Love Revolution (Black Cat Records Shakespeare Inspired trilogy) (6 page)

JR had never wanted to kiss a woman more in his entire life, but didn’t trust himself to stop there. Sam wasn’t like any other woman he’d ever known. He didn’t want to scare her off, so he settled for gently tucking one of her silky chestnut curls behind her ear.

Sam shivered as his fingertips lingered and grazed the skin behind her ear. In a dazed whisper, she managed to joke, “Do I have ketchup in my hair?”

“No. Sorry,” he said voice husky, “but I’ve wanted to do that since the day I first met you.”

She glanced down self- consciously, cheeks blooming with color, and twisted the napkin nervously in her hands. The level of intensity between the two of them frightened her, so much so that she started to second guess her decision. And he hadn’t even kissed her yet.

“Beautiful,” he whispered in a low voice, continuing to stare at her unabashedly.

“What’d you say?”

JR cleared his throat. “I said are you full?”

“What? Oh, yeah. Thanks for the dinner. You’re a lifesaver.”

“No problem. My pleasure.”

 The husky tone to his voice had her staring at his lips again.

He pointed at a spot on the seating chart. “Hey, why don’t you put Besille…here?”

Reluctantly dragging her gaze away from the object of her desire, she mused,
Facial hair should be against the law…especially on him.
It too temptingly highlighted and framed those kissable lips.
Brow creasing, she focused back on the screen. She squinted at where he pointed and shook her head. “No, that won’t work. That seat is for you… for your guest.”

Tipping her chin back between a curled thumb and finger, JR told her, “If I was going to invite anyone, Samantha, it would be you. And you’re already going to be there.”

“Oh.”

He stood then, tall, lean frame towering over her. “Is that all you had left to do?”

“Yeah. Thanks again for dinner.” She slipped on her shoes, gathered up the takeout detritus and tossed it in the trashcan. Opening her desk drawer, she pulled out her purse. JR hadn’t moved. She glanced up at him.

He gave her a worried look. “How are you getting home?”

“Well, I usually take the bus, but…” she frowned at her watch. “I’ll probably take a cab.”

“No. No way. Not this late. I’ll take you home, Samantha.”

“Sam,” she corrected automatically.

“Sam,” he said in that husky voice again that sent shivers down her spine.

“Ok.”

He smiled. “Where are you staying?” he asked as they moved down the quiet, darkened hallway. When he put his warm hand on the small of her back, she didn’t object.

“What’s the deal between the two of you?” Sara demanded with her hands on her narrow hips. A couple cast wary glances as they sidestepped around the sisters facing off in Black Cat’s long downstairs hallway.

“What do you mean?”

“Don’t play coy with me, Samantha Anne.” Sara’s voice rose in volume. “He’s been picking you up and taking you to work. I thought we agreed going out with JR was a bad idea.”

“No. You said it was a bad idea, and at the time I didn’t disagree. Anyway, technically we’re not going out,” Sam hedged, shifting her weight from foot to foot under her sister’s accusing glare.

“Semantics.”

“I think you’re wrong about him,” Sam whispered, lifting her chin.

“He’s a player.” Sara had seen the two of them eating lunch in the busy break room earlier today. JR’s arm had been across the back of her sister’s chair, and Samantha had been laughing. They’d looked real comfortable together, chairs close enough for their knees to be touching. If they weren’t technically dating yet, it was only a matter of time.

“I just don’t want to see you get hurt,” Sara’s tone softened and she tugged gently on one of Sam’s curls.

Chris had stopped in the hall before rounding the corner, hearing most of the animated conversation. As he emerged from his eavesdropping vantage point, he was confronted with two sets of identical questioning eyes. He wasn’t sure why it hadn’t dawned on him before now that the congenial intern and the prickly diva were sisters.

Sam pulled Sara in for a quick hug. “I’ve gotta go. Don’t worry so much. I promise to be careful.” Then speaking louder for Chris’ benefit, she wagged her finger. “Play nice, Sara.” Moving past her sister, she patted Chris on the shoulder. “Always nice to see you.”

“Likewise,” Chris replied automatically before turning to Sara. “Your sister, huh?”

“Yeah.” Sara’s posture noticeably stiffened.

“She’s a sweet kid. I’ve worked a little bit with her this past month. Smart, too.”

