A Filthy Christmas (Filthy Line #6) - Jaxson Kidman Page 0,7

note?” Reed asked. “That’s not who we are.”

“I’m with Reed,” Sab said.

The band loved to argue.

I hung out in the hallway and lit a cigarette.

The elevator doors at the end of the hallway opened and out stepped Lita.

With a bag over her shoulder, head down, hurrying down the hallway.

My cigarette smoke caught her attention and she looked at me and stopped.

“Hey, beauty,” I said.

She waved her hands. “Go outside and do that.”

“Have one with me,” I said. “It’ll give you that sexy, raspy voice.”

“I don’t get paid for a sexy, raspy voice.”

She breezed around me, still waving her hands.

I looked back and whistled.

Lita stopped and turned her head. “Did you just whistle at me?”

“Nice ass,” I said. “So I whistled at it. Is that a crime?”

Lita shook her head and went into the studio.

That was the thing about women I didn’t understand.

Why couldn’t they take a compliment?

I breezed out of the studio and went right to get a drink.

It had been a long day that turned into almost a long night.

Of course, when living on rock star time, work started around three in the afternoon. So getting out of the studio at ten really wasn’t that bad of a gig.

I enjoyed a couple shots at the bar, just to loosen up.

I bought a round of shots for a few pretty women at the end of the bar.

One wink and all three were giddy, bumping shoulders.

But I wasn’t going to bother them just yet.

I knew how to let that simmer.

I ordered a bottle of beer and walked from the bar to the side of the stage at the opposite end of the nightclub.

“Hey, Macky,” I called out.

Macky jumped up from behind the soundboard and hugged me.

“Son of a bitch,” he said. “Shane. What are you doing here?”

“Needed a drink,” I said.

“Heard you’re in the studio with Filthy Line.”

“Yeah. It’s a riot.”

“Getting on stage tonight?” Macky asked.

“Is there an opening?”

“Right now,” Macky said. “I’ve got nothing until midnight.”

“Who’s playing?”

“Some shitty punk band,” Macky said. “Just out of high school kids that think they’re the greatest thing on earth because they were voted best in their high school. Fuck that. Go live the life for a minute and come talk to me.”

I laughed. “How’s the club here? Busy enough?”

“Great stuff,” Macky said. “Chuck cut me in on the profits, finally.”

“Good for you,” I said.

“Makes up for some of the shit nights here,” Macky said. “But, hey, let me get you announced. Need an ax?”

“I’m empty handed,” I said.

“No worries,” Macky said. “I’ll give you Charlotte.”

Macky slid a guitar case out from underneath the sound board. He opened it and picked up a beautiful rose gold Les Paul with a rose on the headstock and glistening diamonds on the inlays along the neck.

“Fuck me,” I said.

“Be good to her,” Macky said. “I’ll sound you up in a few.”

I stood at the side of the stage and waited for Macky to announce me.

I strummed the beautiful guitar and smiled.

The show was for the three beauties at the bar.

They could fight over me… or all three could come home with me. I was good with anything.

I stepped out onto the stage to a small spattering of applause.

I grinned, looked down…

And saw Lita staring up at me.

She walked away halfway through my first song.

My eyes never left her.

I only played five songs.

It was a for the hell of it kind of show.

I wasn’t getting paid. I wasn’t promoting myself.

I just liked music.

And after a long day in the studio with Filthy Line I needed to play my own music my own way.

When I finished, I had the entire place clapping for me.

I carried Charlotte back to Macky.

“You really popped her cherry,” Macky said.

I laughed. “Fuck, man, don’t say that to me. I might have to take her home then.”

“Oh, no, she’s all mine,” he said as he gently put the guitar back into the case.

“Thanks for the set,” I said.

“Anytime you want. It’s always here. Okay?”

I nodded.

We hugged.

I wandered my way back to the bar.

Right on cue, Lita turned and looked at me.

“Are you stalking me, beauty?” I asked.

“I just wanted to get a drink,” I said.

“I was here first.”

“So, this is your place?” she asked.

“You saw the show,” I said. “They all love me.”

“I don’t know, Shane. Everyone is back to looking at their phones. You’re irrelevant again.”

“Better than hiding in a vocal booth,” I said. “Flirting with Reed’s girlfriend.”

“Oh, you wish,” she said.

I ordered another beer. I pointed to Lita’s glass. “Can I buy you