Read Online Snared (Jaded Regret #1) by L.L. Collins - Free Book Online

and walked across the room to the band. When Natalie saw me, a smile instantly lit her face. We’d hit it off quite well, and I liked her. The roadies had finished with the set in the corner of the room. I knew Jaded Regret was about to play a brand new song they’d never played before for our meet and greet fans. I couldn’t wait to hear it.
    “Great turn out,” Natalie said. “They’ll get ready to play soon.”
    I nodded. “Sounds good. The fans have been rather tame compared to what I thought they would be.”
    “I’m used to way crazier. Sometimes these women can be . . . interesting.” Her gaze met Beau’s, and that’s when I noticed his attention move past her, straight to me. Natalie saw it, too, because she turned back to me with a smile on her face.
    “He’s had a rough day.” I wanted to figure out what she meant by that, but I couldn’t tear my eyes from Beau’s. The dark pools of brown lost me in their depths, even from a few feet away. He was so serious, but I had a feeling Beau Anderson had many layers protecting him, making him who he was today. And I wanted nothing more than to peel them back one by one.
    “He seems sad,” I said, shocking myself that I said it out loud. I felt like I could trust Natalie, like we’d known each other longer than two days.
    Natalie sighed next to me. “He’s . . . complicated.” One of the roadies called her name. “Excuse me. I’ll be right back.” She walked away, leaving me standing alone, still staring straight at Beau. My feet began to move before I could stop them, and in seconds, I found myself standing right in front of him.
    “That was a great show.” I thought I needed to say something. He gave me that little smirk, the almost smile I’d come to like—a lot—in the last two days. “Thanks again for the drumsticks. You didn’t have to do that.”
    He shrugged, and my stomach dropped in disappointment. He wasn’t going to talk to me. “It was no biggie.” He spoke so quiet I almost missed it. His gravelly voice sent tingles up and down my spine, making goose bumps break out on my arms and legs. I rubbed my arms absently, hoping and praying he’d continue to talk.
    “This is totally not your scene, is it?” I indicated the loud fans around us.
    He smirked again. “You could say that.” His fingers tapped on his cup again, and I wanted to ask him what song he heard in his head and if he could play it for me.
    “Have you always been a drummer?”
    He glanced away for just a second, but before I could be disappointed, his eyes met mine again. “Yes. Always.”
    “Beau, time to play.” Bex appeared next to us. I almost groaned in frustration. “Ready to hear our new song, April?”
    Ready? Yes. In about two hours after I finally get through to this man, absolutely. “Always ready for a new Jaded Regret song.”
    “Beau and I wrote this one,” Bex said, bumping Beau playfully. He grabbed her and wrapped his arm around her neck, using his fist to give her a noogie . When she punched him in the gut, he let her go, feigning pain. She smoothed out her hair and narrowed her eyes at him. I grinned, loving the visual of them this way.
    They linked arms and Johnny and Tanner followed the two of them to the makeshift stage area.
    “Hey, guys,” Bex’s sultry voice came over the speakers. Everyone stopped and turned, some letting out excited squeals. “Thanks for coming to see us tonight. We wouldn’t be anywhere without our fans. Tonight we’re performing a brand new song for you. What do you think about that? It’s never been played for anyone.”
    The screams turned deafening at Bex’s announcement. Johnny let out a quick riff and Beau did a buh-dun-dun on the drums. “This song was written by my brother from another mother, Beau, and myself. It’s called ‘You Can’t Hurt Me Anymore . ’ We’ve all been hurt one way or another in life, am I right?” More screaming ensued. “This song is to all of you. Don’t let