Road To Whatever (Perfect For Me Book 1) (2 page)

I watch her nervously run her fingers through her hair, pushing it over to the right side and pulling it forward over her shoulder, revealing the makings of a Mohawk. The left side of her hair is cut artfully low, framing her ear. It is the sexiest thing I have ever seen. That is until I watch her tongue dart out to lick her lips. That hits me in places I’m not even going to acknowledge when it comes to one of my little sister’s friends.

“Rage this is Kelly,” Mandy announces. “Kitty, this is my brother Nolan.”

“Nice to meet you, Nolan. Thanks so much for giving me a chance,” Kitty gushes.

“You’re welcome Kelly. You can call me Rage,” I smile and reach for her hand. I don’t miss all the cute little rings on her fingers that match her purple hair.

“Okay Rage, you can call me Kitty,” she beams.
God does she have a nice smile.
I have to admit I love looking at women in all shapes, sizes and colors but I never really thought about dating …wait. I don’t date and certainly shouldn’t be thinking about dating or doing anything with this girl. I am in trouble aren’t I? This girl is trouble if I ever seen it, from those lips to that flawless bronze skin that I am dying to touch.
Get a grip Rage, she’s your kid sister’s friend.

“That is Mitchell, you can call him Mitch,” Mandy goes on pulling Kitty’s gaze from mine.

Mitch is my best friend and the one in the band that knows how to, and the only one who I will allow to, handle me. We work out together so Mitch is as built as I am, only he is five seven and more broad and stocky. The chicks seem to love it or it could be his green eyes and his smooth way of saying few words to make his point.

“I am -,” Mitch starts.

“Bass, you play the bass,” Kitty chimes. “Nice to meet you.” Mitch’s huge hand swallows hers as she reaches to shake his.

“That’s Colin, also known as Sleep,” Mandy goes on pointing across the table. Kitty’s eyes smile as she looks to Sleep, who is leaning back in his seat coolly checking her out. Letting his hazel eyes take her in, Kitty is appraising him as well, taking in his short Mohawk and its blonde tips with black roots.

“Hey, I heard a lot about you,” Sleep calls over the music. “I play the-.”

“The keys, right?” Kitty coos. She quirks a cute smile at him, bounces up on her toes and reaches over the table to shake his hand. “Hope what you heard was all good.” Sleep throws her one of his signature smirks and raises an eyebrow as he palms her small hand.

“Yeah, baby you got it,” Sleep winks with his lazy grin. “And everything I heard is living up to standards, then some.”

“Hey Kitten,” Crush breathes as he watches Kitty. It was the first time I looked at my brother for his reaction to our potential lead singer.

I am not sure I like it at all. I’m sure it was the same way I have been looking at her. I almost throw a napkin at him to get him to wipe up the drool. Now I understand that smirk on his face when he told me to let her try out.

I am going to kick his ass. This band is way too important for him to be trying to play games to get in some chick’s pants. I look at Kitty to see her trying not to look Crush in the eyes as she murmured a small “hi”.

If I didn’t like Crush’s reaction to her, I sure don’t like hers to him. My brother looks just like me, just a few inches taller, with a more slender body but still with sculpted muscles. His brown hair is a lot longer and curly. I give him a good teasing about that mop top but the girls have no trouble running their fingers through it. I notice the way his grey eyes twinkle with mischief when Kitty avoids looking at him.

“You two know each other?” I ask as I look between the two of them. There is clearly something going on between them.

Kitty lets out a scoff before regaining her control and nodding.

“I believe I would be the one that gave her that name and I would also be the one that taught her to play the drums and the guitar,” Crush smiles.

“If I remember right you named me Kitten. Mandy started the whole Kitty thing,” she bites out. Yeah there is something going on with these two that I will have to figure out. I mean for the band if nothing else.

“Hey, let’s get you a drink,” Mandy chimes. 

Kitty nods her head and I watch them walk off. Once they make their way through the crowd that is starting to pack in I turn to my brother and narrow my eyes. He looks at me and laughs, shaking his head like he needs to clear it.

“Bro, I thought you were asking me to let some gangly pale chick audition. That girl is not gangly, not pale and not what I expected at all. What the fuck? If you are doing this to get your dick in that girl I am going to kill you,” I growl.

“Rage, relax, Kitty is awesome. Not only can she sing but she can hit the drums harder than any chick I have ever met and she is almost as fast as I am. She sure has you beat on the guitar. Give her a chance and as for her pants,” he wiggles his brows at me. “I would love to but I love her too much to try.”

