Chapter 5
Jett
She’s staring at me from across the room. Definite interest. That’s more than I expect this early in the afternoon. I’ve got the next two days off. It’s our first real break since the tour started, and I want to make the most of it. Life on the road so far has been a great time. But it’s also a hell of a fucking grind.
The rest of the guys are still sleeping. I tried that, but the afternoon sun’s too bright. I’m too restless to stay in bed.
Alone, that is. I need something to stop my brain bouncing around my skull like oil on a hot skillet. I wanted to spend at least part of my time with Dylan, in a repeat performance of the other day.
Except he’s disappeared. I haven’t seen him since our show last night, and I hardly saw him even then. He was out there while we played. I was well aware of his presence, even if I couldn’t see him. He never joined us backstage like he usually does, not last night or the night before.
Part of me was a little relieved. Instead of ending my interest in him, the memory of having his lips wrapped around my cock only makes me want him more. I want to get Dylan out of my system. I have to.
Maybe hooking up with him again will do it.
If nothing else, it’ll be a hell of a good time.
But he’s gone. Fuck knows where. So here I am in the hotel bar, looking for some kind of distraction. The very attractive woman a few tables away will do just fine.
I shoot her the best I Want You smile I can muster. I still feel shattered. But the way she’s smiling back at me is already starting to take the edge off.
Even better, her tongue slides over her lips. If I wasn’t on my way over to her already, I might have missed that sexy, suggestive lick.
The closer I get, the more I take in. She’s fucking hot. Sexy dress. Long hair, pulled back. I can’t imagine what she’s doing in a hotel bar this early on a weekday. But then again, this is Manhattan. Twenty-four hour city, and who knows how everyone spends their time. A lot of people don’t act like they have a job to get to.
Which leaves a lot of options open for me. And if I can’t get any sleep, I’m sure as fuck going to be doing something else in bed.
I run my hand through my hair, smoothing it out before I reach her. Somehow I manage to pull up another smile.
She’s checking me out as I make my way over. I can’t tell if she recognizes me or not. I couldn’t care less if she doesn’t.
Just makes it all a little easier if she does.
Just for an instant, her gaze flicks down to my crotch.
Perfect.
I catch her eyes with mine as I gesture at her table. “Do you—”
“Have a seat.”
Bold. I like that. Reminds me of Shayla. Her confidence was always more understated though, not in your face at all. She just knows what she wants and goes for it.
Fuck. I’m not going to ruin this by letting Shayla into my thoughts. Not now.
It’s my first real day off in I don’t know how long. I’m going to enjoy every single minute of it.
I settle in, taking a long drink of the beer I brought over with me. “I’m Jett. Are you staying in this hotel?”
“I’m Arlene. Yes, I’m in town for a conference. It’s my last day here, so I can finally relax. What about you?”
“Yeah, I’m here for a few days too. Relaxing.” She doesn’t know who I am. That’s different. Kind of nice. I can be anonymous. Not a rock star for a couple of hours. Works for me.
She leans in closer. “It’s nice to meet you, Jett. I don’t have a lot of time before I meet some colleagues for dinner.” Her hand moves to my leg.
I need to live in a world where there are more women like her. “This is a nice hotel. I bet you have a great room. Maybe you can show it to me.”
“I’d like that.” Arlene stands up, her long form unfolding before me like a treasure map I want to explore. “I need a moment to freshen up.”
“Take your time.”
She heads off in the direction of the bathroom. Watching her walk away is getting me more in the mood with every passing second. I head up to the bar.
“Irish coffee. No cream.”
The bartender doesn’t bat an eye at my unusual drink request. It’s the first time I’ve never gotten so much as a raised eyebrow about it. But why would you ever waste any space when your glass could be totally full of alcohol and caffeine? Makes no sense.
I’m halfway through the best drink in the world when a woman slides onto the barstool beside me. That was fast. It’s a lot easier to call up a smile for Arlene now, but it freezes on my face when I see that it’s not her.
