Cadence (Ruby Riot Book 1), page 8
“Where’s Jem?” asks Dylan.
“Fashionably late, as always,” says Bryn. “No idea. Back in the day, he’d be onto his second round of girls by now.”
Liam laughs. “Yeah. All the Phoenix guys have thumbprints on their foreheads now, don’t they?” He winks at Sky. “Bloody women, ruining the band.”
Bryn stands abruptly, and I fall sideways into the spot he vacates. “I need another drink.”
As Bryn walks away, I debate whether to follow him. Dylan steps to one side to let Bryn past; and behind him, I catch sight of Jax, and the slender girl who climbs off his lap.
Chapter Ten
JAX
Sofia heads to the bar and my view of the rest of the room is no longer blocked. Several feet away, Tegan sits on a large sofa with Liam. I swear a flicker of ‘what the fuck’ crosses her face before she looks away again.
Great…
“Why did you have to invite the girls from last night?” I complain to Will.
“He did.” Will points his bottle at Nate.
“Yeah, now Sofia thinks she’s in with another chance,” I say in a low voice. Sofia’s friends remain, chattering in Portuguese as they drink, and I don’t care if they can hear I’m insulting them.
Nate grins and plays with the hem of Lucia’s short skirt. “You seemed keen last night.”
“That was last night. I’ve moved on.”
Seriously, I backed off Sofia last night, lost interest; even with a new invite, she shouldn’t expect a piece of me.
“Heartbreaker!” says Will with a laugh.
“Oh. Right. And this is the beginning of a beautiful relationship is it?” I ask indicating Paula who rests against the edge of the sofa with her legs across Will’s, texting.
“Who knows?” He grins.
I’m damn sure Tegan recognises the girls; and even if she doesn’t, the fact I had one attached isn’t sending Tegan the signal I want. As soon as Sofia arrived, she was all over me, convinced this is her lucky night, and that I’d specifically asked to see her again.
When she settled onto my lap, I shot Will and Nate a dirty look; but as usual, they’re oblivious. I shifted, told Sofia to bring me a drink, and she climbed off again. Will and Nate had enough fun with these girls last night to repeat the experience. Didn’t they say they invited other chicks too? Jesus, this is going to get messy.
I need to walk away before Sofia returns. If she climbs back on my lap, my chances with Tegan are blown. If they’re not already. “I’m grabbing something to eat.”
I head past a group of suits, nodding hello but refusing to talk. I’m surprised by the lack of interest by the industry professionals in the room; there’s little mingling between them and the musicians. Some of the road crew chatted before, but they’ve set up their own corner.
A series of tables covered in a white cloth are spread with a mix of fancy finger foods. I have no idea what half the crap is, and I spy a stack of pizza boxes at the other end. I guess the caterers listened when they asked what we wanted.
Riley stands at the table, delicately placing tiny parcels of pastry, and weird stuff on crackers, onto a plate. She glances at me as I approach. “Having fun?”
I tense, hoping to hell she’s not going to start on me about the half-naked photo shoot she wants me to do. I’ve argued with her every week for a month about this. They want the sex angle. I want the music angle. Of course, I’m flattered they think my body’s worth sharing. I know the effect I have on chicks. Sure, I play this angle to my advantage; but right now, I want to be the musician not the meat. They’re not asking Ruby to strip off. Talk about double standards.
“Yeah. You?” I reply.
“Don’t be so defensive,” she says and nibbles on the edge of her pastry. “I’m not in work mode.”
Sure. This chick is always in work mode.
“You should come and join us, we’re the under-25 gang,” I say with a smile.
She cranes her head and looks over my shoulder. “Quite a gang you have going. Mostly female too, I notice.”
Ignoring Riley’s loaded comment, I grab a slice of pizza from the box. When she doesn’t move, I turn and lean against the table, surveying the room. This really isn’t what I’d call a rock and roll night of debauchery. This is manufactured bullshit.
To my surprise, Tegan approaches the table, and I feign nonchalance as I eat, fixing my eyes on hers. Tegan holds my gaze for a few moments before switching her attention to Riley. Riley holds a second plate out.
