Nate put the computer on the floor and walked over to his six-string. The manager at Jovi’s said he could play there whenever he wanted. And if that wasn’t motivation enough, Jade said she would be there. With that, he picked up the guitar, flung the strap over his shoulder so it sat on his back, and was about to leave the house when he stopped short. He had to put Dorito outside.
Turning back, he looked at the scruffy pile of ginger hair fast asleep on the couch and didn’t have the heart to kick him out onto the street. He’d deal with him in the morning, and if he kept coming back, maybe he could find him a more permanent home.
Happy with his decision, he left the house.
Chapter 13
A light summer drizzle fell as Jade ran from her car to Jovi’s Pub, damning the frizz that the rain was doing to her hair. Under the pub’s awning, she tried to smooth it out with her hands but eventually gave up and pushed through the timber doors.
Immediately, she heard a voice she would recognize anywhere. Not Nathan Harvey, the grungy, edgy style that sang for Harvey’s Territory. It was the smooth, crooning voice of the ever so sexy pub singer, primary school music teacher, and the man she was truly, madly, crazily in lust with—Nate Miller.
It didn’t take him long to spot her. Probably because she was so entranced by the music and the hot singer, she’d bumped into a table and empty glasses toppled over, causing a crashing sound loud enough to echo through the room. Because of the ruckus she’d made, she received a few dirty looks from people sitting at nearby tables. She smiled apologetically and then made her way to where Lauren and Ava sat.
“You sure know how to make an entrance,” Ava whispered.
“The table jumped in front of me,” Jade said as she took a seat between them.
Ava rolled her eyes and laughed.
“Shhh.” This came from Lauren. “I want to listen. He’s so good.”
Ignoring her friend, although Jade agreed one hundred percent, she leaned toward Ava and said, “I don’t know if I should be happy to see him here or annoyed. I told him we couldn’t meet tonight because I was having drinks with you girls. And now here he is.”
“Honey, if that man is here to see you, I’d be happy. And I mean happy in all the right places.” Then she sighed and rubbed her belly. “I can’t wait until this baby is born so I can get back to being happy in all the right places.”
Jade sniggered.
Lauren glared at them and held a finger up to her lips, signaling for them to be quiet. That only made Jade and Ava laugh even more. Lauren shook her head and continued to watch Nate.
Until now, Jade had avoided looking at him. Afraid that if she did, she’d run to the stage and throw her bra at his feet with her phone number on it. But luckily for her, he’d already seen her bra and had her phone number. So maybe it was safe to have a quick peek.
She turned her head, and bam, the sight hit her like a blow to the chest. A black t-shirt hugged his broad chest, and he wore faded denim jeans. A lock of dark sandy hair fell over his forehead as he sat on a stool strumming his guitar. Tonight, he sang something about trailing his fingertips down his lover’s spine.
It made her own spine tingle and her heart race. Her palms grew sweaty, and she was short of breath. Maybe she was coming down with something and needed medical attention. Or maybe she just needed Nate doing all those things he sang about to her. She squirmed in her seat.
Finally, when he finished the last notes of the song, he leaned the guitar against the stool and gave a little wave to the audience who rose to their feet as they applauded.
“Wow, he’s fantastic.” Lauren clapped enthusiastically then turned in her seat to give them her attention after going fangirl over Nate. “Why haven’t I seen his albums anywhere? Surely someone would want to sign him up.”
Keeping who he really was from her friends was the worst. Actually, not being naked right now with Nate was the worst, but keeping secrets came close. She wished she could tell them.
After his set, Jade hoped Nate would come over to say hi, but he walked to the bar and ordered a drink. She watched him pull back on his beer, not giving her any attention at all. She looked away. Maybe he didn’t want to interrupt her while she was out with her friends.
Should she go to him and say hi? God, she felt like she was back in high school trying to pluck up the courage to talk to the hottest guy in class. They’d gotten to know each other pretty intimately, so why was she suddenly feeling so shy? Then a tingling sensation along her spine pulled her gaze to his face. His hooded stare locked onto hers, and she flushed red hot.
“It’s seriously getting hot in here. Don’t you think, Lauren?” Ava said, waving a hand in front of her face. “If you don’t go over there and drag that man away, I will do it for you.”
Jade broke eye contact with Nate and lifted a dubious brow at Ava. “Really?” There was no way in hell she would cheat on her husband. And if she did so with Nate, Jade would strangle her.
“No. One man in my life is more than enough,” Ava replied.
Once upon a time, Ava never wanted only one man. Didn’t believe in relationships. Now, Jade had never seen her friend looking so happy. How things can change.
Things can change… Could they for her too?
She mentally shook her head. The curse situation was out of her hands. No point getting her hopes up. Disappointment sat heavy on her heart, but she shrugged it away. She may not be able to plan a future with a man, but nothing stopped her from having a lot of fun with one. And Nate had come-and-have-fun-with-me written all over him.
“Sorry, girls, but I’m cutting our night short,” she said as she rose from the seat.
