Dean

The guitar vibrates through the speakers on both sides of me. Doesn’t matter to me I’m playing with my old band, jamming to some country. I’m beating my drums, tapping my foot, and sweat is pouring down the sides of my face. Living the dream and doing the one thing the man whose roof I lived under while growing up tried embedding in my mind I wasn’t good enough to do.

You’re nothing but a waste of air. Nothing to nobody. Even your own mother didn’t love you. Punk-ass, snot-nosed kid. Can’t stand the sight of you. Ungrateful little shit. I should toss you out and see how much you cry then. Crying ain’t for men, boy. You’d be wise to learn. Now, bend over and take this belt to your ass and keep your mouth shut. Gonna teach you how to be a man.

You have no idea how wrong you were, Uncle Clay. I’m a father, more of a man than you ever were, one hell of a drummer, and one of these days, I’m going to find a woman who loves me. I hope your bones have burned to ash, you sick fuck.

I close my eyes to grab hold of a strong connection I gain with something beyond myself whenever I think of my childhood. My thoughts immediately go to my kids and the talent Landon inherited to play the drums. The kid could create some rhythm, and what we crafted together while Leila belted at the top of her lungs, I’ll carry with me forever.

At this moment, that is all I can think about, all I think would ease my tortured mind; until I open my eyes and a certain black-haired, tempting angel stands at the bar, her hips hidden underneath black leather, long, long legs ending in red heels and a cream-colored top that has my mouth watering to nibble all over her bare shoulders. It’s her. I know it is. Tatum Fields.

I shake off the sweat that’s dripping into my eyes, and I’ll be Goddamned if, when I catch a glimpse of her profile, my dick has the same reaction as it did when I saw her the other day. Only this time, he’s pounding with a vicious bang against my zipper.

“Of all the bars in this city, this just so happens to be the one she comes to. Thank you, daughter of mine,” I whisper as my hands guide my sticks across the middle drum and end on a roll.

There’s something about Tatum that caught my eye at the hospital. It caught more than that, really. Whatever it is hooked me in my gut, and it’s been pulling taut since.

The fucked-up thing is, I don’t know jack shit about her personally. That’s all about to change, though. Starting tonight.

I felt the power-surging chemistry rage right through me when she walked by me at the hospital. It’s climbing now that we’re in the same room again.

It tugged so damn hard the other day that I lied and said I needed to hit the bathroom about thirty seconds after she walked out of Joslyn’s room, and with every step I got closer to her as she stood by the elevators, it wasn’t just my dick that felt that tug and pull. It was my entire being. I fought with myself not to haul her to me and crush my mouth to hers. I know she had to have felt it. Craziest shit I’ve felt in my life, and I’ve been trying to figure it out for days.

The beautiful little candy shop owner shocked the shit out of me when Leila called me after her first day of work to tell me Tatum told her about our encounter on the beach. I found it odd she didn’t mention who she was engaged to, though. That’s a question I need answered. I ended up filling Leila in with my side of the story later that night, and she, along with Roman especially, has been riding my ass to call or go see her since.

It was obvious Tatum became flustered by the way she rambled on during our brief encounter. I was shocked when I saw her and a little pissed off when I caught on that she knew who I was, and even more pissed while I sat outside going over the brief explanation of why she hid from me after I dropped Roman, Joslyn, and Nash off at home.

It wasn’t until after I called Roman and he told me why she’s been avoiding me that I calmed down, and now that she’s here, I need to set a few things straight with the woman I can’t get out of my head and gather up enough nerve to ask out.

First thing I’d love to do is taste her cherry red lips.

Damn, she gorgeous. I wanted to stop her from walking out of the hospital, but my thoughts were too compelled about seeing her, my fingers itched, skin prickled with seeing all her beauty. Christ, she’d caused my pulse to skyrocket. There’s something about the way she looked at me that had me craving to get lost inside of her. Silk and seduction. Gracious and good. And yet her sky-colored eyes showed one hell of a side I don’t think anyone has lit a match under.

She wants to burn brightly. Feel alive. And fuck all if I don’t want to go up in flames with her.

