RockMeTonight (18 page)

“Phenomenally cool. I’m so happy for you.”

He kissed me again. “I’ve gotta go get ready for our set.
Don’t leave, okay?”

“Of course not.”

I wandered around the club looking at the signs for upcoming
shows and saw VC’s poster hanging among them. I bought a drink, a Poe-inspired
one called Sepulchre by the Sea. A few minutes later, Ally returned wearing a
VC tank top over the black one she had on.

“Nice shirt.”

“You should be wearing one. I still can’t believe you’re
dating the singer. That’s insane.”

“Maybe I will tonight. Wear the tank top with a black lace
thong.
That
should get Nico’s attention.”

Her eyes bulged as she stared at me then her face spread
into a giant grin. “Check you out. I like this new Lily. Not so uptight.”

“Hardy har har,” I said in an exaggerated tone. “But
seriously I have you to thank for meeting Nico. You brought me here the night I
met him.”

“I’ll accept your thank-you. Even though you complained
about there being a band playing that night.” She looked up toward the stage
and laughed. “Looks like that worked out to your advantage.”

A few minutes later, Nico and the other guys took the stage.
They played some songs I recognized, including
Let’s Fuck All Over Paris
.

Note to self: Make Nico live up to that offer.
I’d
never been to Paris. Why not go there with Nico—and, well, you heard the song.

Ally and I bounced around near the front of the stage as we
listened to them. Whenever I caught Nico’s eye and he sang looking directly at
me, I froze. It wasn’t just how his black VC T-shirt and torn cargo shorts
hugged his frame, making me remember running my fingers over each and every
muscle in his body. It wasn’t only the way his fingers stroked the strings of his
bass, reminding me how skillfully he touched me, playing my body as deftly as
the instrument he was playing onstage. It was primarily his voice. I’d heard
his voice before I’d seen him that first time at Vamps and the way he oozed
sensuality in one song and then screamed in outrage in others shot something
right into the core of me. Something that had settled deep within that I could
never let go.

Ally frequently nudged me back into action when I froze and
I’d resume dancing around with her. After several more songs, Nico spoke to the
crowd.

“The last time we were here, we had a request to play a song
for a beautiful woman. Tonight I’m going to play a song for another beautiful
woman—my own. For my lovely Ligeia, my muse. My inspiration for our latest song
Love Never Dies,
based on Poe’s work.”

Ally turned to me excitedly. “He wrote this song for you!
Come on. Let’s get closer.” She grabbed my hand and dragged me closer to the
stage, but my feet felt as heavy as concrete blocks. The anticipation of
hearing the song left me immobile once again and I was glad Ally was here to
guide my actions because I really didn’t have a clue how to act.

Waiting, waiting for him to begin. Had I stopped breathing?
I forced myself to inhale and exhale.

Nico leaned closer to the mic and sang in a voice scarcely
louder than a whisper. “It was many and many a year ago, In a kingdom by the
sea. That a maiden there lived whom you may know by the name of Annabel Lee.”
Leaning back, he shouted, “I know some of you know this. Sing the first part
with us.”

After the narrator lamented the loss of Annabel Lee, the
song turned into a darker, heavier tone. Nico’s voice grew louder, more
frantic, urgent. He wailed for his lost love—a woman with gold in her eyes and
gold in her hair—he promised anything to the gods to bring her back.

And then—she returns. The woman with gold in her eyes and
gold in her hair returned to him—his wild, untamed, immortal love. He lingered
on the final line,
a love that never dies
.

The crowd went nuts. They loved it.

I thought my statue reaction was bad enough when he sang to
me. Now that he sang a song he wrote
for me
, I was incapable of speech
as well; I couldn’t form a three-word sentence if my life depended on it.

I inspired him?

The first night I’d spent at his place, he played guitar and
sang that song. When we had quiet moments together, he’d mentioned how he loved
the gold in my eyes and in my hair.

After the song ended, Ally turned to me. “That was fucking
awesome. Don’t you think?”

I nodded with my mouth half-open.

She laughed. “You’re a goner for him. I bet you jump him
right here in front of the stage, not caring who’s around.”

“Ally!” She brought me back to my senses. “I try to avoid
public displays of affection, thank you very much.”

