I leaned back on the ratty couch in our rehearsal space and folded my arms. Sunday afternoons always dragged by, and this one was going even slower than usual. Tyler and Dan had already split, but Joey was plucking out a few notes on his bass guitar, and Walt was pacing back and forth. He wasn’t happy with me.
Hell, even I wasn’t happy with me. My sex life had gone to shit since I’d banged Charlotte up against the wall in her expensive apartment. I couldn’t get her off my mind. I’d gone back to her building a few days later, but by then, she’d moved, and I had no way to find her.
Surrounded by willing groupies, and all I could do was think about a woman whose last name I didn’t even know.
“Explain it again, Walt,” I said. “Because I’m still not getting it.”
Walt stopped pacing and turned on his heel, glaring at me.
“What’s not to get?” he snapped. His thick Scouse accent was stronger now, which was a sure sign that he was seriously pissed off. “You’ve been a right mess for the last three months, Kyle, and I’m getting bloody sick of it.”
I shrugged and spread my hands. “So what do you want me to do about it?”
He shook his head and glowered. “You’re not doing anything,” he said. “We’re well past that. Now it’s my turn.” He pointed a thick finger at me, and I raised both eyebrows. “You’re getting a PA.”
Joey lifted his head and blinked at me. “You’re gonna put a metal spike through your dick, man?”
Walt snarled at him. “A personal assistant, you git. Not a fuckin’ Prince Albert.”
“Oh.” Joey went back to his Fender. It was a gorgeous instrument, but it was pretty new, and he was still playing around with the sound. “I wouldn’t get a spike through my dick,” he muttered.
Walt ignored him.
“So this personal assistant,” I said, cocking my head to the side. “What’s he do, exactly?”
“She,” Walt corrected me, and Joey snorted softly. I glared at him. The rest of the band had been ribbing me about not fucking any of the groupies who were constantly hanging around the studio. The last thing I needed was another woman to annoy me. “She’ll keep your schedule. Manage your appointments, make sure you get to rehearsals on time.”
I rubbed my chin, scratching at the rough bristles. It had been a few days since I’d shaved. “So, a road wife.”
“No, a bloody PA,” Walt growled. “Fucking you is not in her job description.”
I rolled my eyes. “So, a babysitter.”
Walt exploded. “Look, if you don’t like it, you can fucking leave.” He threw his hands up. “You’ve got a killer voice, Kyle, but if you can’t get your shit together, it’s over.”
My phone rang, and I pulled it out of my back pocket, glaring at Walt the whole time. Glancing down at the screen, I saw the name, and my chest tightened.
Wendy.
“I gotta take this,” I said, standing up and crossing the room. I turned away from Joey and Walt and picked up. “What’s he done, little sister?” Wendy and I never bothered with hellos. They’d become a waste of time, especially since she could only call me if her husband was passed out drunk on the couch.
“Nothing.” She was whispering. “I just wanted to hear your voice.”
“Oh, Wendy.” I sighed heavily. “When’s the last time you were out of the house?”
“Two weeks ago,” she murmured. “When we met at the diner.”
I growled softly. “I’m coming to get you.”
“No!” She lowered her voice again. “No, he’ll kill us both.” I could hear a groan in the background. Her husband must be coming off a bender.
“Wendy,” I said patiently. “I’m twice his size.” It wasn’t the first time I’d wanted to go over there and kick my brother-in-law’s ass. Fuck Walt and his fucking PA. I’d ditch any responsibility for my little sister.
“He’s...” She paused. “He bought a gun, Kyle. Last Saturday. At a gun show.” I sucked in a breath. That made things a little more complicated. And dangerous, especially for her. “Please,” she murmured. “Don’t come over.”
I didn’t even realise I’d clenched my hand into a fist until I felt the ache where my nails bit into the skin of my palm.
“All right,” I said reluctantly. “I miss you, little sister.”
“I miss you too, tough guy.” Another pause, and she took a slow, shaky breath. “Did you... did you ever find that girl?”
I sighed again. Wendy was the only one I trusted, and I’d told her all about Charlotte. About her voice and her body and the way my chest had started to ache when I’d kissed her.
“No,” I said softly. “And I don’t think I’m ever going to.”
Wendy chuckled, and it felt good to hear. She hadn’t laughed in years.
“You were always the lucky one, Kyle,” she said. “She’ll turn up. She has to.”
I smiled, though she couldn’t see it. “You’re such a romantic, Wendy.”
I could hear her asshole husband in the background. He was yelling her name, like he was looking for her.
“I have to go,” she whispered.
I ground my teeth together in frustration. “I know,” I said. “But I need to see you, make sure you’re all right.” The bastard’s voice was getting louder. I didn’t have much time. “Call me the second he passes out again.”
“I will,” she said, and the line went dead.
I hung up and stared at the phone, terrified for her. Tony had beaten her up enough times that her nose was crooked and she was permanently missing one of her front teeth. But she still wouldn’t leave him, and I couldn’t understand why. I wasn’t ready to go to another funeral so soon after the last one. Unless it was his.
Behind me, Walt was introducing someone to Joey.
“Joey, this is Miss Charlotte Reid.”
My head shot up. Charlotte?
“What,” Joey said, “like the spider?”
A familiar voice answered with a sigh, like she was sick of being asked that question.
“Yes, like the spider.”
I slowly turned around, and my jaw almost hit the floor.
Charlotte.
She still had those roller-coaster curves that set my blood on fire and made my cock swell up. She was dressed in smart business clothes – a black pencil skirt and blazer, with a powder blue blouse that might have been silk. Her black hair was swept up in a loose bun at the nape of her neck, but a few strands brushed her face. My dick throbbed, remembering the feel of those long curls caressing my skin as I drove into her. She was wearing narrow glasses with baby blue frames, and even from across the room, I could see that they brought out the colour in her eyes.
Walt turned to me and pointed.
“And that lazy wanker is Kyle Chase, one of our lead singers.” He glared at me. “He’s your new assignment.”