“Thanks, I’m starving,” Tegan says. Foregoing the fancy food, she steps closer to help herself to pizza.
As Tegan reaches across, the citrus scent of her hair pulls me back to the moment in the hallway before, but this time she’s unperturbed by my presence.
“Riley was telling me all about you.” Tegan steps back and rests against the table next to me, close enough to indicate she’s not wary of me, but not close enough to touch me.
“Did Riley tell you she spends her time trying to get my clothes off?” I ask Tegan.
“Funny, Jax,” retorts Riley.
Tegan shakes her head. “Poor Jax, pursued by wanton women.”
“Is that right?” I attempt to catch her eye, but she’s side-glancing Riley with a smile.
And she’s back to the old Tegan.
“Jax was inviting me to his under-25s club over in the corner.” Riley points with her plate.
Tegan looks to me. “Where’s my invite?”
She slowly licks tomato sauce from her bottom lip and her mouth twitches into a smile as I focus on the action, the challenge back on.
“I already gave you an invitation, Tegan.”
“Do I get to sit in the famous Jax Lewis’s lap too?” Tegan asks, clutching her chest with mock-excitement.
I pause before responding. Is she referring to Sofia or suggesting in a roundabout way that she’d like to? “Not in front of your brother.”
“Maybe somewhere more private instead?” she whispers.
Her words surprise me until I notice the familiar teasing glint in her eyes. This girl doesn’t know who she’s playing with here.
“Join the queue, because I’ve seen the number he goes through,” says Riley. “Right, Jax?”
“Was it Will or Nate that you’re hot for?” I retort, wishing she’d piss off with her stupid comments. Riley’s cheeks turn pink. “Or do you not care? They look the same and as you’re focused on getting us naked, I guess it doesn’t matter to you.”
“Strangely enough, I’m more interested in what people have to offer when they have their clothes on. You should try it some time.”
“Do you think it’s a good idea to talk to me like that?” I snap.
“Just saying.” Riley looks pointedly at Tegan. “Just so you know.”
I mutter something unpleasant about Riley under my breath and she runs her tongue along her teeth as she looks at me. “Well, I’m joining the ‘cool kids’.” She puts quotation marks around the words with her fingers. “Coming, Tegan?”
“Gotta be a ‘cool kid’ to join, Riley.” I mimic her action. “Not sure you qualify.”
Riley scowls at me, but I’m not in the mood for her. Firstly, she turned me down weeks ago, and secondly, she rubs me up the wrong way. Riley’s the same age as me but acts superior, and can be condescending. Ruby’s not a fan either, so we all have some interesting meetings.
“I’ll see what Nate and Will say,” she says and stalks away.
“That was… enlightening,” remarks Tegan.
“Professional differences.”
“I heard.”
They’ve spoken about me? That pisses me off.
“Having fun?” I ask, turning to face her. “Must be strange not knowing anybody.”
“I make friends easily, doesn’t bother me. Riley seems nice.”
I pull a face and Tegan laughs. I smile back, and she continues eating. What’s the deal here? I’m bloody confused again.
“So, you want to go and chat somewhere on our own?” I suggest.
Tegan pauses mid-chew of her pizza and her eyes widen. She swallows. “Are you serious?”
“Yeah. It’s what you want, right?”
“I don’t know whether to laugh at or be insulted by your proposal, Jaxon.”
Shit, I don’t know how to relate to chicks unless I’m confident they’re interested. “You seemed keen before, things are a bit awkward with your brother around.”
“That was before.”
“What’s changed?”
“I’ve regained my common sense.” She points toward the doorway where Sofia has reappeared. “And you’ve regained your groupies.”
“I didn’t invite her!”
Tegan takes a napkin from the table and wipes her fingers. “It’s all good. You just reminded me why tangling myself with you would be a bad idea.”
I shift closer. “How about one night tangled? I might change your mind?”
