Chapter 23
23
ASHER
Drunken Destiny was crowded on Saturday evening before Blair and Summer’s performance. As Liam, Kennedy, and I entered, we had to squeeze around people in order to reach the table Nate had saved for us up front.
I shucked my jacket and hung it over the back of a chair, eager to get it off before I started sweating. With this many bodies in close proximity, we were bound to start smelling each other soon.
“It’s hot in here,” Liam said, removing his jacket as well. “Are you okay, Kenz? Do you need anything?”
Kennedy sat beside Grace, who looked ready to burst any day now. “I’m fine, thanks.”
I claimed the chair between Max and Toby. Eugene must have brought some extra seats over today because there wouldn’t usually be enough for all of us. As it was, the people near the back of the pub had to stand. The atmosphere was cheerful though, conversation humming around us and the scent of beer inescapable.
A makeshift stage had been set up to the rear of the area used as a dance floor, and Blair stood behind a microphone stand, tuning his guitar.
“Where’s Summer?” I asked.
Toby leaned closer. “She’s getting ready out back with Bailey.”
“Right.” Of course she’d want to look her best. Not that Summer ever looked bad. “I might get a drink. You want one?”
He pointed at his half full pint glass. “I’m good, thanks.”
I got up and made my way between the bodies separating me from the bar. Both Eugene and Heather were on bartender duty, and I told Heather which beer I wanted, swiped my card, and leaned against the solid wood of the bar top while I waited.
A light touch landed on my arm. “Excuse me?”
I blinked and refocused on the dark, doe like eyes set in an elfin face that had appeared in front of me. “Yeah?”
The woman glanced at the table I’d come from and rubbed her glossy pink lips together. “Is that Kennedy Cox?”
“It is,” I said slowly.
Kennedy didn’t keep her presence here secret, but I was reluctant to do or say anything that might encourage someone to fangirl all over her.
She stepped closer, her teeth catching on her lower lip. “I would be so grateful if you’d introduce me to her.”
I edged along the bar away from her. “You’re welcome to introduce yourself. She likes meeting fans.”
“Liked” might be an overstatement— sorry Kennedy —but I wasn't comfortable with aiding and abetting this woman’s quest to rub shoulders with a celebrity.
Her eyebrows furrowed, and she pouted harder. “But I would be so grateful. Wouldn’t you love to find out just how grateful?”
Heather passed me my beer, and I took it.
“Sorry, but no,” I told the woman and ducked around a big guy in a coat to escape her.
I returned to the table, glancing over my shoulder to make sure I hadn’t been chased.
“What did you do to upset the hottie?” Toby asked, raising his glass to his lips.
“She wanted to meet Kennedy,” I said.
He gaped. “And you told her no? Are you crazy?”
“I didn’t feel like bothering Kennedy for nothing.” I gave him a warning look.
He ignored it. “Well, I’m more than happy to make the introductions…provided you don’t mind, Kenz?”
Kennedy sighed. “It’s fine. Go ahead.”
Toby smacked his glass onto the tabletop hard enough that we all cringed and shot to his feet. “Be back in a minute.”
“Sorry,” I said to Kennedy.
She grimaced. “You know I don’t mind meeting fans. I just feel icky that Toby is trying to use me to get a girl.”
A few seconds later, Toby was back, dragging the woman behind him by the elbow. She jerked away, patted her silky black hair into place, and offered her hand to Kennedy.
“Hi! I’m Chanele. It’s so nice to meet you. I’m a massive fan—especially of your movies with Gray Anderson. You two are so good together.”
Liam scowled, and she must have noticed, because she giggled nervously.
“I mean in movies,” she said. “I’m sure you and your husband are obviously better for each other in real life.”
“Thanks.” Kennedy smiled at her kindly. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Chanele. Where are you visiting Destiny Falls from?”
“Wellington. Some friends and I are staying at the Ski Resort.” She looked around as if searching for them but came up empty. She scanned the faces around the table. When her gaze landed on me, she glared.
I glared right back. She was welcome to offer whatever perks she wanted to secure an introduction, but I didn’t have to take her up on it just because she was pretty and felt entitled to a man’s attention.
Toby sat, and Chanele did another visual sweep of the table, her face falling when she realized there were no unoccupied chairs.
“I’d be happy to sign something for you, if you’d like,” Kennedy said.
Chanele brightened. “Yes, please. Can we get a photo too?”
“Of course.”
Chanele passed her phone to Toby and circled around to stand beside Kennedy, who rose from the chair. There was no way to avoid having others in the photo since the pub was so crowded, but Chanele didn’t seem to care. She beamed at the camera. The flash went off, and a moment later, the overhead lights dimmed.
