Total pages in book: 54
Estimated words: 48700 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 244(@200wpm)___ 195(@250wpm)___ 162(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 48700 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 244(@200wpm)___ 195(@250wpm)___ 162(@300wpm)
I don't know why he hates me so much, but his attitude and animosity are getting old. I return his glare with one of my own, scowling daggers at him.
For the first time since I met him, he actually smiles. It doesn't reach his eyes. He doesn't stop staring, either. He just watches me with a weird freaking smile on his face instead of a cold glower.
I should probably tell Memphis about him, but I'm not interested in getting someone else fired. Besides, it's not like he's the only person here who hates me. Aside from Jessup, most everyone else does too. But I didn't come to make friends. I came to put together the pieces of a puzzle.
I'm just not sure what picture they form.
"Come over here for a second, Toto." Memphis's voice cuts through my thoughts.
As I make my way to him, I can't help but feel Venom's eyes following my every move. I shake off the uneasy feeling and focus on Memphis, who grins at me with that mischievous glint in his eyes that makes my stomach turn flips.
"Kylie, I'd like you to meet Riley, my manager," he says, gesturing to her. "And this is her husband, Cash. An this big motherfucker is Priest. The crabby bastard beside him is Dalton, one of our producers."
"Hi," I murmur, offering them a nervous smile. "It's nice to meet you guys."
"You too, Kylie," Riley says, extending her hand for a quick shake. She notices the bandage wrapped around my palm, and her brows furrow.
"Minor work injury," I mutter.
Her eyes widen at my explanation, her head whipping toward Memphis. "Don't you dare tell me she got injured in a bar fight, Memphis Hughes."
He groans, scrubbing a hand down his face. "I handled it, Riley."
"Clearly not soon enough if she got hurt." She scowls daggers at him. "I told you this place was a bad idea."
"I'm not having this conversation again. Besides, you know damn well why I opened this place." He holds her gaze, his steady. Some unspoken conversation passes between them before Riley huffs a breath and backs off.
I glance between them, curious. Clearly, he opened this place for a reason, and she knows what it is. Now, I want to know. But I don't get the chance to ask before Riley turns back to me, mischief in her gray eyes.
"If there's another fight, can you crack this one over the head with a bottle for me?" she asks, flashing her dimples at me. "Preferably a full, heavy one. Maybe it'll knock some sense into him."
"Happily," I agree with a tiny smile. "But I don't think it'll help. He's hellbent on being senseless."
Priest and Cash both laugh.
Memphis just smirks at me. "I've got plenty of goddamn sense. I got you to agree to work for me, didn't I, Toto?"
"I'm just using you to avoid drunk karaoke at the Waffle Casa, Memphis." I roll my eyes at him, turning to find Cash grinning at me. ""Hi," I whisper. "It's nice to meet you."
"Nice to meet you, sweetheart," he says, shaking my hand like his wife did. His grip is firm, but not overly so.
"What's up, doll?" Priest lifts his chin in a nod instead of shaking my hand. Small scars crisscross the backs of his, almost like burn marks.
"Priest plays guitar, Toto," Memphis explains. "We found his sorry ass in a bar in Mexico about a year ago. He didn't have a fucking clue who he was, but the son of a bitch could play. He's been with the band ever since."
"It's nice to meet you," I murmur to him.
"You too," he says, turning back to his beer. He seems distracted, or sad maybe. I'm not sure, but I don't think he's handling the situation with Mina well, whoever she is. I make a mental note to ask Memphis about it later. There's a story there, and I'm curious to hear it.
"Memphis has told us a lot about you," Riley says, her eyes bright with curiosity. "I've been meaning to come by and meet you. I'm glad I finally got the chance."
I glance at Memphis, whose smirk only confirms that he's been talking about me. My heart flutters at the thought of him sharing stories of me with the people who matter to him. I shouldn't want that. It's dangerous. And yet…I like knowing that I've gotten under his skin.
His gaze drops to my lips, and his eyes darken with desire. I shiver, remembering what his lips are capable of doing to me. Of how they make me feel.
"Are you from Nashville?" Riley asks, pulling me out of the dangerous territory my thoughts were wandering into.
"No. I'm new to town."
"Oh. How long have you been here?"
"Just a few weeks," I answer, trying to keep my voice steady.
"Well, you've made quite the impression in a short amount of time," she continues, studying me intently. "Memphis seems to think highly of you."