Tegan meets my steady look, and the truth she’s trying to hide is there. Nothing has changed from before, and we need to be alone. When Tegan’s focus is on me, the world falls away leaving behind nothing but the need Tegan denies she shares. This girl turns me inside out, and rips rational thought from my mind. How much longer can Tegan pretend I don’t have the same effect on her?
I slide my hand toward hers. Tegan’s reaction to my touch should give me a clue.
“Jaxon Lewis, Miss Sawyer says you’ve been rude to her again!” Will says in a singsong voice as he appears. He elbows me in the ribs, interrupting my hand on its way to Tegan. “You pissed Riley off, you’re in trouble now!”
“Not now, Will,” I mutter.
His mouth makes an ‘o’ shape and he points between us. “Are you two having a moment?”
“Piss off.”
Will laughs. “Living dangerously, man.” He appraises Tegan and stands between us, clapping a hand on each of our shoulders. “We’re organising a little party of our own, you coming?”
Tegan shrugs him off and steps to one side. “Who?”
“Us.” He flourishes a hand in the direction of the growing group of people with Nate, surprisingly including other guys apart from us. “Up for it?”
Tegan wrinkles her nose and looks between us both, then at Bryn and company. “Yeah. Okay.”
“Awesome!” Will hits us both on the back again. “Let’s go!”
He heads off and glances back at us.
“I need a minute,” says Tegan. “I’ll catch up or you can wait.”
“But you’re coming with us?” I say, then regret how over-keen I sound.
Tegan reaches out and pushes a strand of fringe from my brow, her soft fingers brushing my skin. “I was invited, wasn’t I?” she says quietly.
Which invitation is she talking about? I damn well hope Tegan’s gesture means she’s talking about the one I gave her before.
TEGAN
I splash water on my face, lessening the heat in my cheeks and pat my face dry with a paper towel. Why does Jax Lewis have this effect on me? I can only keep him at arm’s length for so long, and then... who knows? Why the hell have I agreed to go to his and the twins’ party? I’m an idiot; we both know where this is leading. I’ve had a couple of beers; time I stopped before my inhibitions loosen. I can be sure I won’t end up in Jax’s bed, but I can’t be sure I won’t end up with my body wrapped around his. I pull out my lip balm and smear it across my lips, tasting the vanilla, dismissing thoughts of what Jax’s mouth tastes like. See? If he knows what lies beneath my sharp-tongued barrier when I’m around him, I’m in trouble.
Jax knows. I’m in trouble.
Wiping my damp hands on the paper towel, I screw it into a ball and throw into the nearby bin. The door to the bathroom creaks open and a gaggle of excited girls walk in, barely noticing me. They continue their animated conversation as I head out into the still bustling hallway.
Jax stands opposite the Ladies room, focusing on his phone. His blond fringe dips into his eyes and his lips are pursed. The butterflies swarm again, and I compose myself before walking over. I can’t let Jax see exactly how much I’m attracted to him, but who am I kidding? Not him.
Jax glances up and his mouth tips into a smile. “Ready?”
“I didn’t expect you to wait for me. I thought you’d be busy with your girls again by now.”
Jax slips his phone into his back pocket and shakes his fringe from his face so his piercing blue eyes meet mine. “Can we call a truce on this bullshit, Tegan?” When my response is surprised silence, he continues, “I want to spend time with you tonight.”
Do not show him the effect his words have on me. “Sure, if you like.”
Sighing, he closes the space between us. “Cut that out too.”
“What?”
“Pretending you’re not interested.” We’re back to the challenge from before, but this time with people around, thank God.
“What if I am? You do know that because of my brother, this a bad idea?” I say quietly.
“This?”
“Us.”
Jax’s eyes brighten at my words. “He’s looking out for you. I can understand that. I’d be the same if I had a little sister.”
“So you understand that I could be dangerous for your health.”
Jax laughs. “I’m not about to screw around with you. I like my arms unbroken.”
“I wish I could believe that, Jax.”
Jax pushes hair from my face with the same gesture I used on him earlier. “Spend some time with me.”
I catch his hand. “I already saw you with one girl tonight!”
