Rose and I looked at each other with uncertainty.
“I’m serious. Here,” Martin handed us a wad of cash. “Have a girl’s night on me.”
Shrugging, we took our aprons off and headed out the door.
“Well, that was an awesome change of pace,” Rose said, laughing. “Come on. I’ll drive us to the lounge. We will make it just before the concert starts.”
Smiling, I followed her to her car and hopped in, excited that I would at least get to see Rex play.
The lounge was crowded with an air of excited anticipation. Apparently, the Nomad Souls were really popular here in Seattle. A round of applause pulled my attention to the stage as Rose handed me a mixed drink that tasted like a strawberry starburst dipped in gasoline.
We moved closer to the stage, pushing our way past people as the band warmed up the crowd. Rex was standing on stage, his head bent over his guitar as he tuned it. He looked amazing in a tight, dark green t-shirt and dark washed jeans. His thorn tattoo pulsed on his bicep, and I itched to trace it with my fingers. Squinting, I could see his other tattoo skimming his collar bone, and I wondered what the rest of it looked like.
“You’re looking at the lead guitarist like you want to lick his lollipop,” Rose said in my ear.
I choked on my drink and burst into a fit of giggles. The alcohol was definitely getting to me.
“His name is Rex,” I told Rose. “I know him.”
It was as if saying his name was a spell. As soon as his name dropped from my lips, Rex looked up and met my gaze. His eyes were magnetic, and the pleasure of him seeing me was headier than the drink I was sipping. He gave me a wicked grin as the band began playing.
I finished my drink and gave it to a passing waiter. The beat of the music and the alcohol swept through me as I began swaying my hips, my eyes never leaving Rex. His fingers danced across the guitar strings, and I started thinking about what it would be like to have those fingers play me. As if he could read my thoughts, Rex smirked. His dark gaze swept up and down my body with a hunger that was breathtaking.
I let the beat of the music and the heat in Rex’s gaze overtake my body as I danced and let loose my inhibitions. I was so wrapped up in Rex and the music that I didn’t hear the commotion at the entrance.
“They have to ruin everything,” Rose whispered in my ear.
I frowned and looked around.
“Who?” I asked.
“Theo and his gang of bikers,” Rose answered, pointing.
I followed her finger and saw that sure enough, Theo was here. I groaned and turned back to the stage. I was not going to let him ruin my night, and with any luck, he wouldn’t even see us. The crowd was certainly big enough to get lost in. I looked up at Rex, but he wasn’t looking at me anymore. His gaze was fixed on Theo.
After a few minutes of glaring obliviously at Theo, Rex returned his gaze to me and smiled, winking. I smiled back, my heart jumping. Rose brought me another drink, and we forgot about Theo, losing ourselves in the music and the rare night off.
A half-hour and two drinks later, Rose and I were having the time of our lives. Rose was getting a kick out of what she called mine and Rex’s eye-fucking. I rolled my eyes at her, glancing at Rex. He was watching the bass player, who was in the middle of a solo. I let the music wash over me again and began dancing.
Suddenly, arms grabbed me from behind and pulled me backward.
“Look who it is,” Theo’s voice was wet in my ear. “Aren’t you supposed to be working? Someone is gonna be in trouble. Naughty girl. Maybe you need a spanking.”
His hand slapped my ass, hard. I jerked away from him.
“Don’t touch me, you disgusting creep,” I spat, the alcohol giving me courage.
His eyes flashed. “You think I haven’t seen you fucking that guitarist with your eyes?” he hissed. “You’re a little slut, and I’m tired of your games.”
He grabbed my wrist and pulled me toward him, pressing his lips on mine. His breath was rancid and tasted like stale cigarettes. I tore my mouth away from his. Instinct took over, and raising my hand, I slapped him across the face. I barely had time to react to my own bravery before Theo’s hand came down like a hammer on my face, knocking me back a few steps.
“What the fuck!” Rose yelled, catching me from falling to the ground.
A sudden hush fell over the crowd as the music stopped. Before anyone could react, Rex jumped down from the stage and threw himself at Theo. He knocked him to the ground and began punching him over and over. His bandmates jumped off the stage and pulled him off of Theo just as the owner of the lounge came over.
“What the hell is going on here?” he asked, looking at Rex.
“Nobody touches my girl,” Rex snarled.
“He fucking backhanded her across the face,” Rose added as she pressed a napkin gingerly on my cheek.
I barely noticed what Rose was doing. I was staring at Rex. He had called me his girl, and it had made my heart sing.
The owner beckoned over two bouncers that looked like they had just won a bodybuilding contest.
“Restrain him.” The owner pointed to Theo who was lying unconscious on the ground. “And call the police.”
The bouncers nodded, dragging Theo off.
“We will continue the show in twenty minutes!” the owner called out to the crowd.
Without a word, Rex grabbed my hand and pulled me backstage. Wrapping his arms around me, he hugged me to him tightly.
“Are you okay?” he asked, taking my chin in his hand and turning my face to the side.
“I think I’ll live,” I answered. “Rex?”
“Yeah?” he said, distracted. He was studying the injuries on my face intently. His fingers skimmed my cheek, where I was sure a bruise was already blooming. I licked my lips and tasted blood. Theo must have busted it.
“Did you mean what you said?” I asked him, trying to ignore the pain in my face. “Or was it just something you said in the heat of the moment.”
He stopped studying my face and met my gaze. “What do you mean?”
“When you called me your girl?” I asked.
He smiled and gently kissed me. “Yes,” he whispered. “I meant it. Now stop talking so I can make sure you don’t need stitches. You have a pretty nasty cut on your face here.”
I frowned as he dabbed at my cheek with a cloth. Theo must have been wearing a ring or something. The alcohol was probably keeping the pain at bay. I relaxed and let Rex play the doctor until he was satisfied that I would be okay. Then I watched the rest of the concert, dancing with Rose as Rex watched, bemused, from the stage.
After the concert, I followed the band out back. Rose and I talked with Rex while the other bandmates loaded their van. I vaguely wondered why Rex wasn’t helping but figured they were giving him a pass so he could be with me.
Rose was telling Rex about Martin’s temper tantrum when the roar of a motorcycle drowned out the conversation. I turned and saw a lone biker speeding past us. I saw the gun pointed our way but had no time to react before I was suddenly on the ground with Rex on top of me. He had apparently pushed me out of the way.
I focused on catching my breath and clutched at Rex, whose body was warm on top of mine.
“Are you okay?” he asked.
I nodded, not trusting myself to speak. I could hear Rose and the others yelling, but I wasn’t registering what they were saying.