Page 14 of One More Song

Millie squeals with delight. Apparently she’s been wanting me to come out with her for a long time. “Okay, we can do dinner at The Kitchen, and since it’s karaoke night at the Boneyard, that’s where we’ll end up.”

I groan. Karaoke sounds like hell.

But the look on Millie’s face tells me this is already a done deal. “Fine, but I’m not singing.”

She just chuckles, calling the girls over so we can head to our homes. “That’s what everyone says before they’ve had tequila.”

I let out a laugh that surprises even me. Maybe Millie is right. I need some fun. And maybe Granger the Ranger is the man I’ve been looking for all my life.

Chapter Six

Ash

“Shit, Ash,”Saint says, strumming his fingers over the strings of his guitar as I pace. “Sit down. You’re making me nervous with all your stalking around.”

“Just tell me what you think?” I gave the guys the song I wrote the other night, and the guys have been fiddling with trying to put chords to it all afternoon.

But that’s not the only thing that’s making me antsy. We’ve been pent up in this house for three days and I’m going a little stir crazy. It’s not just the lack of fans screaming my name, or the high I get being on stage. Hell, I’m actually fine that I’m stone-cold sober. But I’ve taken more cold showers in the past thirty-six hours than I have my entire life.

Not that they’ve helped.

My cock is constantly hard. And it doesn’t help that I catch Ember watching me when she doesn’t think I’m paying attention. But then the second I try to approach her or talk to her, she finds anything she can to make herself busy. It’s like she’s trying to pretend that we didn’t share a moment the other night.

“Dude, I’ll admit it, this song is sick,” Synn says, leaning back on the couch, guitar across his chest and strumming out the chords of the first verse. “If we add a drum solo after the second verse, it’s gonna give it more of a pop.”

“Good call,” Dusky says and I chuckle. Of course the drummer is all for another drum solo.

“I’m glad you guys like it.” I sit down on the couch, some of my tension easing. “I wrote another one last night, take a look.” Pressing a button on my phone, I hit send on a file and the song lands on their devices.

“You better have, considering you’re sleeping half the day away. Your sleep schedule is all fucked up, man,” Saint says, standing and stretching.

“I don’t mind if it means you’re up all night writing lyrics like this.” Synn’s eyes scan his phone. “Shit, you wrote this?”

I clench my jaw, feeling my face redden. The song is romantic as fuck, even I know that - which is a shock considering I’ve never had a serious relationship. I’m rounding up on thirty, even I know that’s veering on suspect.

“I couldn’t sleep is all.”

“Who inspired this?” Dusky asks, reading the song.

A hazel-eyed fire that burns so damn bright.

A raw-edged heart keeping me up all night.

Just then, Ember walks into the living room in a tight black dress that hugs every inch of her body. My cock twitches at the sight of my muse like it does every time I see her. It’s been three days of torture. In some ways, I’m glad she’s kept her distance because if I was alone with her, I know everything would change. I’d make sure of it.

“Where are ye headed looking like that, lass?” Dusky asks, eyebrows raised, giving her an appreciative look, one I want to knock off his face.

Ember’s cheeks redden and she shakes her head, her long hair curled, her eyes extra smoky. The kid is with her dad this weekend. I know that because there weren’t any cookies baking in the oven when I woke up this afternoon, and no sounds of the giggling that usually fill the halls.

“Actually,” she says, looking anywhere but at me. “I have a date.”

A date?Jealousy blasts through me without warning.

“A date, huh?” Synn says the words I’m thinking, plucking his guitar, not looking up at her. “Who’s the lucky guy?” He asks it so nonchalantly that I know he isn’t vying for her attention.

If I was to ask the exact thing, everyone in the room would know that song they just read is about her. Reining in my emotions has never been my strong suit. Once I’ve made up my mind about something, I’m all in, no matter the shit it causes me or others.

Which is why I’ve gotten myself into so much fucking trouble. But it’s also one of the reasons Absinthe is such a huge success. I poured my heart and soul into building our band. And this past year I’d spent almost as much energy tearing it down.

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