“If a guy sang a song like that for me, I’d be arrested for
public nudity before you could say ‘Spank me’.”

When VC finished their set, Nico walked over to Ally and me.

“You guys are great,” she said.

“Thanks.”

My eyes locked with Nico’s, silently telling him how much
that song meant to me. I saw Ally watching us in my peripheral vision and broke
the gaze. Her eyes darted back and forth between Nico and me as if waiting to
see who would jump whom first.

“I think I’m going to excuse myself so you two can have some
privacy. I don’t want to get entangled in this love nest. But first, Nico,
would you do me a favor?”

“Of course. What is it?”

“Would you introduce me to Chee?”

Ally was brazen as hell. Gotta love her for that.

“Sure, come on.” He turned to me and said, “Be right back.”

I tried not to giggle as I saw Ally work her magic after
Nico introduced her to Chee. She flirted like mad, fluttering her long lashes.
It didn’t take long for Chee to take notice what a hot, fit little body she had
from all her yoga and Pilates. Within minutes, their faces were very close and
I’d place bets that they’d end up leaving together that night.

When Nico came back to me, he said, “I left them alone. Is
she going to be all right?”

“She will be more than all right. If there’s anyone who can
take care of herself, it’s Ally.”

“You better warn her about Chee. He’s my buddy, but he’s
kind of an ass when it comes to women. He’s not the kind of guy who has
relationships.”

I glanced over at them. Chee was nuzzling Ally’s neck and
she had a look of absolute pleasure on her face.

“I don’t think that’s what she’s looking for tonight. But
I’ll warn her. Thanks for looking out for her.”

Nico held my hand as he walked us over to the bar. One of
the couples I remembered from the night I met Nico were talking. When the guy
noticed Nico, he said, “Great show again.”

“Thanks. Glad you liked it. Tristan, this is my girlfriend,
Lily Everett. Lily, Tristan Stone, the owner here.”

“Nice to meet you,” I said as we shook hands.

“Lily for the famous Ligeia,” Tristan asked.

I gave Nico a look and he grinned. “I like the name.”

Tristan said, “This lovely lady is my girl, Maya.”

“I’m a big fan,” Maya said to Nico.

“Thanks. Always nice to hear,” Nico said.

Ah, the life of a rock star
, I thought.

After we all shook hands and exchanged pleasantries, Nico
said, “Thanks again for having us play tonight. We really like the vibe of the
club.”

Tristan replied, “I should thank you. The last time you
played was one of the best nights of my life.”

Maya smiled at him and they communicated silently, probably
remembering something special between them.

“Mine too,” Maya said.

“Come on,” Nico said. “Don’t leave us hanging like this.”

Both Tristan and Maya laughed. Tristan said, “After you
played the song I requested for Maya, I asked her to move in with me.”

“What was it again? Oh yes,
#1 Crush
,” Nico said.

“I’m guessing she said yes,” I said.

“Best decision of my life,” Maya said. “So far.”

“Splendid,” Nico said. “Must have been the song,” he teased.

Maya laughed. “It didn’t hurt.”

Tristan said, “You guys should come back in a few months.
The crowd loves you. I’ve heard great things from some of our regulars.”

“Thanks, man. I’ll tell the others. I see you have some
other good gigs coming up.”

“Yes, we do,” Tristan said. “Maya is good with finding
undiscovered talent. She’s been helping me listen to demos and figure out who
to book.”

Maya said, “Next weekend we’re having a band play for the
best and worst of the eighties week. It’s this hot band I’d never heard of, but
some regulars have recommended them. They’re called Bloodlust Diamond and they
play a lot of rock and heavy metal covers, especially from the late eighties. I
saw some YouTube videos of them and they’re fun as hell. The lead singer is
gorgeous and she can sing like the devil.”

“Sounds like fun. Maybe we’ll come back,” I said. “Do you
work in the music business, Maya?”

“Oh no.” She waved her hand. “I’m just doing this for fun
right now to help Tristan bring in new bands. I’ve always loved this club. And
now I’m rather fond of the new owner.” She raised an eyebrow at Tristan and he
smiled. She turned her attention back to me. “When I’m not here, I’m putting
out fires. Literally,” she added and laughed. “I’m a firefighter.”