Ever since I saw her in the hospital, I’ve been trying to untie my nerves to see her because I want to know her in more ways than physically, and a woman as beautiful and intriguing as her mixed with the things I’ve fantasized doing to her over the past few weeks is the best thing for my hands. They are getting one hell of a workout and more callouses from meeting my dick than they do from holding my drumsticks.

I want to get to know this woman in a way I can’t explain, and I need to figure it out, or I’m going to be one hell of an angry fucker. Specifically, when I’ve been working side by side at the studio with Brock constantly talking about needing to get laid.

There is more to this woman who has an ass I’d like to make mine, long legs, tits that will fit perfectly in my hands, and a face that makes me whimper. She is too gorgeous for her own good, and mine. For the life of me, I can’t figure out this demanding attraction I feel toward her. It’s enough to drive me insane.

There’s more to it, you dumbass. Like you might go out of your Goddamn mind if you don’t talk to her again, and losing your shit will drive everyone in the band crazier than they already are. Especially Brock. The seedy little bastard caught on to my grumpy mood the next morning after I bumped into the woman I thought I’d never see again.

Roman, the little fucker that he is, knows me, and when I started asking him how well he knew her, he simply shrugged, baited me with a cheesy grin, and shared what I had already assumed. The fact she’s been over to their house several times.

“She isn’t avoiding me anymore after tonight, that’s for damn sure.”

I never told anyone about the incident on the beach, but when I told them what I witnessed and had done, they were as shocked as I was when we found out the woman is one and the same. Joslyn had no problem with tossing in her two cents either by confirming without me asking that Tatum is single.

“You are a dumb fuck for choosing a job over her, Sam. I’ll thank you later for it.” Once I know for sure she’s over him, that is.

The crowd disperses from the dance floor as we finish up our last set. This old, run-down place saved my life. Jake, the owner, turned out to be like a father to me. Miss that crazy dude and his even crazier wife. They take off to Florida for the winter. Won’t return until the end of next month. I owe him my life.

I remained working here after the kids were born. I cooked during the day to make the extra cash to help take care of the kids. Played the drums with these guys on the weekends. That is until Roman waltzed in, and after several days of talking and a shit ton of whiskey, he convinced me to take a chance on him, and look where we are today. Sitting on top of the charts with a backlist of number-one rock and roll songs. I owe Roman as much as I do Jake.

This place will always be home to me, and these guys I jam with whenever I get the chance are an important part of my life. They all helped me lift my spirit from the far corner of hell.

“Always a good time, Dean. I see Leila at the bar. She’s quite the nice-looking young woman.” Not too many men have the balls to say that to me. Most of them who look at her have my blood boiling, but Tyler doesn’t have eyes for anyone but his wife.

“She is, quite the handful, too.” I place my sticks in my back pocket, wipe the sweat off my face, and shake my head with a smile when Leila glances in my direction. I’ll have to thank her after I chew her ass out for being a sneaky little shit.

“I’m going to talk to her.” I watch him jump off the stage and walk up to them. Leila greets him with a smile and a hug while Tatum leans across the bar, giving me the perfect view of her ass.

“Fucking Christ.” I push my hair out of my face, my balls pulling tight when she leans farther over and points to something. She shakes her head, and her thick bundle of pitch-black hair flies all around. If I knew her well enough, I would grab a handful, jerk her head back, and press my cock into her tight ass.

And I know for sure it’s tight by the way that leather stretches across the cheeks of her bottom. When she uprights herself, my cock starts to cry as I get my fill of her. Wouldn’t matter to me if she were tall, short, blonde or a redhead. She screams perfection to me.

Everything about her is exquisite.

I sit up straighter when she turns toward Tyler, and her slender arms start moving as she appears to get lost in a conversation with him and Leila. I stay right where I am because I’m as stupid as they come. The way my nerves are chomping away at the ends, you would think I was sixteen instead of the ripe age of forty-one.

“I happen to know she’s a fan.”

“Jesus Christ. You scared the shit out of me,” I respond and take in the woman standing next to me. Her long black hair is pulled off to the side in a ponytail; her sharp, clear-blue eyes and bone structure are nearly the same as Tatum’s. She has to be her sister. “And you know this how?”

