A Summer To Remember (Seasons of Love & Lust Book 1) (19 page)

Chapter Twenty-Four

Although I considered myself a lover of all kinds of music, rock and roll wasn’t necessarily my favorite, especially hard rock. There were only a few groups I’d fallen in love with and they happened to be Deftones, Scarlet Fever, and yes, Winter’s Regret. They had a great sound, and with Talia on keyboards and singing back up, she added depth to their music that had not existed before.

Paul and I had great seats along with Jude, Savannah, Autumn, and Brandon. They brought the house down with their rock anthems and distinctively beautiful love songs. I loved the group even more because Seth wasn’t a “screamer” like Chester Bennington. He usually built up with his low baritone voice that made all the groupies swoon and when he did bellow out a lyric at full capacity, it was impressive.

I could understand why Talia was in love with him and why she was loath to let him go though she and Kris, the guitarist, had great on stage chemistry too. I hoped their friendship wouldn’t cause problems, but from some of the troubling looks he tossed Talia’s way when he was midway into a slow song of any kind, the worst was in front of them, not behind them.

Scarlet Fever came on stage after a hasty exit from Winter’s Regret and when that slow, passionate growl emulated from Kasper “Kaz” Gillian’s vocal chords, I was in heaven.

They opened their set with a new song from their recently released fifth album,
Love & Hate
, titled “Love to Hate You,” and it was one of my favorites. The lyrics were so hauntingly beautiful and between Jaden’s electric guitar work, Grant’s bass playing, and Will on the drums, I was in concert heaven. There was nothing better than seeing a band who not only released great albums but were awesome in concert as well.

Though this was technically not a concert, and instead considered a warm-up gig, it was still amazing. The tour didn’t officially kick off until they played the MGM Grand Garden Arena the following month, but both bands were amazing. Although there were only about five hundred people in attendance, both bands played like they were in front of an audience of twenty thousand or more.

Paul wrapped an arm around me and I clung to him. I desperately wanted him to know all was forgiven. I had been such a bitch but I loved him and knew he was the man for me. We should spend the rest of our lives together, and while no one ever promised smooth sailing in a relationship, I knew whatever was thrown at us, it was up to me to handle it with maturity, respect, and care. The magic of the show could not be described, especially since we were in such a small venue. Both bands gave it their all and I would have definitely considered this gig a success. I adored the show and after it was over, I went to look for Talia to thank her for inviting us.

I Paul chatting with Brandon and Jude while Autumn and Savannah gossiped in the corner with the press manager for the band, a young woman named Sasha who had graduated the same year we did. She was stunningly beautiful and if the rumors were true, she was also involved with Grant, the drummer for Scarlet Fever.

Eventually, I found my friend outside on the balcony with Kris. They talked quietly as he smoked a cigarette and his eyes never left her face. I felt bad about eavesdropping so I cleared my throat rather loudly and both Talia and Kris looked in my direction.

He put his cigarette out in a crystal ashtray and said, “We’ll finish this up later.”

I waited until he walked back into the party to ask, “What was that about?”

Talia looked away. “Nothing really, just band gossip. Seth and Kris almost came to blows this morning at rehearsal and it can get a bit overwhelming sometimes. I don’t know what to think.”

“What do you mean? About what? I thought this is what you wanted and Seth was the man of your dreams?”

“He is, but I think he’s on something. The mood swings, the outbursts…he doesn’t eat much and I seriously believe he could be a coke head. No one will tell me anything. Both Niko and Linx blew me off but I want to get to the bottom of this. He can survive a six month tour with Scarlet Fever but if Kaz finds out it won’t end well.”

“Who do you think is supplying him?”

“It would have to be Jaden. He’s the only one I know who had a major drug problem before he cleaned up, which I don’t buy for a second. He shows his girlfriend what she wants to see because she told him she would leave if he didn’t get his act together.”

I could see the situation Talia was in and why she confided so much in Kris. However, their precarious situation and easygoing friendship was a disaster waiting to happen. Kris wasn’t just unavailable; he was engaged to Damira Horvat-Gillian, the ex-wife of Kaz Gillian, and the mother of his only child, Xander. Kris paraded around as if he were a single guy and it was perfectly okay to have a good female friend who was as beautiful as Talia.

“You know I can’t advise you what to do because it is your life, Tal. I just don’t think you should continue anything with Seth until he is able to get clean if he really is on drugs. You can still be in the band and not be in a relationship with him, can’t you?”

She rolled her eyes dramatically. “Technically, yes, but it won’t make for a comfortable tour. To be honest, I don’t think I
want
to know. It sounds stupid, but if we could hold out until the tour is over…
if
he has a substance abuse problem, he can be sent to Promises and everything will be very hush-hush.”

“Are you willing to risk his life for this tour?”

“If he’s a goddamn cokehead, it’s kind of hard to OD, Jerrica. It’s not like he’s into heroin or anything.”

I leaned closer to her until our faces were inches apart. “How do you know? You just told me all this would be better handled after the tour ends. Are you an expert on what kind of drugs he’s using? He could get busted, or the police could raid the tour buses. Believe me, the record company is going to despise that outcome a lot more than if they knew he had an issue now.”

“Let’s drop it, Jerrica. You don’t have a fucking clue how the entertainment business works. No one cares as long as he’s able to do his job and six more months of getting high isn’t
going to kill him,” she said angrily and walked away.

A strong pair of arms wrapped around my waist and pulled me close. “What’s going on, babe? That conversation between you and Talia looked pretty heated.”

“Relationship issues she doesn’t want to face right now because they will be so much rosier in six months.”

