Fire and Ice: Rekindled (The Fire and Ice Series Book 2) Read online

  "Look, I know we're running a little late here, but we just added a new back-up singer earlier today, and she had to pop home for a few minutes to check on her kid. You mind waiting a few more minutes 'till she gets back? I mean, she just joined the band, but I don't want her to feel left out," Kyle explained.

  "Oh, yeah? And she's from around here?" I asked curiously.

  "Well, ya know, we're all from around Danville, but I guess she has some family around here to help watch her kid. I'm tellin' you, Kellan, this chic is smokin' hot, dude! Like serious MILF material," Kyle exclaimed.

  Danville was only about a half an hour from Chambers, which is why I figured the band was considering my offer in the first place. The commute was short and convenient. The small university Hailey attends is located in Danville, and I knew the band had a hometown following with the college kids. But when I caught wind of the band, I had no idea they'd have a cougar on board. Then again, we have a diverse demographic, and if she's as hot as Kyle says she is, we could end up hitting just about every market in the area. While Kyle's getting the ladies' panties wet, his sidekick will be drawing in every horny bastard within a sixty mile radius. That's if she's as hot as he says she is.

  Bringing my focus back to the matter at hand, I replied, "Yeah, sure. I can spare a few more minutes. So tell me about this new singer you have...she got decent pipes?" I caught Georgia's eye and motioned for her to bring another round.

  Kyle perked up and nodded his head towards the door, saying, "Here she is now...I'll introduce you to her." Sweeping my eyes in the direction of the approaching woman, swaying her curvy hips with confidence as a wide smile graced her perfectly painted on crimson lips, I broke out into a nervous sweat as Kyle announced, "Kellan, this is our lovely back-up singer, Leila."

  I stared at her speechless as I barely registered Georgia in my peripheral vision, stepping in front of me to lean down and place the drinks on the table. Shaking myself out of my hazy thoughts, I turned to see Georgia flashing the band a demure smile as she stepped back from the table, admiring her handy work, as she was no doubt already counting her tips in her mind. Turning to leave, Georgia stopped short and her smile faltered when her eyes met mine. I shuffled nervously on my feet as an awkward charge built in the air around us.

  "Oh we've already met," Leila said coyly as she leaned her hip against the booth, crossed her arms in front of herself, and gave me a quick wink.

  "Small world," Captain said sarcastically. I shot him a warning glare as his lips curled up into a mischievous grin. Obviously aware of the tension, and seemingly finding humor in it, he asked, "So, how do you two know each other?" before slumping back and popping a handful of peanuts in his mouth. Jesus Christ, I wanted to throttle the cocky bastard.

  A moment of uncomfortable silence set in as Georgia volleyed her eyes between Leila and me. Clearly not going anywhere without an answer, Georgia echoed Captain, asking sharply, "Yeah...how do you two know each other?"

  I sure as shit wasn't about to announce that she I and shared a quick fuck a few years ago in Jim's office. It had a been a one-off for me, but Leila continued to pursue me for several weeks after our brief rendezvous, pestering me with dozens of voicemails and texts before finally taking the hint and leaving me alone. I figured she'd dropped off the map, but apparently, when she'd heard I was back in town, she did a U-Turn. She was a clingy nightmare I had no intentions of reliving.

  Searching my mind for a neutral explanation, I stammered, "I, uh...we..."

  My eyes landed on Leila's as her smile broadened. She promptly cut me off, saying cheerily, "Kellan is Andrew's dad."

  Say what now?

  "Excuse me?" Georgia interjected. "Who's Andrew?" she grilled.

  Effectively ignoring Georgia's piercing stare, Leila said proudly, "Andrew's my son...well, technically I guess he's our son," she motioned between us.

  As the rest of the band and Georgia stared at our exchange with rapt attention, Kyle rang out cheerfully, "Well this is a nice surprise. I didn't think this was going to be a family affair."