“What the hell is that supposed to mean?” I grunt. “You love her too much… and I’d like to hear the girl that can out play me.”

“Dude, I told you to let her play tonight you said not this time,” Crush laughs. “And yeah, I love her too much. Kitty is special; she is also Mandy’s best friend. I’d never get away with bagging her and walking away. Mandy would have my balls.”

“Whatever,” I mutter.

“Whatever yourself Rage, I saw that look on your face,” Crush smiles.

“I think we should all agree now that we’ll stay away from whatever girl we do pick. We don’t need the drama,” Mitch rasps.

“Agreed,” Sleep nods then looks back toward the bar where the girls have disappeared. He turns back with a pained look. “But damn I will enjoy the view tonight.”

~B~

“You told Rage nothing about me did you?” I ask Mandy and narrow my eyes at her. Her brother didn’t look to happy about me being here. From what Mandy said he is anxious to find a girl for the group so this has to be about me.

“I told him the things that are important,” Mandy pouts. “They need something hot, new and cutting edge. That’s you.”

“Yeah, but I am a lot to take on Mandy. He should have had time to think about that,” I sigh.

“He will have plenty of time,” Mandy chirps.

“You are impossible,” I laugh as I take a pull from my beer. Linc had gotten great fake IDs for Mandy and me for my nineteenth birthday. I don’t put it to that much use but tonight I want to push down some of these nerves. Especially since I am not too sure Rage is happy to see me.

I am sure he was not looking for a five foot three black girl to walk into this bar tonight ready to sing with his rock band. Little did Rage know I spent most my time with Chris, Linc and Mandy listening to rock and learning to play. I listen to all types of music and compose songs in different genres. Well that was before, before my world came to a crashing end. Nolan, being older than us, was never really around when I would go to their house to hang out.

Not to mention everyone used to hang out in my basement, where my daddy had set up a studio, more than anywhere else. My house was always the hangout spot since my parents traveled so much and we could do just about whatever. Not that we got into anything crazy. The craziest thing I’ve ever really done was let Mandy and Chris throw a couple of parties that lasted for a whole weekend.

Then there were the two years Mandy and I stopped speaking. Not that Mandy did anything wrong. I pretty much stopped talking to everyone except for Linc after my parents died. Linc was my rock. I cried on his shoulder for months. I don’t know if I would have made it through if it were not for him.

Linc is my best friend. I’d do just about anything for him and I know he would for me. I didn’t get to shut him out because he was my next door neighbor and we were just tight like that. We grew up together. My parents were like his parents too in some ways. We both met Mandy in sixth grade and she just fit in. I used to think she had a thing for Linc but that never panned out.

I know if Linc was here tonight I wouldn’t be half this nervous but he had to work a night shift for his brother’s club, which makes me groan inside. I do not want him with some skank on my ride. I’ll kill him if he lets some tramp scratch my paint.

“Hey,” Mandy calls me back to the now as she hands me a martini that matches my hair and wraps her arm around mine. “Don’t worry about Rage. You have bigger things to worry about.”

“Oh please Mandy not tonight,” I whine.

“Well when,” Mandy whines back.

“Mandy, Linc is just a friend. The sooner you two accept that the sooner we can all move on already,” I sigh.

“Kitty, he is so in love with you. And he is hot as all hell,” Mandy purrs. “Give him a chance so a least if it doesn’t work out he’ll know you guys tried.”

I have to laugh. Yeah, Linc is hot but not for me hot. At least that is not the way I see him. He is like a brother to me. I have known Linc has had feelings for me for over a year now. He told me Valentine’s Day last year and since then he has been trying to get me to go out with him.

I just can’t see myself losing Linc, and us starting something together would end in me losing him. Linc has never stayed with a girl long. I just don’t want to start something and then never find our way back to us. Not when I know that I don’t have those kinds of feelings for him. I’ve tried to tell him this time and time again. I’ll give Linc one thing. He never gives up.

“He is my friend Mandy and I want it to stay that way,” I sigh as we arrive at the table where the guys are sitting.

“But Kitty,” Mandy starts.

“Don’t but Kitty me, I mean it Mandy. You two have to know when to let go. It is not happening,” I say firmly.

I close the subject and turn to Chris who has pulled an extra stool up next to him. I am reluctant at first but if I want to be in this band I need to get used to interacting with him. I sit and finish my beer while Chris gives me the rundown of the order of the songs we will perform. I have finished the beer and the martini by the time Chris has me caught up and I flag the waitress down for another beer.

