His hair was secured like mine. Medium length, there was only a thick club of it at his nape, but a couple of wavy spirals had escaped.
Suddenly, I yearned to reach out and touch one. Was his hair as silky and soft as it appeared to be? What about his mustache? His beard? How would those feel against my naked skin? Thinking those thoughts, I started feeling like a hot and melty puddle again.
“Noticed you right away in the audience.”
“Huh?” Lost in thoughts of him and me and tangled sheets, I suddenly had difficulty following the conversation.
“Even in the catering uniform, you were impossible to miss.”
Journey turned to glance at me, and I knew my mouth was hanging open. It wasn’t that I was unaccustomed to guys saying flattering stuff to me. I got hit on all the time at the bar. But I knew it was just words; they didn’t mean anything.
But I could see that the opposite was true with him. Those earth-brown eyes of his with enticing flecks of green drilled his truth into me.
“I thought you didn’t like me,” I said, remembering. “You frowned at first, then you avoided looking at me.”
His lips curved. “To be honest, looking at you made it impossible to concentrate. I didn’t want to fuck up with the guys in the band, or in front of all the industry types hanging around.”
“Music’s important to you?”
“It’s everything to me.” His reply was immediate and unwavering.
“I knew a guy like that once,” I said somberly. “Music was everything to him too.”
“Once?”
Looking out the window, I shrugged. “It was a long time ago.”
“What happened to him?” he asked softly.
I sighed. “He went away, and he never came back.”
“Did that upset you?”
Journey pulled in a breath and held it, and I looked back at him. The green in his eyes sparkled brighter than the traffic signal that switched from red to green as he watched me.
I nodded. “Yeah.”
The truth was . . . I never got over Storm leaving.
Lotus
“So, you like Journey?” Sophia linked her arm with mine as we followed the guys across the sand.
“Yes,” I said, after checking to see that he and the others were out of listening range. “He’s gorgeous and mysterious. Nice.”
“How do you know he’s nice?”
“He’s thoughtful. He helped me while I was working. He’s a gentleman. Opened the door for me and made sure I was belted in before he drove. And we talked some on the way over.” I shrugged. “He plays the guitar like Bryan Jackson from Tempest, and you’ve seen him, hung out with him tonight. What’s not to like?”
“The guitar part ranking so high with you doesn’t surprise me. You didn’t even notice Saber until he strapped on his Les Paul.”
My heart twisting at the mention of my ex, I winced.
Noticing, Sophia sighed. “Sorry.”
“It’s okay,” I whispered. It wasn’t totally. But I was going to get there.
“It’s the mystery part with Journey and you thinking that’s an attribute that worries me.”
“Why?” I gave her a puzzled look.
“The Black Skulls are an LA-based band. LA’s not far from OB, but Journey isn’t a permanent member of the band.”
“He told me.”
Her eyes widened. “Surprised he mentioned that.”
“Why?”
We stopped a couple of yards away from the others. Reese was digging a pit for a fire, and Tristan was laying out beach blankets around it. The bassist stood nearby, talking on his cell.
Journey knelt before the large ice chest he’d dragged across the sand. His biceps flexed as he opened the lid. His tight ass was perfection in his jeans, and errant curls swept his tatted neck.
I swooned. Inwardly, of course.
“Rocker guys don’t usually like to point out that it’s unlikely you’ll ever see them again.” Sophia squeezed my arm.
“I hadn’t really given it a lot of thought.” Being dazzled by Journey had taken up most of my brain capacity.
“You really going to go there?” Sophia’s gaze drifted to him, and mine did too.
Journey seemed to be done with his task at the ice chest. When he stood up, he turned, holding two beers, and his gaze met mine. I could feel his heat, his interest. Or was I just projecting my own?
“I think I might.”
“Wow, I’m surprised,” she said, a waver of trepidation in her voice.
I hadn’t taken my eyes from Journey. The guy looked like a pirate on the beach with all his tats and his cutoff tee fluttering in the wind like a black flag, but without the skull and crossbones.
“You gonna go there with Reese?” I asked, turning her question on her.
“I might.”
I studied her for a second. “You don’t usually.” For all our adventures, we were mostly talk and not a lot of action.
“It’s an unusual night for both of us,” she said with a thoughtful crease in her brow, and I nodded.
Tonight felt unusual. Significant. Important.
Feeling the pull of Journey, I wanted to go to him, but I lingered another moment to tell her, “If you go anywhere alone with Reese, keep your cell-locating function and your ringer on.”
“I will.” She gave me a long look. “You do the same.”
I nodded. “Absolutely.”
Sophia skirted the campfire that was now lit to join Reese on the other side. The bassist passed me on his way to the parking lot. I never got his name, but it didn’t matter. He wasn’t staying.
“Corona okay?” Journey asked when I reached him.
“Yes, that’s fine. Thanks,” I said, and he studied me closely as he offered me a can.
“But it’s not your preference?”
“No.” I shook my head. “My favorite is Pizza Port pale ale on draft.”
“Not available in LA.”
“I know. This is nice. Thoughtful.” I took a seat on the blanket and glanced up at him. “What’s to eat?”
I didn’t mean my question to be sexual, but the way Journey’s gaze darkened on me made me wish I had.
Let loose. Forget Saber.
Sex with Journey was a consideration. Why not sexual innuendoes beforehand?
“Just sandwiches.” Journey lowered himself onto the blanket beside me and stretched out his long denim-clad legs. “Though I’m guessing from your comment that ale and pizza from Pizza Port is a favorite of yours.”
“Yeah, you’re right. I’m a simple girl with simple tastes.”
Tristan moved toward us, and Journey’s head snapped up. He shook it at the drummer.
“Fucking hell, man,” Tristan said, kicking up sand. Had he really been thinking about sitting with us? “You’re always taking the best girls. Good thing you’re out of the group after tonight.”
Journey jumped to his feet and snagged Tristan’s T-shirt by the collar. “You wanna repeat that shit, or you wanna take it back and walk away in one piece?”
“Taken back.” Tristan shrugged out of Journey’s hold and yanked down the hem of his shirt. “Chill, man.” He looked at Reese. “Dude, I’m taking off with the car.”