  Unable to meet the eyes of the curious onlookers, I lowered my head to peer at the floor as I anxiously ran my hand across the back of my neck. My hair was becoming soaked with sweat. "Yeah, it was a...bit of a shock to me, too, when I'd first heard about it," I chuckled nervously, desperately trying to prevent this meeting from coming unglued.

  Arching her brow, Georgia bit out with distain, "You have a kid? With her?" as she pointed her finger in Leila's direction.

  As Georgia and I continued to lock eyes, I silently pled with her not to lose her shit in front of these guys. Breaking away from her penetrating stare, I looked to find Leila peering at me with a triumphant sparkle in her eyes.

  If it weren't for the white noise of the crowd around us, we could've heard a pin drop.

  Cutting through the silence, Georgia finally cut in, addressing the group in a professional persona, saying, "Um...if you guys wouldn't mind, I'm gonna go take my break now." The men all shrugged before Georgia brushed past me, bumping her shoulder against mine before adding, "I have to go make a phone call."

  "Georgia...wait!" I yelled after her over my shoulder.

  Chuckling, Captain said, "Dude, this is classic."

  Yeah, it was a classic case of my worst nightmare coming back to haunt me; packaged in a body dressed for sin and wearing a syrupy sweet smile, nobody would suspect she was a lying whore. I needed to have a chat with her before this bazaar rumor spread any further. But first, I needed to reason with Georgia before any of this got back to Hailey. Unfortunately, Georgia and the word 'reason' usually weren't used in the same sentence.

  Fuck me running...

  Chapter Fifteen

  Hailey

  Hearing Kellan start his car, and watching him pull away from my house, as I peeked out the window, left me immediately missing his presence. But he'd said he would return shortly, and I soon welcomed the reprieve, as it gave me a chance to tidy up a bit and take a quick shower. I decided to go the extra mile, drying my long, dark locks, adding a slight bit of make up, and pulling out some sexy lingerie that I was hoping would please him once he returned. I'd even lit some candles to add some romantic mood lighting.

  Kellan's been gone over an hour, now, and as I lay here in my bed, trussed up in my lacy violet bra, matching lace thong and garter belt, attached to sheer thigh highs, my anticipation is beginning to wane as the mesmerizing ticking of the clock in the hallway is making my eyelids feel heavy. Propping my head up with my hand as I lean against my elbow, one leg crossed over the other in my best attempt to look sexy, the flickering candles are making it difficult to hold my eyes open.

  Feeling exhaustion kick in, I yawn and fall back against my pillow, deciding to close my eyes for a few moments before Kellan comes back. A short rest will probably do me some good. I recall the many nights we shared as Kellan and I made love until daylight began to overtake the early morning sky as the sun rose, casting shades of pink and orange through the clouds. I'm feeling nervous and anxious all at the same time, but mostly looking forward to waking up in his arms.

  As I quelled my anticipation, I let my body relax against the mattress as my mind began to sway with thoughts of the new memories I planned to make with Kellan tonight; a rebirth of our feelings for one another on the horizon, and within my grasp.

  ******

  Kellan

  With concern etched on my face, I turned to the guys, while ignoring Leila, and said, "Can you give me a few minutes?"

  Kyle clapped his hand against my back, replying, "No worries, man. We already talked about your offer, and it sounds fair. But we'd like to add Friday nights to our line-up, if that's ok."

  I contemplated Kyle's proposal as I toyed with my tongue ring. Their only counter offer was playing four nights a week, instead of three. We usually have a DJ Friday nights, so I'd need to shift his schedule to another night if I agreed to the band's additional set. I couldn't stand here all night. "I can't
make any promises. I'd need to reschedule my DJ for Wednesday nights in that case," I explained as I looked back over my shoulder, knowing I needed to catch up with Georgia before she did anything rash. Absentmindedly, I continued, "Shouldn't be a problem, though."

