Snared (Jaded Regret #1) (5 page)

“Take your seats,” Dr. Knight said to the girls. “We’re about to begin.” With that, Camryn and Bella went off to their table, and April sat down . . . next to me.

As she sat, I smelled the floral scent of her perfume and closed my eyes. Her leg touched mine as she adjusted in her seat. Fire shot through my veins.
Beau Oliver, get a fucking grip. What the hell is your problem?

I could sense her eyes on me, so I stole a glance in her direction. When she caught me staring, she smiled, her perfectly straight teeth gleaming. “It’s great to meet you,” she whispered as her father took the microphone in the front of the room, ready to begin the night.

I smiled but didn’t say anything, because I had no idea what to say. I wasn’t good at small talk. I listened as her dad talked numbers and statistics about the hospital and then introduced the band to the room. We stood and made our way up to the podium next to her dad. Bex stepped up next to Dr. Knight. I stood silently next to Tanner, grateful I didn’t have to speak.

“We’re honored to have been chosen to help this amazing hospital and the work they do with children in the Orlando area and beyond. We’re also glad to be a part of raising awareness about the amount of children in the foster care system in the state of Florida. We’re proud to be partnering with April Knight to expand our foundation here in the Orlando area for young teen girls. I once was a foster child, so I know the importance of these kids being ready for adulthood and getting the right support. We can’t wait to see all of you at the concert tomorrow night. Thank you for having us.”

Clapping followed her short speech, and we walked back to our table while they started serving appetizers and salad. I sighed. I wanted nothing more than to pull this damn tie off and unbutton my shirt. I felt like I was suffocating.

“You okay?” Natalie asked.

“Fine.”

I breathed a sigh of relief as the elevator doors closed behind me, leaving me alone to head up to the hotel room. I had no idea how I’d escaped without anyone coming with me, namely my sister, but I was so glad I had.

The dinner had been nice enough. Thankfully, the table had been lively with conversation, meaning I hadn’t had to talk to April much without others interjecting. I wasn’t much of a talker, and especially since she threw me off my game, I didn’t want to make a fool of myself. I hadn’t missed her watching me most of the night, but that wasn’t unusual. I was . . . different, and I was okay with that. Especially to a straight-laced doctor’s kid, I was probably as cool as any science experiment she’d ever seen. I was the most tatted member of Jaded Regret, not to mention my nose piercing and gauges.

My head swam with everything, and I just needed a moment or two to unwind. I untied the tie and ripped it off, then shrugged the jacket off. Next up was the top buttons of my dress shirt, and then the sleeves were unbuttoned and pulled up.

“Much fucking better,” I stepped off the elevator. I couldn’t wait to change into my Henley and jeans with my chucks. I’d heard there was an epic rooftop deck in this hotel, so I planned to grab a soda and unwind up there. I had to get my head right for the show tomorrow and being around all those people wasn’t going to do it.

The hotel door slammed behind me, and I threw the tie as far as I could, kicking off the uncomfortable dress shoes. Within moments, I was changed and headed back out the door, leaving a note on the table for Natalie. I didn’t want to take my phone, but if I disappeared, she would worry. I hated that she was always worried about me, but it was par for the course. I’d accepted it a long time ago.

I stepped back into the elevator, holding two cold sodas from our refrigerator in our room. I pressed the button to the rooftop deck and laid my head against the cool metal of the wall. What a day. At least tomorrow I could be in my element, behind my drums, banging the hell out of my frustrations. While I was still rather quiet on the stage, nowhere near some of the other rock drummers we knew, I was able to be a little more open while playing. As long as they never made me go up and talk to the audience. It was nice that I was more hidden than everyone else. If I concentrated hard, I could almost imagine I was alone on the stage.

I opened the door to the rooftop deck and noticed it was empty. Thank God. I didn’t want to have to make small talk with anyone or be recognized and end up signing things. I settled on an outdoor couch and propped my feet on the wicker ottoman in front of it. A slight breeze ruffled my shirt despite the warm and humid Florida night. It was so peaceful out here.

I popped open the tab to my soda and took a long pull. I didn’t drink alcohol; it just wasn’t a good idea with the meds I took. Unlike the rest of my band, which could put away drink after drink, I had to be careful.

I hadn’t been there long when I heard the door open behind me. I closed my eyes, hoping whoever it was would see they weren’t alone and leave. When I heard footsteps approaching, I knew I wasn’t that lucky.
Okay, at least make it be someone who doesn’t recognize me.

If someone was a rock fan, I was very recognizable without trying to cover up. That’s what happened when you had tattoos as far as the eye could see and gauges in your ears. I didn’t do it for attention, though that was the assumption. Every one of my tattoos meant something to me. They helped me remember who I had been, who I was, and who I never wanted to be. Covering my skin in ink helped me keep my identity and not take on the one of my parents. I’d started getting ink right after meeting Robyn, and just got my latest one a few weeks ago. The gauges? Well, those were just because I thought they were fucking cool.

Natalie didn’t. She’d wrinkled her nose at me when I’d gotten my starter one. The size I had them at now was where they were staying. They weren’t tiny, but they weren’t huge, either.

“Beau?” A voice came from behind me, and I cringed. I turned my head and my eyes connected with April’s.
Fucking hell
. She had changed also, now wearing a pair of form-fitting jeans and a low cut tank top that accentuated her full breasts and ample cleavage. Her hair was down in soft curls around her shoulders and the light from the doorway shone around her. She looked like an angel. Didn’t that fucking figure because I was the devil.

