Viper (Fallen Angel #2)(27)

I stopped playing, much to Paul’s apparent dismay, and as I put the guitar back in its stand, Viper said, “What are you doing?”

“I can’t buy this.” I shook my head, wondering if I’d lost my mind even coming here. I had two perfectly fine guitars already. I didn’t need this one.

“Why?” Viper asked. “You don’t like it?”

“It’s more than several months of rent. I can’t afford that.”

“Oh, Angel.” There was a smug look on Viper’s face as he walked over to me and put his hands on my shoulders. “There’s a few zeroes in your bank account now that say you can.”

“But I don’t need it. I just want it.” Ugh, I wanted it so much. I could just imagine all the new sounds I could incorporate into the songs we were working on, and—

“Fine.” Viper shrugged, dropping his hands and pulling out his wallet from his back pocket. “I’ll buy it.”

My mouth fell open. “What? No. I mean, unless you’re buying it for yourself—”

When Viper handed a credit card to Paul, I snatched it out of his hands and shoved it against Viper’s chest. “You’re not buying me a guitar.”

“Eh. It’s a tax write-off.”

“No,” I said. “Absolutely not.”

Viper looked past me at Paul. “We’ll take it. Did you want the red or black, Angel?”

Fuck. He was really gonna buy me this damn guitar, wasn’t he?

“Fine, I’ll buy it,” I said, taking out my own wallet and handing over my card. It didn’t feel real that I had enough on there to cover the cost of the guitar, but I’d seen the check with my own eyes and knew just how many of these guitars I could buy with all that. I really did want it anyway, so having Viper’s permission of sorts? Yeah, okay. Why not.

“Wonderful choice.” Paul nodded as he took my card, and behind me, I heard Viper chuckle. “Which style would you prefer, and I’ll get it ready for you?”

My eyes ventured over to where Viper stood in full black from his hat to his shirt to his shoes. “I’ll take the matte black.” As the store manager walked off, I moved in closer to Viper, who had a victorious grin on his face.

“You’re welcome,” he said. “What are you gonna name her?”

“Him,” I said, my lips curving mischievously. “And I think I’ll name him Viper.” I leaned in close to whisper in his ear, “That way I can touch, play, or lick him whenever I want.”





Eighteen





Viper





THE RUSTY PELICAN was one of the hottest restaurants in Miami. It catered to all kinds of clientele, including celebrities, locals, and tourists. With its waterfront views overlooking the Miami skyline, the guys and I had discovered the hotspot the first time we’d been sent down here to record and made it a point to visit whenever we were in town.

That was exactly what I was doing now, I told myself as Halo walked beside me, down toward the entrance—just, you know, minus the other guys. Nothin’ unusual about that. We’d gone out, spent some of Halo’s hard-earned cash on something he more than deserved, and now we were gonna throw back some drinks, eat some food, and have a good time, which all would’ve seemed completely normal if I hadn’t started it by—

“Here, I got it,” I said, reaching for the door when we got to the entrance.

As soon as I had it pulled open, I realized the move for what it was, and so did Halo, judging by the way he stood there staring at me like I’d grown two heads. There was no way in hell I would’ve opened a door for Killian, Jagger, or Slade, and up until a second ago I would’ve added Halo to that list, but that second had obviously passed.

Halo’s lips twitched. “Thanks.”

“Yeah, no problem,” I said like a total lame-ass, and then rolled my eyes as Halo walked off in front of me. As I followed after him, I gave myself a mental uppercut. This is just a fucking meal. But as my eyes swept around the blue lights that illuminated the shadowed interior, it suddenly felt like a whole lot more. Not that I would know.

“Good evening,” the hostess said with a brilliant smile as she looked to Halo. “Do you have a reservation?”

“Uh,” Halo said, and then looked back at me, a questioning look in his eyes.

“No, sorry. We don’t,” I said, moving up beside Halo, and when the woman’s eyes shifted to me, I flashed a grin that had her mouth falling open. “But Sabrina told me to stop by anytime I’m in town. Is she around?”

“Oh…” She laughed. “Um, I mean, no. Sorry. She’s off tonight. But of course we have a table for you, Viper,” she said, reaching up to push some of her chestnut curls behind her ear.

As she looked down at the list and map in front of her, my eyes found Halo, who was smirking at me. I arched an eyebrow, daring him to voice the mocking taunt I could see in his eyes, but he remained silent as he turned back to the woman.

“Would you like to sit inside or outside?” she asked.

I was about to answer, but then found myself saying, “Angel? You got a preference?”

Then her eyes lit up on Halo, and she grabbed a pad of paper from her stand and rushed around to us. “Oh my God, you’re the new guy. The new singer for Fallen Angel.”