23. Emerson
EMERSON
Gin they have everything.”
“I’ve been to plenty of bars where the three taps provided a generous selection.” He quirks an eyebrow and I fist his shirt in my hands, arching into him as I smile. “I wasn’t always so fancy and I stopped being innocent a long time ago.”
“Baby, I could write songs about you all day long and not one of them would include the word innocent.”
“I think you want me to be insulted by that but I’m not. Although you know how I feel about the songwriting.”
“I do and never an insult,” he states, swaying us gently from side to side. I can’t hear the song but it doesn’t matter because I trust Garrett to take care of me. He’s in his element here—the music and the crowd. He may not be on stage, but I can feel energy almost vibrating off him.
“You’re too sexy for your own good right now.”
“Is that right?”
“Mm-hmm,” I confirm, rolling my hips, his eyes darkening when I do it again. “You better go get that drink before we make a scene.”
“Miss Andrews, I’ve been in this business a long time, and I’ve never wanted to fuck someone in the bathroom of a bar as much as I do right now.”
I can feel his hand slide down to cup my ass, jolting me tight against him and his growing erection. “To be clear, I am all for quick and dirty before the band starts.”
“Like I said, not innocent at all,” Garrett says. “But you brought a bodyguard, and I’m not explaining to your father why he had to stand outside the door while you were screaming my name.”
“We brought a bodyguard.”
“We’d be more likely to be mobbed at the grocery store than here.”
“Never say never, Rockstar. Now,”—I push my tits against his chest and run my tongue along the sensitive skin behind his ear—“go, before we cause a scene. Theo said it’s forbidden.”
He laughs as he shakes his head, his dark hair falling across his forehead. “Stay here and don’t move.” Garrett points at the high-top table. “Please, I’m begging you. I don’t want to have to fight someone for looking at my wife.”
His eyes drag over my black cropped tank, black leather pants, and sky-high red heels that match the lipstick I had to reapply before we even left the house.
Husband approved.
“Mmm, say it again,” I taunt as Garrett moves us so the edge of the table bites into my back.
“Make no mistake about it, Em, I will destroy anyone that puts their hands on my wife.”
“Well, hurry back, Rockstar. Talking like that has my panties absolutely soaked.”
“You’re in so much fucking trouble when we get home,” he growls, the low gravel of his voice allowing me to not get caught up in the word home as he presses his erection against my belly.
“I’m counting on it, Mr. North.”
And tonight I’m not above begging for it either.
“You should go talk to him.” The words make Garrett whip his head toward me with a sheepish expression.
“Sorry, I got caught up in the music,” he says, like I haven’t been watching him for the last twenty minutes gaze intently at the guy playing lead guitar.
The sexual tension that had been hot enough to start a fire fizzled to embers as the band took the stage.
Which was probably better because I had considered dragging him down the hall to the bathroom. No matter how much space people have given us tonight, there’s no way they’d ignore me getting railed in the bathroom.
Ozzy would be laughing.
My father would be disappointed.
And Theo would be pissed he had to say I told you so.
So no sex in public it is.
Not that I’ve ever done that—tarnishing my reputation was unfathomable. Now look at me—older, smarter, and ready to throw all that to the curb to have an orgasm in a small-town bar with my fake husband.
My, how things change…
“Do you want me to go talk to him?” I ask, trying not to dwell on that particular thought process.
“What? No. Why would you—”
“Because it seems like you need a wingman and honestly, I’m great at it. I’m not just a pretty face, you know.”
“You’re gorgeous and sexy as hell and so god damn brilliant it’s incredible.”
“Look at you throwing out the charm.” I circle my fingertip around the rim of my glass. “I don’t know if you know this, Mr. North, but tonight…I’m a sure thing.”
Chuckling, he runs his hand over the back of his neck and sighs. “I can’t poach him from his band, especially not when I don’t know what’s happening with mine.”
“Okay, but is there any harm in being like, ‘hey you’re really great; are you from around here?’”
“I’m not trying to date him,” he deadpans, making me roll my eyes and twirl the straw in my drink. “Trust me; you’re all I can handle.”
“You’re still pursuing the connection. Getting to know him and seeing if he’d be a good fit.” I don’t know a whole lot about the music industry, but I know an absurd amount when it comes to networking.
“I literally just listened to him play for the first time tonight.”
“And I don’t think you needed more than one song to know he fits with your”—I motion toward Garrett with my hand searching for the word—“vibe. And besides, he’s looked over here at least three times already.”
“He has?”
“Seriously? How does Theo let you out on your own?” I tease, but I’m not totally kidding. I don’t think I’ve ever been so comfortable in public that I can just exist in the space without a care in the world.
But that’s this place for Garrett.
A pang of jealousy zips through my veins, and I hate that I’m letting my emotions get the best of me. That’s two days in a row.
And I can’t have that.
Connections are fine but emotions are messy.
Garrett and I have out-of-this-world chemistry, but it doesn’t need to be anything more than two compatible people enjoying the perks of their mutually beneficial arrangement.
“I’ll think about talking to him, all right?” he replies, his eyes moving from the band back to me as the next song starts to play. It’s sexy, the words and melody the best kind of seduction as everyone starts to sway.
I know Garrett can feel it too, his dark eyes flashing with desire as they drop to my lips.
“Wanna dance, Rockstar?” I know he can’t hear me but that doesn’t matter, because his gaze is focused on my tongue peeking out to wet my lips.
“Let’s make it fast, Miss Andrews. I’m hanging on by a thread.”
“Sounds kinky.”
“Just you wait.”