Chapter 3
three
. . .
Emily’s Encore
“Jake Steele saw your underwear, Em! That’s something you can tell your grandkids!”
~Zara Quinn
Emily
One of the other band members peeked his head into the tent. “Steele, we gotta go! Plenty of time later for the ladies.”
Steele? My eyes bulged. “Jake Steele?” I squeaked.
The lead singer of Steele Horizons? How the fuck had I missed that?
Jake Steele. Right here—in front of me. I felt a rush of heat flush my face from the embarrassment. He pulled me out of the crowd in my underwear. He saw my ass.
And yet, his gentle touch and piercing blue eyes made me feel seen in a way I’d never experienced before.
Now, he was standing in front of me shirtless, hotter than a Calvin Klein model. I couldn't help but be attracted to this famous man, who was virtually a stranger. The shock from the mosh pit couldn't stop his magnetic presence from pulling me in.
He had to be a foot taller than my ex-boyfriend.
Where Blake had had a blond, surfer-boy look, this man had deep brown hair, slightly too long and tousled at his neck.
He wore dark, tattered jeans and biker boots, a chain linking his jeans to his back pocket.
The ratty T-shirt he gave me said “Heisenberg Says Relax” printed on the front.
I would've laughed at the Breaking Bad reference if I weren't so freaked out.
His cheeks sported a deep five o'clock shadow. Ocean-blue eyes captured me like a tractor beam. He had a young Chris Cornell vibe, with tattoos peeking from under his T-shirt and up his neck. Each inked line told a story I ached to unravel.
I jerked my head to Zara, who was gesturing for me to say something. My social awkwardness was turnt up.
He chuckled. “That’s me. I gotta get out on stage. Enjoy the show, and I’ll see you after.” His voice held a warmth that made my heart skip, as if he meant every word. It sounded like a promise. To me.
And that was how, ten minutes later, I stood stage left watching Steele Horizons rock a crowd on the beach in Panama City for spring break 2025 .
Great. Just great.
Zara and I stood on the side of the stage. She was going apeshit, dancing in place and singing along with the lyrics. I wanted to go back to the hotel and hide away in the room, but she convinced me to stay, saying the music would distract me.
She was right. Jake Steele was very distracting. His energy on stage was electric. Every move, every note, commanded the crowd’s attention and stirred something deep in my gut.
He was singing their number one hit, “Broken Chains.”
I’d put this song on repeat on Spotify when I broke up with my ex. It got me through some deep emotional moments. I felt stupid for not recognizing Jake, but he didn’t plaster his face everywhere. It was all about the band logo.
Now, seeing him pour his soul into the song, I felt a connection to him that went beyond the music. I had that beautiful face linked to the song that healed me.
He was mesmerizing. My body was on fire as I watched him. How could this hot-as-hell rocker have such emotional depth? His voice carried a raw vulnerability that made my heart ache, as if he were singing directly to me.
I got now why Zara was obsessed.
“Before we close out this set, I want to thank security for keeping our fans safe. Especially my new friend, Emily.” He turned our way, breathing hard, his shirtless body covered in a shiny sheen of sweat, a boyish smile on his face, like he was about to be naughty.
That smile sent a thrill through me, both playful and intimate, as if we shared a secret.
“This is for you, Care Bear,” he shouted, launching into a song I wasn't familiar with. It didn't rage like a lot of their other metal songs. The ballad sent shivers down my spine. The melody wrapped around me like a warm embrace, each note pulling me closer to him.
He wowed the crowd. Then he walked to where I stood and pulled me onstage, singing into the mic, eyes never leaving mine. My body froze as he pressed me against him.
I never knew what hunger was,
until your eyes found me.
It drags like teeth against my ribs,
I burn to taste it again.
For a second, I couldn’t breathe. I kept my eyes fixed on him. My body thrummed to the beat of the song. I could feel the heat of his fevered skin, the sweat wicking into my shirt.
His touch was electric, grounding me in a moment that felt like it belonged in one of my novels, something I’d only ever read about. Where the hero sang a love song to the heroine. Oh God, don’t let me faint!
He finished the song, then turned to face the crowd. “Give it up for Emily.”
They went wild, clapping and chanting my name. If this were my fifteen minutes of fame, I’d be okay with that. I wasn’t one who craved attention, I preferred to be behind the scenes.
Though with Jake’s hand in mine, I felt like I could handle anything. His presence made me feel brave and safe. As our gazes locked, I felt the promise of a new story starring Jake and Emily, and it was only just beginning.