“Hey, April.” My face burned like it was on fire. Could she tell? Hopefully, it was dark enough so I didn’t appear like a fool.

“Sorry to interrupt. I didn’t know you were here. I just wanted some air.”

“Me too,” I said. “Want a soda?” I indicated the unopened can on the table in front of me, and she smiled.
What the hell are you doing, Beau?

“Sure. Thanks so much. Are you sure I’m not bothering you?”

Yes, you’re bothering me. Go away. I don’t like where my head goes when you’re around me.
“Of course not. Please, have a seat.” I moved over so she could sit.

When she settled next to me, I smelled that floral scent again. I wanted to bottle it up and take it with me, as well as the vision of her wearing those skin tight jeans, and take care of myself in the shower. Yeah, good plan.

“You ready for your show tomorrow?” April asked, making small talk.

“Always.” Talking about playing was easy. I could do that.

“Thanks again for doing this,” she said. “It means the world to me.”

I nodded, not having anything to say. This was all Bex. I took a long pull of my drink, trying to settle the nerves attacking my stomach. I was completely out of my element here. I had no business being on this deck with her by myself.

“You’re nervous,” April said, breaking the silence. I snapped my eyes to hers but didn’t speak. “You don’t have to be nervous around me.”

I wanted to laugh at her ludicrous statement. I had every reason to be nervous around her. I chose to ignore her comment and tip the soda up to my lips. I knew her eyes were on me, and it made my mind race with possibility. What did she want from me? She didn’t seem like the groupie type. Lord knew I had enough bras and lewd comments thrown at me during our shows. I usually just kicked the bras over to Tanner and let him figure out what he wanted to do with them. That wasn’t me, and it never would be.

Even if April was the hottest “groupie” I’d ever seen.

April

I COULDN’T BELIEVE
my luck. I’d found Beau up on the rooftop deck. I hadn’t been able to take my eyes off him since the second I saw him. He’d looked so hot, but so out of his element dressed in that suit. This was much more his style; I could tell. His short, dark hair, coupled with the short beard, had me tingling. Add in the tattoos scrolling across every inch of skin I could see, and I was mesmerized. Even the gauges in his ears had me interested. He tapped his fingers on his jean-clad leg to some invisible beat in his head, and I found myself wondering what his talented fingers would feel like on my skin.

He wasn’t my type. Not at all. Then again, “my type” hadn’t gotten me anywhere, either. There was something about the quiet way he took everything in, hardly saying a word, and the way his eyes crinkled up when he thought something was funny, his lips showing just a hint of a smile. I knew he was incredibly uncomfortable being up here alone with me, and that intrigued me. Men usually didn’t act so intimidated by me; if anything, they often went overboard trying to get my attention. Beau seemed like he couldn’t care less if I was here next to him or not, and would prefer me not to be here at all.

Jaded Regret was my favorite band. I loved everything I’d found out about them and what they were doing with their success. I couldn’t believe I’d gotten them to play at this fundraiser. Ever since they’d become famous, I’d followed the story of Bex and Johnny, Tanner, and Beau. I knew as much as any fan could about them. I knew Beau had been a foster kid, and I figured that may be a way for us to connect with each other since that was what I did for a living. My job was my life.

I did it for my mom, who’d grown up in foster care herself. It wasn’t until she met my dad, after she was out of the system, when her life started turning around. Now she was a huge adoption advocate and worked tirelessly with our state to promote permanent placement for children. This was one of the many reasons I adored Jaded Regret. I’d heard the stories that circulated about Bex, Natalie, and Beau—their history in foster care and how they got out. I wanted to know the real story, not the media version. Bex was always very tight-lipped about it, saying only that she wished to give back to kids like her. I could understand why, but it didn’t stop me from being curious.

I sipped the bubbly soda. I wanted to ask a million questions, starting with why he wasn’t drinking something harder. Didn’t rockers like to drink? I needed to decide the best way to approach Beau. I’d told Camryn and Bella I’d meet them back down at the hotel bar in a little bit. I’d just needed some time to find Beau and see if my initial feeling of being around him continued.

It did. I was attracted to him. I wanted to get to know him. And as much as I wasn’t a one-night stand kind of girl, I wanted him to take me to his room. I wasn’t a groupie; well, not in the literal sense. I guess I did know more than most about the band, but I was the daughter of Dr. Knight. I’d brought the band here. I was a professional.

When I wanted something, I made it happen. The same way I’d “flunked” out of medical school so I could do what I wanted, which was social work. It was April’s way or no way in life. I’d learned from my dad never to take less than what you want, and to work your ass off to make your dreams happen. Much to his chagrin it meant I didn’t do what he wanted me to do, which was to follow in his footsteps.

Beau cleared his throat, shaking me out of my random thoughts. “I better get in. My sister will wonder where I am.”

He couldn’t go yet. We hadn’t spoken more than a few words to each other. “Wait.” I placed my hand on his thick thigh. Warmth immediately flooded my body. Beau’s eyes went from my hand on his leg up to meet my gaze, and we were locked in a stare for a moment, neither of us moving.

“Don’t go yet.” I ignored the way my hands shook involuntarily.

A look I could only classify as panic crossed Beau’s face before he quickly masked it with indifference. When he shifted to stand, my hand fell off his thigh, and then he busied himself by picking up our empty soda cans. “It was nice to meet you,” he said, not making eye contact. “I’m sure I’ll see you before the concert tomorrow.”