Read Online Under the Lights (A Brothers of Rock - GONE BY AUTUMN - Novel) by Karolyn James - Free Book Online Page B

He leaned into her and put his hands on the wall on either side of
the window, boxing Jules in. “ You
bailing on the band? ”
    “ No, ” Jules said. “ This is a lifetime dream come
true right now. I was thinking about that song you played …”
    “ Forget
about it, ” Tanner said. “ It ’ s
old. I just like the riff. ”
    “ No.
The song is great. But, what if …” Jules bit her lip.
    “ Go
ahead. It ’ s just us."
    “ I
keep hearing the song, ” Jules said. “ What if there
were two vocal parts. Guy and girl? Trading verses? Like they ’ re singing to each other? ”
    That was the exact reason why the
song never worked to begin with. It was almost too whiny for just one guy to
sing. The guitar parts were so raw that a woman ’ s
vocals would cut to the core and make it that much better.
    “ Pretty
and smart, ” Tanner said. “ We ’ ll
have to try that one out. ”
    “ Seriously? ”
    “ Yeah.
Why not? You and me. What are you doing right now? ”
    Jules opened her mouth but didn ’ t reply.
    Tanner's body was on fire. Christ,
he didn ’ t want to just take
her to bed for one night. He wanted to tie her down and keep her there. Explore
her. Have her. Forget about the damn world. Maybe forever.
     
    *
     
    Jules could only smell sweat and
soap. Some kind of musky, manly soap and sweat from playing guitar for almost
four hours. Her eyes were focused on Tanner as he was just inches from her
face, but it was her ears and mind that refused to believe this was real.
    What are you doing right now?
    You, Tanner. I want … to do you …
    The color rushed to Jules ’ face again as she tried to
figure out her reply to his question.
    “ I ’ m, uh, meeting my roommate, ” Jules said. “ She had a band meeting. She ’ s trying to form a band. She
wanted to meet me and talk about everything that happened today. With you. I
mean, the band. Practice. Uh …”
    “ So
you have plans, ” Tanner
said. He pushed back off the window and backed up. “ Too bad I guess. ”
    No … no … don ’ t walk
away …
    “ I
didn ’ t mean it like that, ” Jules said. “ I live with Tara. I ’ ll see her later. Or tomorrow.
Whatever. Just … don ’ t …”
    “ If
I wanted to stalk you, where would I find you around nine tonight? ”
    Jules looked at her cell. It was
already past seven. She hadn ’ t
even gotten to meet up with Tara yet.
    “ The
Jack, ” Jules said. “ The potential guitarist for Tara ’ s new band is playing there. So
she wants me to hear it and give her my thoughts. ”
    “ The
Jack, ” Tanner said. “ I guess I could visit the scene
of the crime again. ”
    “ Crime? ”
    Tanner grinned. He put a finger
under her chin. “ Where you
tried to steal something from me. Came close, darling. ”
    Jules was dying for Tanner to kiss
her again.
    “ Tanner!
Yo! ” a voice boomed.
    Tanner stepped back and Asher was standing
in the hallway.
    “ What? ” Tanner yelled.
    “ Food.
Booze. Rockstar life. Come on, man. ”
    “ On
my way, ” Tanner said as he
stared down Jules.
    She was left frozen, turned on to
the point her toes were curled in her shoes.
    “ I ’ ll see you later, ” Tanner said. “ Make sure you get a ride this
time. Don't want you to have to leave your car at The Jack overnight. ”
    Tanner winked and walked away.
    Overnight?
    Jules mouth was bone dry.
    Overnight …
    What did Tanner have planned?
    “ Music, ” Jules whispered. “ Just music. Nothing more. ”
    Nothing more.
    Nothing. More.

(9)
     
    Jules finished her second drink and
smacked her lips together. She put the empty glass down and slid it across the
bar. Her fingers tapped on the bar as she waited for the bartender to come
back.
    “ Drinking
a little fast? ” Tara asked.
    “ Don ’ t judge. You always want me to
do this. ”
    “ Oh,
I know. But what caused it? ”
    “ Nothing. ”
    Tara put her fingers in her mouth
and whistled. The bartender looked at her. She pointed to the empty glasses