Snared(33)

Camryn eyed me up and down. “I’d totally swing the other way for you in this outfit. You are smokin’! What’s the occasion?”

“I’m going to get the attention of a certain quiet drummer,” I said, fluffing my hair with my fingers. “Let’s go. I want to be early.”

Camryn hurried behind me, squealing the whole way about me landing Beau. I stopped short at the door, causing her to run into my back. “Cami, I don’t just want him for one night.”

She lifted her eyebrows at me. “You what?”

“I want more than a roll in the sack with him.”

“But, then . . . why are you dressed like that?”

She was right. I was being rather contradictory. “I want him to really see me.”

“Oh, he’ll see you,” she said, “he’ll probably poke himself in the eye with his drumstick he’ll see you so well.”

Beau seeing me was only the beginning of what I wanted.



Camryn and I walked down the darkened hallway to see the band before they took the stage. Their opening act was already jamming on the stage. They seemed talented, but I couldn’t care less about seeing them. My stomach was in knots waiting to see Beau. I knew he’d be standoffish, but if anything, I wanted to apologize for what had happened when I saw him at the restaurant.

A large bodyguard blocked the door with Jaded Regret’s logo on it. We flashed the backstage passes Bex had given us, and he stepped aside, opening the door for us. I’d never in my life been behind the scenes of a rock concert, much less with the band I’d come to think of as my friends.

My eyes scanned the room, seeing Bex on Johnny’s lap, Tanner on his phone, and Beau tapping on his leg with his signature drumsticks. Natalie wasn’t in here. We shut the door behind us, and all four sets of eyes swung to us.

“April!” Bex stood and gave me a quick hug. “Camryn, right?”

Camryn nodded, her eyes across the room on Tanner. He stood and made his way to us.

“Cami,” he said, his voice low. His eyes raked up and down her body before settling back on her face. “You are fucking hot. Come on over here with me.” He took her hand and led her to the loveseat. She curled her legs under her and turned her body toward him. I’d lost her already.

“That didn’t take long,” Bex muttered. “Glad you guys could make it! We’re going on in about thirty minutes. Natalie’s out being a manager somewhere. Please, make yourself at home. Do you want a drink or something?”

I nodded and Bex grabbed me a beer, popping the top and handing it to me. I didn’t want it, but I needed something to stop the nervous butterflies from attacking my stomach. Beau’s eyes remained on me from where he sat in the corner, but he hadn’t said a word.

“Talk to him,” Johnny murmured into my ear. I took a gulp of my beer, hoping for some liquid courage. I didn’t even like beer, being much more of a wine girl myself. But it worked, because my shoulders relaxed and the stress of the last few days started to melt away. I studied Beau as he tapped, his eyes now closed instead of watching me. He was mesmerizing to watch. I was sitting with Beau Anderson. I couldn’t believe it.

Before I knew it, the bottle was empty, and my head was a little fuzzy. Guess that’s what happens when you forget to eat first. I smoothed my short skirt and strode over to him, stopping in front of him. His eyes were still closed, but I knew he detected me there because his hands stilled.

“Beau,” I said. I turned my face slightly so I could see what everyone else was doing. Johnny and Bex were kissing, making desire curl into my belly at the apparent love in their touch. Tanner and Camryn had their heads together, whispering but not touching. We were as alone as we could be in this room.

His eyes finally opened, training right on me. “April.” I waited for him to look at me, really see me, but his eyes never left mine. Defeat settled in my chest. He didn’t care what I wore or what I did. He wanted nothing to do with me.

“I-I just wanted to apologize for what I said the last time we saw each other. I didn’t mean it the way it came out.”

His forehead crinkled like he was trying to remember what I’d said. “It’s fine,” he said finally.

I perched on the chair next to him. He started tapping on his legs again, and I moved my hands so they were over his. He immediately stopped. “Show me.” His hands were still for a few beats too long, and I figured he wasn’t going to do it. I was about to move when he put the drumsticks in my hands and began moving, tapping a rapid beat I’d never remember.

I turned my head so I could watch his face as he played my hands with his drumsticks. With my face so close to his, I was able to study the tattoos on his neck, the short dark hair on his beard, his nose ring, and his incredible eyes. They were so dark they looked black, but they were the one part of him that showed expression.