Almost Paradise (Rock and Roll Forever Book 1) by Mary J. Williams

Author:Mary J. Williams [Williams, Mary J.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2019-06-05T16:00:00+00:00

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THE AFTER PARTY was low-key by rock and roll standards, a testament to the tour’s headliners. The Ryder Hart Band knew how to have a good time, but their definition of the phrase had changed over the years.

Married with families, they were long past the party hard stage. Instead of groupies and questionable behavior, they celebrated the last concert with champagne and class.

Not in the party mood, Jax didn’t stay long. He thanked Ryder, his mentor, his friend, waved goodbye to Beck, avoided Skye, and refused to tax his brain over why neither Morgan nor Kane felt obligated to show up.

Jax craved sleep. Back in his dark, solitary hotel room, he left a trail of clothing between the door and the bed and climbed beneath the covers. Bone-tired exhausted, his body aching like a bad tooth, he proceeded to stare at the ceiling for the next hour. Down to nothing but fumes, his brain burst with turbo-charged energy fueled by a toxic cocktail of past mistakes, roiling resentment, and he admitted in a moment of self-awareness, a fair amount of guilt

By the time the sun broke over the eastern horizon, Jax gave up on finding relief from his problems in the temporary cocoon of sleep.

Rolling to his side, his gaze landed on a book. He bought a copy of The End of Rainbows before the tour started, thumbing through the pages from time to time. Foolishly sentimental—him and the novel—he went against his instincts, proceeding to pack and unpack the paperback from one city to the next.

Once a way to feel closer to Skye, the book mocked him, a reminder that where women were concerned, his brain was a more reliable barometer than his heart.

Tired of thinking, tired of his own company, he rolled to his feet. He needed food but couldn’t face another solitary room service meal. The dining room should have a few early risers, if not, his waitress might take the time to exchange a word or two.

Pathetic, Jax sighed as he turned the shower on hot. All his friends had deserted him. Boohoo, poor me. When had he turned into such a freaking whiner? Around three-thirty, he decided. About the time Skye invaded his thoughts.

Stepping from the stall, Jax swiped at the steam-covered mirror, groaning at his reflection. In one year, he managed to age another thirty. Forget luggage, his belongings would fit in the bags under his eyes—with room to spare.

Jax dried his body, tossed the wet towel onto the floor. His father would tell him to cut his damn hair, he thought as the wet ends brushed his shoulders. Personally, he didn’t care.

Pulling on a pair of jeans, Jax grabbed the first shirt in the drawer, zipped up a pair of boots, no socks, and shoved an old Seattle Mariners baseball cap, a souvenir from the band’s bar circuit days, over his still-damp hair.

Timing was everything in music and in life. On stage, Jax never missed a beat, he wasn’t as fortunate the rest of the time.

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