Play Hard (The Devil's Share Book 5) (11 page)

Jacks held his hand up, asking for a high five from Luke. “Late for a reason, bro?”

Luke slapped his hand. “Yeah. Lo tried to stick a giant hot dildo up my ass.”

“Is
that
your thing?” Jacks’ eyes were wide. What thing? What was he talking about?

Luke ignored him and ordered us each a drink. I sat down in an empty chair next to Bryan. She was dressed in boots and jeans, wearing what appeared to be a vintage Nirvana concert tee. “I love that shirt.”

She looked down. “Thanks, it’s Jacks’.”

I pulled at the fabric; it was pretty tight on her. “Really? That fits him?”

Lexi leaned back in her seat, laughing. “None of his shirts fit him.”

I spun in my chair, searching him out. “Oh my gosh, you’re right. How did he even get that on?”

“How did you get those pants on?” Jacks heard me talking about him.

I glanced down at my favorite black, ripped, skinny jeans. “You think they’re too snug? Should I go take them off?” Everyone in the group said
no
at the same time, even Jacks.

Luke stepped in between my legs and leaned his body weight against me, his hands on my thighs. I wanted him to pull me forward. I wanted his hard against my soft. His palms slid forward, coming closer to where I needed him. Wanted him. “Those jeans are fucking perfect,” he whispered so only I could hear. “But if you want to go upstairs and take them off, I’m game.” He nuzzled the crook of my neck and then growled. Yep. I desired nothing more in this moment than to go back to our room and toss aside the no-sex rule. But I couldn’t do that, not if I wanted to survive this.

I laughed and went to push him off me. “Are you ever not horny?”

“Don’t act like you’re not wet right now, Pix.” He winked. And he was right.

After one more round and a lot more laughter, the eight of us loaded up in a limo and headed to the show. Lexi was pretty much sitting in Dash’s lap. Same with Dylan and Smith. Jacks and Bryan were sitting like normal people, but I was pretty sure they were sexting each other. Both their thumbs were flying and they both wore wicked smiles. No wonder Luke had needed an escape. There’s being around couples, and then there’s being around
couples
. If I hadn’t been sitting next to him, he would have been the most obvious fifth wheel ever.

“Luke, I talked to Ams a few days ago, she wants to meet up with us back in Texas when this promo is over.” Lexi took some lip-gloss out of her purse and smoothed it on. “When I told her I got to hang out with your girlfriend today, she was pissed. You know, since you never even told her you were dating someone.”

Luke shrugged. “I told you the other day that—”

“I understood why you didn’t tell me, I mean you didn’t tell me anything you were up to in Costa Rica. But to not tell Ams?”

It took a few seconds for her words to register in my brain. It took even longer for me to figure out who
Ams
was and that I should probably react to this discussion they were having around me. The car was silent, so I decided to go for it and act like any other chick would. I turned to Luke and slapped him on the arm. “You didn’t tell your sister we were dating? What the hell?”

His eyes got wide; I’d shocked him and I had to bite the inside of my cheek to keep from laughing. “Oh. Uh, I, um. Yeah. I guess I forgot.”

I scrunched my nose, mainly to hide my smile. “You forgot? Wow. Glad our relationship is so important to you.”

Luke’s mouth opened and closed a few times, and he glanced nervously around the car before meeting my eyes. When I raised an eyebrow, he accepted my challenge. “Baby, I’m sorry.” He put his hand on my thigh and started rubbing. Caressing, really. He was punishing me back. “I knew we’d be coming back to the States, I just wanted you to be able to meet her in person. You’re so fucking perfect, my words could never do you justice.”

I hid a snort behind a sniffle then put on my sappiest smile. “Really?”

Jacks whispered
nice
under his breath and fist bumped Bryan on the sly.

Luke put his finger under my chin and lifted my face. “God’s honest truth.”

My lips twitched with anticipation. I loved watching Luke squirm. “Does that mean you want me to meet your sister?” I’d never wanted to play this part. I thought we’d be able to get away with just hanging out together and flirting a little. But these people were nosy AF; everyone was in everyone else’s business all the time.

His jaw clenched, but his sweet smile stayed in place. “Yes.”

