Strung(4)

“Yeah, Man,” I say, while watching the cameras. “I’ll keep the assholes away.”

Alexander stands up. “Yourself included,” he says sternly. “My sister is a good girl. She deserves a good man that will take care of her, not someone to just show her one night of pleasure and kick her to the curb. Promise me, Micah.”

Hearing the worry in his voice causes me to look up and truly see how much this means to him. The last thing I want to do is piss my best friend off and lose his trust. He’s had my back for years now. More than anyone else has.

“Yeah, Man. Myself included.” I point at my door. “Now get the hell out of my office, Dick.”

“On it. I’ll be back in a few hours.”

After Alexander leaves, I sit back and watch Tegan, ready to protect her from any asshole that tries to pick her up on my watch.

Myself included.

Shit, this is going to be harder than I expected . . .





HE COMES AT ME SLOWLY, sweat dripping from his hard body.

“No,” I grunt, while hitting backspace.

He comes at me slowly, sweat dripping from every rock-hard muscle. His eyes trail over my bare flesh as if he’s ready to taste every exposed inch of me.

“Whoa! Whoa! What the hell are you writing?”

My brother’s voice scares me, causing my heart to nearly jump to my throat. I didn’t have a chance to see him last night since he’s been so busy, and he decides to choose the worst possible time to show up out of nowhere.

Figures.

“What the hell, Xan!” I slam my computer shut and spin around to face him. “Didn’t anyone ever teach you not to read over someone’s shoulder? You don’t do that shit. I was in deep concentration. Now you just messed up the flow of the scene.”

“My bad,” he mumbles, while opening his soda. “Didn’t mean to disturb the porn scene in your head, little sis.”

“Oh, come on. That’s gross. Don’t ever let me hear that word come from your lips again.”

He eyes me over his can, while taking a long drink of his soda. I almost think he’s never going to stop for air. All that acid at once has to burn.

“What are you doing here, anyway? I thought you were writing at the bar.”

“I was,” I complain. “Until Micah sent me home.”

Xan smirks, before finishing the rest of his soda off. “Oh yeah? Why?”

My brother looks entirely too happy right now. I’m guessing he had something to do with Micah popping by my table every damn time a guy showed up.

“Because the bartenders kept trying to pick me up. I wasn’t getting anything done, apparently. At least that’s what Micah said when he picked up my computer and sent me packing.”

“Good boy,” he whispers.

“What?”

“Nothing.” He kisses me on the head and walks back over to the door, stopping to look back at me. “I need to get back to the bar. Micah plays in an hour and I need to take over the staff. Those boys are fucking trouble unless you watch them twenty-four-seven. No lie. I promise we’ll do lunch or dinner soon and catch up.”

The image of Micah playing his guitar, naked, takes over my thoughts, and suddenly, writing can wait. I need to be at the bar to see him play.

I came here for entertainment and I have a feeling that he’s going to take the spotlight.

“I’ll be there then,” I say, opening my laptop back up. “I’ll just finish this scene and head out.”

“I thought you wanted to get your book done,” he quips with amusement. “Instead, you’d rather stress my ass out by hanging around at my bar full of horny jerkoffs?”

I take a second to think his words over. “Yeah. Isn’t that what siblings are for? Maybe you should’ve thought about that before you decided to open a bar full of hot, shirtless men serving beer. Just saying.”

He grunts. “I was hoping to keep you away for as long as I could. Just bring Jamie with you so you’re not alone. She’s been dying for you to get here. Call her.”

“Good idea. I haven’t seen her since she moved.”

“I guess I’ll see you soon. Just don’t fall for their stupid games. I’m serious. My guys are trouble.” He waves his hand at me, before rushing out of my room and down the stairs.

After he leaves, I stare at my computer for a good twenty minutes, but the words won’t come. “Damn you, Xan.”

I shut my computer down and call Jamie, before changing into a pair of comfortable shorts and a tank top, with a bikini underneath.

The best thing about my brother’s bar is that you can drink a few beers and get a little tipsy, before running down to the beach to get wet and play in the water.