My mouth must have dropped partially because she laughed.
“Not what you picture a firefighter to look like, eh?” She ran her hands from
her bright fire-engine-red wig down to her skintight black dress with little
red skulls printed over it.

“No,” I said, laughing with her. “Can’t say it was what I
was expecting you’d say. Maybe something more creative, I’d guess.”

“What about you, Lily?” Maya asked. “We all know about
wonder boy here,” she said, nodding at Nico. “Computer geek by day, rock star
by night. Not a bad combo, I might add.”

“Not bad at all,” I agreed. “I’m far less interesting. Just
a marketing and communications director.”

Nico said, “Don’t listen to her. She’s far more fascinating
than she lets on—and full of surprises.”

I looked at him in horror. He wouldn’t tell, would he?

He just smiled at me.

Tristan looked at Maya and said, “They always are, aren’t
they?” Then he turned back to me. “What kind of marketing do you do?”

“Pretty much all aspects of marketing and communication at
my company.” I waved a hand as I rattled off some of the projects, “Public
statements, brochures, social media, press releases, websites, photo shoots,
all that jazz.”

“Are you looking for any more work?” Tristan asked.

I was busy enough as it was at work, but had been thinking
about leaving my company and going into consulting on my own. Better play my
cards right.

“I’m always open to hearing about new opportunities.”

“Good. We should talk. Vamps has always relied on
word-of-mouth advertising. We have a website, but we don’t update it often and
it could use someone who knows what they’re doing. Now that we are offering
live music, we need to get the word out better.”

“Let me give you my card and we can talk next week.” I
looked around the club from a new angle. How would you sell it? Who’s the
target audience we’d need to reach? One thing was for sure—advertising bands
playing in an underground club sounded like a far more interesting concept than
marketing pharmaceuticals. “Are you using social media?”

“No,” Tristan said. “We have regulars who come in each week
and post some flyers or leave postcards around funky stores in the area. Yes,
let’s talk soon. Monday?”

“Sounds good.” I shook their hands. “It was nice to meet you
both,” I said.

“Same here,” Maya said.

“Lily’s being modest,” Nico interjected before I walked
away. “She’s bloody amazing with a camera. You should see her work. She could
capture this place,” he waved his arm to indicate the club, “like no one else
can.”

Tristan nodded. “I’d like to see that.” He looked at my
card. “I’ll call you on Monday.”

After we walked away, I said, “Thanks for the plug.”

“I meant every word. What do you think?”

“About the opportunity?”

He nodded.

“I’m intrigued. I’d like to learn more.”

“Cool. Then if you decide you like it, maybe you’d like to
start promoting VC as well on the side.”

“Hmm. Wouldn’t that be a conflict of interest since I’m
sleeping with the lead singer?” I asked, narrowing my eyes.

“To me that sounds like it would be a very enticing
interest,” he said, pulling me close. “How about shooting some photos too. I
like your style. Think you can get some terrific shots of the band?”

“Oh, I don’t do many people shots. Mostly objects,
landscape. You know, you’ve seen my work.”

“But Lil, you’re so good with a camera. I’m sure if you took
shots of people, you’d capture those same killer angles with the light and
shadows.”

“I don’t know, Nico. Maybe.”

“You can practice with me. In your
boudoir
later.
Some tasteful nudes, perhaps?” He titled his chin up in a model pose.

“
Boudoir?
What are you talking about? I have a condo.
A very tasteful and utterly too expensive condo.”

“No, really. Let’s play with the camera. You and me.”

Hmm. A flurry of images flashed through my mind. Sexy photos
of Nico. That could be interesting. Nico taking naughty photos of me. Nah, I
couldn’t do that. I’d never done that before.

I took a last sip of my drink. “I’m ready when you are.”

“Let me just tell the guys we’re taking off.”

“I have to say bye to Ally too.”

Ally and Chee were all over each other at the bar and I felt
self-conscious as I interrupted.

“Ally, can I talk to you for a second?”

Trying to hide her frustration, she pulled herself away from
the guitarist. “Be right back,” she whispered in a sultry voice I hadn’t heard
from her before. Guess I’d never seen her in action like this until now.