Kennedy returned to her seat.
“The show must be about to start,” Nate said, the obvious implication being that Chanele should go back to her friends.
“Wait. Let me give you my number,” Toby said, and entered it into her phone before giving it back to her.
Chanele hovered for a few seconds longer, as if hoping a seat for her would materialize out of nowhere, but then she thanked Kennedy and backed away, bumping into someone as she did so.
“Hey!” they protested.
“Watch it,” she snapped back, throwing another little wave over her shoulder as the crowd closed around her.
“Well, that was fun,” Nate said. “Don’t take this the wrong way, Grace, but I’m glad you write under a pen name and aren’t as famous as Kennedy.”
Grace chuckled. “So am I.”
I snorted to myself. I’d just bet she was. Even as low key as she was, she’d had to deal with a stalker who’d basically wanted to steal her life.
On the makeshift stage, Blair tapped the microphone and began to strum the opening chords of one of his band's songs. The music was cheerful, and a little country. I’d listened to a few of his songs and found the band’s sound difficult to categorize. Some of it veered more folksy while other songs almost seemed to pay homage to classic rock.
Bailey emerged from the back, carrying a second microphone stand, which she placed a few yards away from the one in front of Blair. As soon as it was in place, she returned to the door and signaled for Summer to come through.
The instant I caught sight of Summer’s long legs in sheer black stockings, heat stirred in my gut. I shifted position, angling to get a better view of her. Her dress was almost blindingly white. The sort of thing that would have looked virginal if not for how short it was. The skirt barely covered her ass.
When she circled around behind the microphone and smiled, I nearly swallowed my tongue. Holy fuck. She looked absolutely divine. Dark eye makeup, cherry red lips, and a beauty spot painted on the left side of her face, just beneath her eye. Her hair fell over her shoulders and down her back like golden silk.
My fingers twitched. I wanted more than anything to wrap my hands in that hair, pull her head back, and suck a mark onto the tanned skin of her throat.
I’d always known Summer was beautiful, but right now, she was fucking sexy.
Even thinking that made me feel like a deviant. She was Liam’s baby sister, and—as I knew—off limits, but every part of my body was completely attuned to her. I wanted to devour her, and for everyone to know that no one was allowed to touch her other than me.
If only.
Blair continued to play, and Summer held the microphone and swayed. When she started to sing, I froze in my seat.
I couldn’t move. Couldn’t think.
Her sultry voice wrapped around me, setting my nerves alight and hardening my cock. Had she always sung like a siren and I’d been immune, or was this a new incarnation of Summer?
One thing was for sure: I certainly wasn’t immune anymore.
She held me in her thrall. Her gaze locked on mine, her green eyes made fiercer by the dark circles around them. Blair’s voice joined hers, raspy and oddly comforting. Together, they crooned about a lost love, and she stared right at me the whole time.
I couldn’t have looked away if I’d tried.
They finished the song, and Summer tore her gaze away to smile at Blair and exchange a few words. My gut burned. Irrational or not, I didn’t want her paying any attention to another man when she looked so much like a debauched fairytale princess.
Blair’s fingers moved quickly across the strings as he started another song. This one was more upbeat, with the kind of rhythm people could stomp their feet to. And this crowd did. By the end, the floor was vibrating from the force of dozens of feet pounding the wood. The clapping and cheering could probably be heard a block away.
Blair and Summer played three more songs, and I didn’t move from my chair or once take my eyes off Summer. She enthralled me.
When their set finished, Summer stepped down from the makeshift stage and Blair switched off both microphones. Summer caught my eyes briefly, but then gave Bailey a thumbs up and started moving toward the door through to the back rooms. Before she got there, a pair of men intercepted her.
I was on my feet immediately. I didn’t recognize either of the men, which meant they were out-of-towners and didn’t know anything about Summer other than the fact she looked like sin and could sing like an angel.
“Isn’t this when you should be playing overprotective brother?” I asked Toby.
He laughed. “Summer is allowed to get some action if she wants. It’s been long enough.”
I glanced at Nate, who just stared back.
“You think I’m leaving my incredibly pregnant wife for even a second?” he asked.
I turned to Liam, who raised his hands placatingly. “They’re just talking. I know better than to intervene. Unless she looks like she’s leaving with them, it’s harmless.”
Max didn’t say a word, just nodded in agreement.
Well, damn.
Summer had four brothers present and none of them seemed to think she needed saving.
I guessed it was up to me.