Chapter 6
Chapter Six
THREE MONTHS LATER
Raelyn
Live music fills the air at the Yacht Club, as we sit enjoying conversation with a few margaritas. No matter what, no one breaks our weekly girls’ nights. We are creatures of habit, and these nights are sacred times.
“Raelyn, have you still been getting those blocked calls?” Maddie asks.
“They seemed to have died down. I don’t know what to make of them.” I shrug.
Rylie scrunches up her face. “That is odd. Do you think it could be Jace?”
I blow out a breath. “Maybe? But it’s not like I blocked him, so that would be stupid. Then again, having a double life was stupid but that didn’t stop him.”
Rylie nods her head. “That’s true.”
I lift my shoulders lightly, blowing it off. “I’m sure it’s nothing to it.”
The salt air blows through my hair as I watch the band exit the stage for a break. Music starts playing through the speakers from the radio. I’m just about to take a sip of my margarita when the name “Holt Hayes” is said, causing me to freeze. I look up into the knowing eyes of Rylie.
“Shut up! Listen to who is playing on the radio right now,” Brynn exclaims.
I roll my eyes. “He’s all over the radio day and night.”
“Man, I wish we could relive that release party one more time.” Brynn sighs.
I stir my straw in my margarita. Holt Hayes was epic.
Rylie bows her head down, lifting her arms to Brynn like she is queen. “I would say you one-hundred-percent redeemed yourself from the night before and scored a solid nine that night.”
“Nine in a half,” Brynn corrects as she tosses her hair over her shoulder.
I throw my head back laughing. I missed a good bit of excitement while I was on my adventure. “I still can’t believe you had sex with someone in the bathroom.”
The corners of her mouth turn up. “First off, that wasn’t a normal bathroom, it was massive! Second, he was sexy as hell, and we were on the same page. It was really hot, too, best bathroom sex ever!” She leans forward propping her elbow on the table as she looks at me pointedly. “Also, don’t act like you didn’t ditch us for your hot piece of ass.”
I pick up my margarita as a smile crosses my face. “I never thought I’d have a one night stand, but I don’t regret one minute.”
My mind drifts to Holt. He has played in many of my fantasies since that night. It doesn’t help that he got his big break, and now his face is everywhere, taunting me with a night I can’t forget even if I tried.
“By the way, have you seen the country music charts lately? Holt Hayes is all the talk. His songs are topping charts,” Maddie exclaims.
Rylie sets her menu down. “Can you believe you slept with a famous country singer. I mean he’s the new big thing in country music.”
I let out a heavy sigh. “I don’t know if I enjoy the reminder of seeing his face everywhere.”
“Do you follow him on any social media?” Maddie asks.
I shake my head. “Nope.”
Brynn looks at me with disbelief. “Why? I think you should reach out to him and ask if he needs you to bang his brains out again.”
I laugh, if only things were that simple. I have contemplated following him but decided against it.
“I can’t believe you won’t reach out to him on social media or at least follow him. You said y’all had a connection,” Maddie adds.
I give her a tight smile. “What would I say? ‘Hey, do you remember me? I’m one of your many one night stands.’ I’m not that girl. He told me he couldn’t give me more than one night. He’s a man whore with commitment issues. He told me that himself. We were vague on information about ourselves, really. First name basis, but I think he may have ruined me,” I say, looking out over the bay as boats ride by. “Best sex of my life.”
“You never know, he could be waiting on you.” Maddie shrugs.
I picture Holt in my mind, wondering what he’s doing right now and who he’s with. I have never had anyone affect me the way he did. It’s hard to forget.
We have all listened to his music, and he was selling himself short on being good at it. His voice is like smooth velvet with a deep southern drawl. It’s my new addiction. I’m embarrassed to say I have all his music downloaded and know every song, word for word.
It only took me a minute on Google to figure out Holt’s full name, but that didn’t matter because he’s a celebrity now. Damn him. I almost wish he would have stayed hidden, so the what if s couldn’t eat at me.
Rylie breaks my train of thought. “Have y’all seen the news about those murders in Louisiana? Three women were killed over the last few months. Each girl had a single gunshot wound to the head.”
Brynn’s eyes widen. “Damn, that sounds personal.”
“Oh yeah. I’ve been invested in that story,” Maddie says. “They were all strippers. Police have linked them all to the same killer from the bullets recovered during the autopsies. Forensics verified they were all a match from the same gun, but that’s where the trail goes cold, no other evidence has been recovered.” She lifts her eyebrows at me. “The murderer has a type though, brunettes with blue eyes.”
I grimace. “Oh wow, that’s horrible. I’ve seen pieces of it on the news but not all the details. I bet it turns out to be an obsessed client, who has drained all his savings on them in hopes for more. Good thing I’m not a stripper.”
Holt
As my set comes to an end, I pat my chest and point to the sky, thanking God for this incredible opportunity to perform for a sold out arena.
I exit the stage with my heart still pounding, adrenaline pumping through my veins.
Luke pats me on the back. “That was a damn good show, brother.”
The three guys—Luke, Kyle, and Jake—who make up my band have become like family. Brothers I never knew I needed. I couldn’t imagine ever performing without them now. We all just vibe together, and our sets run seamlessly.
Three months on the road has been everything I dreamed of and more. We’ve bounced between tours to open for guys I now call friends and done some solo gigs here and there. Man, it has been a ride so far, and I was right: Yellowstone Industry has turned me into a chart topper. Grabbing a bottle of water, I decide to relax on the tour bus to shower and unwind.
A few hours pass as I’m browsing through social media, drinking a cold beer. Randomly, I search for Raelyn, but once again I come up empty handed. I toss my phone on the bed and take another swig. Some shit luck I have. I’ve never wanted or missed a woman’s company but here I am missing her. I wish we could have had more time. I think back to her laughter and carefree spirit. It was intoxicating, making me crave more.
