Play Mine (Brooklyn Dawn #3) - Cari Quinn Page 0,28

sex as a weapon more effectively than any woman on the planet. Lesser men had fallen victim to her charms. Most of them didn’t even mind the scars she left behind.

I laughed. “He’d like to hear Pearl Jam’s ‘Black’.”

Her slash of a mouth tipped up at one corner. “Now I’m intrigued.”

“Even better, you should sing it.”

“Barbie will love that.” She tapped an ebony-tipped finger against her belly. “Actually, she might like a break so she can suck on her Irishman’s face for a few minutes.” She stood up straighter and dropped the sex kitten mask. “This’ll be fun. I’ll go talk to Tarzan and see if he’s into it.”

She turned on her heel and disappeared into the crowd of fans.

“She’s a little terrifying.”

“More than a little.”

Decker dipped his hand into his pocket and checked his phone. “As much as I’m enjoying this, my club manager is about to lose her mind if I don’t show my face upstairs. She’s unaware I’m actually her boss.”

“Strong-willed females are sexy as fuck.”

“Indeed.” He held out his hand to me. “I knew having you guys head this benefit was a good choice.”

“Thanks, man.” I shook his hand, tightening my grip. “Look at Teagan like she’s a snack again, and I’ll break your neck.”

Decker’s grin turned into a full-fledged smile. “Understood.”

“Cool. See you after the show.”

Seven

So much for talking to Teagan before the show.

She made sure not to be in my sphere before we went onstage. God forbid I get a chance to explain what had happened with that fan.

I still didn’t know why I was bothering. One of the benefits to being single was not having to explain yourself to anyone.

Too bad I’d missed that memo.

The suit dude opened up the benefit. Decker talked to the crowd like a politician. Charm oozed from him like cologne as the spotlight trailed his every move. The audience was enraptured by him. Women’s eyes followed him as he walked the stage and spoke of the Brooklyn School of Music.

A lot of bands went global with their charities, but we tended to stay here in Brooklyn where most of us were from. I was a transplant, but I’d taken to New York like I’d been born there. I loved the differences from downstate to upstate. And no, I didn’t mean Scarsdale. I had a cabin in the mountains of New York, and I was happy to spend time there when we did have time off.

I’d been looking forward to it this past week, but shit had gone so sideways getting out of town on my own was definitely not on the itinerary. And part of the reason was the redhead watching Decker from the other side of the stage.

I knew I didn’t have that whole magnetic dude thing that some people had. Like Decker. I liked my spot in the back of the band, but just once, I’d like Teagan to watch me like that. I wasn’t sure that was ever going to happen.

My knuckles popped and my head throbbed. Nothing new when dealing with my feelings toward that particular woman.

“I know that look.” Oz came up beside me, his massive arms crossed over his chest. “If you grit your teeth any harder, your molars will be dust. Dentists suck. It’s not worth it.” He followed my gaze across the stage. “Pretty sure that constipated look isn’t for Decker.”

I didn’t say anything. What the fuck could I say?

“Well, when you’re ready to talk, I’m around.”

I gave him some side-eye.

“What? I know what love does to a dude.”

“Who said anything about love?”

The crowd started clapping as Decker finished up his speech.

“Ahh, we’re still in phase one. Well, I’ve got the whiskey when you need it.” Oz looped his bass strap over his head and headed out onto the stage before I could tell him he was crazy.

The house lights went down and I moved out of the way for our tech crew. I wasn’t in love with her. I just…

Nope. I so wasn’t going there right now.

I climbed on my drum riser. The stage was too small for my full kit, but all I needed was something to smash. I could make anything work.

We opened with “Judgment”, which let me rip into my skins. Frustration was so close to the surface right now that my shoulders sang with the fierce power I threw into my sticks. Lindsey glanced back at me. A cue that I was playing too loud and too hard for the venue, but I couldn’t stop