Page 74 of Come Fly with Me

“You’re gorgeous,” I murmur, pulling back a little and kissing the end of her nose. Then I pull her to me, so her back is against my front, wrapping my arms around her as we wait for them to start.

They kick off with some covers, belting out the songs with all the power and grit that I remember. After a brief break, where they chat with the crowd, telling them who they are, they then launch into a couple of their own songs, most of which I’ve never heard before.

It’s hard, trying to stay in contact, particularly when the five of us are all over the place with work. I miss being able to hang out with them like I could before, and I’m really glad Tyler messaged me today asking to catch up.

Eventually, their latest song ends, and I watch as Tyler steps up to the microphone, a huge grin on his face as his eyes find mine.

“Alright,” he says, rubbing his hands together. “Some of you may remember a time when we had a different singer, right?”

A couple of people cheer, one or two clapping.

“Shit,” I mutter, my head dropping onto Taylor’s shoulder.

“What?” she asks, turning to look at me.

I lift my head, still grinning as I say, “You might need to excuse me for a bit.”

“What, why?” she asks, but I don’t answer, just nod toward the stage.

Tyler’s laughing now as he continues. “Yep, once upon a time, it was a different voice that belted out these songs, while I was stuck back there,” he adds, throwing a thumb over his shoulder. “Forced to do backup.”

The crowd cheers again, and he shakes his head, still smiling as he looks around the room. “Well, that other lead singer you guys all loved so much just so happens to be here tonight,” he says, watching me again. “And I think he should come on up here and remind you all of what we used to sound like. What do you say?”

The cheer is loud, filling the room as Tyler, Logan, Jason and Pete, all piss themselves laughing up on stage.

Shaking my head, I put my mouth to Taylor’s ear. “You be okay if I go up for a bit?”

She turns in my arms, a shocked look on her face. “You’re their former lead singer?”

“I am,” I say, laughing.

She shakes her head. “I never knew you could sing.”

I shrug. “I can.”

Her face breaks out into a huge smile now as she puts her hands on my chest and says, “Go! I absolutely have to see this!”

Laughing, I press a hard kiss to her mouth before heading up to the stage, beer in hand, and shaking my head at Tyler who waves his hand toward the microphone as if to say it’s all yours before he stands back.

I step up, wondering how the fuck I’m going to do this. It’s been a long time since I was in this band, and while I don’t normally get stage fright, this feels a little different tonight.

I search the crowd until my eyes find Taylor. She’s standing there smiling, her hands together, almost in prayer as she presses her fingertips against her lips. Grinning, I give her a tiny nod before turning to the guys and telling them what to play.

Then I turn back to her, listen as Tyler and Logan start the opening riff for “Sex on Fire”, and I start to sing.

Twenty-Five

Taylor

His voice is like hot bathwater, warm and soothing, but also sexy as hell, and not that I’m surprised. He’s got a body to die for, the kind that was made for women, with his rock-hard abs and permanently tanned skin. Pair that with his accent and cheeky personality, and he’s what women look for. His stunning green eyes are focused on me, like I’m the only woman in the room and I take him in, watching him sing each line of the song.

This is one secret I’m glad Jake kept because watching it all unfold in front of me makes me want to know what other talents he’s hiding.

As the song comes to an end, he thanks the guys for letting him join them and in a few seconds he’s back by my side.

“So that was unexpected,” I say, a smile still plastered on my face as I look up at him from the stool I’m sitting on. “You’re not just talented in the skies and the bedroom. Who would’ve thought?”

“Just something we do for fun. It was never going to pay the bills.”

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