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Chapter 1 – Brock

“I’ll be right back,” I yelled to rab a beer

My brothers, Brady, Brendan, and I, were playing at the bar tonight, and were scheduled to go on in another fifteenweek at work Our band, Whiskey Heat, was just for fun … My real job was runningbusiness, and it took a lot out of me

I’d started out painting houses for my parents’ friends, which they’d booked out of pity after rown it into a successful business I was proud of the fact that I’d built so that would not only support h I loved playing these gigs withtired by the end of the week

“Fat Tire,” I said to the bartender Beer was free on the nights ere playing; shit, it was even free on the nights eren’t Fast Eddie, the owner, was also a customer I’d painted his bar, inside and out, within the last year, so I always drank for free

I was enjoying the cool relief of the beer sliding downthe calm before the storm, when a soft hand on my bicep made me turn

“Hey,” Gaby said as I turned, all smiles and sunshine That’s what she’d always reminded o, but it had ended when I walked in on her kissing Scott, her current boyfriend I’d been pissed initially, but now that some time had passed, I realized I hadn’t been in love with her Plus, they were obviously happy, to the point of ured ere all better off

I wasn’t holding any grudges

“Hey, sweet girl” I gave her a suys here for the show?”

“Yup” Gaby turned and pointed over to where her group was seated My buddies, TJ and Cal, along with Cal’s wife Shelly and TJ’s fiancé Sasha, were all in a tall table by the dance floor

“Scottnot here?” I asked when I didn’t see him

“He’s working late, but he’ll be here before your set’s over”

“Sounds good, I’ll see you after”

She bounded off back to her friends and I finished my beer As I placed the empty bottle on the counter, I cocked it toward the bartender, indicating I’d like another I’d take it up on stage with hout our set I alorked up a se performed

I aiting forspicy and expensive wafted toward me I turned my head to see the back of a woht at the bar At least, not a bar like this one Even froed in a country club Her skirt was long enough to be deed her ass clued nificent, no e Her blouse was tucked in the skirt, and she wore stockings with her high heels Definitely not jiving with the jeans and T-shirts

I let arters underneath that fancy skirt, as her perfus to ot away fro, “Here’s your beer, Brock,” and I saw her stiffen before she turned to look at me

Her hair was dark brown and fell past her shoulders, straight and silky Her face was striking It could have been beautiful, if she’d ever fucking smile … Instead, it always looked pinched and unhappy

“Hello, Brock,” Victoria said dryly Her eyebrow rose as if she thought I was standing next to her on purpose

Snooty Bitch

“Tori,” I tipped rin as I waited for her reaction I knew I’d get one “Here for the show?”

“It’s Victoria, and no, I’m not here for the show,” she answered Even when she spoke she looked constipated

“Why are you here then?” I asked, not because I cared, just to irritate her

She huffed out a breath, the loss of control almost cute, then spat out, “Not that it’s any of your business, but I’ my sister She hasn’t shown up yet”