Page 50 of Dirty Rock

Jules looked awkward before she answered with a bright smile and a shrug. “Living his best life, as always.”

“That’s B.” Geoffrey laughed. “And it’s been too long since we saw you here. What’s that all about?”

“Oh, you know. Work, work, work, and touring with the band.”

“Those arseholes still being difficult?”

I coughed to clear my throat, bringing a fist up to my pressed together lips as I let my brows rise and do the talking for me.

Julia didn’t look even a little bit embarrassed as she turned to face me. “Geoffrey, this is Rhett. The biggest arsehole of them all. Rhett.” She raised a brow of her own. “This is Geoffrey. A good friend of mine.”

I dropped my fist and chucked my chin. “Hey, man.”

He studied me for a moment, taking me in from head to toe and back again before he looked back at Julia and leaned in to whisper something in her ear. She threw her head back, laughing, and it made me frown like shit. I was about to step forward and ask him what his problem was when he released Julia, stepped towards me, and he held out his hand.

“Welcome, Rhett. This your first time here?”

“Yeah.” I shook his hand. “I didn’t even know this place existed.”

“Invite only. You advertise this vibe to the world, and they’ll crush it with cheap drunks, nasty drugs, and a mass-market of modern-day bullshit. Has Jules read you the rules yet?”

“No, sir.”

His smile lit up at my use of sir. “No drugs. No fighting. No arguing. No frowns. No dissing the music. No questioning the staff.”

“That’s a lot of nos.”

“We’re all about peace, love, and unity here, my boy. You kids have a good night.” He gave my shoulder a simple yet firm tap and glanced back at Julia to offer her a wink before he walked away.

Julia looked at me, waiting for my reaction. I had none to give. I was pretty sure I’d stepped into an alternate universe.

“You think you can handle those rules?” she asked.

“I’ll be a good boy if you’ll be a naughty girl.”

Her laugh seemed genuine and carefree, and I realised I was beginning to live for the sound of that gentle happiness falling from her lips. She wasn’t a woman who deserved to drown in misery. She deserved to be like this, right here in front of me, full of pink cheeks, pursed lips, and twinkling eyes. She deserved to be serving her own life instead of ours.

“Let’s get a drink,” she suggested. “I have a feeling being naughty could prove easy tonight.”

Chapter Sixteen

She’d taken her jacket off and so had I. The two of us sat on high rise bar stools next to a fake palm tree that had a ledge for drinks wrapped around the middle. Our knees were touching as we laughed, joked, and talked about life on the road. Every time Julia ran a hand through her hair to move it away from her eyes, I twitched to do the same—to push my fingers through the thick of it, hold it back, and stare down into her eyes.

I, however, was trying to play it cool.

I wasn’t sure whether it was because she was slightly older or because she was a part of the band we couldn’t afford to lose, but around her like this, I was actually fucking nervous. The rum and Cokes were putting me at ease just enough for me tonotmake a total dick of myself. Though, why I cared, I didn’t have a clue.

Julia’s curves swayed to the music as she lost herself to it. Even sitting down, with one leg crossed over the other, I could tell she had a natural rhythm. Her thick, heavenly thighs pressed against her tight jeans, and the belt at her waistband made her stomach look tiny as she twisted with the lyrics pouring out. She was free here.

It made me think back to all those times on tour when she’d seemed so stiff. So rigid with her life. No one took their job more seriously than her, and that wasn’t to be messed with. The woman in front of me had the same face, sure, but that was where the similarities ended. This one was more alive—liberated—and she had a smile that lit up the room like she was the sun in the Caribbean herself.

“You want to know something?” I leaned closer and dropped a hand to her knee. “I think I’m acquiring a thing for older women.”

She glanced down at my hand, and a look of something washed over her face. I hoped like Christ it wasn’t doubt because I was using every ounce of strength I had to hold myself back. I was going to screw this woman until she couldn’t walk.

“I’m not going to ask you if that’s okay. It has to be. You wouldn’t have brought me here if you didn’t want what I want.”

Her eyes rose to my mouth, and they lingered there as I bit down on my bottom lip and dragged it through my teeth.

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