Whisky Lullaby: Rock Star Romance, Step-brother New Adult Romance (Tennessee Romance Book 1) (6 page)

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Logan tapped his pencil against the surface of his desk in Geological Science 232. He couldn’t concentrate. Every nerve in his body was a live wire. Every muscle seemed ready to jump. It had been a long time since Logan had felt this keen. He didn’t quite understand why he was so damn excited. He’d had girlfriends before. Maybe it was the band competition coming up. Or maybe it was Ashley. He’d seen her cello yesterday and knew she was a musician? Most likely on a scholarship so that made her a particularly gifted one. She was a triple threat: beautiful, talented and mostly likely incredibly smart.

Professor Litmus erased the white board and wrote the weekend assignments on the board. “Read pages 7-27 in the green textbook, do the problems in the workbook pages 12-20 and think of a mathematician to write your term paper on,” Professor Litmus rambled on in a monotone voice. 

“Charlie Murphy, you still owe me an essay from last year,” Professor Litmus continued as he glared in a petulant gaze back at Logan’s stepbrother. 

Logan snickered under his breath. Maybe if his brother did some work instead of trying to play footsie in the back with his girlfriend, he’d actually make something of himself. 

Thump!

A foot kicked the back of Logan’s chair. 

Or not.

“What’s your problem?” Logan growled. 

“You,” Charlie said with attitude rampant in his voice. 

“Me? What’d I do now? Is this still about the band?” 

“Fuck the band.”

“Then what? What’s your problem?” 

“You’re encroaching on restricted territory,” Charlie spat with a pissed off look on his face. 

“Restricted territory?!” Logan stood up from his desk. Just as the words released from Logan’s mouth, Kaylee, Charlie’s girlfriend, brushed by giving him a calloused look. 

“My cousin.” She glared at him.

“Your cousin?” Oh shit. “Ashley?”

“Sweet cheeks is off limits,” Charlie said in a voice that was designed to piss Logan off. 

“Since when do I listen to anything you have to say?” His stepbrother was an idiot.

“She’s Kaylee’s cousin. Paws off!”

Logan slung his backpack over his shoulder. He had no intention of keeping his paws off. Logan was still furious at Charlie for everything in the past year. “I get that we both grew up in the same backwoods town in Tennessee, but I’m not as stupid as you are. So what… They’re cousins.” He grinned. “I won’t kiss and tell.” He took satisfaction in the fury burning in his stepbrother’s eyes. “Your chance of a threesome isn’t going to happen, they’re nothing alike.” 

“What’s that supposed to mean?!” Charlie demanded as he pressed his face close to Logan’s own. 

“She’s different than this one.” He nodded at Kaylee. “One of these girls is not like the other one. Take it how you want.”

“I’m warning you. Leave her alone.” Charlie’s voice took on a menacing tone. “There’s a reason why she left New York. She’s fragile, and I’m trying to help her cousin protect her.”

“Fragile… You had no interest in protecting her when you tackled her on the pavement yesterday.”

“I didn’t know her then.”

“You still don’t.”

“Don’t test me stepbrother…” Charlie warned Logan with a long finger pointed in his face. 

“Stepbrother?” Anger burned inside of Logan. “Lemme tell ya somethin’
stepbrother
! You’re just pissed you got kicked out of the band.” Logan was growing impatient with Charlie. 

“Yeah right! You were waiting for the opportunity!”

Most of the students had left the room by now, new students were coming in for the next class. Logan paid them no attention. “Yeah, you’re right. We were. When a band member steals and spends all his time getting drunk and high, we ignore that. You blame me, but you can’t get your head out of your own ass long enough to figure out why you got booted!”

“Gentlemen!” Profession Litmus called from behind his desk. “Take this out to a street corner, or at least clear out of my room.”

“I was just leaving,” Logan said as he adjusted his shirt. 

“Yeah you were,” Charlie smiled smugly as he watched his stepbrother walk out of the room. “I meant what I said!” he called out. “Dad was right. You are good for nothing. Try not to take everyone down as you fall.”  