“Oh, you mean Seth’s little coke problem he and Jaden share together behind their girlfriends’ backs. It’s part of the lifestyle, babe. Coke to get them revving and usually something mellow to bring them down.”

“Heroin?”

“No, it’s too volatile and you never know what’s in it. Plus it’s much too addictive. Rock stars have gotten smarter. Usually they fake an injury with their on-the-job physician and are prescribed OxyContin. If they have a legitimate prescription then they can’t be busted for using,” Paul explained.

“How do you know so much about all of this?”

With waves to our friends, all the while making a bee to the elevator, we boarded. Paul’s silence didn’t sit well with me. In fact, it annoyed the hell out of me. What did he have up his sleeve now? Whatever personal decisions he made automatically affected me, and one of these days, he was bound to ask me to marry him.

“Sasha Munsen is their press manager and they are looking for new representation. They don’t trust their accountant, and with good reason because he also does their taxes. I know some of the people who are close to them, specifically their agent and a couple of high-ranking record execs at Introspect. Kaz has already discussed the situation with his band members and Seth is on board, along with the rest of the band. I would take over as their accountant and handle both bands’ taxes, investments, and finances.”

The wheels were turning in my head and although this sounded like the opportunity of a lifetime, there was only one problem with the scenario. All the band members were based on the West Coast, while both Paul and our families resided on the East Coast. Would we have to move to L.A.—why couldn’t he just telecommute, and maybe go out there a couple times per month? What would I do about my gallery in New York?

“I know it seems like quite a shock but this has been a long time coming. Just think: I could do something exciting and be my own boss. I don’t want to be an investment banker any longer for CDG. Besides, I really think we could use the fresh start,” Paul continued when I didn’t answer.

“Okay, but what about my gallery? What will I do for work? Open another gallery in L.A.?”

“You could do that if it is what you want. Autumn keeps complaining because she no longer wants to be a shopper so put her on the payroll running your New York gallery. People always seem to like her charming personality.”

He took me by the shoulders and held me to him. “If L.A. isn’t your bag we can always base ourselves out of Las Vegas. After this tour is over, Vogue Hotel, Spa & Casino are offering Scarlet Fever a two-year contract to play exclusively in Vegas and they are seriously considering it.”

“I don’t know…I really should think about this because I have had too much to drink to make a coherent decision right now.”

Of course he’d talked me into it already but I wasn’t about to let on how exciting an opportunity this was for me. We could break free from all the shit that tied us down in New York. Although I was not a huge fan of Los Angeles, I’d always loved Vegas and had a blast every time I’d visited with friends and family. I knew visiting a vacation spot and actually living there were different, but I would be more than willing to take the plunge.

Additionally, the idea of being so far away from Ashley’s prying eyes had me floating on cloud nine. The sheer thought I would likely never run into her again certainly had its appeal, although I didn’t know whether I was willing to give up everything I knew and all my friends to move across the country.

Yes, I knew it wouldn’t be impossible to see them, but they wouldn’t be within a distance I felt comfortable with and that bothered me.

No matter how I looked at the situation, the plusses outweighed the minuses and I knew I would make other friends.

The moment Paul and I got back to the hotel, I said, “I almost had a heart attack today.”

“Why? You didn’t want to fall in love with me?” he joked as we strolled through the empty lobby.

I pressed the button at the bank of elevators. “Um, no. It’s because shortly after I found out you were a reluctant sperm donor I left and a palmetto bug hit me in the face then it landed on my shoulders. I swear I have never encountered flying cockroaches until I visited this city.”

Paul laughed as the doors to the elevator closed and I could feel my face heat up as he invaded my personal space.

“Anyone tell you that you smell and look mighty good tonight?” he murmured into my ear.

“Yes, you just did.” I looked into his eyes and felt myself melt. His mouth covered mine and I wrapped my arms around his neck. His tongue darted in my open mouth and I responded with my own.

How long had I loved this man? Now he belonged to me with all his baggage, sexy good looks, and divine charm. He wasn’t perfect, but then again, neither was I or anyone else I knew. We all had our hidden sides and secrets.

If this was going to work I would have to make Paul my best friend and my girlfriends all very good close friends I would never want to lose touch with.

He grabbed my right breast and teased the nipple through the material until it hardened, and we were just getting to the good part when the elevator stopped and we’d arrived to the floor we were staying on. I moaned into his mouth, slightly disappointed it was over already. We walked hand in hand to our suite.

There was nothing I could do to stop the pressure of built up lust I felt for Paul at this moment and if there was a reason why I was angry with him, he’d made that up with gusto when he told me about his new job opportunity.

He slid the card key into the slot and I walked in, then the door closed behind us. I hadn’t gotten further than the sitting room before he knelt me over the sofa and pulled up my dress, displaying my flirty black La Perla thong. He knelt between my thighs and pulled the thong to the side, plunging two fingers into my aching wet hole, teasing my perineum with an insistent tongue.

I almost fainted from the pleasure alone. His fingers worked in and out of my wetness while his tongue found my clit and licked. His mouth was incredibly hot and persuasive. He pulled the sensitive nub between his teeth and my body spasmed as he applied more pressure on my G-spot.

Not for the first time did I think this man was so talented when it came to sex, I was one of the luckiest women in the world. My orgasm started slow and then overwhelmed my senses. I saw stars and my eyes remained closed but it did nothing to stop the intensity of what he could do to my body.

I collapsed against the sofa, my legs giving out from underneath me. Paul held my body against his and picked me up as if I weighed nothing and walked us to the bedroom.

Slowly, and with deliberate motions, he laid me on the bed and undid my shoes, placing them on the side of the bed.