When Jax reaches out and cups my face, I freeze with surprise. He rubs his thumb across my cheek, the rough tip abrasive against my skin. “I’m not interested in her. Them.”
“Sure you’re not.” I take his fingers from my cheek and he grips my hand.
“Tegan. If we weren’t in the middle of a crowded hallway, I’d finish what we started earlier,” he says softly. “Then you could see how interested I am in you.”
“Don’t, Jax,” I whisper; glancing around, aware we have an audience.
He drops his hand and steps back, biting on his lip. “Okay. Party?”
“I need to let Bryn know I’m leaving, in case he gets all guard dog on me.”
Jax grimaces. “Might give that a miss in case he gets all guard dog on me. See you upstairs?”
“Sure.”
Heart still thumping, I head back to the function room to let Bryn know I’m leaving. He isn’t around. I spot Liam chatting to a younger guy wearing a Blue Phoenix t-shirt, and touch him on the shoulder. “Liam? Did Bryn leave?”
Liam looks round. “Said he had some phone calls to make. He’ll be back in five, I think.”
“When he comes back tell him I’ve left.”
“Sure.” Disinterested he turns back to the guy and continues a conversation about guitars.
Eager to leave, I weave through the impressive number of bodies back to the door.
“Tegan!” Somebody with a Portuguese accent calls my name from behind and I look around.
Two of the advertising agency guys, from the group I spent time with at the club last night, stand near the bar. Most of the younger, casually dressed people have left for the party upstairs, so they stand out amongst the suits around. The guys beckon me over
The taller, dark-haired guy who I chatted with the most last night kisses my cheek as I reach them. “Great to see you again, Tegan.”
“Hey, Tomas. You scored an invite, then?” I ask.
“We’re sneaky.” He winks at me. “The agency directors were invited but weren’t available, so we stepped in. Not bad, huh?”
“Nice. Helena and Isabel not with you?” I ask, looking around for the rest of the group from yesterday.
“Nah. Haven’t seen them since last night. Don’t really know them that well.” The other guy whose name I’ve forgotten chuckles and says something in Portuguese. “Listen, me and Paul are clubbing again later. You want to come?” Tomas waves a hand. “We’d stay here, but I expected this party to be a bit more… more.”
“That’s why I’m leaving. There’s a real party going on upstairs, come if you want.”
“You sure?”
“I’m pretty sure it’s an ‘open to everybody who’s here’ type of party.”
Tomas nods and indicates a nearby group chatting over glasses of wine. “We have strict orders to hand agency cards out to some of the local companies and introduce ourselves.” He mocks a yawn. “Where’s the party? We’ll catch up.”
“Sixteenth floor. I’ll leave you to your fun.”
Tomas pulls a face and takes cards from his pocket; I head off to see if Jax has kept his word.
****
The normally peaceful sixteenth floor of the hotel is busier than the club last night, and makes the official bash downstairs look like a village tea party. I raise a brow as a skinny girl runs down the hallway, pursued by a shirtless guy, who catches his giggling prey around the waist. The girl turns and they proceed to kiss unashamedly, his hands up her shirt, hers at his crotch.
Wow.
Okay.
I met him earlier when he was hauling speakers around the stage; if that’s what groupies do with roadies, the Ruby Riot guys are in for a fun ride, in more ways than one.
The suite I walk into barely resembles mine although it should be identical. The furniture has been rearranged, the two sofas pushed together and a coffee table shoved to one side, now littered with empty bottles and glasses. A smoky haze and familiar sickly scent fills the air, giving the scene a dreamlike ambience. More than a dozen people fill the space, the laughter and voices more exuberant than the muted conversations downstairs.
Will and Nate hold court on the biggest sofa, surrounded by girls, one with platinum blonde hair who’s managed to lose her top. Possibly this is what the girl left the house wearing tonight, but the lacey, barely-there material looks like lingerie to me. Lucky Nate has the best view in the house as she’s on his lap, arms around his neck with her ample breasts close to his face. Will stares at the ceiling giggling at something, and a girl seated next to him looks perturbed at Will’s lack of attention, despite the fact she’s running her fingers across his chest.