Man On Fire

For Ashley, the rest of the day dragged along as she tackled the remaining classes on her roster. Mondays were really nothing to write home about in terms of excitement. She couldn’t concentrate, her mind was in a frenzy ever since her encounter with Logan Murphy. Her day would have been drearier if she hadn’t spent most of it dreaming about the curve of Logan’s smile and the sexy lilt to his stare. He had that little hint of trouble that excited her.

He looked nothing like the guys she usually went for, not that she had a plethora of ex-boyfriends walking around. Quite the opposite, actually. Logan broke the mold for Ashley. He was dark, mysterious. The sandy haired Jersey boy Ashley had left behind in New York City had a sweet smile. With his sun kissed skin and his messy dark brown hair, Logan was a sight to behold. He appeared to be strong and durable. Logan had a ruggedly handsome face, musician hands and a casually cool sense of style. That was all before he smiled. His beyond sexy smile was the game changer for Ashley.

The curve of his lips charmed her while the bass of Logan’s voice ensnared her like a drum. Ashley’s heart sung an aria for Logan Murphy, an aria that played in perfect tempo with the rustic twang of his banjo.

She had no idea what was happening to her.

His mouth enticed her and his eyes… those beautiful puppy dog gorgeous eyes. They told a story. They told of a sadness, a longing, a heartfelt need to be understood. His body gave no hint to that, but his eyes seemed to tell her differently.

Or so she thought.

She barely knew him but damn, she wanted to.

There was something about Logan that spoke to Ashley. From the way he played his banjo to the way he thrust his hand out to help her when he thought she needed assistance. Then there was that smile. Was swoon-worthy even a word? Shit. It was now. In her mind there was no word or phrase that was more suiting to that moment. Logan's smile simply took her breath away.

Ashley lugged her backpack, loaded with books, across campus to the dorms. She wanted to drop her stuff off and shower before she met Logan. She’d never been on a motorbike. What did she need to wear? Where would he take her? Did it matter? It was Logan Murphy, for crying out loud.

Hurrying across the quad, Ashley saw Kaylee sitting with Charlie on a park bench. Kaylee waved her hand in the air wildly, trying to get her cousin's attention.

No! No! No pit stops. I've got places to be!
Pretending she didn't see Kaylee, Ashley made a beeline for McCarron Hall. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw her cousin flop back down on the bench next to Charlie in defeat. A pang of guilt tugged at her, but was quickly replaced by the anticipation of seeing Logan shortly.

Rushing up the front steps of the student dorms, Ashley's excitement threatened to come unhinged as she burst through the doors of McCarron Hall.

***

“What do you mean he’s dangerous?!” Kaylee asked in an exasperated tone as she glared at Charlie.

Her on-again off-again boyfriend sat next to her on a park bench on the quad. He wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her in tightly. Charlie screwed up his face as he spoke.

“C’mon Kay… You’ve heard the stories. The rumors are not farfetched. Logan breaks girls’ hearts. I just don’t want to see that pretty faced innocent gal get hurt.”

Kaylee shrugged her shoulders, worried Charlie might be more interested in Ashley than her safety. “Apparently, Ash was a heart breaker herself back in New York City. My mom told me my aunt had to get a restraining order for her last boyfriend who didn’t take the breakup too well.”

A surprised look crossed Charlie’s face. “Dang!”

Kaylee was not impressed.

Scratching the stubble on his chin, Charlie glanced at the dorms and then back at Kaylee. “You’re just going to have to trust me on this one, babe.”

“It’s sweet how protective you are of me and how your protective instincts extend to my cousin, too,” Kaylee said with doe eyes. Her hand held on to Charlie’s leg loosely, letting it slide up. She’d remind him he only had eyes for her.

Charlie winked at her. “You know I always keep an eye out. C’mon!” he said as he pulled Kaylee up off the park bench with a tug of her hands. “I’m dying for sheet time with you.”

Kaylee tossed her head back as she laughed. Smoothly, she brushed her blonde locks behind her shoulders as she shook her head at her boyfriend. “Charlie, Charlie, Charlie… What am I gonna do with you?” She shot him a sly look.

