What Love Sounds Like Read online

  “No, not for me. No glamour and glitz. I’ve got my brothers’ business to help out in and love it in Cherry Hill.”

  “You’re a home town girl to the bone. I think that’s why that guy Mike liked you so much.”

  “Well, they are looking for a regular singer for the house band.”

  “And you will be great.”

  “We’ll see. I’m nervous about the audition. I’ve never done any before, nor sung on stage like I did last night. It’s so surreal.”

  “You’ll be fine. You looked in your element and comfort zone. I could only imagine you on stage singing song after song and the crowd cheering. I couldn’t stop dreaming for you,” Faith said and laughed, but then Faith looked toward the doorway. “Here come your other bosses,” she said and winked.

  Ivy looked that way and saw the Shelton men walking in. Ade was waving and they were moving toward a table in her section. She looked away.

  “Hey, what’s going on?”

  “What do you mean?” she asked.

  “Your response to the Shelton brothers? What gives?”

  “Nothing.”

  “Listen, you shared with me about the whole attraction thing and them blowing you off, not taking the steps, but Jake and Crespy are hot, and nice men. They’re attentive and you had a good time with them last night.”

  “They seem controlling though. Especially Jake.”

  “Men become possessive of women pretty quickly. I think they wanted everyone to think you were their woman.”

  “Well, I’m not. In fact, I’m thinking how busy I’ll be and that now isn’t the time for some fling to complicate my life.”

  “I suppose you’re right, but I bet Jake and Crespy come here tonight. Take your time and ask them questions. Get to know them. They really like you, and if it weren’t for Jake, you never would have had that opportunity to sing on stage.”

  “I suppose so, but then there’s also Madison. I don’t like her or trust her one bit.”

  “And you shouldn’t. She’s a slut, and she’s screwing those bosses you’ve decided to stay clear of. Obviously they’re just looking for sex and they know they can’t get that from you because your brothers will tear them apart. Their friendship and their business together would be over.”

  “Jesus, you’re right. I didn’t think about my brothers’ reaction and if I slept with the Shelton brothers and it meant nothing but sex, then my brothers would lose their shit. It would cause problems.”

  “Big ones.”

  “Well then, I guess I’m staying single and taking my time.”

  “But don’t forget to have fun. There were a lot of hot guys at Black Jack. I have a feeling we can all get lucky.”

  Ivy laughed and then they got back to work and taking drink orders.

  “Good evening, gentleman, what can I get ya?” Ivy asked them.

  Bronc eyed her over. She didn’t look like she had a hangover. She looked as sexy and hot as usual, and tonight she was wearing skin tight blue jeans and the Harper’s T-back tank top in white, which made her breasts look huge. The style dipped a little low in front to give the effect of a straight tear, and was cut midriff, showing off her sexy belly. He could see some of the blue flower tattoo she had because her jeans were so low.

  “A round of beers, sweetie,” Angus said to her and they all just stared at her.

  “Okay, no problem.”

  “Hey, how are you feeling?” Johnny asked her, stopping her from walking away immediately by taking her wrist.

  She kept her arm by her side and was right next to Johnny’s thigh. “I feel good. How about you, Doc?” she asked, which surprised them.

  “Heard you had a lot of fun last night in Benter,” Bronc said to her.

  She glanced toward Bronc. “Yeah, it was awesome.”

  Her eyes widened and then she gave a soft smile to someone behind them. Before Bronc could turn, Madison had her arms wrapped around Johnny’s shoulders from behind and she was kissing his neck.

  “Heard you wanted to talk to me so I made sure I got here early.” She kissed him again and then looked at Ivy, who definitely looked annoyed. “There’s our hottest new star. Honey, you won’t be waiting on tables much longer once you start singing at Black Jack,” she said and eased herself around Johnny, who tried removing her arms but the woman was too quick. She took the empty stool next to Johnny and Angus.

  “Well, I first have to meet Mike’s brother, and then the house band. I’m not assuming anything yet,” Ivy said.

  “You are very talented, never mind gorgeous and sexy. The guys are already going nuts talking about that performance last night and your jokes, too. You’re so funny,” she said and Ivy blushed.

  “Jokes?” Keller asked, standing now because he hated Madison with a passion.

