the bedroom, then ditch her ‘cause you’ll get bored in no time with your short attention span.” After that, he used the “ho in the bed” phrase every damn time I went on a date.
My old man was full of useful sayings. Like, don’t date someone you wouldn’t consider marrying ‘cause you never know what might happen. He’d say that just before handing me a new box of condoms. My dad took care of it since he knew I probably would never think of it until it was too late. It was a good thing we had a close relationship when I was growing up.
My parents married at twenty-two and fresh out of college. She was his college sweetheart, and he still chased her around the house all of the time. Their actions were embarrassing when I was in high school, and my friends came over, but they all got used to it. At least my parents still loved each other. They still went at each other like they were horny teenagers, and that was exactly the kind of relationship I wanted if I ever have a wife. He must know what he was talking about when it comes to finding a wife, at least a little bit. (And here I am talking about my mom being a ho, which is wrong on so many levels.)
We managed to get the new music down pretty quickly now that we-as in me-were all on board with other places to be. I hopped on my Fat Boy Harley as soon as we finished. I enjoyed riding around Austin, but I fucking loved riding that hog in the hill country west of Austin. I planned for Lola and me to take a few days and hit the back roads. It was beautiful and quiet with all kinds of great places to stop along the way. The Texas vineyards, romantic inns, and small roadside restaurants dotted the country. It was perfect for getting away with Lola. I didn’t know where my mind was lately, thinking about this romantic shit. Maybe we were on the road too damn long on this last tour.
I pushed the button for my garage door and turned to see an Infiniti rolling in my driveway through the gate. I had to hold myself back because all I wanted to do was run and grab her. I swear I didn’t know what the fuck had gotten into me. I never wanted to be with the same girl twice, but since meeting her in Paris and then reconnecting with her, it was as though I was obsessed with seeing her.
She stepped out of the pearl white SUV and the look that greeted me almost took my breath away. She was even more beautiful than I remembered. Her long blonde hair was a mass of soft curls falling down around her. In Paris it was dark, but it was still the kind I wanted to wrap my hands in and pull her to me. I wanted to kiss her until neither of us could breathe. Her gorgeous dark chocolate eyes had gold flecks in them, making it look like they glowed. The color was completely different from the dark depths I stared into in Paris. Damn, I was one lucky guy right this minute because no matter what she had changed, she was still the stunningly beautiful woman I spent one fantastic night enjoying.
I guess I looked like an idiot standing there staring at her because she finally made a noise, and I came to my senses. I moved in to hug her, and she wrapped her arms around me returning the embrace which made me feel even better. I said some lame shit about being happy to see her when what I truly wanted to do was kiss her into tomorrow. “So glad you’re finally here.”
“Yes, me too. It was a long drive with all of the noise in the car.”
I looked over her head and saw the culprits who provided the sound. Beautiful young women stepped out every door. The ones who could get a guy in trouble in a heartbeat. They looked and dressed like they stepped out of a fashion shoot. I logged the thought in my brain to remind Carter what jail bait looked like because it might be living at my house for a few days if I could talk her into staying longer. And these girls were fucking gorgeous. Every single one of them was going to give some poor fucker nothing but trouble in the near future, and Carter didn’t need to be one of them.
He may be my best damn friend and had been my wingman and sometimes partner in our multi-friend sexcapades but this would be a big hell no for him this time. The bad part was the guy couldn’t help himself when it came to beautiful young women. He loved them young, but even he drew the line with underage, thank God. That was something the band did not fucking need to deal with no matter how hard the girls tried to make it happen.
When I told him who was coming today, he started talking about what time he needed to make his grand appearance. I told him to keep his horn dog, dumbass, away from my house even though he had a key and could come in anytime. I suppose I was glad they wouldn’t be staying here for the whole visit.
Lola and I barely pulled apart, and I asked, “So, are all of these girls already twenty-one? I wouldn’t want to have any problem if the paparazzi showed up knowing I was housing a bunch of beautiful underage women. Shit like that leaks quickly, and the outcome isn’t pretty on TMZ. I can see it now. AD’s drummer feeding alcohol to underage females. People will draw all kinds of wrong conclusions.”
I hadn’t let go of her yet. My arm wrapped around her waist as we both stared at the group. If I had my way, I would be touching some part of her body for the next two weeks or longer. God, she was even more beautiful than I remembered.
“Yes, Journey was the last to turn twenty-one, and technically that was yesterday, so no underage girls.”
“That’s good to know, but they look so young still.”