“Fashionably late, as always,” says Bryn. “No idea. Back in the day, he’d be onto his second round of girls by now.”
Liam laughs. “Yeah. All the Phoenix guys have thumbprints on their foreheads now, don’t they?” He winks at Sky. “Bloody women, ruining the band.”
Bryn stands abruptly, and I fall sideways into the spot he vacates. “I need another drink.”
As Bryn walks away, I debate whether to follow him. Dylan steps to one side to let Bryn past; and behind him, I catch sight of Jax, and the slender girl who climbs off his lap.
Chapter Ten
JAX
Sofia heads to the bar and my view of the rest of the room is no longer blocked. Several feet away, Tegan sits on a large sofa with Liam. I swear a flicker of ‘what the fuck’ crosses her face before she looks away again.
Great…
“Why did you have to invite the girls from last night?” I complain to Will.
“He did.” Will points his bottle at Nate.
“Yeah, now Sofia thinks she’s in with another chance,” I say in a low voice. Sofia’s friends remain, chattering in Portuguese as they drink, and I don’t care if they can hear I’m insulting them.
Nate grins and plays with the hem of Lucia’s short skirt. “You seemed keen last night.”
“That was last night. I’ve moved on.”
Seriously, I backed off Sofia last night, lost interest; even with a new invite, she shouldn’t expect a piece of me.
“Heartbreaker!” says Will with a laugh.
“Oh. Right. And this is the beginning of a beautiful relationship is it?” I ask indicating Paula who rests against the edge of the sofa with her legs across Will’s, texting.
“Who knows?” He grins.
I’m damn sure Tegan recognises the girls; and even if she doesn’t, the fact I had one attached isn’t sending Tegan the signal I want. As soon as Sofia arrived, she was all over me, convinced this is her lucky night, and that I’d specifically asked to see her again.
When she settled onto my lap, I shot Will and Nate a dirty look; but as usual, they’re oblivious. I shifted, told Sofia to bring me a drink, and she climbed off again. Will and Nate had enough fun with these girls last night to repeat the experience. Didn’t they say they invited other chicks too? Jesus, this is going to get messy.
I need to walk away before Sofia returns. If she climbs back on my lap, my chances with Tegan are blown. If they’re not already. “I’m grabbing something to eat.”
I head past a group of suits, nodding hello but refusing to talk. I’m surprised by the lack of interest by the industry professionals in the room; there’s little mingling between them and the musicians. Some of the road crew chatted before, but they’ve set up their own corner.
A series of tables covered in a white cloth are spread with a mix of fancy finger foods. I have no idea what half the crap is, and I spy a stack of pizza boxes at the other end. I guess the caterers listened when they asked what we wanted.
Riley stands at the table, delicately placing tiny parcels of pastry, and weird stuff on crackers, onto a plate. She glances at me as I approach. “Having fun?”
I tense, hoping to hell she’s not going to start on me about the half-naked photo shoot she wants me to do. I’ve argued with her every week for a month about this. They want the sex angle. I want the music angle. Of course, I’m flattered they think my body’s worth sharing. I know the effect I have on chicks. Sure, I play this angle to my advantage; but right now, I want to be the musician not the meat. They’re not asking Ruby to strip off. Talk about double standards.
“Yeah. You?” I reply.
“Don’t be so defensive,” she says and nibbles on the edge of her pastry. “I’m not in work mode.”
Sure. This chick is always in work mode.
“You should come and join us, we’re the under-25 gang,” I say with a smile.
She cranes her head and looks over my shoulder. “Quite a gang you have going. Mostly female too, I notice.”
Ignoring Riley’s loaded comment, I grab a slice of pizza from the box. When she doesn’t move, I turn and lean against the table, surveying the room. This really isn’t what I’d call a rock and roll night of debauchery. This is manufactured bullshit.
To my surprise, Tegan approaches the table, and I feign nonchalance as I eat, fixing my eyes on hers. Tegan holds my gaze for a few moments before switching her attention to Riley. Riley holds a second plate out.
