Chapter 1
Alice
Haven Arena
Oasis Resort Casino
Las Vegas, Nevada
18 months later
This was the part of my job I loved, standing in the wings listening to the guys kill it on stage.My fingers twitched as I unconsciously followed the drum crescendo.But my eyes were trained on Noah Hawker.The man might be a pain in my ass, but he could wail on those skins like no one else.
It was hypnotizing.
And it didn’t hurt that he was ridiculously hot while doing it.
His dirty blond hair was streaked with sweat, so he looked like a brunette.An illusion that was highlighted by the overlong brown stubble dusting his chin and cheeks.He looked like he’d just rolled out of bed and ran a few miles—all tousled and sweaty.Drool worthy.He’d taken his shirt off a few songs back and sweat beaded deliciously down his rock-hard torso.
A part of me longed to trace the huge, sweaty rocker letters spanning his ab ridge.
But then I remembered Noah Hawker was an ass, and the urge passed.
Mostly.
“All right!”Chase crowed as the last strains of their encore faded away and jerked me back into the present.“Unless anyone else wants to go over something, I think we’re good.”When no one spoke up, he grinned.“Rehearsal with pyrotechnics next week.See you all at church.”
‘Church?’My bestie, Lark, a backup singer for the Gods mouthed to me with an eyeroll.
I shrugged.I kinda thought it was cute.The Tin Gods were known for making a bunch of godlike references—ending their show with thanks for worshipping with them and calling practice church.It was their trademark.
Xander and Noah stood at the front of the stage, talking about something.Ignoring all the eye candy on display, I started tearing down Noah’s drums.I wanted,ached, to slide onto his stool and wail away.But these weren’t my drums.I was just a glorified roadie, hired to set up and tear down equipment, to anticipate Noah’s musical needs on stage, and to do general grunt work.
“Such a long way from Juilliard…” The thought leaked from my mouth.Honestly, I hadn’t thought about that part of my life in so long, and I don’t know what made me think of it now.
So many could’ve beens, considering I was only twenty-three…
“What?”Noah asked in a clearly irritated huff.“Are we boring her majesty with our plebeian music?”
I spun around, still in my crouch, and found Noah, Xander, and Lark standing there.Xander’s and Lark’s eyes were wide.Noah had a pissed off snarl he seemed to save for me.He dabbed at his sweaty face with a towel draped over his shoulders.
“What?”I blinked up in feigned confusion.Seriously, it should be illegal for this man to be shirtless.Or he should at least come with a warning label.
“Plebeian?” Xander repeated with a snort.“Who are you and what have you done with the real Noah Hawker?”
Noah turned his snarl on his friend.“I know words.”
“Not as long as I’ve known you.”Xander laughed.
Noah huffed, but all the starch went out of his shoulders as he laughed with Xander.“Feels like you’re calling me stupid.”
Xander put his arm around him as they walked away.“Do you need me to talk slower?”
A muffled thump echoed through the arena followed by shouted laughter as the guys chased each other into the wings then backstage.
Once they were clear of the stage, Lark shoved my shoulder.“Seriously?”
I fell back onto my butt with a laugh.“What?I forgot I wasn’t alone.Or at least that other people can both see and hear me.”I gestured to my all-black outfit.“Us cat burglars are used to being invisible.”
