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I laughed out loud and threw my arm around her. She would never give up on finding that perfect match, and for her that was a good thing. For me, it was terrifying.
The first song was coming to an end. Barrett had one leg pushed forward, his mouth against the mic, his fingers dancing over the strings of the guitar slung to his side, the muscles in his arms bunching and flexing beneath the sleeves of a vintage Eagles t-shirt that hugged his wide chest and drifted across his lean abdomen. Faded blue jeans with a hole in one knee, and Chuck Taylor’s finished off his look. With the addition of the guitar, he looked like a Viking rock god.
The song ended and that deep rumbly voice spoke into the microphone.
“Tracey, you out there?”
My heart sunk, even as I told myself I should not care who Tracey was.
“Tracey, my guests need a refresher on their drinks. I’d appreciate it if you’d see to that when you get a free second. I’m glad you’re here, Willa.”
Junie’s hand wrapped around my bicep with a vice grip at the same time I realized not only did he know I was here, but he could see me clearly if he knew I’d drained our drinks. I sat back in my chair and laughed at how I must have looked, despite the panic bubbling in my gut.
“Loosen up, babe. You’re here now and it’s high time you lived it up.”
I nodded. She was right. The next song was starting, and Barrett was standing legs braced, head tipped down towards his guitar, his hair a curtain around his face, his talented fingers racing across the strings.
Tracey brought our drinks and winked at us as she dropped them off. Junie reached for a bill to pay but Tracey waved her off.
“Barrett is covering you guys.”
Barrett, who was presently singing ‘Stay’ by Black Stone Cherry, was covering us. It brought to my mind an awfully specific way I’d been imagining him covering me. Maybe Junie was right, and resistance was futile. I was not the most passionate person, but at that moment I was lit up like a Christmas tree.
After ‘Stay’ he traded off vocals with the bassist, who treated us to Stevie Nicks and Halestorm. Then he stepped back up and sang Saving Abel’s ‘Addicted’. My stomach flipped and twisted, the heavy beats soothing, the lyrics combined sung by Barrett with his deep, growly voice, arousing. I was a constellation of conflicting feelings.
“We’re going to get a little raunchier for this next one and then we’ll slow it down a bit for a few.”
He played the opening riff to Theory of a Deadman’s ‘Bad Girlfriend’, the song I’d played on the way to Port Stanley. Both Junie and I jumped up. I swear I heard him laugh out loud right before his gritty voice rang out with the equally dirty lyrics.
Junie and I danced together, singing along loudly to the naughty lyrics, and laughing uproariously. Barrett’s voice was incredible. The energy in the bar was off the charts. Every woman in the place was up and moving. Energy, sound, lights, adrenalin.
‘Present Tense’ by Pearl Jam was up next, followed by Staind’s ‘Outside’, then they ramped it up again with The Eagles ‘Life in the Fast Lane’, The Black Crowes ‘Hard to Handle’ and ‘Rock Star’ by Nickelback.
“One more and then we’re going to take a break, a long one,” Barrett rumbled.
The whole bar swayed and sang along with Barrett as he sang Hinder’s ‘Better than Me’.
“Back in twenty minutes or so. Grab your drinks now, people,” the lone woman in the group announced and they walked off stage, giving me an unnecessary view of Barrett’s ass in his jeans.
I was more turned on and ramped up than I could ever recall being as he circled round from backstage and headed my way. I gave him my brightest smile and his mouth tipped up a bit at one side as he pulled out a chair and sat down in front of me, his spread knees framing mine.
“Hey,” he greeted me leaning forward slightly, his beautiful eyes studying my face. “Was this a good surprise or a bad one.”
I swallowed, struggling to meet his eyes. “Both.”
He nodded. “Introduce me to your friend?”
My heart fell to my knees.
Chapter 17
Close Your Mouth, Willa
Willa
“Of course.” I turned to Junie who was smiling softly at me. “This is my best friend and business partner, Junie. Junie, this is Barrett. He works as a veterinarian at the shelter and apparently he’s a hot rock star on the weekends,” I added drily.
He reached his big hand across the table and lightly shook Junie’s proffered hand, releasing her immediately.