  Madison ran her hand along Johnny’s thigh and Ivy watched. “Well, let me get your beers for you guys so you can enjoy your company. Madison, do you need a drink?”

  “Sure, hon, I’ll take a bourbon on the rocks.”

  “You got it,” Ivy said and winked and when she walked past, Angus saw her turn back and snarl at Madison. He didn’t blame her one bit. Madison inserted herself into their conversation, and into their evening.

  “You know we’re kind of just relaxing tonight. Having some brotherly time together,” Angus said to her.

  “Hmm, I like the sound of that. So what’s doing? Your text to me sounded cryptic,” she said and caressed Johnny’s arm.

  Johnny removed her hand. “Madison, quit it. Stop trying to flirt. I’m not sleeping with you. That fling is in the past and it’s staying there.”

  She raised one of her eyebrows up at him. “Oh yeah, so what was with meeting me then? Being a pussy tease, are you now?” she said and it shocked Bronc. She was such trash.

  “No, it’s our concern for Ivy. She’s important to us, and we don’t want you fucking with her, to be blunt.”

  “Important to you?”

  “Yeah, like family. We’re best friends with her brothers and we run a business together. She’s sweet and trusting.”

  “Kind of picked up on that. It’s actually what Mike and Jacoby are looking for as entertainment for the bar. They want someone who will stick around and doesn’t have fantasies of being a superstar and hitting the big time. Definitely not Ivy. She’s simple in that way, but not in others.”

  “What does that mean?” Angus asked.

  “It means she’s hot. She gets the cowboys’ blood pumping and racing. She’s easy on the eyes and her body, exposed in the right clothing, will entice some big crowds to the place.”

  “Jesus,” Keller said and shook his head. Madison narrowed her eyes at him just as Ivy came back and placed down their beers, and Madison’s glass of bourbon.

  “Sweetie, once you have that meeting with Mike and Jacoby, you and I will do a little shopping,” Madison told her then took a sip from her drink.

  Bronc looked at Ivy’s body, her full, large breasts that when exposed would be the center focus of every man’s eyes. His blood felt like it was boiling.

  “Shopping for what?” Ivy asked.

  “Clothing to wear on stage. Going to enhance your natural assets,” Madison said and eyed her over.

  “I don’t think so,” Ivy said but then that guy Jake and his buddy Crespy approached and Jake slid his arm around Ivy’s waist and she turned and he kissed her softly on the lips. Bronc felt the punch to his gut. The jealousy was so strong he exhaled in annoyance.

  “Hey, tequila,” Crespy added and kissed her lips next. She lowered her eyes and blushed.

  Madison chuckled. “My God, the cowboys will be tearing at her clothes,” Madison said.

  “No they won’t,” Jake said possessively as he stepped back and stroked her jaw. “Crespy and I are going to ensure she’s protected at all times from any scoundrels,” he said and winked.

  Ivy placed her hand on her hip and gave him a sideways look. “And who will protect me from the two of you
flirts?” she asked.

  Bronc wanted so badly to say “me,” but couldn’t. This was turning into a fucking nightmare.

  “She’s got her brothers, and us to make sure she’s safe and doesn’t make the wrong choices. I’d say you’re not needed,” Johnny said to them, which shocked Bronc, but they backed him up.

  “She sure is protected by us. In fact, I’ll be going with her to that audition of hers along with her brother, Kenny,” Keller said and Bronc wanted to turn and look at his brother in shock but he didn’t. He acted like they had everything planned out and they were truly being protective of her.

  “Is that so?” Jake asked.

  “Uhm, who decided this?” Ivy asked.

  “We did,” all of the Shelton brothers said at the same time.

  Some guys at a table next to them called Ivy over. “I need to keep working. We’ll talk about this later, Keller,” she said and then walked away.

  Crespy gave Jake a tap to his arm. “Let’s grab the table, the others are coming, too,” Crespy said and gave them dirty looks as they walked away.

  “So you want to protect her like brothers? Let the woman live a little. She’s going to be a hot item, and doing men left and right. She sure won’t need a bunch of goons around her cramping her style.”

  “Leave her alone, Madison. I mean it. You mess with her and there’ll be hell to pay,” Johnny told her.

