“I have a lead on a great bassist and I got a call about a drummer.”
“Great. Who?”
Gage rattled off the name of a world-renowned bassist and then a world-class drummer. Something in Rhett’s gut tightened. “Axel Ross is looking for a gig? What happened to his band?”
“They broke up. Something about the guitarist sleeping with Axel’s girlfriend.”
Well, that was solid proof that karma was alive and well. It was also proof that Axel thought they were still tight. Something that a few weeks ago Rhett would have agreed with. But somehow talking about Axel possibly being a part of the new album felt like a betrayal.
“What do you want me to tell him?”
Rhett didn’t have the time or energy to deal with Axel right then. “Hold off on telling him anything right now.”
Gage’s eyebrows disappeared into his hair line. “Are you sure this is how you want to play it?”
“No, but I need the best, and he’s one of the best.”
“Maybe, but he also comes with a world of complications. You might want to think through the ramifications.”
He knew what Gage was saying, just like he knew that he needed a drummer and stat. He wasn’t saying he was going to hire the guy, he needed to be sure he was giving himself options in case shit fell through. “We’re talking studio musicians at this point. Putting the touring band together will take longer. So let’s reach out to some other folks first, then go from there.”
“Your call,” Gage said, as if Rhett had made the worst call since proposing to Steph three weeks into their relationship.
Rhett ran a hand down his face. “I have a lot to do and not a lot of time to do it in.”
Owen looked over the bar top, all business. “You’ve done it before, you can do it again.”
“I didn’t have this kind of pressure on me before.” Or this many distractions. “Did you guys know about Mom hiring a crew to renovate the house?”
“Mom may have mentioned it,” Owen said with a grin.
“How the hell am I supposed to write through all that noise? People are constantly coming and going. Then there’s the drilling and nail guns. They start at eight. I don’t even get to bed until five.”
“I heard Mom’s going to come over with breakfast tomorrow to make sure you’re eating properly and that you’re not working too hard.”
“Well, she doesn’t have to worry about the last. Although I did have a spark there for a moment.” A brief moment before it disappeared.
His brothers shared a knowing look. “Have you talked to that pretty redhead about moving out?” Owen asked.
Irritation pricked Rhett’s neck as he remembered the smile on B-team’s face when Elsie came to the door wearing that flowy number that was sweet and sophisticated in a girl-next-door kind of way. It was blue with little white dots and this deep V neckline that disappeared beneath a fitted blazer, which was held together by tiny white buttons.
She’d smiled the same smile he’d witnessed a few times before—like if she were sunny enough people would believe it. And they did. Every time. But he knew better. Saw right through her pretense. It was clear that a date was the last thing she wanted to do but she didn’t want to let anyone down. And she didn’t want to be stuck with him in a house that was starting to feel too small for them both. Then there was the way the air caught fire when they were in the same room.
Shit, he was in trouble.
“I’ll take that as a no,” Gage said and burst out laughing.
“You’re laughing like I have a choice.”
“Oh, you have a ton of choices but you’re choosing to share a house with the one who got away.”
“She isn’t the one who got a way. She’s just someone I knew.” She might not be the one who got away, but he’d known the minute they locked eyes at that college party that they’d have history.
He’d been tracking her movements all night and when she caught him staring, she stared right back. One moment they’d been on opposite sides of the party, the next she was kissing him. No “Hi” or “What’s your name,” she just planted one on him.
Later, she’d told him it was a dare. As far as he was concerned, it was the best dare in the history of the world. A dare that started out with a kiss and landed them into a weekend of tangled sheets.
What?” he asked.
