I glanced at her knee again where it showed just above a pink and white striped sock. I noticed before that it was kind of banged up. The wound looked fresh, but it wasn't my place to ask where it came from. The ones on her hands either. Still, I was curious.
The words, "Must be strange being here when it's empty," brought my eyes from smooth, brown thighs to equally beautiful eyes.
"Always," I answered with a smile. "There's this faint echo I always notice when nobody's here, but when it's packed out? When the music is bumping? There's a totally different sound. A different feeling," I added.
Nodding, Sidra passed in front of me and continued to check out the bar. I knew this place like the back of my hand so, again, the only interesting thing I found to check out was her.
"Ivy mentioned something about the alcohol shipment coming in every Tuesday. Should I try to be here for that?" she asked.
This time, I stumbled a little, realizing I was staring at her chest instead of her face when she turned toward me. My eyes got stuck on that ‘explicit everything' for a second.
"Uh … no. Security has two guys here at all times when the club isn't in operation, but with Tuesday being delivery day, they always have three," I explained. "So, you shouldn't have to worry about it."
She gave a nod and then her eyes locked with mine. It was only for a second, but I knew I didn't imagine it.
"So, you think you're ready for all of this?" I asked.
Sidra took a deep breath and when her eyes slipped away, I knew it was because she was nervous. Even if she didn't admit it.
"Yeah, I think I'll be okay once Ivy shows me the ropes. I usually pick up on things pretty quickly."
I nodded, not wanting to discourage her, but this place could be a lot to handle. We hit numbers that were unheard of in this industry. Most nights, we were at max capacity a good hour before the show even started. And as far as money? From the greatest to the least, our pockets were well-lined. As ‘veterans', my boys Logan, Carlos, and I were probably pulling in the most, but I knew for a fact the other guys were raking in the cash, too.
Wearing a smile, I wondered if Ivy had prepared her for … everything. Namely? All-In Saturdays. Coming up in a few weeks, Sidra would to get to know me, and the rest of the guys, a whole lot better. That was Ivy's idea, setting aside one Saturday a month where we bared it all. And I do mean all, leaving nothing to the imagination. Because things had a tendency to get crazy on those nights, we had a strict "no alcohol" policy in place when they rolled around. But even still, I'd seen some wild things happen.
That look stayed on Sidra's face and it was enough to help me decide not to be the one to drop the bomb about the ‘special' Saturdays. Ivy could handle that herself.
"Have you been doing this long?" she asked casually, and then looked like she wished she hadn't the very next second.
I burst out laughing at her expression, which made her ease up a bit.
"Sorry … I don't know if that's inappropriate to ask," she apologized.
"It's cool," I assured her, still smiling. "I don't mind questions. To answer yours; I've been here six years. Since I was nineteen."
She nodded slowly and one corner of her mouth tugged up. "That would make us the same age. My birthday just passed a week ago," she shared, and while she spoke, I noticed a small, silver ball in the center of her tongue. A piercing I hadn't seen until now.
"Very cool. Happy belated birthday."
Another smile. "Thank you."
She had every ounce of my attention. I couldn't even help it. "What were you doing before you came to join the I.E. family?"
She worked her hands inside the back pockets of her shorts and replied, "Tending bar. At a place called Josie's," she added. "Well, that and I also play in a band. Haven't given that up, though."
A band. For some reason, that didn't surprise me. "Oh really? What do you play?"
Piano. Guitar. Bass. Those were the answers I expected. Not the response I got: "Drums."
When she said it, I tilted my head to the side. "Word?"
She smiled at that, nodding.
"How long?" I asked next, forgetting all about the fact that I was supposed to be showing her around as I rested my back against the DJ booth.
"Well, I've been playing since I was six. My dad … my stepdad," she corrected, "used to play and he taught me. But our band didn't form until my senior year of high school."
"What kind of music do you guys play?"
"Alternative rock," she answered, and I noted that her eyes seemed to light up talking about it. Talking about music. "Think along the lines of the energy of the Foo Fighters meets the heart and depth you get from Audioslave." After saying that, the light I saw dimmed a little and the next part came out kinda shy. "Unless … you have no clue who or what I'm talking about."
I shook my head, assuming she misread the blank look on my face for confusion. Truth was, I just got caught up listening to her speak. "Actually, I have both on my workout playlist."
A quick side-eye came my way with a smile. "Yeah … okay," she said, folding her arms over her chest.
I chuckled and reached inside my pocket. "Honest!"
She waited while I scrolled. When I handed my iPod over, her jaw dropped.
"No freakin' way!" she said with a laugh, staring at the name of the song I just pulled up for her-‘Like a Stone' by one of the groups she named a moment before, Audioslave.
"Told you," I teased. "I listen to some of everything."
The light I noticed before came back and shined brighter this time. She handed my iPod back and her eyes found mine. "Okay, so … you just got major points for that."
I tilted my head and took in the pretty smile of a girl I'd just met about ten minutes ago, but felt like I'd known much longer. "Nice to know you're keeping score."
She grinned, but didn't deny what I already picked up on-she felt it, too; felt it when we clicked.
I leaned my arm against the rail surrounding the booth beside the stage, feeling brave when I asked my next question. "Care to tell me how I'm doing? I mean, as far as points go."
She inhaled and her shoulders lifted a little. When they did, the slightest hint of reluctance touched her expression and I was staring too hard to miss it.
"Let's just say you're racking them up quicker than expected," she admitted, letting her eyes do a slow sweep of me as we stood in the mostly dark room.
The breathy tone of her voice had my attention and I held on to the sound of it as my mind wandered, nodding as a realization hit me. Right then and there, I knew.
I had to have this girl.
Yeah … this was only the beginning.
Release date to be announced …
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And now, something new from
Victoria H. Smith
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Blurb:
Sugar...
That's some kind of name, isn't it?
It wasn't any type of name I'd heard of, but across the world, it seemed I was the only one.
You see, he's an international superstar, talented, sexy, and one day, he comes walking into my record store. He tells me he wants to buy some music, and later on, wants to get to know me a little better.