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

’ m a lawyer, ” Rob said. “ Go figure, right? Nice suit, cocky
attitude. I was born for it. I'm here helping a friend out with some real
estate stuff. He ’ s in the
music business and wants to settle down here I guess. I ’ m in a high rise hotel. Looking to enjoy the rest
of my week there. ” Rob
crept his fingers across the table and touched Jules ’ hand. “ That ’ s where you come into play. ”
    “ I
have a life and a job, ” Jules said and giggled. “ Come
on, be serious. ”
    Rob nodded. “ You got it. I ’ ll
be serious. What do you do, Jules? ”
    “ I ’ m a singer. A backup singer. For
a pretty well known band. Ever hear of Gone by Autumn? ”
    “ No, ” Rob said. “ I ’ m
not a music guy. I ’ m a life
guy. I ’ m a in-the-present
guy. I find what I like and go for it. I don ’ t
need some music playing to make me feel good. Even dancing with you out there,
Jules. I don ’ t need music
for that. The way your body moves makes me move. And that ’ s what I care about. ”
    “ Okay, ” Jules said.
    She started to feel a little
uncomfortable. She looked to her left, hoping she could get Tara's attention.
But The Jack was filling up. It wasn ’ t
packed like when Gone by Autumn had been playing, but there was enough people
that it was almost impossible to call for Tara.
    “ Hey,
listen, ” Jules said. “ I should go find Tara. I don ’ t want ruin the rest of your
night, Rob. ”
    “ Come
here, ” Rob said. He grabbed
Jules by the wrist and pulled her from her chair. “ Why would you ruin my night? ”
    “ I ’ m going to be real honest with
you, ” Jules said. “ I ’ m
looking to just have some fun. Dance, drink, flirt. I mean, you could probably
even get away with kissing me. But that ’ s
it. I ’ m not going to leave
this place with you. I ’ m
not going to a hotel. I ’ m
not going to sleep with you. ”
    “ That ’ s fine, ” Rob said. “ I ’ m looking for fun. You don ’ t have to sleep with me. And we
definitely don ’ t have to
leave this place. Come on, let me show you something. ”
    Rob was on the move again, Jules
right behind him. She didn ’ t
really want to follow him but she had nowhere else to go right now. Plus, she
made it very clear what her intentions were for the night.
    They went right by the main floor
and toward the side of the stage. Jules knew the territory very well, it was
where she went backstage when she sang with Gone by Autumn. But off to the
right was a small hall that led to the bathrooms and then a set of steps that went
upstairs to the offices. Jules had never been up there.
    Of course, that ’ s right where Rob went.
    Right to the bottom of the steps.
    Jules stopped and pulled back,
shaking herself free.
    “ What
are you doing? ” she asked. “ We ’ re
not allowed up there. ”
    “ I
know that, ” Rob said. “ We ’ re
not going up there though. We ’ re
staying right here. ”
    “ The
steps? ”
    Rob jumped to the floor and had his
hands at Jules ’ hips. He
turned her around and forced her up two steps. She was now eye level with him.
He came forward and kissed her. His lips were cool and chapped.
    Nothing like Tanner ’ s.
    Jules put her hands to Rob ’ s shoulders and pushed him back.
    She killed the kiss and smiled. Her
mind was still foggy from all the free drinks, but she needed to get out of
this situation, and fast. She thought of a fake phone call. She could pretend
she heard her phone beep or something.
    “ That ’ s right, baby, dig your hands
into my shoulders, ” Rob
said.
    He kissed Jules again and she pushed
him back again.
    “ What
the fuck are you doing? ” Rob growled.
    “ I
told you …”
    “ And
I fucking told you, ” Rob
said. “ We don ’ t have to leave here. But I ’ m getting you. Right now, Jules.
Right now. ”
    Now Jules felt her heart racing and
not for good reason.
    Rob grabbed her bag and threw it against
the wall. It was out of reach now, so there was no way Jules