“God, you know how to move, ladies." He announced. "That routine is hot as fuck. I'm feeling a bit nervous now about my band competing against yours."
“If it wasn’t for the fact that I can’t see you rock gods performing a Jennifer Lopez style dance routine, you’d have been barred from watching.” I warned him.
“The very thought.” He laughed. It looked good on him. Made his eyes twinkle and his cheeks pink up. But my brain had a hard time adjusting to him not being Noah Granger. For God’s sake, brain. I was getting increasingly angry at myself. Just forget him. Forget. Him.
Of course, as we left the rehearsal space, he chose that moment to come walking down the corridor, accompanied by Zak.
“Rivals. See you at showtime.” Zak tipped the baseball cap he was wearing.
Noah just narrowed his gaze in Dray’s direction. It pissed me off to see his reaction when he hadn’t wanted me, so I grabbed Dray’s hand. “Shall we grab some burger and beers at the bar? We have to eat, right?”
“If that's the only thing you're offering up for eating today, a burger it is.” Dray growled, pulling me closer to him.
I turned to see Noah’s reaction, but he’d gone. Then I got angry at myself for checking in the first place.
I enjoyed my beer and burger. Dray was good company. It was just you never had his attention exclusively. He checked over the barmaid, the other female customers, and no doubt his senses would be on high alert with the audience tonight. He couldn’t help it. As shifters, Flame-Grilled Steak all knew their mates were out there somewhere. Dray could offer no woman his heart because it was meant for that mate. But the fact I wasn’t his mate wouldn't stop Dray trying to get me horizontal as soon as possible. A topic he seemed to bring up approximately every three minutes.
“Once this competition is over, I just want you to know that I’m gonna be hankering after some of your mighty fine arse, preferably bouncing up and down on my knee, before I spin you around and have you pogo-ing on my cock.”
I couldn’t help but chuckle. These words somehow came out of his mouth endearingly, even though they were brash and coarse.
“What a romantic.” I quipped.
“Can’t promise you romance, but I can promise you a good time.” He winked.
“Shut up and finish your burger.” I told him. Because I knew he told me the truth, and I didn't want to face up to reality right now.
Noah
"I'm gasping for refreshments and fresh towels." Rex huffed looking from Zak to me. “Can’t you two go play a little further afield? We need these people to make sure the show runs smoothly.”
“Show’s almost over, my friend. And after tonight, Don is going to have me bedding everyone in sight, so if there's anyone you have your eye on or feel a calling to, you'd better give me a heads up." Zak replied.
"Huh, fabulous." Rex threw a drumstick across the room.
“You’re just jealous because you have to wait for ‘the one’. Your mate. How very boring having to stick to one person for life.” Zak teased him.
“Yeah, well until I meet them, I can practice my prowess. That’s if there’s anyone left after you greedy fuckers have finished.” Another drumstick sailed after the first.
“First past the post, my friend."
“Harley’s single. I read online that her career comes first but she’s not ruling out love.” Roman piped up.
“The only person Harley’s in love with is herself.” Zak answered. “I went full on Incubus on her arse and she barely gave me a second glance. She gave the mirrors and windows she passed a lot more attention.”
“Is someone a little bitter that there’s one woman he’s failed to seduce?” I tormented.
“Are you sure she’s not a witch?” Zak asked me.
“How should I know?” I became defensive. I couldn’t help myself. “Just because my ex was one doesn’t mean I have a homing signal for all of their kind.”
“You could just ask Stacey.”
“Of course I could.” I replied sarcastically. “Hey, Stacey, I know we didn’t part on the best terms when I chose the chance of a rock career over you, but could you tell me if Harley is a witch, only we’re wondering why she isn’t boning Zak?”
“I didn’t say you were an expert on witches. I was just pondering whether Harley was one out loud.”
“Because she hasn’t fallen for your seduction techniques?” I scoffed.
“Yes. I’m an incubus. All human women are supposed to fall at my feet, so that would suggest that she is somehow, something else.”
“You’re something else.” I told him. He stuck his middle finger up at me in response.
It did however get me thinking, because there was still the weird stuff happening that I'd not managed to pin down as to why. Could Harley actually be the cause of it all?
"You're mighty defensive when it comes to talk of Stacey. Has something happened?" Rex asked.
"No." I said and as soon as I did, I knew my answer had been a little too quick.
"Noah Granger, you lying bastard, spill."
Fuck my life, shifters were so damn nosy. They could scent secrets as much as prey.
"We may have spent the night together a few weeks ago." I confessed.
"You devious fucker." Zak stood with his hands on his hips. "So, what happened? And I don't mean between the sheets. Might you two actually sort out your issues?"
"No. Because she'll never forgive me for putting the band before her." I said.
"So do something that puts her before the band." Roman suggested.
Rex and Zak spun their heads towards him as if he'd lost his mind.
"He'd have to quit, dickhead." Zak stated.
I didn't feel like getting into this right now.
“Right, let’s get rehearsing. We’ve a final to win.” I picked up my guitar and despite receiving a heavy sigh from Roman, we went on to do our final practice of the day.
Before we knew it, the final was here. We had to sing three songs. Two covers and then one we'd written and done the music for ourselves.
Harley went on stage. She announced the judges who made their grand entrance and took their seats and then the show was underway. The show was live, but on a delay so they could edit where needed, mainly in case someone said something they shouldn't, like Marianne had previously.
“First up tonight is Bill’s remaining act The Paranormals.” A deafening roar came from the audience. “What have they chosen as their first song of the evening?” She asked him.
Bill leaned over to the microphone. “Well, Harley, let’s face it. Every performance from these guys has been incredible. I mean, just look at them.” He gestured with his hand. “They already look like they are playing a sell-out gig, not that they're just in the final of a competition. But for our first song we decided they’d sing Bruno Mars, Marry you."
And then we were on stage. The audience screamed their approval, so loud that you couldn't hear the opening bars. Our song was the perfect choice because there wouldn’t be a female or male watching who wouldn’t be imagining Zak Jones singing directly to them. My eyes flitted out over the audience and I saw Erica enraptured, bless her. Bill had sent her tickets for the final. Her friend Freya was craning her head towards the back. Yep, she definitely liked our Rex. Shame he was destined for a mate, and if she was it, Rex would already have felt it. This was how it would be now. Meeting women who thought they had a chance with us, when most of the time they wouldn’t. As much as being in this competition would bring good things, it would bring an equal amount of trouble. My mind went back to Stacey and how Erica had said we looked good together. We were good together. Goddamn it, they said the path of true love never ran smooth. Our path was littered with obstacles.