“Thanks, I’m starving,” Tegan says. Foregoing the fancy food, she steps closer to help herself to pizza.
As Tegan reaches across, the citrus scent of her hair pulls me back to the moment in the hallway before, but this time she’s unperturbed by my presence.
“Riley was telling me all about you.” Tegan steps back and rests against the table next to me, close enough to indicate she’s not wary of me, but not close enough to touch me.
“Did Riley tell you she spends her time trying to get my clothes off?” I ask Tegan.
“Funny, Jax,” retorts Riley.
Tegan shakes her head. “Poor Jax, pursued by wanton women.”
“Is that right?” I attempt to catch her eye, but she’s side-glancing Riley with a smile.
And she’s back to the old Tegan.
“Jax was inviting me to his under-25s club over in the corner.” Riley points with her plate.
Tegan looks to me. “Where’s my invite?”
She slowly licks tomato sauce from her bottom lip and her mouth twitches into a smile as I focus on the action, the challenge back on.
“I already gave you an invitation, Tegan.”
“Do I get to sit in the famous Jax Lewis’s lap too?” Tegan asks, clutching her chest with mock-excitement.
I pause before responding. Is she referring to Sofia or suggesting in a roundabout way that she’d like to? “Not in front of your brother.”
“Maybe somewhere more private instead?” she whispers.
Her words surprise me until I notice the familiar teasing glint in her eyes. This girl doesn’t know who she’s playing with here.
“Join the queue, because I’ve seen the number he goes through,” says Riley. “Right, Jax?”
“Was it Will or Nate that you’re hot for?” I retort, wishing she’d piss off with her stupid comments. Riley’s cheeks turn pink. “Or do you not care? They look the same and as you’re focused on getting us naked, I guess it doesn’t matter to you.”
“Strangely enough, I’m more interested in what people have to offer when they have their clothes on. You should try it some time.”
“Do you think it’s a good idea to talk to me like that?” I snap.
“Just saying.” Riley looks pointedly at Tegan. “Just so you know.”
I mutter something unpleasant about Riley under my breath and she runs her tongue along her teeth as she looks at me. “Well, I’m joining the ‘cool kids’.” She puts quotation marks around the words with her fingers. “Coming, Tegan?”
“Gotta be a ‘cool kid’ to join, Riley.” I mimic her action. “Not sure you qualify.”
Riley scowls at me, but I’m not in the mood for her. Firstly, she turned me down weeks ago, and secondly, she rubs me up the wrong way. Riley’s the same age as me but acts superior, and can be condescending. Ruby’s not a fan either, so we all have some interesting meetings.
“I’ll see what Nate and Will say,” she says and stalks away.
“That was… enlightening,” remarks Tegan.
“Professional differences.”
“I heard.”
They’ve spoken about me? That pisses me off.
“Having fun?” I ask, turning to face her. “Must be strange not knowing anybody.”
“I make friends easily, doesn’t bother me. Riley seems nice.”
I pull a face and Tegan laughs. I smile back, and she continues eating. What’s the deal here? I’m bloody confused again.
“So, you want to go and chat somewhere on our own?” I suggest.
Tegan pauses mid-chew of her pizza and her eyes widen. She swallows. “Are you serious?”
“Yeah. It’s what you want, right?”
“I don’t know whether to laugh at or be insulted by your proposal, Jaxon.”
Shit, I don’t know how to relate to chicks unless I’m confident they’re interested. “You seemed keen before, things are a bit awkward with your brother around.”
“That was before.”
“What’s changed?”
“I’ve regained my common sense.” She points toward the doorway where Sofia has reappeared. “And you’ve regained your groupies.”
“I didn’t invite her!”
Tegan takes a napkin from the table and wipes her fingers. “It’s all good. You just reminded me why tangling myself with you would be a bad idea.”
I shift closer. “How about one night tangled? I might change your mind?”