There is no doubt about it, the alcohol is helping me to be this close to Chris without being frustrated. When I found out about the opening in the band I almost ignored Mandy because of Chris being the drummer. I told myself I could handle this. It has been over two years. Chris and I were really close once upon a time. When we realized we both had a love for music we just hit it off. He was older than Linc, Mandy and I, but music had bonded us all together.

I finish my second beer and start to chat with Mandy. She is excited about tonight and me becoming a part of the band. Mandy is just sure that I am what they were missing. Her enthusiasm has me all sorts of excited as well. This is a big step for me. I am getting back to the thing I love the most. 

“You think maybe you should slow down,” Rage leans in to ask.

“No worries, I’ll be fine,” I smile and turn back to Mandy.

“Hey,” Rage growls. I turn to him surprised. “This is not a game to me. Get your head in the game
Kitten
.” He says the last part with so much force I am not surprised his nickname is Rage. It throws me off guard and makes me sit back in my seat.

“I don’t remember thinking this was a game and I have my head where it should be. Now back off, I told you I am fine,” I growl back.

“Harsh,” Sleep chuckles, “I like her.”

Mitch smirks and holds up his beer toward me. I guess everyone else doesn’t think my drinking is such a problem. Chris chuckles and whispers in my ear. “Don’t worry about him. He is just stressed to find a singer.”

I glare at Rage who refuses to take his eyes off of me. This is not a great way to start off but I am no one’s pushover. If I am going to be in this band Rage is going to learn that right away. 

I pick up the fresh beer that just arrived and take a long pull never looking away from Rage. His nostrils flare and he licks his lips as he sits back in his chair.
Oh. My.
That has to be the hottest thing I have ever seen.
He
has to be the hottest thing I’ve ever seen. If you asked me an hour ago I would have told you that no, Nolan “Rage” Chaney, is not my type. I already had my fill of the Chaney Brothers.

Chris had kissed me once at one of the parties at my house. That ended badly. He passed out drunk and then acted as if it never happened. Two days later I got called to the principal’s office to be told my parents would never be coming back home again.

Nope, I do not need any more Chaney drama, but boy Rage is like a flame screaming to be touched so it can burn your skin clean off.
Warning to Kelly, stay away from Rage.
That would be best for everyone.

CHAPTER Two

W
hen Kitty showed up tonight I was pissed. Now I am furious. I have never let a girl other than Mandy talk to me like that. And although I am seeing red right now something about the way she mouthed off to me has my groin tight and screaming her damn name.

She is a total bitch and I hope she falls when she gets up just for mouthing off. At least that is what I am thinking when her second martini and fourth beer arrive. No chick can down that much alcohol and get on stage let alone perform a decent performance. 

I know that at this point she has to be trying to prove a point to me. I just don’t need her proving a point tonight. I need to know if this girl is half as good as my kid brother and sister thinks she is. She has the look with the outfit and the Mohawk, but can she pull off a rock concert.

I look up to see Cindy the bar owner nod that it is time for us to get on stage. I look at my watch then up at my band and knock on the table with my knuckles to signal it is time. I stand and look right at Kitty. Crush whispers something in her ear causing her to throw her head back and laugh. It is like music itself. I watch her stand up as if she didn’t have a drop to drink and she croons, “Let’s get ‘em boys.”

Oh I am in trouble with this girl. That laugh alone makes me want to have her in my arms laughing as I touch her sensual curves. The way her hips sway as she moves on those stilts creates a siren call that hits right below the belt. It doesn’t help that she is still tiny despite the six inch heels and makes me want to protect her small figure from anything that could bring her harm.

I groan inwardly at the things this girl is doing to me. I so hope she sucks so I have an excuse to tell her no and make sure I never see her again. Me and the guys step onto the stage and I step up to the mic to introduce Kitty. She will do a few songs with us and we will finish the end of the set without her.

“How’s everyone doing tonight…thanks for coming out. We have a special surprise for you this evening. We are going to try something new and I hope you all like it. Why don’t you welcome a potential new member of the band, Kitty,” I say over the mic and turn to clap while Kitty saunters over.

There is a new confidence to her as she steps on stage. It is in her walk, in the way she holds her head and the way she stands like she is six feet tall when I am being generous to say she is five feet. Yeah, I really hope she sucks.

No such freakin’ luck. Kitty is hot as hell and she rocks harder than half of my favorite bands. When the first song starts I can’t believe the sexy, sultry, smooth voice that comes out of such a tiny thing like her. With each song her voice adjusts to the tone and the vibe. Kitty is fucking amazing.

