Chapter 3 #2
I knew it was her without seeing her. There was something about her aura that resonated with mine. Her unexpected appearance caught me off guard, and I was already fighting to keep my head above water.
Fuck.
My mood instantly plummeted. Something about this girl lit me up like Fourth of July fireworks. I plastered on a charming expression to hide the unease that swirled inside me.
“Damien! Hi! We made it.” Jade was all smiles as I walked out from behind the table and pulled her into a hug.
“I didn’t realize you’d be here.” I let her go, and she automatically stepped back—next to her.
“Honestly, we weren’t sure we would make it in time. Traffic was a mess. But you know we wouldn’t miss it for the world.”
I finally turned to acknowledge her.
Cadence.
Of course, I remembered her name. Even though I tried hard not to.
She was beautiful, but in a way that made you wonder if she knew just how beautiful she was.
Petite, but feisty. Clearly, she had no problem holding her own.
Despite a slim waist, her shorts hugged her curves, and there was definitely enough of her to hold to.
But her most striking feature was her honey-colored eyes.
They had pulled me in from the very first time I’d held her gaze across the bar back in Charleston.
There was electricity behind them, passion. And I’d sought that light the rest of the night.
Idiot.
She couldn’t know she’d left an impression on me.
That of all the women who had propositioned me since that night didn’t hold a candle to the fire that burned within me for her.
Something like that would only make me vulnerable, and the last thing I needed was another groupie to get the idea that I wanted more from them. I wasn’t that kind of guy anymore.
Always so full of yourself. She already has a boyfriend, fuckface. She doesn’t want you, anyway.
Whatever.
As soon as I’d found out she had a boyfriend, it was like the proverbial ice bucket had been dumped over my head.
I didn’t usually fuck around with other guy’s girls.
And if I needed to keep telling myself that to keep my thoughts on the straight and narrow—to stop from imagining myself peeling off every piece of fabric covering her skin—that’s what I’d do.
“I didn’t think I’d be seeing you again…” I paused. “Cassie?”
God, I was an ass.
She crossed her arms over her chest, giving me a better view of her cleavage, an adorable pout forming on her mouth. “It’s good to see you too, Derek. I mean, Damien.”
I bit the inside of my cheek, fighting excruciatingly hard to keep the smirk from my lips.
Tou-fucking-ché
Jade giggled. “Damien. You remember my sister, Cadence.”
“Ah. Right. Cadence. My bad.”
I looked away from them, deliberately steering clear of Cadence’s penetrating gaze. Even though I was deep in my own denial, I couldn’t shake the remnants of what echoed inside me the last time I’d been caught there.
Undeniable desire.
Profound hunger.
Insatiable need.
I needed to get out of here. To escape that magnetic pull of her presence. “Enjoy the show. I’m heading to the bus.”
Moving away without sparing them another glance, my lungs burned, my muscles ached. I knew I was being a dick to Cadence, but I didn’t know how to be anything else.
Besides, you know what they say. When a guy was mean to a girl, it meant he had a crush on her.
The guys knew better than to interrupt me during my warm-ups. It was something I didn’t mess around with, ensuring my voice was at its peak for each performance, since it allowed me to be up on that stage. I had to make sure I took care of it.
I soon forgot about Cadence and the unwanted fascination between us as I became entirely absorbed in my music.
Back in the venue, I stood just off the stage and waited for Hudson to hit the drums and start our set. That familiar sensation of adrenaline and excitement came over me. I was sporting an ear-to-ear grin as the guitars picked up their part and the melodies merged.
The roar of the crowd pulsed through my ears. Their passion and anticipation were so thick in the air I could stick my tongue out and taste it.
I didn’t get nervous about our shows. Sure, I felt normal jitters, but it wasn’t anything close to fear. I loved it up there. And honestly, the stage lights were so damn bright I usually couldn’t see into the crowd. The only people I was aware of were my bandmates.
So tell me why, as soon as I ran onto the stage, gripped the microphone in my hand, and sang those first few notes, I found those mesmerizing golden eyes once again.
I felt her gaze all over my body. And I fucking loved it.
Giving every piece of my soul into my performance, I locked eyes with her. I knew she was watching me so, naturally, I wanted to impress her.
Her and the rest of the crowd, of course.
But the mesmerizing way she moved her body to my music enthralled me. If eye-fucking was a legit thing, I’d have fucked her all the way across the county and back. At least twice.
I hated that I saw her, desired her. I wanted nothing to do with her, but I was a glutton for punishment. And… there was just something about her eyes.
Hypnotic.
Alluring.
Irresistible.
I finished the set, praying no one could see the semi in my pants. The last thing I needed was a hard-on while on stage.
As I made my way back to our merch table, my love for music pulled me out of the haze once again.
I became lost in the sea of people who came to meet us after the show.
In those moments, I felt truly blessed to be doing what I do.
I met new fans, greeted old ones, took photos, and signed merchandise.
It was all I ever wanted to do. Make connections with people and inspire them.