Tegan meets my steady look, and the truth she’s trying to hide is there. Nothing has changed from before, and we need to be alone. When Tegan’s focus is on me, the world falls away leaving behind nothing but the need Tegan denies she shares. This girl turns me inside out, and rips rational thought from my mind. How much longer can Tegan pretend I don’t have the same effect on her?
I slide my hand toward hers. Tegan’s reaction to my touch should give me a clue.
“Jaxon Lewis, Miss Sawyer says you’ve been rude to her again!” Will says in a singsong voice as he appears. He elbows me in the ribs, interrupting my hand on its way to Tegan. “You pissed Riley off, you’re in trouble now!”
“Not now, Will,” I mutter.
His mouth makes an ‘o’ shape and he points between us. “Are you two having a moment?”
“Piss off.”
Will laughs. “Living dangerously, man.” He appraises Tegan and stands between us, clapping a hand on each of our shoulders. “We’re organising a little party of our own, you coming?”
Tegan shrugs him off and steps to one side. “Who?”
“Us.” He flourishes a hand in the direction of the growing group of people with Nate, surprisingly including other guys apart from us. “Up for it?”
Tegan wrinkles her nose and looks between us both, then at Bryn and company. “Yeah. Okay.”
“Awesome!” Will hits us both on the back again. “Let’s go!”
He heads off and glances back at us.
“I need a minute,” says Tegan. “I’ll catch up or you can wait.”
“But you’re coming with us?” I say, then regret how over-keen I sound.
Tegan reaches out and pushes a strand of fringe from my brow, her soft fingers brushing my skin. “I was invited, wasn’t I?” she says quietly.
Which invitation is she talking about? I damn well hope Tegan’s gesture means she’s talking about the one I gave her before.
TEGAN
I splash water on my face, lessening the heat in my cheeks and pat my face dry with a paper towel. Why does Jax Lewis have this effect on me? I can only keep him at arm’s length for so long, and then... who knows? Why the hell have I agreed to go to his and the twins’ party? I’m an idiot; we both know where this is leading. I’ve had a couple of beers; time I stopped before my inhibitions loosen. I can be sure I won’t end up in Jax’s bed, but I can’t be sure I won’t end up with my body wrapped around his. I pull out my lip balm and smear it across my lips, tasting the vanilla, dismissing thoughts of what Jax’s mouth tastes like. See? If he knows what lies beneath my sharp-tongued barrier when I’m around him, I’m in trouble.
Jax knows. I’m in trouble.
Wiping my damp hands on the paper towel, I screw it into a ball and throw into the nearby bin. The door to the bathroom creaks open and a gaggle of excited girls walk in, barely noticing me. They continue their animated conversation as I head out into the still bustling hallway.
Jax stands opposite the Ladies room, focusing on his phone. His blond fringe dips into his eyes and his lips are pursed. The butterflies swarm again, and I compose myself before walking over. I can’t let Jax see exactly how much I’m attracted to him, but who am I kidding? Not him.
Jax glances up and his mouth tips into a smile. “Ready?”
“I didn’t expect you to wait for me. I thought you’d be busy with your girls again by now.”
Jax slips his phone into his back pocket and shakes his fringe from his face so his piercing blue eyes meet mine. “Can we call a truce on this bullshit, Tegan?” When my response is surprised silence, he continues, “I want to spend time with you tonight.”
Do not show him the effect his words have on me. “Sure, if you like.”
Sighing, he closes the space between us. “Cut that out too.”
“What?”
“Pretending you’re not interested.” We’re back to the challenge from before, but this time with people around, thank God.
“What if I am? You do know that because of my brother, this a bad idea?” I say quietly.
“This?”
“Us.”
Jax’s eyes brighten at my words. “He’s looking out for you. I can understand that. I’d be the same if I had a little sister.”
“So you understand that I could be dangerous for your health.”
Jax laughs. “I’m not about to screw around with you. I like my arms unbroken.”
“I wish I could believe that, Jax.”
Jax pushes hair from my face with the same gesture I used on him earlier. “Spend some time with me.”
I catch his hand. “I already saw you with one girl tonight!”
When Jax reaches out and cups my face, I freeze with surprise. He rubs his thumb across my cheek, the rough tip abrasive against my skin. “I’m not interested in her. Them.”