“Still drinking that mess?”
What the fuck?
It’s Shayla.
It can’t be. There’s no way in hell. I must be imagining her.
But I blink, and nothing changes. It’s her. Sitting here all casual, except for staring at me like she can see right through me. Like it hasn’t been months since we laid eyes on each other. Somehow, she looks even better than I remember. Her hair’s shorter and damn, does it suit her like this. Framing her gorgeous face and bringing out her eyes. I give my head a shake.
I swallow down some more of my favorite drink. The one that she’s always hated. “No reason to stop.”
“How are you, Jett?” Her eyes are the prettiest blue I’ve ever seen. No-one can compare to her. Not any woman I’ve met before or since. I always believed we’d be together forever.
But the last thing I need is a girlfriend. Not now. Not ever. Who needs love when you can have all the sex you want? Any time, and any place. No strings. No heartache.
I have no interest in love. Not anymore.
“I’m good. Couldn’t be better. What brings you here, Shayla?” New York is the place you come to when you want to disappear. Not that I’m trying to do that. I just want a change from all the constant attention that being in the spotlight brings, twenty-four seven. This is my day off. My fun day off.
Not international Get Slapped In The Face With My Past day.
“I work a couple blocks away. This is where a few of us come for drinks after work. I finished early today, so I’m here to grab us a good table.”
“You need to do that here?” I glance around the quiet bar. There’s like ten people in the big, wide open space.
“Oh, yeah. It’s dead now. But after six, there’s an instant line to get in. It’s too crazy, and this is our favorite place. I’d ask what you’re doing here, but I heard Tailspin’s in town for a few nights.”
Talking to Shayla like we’re just acquaintances is beyond weird. “Yeah, you heard right. We’re playing at MSG.”
“The Garden.” Her expression softens. “Just like you always wanted. That’s great, Jett.”
“Ready to go?” Arlene’s come up beside me. Her expression changes when she notices Shayla sitting on my other side. Her tone changes, too. “Or are you busy?”
Shayla gazes at her as if the situation is somehow funny. “Don’t let me interrupt anything.”
“You’re not.” I turn to Arlene. “This isn’t really a good time.”
Arlene’s already walking off. “Goodbye, Jett.” She doesn’t even look upset. More like she knows what’s going on here somehow.
Which is funny, since I sure as hell don’t.
I swallow hard. The only thing I know is Shayla. I know every inch of her.
Her lips curl up. “I didn’t mean to derail your hookup.”
I shake my head. I don’t care that much. Not anymore. Shayla’s long legs are distracting me from anyone else in the world but her. Her dark dress is hugging her curves in all the right places.
Every part of my body is waking up at the idea of lifting her up and pinning her to a wall. My lips on her skin. Her fingernails digging into my back.
I don’t feel like this with any other woman. No groupie anywhere ever has this kind of effect on me. I’ve done the research. Tried to find another woman who feels anything close to Shayla.
There’s no-one.
“I have to go.” Shayla slides off the barstool.
I grab her hand. “You just got here.” No matter how over we are, I don’t want to let her go. Not yet. My fingertip traces over her wrist.
“The bar’s filling up. I’ve got to get a table, and then I’m hanging out with my friends. We’re celebrating, actually. There’s two birthdays today.”
She’s eye to eye with me when she’s standing up and I’m sitting on the barstool. Those long legs of hers are making me crazy.
My cock wants to take over and decide everything.
That can’t happen.
Shayla’s gazing into my eyes as if she can see directly into my soul. “Good to run into you, Jett. Weird, but good.”
I have to let her go. “Yeah. You too.”
It’s almost impossible to tear my eyes off her as she walks away. I should be used to her leaving.
I’m not.
She glances over her shoulder. Her sexy mouth curves into a bright smile. It’s only for a moment, before she turns away again. But it’s the best thing I’ve seen in a very long time.