“I’m her sister, Erica. Don’t tell her I said this, but ever since she ran into you at the hospital, you are all she talks about. It took a lot of convincing from your daughter and me to get Tatum out tonight. You know what was funny, though? The minute Leila said you were playing, she changed her mind and started to get ready to go. Don’t waste time sitting on your ass. Go get her. I see the way you’re looking at her. I promise she’ll say yes.” She confirms what I thought about them being related; she just blew my mind with the rest of her admission.

Her sister saunters away, strides toward them, and I watch Leila glance my way before she walks off with Erica.

“What the ever-loving fuck has my kid gone and done?” I grumble as I jump down and make my way to the bar.

Tatum pays the bartender, spins on her heels, and rakes her sinful eyes I’d easily let cast a spell down my body. By the times they roam back up to my face, I see mischief, intrigue, and a handful of temptation when they lock with mine.

Goddamn, she is stunning. A man’s wet dream in the middle of a nightmare.

This woman has no idea that she’s been on my dirty mind. She’s different than most women I’ve dated in the past. Hell, I’ve never really dated. I’m the man out of all of us who goes to parties, award ceremonies, and everywhere else alone. I end up hooking up with someone half the time, or at least I used to.

“Hello again, Dean. I’m not into country, but watching you might have changed my mind,” she claims with an evil grin.

You probably haven't been thinking about me the way I’ve been thinking about you, or have you?

She tilts her head, and I swear I can see the pulse quicken in the veins on her delicate neck. God, this woman undoes me in a way that twists me up. She’s a violent, unexpected storm that could either wreck me or change its course and bring light into the dark world I live in.

For a single moment, I lose the tightness in my chest. It all comes rushing back when she brings her hand up and catches a trail of sweat that’s running down my temple, her teeth sinking into her bottom lip, her capturing blues sinking into mine.

“I’m not a big fan of country music myself anymore. It’s good to see you, too. I’m surprised. Happily,” I add. “How much have you had to drink?”

She doesn’t answer right away; she tips her glass back, drains it, and fuck all if I don’t envision those red-stained lips wrapped around my dick instead of the glass.

“Not much. That was my last one. Why?”

Because I’d like to kiss you and see if you feel the same thing I do.

“I’d like to talk to you for a bit, prefer to do it when both of us are sober.” Her eyes, those gorgeous mirrors to a soul I can tell would stretch a mile to go out of her way to help someone, rock my world higher than anything has in fucking forever. I can feel them jabbing at my insides like she’s really trying to see her way inside me, and not the version of the famous drummer.

It’s perfectly clear to me she doesn’t give a shit what I do for a living, and a big part of me is impressed.

“I’d like that. We could go outside. Give me a minute.” Now would be the time I’d head out to smoke. I left them at home. Still haven’t quit completely. This woman, though, has me craving one just to calm my nerves.

“Hey, Dad. I told Tatum you would take her home. I’m going to go.” My girl strides up to me with the cat’s meow spread across her face.

“Hey, sweetheart. You did, huh? You sure she wants me to take her?” I shoot her a sly grin.

“Yes. She’s perfect for you. I told you, it’s fate.”

“That you did. Drive careful. Lunch tomorrow. Don’t forget.”

“I won’t. Love you,” she says as she cracks a victorious smile. All I can do is shake my head. Not sure what the hell is happening here, but I’ll go with it.

“I’m fairly certain your daughter is trying to play matchmaker,” Tatum conveys.

Fuck, I can’t breathe.

“That she is.” I take hold of her hand and guide her out the back toward my truck, help her in, and walk round the front. I climb in, crank the engine, and punch her address into the GPS when she rattles it off.

We drive a couple of blocks before I break the silence.

“Going to be honest here. I’ve been thinking about you non-stop. Don’t know much about you at all, but I want to know everything. Not sure what possessed you to go into the water that night. I know what drove you there, and he’s a Goddamn fool for taking advantage of you. My name is Dean Wagner, I have a daughter who means everything to me, and there’s something about you, Tatum Fields. Something special that I’d be an idiot to let pass me up.” Fuck, I hope I don’t sound like an idiot.

“You saved my life, and I should have thanked you for it a long time ago.” I swallow hard, leaving a lump in my throat. Her words are spreading like wildfire through my veins. Valentine’s Day will always be a constant reminder of my son. Nash’s birth and running into Tatum give me hope that even the saddest of days can be coated with happiness.