  "Sweet," Kyle beamed. "We can start this Friday if you're good with that?"

  "Sounds like a plan," I mumbled. "Feel free to stick around. Come by a little early on Friday and we can go over the specifics before you start your set. I'll catch up with you guys then," I rattled off, desperate to end our meeting. But I wasn't about to let Leila off the hook without giving her a piece of my mind. Stepping in front of her, I placed my hand around her shoulders and turned her to face away from the band. Out of earshot, I leaned down and whispered with authority, "Don't go anywhere. You and I need to have a talk."

  Turning to face me, she pasted a devilish smile on her lips, smoothed her hands down my chest, and drawled out, "Oh, I'll be waiting, Sugar."

  Regardless of the fact that the mere sound of her voice was like nails on a chalkboard to me, I needed to maintain my professionalism around the band. I'd deal with Vamp Tramp soon enough.

  Breaking away from her side, I held up my hand to the band members to signal my departure, and said, "Good to meet you guys." Turning on my heel, I quickly weaved my way through the crowd in search of Georgia.

  Unable to locate her on the floor, I leaned across the bar, catching Joe's attention, and asked, "You seen Georgia?"

  "She said she was going on break about ten minutes ago," he said, rolling his eyes. "If you find her, tell her we're getting slammed," he huffed out irritably.

  Nodding, I pushed off the bar, and replied, "Will do."

  The fact that the bar was packed on a weekday should have had me patting my own back, but my mind was swirling with information overload, and every guest I encountered seemed like just another obstacle standing between the woman who had my head twisted right now and me. Pushing my way past the customers waiting anxiously at the bar, which was now three deep, thanks to Georgia's disappearing act, I jogged towards the back hallway, quickly scanning the kitchen, my office, and the bathroom, unable to locate her. There was only one other place she could be.

  I swung the back door open with force to find her leaning up against the side of the bar with one foot perched against the bricks. She didn't bother looking up at me, but rather quickly stowed her phone in her apron.

  Marching towards her, I yelled, "What the fuck did you do?"

  Pinning me with a lethal glare, she spewed, "If you think I'm keeping your dirty little secret for you, you've got another thing coming!"

  Turning away from her, I began to pace furiously as I threw my head back and clasped my fingers behind my neck. "Great. This is fucking great, Georgia," I murmured, looking to the night sky. Turning to face her as she stared at me unsympathetically, I barked out, "You know this means I'm fucked, right?" Her features remained stoic as the silence dangled between us. Throwing my hands up in the air, I shouted, "Jesus Christ, Georgia! Did you ever think that maybe that piece of trash is lying? What the fuck is wrong with you?"

  Looking away from me, she sighed and shook her head back and forth before returning her eyes to mine, saying, "I...I guess I jumped the gun a little."

  "Ya think!"

  "Look, she showed up with the band you hand picked yourself. She was eye fucking you and you sure as shit weren't putting a stop to it. Can you blame me?" she exclaimed.

  "Fuckin' right you're to blame, Georgia- I had no idea she was in the fucking band, and forgive me for not tearing her a new asshole in front of them, and a packed house full of customers that just so happen to be paying our bills." I stalked to stand directly in front of her, pointing my finger in her face, and gritting out, "Call her back...now! Tell her it was a misunderstanding."

  "I already did call her...she didn't answer."

  I slumped over, leaning my hands on my knees, and blew out a long breath, saying, "Thank God for small miracles."

  I chuckled nervously as I realized I'd just dodged a bullet, before Georgia continued, "I left her a message."

  I snapped my head up to find her eyes glossed over with tears, but she wasn't about to get an ounce of compassion from me. Straightening, I brought my face within an inch of her own, saying ominously, "You are gonna fix this, Georgia, or so help me..."

  As a tear slipped down her face, her lip began to quiver as she whispered, "How?"

  "I don't give a good goddamn how!" Striding towards the back door, I wrenched it open, barking out over my shoulder, "Fix it, or you're fired!"

