much easier than the first. I was feeling extremely warm and mellow while I was pretty sure Phil needed a few more to get a buzz going.
“You got some fans who are dying to talk to you,” I told him, catching sight of Andy and some of the others longingly eyeing us.
“Yeah, but I’m here with you, Kenna. They should respect that.”
“They are, so go put them out of their misery, and let’s talk to them.”
“Will you give me your ass later?”
The bartender totally heard that, and I busted him sucking in his cheeks to keep from laughing. I winked at him, which made Phil turn and glare, and the poor bartender ducked beneath the counter.
“It’s a strong possibility,” I replied.
“Oy! You totally winked at him!”
“And you totally gave him the image of you in my ass later, so who’s flirting with whom now?”
Phil’s jaw went slack. “Fuck it.”
“That’s the impression my ass and the bartender got.”
His eyes crossed, and I burst out laughing.
“Come on,” he said, his lips twitching.
Grabbing my hand, we headed over to the table where Devil’s Advocate sat.
The guys jumped to their feet to shake hands with one of their idols, and I couldn’t help but get caught up in their excitement. Over the last few weeks, I’d gotten to know Phil Deveraux the Man instead of the untouchable legendary rock god. I had almost forgotten that, to so many, he was the face of an entire music genre, the voice that inspired the passion and devotion of multitudes. For these guys who were in a decent local band, he was also their hero.
Watching him smile, seeing him genuinely happy to be meeting his fans and taking the time to speak with and listen to them, was fantastic. He knew what it was like, being in their shoes. He never forgot how hard NOLA’s Junk had worked to get to where they were today. He was no more and no less a fan, just like everyone else here.
For that alone, I fell even more in love with him.
Involuntarily, I squeezed his hand, the emotion in me welling up, needing to release in some way. I didn’t mean to interrupt him, but he stopped talking to a starstruck Andy and turned to face me.
Something must have shown in my eyes, on my face, because his eyes widened slightly. He didn’t have to ask me. He simply knew what had just happened inside me, and the look that crossed his face was so profound, so fierce with pride, that it stole the breath from my lungs.
In front of everyone, he reached up and cradled my face, smiling down into my eyes.
“Damn, Kenna,” he whispered. He pressed a sweet kiss to my mouth.
“Um…do you need another beer?” I asked, breathless.
Knowing I was trying to cover the awkwardness I felt, he smiled. “Sure.”
Grabbing his now empty bottle, I headed back to the bar and ordered two more beers. The bartender gave me a cheeky smile, and I couldn’t help but laugh.
“So, you’re the infamous Baby Girl?” he asked.
“So I’ve been told. How much?”
He shook his head. “There’s no charge.”
“Sure there is. I’ve been coming here for years. I’ve always had to pay for my beer.”
He leaned his elbows on the bar top. “Yeah, but no one knew you were the owner’s Baby Girl then.”
“Come again?”
The bartender smiled, and it was a nice smile, too. Very sexy. “Phil Deveraux owns this place. He has for the last five years.”
“Shut the fuck up.”
“He harassed the old owner for about a year to get him to sell, too. You didn’t know?”
I looked over my shoulder and found Phil watching me covertly behind hooded eyes. I cocked an eyebrow at him, and he cocked one right back at me.
Fucker.
Turning to face the bartender again, I said, “Give me a shot, too.”
He flashed his pearly whites at me. “Sure thing.”
Shot of Jäger ingested, I headed back over to the knot of people surrounding Phil, holding his beer aloft over some heads. Instead of the bottle, he latched on to my wrist.
“You people need to move your asses out of the way. I don’t like it when my woman can’t access me.”
Bodies parted, and eyes turned toward me in awe.
Seriously, I’m just his girlfriend. Sure, there might be some songs written about me, but still…I’m just his girlfriend.
He pulled me toward him, holding me so that my back pressed to his front, his arm anchoring me at my waist. “Everyone, this is my Baby Girl. Kenna,