Sara smiled. Playing nice might be easier than she’d previously thought. She was a sucker for compliments about Sam. It didn’t hurt that the man wasn’t hard on the eyes, either. His sexy ass jeans hugged his lower body in all the right places and his grey t-shirt stretched tightly across his thickly muscled chest.

Chris thought the seductive smile on Sara’s face ought to be illegal, or at least come with a written disclaimer. It made her grey eyes twinkle and softened her expression, bringing her beauty up to another level of irresistible.

“So, I listened to what you’ve got so far on the album.” She arched a brow. “It’s good… really good. Reminds me a little of Mellencamp or Mumford & Sons. A lot of potential for crossover. Once our song’s released, I’m sure it’ll bring in some of my country fans for you.”

“That’d be great,” he said, following her into the recording room. Maybe she wasn’t such a dragon lady after all. Her next words confirmed it.

“Mary might know what she’s doing, after all, huh?”

He nodded and pulled out his guitar. “You got any ideas for us?”

Sara gave him a quizzical look and shrugged, a subtle movement that caused the front of her purple shirt to shift across her breasts.

Staring at the enticing view, Chris lost his train of thought for a moment. “I mean for a song,” he clarified, licking suddenly dry lips. “When in doubt I always choose one of the big three. Which will it be: Sex, drugs, or rock ‘n roll?”

Sara chuckled. “In country music it’s more like trucks, honky tonks, or heartbreak,” she quipped.

“I can certainly relate to that last one,” he said with chagrin. “Why don’t we work with that?”

Sam dropped her coat and messenger bag on the suite’s upholstered living room chair. “Hey,” she said with a sigh.

“Hey, yourself. How was work?” Sara asked, unfolding her legs and looking up from her laptop. She patted the seat cushion next to her on the couch.

Sam flopped down beside her. “Tiring.” She chewed on her lip and gave her sister a tentative sidelong glance. “Sara, listen. I’ve decided to go out with JR and I just wanna know… what’s it gonna take to get you to tone down the rhetoric?”

“I don’t know Sam.” Sara grimaced. “I have a lot of reservations about the guy, but you’re a grownup. It’s your life, not mine.”

“I appreciate that. But it would make me feel better if you’d at least give him a chance.”

Sara rubbed the back of her neck. “Alright, Sam, I’ll try.”

“Great. Listen, I heard that JR and Chris are going to be at Soho Billiards tonight. They’re celebrating with some guys Chris hired to be in his band. Why don’t you and I crash the party?”

Sara smirked. “You already had this all planned out in your mind, didn’t you, Munchkin?”

Sam blushed. “Maybe.” She stood, grabbed her sister’s hand, and pulled. “Come on. Let’s show ‘em how hot Texas girls can be,” she said in a drawl, raising a teasing brow. “I’m sure you want to look nice for Chris.”

Sara followed behind her, muttering indignantly, “Why in the world would I care what he thinks?”

Soho’s was a guy’s kind of place. Nothing fancy or trendy, just basic pub fare, a bartender slinging drinks, and well-maintained pool tables in the back room. Masculine décor predominated: dark burgundy walls with oak wainscot, a colorful mural breaking up the monotony, and well-worn but sturdy furnishings. Smoke free by provincial regulation, no blaring jukebox disturbed the muted sounds of clinking glasses, conversation, and occasional fraternal laughter.

JR smiled to himself as he left Keith to set up for the next game. He hopped up the two steps into the main room and headed to the bar. Despite the acrimonious circumstances surrounding Keith’s departure from Brutal Strength, the two of them had remained close, and now that Keith and his drummer Danny had signed on with Chris Alex, they would be able to hang out more together, and that was cool with him. JR wasn’t so sure how Marcus would take the news, however. He and Keith’s issues were public knowledge.

A blast of cold air drew his attention as the outside door admitted the Daniels sisters. JR did a double take.
Damn.
He’d never seen her in anything but those prim and proper business suits she wore to work. Noticing similar looks of appreciation from the other guys in the lounge, he suddenly wished he could put her right back in the curve camouflaging attire.

Her face was angelic, but her curves in that red halter top and tight skinny jeans were sinful.
Hail Mary, full of grace
…Where the hell was her coat? It was five degrees Celsius outside. He pushed away from the bar and strode over to meet her.

Chris intercepted him, blocking his path. “Hey, where’re you going? Keith and Danny are ready for another game. You and I can totally take ‘em, man.”