Songbird (Songbird, #1) (32 page)

“So you think I’m hot?” Cole asked cockily as he leaned in towards me.

Resting my chin in my hand, I slowly ran my eyes over his broad shoulders, insanely defined arms and up to his hypnotic eyes.

“Nah, not particularly,” I replied, screwing up my nose playfully.

The corner of his mouth twitched, and his eyes gleamed. “Thank goodness for that. I didn’t want you throwing yourself at me, especially as I don’t think you’re hot either.”

He brushed his fingertips over the back of my hand as he spoke, sending invisible sparks through my body. I could tell we had both felt it. I pulled my hand away quickly, and for the briefest of moments Cole dropped his guard, and I saw a flash of surprise pass over his face as he drew a sharp breath.

I gave Jay my phone number and asked him for his. I would speak to Marcus as soon as possible and give him a call to see if we could line up an introduction.

“Can I have your number too? Maybe we could catch up for coffee sometime?” Cole asked as he watched the exchange between Jay and me. He seemed to be fidgeting as he asked, which I found strange from such a confident, cocky guy.

Jay laughed. “Boy that must have hurt; having to ask a girl for her number.” He turned to me. “You’re an anomaly. Usually he just stands back and they flock to him. He actually has to put in some work with you.”

I smiled at Jay, then turned to Cole. “Um, I don’t think so. If you need to get in touch with me for anything you can do it through Jay.”

Besides, if I want to see you I can always do so at the gym. I pretty much have your schedule down pat
. I smiled; something told me that I wouldn’t be dodging him anymore.

In the end, Kelli made a move and dragged me out of my chair.

“Nothing’s going to happen with Mr Hotbod, right?” she said a little too loudly, and I cringed as she held my hand and pulled me towards the door.

I managed to give Jay a one-armed hug, and promised to call him the next day after I’d spoken to Marcus.

Then I turned to wave goodbye to Cole. He was standing with his hands in his pockets, and a huge sexy grin on his face.

“I’ll be seeing you, Tara.”

I
WENT
into
Songbirds
before opening the next day to see Marcus and talk to him about Jay’s band. As luck would have it, Marcus had been thinking about having a band play, either the same band week in, week out if they were any good, or different bands, but always on the same night of the week. After minimal persuasion on my part—in fact, it didn’t really take any effort at all—he agreed to hear the guys play as soon as I could get them in.

I called Jay right away and told him the good news, and he said they were free that night to play a trial. Alternatively, if Marcus wanted to hear them first, they could come in and play for him when the bar was closed. Karaoke was doing well on Thursday and Friday nights, but Saturdays had dropped off, so Marcus decided to take a chance and have the band play that night.

I think I was as nervous as Marcus when the band arrived an hour later to set up. I introduced everyone, and left Jay and Marcus to discuss their terms while I tinkered on the piano.

Cole sauntered over and sat on the stool next to me while I worked out a song I had heard on the radio a few times. I had always been able to play by ear, usually only needing to hear a piece two or three times before being able to play it myself. The song was ‘Jar of Hearts’, and although it was a sad song, it reminded me of my past, and I wanted to add it to my set if Marcus liked it.

I started playing and singing quietly to myself before, to my surprise, Cole started playing with me and harmonising.

“I didn’t think this would be your type of music,” I said to him, amazed that he would even know the song.

“I like all types of music, not just the rock stuff that we play.”

He continued playing and was surprisingly really good, picking up the melody easily.

“Okay, Cole, Marcus wants to hear a couple of songs before the bar opens.” It was Jay. They had finished their discussion, and both he and Marcus looked pleased with the outcome.

“Later,” Cole said as he rested his hand on my knee and gave it a little squeeze before getting up and heading to the stage.

Marcus was watching him like a hawk as he swaggered past, then he gave Jay a discreet nod.

“Just one extra clause in the contract,” Jay said, directing the comment to Cole. “No trying to get into the pants of any of the staff at
Songbirds
, or we’re out.”