I threw my arms around his neck and rained kisses all over his face. I couldn’t help but notice Lexi studying us from across the car. The limo came to a stop outside a small brick building. It looked pretty simple except for the hundreds of flashing lights and the red carpet. Being photographed with a rock star would go a long way in pissing my dad off. Looked like our little arrangement was going to benefit both of us after all. The driver came around and opened the door, letting Dash and Lexi out and then shutting it again. “So is there a band hierarchy?”

Smith shrugged. “Nah. We usually just go in order of how we’re sitting. None of us really care all that much about the spotlight.”

I nodded. “Just the chicks and booze?”

Dylan laughed. “You nailed it.”

Jacks put his hand to his chest. “Excuse me. But all the men in this band are now reformed and walking the straight and narrow.”

“Even Luke.” Smith was staring at us. He was intense, that one. It was like he was always trying to figure out everyone’s next move. Luke’s smile was as tight as his grip on my thigh.

The driver opened the door again, this time letting Jacks and Bryan out. I watched them walk the carpet. They were so playful, so happy together. I bet their house was full of laughter. Landry was a lucky kid.

“Did you talk to Amy a lot when you were in Costa Rica?” Smith leaned forward in his seat and rested his forearms on his thighs.

“Uh, yeah, I guess I talked to her every few days or so.” Luke bit his lip. “School started back so she’s been really busy.” I gathered his sister was a teacher. I filed that away in my Luke fact memory folder.

Smith scooted toward the door when it opened again. “Don’t let Lexi get to you on this, bro. You had a new relationship that you wanted to keep on a beautiful beach as long as possible. There’s nothing wrong with that, right?” He climbed out and then reached in to help Dylan to her feet.

“You think they suspect something?” I turned toward Luke once the door was shut again and the screaming fans were muffled.

“Maybe.” Luke crossed the car and sat closer to the door, holding his hand out for me to join him. “Smith is really observant. And Lexi was obviously hinting at something when she mentioned me not telling Amy about you.” He shrugged. “Either way it’ll be fine.”

“How so?”

“Even if Smith knows we’re lying, he’d never say anything to anyone. Smith, all the guys, they know why I left. And they’d understand why I said I was dating someone.”

I looked out the window; the driver was making his way back to us. “And Lexi?”

Luke gave me a sad smile. “Lexi wants me to be happy.” The driver opened the door and he turned back to me one more time. “And she’ll do anything it takes to make sure I stay that way.” Luke said the last part more to himself than to me.

We walked the short red carpet, and there were at least a thousand pictures taken. When we made it into the safety of the bar, they ushered the guys up toward the stage and the four of us girls to a table right in the front. There were reporters throughout the venue and then some fans sprinkled around. You could tell the difference because the people there for work had out pads of paper or their phones ready to make notes. And the fans just looked excited.

Luke took a seat behind a small drum set and Jacks and Smith both picked up their instruments. Dash perched on a stool and addressed the small crowd. “Thank you all so much for coming out. The album we are going to be debuting tonight is unlike anything we have ever done before. All we ask is that you listen, that you keep an open mind, and that you are honest in your opinions.” Dash glanced down at Lexi and winked. “As a band, over the last year, our lives have been turned upside down. This album is our love story.”

From the first note, I was captivated. Everyone in the audience was. The slow hypnotic sound coming out of the hard-core rockers was so amazing. They held us all in a trance for a solid hour. They went from one song almost straight into another. It was like the audience disappeared for them; they were just four boys playing music together. When they were done, they simply hopped off the stage. Like they hadn’t just changed lives with their songs. They came to our table, somewhat oblivious to the standing ovation they were getting. I only had eyes for Luke. Seeing him up there, in his element, he was so damn sexy. When he kneeled down in front of me, I couldn’t help my huge smile. “That was amazing.”

“Yeah?”

I nodded. “It was everything. And everyone loved it. The album is going to do great, Luke.” I knew a thing or two about the music business. It was hard to grow up with an industry mogul as your father and a hippie as your mother and not know a great thing when you heard it.

He stood and pulled me to my feet, then dipped down and placed a kiss on my lips. I didn’t mean to moan, I really didn’t. I’d just gotten so turned on while I’d watched him perform. He raised an eyebrow. “Ready to get out of here, Pixie?”