I was weightless and walking on clouds. The high I felt coming off stage was potent enough that nothing could bring me down.
All the anger and stress that had swirled around me earlier—the worry about my sister, niece, and nephew—vanished. I was my best self when I was performing.
Standing for yet another photo, I contorted my face in any silly way possible, because you couldn’t take life too seriously. At least that was what I told myself when I felt the weight of the world on my shoulders.
As I turned, ready to talk to another patron at the table, I caught Colton off to the side talking to Jade and Cadence.
“Omigod, I love your music,” a girl said, stopping me in my tracks.
“You are seriously the coolest person I’ve ever met.
I can’t believe this! Can you please sign my CD?
” The girl looked like she’d just graduated high school, complete with the emo-kid starter pack of dark eyeliner, fishnets, and all-black attire.
“I’m glad you liked the show.” I tried to give her my full, undivided attention, but the sound of delighted laughter distracted me. From the corner of my eye, I saw Cadence throw her head back as Colton touched her arm. The sound, angelic and pure, grated on my nerves.
“This is seriously the best day of my life. Can we please get a picture? I think I’m in love with you.”
I forced out a laugh. “Of course, sweetie.”
I posed for the photo, doing my best to look like I wasn’t annoyed as fuck.
When Cadence smiled, those intoxicating eyes twinkled and her full lips curved. It was an entirely different side to her beauty. Her straight, white teeth stood in stark contrast to her dark hair.
She’d never smiled like that at me. But then, I’d never given her a reason to.
After the girl left the table, I called over to Colton. “Can I get a hand over here?”
Colton’s smile dropped for a second as he made his way over. “What’s up?”
“How about spending time with our fans instead of standing on the sidelines batting eyes at girls?”
Colton narrowed his gaze, his posture straightening as he grew angry. But he knew as well as I did, that he wouldn’t cause a scene. At least not here. “Yeah. Alright.”
There was no stopping the victory dance I did in my head. Just because I couldn’t have her didn’t mean I wanted anyone else to.
As the crowds thinned out, the day’s stress came back and hit me with full force. I took a sip of the beer someone had brought me, trying to get rid of the numbness settling in my limbs. Not that it helped. I knew alcohol would only make it worse.
“Think we should start packing up?” Shane asked.
“I don’t see no harm in it.” Hudson shrugged.
Colton leaned up against the wall with his arms crossed, glowering. “Might as well. We need to head out soon.”
Jeremiah nodded in agreement.
The patrons that remained in the bar were more focused on getting their alcohol fix than visiting our merch table. So, we began the excruciatingly mundane task of packing and taking loads to the trailer.
The humid air clung to me uncomfortably as Colton and I placed the last totes inside, when someone touched my shoulder.
“We are heading out. It’s getting late.” Jade reached for me as Cadence walked into Colton’s arms. I watched as he rubbed her back and ran his hands over her shoulders. He smiled down at her with that crinkle in his eye.
The next thing I knew, Cadence stood before me while Jade hugged Colton. She looked as uncomfortable as I felt.
“Um…” She pulled her bottom lip into her mouth and stared at her feet. “Bye.”
It was weird going from the constant eye contact she’d given me on stage to her not even wanting to look at me.
It made me angry.
I grabbed her arm and tugged her against me in a quick hug.
She was warm and soft, and I was instantly aware of how seamlessly her curves fit against me.
Like two pieces of the same puzzle. Despite our embrace being brief and completely innocent, it held the promise of something more, something profound, between us.
I let her go, eager to cut that magnetic connection. But what could I say? She was a beautiful brunette, with golden eyes and an ass worth worshiping.
If someone were to put in a dictionary somewhere, ‘Damien Walker’s type of girl’ there would be a picture of Cadence next to it.
“Yeah. See ya,” I said, moving away. As if pretending she wasn’t there would actually help.
When they finally left, Colton turned toward me.
“The fuck is your deal, Damien?”
I closed my eyes before facing him and standing to my full height. “I’m not sure what you mean, Colton.”
“Yeah, you do. You’ve been extra pissy lately.
And can we talk about what is happening with you and Cadence?
You treat her like shit but then stare at her like a fucking creep.
Everyone can see it. If you want her, then grow a pair.
If you don’t, stop being a bitch when someone else wants to give her a chance. ”
“You know I don’t sleep with fans.” The words burned like acid in my mouth.
Colton scoffed. “At least not anymore.”
I grabbed Colton’s shirt and threw him up against the side of the trailer in a blind rage. “You better watch what you’re saying. You don’t know what tree you’re barking up.”
And he didn’t. I’d never shared intimate details about my relationship with Vanessa and how it ended. How she stole not only the love I had to give, but made it so I no longer had the ability to receive it ever again. “Besides,” I said. “Cadence has a boyfriend. She’s off limits.”
Colton pushed me away before walking toward the door. “So? When has that ever stopped any of us before?”
I clenched my fists and grit my teeth as Colton disappeared. Was he saying that just to piss me off or did the bastard want her all to himself?
Fuck.