The crowd was mesmerized by her. She had them bouncing, singing, and cheering her on. It was awesome. She worked each song like a pro. You would have thought she practiced with the band for years. She flowed with the band when needed and took us with her when she felt we needed a push. I don’t think we have ever sounded this good before. It felt amazing.

I found myself entranced by her voice, watching the sweat pour down her neck onto her shoulders. I had all kinds of dirty thoughts about what she would taste like and if chocolate had anything to do with it. I caught myself staring at her ass a number of times as she moved that hot body of hers around. I finally had to stop looking at her and focus on the crowd when I felt my raging hard-on fighting with my zipper.

As I strum at the last few notes of her last song and she sings her last notes I know two things for sure. Kitty has me wrapped around her finger and Linc is about to lose his girl.

And now you know

I. Never. Loved. You.

Her sweet voice rings through the crowd and the whole room roars. I wipe the sweat from my face and step up next to her.

“Did you guys love her,” I yell out to the crowd and they go wild. I wrap my arm around her waist and pull her close. “Would you guys love to see her in the band?”

They start to chant her name and she is bouncing in place looking up at me with a huge grin. It takes all my control not to lean down and kiss her. And then Crush starts to play a beat I don’t recognize. Kitty turns and gives him this knowing smile. It is the most beautiful thing I have ever seen causing my chest to squeeze. I would love to have her smile at me that way. 

Kitty pumps her fist and really starts to jump up and down as she grabs the mic and starts to belt out lyrics. It is clear that this is something personal between her and Crush and this is like his stamp of approval. She has his vote for her to join the band. She only makes it through a verse and the chorus but by the time she says the chorus the second time she has the crowd singing it with her. I can’t deny it, Kitty has that
it
factor.

Crush ends the song with a little drum solo and the crowd is roaring again as Kitty takes a bow and makes her way off stage. I want to follow her off as I watch her and Mandy out the corner of my eye, but I have to finish the set. They are hugging and squealing and I am happy to see that smile on Kitty’s face again.

Yeah, I am going to make it my job to be the one to make her smile like that. No doubt about that.

~B~

“You were amazing Kitty,” Mandy squeals. “You nailed it. There is no way the guys aren’t going to ask you to be the lead. You and Rage sound so good together too. I can’t wait for you guys to do more together.”

“Relax Mandy,” I laugh. “They haven’t decided anything yet. And Rage and I could use some work together.”

“Are you kidding? Rage looked so relieved. I know he thinks you’re great. Didn’t you feel the crowd, they loved you.”

“I felt it,” I muse. “It felt… It felt amazing, Mandy, like home. Like I didn’t realize how homesick I was.”

“Oh Kitty, I’m so happy you are singing again. This is perfect for you,” she squeezes me to her.

“Yeah, I just don’t want to get my hopes up you know,” I frown.

“Screw that, we are celebrating.” Mandy picks up the martini that just arrived. “To the new female singer of True Life.”

I laugh and clink my glass with hers. I just refuse to say the words out loud. I want this, a lot more now that I have a taste for what it would be like. Something happened on that stage tonight. I came alive again for the first time in three years. It felt good, like what my dad would want for me. Like he and my mom were there to remind me how much I loved this before I lost my whole world, like they wanted me to be right here tonight.

The guys finished their set as Mandy and I throw back a few more drinks. I am not drunk, but I can feel a buzz now. The guys are a great band even without me. I had seen some video of them that Mandy had emailed me to learn their songs but seeing them live is so much better.

Rage is great as the lead singer. His voice is awesome, a raspy, gravelly, soulful mix and watching him is not hard on the eyes either. He has this smile he gets when he sings that could absolutely have every girl in this place dropping their panties. I stun myself when that thought gives me a ping of jealousy.

Rage is as handsome as Chris but Rage is so much more the bad boy. Power and pure male confidence rolls off of him. His whole persona screams bad boy. Unlike Rage, Chris is all lean and sexy model with a sexy boyish charm. Rage is huge, hot and all male sexy yumminess.

It was hot watching his muscles play as he strummed his guitar. I sighed to myself when he said goodnight to the crowd and turned to head off stage. I lick my lips at the sight of his tight backside in his snug jeans that play all sorts of happy games low on his waist.
What has come over you Kelly? Rage is totally off limits and so not your type.

I snort to myself, what is my type? It isn’t Linc, it had once been Kyle Williams until he started dating Melissa Richards. I thought it was Chris Chaney for a brief crush. Now I’m not sure I will ever have a type or a relationship for that matter. I don’t think I can ever go there.