I hear my door open and look up to see Luke. “Are you in the mood for a party tonight?”
Another night, another VIP party. These parties come with endless drinks and women. Pussy on demand we call them. I used to enjoy them, but lately the appeal is gone.
“Yeah man, let’s go,” I say.
I need a distraction.
We enter the big, upscale night club, and we’re led to the top floor where the party is already in full swing. It’s dimly lit with different colored lights illuminating the walls and music pumping through the speakers. I look to the corner, as I watch a topless woman slide down a pole. You have to be somebody or know somebody to get up here.
Kyle rubs his hands together grinning. “What flavor do I want tonight?” His eyes follow a woman as she walks by.
“Do you ever think about anything but your dick?” Jake asks.
Kyle looks at Jake like he has three heads. “Hell no, I’m not wasting my prime.”
Jake chuckles. “You better make sure you wrap that thing up, so it doesn’t fall off,” Jake says, patting Kyle firmly on the back as he walks off to the bar.
Kyle fakes a shiver. “God, why’d he even say that. He’s going to kill my vibe. Never mind, there she is, red dress at three o’clock. See you limp dicks later.” He grins, as he walks off.
I shake my head as I watch him disappear into the crowd. I used to love these parties with the easy women, but now they’re dull.
A waitress saunters up to us, batting her eyelashes at me. “What are you boys in the mood for tonight?”
“Whiskey and coke, actually make it a double sweetheart,” I tell her.
“Coors for me,” Luke says.
I watch her walk away. She would be an easy lay, but I’m not in the mood for a blonde.
The women are all beautiful at these parties. I start scanning the crowd to find my distraction while waiting for my drink.
She returns with our drinks and slides a card in my pocket. “Call me if you get lonely tonight.”
I pull out some cash to cover our drinks plus a nice tip. “Thank you, sweetheart.”
Luke takes a swig of his beer. “Are you going to take her up on that offer?”
My eyes then land on a brunette with blue eyes, not the blue eyes that play in all my fantasies lately, but they’ll do. She is watching me as a mischievous smile touches her red painted lips.
“Nope, I think I just found what I need.”
He follows my gaze, letting out a low whistle. “You sure do have a thing for brunettes with blue eyes lately,” he teases. “That woman did a number on you in Tennessee, huh?”
I drunkenly told Luke about Raelyn one night. Luke is easy to talk to and knows things the others don’t. The guys don’t notice my change in behavior, but Luke does. He calls her the one who got away. I shake that thought, tonight I need to break out of my funk and get her out of my head for good.
Tuning him out, I make my way over to my distraction.
The woman is already smiling at me like she's won a damn prize, knowing I’m about to give her my attention. Most of these girls know the score. A few have slid through the crack thinking they could tame me, but quickly found out they were sadly mistaken.
I come to a stop in front of the attractive brunette. “Are you looking for a good time, sweetheart? I’m leaving in the morning, but my night is open. I’m not in the mood to party anymore, just want to satisfy my itch and crash.” I’m blunt, no sense in beating around the bush.
She shoots me a seductive grin. “Baby, I’ll make you never want to leave me.”
I laugh. “I doubt that, but I think you can ease my mind for a little while. I have a hotel room booked right down the road.”
We always have rooms on standby. We don’t bring hook-ups to the bus.
She links her arm in mine. “Say no more.”
We make our way to the back exit to avoid any unwanted attention. My bodyguard and driver, Kane, is waiting there, standing outside the SUV.
“Hotel?” he asks.
I give him a nod. He already knows. We climb into the back of our signature blacked out Escalade, and she is on me immediately, wasting no time. I’m not in the mood for foreplay. Hell, I may need another drink for this.
I push her off my lap and nod to Kane. Not that Kane minds, he’s seen a fair share, but I try not to let things get out of control.
Screw the drink, I need a shot. I pull the Tequila out of our stash cooler and take a big swig straight from the bottle feeling the burn going down.
Kane pulls up to the hotel, and moments later I’m sliding the keycard in the door. As the door swings open, she’s on me once again. I welcome her this time, running my hands along her toned body.
We start undressing each other, as I push her on the bed. She stares up at me licking her lips. My fingers linger over the plastic wrapper in my pocket. My desire suddenly feels as though it’s been doused by water. I narrow my eyes, studying the woman before me. Who am I kidding? This woman isn’t who I want. Even my dick seems uninterested. I release the wrapper, running my hand through my hair.
I blow out a deep breath. “I’m sorry, I can’t do this.”
She narrows her eyes. “What do you mean you can’t do this?”
Great, now I've pissed her off.
I put my shirt back on. “I’m just not in the mood anymore.”
I can see the questions in her eyes, then her eyebrows relax. “Another woman?”
“Something like that,” I reply honestly.
“I’m not going to say I’m not pissed but I understand. Lucky woman,” she simply states putting her clothes back on.
I’m the one who’s lucky to have met Raelyn, but I keep that information to myself.
I pull out my phone and send Kane a text. “My driver will take you where you want to go.”
As she exits the room, I lay back on the bed, staring at the ceiling.
The scent of her perfume soils the sheets. Disgusted, I pull the sheets off and throw them on the floor. I’ll call room service and request another set if I’m going to stay here tonight.
I just can’t seem to shake the memory of Raelyn. I would be lying if I said I didn’t want to find her. Hell, I have searched social media over and over again to find her, but all I have to go off of is her first name and that she lives in a beach town. I don’t even know what damn beach.
The one woman I had a connection with.
Luke was right, she’s the one who got away. Will I ever be able to move on from that night? I close my eyes and picture her striking blue eyes. My pretty little poison.