Cole looked at Cassie who was polishing glasses behind the bar. She was a cute little blonde, but he could live with not sleeping with her. He looked at Monique, who was setting up the tables. She was in her mid-thirties and from the rock on her finger, already spoken for. Then he looked at me and stopped for a moment, before shaking his head and slapping Jay hard on the back.

I shrugged and smiled to myself, not sure whose idea that was. It was definitely a good one.

I went over to the bar, and stood next to Marcus while the band played a couple of songs. Marcus couldn’t help himself; he bopped along to the music with a huge dimpled smile on his face. They were awesome, and would be good for business.

“Thanks,” he whispered, leaning over towards me and putting his arm around my shoulder.

“Thank you for trusting me,” I said and I gave him a huge hug and kiss on the cheek.

Turning, I stood in front of him while he wrapped his arms around my waist from behind, squeezing me tight and resting his chin on the top of my head.

“Hey, does the no-boning rule apply to all of us?” Cole said into the microphone as he watched our embrace, making Marcus step away self-consciously from me. I laughed, if Cole knew the truth, he would know there was no way there would ever be anything between Marcus and I other than friendship.

There hadn’t been any advertising for the band, and it was seriously short notice. We sat down together at a table to try to figure out how to approach it.

“Don’t worry about that,” Cole said as he sat down next to me.

He pulled out his phone and started scrolling through phone number after phone number of girls he had probably slept with. He sent out a broadcast to about fifty of them, telling them to tell their friends. As he was scrolling through I noticed he had
brun
and
blon
next to each name, and I asked him what that was about.

“They’re abbreviations for brunette and blonde,” he replied, and then shrugged. “I never know when I’ll feel like a brunette or a couple of blondes, so it’s like my filing system.”

“What about redheads?” I asked, fascinated by this insight into the mind of a womaniser.

“Nah, I don’t do reds,” he said dismissively.

“Really? That’s a whole demographic you’re missing out on,” I said sarcastically.

He chuckled. “If I ever run out of blondes and brunettes, I’ll think about it.”

I raced home to get changed into what I thought Marcus would want me to wear for waitressing at the bar. I had offered to help out if it got busy, not knowing how many of Cole’s admirers would turn up.

I picked up the phone to call Kelli and invite her along to see the band again, but then thought better of it. I knew she wouldn’t approve of me hanging around Cole, even though there was a no-boning rule in place, as Cole had put it, which should put her mind at ease.

I was just debating what to wear when Jason walked in.

“Where are you off to?” he asked as he sat on the edge of the bed, while I stripped off and rummaged through the wardrobe to find something suitable.

“Oh, pretty bra, Tars, I love the delicate embroidery.”

I was wearing a black lace bra and matching thong with tiny embroidered pink flowers. It was pretty, and I thanked Jason for his comment, allowing him a few moments to examine the fabric more closely. It didn’t bother me that he was a guy looking at my underwear; he was, after all, just like one of the girls.

I quickly told him about the band and helping out at
Songbirds
while I threw on a black skirt and black T-shirt, then pulled my long curls back into a ponytail.

There was a line of people—mainly girls—that reached to the corner of the block by the time I got back to the bar. Cole’s text had gotten the word out, and it was a testament to his fan base that they could be there at such short notice.

I reported for duty to Marcus. He looked me up and down, then said, “Follow me.”

He took me into the back room and pulled out three
Songbirds
tops in red, black and grey.

“Pick a colour,” he said. “Any colour looks good on you, so you can decide.”

I pulled my black top off over my head.

“Red please,” I said, and stood waiting in my bra for Marcus to hand me the top.

He stood there for a moment, staring at my bra, and not moving.

“Do you like it?” I asked, sticking my chest out a little. “Jason thought it was very pretty.”

“Ah, yeah. They’re really … impressive,” he muttered as his eyes swept over my chest again, before handing me the top.

I helped bus the tables, as I was pretty useless at pulling beers. I had lost track of time when I felt my phone buzz in my skirt pocket. I raced into the back room and just managed to answer the call in time. It was Riley, and my heart melted at the sound of his voice.