I’m not the type of man to pour salt into a wound. I keep my thoughts to myself, but when she shifts in her seat and stares out the window, I get every meaning behind her words. I saved her while the man she was supposed to marry stood there and did nothing. That had to have killed her more than him keeping his secret from her.

Every time I think about that piece of shit, anger flares through me and lights a fire under my ass. What he did to me is nothing compared to what he did to her.

“I was at the beach for a reason. Thought it was to visit my son. My kids loved that place. After Landon died, Leila and I walked out on the pier and let his ashes go. It’s strange how I kept sitting there that day asking him to talk to me and he wouldn’t. I think he kept quiet because he knew you needed my help. Sounds crazy, but if he had been talking to me, I might not have seen you.” I silently thank Landon. The kid was looking out for her and for me in ways that have me thinking back to Leila talking about fate. I could be all wrong about this weird sensation that has me drawn to this woman. The thing is, I could be right, too, and that’s something I won’t let go of.

The air grows thick. Emotions fly all over the place, and I’m utterly enthralled with this woman. I don’t think anyone could drag me away from her right now if they tried. Beauty glows around her. A circle of blinding light so bright it nearly has me pulling over.

“My mother used to take my sister and me to that beach all the time. It’s another thing we have in common. I didn’t feel right not telling Leila I knew you. I didn’t want to step on your toes or dredge up painful memories about Sam. I didn’t tell her it was him. I’m so sorry about your son, Dean.” She doesn’t elaborate, and the sincerity in her tone clenches my gut.

The irony isn’t lost on me about how much common ground we share. Might be a good thing, or, in the end, we might combust. I sure as hell need to find out.

I debate about telling her I met her sister. Decide I’ll let it go for now.

This pull toward her comes in full force, tugging so damn tight I can barely breathe. This strange notion seeps into my brain, speaking to me loud and clear. Telling me I need to kiss her in a bad way.

I pull into her drive and climb out, deciding to keep the lights on because I don’t want to miss a single thing when it comes to her expression. I don’t care how crazy what I’m about to do might be. I yank open the door, help her out, and pull her right into my chest.

She gasps when the tips of her fingers come in contact with my nipple rings, and I watch her eyes change from light to a heated, smoldering dark blue. My cock is definitely going to be seeing my hand again tonight. This time with the perfect vision of her intense erotic gaze.

God, we are so fucking close that I can smell a slight trace of her perfume. Something light and flowery reminding me of sunflowers.

“No one out of my inner circle has ever looked out for my daughter before. Thank you.” She has no idea how sincere I am.

When her eyes scan my face and drop to my lips, the wide-open outdoors closes in on me. That pull and tug take over, and it’s right then I know she can feel it, too. Strange how I’ve seen this woman at her lowest, and yet right now the woman in front of me is confident and sure of herself.

“You’ve done well with her.”

“I’ve done the best I can. I’m done talking, Tatum.”

I lean into her, my other hand coming up to grip the back of her neck. Don’t have any control over what I’m doing. Control left me when those elevator doors closed and I stood there staring at my reflection. Wondering what in the hell was going on. How I could feel something for a woman with little words spoken between us? A woman I had two brief encounters with.

I drop my gaze to her parted lips, and if there was even an ounce of control left inside of me, it disappears in the thick, foggy confines of the air.

Eagerness to get my mouth on hers hardens every inch of my body, and before I know it, my mouth slams on hers and I back us up until I have her against my truck.

Her mouth is greedy, her tongue darts out, and passion takes over. Hot and fiery. Demanding and deep.

And God help me, I don’t want to pull away.

I kiss her, and the world falls away. This isn’t a soft and slow first kiss. It’s hard and fast. Our tongues are twisting, and lips are bruising. This woman is full of passion. It runs deep inside of her; I can feel it hit my dick with every talented swipe of her tongue. Comforting in ways that words spoken or unspoken never would be. Pure, unbridled comfort.

I shift my hand to rest just below her ear, thumb caressing her cheek as our breaths collide. I eagerly want to press myself into her, and I nearly do when she places her hands on my back, her fingers trailing down my spine, pulling me closer until there’s barely any space left between us. “Shit,” I mutter as I force myself to pull away. “I should apologize for that, but I won’t.”

“I wouldn’t accept your apology, not when I want you to kiss me again.”