Free Steady Beat by Lexxie Couper

And if I recall correctly, you bloody well slept with the journalist from Billboard who wrote that article on you calling you an insecure wannabe with a god complex who was jealous of Nick, so don’t go giving me any shit about who I hold hands with or whose father did what. I didn’t sleep with the women, but I promised Pepper she could sing for us and she’s going to fucking well sing for us. Get it? Be a wanker all you like, but nothing is stopping me from letting her sing. She beat me fair and square at trivia. She hasn’t fucked me just so she can audition and she’s still standing here, despite your carrying on. So back off.”
    Pepper swallowed, staring up at Noah’s angry face.
    “Wow.” She didn’t realize she’d uttered the word aloud until Jax burst out laughing.
    “Wow is right,” the keyboard player called, his grin wide. “We don’t get to see Hulk Holden often, but when he comes out…look out.” Walking toward Noah and Pepper, Jax thumped Samuel in the shoulder with a fist. “Lighten up, Strings,” he said with a chuckle. “You’ll live longer.”
    Stopping directly in front of Pepper, he thrust out his hand. “Jaxon Campbell. What are you going to sing for us?”
    Pepper opened her mouth, but before she could answer the unexpected question, Levi Levistan appeared beside Jax, his smile wide. “Heya, Pepper. Your dad knew how to pen a brutal story. But it’s still one of the best about us. The article he wrote on Noah a few years later declaring him the world’s best drummer was a piece of art.” He took her hand when Jax dropped it. “And ignore Strings. He’s pissed because Jax let it slip he couldn’t get it up more than twice last night.”
    “Funny bastard,” Samuel grumbled.
    Noah didn’t move. Pepper could feel the tension in his body. It radiated through him down into his grip on her hand. That he hadn’t let her hand go was a surprise to her. She couldn’t help but feel…glad for it, despite the revelation of the four women.
    “Are you going to be a prick about this, Gibson?” he asked, his stare on Samuel.
    Samuel flicked a glance over Pepper and then let out a ragged breath. “No. I just don’t want to see you getting fucked over by another groupie. That’s all.”
    “I’m not a groupie.”
    Everyone stared at Pepper.
    Heat prickled over her scalp and down the back of her neck. She shifted on her feet and kept her focus on Samuel. “And my father was an amazing writer who thought you guys were one of the best bands around,” she continued. “All I want to do is sing one song for you. Just one. If I stink, I’ll walk away and none of you will hear from me again.”
    “Hey.” Noah gave her hand a tug, swinging to look at her. “That’s not—”
    “One song,” she interrupted, her heart so fast she could barely draw breath. “Just let me sing one song.”
    Samuel’s eyes narrowed. He turned to Noah, then to Jax and Levi.
    “Let her sing, dickwad,” Levi said. “For no other reason than Drummer Boy’s been holding her hand since they walked in. When the hell have you ever seen Noah hold anyone’s hand for that length of time? Like, ever?”
    The disclosure made Pepper’s pulse pound quickly in her neck. He didn’t hold hands? And yet he’d hardly let hers go? What did that mean?
    Samuel let out another ragged breath. He dragged a hand through his hair. “Okay okay. I’m sorry for being a wanker.” He pointed a finger at her. “But you better not be wasting our time. Handholding or not, I’m beating the shit out of Holden for getting me out of bed so early for nothing if you stink.”
    Jax laughed and Levi shook his head.
    Beside Pepper, Noah snorted. “Since when can a guitarist beat up a drummer?”
    Pepper couldn’t stop her smile. Especially when Noah’s firm grip on her hand loosened just enough for him to thread his fingers through hers, turning the hold into something far more personal.
    With a nod at them all, he walked her over