You can’t beat that . . .



Once Jamie arrives we do a little catching up on the last three years, before walking down to the beach and heading toward Vortex.

“I can’t believe you’re finally here. Do you have any idea how bored I’ve been without you?” Jamie asks, holding her blonde hair out of her face as the wind blows it everywhere, causing her to eat it while she talks.

Waving my arms around me, I laugh at her for even thinking she can trick me into believing that crap. “I’m sure you’ve been so bored without me; spending time on this beautiful beach, full of sexy, half-naked men. I have no idea how you’ve managed this long without me,” I tease.

She grins as a hot guy jogs past us, chasing after a Frisbee. “You’re right. I totally lied. Check out the abs on that one.” She lifts a brow, inspecting him. “But seriously though, you’re here now and we’re going to have a blast. I’ll make sure of it.”

Her words have me smiling, but my mind drifts to Micah, and suddenly, I’m curious.

“Do you know this Micah guy that my brother hangs out with?”

She stops dead in her tracks and starts fanning herself. “Who the hell doesn’t? He’s the sexiest man to hold a guitar.” When I turn back around, she’s following me again. “He’s pretty well known around here. For both his looks and his talent.”

“Yeah? But what do you know about him personally?”

She shrugs her shoulders. “I don’t know. Not much. Just that he’s been friends with Xan for a while now and that he moved here alone from Chicago. From what I hear, he’s saving up to open his own bar. One where live music is a nightly thing.”

“Yeah, well my brother failed to mention him to me, and I can’t help but wonder why. Especially the fact that he practically lives with him. What the hell is that about? We used to be close.”

Jamie shakes her head. “I’m not sure, but I have a pretty good idea.”

“Oh yeah? Why?”

“Look at you. You’re gorgeous, talented and young. Then look at Micah. Also gorgeous, talented and young. And he gets any and every girl his little heart desires. I’m sure he just wanted to keep you at a distance, worried that you’d fall for him and get hurt.” She claps excitedly once the bar comes into view. “Look at this crowd tonight. It’s the busiest on the nights that he plays.”

“Wow!” I look around in surprise at how much the bar filled up in such a short amount of time. It’s a huge change from this afternoon. “This is pretty amazing. I’m excited now. He must put on a good show to attract this many people.”

“Oh honey . . . his voice is orgasmic. Let’s hurry and grab a few drinks so we can get a spot close to the stage. If there are any left.”

While walking up to the outside bar, my brother spots me from the other side and nods to me, before continuing his conversation with a group of girls that are practically hanging all over him.

“Go over to Colby’s side. He’s faster,” Jamie says, pulling me through the crowd. “And he’s the hottest one here besides Micah and your brother.”

“My brother?” I roll my eyes and stick close to her until we make our way up to Colby.

“Yeah, your brother. He’s extremely hot.” She shivers. “Those tattoos and abs make me want to run my tongue all over every inch of his hard body.”

“Gross, Jamie! I did not need to hear that.”

As soon as Colby notices me, he leans over the bar and grabs my hand, pulling my attention away from Jamie. “You ready for that date, babe?”

Smiling, I pull my hand out of his. “Nice try, playboy. How about a beer instead?”

“Make that two,” Jamie chimes in. “And can you get them from the furthest back?”

Lifting a brow, he walks over to the cooler and bends down.

“Mmmm . . .” Jamie moans. “Keep looking, stud. We want the coldest ones. Dig deeper. Much deeper.”

A minute later, Colby turns around, holding two beers in his hand. “Did you girls enjoy the view?” he asks, smirking, while sliding our beers in front of us.

“Very much so. Your ass is fantastic,” Jamie responds. She grabs her beer and tosses some cash down. “Thanks. Keep the change.”

I don’t even get a chance to throw down a tip myself, before she grabs my arm and starts pulling me back through the crowd.

The last couple of tables close to the stage are now crowded with people, but when we get past that crowd, I see Micah leaning against a table that sits right in front of the stage.