Rock Chick Revenge (Rock Chick #5)(97)

I had visions of being crushed in a Hot Guy Sandwich, splodges of Ava squirting out the sides like too much mayo. I didn’t want to be Ava Mayo Splodge so I snapped, “Move back!”

Ren stayed in my face, his intensity scaring me but what scared me more was that he didn’t seem at all worried about Mace. Mace wasn’t as frightening a tough guy, macho man as Luke but he was no slouch and the broody was definitely scary.

Ren started talking to me. “Ava, if Stark doesn’t have Sissy safe, tell him to keep her safe. A lot of shit is going down with Dom, part of it is that he wants her back.”

I closed my eyes in despair. I was worried about that.

Ren went on when I opened my eyes again. “I’m talking to Dom and Vito. When I work it out with them, I’ll tell you. If Stark can’t keep her safe, you gotta let me know so that I can.”

I felt my heart stutter. “What?” I asked stupidly, staring him in the eyes.

“If Stark isn’t hiding her, tell him to hide her and keep her hidden. If he isn’t willing to do that then I will. I’m workin’ on Vito and I’ll talk him around.”

He got even closer, so much closer his forehead came to rest against mine and when he did this I sucked in breath.

It felt weird because it felt nice and sweet and I knew it shouldn’t. Firstly, I was supposed to be sworn off men. Secondly (yes, I knew it was contradictory to my first point but I was ignoring that fact), I was sleeping with Luke in an exclusive f**k buddies arrangement so I shouldn’t be thinking anything about Ren felt nice and sweet.

“Ava, honey,” Ren said softly, breaking into my thoughts and since he was so close I could hear him over the music. “What I’m tellin’ you is that you don’t have anything to worry about and neither does Sissy.”

My tension melted and I found myself in the position (again) to want to kiss another hot guy all over for taking care of my friend though I’d learned my lesson not to share.

When my tension left me, I felt Mace move slightly away, his fingers disappearing from my waist.

“Ren,” I said softly as my way of saying thanks and his face lost some intensity.

“Dom doesn’t deserve her,” Ren said back and at his words and the way he said them (like he really meant them) I moved into him. I couldn’t help it. I agreed with what he said, I believed he wanted to keep Sissy safe and I was happy he was a good guy. There weren’t a lot of them in this world but I was beginning to think Ren was an exception to that rule. So now, by my count, there was one, maybe two if you counted Luke (though the jury was still out on him) or maybe about a dozen if you counted the Hot Bunch, Tex and Duke.

It was on that thought when Stella started to sing Hank Williams’ “I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry” and all eyes turned to her.

Stella was in rare form that night. It was like she was intent on giving the performance of a lifetime, as if the King of the World had stepped in to see her set and she had to impress him or have her head chopped off. She rarely ever pulled out “I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry” and when she did the audience became transfixed, as it was right then and I was no exception. Even though I was stuck by the heart-wrenching lyrics and the way Stella delivered them, I could swear her eyes were on Mace. It was as if she was singing right to him and somehow, in a weird way I didn’t get, that made it even more poignant.

Hmm.

Another thought to ponder at a later time (and peck over with the rest of the Rock Chicks).

I was so lost in Stella and what was going on with her and Mace (because something was definitely going on with her and Mace), not to mention the song, I didn’t pay much attention when Ren moved around to my back. I did notice his arms going around my waist and him pulling me into his body. I also noticed his chin resting on my shoulder, his cheek pressing against mine. Further, I noticed his body felt warm and hard and he smelled really good, a hint of spicy, expensive cologne mixed with Hot Guy and the combination of all of that was heady stuff.

I also noticed that Mace didn’t see Ren move. He was staring at Stella like he was never going to stop watching her. The song was so sad, so beautiful and Stella sang it with such emotion, it felt good having strong arms around me. I crossed my arms over his at my waist and melted back into Ren’s torso.

Then, as it was with that song, especially the way Stella sang it, Ren and I seemed somehow to stand alone, even in the massive crowd, while we let Stella’s singing and Hank’s lyrics wash over us.

Therefore it was a shock when I felt Ren go rock solid not to mention at the same moment the air went dangerously electric. I turned my head to see what was causing the tension and I saw Luke standing close wearing his customary black with the addition of a killer black-leather motorcycle jacket. His face was stony, his eyes so focused on Ren they didn’t even flick to me for an instant.

Uh-oh.

I straightened in Ren’s arms, blinking rapidly at Luke and trying to catch one of the feelings coursing through me. The most prevalent of these included a bit of fear and a helluva lot of panic.

“Outside,” Luke growled to Ren, his voice a low, angry rumble.

Ho-ly shit.

Ren moved from me as panic took firm hold. I tore my eyes away from Luke to look at Ren and he was grinning like he was very happy about something.

Fuckity, f**k, f**k, f**k!

“Rock Chicks!” I shouted toward the stage and Daisy was the only one who heard me but a load of people gave me pissy looks for shouting during Stella’s “Lonesome”.