With a look of trouble in his eyes, Charlie wiggled his brows. “Dirty things I hope.”

***

Ashley pushed through the double doors of McCarron Hall, pleasantly surprised to see that the afternoon crowds today weren’t gathered in the lobby. There were only a few random students slumped over books in the overstuffed arm chairs peppered throughout the foyer. They seemed to be poring over their textbooks, rosters, and assignment lists with deer in the headlight glares. Ashley chuckled to herself a little. She wondered if they were students who had skated by at their hometown high school, and now that they were enrolled in college courses, they would have to actually do some solid work to get a good grade. She, on the other hand, had attended twelve years of parochial school and was not afraid of a little hard work. In fact, hard work gave her a supreme sense of satisfaction. In her eyes, accepting a handout or taking the easy way, was cheating – and in the end she only cheated herself out of the experience and the education.

She’d rushed a shower and change of clothes before realizing she still had over an hour before she needed to meet up with Logan. Classes ended early on a Monday for her.
What to do? What to do?
She wanted to avoid going back up to the dorm since she’d heard Kaylee and Charlie head for Kaylee’s bedroom. No need to hear that kind of music.

She made a beeline for the front desk, figuring she could check her mail. Lisa, as the nametag read, was the student housing assistant. She sat behind the front desk with a friendly smile on her face. She was cute, with chin-length red hair, and freckles peppered the bridge of her nose, above which a pair of bright green eyes peered over at Ashley. 

As Ashley approached the front desk, Lisa quickly discarded her copy of Spin magazine into a desk drawer, sliding it shut with a bang.

“There’s a new face!” Lisa said in a raspy voice with a faint mid-western accent.

“Hi.” Ashley tucked a strand of her thick hair behind her ear. “I’m Ashley Slater. I’m up in 3J.”

“Lisa Sherman.” She pointed to her nametag. “I’m in A12. Where you from, Ashley?”

“New York.”

“Ah, the Big Apple! I had a feeling you weren’t from around here,” Lisa said with a wink.

“No twang,” Ashley replied at the same time as Lisa. They both laughed. “It’s missing from you as well. Where you from?”

“A little town you’ve never heard of called Saugatuck, Michigan,” Lisa said, trying to refrain from laughing again. “Hey, I’m a senior here, so let me know if you want me to show you around campus. I know the area pretty well.”

“Thanks, Lisa,” Ashley replied. “I might take you up on that one!” She liked Lisa’s friendliness. “What’s your major?”

“Psychology. Yours?”

“Music.”

“Cool!” She rubbed her hands together and leaned forward. “So what can I do for you? Mail? Directions? Things to Do?”

“Mail first, please,” Ashley replied politely.

“You got it!” Lisa hopped down from her counter stool. She went into a back room and came back a moment later. “Two packages on the first day of school! Aren’t you the popular one?” She handed Ashley two medium-sized boxes across the counter.

“Awesome.” Ashley glanced down at the familiar handwriting on both of the shipping labels. “While I have your attention, what’s there around here to do for fun?” She hoped to have something to mention to Luke or if things went well, a chance for a second meeting.

“Well, pick your poison,” Lisa said with a laugh. “There’s loads of clubs and places to get some good grub or hang out with friends.” As she spoke, Lisa’s eyes wandered to Ashley’s messenger bag.

Ashley had ironed on patches of some of her favorite bands and musicians onto the black material. She gave equal real estate to new players such as Mumford and Sons, The Avett Step-brothers, The Lumineers and also Boy and Bear. Just as much as she did her old favorites such as the Doors, the Beatles, Janis Joplin and the Rolling Stones.

Lisa smirked broadly. “I believe I’ve just found a kindred spirit! You have great taste in music.”

“Really?” That perked Ashley’s interest. “I was beginning to think everyone here only liked country.”