“Sure you’re not.” I take his fingers from my cheek and he grips my hand.
“Tegan. If we weren’t in the middle of a crowded hallway, I’d finish what we started earlier,” he says softly. “Then you could see how interested I am in you.”
“Don’t, Jax,” I whisper; glancing around, aware we have an audience.
He drops his hand and steps back, biting on his lip. “Okay. Party?”
“I need to let Bryn know I’m leaving, in case he gets all guard dog on me.”
Jax grimaces. “Might give that a miss in case he gets all guard dog on me. See you upstairs?”
“Sure.”
Heart still thumping, I head back to the function room to let Bryn know I’m leaving. He isn’t around. I spot Liam chatting to a younger guy wearing a Blue Phoenix t-shirt, and touch him on the shoulder. “Liam? Did Bryn leave?”
Liam looks round. “Said he had some phone calls to make. He’ll be back in five, I think.”
“When he comes back tell him I’ve left.”
“Sure.” Disinterested he turns back to the guy and continues a conversation about guitars.
Eager to leave, I weave through the impressive number of bodies back to the door.
“Tegan!” Somebody with a Portuguese accent calls my name from behind and I look around.
Two of the advertising agency guys, from the group I spent time with at the club last night, stand near the bar. Most of the younger, casually dressed people have left for the party upstairs, so they stand out amongst the suits around. The guys beckon me over
The taller, dark-haired guy who I chatted with the most last night kisses my cheek as I reach them. “Great to see you again, Tegan.”
“Hey, Tomas. You scored an invite, then?” I ask.
“We’re sneaky.” He winks at me. “The agency directors were invited but weren’t available, so we stepped in. Not bad, huh?”
“Nice. Helena and Isabel not with you?” I ask, looking around for the rest of the group from yesterday.
“Nah. Haven’t seen them since last night. Don’t really know them that well.” The other guy whose name I’ve forgotten chuckles and says something in Portuguese. “Listen, me and Paul are clubbing again later. You want to come?” Tomas waves a hand. “We’d stay here, but I expected this party to be a bit more… more.”
“That’s why I’m leaving. There’s a real party going on upstairs, come if you want.”
“You sure?”
“I’m pretty sure it’s an ‘open to everybody who’s here’ type of party.”
Tomas nods and indicates a nearby group chatting over glasses of wine. “We have strict orders to hand agency cards out to some of the local companies and introduce ourselves.” He mocks a yawn. “Where’s the party? We’ll catch up.”
“Sixteenth floor. I’ll leave you to your fun.”
Tomas pulls a face and takes cards from his pocket; I head off to see if Jax has kept his word.
****
The normally peaceful sixteenth floor of the hotel is busier than the club last night, and makes the official bash downstairs look like a village tea party. I raise a brow as a skinny girl runs down the hallway, pursued by a shirtless guy, who catches his giggling prey around the waist. The girl turns and they proceed to kiss unashamedly, his hands up her shirt, hers at his crotch.
Wow.
Okay.
I met him earlier when he was hauling speakers around the stage; if that’s what groupies do with roadies, the Ruby Riot guys are in for a fun ride, in more ways than one.
The suite I walk into barely resembles mine although it should be identical. The furniture has been rearranged, the two sofas pushed together and a coffee table shoved to one side, now littered with empty bottles and glasses. A smoky haze and familiar sickly scent fills the air, giving the scene a dreamlike ambience. More than a dozen people fill the space, the laughter and voices more exuberant than the muted conversations downstairs.
Will and Nate hold court on the biggest sofa, surrounded by girls, one with platinum blonde hair who’s managed to lose her top. Possibly this is what the girl left the house wearing tonight, but the lacey, barely-there material looks like lingerie to me. Lucky Nate has the best view in the house as she’s on his lap, arms around his neck with her ample breasts close to his face. Will stares at the ceiling giggling at something, and a girl seated next to him looks perturbed at Will’s lack of attention, despite the fact she’s running her fingers across his chest.