I hung my head in shame. I was pathetic. Just your typical girl losing her cool over a hot-as-hell rock star.

Luke placed his finger under my chin and lifted my face. “How about a few drinks at the bar first?” I nodded, taking the out he so graciously gave me. “We’ll have to talk to a few different radio guys, but then I’ll come join you.”

Bryan looped her arm through mine. “Come on, you can be my girl for the night.” Jacks and Luke both went stock still, staring at us. Both their heads cocked to the side at the same time. Bryan reached out and punched Jacks in the arm. “Really? Picturing me naked with a chick isn’t going to help you focus on those press interviews.”

I shook my head sadly back and forth. “I’d never let you watch me with her anyway.”

Their jaws dropped open and we walked away laughing.

We posted up at the old wooden bar, and after we all had our drinks in hand I turned to Bryan. “Luke said that Jacks just found out about Landry over the summer. Were you guys together when she showed up?” I wanted to know about this adorable little family, and for the first time since I met these people it had nothing to do with Luke. I just really enjoyed Bryan.

She shook her head. “No, not really. We were just friends at that point, but he did ask me to come down and help him with her.” She grinned. “And then one thing led to another.”

I took a sip of gin. “If you don’t mind me asking, what happened with all that? Why did her mom not come forward sooner?”

“The label was paying her off. She didn’t need anything else from the band other than money.” She sighed. “CPS got called when Landry’s mom abandoned her for over a week.”

“That’s so terrible.” My heart ached for that little girl. It was a true testament to her strength that she was able to bounce back from all that so well. My dad may have been an asshole while I was growing up. But I’d always had my mom, and she was amazing. Supportive and loving.

“Yeah it really was.” Bryan looked across the bar, seeking out Jacks. When their eyes met, he pursed his lips in a kiss. “But we’re all good now. And that’s what matters most.”

I glanced past Bryan; Lexi and Dylan seemed deep in conversation. “Have any insight into the band that you want to share? Anything to help me survive?” Luke and I would never be more than friends. I understood that. But even as his friend, I wanted to fit in here. After all, I was going to be with them for another week.

“The band, this family…they’re tough. They’re protective because they have to be, you know? They’ve all been dealt some crap hands at one point or another.” Bryan studied me for a moment, like she was trying to decide if she wanted to let me in or not. I didn’t blame her, but I’d never sell them out. “Smith had a really rough childhood with a horribly abusive father. The first drummer for the band, Jared, was Smith’s cousin and he had a drug problem. He was messed up one night and tried to kill Smith; he shot him in the shoulder and gave Lexi a concussion.”

“Oh wow.” Talk about family drama. Between what Landry had gone through, and the band as a whole, suddenly my absentee father seemed like less of an issue.

“Yeah. Lexi was pregnant at the time and she could have easily lost the baby. All that hit Smith really hard. He blamed himself, blamed his connection to his family.” Bryan took another sip of her beer. “Dylan joined the tour after that and she was good for Smith; he’s come a long way. At one point she shot Smith’s dad in the foot, but I don’t really know the details about that because they never talk about it.”

“She shot his dad?” I whispered.

Bryan nodded. “Yep. At the musical festival where I met Jacks for the first time. He totally tried to get with me and I punched him in the gut. We were friends from that moment on and when I came down to help him with Landry we fell in love. And now you’re here with Luke. Everything happens for a reason, right? The glass can either be half full or half empty. But either way, you can always refill it.”

That was a lot of information to get in less than two minutes. I took a long gulp of my gin and tonic. None of that information explained Luke and Lexi. They had been friends for a long time, sure. But why was he still stuck on her? Why did she have that power over him? There had to be something between them, something that bonded them together. Friendship and unrequited love that spanned a decade? It would be tragic if it didn’t piss me off so bad.

My gaze ventured across the room, automatically seeking out Luke. I was so drawn to him. Ever since he’d kissed me on that plane, I hadn’t been able to stop thinking about him. It was like the universe kept shoving us together.

I knew that Luke wasn’t in the right frame of mind for a relationship, but it was getting harder and harder to resist the pull of him.