She turned and looked at me with electric gold currents bolting out of her eyes, and I knew I was a goner. I wanted so badly to scoop her up and carry her off to bed but damn it; there were five girls preparing to walk through my door. The look she gave me made me think she might be okay with my idea. I might have misread it, but I felt like she was sending some strong messages through those sparks. I hoped I read them correctly.
Well, shit. I was in so much trouble. I knew w
hen he stepped off his motorcycle this was going to be an interesting visit. Gunner Wallace was too hot for his own good or mine, and I had him all to myself for the next couple of weeks. Yes, this was going to rate up there with one of the best times of my life.
“Thank you so much for having us tonight, Gunner,” I said as one--by--one the girls moved from the car to the house and turned to look at him. I immediately spotted what was happening in those brains, and the answer was HELL NO, BITCHES, he’s all mine. I felt like a damn fangirl, but they needed to know he was off limits.
“Girls, this is Gunner Wallace, our host until our house is ready tomorrow.” I wanted it to sound formal so the girls would understand. “Gunner, this is my sister, Journey.” She was the only important one that I wanted him to know, and I figured she could introduce the rest of her friends on her own.
“Hey, Journey. It’s great to meet you.” He shook the hand she offered to him, but nothing came out of Journey’s mouth except her tongue to lick her lips. If she only knew how badly she looked eye fucking him. Oh, wait, I probably looked the same way. I turned and smiled at him and then looked back at her
“Journey?” I grabbed her by the arm and gave it a little shake.
“What?” Still, she couldn’t take her eyes off Gunner’s face. Talk about fangirling. I was sure her embarrassment grew with each passing second.
“JOURNEY!” I shouted and shook her hard this time.
“Oh, uh, sorry. Hello, Gunner. It’s so very nice to meet you finally. I’ve heard a lot about you from Lola. Thanks for allowing my friends and me to stay here. Your home is beautiful. I love Austin already. We talked all the way here about how excited we are to go to the Assured Distraction concert. Do all the band members look like you? I know it was a lot for Lola to ask to get us backstage passes and all, but I really appreciate what you’ve done and—”
“Journey, you can shut up now.” Open floor and swallow her now, please. She couldn’t stop herself from talking. The other girls stood mute and motionless. Gunner was smokin’ hot and all, but damn, I was getting more mortified by their actions and with each stupid word that fell out of Journey’s mouth. Word vomit took on a whole new meaning for me.
“Oh, sorry. Let me just shoot myself now.” And with that, she proceeded to turn six shades of red. Gunner laughed out loud at her comments. I guess he was used to this with fans.
“Why don’t you introduce your friends, and then I’m sure he will want to show you all where to put your things for the night?” I turned and gave him an apologetic look, but he just smirked at me and then at the girls. Yeah, I might have claimed him, but he might change his mind with all of these girls anxious to have him, too. The beauties hanging on to every glance in their direction. Damn, I wish I had thought more about this idea.
“So Gunner,” Journey started on the introductions, “not that you’ll probably remember their names since you meet so many girls all the time.”
I cut her off quickly, “Just get on with it, Journey.” I was starting to get pissed.
“Okay, okay. Don’t get all bitchy first thing, Lola. This is Piper, Lauren, Ivy, and Addie.” They each stood there and smiled like pageant queens, and I was so over this already.
“Hello, ladies. Welcome to my home. I think you’ll love an Austin vacation. It’s nothing like Paris, but it’s a great place all its own.”
I wanted to laugh because he sounded like a visitor’s guide. I decided to help him get this entourage moving forward.
“Gunner, where do you want them to stay?” I turned directly to him, so I could see how he interacted with them. It’s funny because he acted as though he was oblivious to the team of beautiful girls. He was looking at me instead, and I was secretly pleased.
“Yeah, girls, let’s go upstairs and get you all settled.” He picked up my suitcase, took my hand, and led the way. Good. He put them in their place pretty fast with this gesture, and I’m inwardly high fiving myself. I didn’t want to spend the next few weeks with him fending off overzealous college girls. We stopped at the first door on the right, and he opened it to a beautifully decorated bedroom. I didn’t expect him to be into the whole decorating thing, but then I remembered who he was and decided he probably hired someone.
“Uh, I got an extra bed for this room so three of you could stay here and two in the other bedroom if you want. There are two different beds in this room, a king bed, and a day bed, whatever that is.” We all laughed at his comment. I looked at the room with the warm color reminding me of the sun just before it disappeared into the ocean with yellow fading to orange, and I wondered if he had a hand in picking the colors for the room. Maybe the artistic side of his brain held more to it than playing drums. My thoughts were interrupted by the girls.