  ******

  Kellan

  Sitting outside of Hailey's house in my car, I let my head fall back against the headrest as the tumultuous events of the day replayed over and over again in my mind.

  After having it out with Georgia, I promptly hunted down the little piece of trailer trash that had just flipped my world upside down, and dragged her into my office to chew her ass out. Slamming my office door shut, and shoving her into the chair as I loomed over her, I demanded answers.

  "Who do you think you're fucking with, you little cunt?"

  "Don't you dare put this on me- I called you for weeks. Not only are you the biggest dick on the planet, now you can add deadbeat father to your resume."

  "Oh, go spew your bullshit elsewhere you stupid bitch...I ain't your goddamn kid's father."

  "You positive about that?"

  "I fucked you one time, and I wore..."

  "Oh how easily you forget. So, it's just now dawning on you that you forgot to wrap it? Yeah, I guess we both sorta got caught up in the moment."

  "You piece of shit...you think I'm gonna buy your bullshit story? You'd probably fuck anything with two legs- you let me fuck you within five minutes of stepping foot in this place, for Christ's sake. And you expect me to just accept your word as bond, when you never said ONE thing about this...this...situation, not ONCE in the dozens of voicemails and texts you plagued me with?"

  "It's not something I wanted to discuss over the phone. I wanted to tell you in person."

  "So...why didn't you?"

  "I was um...sort of away for a while."

  "What the fuck is that supposed to mean?"

  "I was using, ok! As soon as I found out I was pregnant, I got into a program. I got clean...for Andrew."

  "Jesus Christ. Well that was mighty white of you."

  "Hey, don't be an asshole. I got clean for OUR kid."

  "YOUR kid Leila...you leave me the fuck out of it!"

  "Fine...you wanna be a prick about it? I can haul your ass into court."

  "You listen to me, you little twat...unless you can prove it, you keep your goddamn mouth shut about this shit, or I'll bury you. Got it...SUGAR?"

  After she'd marched out of my office, shooting me a venomous glare, I downed three shots in quick succession. I had never hit a woman before, but I had been dangerously close to knocking the living shit out of her.

  When I exited the bar, Georgia's car was gone, and I hadn't heard a thing from her or Hailey. I could only pray she'd gotten ahold of Hailey and set the record straight. But Jesus, what if Leila wasn't bluffing? I mean, the chances are slim to none, but it only takes one fuck up to become one big fuck up. I'd seen some messed up shit go down in my lifetime, and this was about as fucked up as anything I'd ever witnessed.

  I suddenly felt like some teenage kid who got the bomb dropped on him two months after prom and had to end up dropping out of school to go work at the mill. At least a kid can claim stupidity and lack of control, but Jesus, I was a grown man, and if I'd been thinking with my brain instead of my dick, Leila's sorry attempt at worming her way back into my life would be a joke. A sick joke...but nevertheless, me telling her to fuck off as I laughed in her face would be a punch line. Instead, I feel like I'm standing at my own gravesite with a shovel in my hand.

  Pulling myself from my dark thoughts, I expelled a long breath and turned my head to peer at Hailey's front door. A
dim light shone through the windows, and the fact was, I needed to be with her right now.

  I slipped quietly from my car, trudged up Hailey's front steps, and gently opened the front door. She hadn't locked me out, so I took it as a good sign. Entering the living room, I could see a flickering glow emanating from the bedroom, and a sudden calmness washed over me. My face split with a wide smile as I quickly strode down the hall, wasting no time in unbuttoning my shirt.

  Approaching the bedroom, I called out, "Now where did we leave off?" before I came to a stop in the doorway, peering down to find her outfitted like a Victoria's Secret model. Her eyes were closed and her chest rose and fell with deep, peaceful breaths. Glancing down at my watch, I noted the time. 10:45 p.m. It felt like I had been gone for a day, but it was only a few hours...a few hours too long it seemed.