An arm squeezing my shoulder brings me back to the bar. Chris is looking down at me with a huge grin. It reminds me of when he would smile at me for playing a new song well that he had just taught me. The memory hits hard and I reach up to hug him tight.

“You were great Kitten. Just like old times,” Chris croons in my ear.

“When you two finish I have a few questions for Kitty,” Rage says dryly. He is narrowing his eyes at Chris.

“What would you like to know,” I chirp.

Rage searches my face then leans into Mitch and whispers something in his ear. Mitch looks at Rage for a moment then nods and gets up from the seat next to Rage and comes to stand by me. Rage looks toward the seat now vacant next to him and nods me over.

I get up with my fresh beer and walk over to hop up on the seat next to him. Rage’s eyes appraise me from head to toe as I look up at him. He places a hand on the back of my stool and leans toward me.

“Why a rock band, Kitty,” he says in my ear, so close his lips brush it. I try to ignore the shiver that goes up my spine. His breath smells of something sweet, minty, and beer and is warm against my skin.

“I love all types of music.” I say softly as I lean into the ear he offers. “But I…um I used to spend a lot of time around bands and different entertainers, rock bands were just something I had in common with my friends.” I shrug hoping he doesn’t ask me to elaborate.

Rage thinks about my answer and nods. He leans into my ear again, “Name three of your all-time favorites.” It is not lost on me that his lips brush my ear again. I stare at them for a moment as he pulls away. He has a hint of a smile at the corners of his full pouty mouth. His lips are perfect; they make me think about what Mandy had said the other day when we were shopping.

She was trying to find a gloss with a lip plumper and she complained that her brothers had lips any girl would die for. “Kitty this is so unfair,” she whined at the counter popping her lips in the mirror. “Rage and Crush have the sexy pouty thing going on. Any girl would die to have Rage’s lips and I get stuck with the missing mouth syndrome.” I laughed so hard that day my ribs hurt. It made me so happy I had her back in my life.

But God does she have a point. Rage’s lips are perfect and so are the long lashes that frame his gray eyes. His eyes seem like they could pluck my thoughts right out of my head.

“Umm…if you mean all-time rock,
Zeppelin
, The Police,
Bob Marley and the Wailers. Don’t judge me. That is a loaded question and too limited a list.”

Rage’s lips twitch and he sits back to study me while taking a swig of his beer. His eyes travel up and down me resting on my corseted breasts for a beat longer than a friendly appraisal would allow and landing on my lips for much longer as he seems to let his thoughts gather. I watch him inhale deeply before he comes forward to whisper in my ear again.

“Why True Life, Kitty,” he breathes against my ear. This time as his breath warms the side of my face, his lips brush like a soft kiss behind my ear and I squirm in my seat a little.

“I think it is a great opportunity,” I pause to sip my beer. I really, really want this and I’m not sure what is with the way Rage is interviewing. I feel more like a potential hook up than a potential band member.

I can’t mess this up by getting my signals crossed. Mandy is always telling me about the guys and their conquests after a gig. From what I have heard Rage is into fake breasts and blondes. I have neither so I need to get my hormones in check before I blow this.

I clear my throat and continue. “Chris, um, Crush and I have chemistry. I mean with music, he and I used to write together. It felt good to be on stage with him. You guys are great without me but I think we all can be great together.”

Rage frowns this time when he takes my answer in. He looks over at Chris and narrows his eyes. Rage finishes off his beer and signals for the waitress.

“You want another,” he asks.

“Please,” I reply with a small smile.

He gives the waitress our order then turns his attention back to me. He is posing to lean in for his next question when a tall blonde walks up beside him. She places a hand on his chest and whispers something in his ear. I can smell her sickly sweet floral perfume from here. Rage looks annoyed as he reaches under the table and places a hand on my knee to keep me in place while he whispers something back to her.

I try not to fidget under his huge hand. It is so warm and strong. He squeezes once when he finishes whispering to the girl and she goes to whisper something back to him. He looks more annoyed and rolls his eyes in impatience.

While she whispers he starts to absentmindedly rub circles on my knee with his thumb. I groan internally because his touch alone is sending electric bolts through my jeans, but the motion of his thumb starts strange things in the pit of my stomach that I’ve never felt before. I suck my bottom lip in and start to graze my teeth against it.

Rage’s thumb stops abruptly and his eyes zone in on my lips. He pulls away from whatever the girl is saying and shakes his head at her dismissing her completely and turning his attention back to me.