Lisa rolled her eyes. “One of my favorite clubs to go to here is the Cave. It’s dedicated to Indie Rock Music bands. Judging by your taste in music, I think it’s right up your alley. There’s Tribute Tuesdays, where local bands pay tribute to their favorite bands. Wildcard Wednesdays are loads of fun. Anything can happen, from karaoke to raw beat boxing. Throwback Thursdays feature local musicians who sing all the hits of the 60’s, 70s and 80s. Free Mic Fridays is karaoke night. Then Soundoff Saturdays is where one indie band performs all night long from 8 PM to 2 AM. It’s a blast! This Saturday, my boyfriend’s band’s playing. Whisky Lullaby. Have you heard of them?”

Ashley couldn’t help but smile. Lisa had listed the entire week of the club in about five seconds without needing to take a breath. And then she had mentioned Whisky Lullaby. She had clearly made a new friend. “I met Logan yesterday.”

“Isn’t he the sweetest?” Lisa asked and fanned herself. “He’s so stinkin’ handsome. No wonder all the girls swoon over him.” She laughed and pretended to fan herself. “Too bad they kicked Charlie out of the band. It was fun to watch his antics.”

“They kicked Charlie out?” She couldn’t picture Charlie holding an instrument other than something sport related.

“Yeah… Too much booze. Kid can’t handle his liquor. Looked bad for the band.”

Interesting. “So which of the guys do you go out with?”

“If you met Logan, you’ve met my man.”

The smile fell from Ashley’s face, she could feel her cheeks start burning.

“Oh shit, girl! Not Logan!” Lisa burst out laughing. “You should see your face! I’m sorry. It’s not funny. It’s just… just…” Lisa sucked in a shaky breath as she laughed again. “I’m way too old for Logan! He’s like a kid stepbrother to me. I go out with Dale, Logan’s best friend. They’re always together.” Lisa snapped her fingers. “Hey, do you want to go watch them perform Saturday night? It gets kind of lonely waiting for them to come on, it’d be nice to have a drinking buddy or band-fan buddy.”

With a little reluctance, Ashley agreed. “Okay. Yeah. That sounds like fun.” Her hesitation wasn’t because she didn’t like Lisa. Quite the opposite actually. She liked Lisa a lot. She hadn’t had such a great track record with female friends though. In her experience, girls could be back stabbers, and she often preferred the company of a protective male friend over the unpredictable nature of a female companion.

“Sweet! If I don’t see you before Saturday, let’s meet down here around 5. It’ll be awesome. You’ll love the band.”

Ashley warmed to the idea. It could be a lot of fun. “Sounds like a plan.” With how good the band sounded from the street, she couldn’t wait to hear their sound quality from the inside of the club.

“I should drop these off in my room before I… have to head out again.” She felt shy to tell Lisa she was meeting Logan. “See you later.” She grabbed the boxes from the counter and made her way to the elevator. She pressed the up button on the elevator panel and took the express car up to the third floor. She banged loudly inside the dorm room, making sure Kaylee could hear that she was there. She had no intention of bumping into the two of them. She placed the boxes down on the coffee table once she was sure the room was clear. Opening up the top box, Ashley’s stomach quaked with pangs of home sickness.

Slicing her key down the length of the shipping tape, Ashley broke open the box to find a notecard with her mother’s floral handwriting displayed prominently.

For Ashley,

Immediately, tears began to well in Ashley’s eyes as she scanned the note. Leave it to her mother to know what strings to tug on her first day away from home. Quickly, she wiped the tears away. She was a big girl, an independent woman. No tears. She removed a layer of the pink polka dot tissue paper from the box. Her mother had sent a care package.

Inside, there was a variety of feel good stuff; some of Ashley’s favorite sweets including Hershey Kisses, Ghirardelli chocolates, Lindt truffles and of course, what was a care package without Werther’s butterscotch candies? Ashley loved to suck on them while she studied, and composed her music, or read. Also in the box was a hearty stack of staff paper so that Ashley could continue to compose her music. There was also rosin for her bow, new journals to write in, and an assortment of gift cards to local eateries around Nashville.

“Sweet!” Ashley said quietly as she looked down at the variety of goodies before her. “Thank you, Mom!” Ashley set the box aside and checked the writing on the other box. It was similar to her mother’s, but with a Knoxville, Tennessee address.