“Wow,” Piper and Addie said simultaneously, and then they both talked at once. “This is beautiful. Thank you so much for having us. I can’t believe we are staying in a rock god’s house. Squee! It’s freaking awesome. Your taste is so on point for a guy.” I looked at Gunner and rolled my eyes. I knew it was a childish gesture but damn, these girls were pushing my limits on fandom.
Lauren decided to stay with them, leaving the other room for Ivy and Journey. He opened the door to another exquisite bedroom. The décor here was all in white. Satin pillows abounded. I would never have expected this from him.
“There’s a bath between these two rooms, so it’s connected for y’all. There’s another bath in the hallway because I know my sisters would never be able to have that many females in one bathroom at a time.”
“Oh,” Ivy jumped in the conversation, “how many sisters do you have?” I couldn’t tell if she was actually interested or just wanted her chance to talk to him.
“Three, one older and two younger. It was me against girls in my house every morning.” He smiled, and I assumed he remembered all the fights they had over it. He crossed the hall and opened a door to the other bath to finish the tour.
“Now I’ve saved the best for last.” Walking to the end of the hall, he stopped at another closed door. I felt like I was on the Price is Right game show. What’s behind door number three should I choose to accept it? He opened the door, and I was speechless. An over-sized four poster king bed, done in black, white, and gray, dominated the room. I didn’t know what I expected, but this was not it. It was a completely masculine, bachelor bedroom from top to bottom, including mirrors on the ceiling. I was clueless as to what to say without embarrassing both of us. He looked at me, and I knew he expected a response.
“Wow, Gunner. It’s definitely a man’s bedroom.”
He started laughing at me. “What?” He paused waiting for a comeback. “The truth is the house was decorated and furnished when I bought it. I don’t know anything about that kind of stuff, so I told the realtor that’s what I wanted, something ready to live in, and this is what I got.” He turned and looked at the five girls now staring from the doorway.
Journey spoke up first. “Interesting what you’ve done with this room, Gunner.” She stared at the mirrors as she walked further into the room. When she climbed on the bed, I squealed.
“What are you doing? Get off his bed.” In two steps I stood beside it ready to pull her off, but she had other ideas. She wasted no time running her hands over everything satin: sheets, comforter, pillows, everything.
“You know I’m a touchy feely person, Lola. I’ve got the tactile gene.” She looked at her sisters in crime. “Y’all have to see this whole mirror thing. I need one night in this room.”
“Get off of his bed, Journey!” I was completely mortified at this point as she stared into the mirrors. The other girls moved and stood beside the bed and looked up.
“Chill, Lola. I’m not hurting anything, but it does feel scrumptious,” she stated as she slid off the bed and looked at Gunner and then at me. “I just imagine you’ll understand what I’m talking about.” With that comment, she strolled out of the room with a smile that would light up a photographer’s old da
rk room. “Come on girls. I spotted a lagoon pool out back, and it’s calling our name.” Her entourage followed her out the bedroom door.
“I’m so sorry, Gunner. The girl knows no boundaries.” I turned from the bed, and as he leaned against the doorjamb looking at me, his gaze turned into a stare and then a smile that could melt the panties off my body. I didn’t know what was going on in that brain of his, but my time here could get more interesting very quickly. If I wasn’t thinking about jumping him before, I could hardly wait to get him alone now.
“Lola, let me show you to your room.” He took my hand and led me down to the room across from the two girls’ room. He opened the door, and all I could do was gawk. It was all done in blues and yellows. I loved it immediately. Gunner followed me in and set my suitcase on the bed.
“The view here is great in the morning because it overlooks my favorite part of this house, the pool. I love being in the water. I hope we’ll be trying the pool out while you’re here.” My eyes were drawn to the window, as he opened the plantation shutters. This room was freaking gorgeous, and the only view I saw was him in front of those windows with arms stretched above his head adjusting the wooden shutters. Those sculptured biceps covered in colored ink, stretched out from the tight sleeves of his t-shirt and were mouthwatering.
I caught her ogling me when I turned from the windows, but she quickly recovered and started sounding like Journey.
“Looks great to me, Gunner. I want to thank you for letting me bring total chaos to your home, which is beautiful by the way. I love the open rafters and beams and all the stone. It’s a perfect hill country home in Austin.” I stood and watched as she made her way to the window, so glad to have her finally here. Damn, I hoped she felt the same.
“Yeah, when the realtor opened the door, and I walked in and saw the huge open spaces, I immediately knew this was the house for me. I loved the rustic style, but I had no clue how to decorate a house, so I was glad she found one all ready to live in. It’s a big house for just me, but I wanted to invest my earnings in something that will last forever.”
