Rockin' the Heart (Hot Wired) by Gracen Miller Read Free Book Online

I ought to punch you in your teeth.” Heath managed to keep his fists at his sides and locked his knees to stop himself from striding to his buddy and delivering the blow his callous words merited.
    “ That’s enough, Jase.” Derringer’s hands bracketed either side of the doorway, and his focus rested solely on Sam. As Hot Wired’s bass guitarist and oldest member in the group at twenty-nine he’d taken on the fatherly role more than once, and all of them listened when he spoke. “You okay?”
    Sam nodded quickly and attempted to swipe away the tears, but more replaced them. She was obviously not okay. “Jase’s right. I’ve been a publicist’s nightmare lately, and the band doesn’t need my issues.”
    “ Come here.” Derringer lowered his arms and waited for her to join him. As soon as she did, he enfolded her into a hug, which made her cry harder. “I love you, hellion.”
    “ I love you more, Boo,” the fourth member of their band, Keys, said from behind Derringer and Sam. He got his name because he tickled the ivory keys on a piano like a god. He’d spent his formative years at Julliard , the staff and his family convinced he’d be a hit… just not of the rock star variety. He’d given her the silly nickname Boo when she’d joined them after her parents’ death. They had bonded fast, and their favorite game was trying to scare one another. She’d screamed ‘Boo!’ so much within the first month, Keys dubbed her that.
    Sam choked, the teasing livened her crying instead of abating it.
    Keys kissed the side of her head. “You need to stop that crying so I can see how toxic you are in this dress.” In his lingo ‘toxic’ equated to ‘smokin hawt’.
    Arms still wrapped around her, Derringer guided her into the house , and Keys followed. As they disappeared out of sight, only the muffled sound of their voices could be heard.
    Staring after them, Heath said, “You will back me on whatever I recommend.” Their gazes locked. Jase attempted to argue, but Heath talked over him. “We agreed I’d handle her for a while. You don’t have to like or approve anything I do or say, but you will back me. Got it?”
    “ She’s not an errant puppy, she’s gotta take responsibility for her actions.”
    “ I get that.” He even thought she got that. “Tonight wasn’t all her fault. I have to carry part of the blame.”

 
    When they entered the living room, Keys was rotating his index finger, and Sam was turning for his inspection while she attempted to clean up her face once more. Their lead guitarist performed a sharp appreciative whistle. “Dayum, girl.”
    “ The shoes are a nice touch, adding the right splash of color.” Derringer eyed the red stilettos.
    “ Man, seriously? Do you know how gay that sounds?” Keys lowered his arm and shook his head.
    Derringer winked at Sam. “Gays aren’t the only ones who know fashion.”
    In a sulky attitude, Jase dropped into a chair as Heath went straight to Sam. He cupped her chin , demanding all her attention. Arousal stirred. Even with her makeup a disaster, he wanted her more than any other. Was it because she was the forbidden? The one woman he couldn’t—no… shouldn’t want?
    Waiting for him to talk, she licked her lips, and that’s when he noticed how quiet the room had grown. From the periphery of his vision he could just make out Derringer gauging them from where he stood.
    Heath swallowed, a great deal satisfied when his voice emerged steady. “Go shower or soak in the tub. I need to chat with the guys before we get Tab on the phone.”
    Tab was a PR goddess and their agent. She’d know how to spin this gossip with just the right angle.
    “ One of us will knock on your door when Tab’s available.” He swished his thumb in a circular pattern along the thrumming beat in her neck. Pretty sure Derringer noticed the errant move, the guitarist confirmed his suspicion with a cough.
    Sam glanced at his mouth, then back at his eyes. She