Irresistible Bachelors: Books 1-5 by Landish, Lauren (bts books to read TXT) 📕

Jake seems to understand. “Would you like to go home, then?

“I’d appreciate it,” I say honestly. “But Hannah . . .”

“Babe, I’m fine,” Hannah says, and I can see she’s ‘happy drunk’ but not ‘stupid drunk’. “You sure you’re okay, though?”

I make sure my voice is convincing. “I’m okay, just tired.”

“Okay then, go on, get out of here and get some rest. I’ll be along in a little bit.”

“But I can’t just leave you here. How are you getting home?” I ask, but Hannah waves it off.

“Honey, don’t worry about me!” Hannah assures me. “I’ll get a cab if I need to. But what I do need right now is another Mermaid!”

Nathan laughs. “One more and then I’m cutting you off. After that, black coffee. Owner’s orders,” he teases. “Don’t worry, Roxy. I’ll call her a cab or take her home myself if she wants.”

“Thank you, Nathan,” Jake says. He stands up and takes me by the hand. “Come on, Angel. I’ll make sure you get home safely.”Jake

“You were amazing on stage,” I tell Roxy, turning left. I’m driving her back to her place, glad that I only had a few drinks. Roxy did too, but she’s exhausted. The set on stage gave her a huge high that’s now crashing on her. She’s been quiet since leaving the club.

Thinking about Roxy, I’m still blown away. Her voice was pure heaven. She worked the stage like a pro. Every time I thought she couldn’t do more, she did. Watching her sway her hips to the beat heated my blood. Three times, I had to pick my jaw up off the floor when she dropped it down on some of the songs, never missing a note as she did moves I don’t think are legal in some states.

Even more than how hot she was, watching her on stage ignited a crazy desire inside me. I want to help her. I mean, it wasn’t like I thought she was lying about the other club. I was sure she could hold a tune. But watching her tonight . . . she really has talent.

“Roxy?”

“Thank you,” she says quietly. Something is on her mind. I saw it in her eyes, the disappointment when Nathan was complimenting her. It was like it only made her more depressed.

“What’s wrong? The crowd loved you.”

I loved you, I think inwardly, remembering how she looked so in her element. But those three words are too close to something else, and I don’t want to have any confusion.

Roxy sighs, leaning her head against the window, looking out at the lights. “It just brought up memories, that’s all. Reminded me of everything I went through.”

My heart breaks for her. Her desire is one of those that sits right next to her soul, maybe even in her soul. Not having it is making her sick. I wish I could do something. I don’t know anything about the world of music, but I’d learn just for her. “You did so well out there.”

“I’ll admit it was fun and all. And the crowd gave me life. But after the adrenaline wore off, it kind of hit home. I’m not angry at you, Jake, but maybe I should’ve never done it.”

I’m speechless. It hurts to hear her say these words. I thought the exact opposite would happen. I was hoping that by showing her how good she is, she’d feel a jolt of energy again.

Roxy turns to look at me. “I’m not like you, knocking everything I try out of the park. I tried my hardest. Oh, my God, the number of hours I worked on my voice, doing lessons and sticking to diets to make sure I wasn’t just overlooked because of that alone. And you know what I’ve got for it?”

“No,” I reply, stopping at a red light.

“I’ve got a stack of demo CDs fifteen inches high. They’ll never be heard.”

I cringe inside, hating the defeat in her voice. “Did something happen to make you question your confidence in yourself?”

Roxy nods, looking in her lap. “Well, I’ve never told anyone this. But I did get an interview with this record exec while I was finishing my degree. He said he worked for a subsidiary of one of the major labels. He wanted to hear my voice, said he listened to my demo CD. I borrowed my stepfather’s car and drove five hundred miles to this guy’s office. I thought maybe he’d want to listen to me sing with a band, or maybe in person, so I took the time to work up my best piece in three different genres. I could do fast pop, a ballad, or one of those tearjerker songs.”

“Sounds like you took it seriously,” I admit. “What happened?”

“I didn’t even get to sit down before the guy said he’d get me a deal . . . if I gave him head. He said I’d get a Grammy inside of two years if I fucked him.”

“Son of a bitch!” I half growl, clenching the steering wheel angrily. “I’ve always heard the rumors of shit like that.”

“So yeah. I told him the only way his dick was getting off was by being jammed in his own ass. I’m pretty sure he spread rumors about my being difficult to work with after that, but I don’t know that for sure. I just know all interest whatsoever dried up after that. I ended up going back to college, then applying for Franklin Consolidated. The rest is history.”

Roxy falls silent as I drive the rest of the way to her apartment. I know this building. It’s a great place. Not quite as good as my penthouse, but it’s a good building.

“I guess this is it,” Roxy says, reaching for her purse. “Can you make sure Hannah gets here safely?”

“I will,” I say. I was gonna go back to the club, but now . . .

“Goodnight,” she says, getting out. Earlier, she was