Page 10 of Midnight Dissonance

“Can’t. Band’s got a gig.” She shouldered her purse.

Lisa sighed like a frustrated parent with a derelict teenager instead of a sister who was a grown woman. “I really wish you’d play in a better venue. The Jukebox is in such a rough part of town.”

“It’s a paying gig. I’ll be fine.” She brushed off Lisa’s comment with a cavalier shrug. At the honk outside, Lexi said, “Gotta go. That’s my ride. Don’t wait up.”

And he stared after her as she left. Lexi was in a band? With a paying gig? He never would have figured she was into music. But he caught Lisa studying him with concern before she returned to serving the meal.

Conversation flowed freely around the dinner table. Lisa was quite the cook. And he enjoyed having a home-cooked meal for a change of pace. But while they ate and discussed the contract negotiations, he couldn’t stop thinking about Lexi at the Jukebox. He’d heard about that place. It was in one of the worst parts of town.

And she played guitar?

An unexpected punch of lust hit his system. He’d bet she looked sexy as hell on stage playing a guitar.

After dinner, Trent and Emily were in the living room, admiring the massive flatscreen while Josh helped Lisa collect the dishes off the table. “Why don’t you want her going to the Jukebox? Is it that bad? I’ve never been, but I’ve heard rumblings.”

“Lexi’s slimy ex owns the joint. He’s gotten handsy with her in the past. But she won’t listen to me when I tell her she needs to find another place to play. All she says is that they have a following there,” she sighed as she loaded the dishwasher. “Why the interest?”

“I’m not. I just understand what it’s like being the oldest with siblings who don’t always trust your guidance with things.”

At his explanation, Lisa smiled. “Yeah, I love Lexi, but she’s made some interesting choices the last few years, and we’re all worried about her.”

Josh tried to stay longer. They were having a great time chatting. But he faked a yawn because all he’d been doing was watching the clock for the best time to escape. “Sorry, but it’s been an insanely long week, and I have to be up early tomorrow. Lisa, thank you for dinner. It was delicious. Trent. Emily. I’ll see you all on Monday.”

“Are you sure?” Lisa asked. There was a light of interest in her eyes that made him want to hightail it out of there faster. He had no interest in Lisa in that way. Above and beyond the fact that he refused to dip his wick in the company ink.

Josh kept the smile on his face and nodded, acting like nothing was wrong. “Yes. Sorry, I’ve got to be up early.”

And he wouldn’t give her any fuel to add to the hearts and rainbows he spied in her gaze. Because it was never going to happen between them. He’d gotten involved with another attorney once, and it didn’t end well.

But when he climbed into his Mercedes, the address he plugged into the GPS wasn’t to his penthouse. It was to the Jukebox.

And as he pulled away from the curb with that destination in mind, he knew he had gone mad.

4

“Thanks for picking me up.”

She slid into the passenger seat after stowing her guitar in the back of Cliff’s VW van, which was a relic from the 1980s. Cliff was cool and one of her closest friends. He was tall and lanky, with shaggy brown hair. And he was one of the best drummers she’d ever seen and heard. The dude absolutely crushed it. It was too bad he batted for the other team, or they’d be perfect for one another.

“Not a problem,” he murmured as he sped off, heading south toward the Jukebox. “How’s the voice?”

“All rested and ready to rock it.” And she needed the outlet it provided after the last week. Music was her escape. When she was performing, all her cares slid away, and peace settled throughout her being.

Cliff flashed her a confident grin. “Hells, yeah. You know, I heard they were looking for bands to try out and open for some shows at Red Rocks this summer.”

That grabbed her attention. “Really? Have you talked to the others about it?”

He weaved through traffic on the interstate like it was no big deal. Instead of what it really was—more of a welcome to the thunder dome, best of luck on your survival. “Not yet. Just heard about it. I’ve got the site bookmarked. There’s an online application we need to fill out and send in a demo of our stuff with it.”

She was electrified at the thought of performing at Red Rocks, opening for some big-name band. They were on the cusp of discovery. She could feel it. Between their shows, YouTube channel, and growing social media following, they were headed in the right direction.

“We should have the songs we recorded back next week. When’s the deadline?” This was it. They were going to get their big break. And then she could give anyone who ever doubted her the finger.

He gave her a Cheshire grin. “End of the month.”

There were two weeks left in the month. It meant they had time to toss their band into the ring. “We’ve gotta do it. The music we recorded . . .”

“I know. It’s damn good.”

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