Free Under the Lights (A Brothers of Rock - GONE BY AUTUMN - Novel) by Karolyn James

and
gave a thumbs up. The bartender nodded.
    “ That ’ s bullshit, ” Tara said. “ You don ’ t just start slamming drinks back like this for no
reason. ”
    “ I
have reason. ”
    “ Then
spill it. ”
    Jules looked at Tara and smiled. “ No. ”
    “ Is
it a guy? ”
    “ No. ”
    Liar.
    “ Then
it ’ s a work thing.
Something happen with the band? ”
    “ No. ”
    Liar.
    “ Then
what? ” Tara asked. “ Come on. ”
    “ Just
a hectic day, ” Jules said. “ That ’ s all. So much singing and planning. Talking to
those guys like they ’ re … I don ’ t know, real people …”
    “ Jules,
they are real people. ”
    “ No,
Tara. They ’ re rockstars.
There ’ s a difference. When
you spend time with them, and look into their eyes, you see the passion, and you
can feel it …”
    “ Holy
shit, which one is it? ”
    “ What? ”
    “ Here ’ s two more, ” the bartender said as he put
the glasses down. “ These are
on that gentleman down there. ” He pointed to the end of the bar.
    For a second, Jules expected to see
Tanner. Instead it was a clean cut, good looking guy in a suit and tie. He
smiled and gave a nod.
    Tara lifted her glass and blew a
kiss.
    The guy pointed at Jules and
smiled.
    “ Oh,
damn, ” Tara said. “ He ’ s
for you. ”
    “ Really? ” Jules asked.
    “ Wave
to him. ”
    Jules lifted her glass and waved. His
smile stretched wider.
    “ Oh
yeah. He just popped wood. ”
    “ Ew, ” Jules said. “ Stop. ”
    “ What?
Are you involved with someone? Got something you ’ d
like to share? Have a rockstar wrapped around your finger? ”
    “ Uh,
no, ” Jules said. She sipped
the drink. Then gulped it.
    “ Then
go down there and talk to Mr. Hot Suit. ”
    “ Why?
Make him come to me. ”
    “ Hard
to get, ” Tara said. “ Be careful with that. Hard to
get, easy to win. ”
    “ What
the hell does that mean? ”
    “ I
don ’ t know. Sounds good,
right? ”
    “ I
wouldn ’ t put that in a
song. ”
    “ Two
drinks and she ’ s full of
honesty, ” Tara said. She
turned and signaled for the guy at the end of the bar to come their way. “ There. No more hard to get. Let
Mr. Hot Suit enjoy you. ”
    “ You ’ re an ass, ” Jules said.
    She wasn ’ t in the mood … well, maybe she was. There was nothing wrong with having a few drinks and
flirting with a cute guy. Jules was out and wanted to enjoy the night. Tara ’ s maybe guitarist had already
played her acoustic set and Tara was doing all she could to convince the woman
to talk to her about joining a band. There wasn ’ t
a single commitment Jules needed to make until Tara was ready to go home, at
which point Jules could just thank Mr. Hot Suit for the drinks and tell him to
go away.
    Jules faced the bar and finished
her third drink.
    “ I
need to talk to Becky, ” Tara said. “ Did you like
the set? ”
    “ Loved
it, ” Jules said. “ She ’ d be a great guitarist for you. ”
    “ You ’ re just saying that. ”
    “ You
keep asking me and I keep giving you the same answer. Take it for what it ’ s worth. ”
    “ Hey,
this is a big deal for me. ”
    Jules looked at Tara. “ I wouldn ’ t lie to you. She ’ s
good. I hope you get something going. I swear. ”
    “ Good.
I won ’ t lie to you either.
I ’ m hoping you disappear
for the night and come home tomorrow with a wild story. And it better begin
with you peeling off Mr. Hot Suit ’ s
suit. ”
    Tara slipped away and here came Mr.
Hot Suit. He moved right into Tara ’ s
spot.
    “ Thanks
for the drink. ” Tara
smiled.
    “ Just
wanted to make sure the right person got a drink, ” he said as he winked. “ Need
another one? ”
    “ Did
you just insult my friend? ”
    “ She
got a free drink out of it. ”
    “ You ’ re an asshole. ”
    “ Okay.
Maybe I am. But you ’ re
glass is empty and that ’ s a
big concern for me. ”
    “ Then
order me a drink. ”
    “ Tell
me your name. ”
    “ Order
me a drink. ”
    Jules loved this. She