  Madison stood up and downed the rest of her drink.

  “Sounds like you want to rob the cradle, and maybe sample that tasty treat before Jake and Crespy get to it,” she said and glared at Johnny.

  “Stay clear of her,” Keller warned her now, too.

  “Really? You four huge ass men are more interested in a twenty-year-old inexperienced country girl than you are in a worldly woman like myself? Please…you don’t even know what you’d be missing,” she said with her hands on her hips.

  “Sloppy seconds,” Keller replied.

  “More than that. She’s been around like a stray bitch in heat,” Angus said to her and she gasped, turned around and walked away.

  “I hate that fucking bitch,” Bronc said to them.

  “I want to take Jake and Crespy out back and beat the shit out of them. Who is with me?” Keller asked.

  They all mumbled.

  “We can’t, and you know it, but that was a great idea about joining her on that audition, Keller. Just get Kenny on board with you,” Johnny said to him as they all kept eyes on Ivy as she worked.

  “We’ll need to get Ivy on board,” Keller said.

  “We’ll work on that, too. On the mats tomorrow,” Angus said, and Bronc saw her by Crespy, Jake and their friends who arrived and greeted her with hugs. He noticed how they let their hands slide along her ass and held her a few seconds too long. She had men throwing themselves at her.

  “Fuck, we may need to make a move tonight,” Bronc said as anger filled his gut from watching.

  Chapter 6

  Ivy felt utterly confused. The Shelton brothers were taking every opportunity to touch her, to flirt with her and act like they actually were interested in her. She knew otherwise though. They slept with Madison. Maybe they still were using her for sex and she wouldn’t become part of that. Besides, her brothers would flip out and their friendship with the Shelton brothers would be over as well as the business. It would be a disaster.

  She lost focus as Bronc did a move on her and she fell right on her ass.

  “God damn it, Ivy, wake up, will ya? You need training and to be able to defend yourself if some guy tries something on you. God knows when you’re in the spotlight they’ll be coming out of the woodwork,” he yelled and slammed his fist down on the mat. He moved off of her and was kneeling on the mat right next to her. He was really angry.

  She sat up, and then knelt in front of him. Something was wrong. She reached out and touched his arm. He glared at her. She pulled back. “What’s wrong with you? You’re being mean and aggressive.”

  “Nothing is wrong with me,” he said and shot her a look.

  She exhaled in annoyance and stood up. “What happened, Madison turn you and your brothers down for a quick screw last night?” She hadn’t expected him to grab her wrist and yank her back toward him. Even standing, his face was almost level with her breasts. She tried pulling away. “Let go of me.”

  “No.” He stood up, pulled her wrist behind her back and cupped her cheek and neck.

  “Stay clear of those two dicks Jake and Crespy. They’re after one thing from you and one thing only.”

  “Oh, really? You don’t think they actually like me and have fun with me? You think they’re like you and your brothers? After a piece of ass.”

  “God damn it, Ivy, we aren’t fucking Madison.”

  “Yeah, right.”

  She went to run away and he cursed. “Fuck this shit.” She hadn’t expected his deep, loud voice or the way him restraining her, confronting her made her feel, and she surely hadn’t expected him to press his lips to hers and kiss her.

  It was instant. The whole atmosphere changed. Everything changed in that moment as Bronc lifted her up as he kissed her and pressed her to the padded wall. She squeezed her thighs against his thick, solid waist. She kissed him back, and they battled for control of that kiss. He squeezed her ass and rocked his hips against her mound. She felt how huge his cock was. She knew he was a big man all around, but holy God, he could tear her apart. It didn’t scare her as much as it aroused her and her pussy reacted. She felt the tiny release of cream, felt her nipples harden, her core tighten and her heart leaped with excitement and joy but then she thought about what they were doing. About the consequences of this.

  She gripped his shoulders as he cupped one breast, shocking her. “Bronc,” she exclaimed.

  “Say nothing.” He growled his words as he lowered her top, suckled on her shoulder bone and then toward her neck.

  She moaned softly. Was so incredibly aroused she wanted to scream for him to take her virginity. To go somewhere, anywhere private and claim her. It was wild and crazy and she had to stop this. It would never work. Her brothers would freak out. “Bronc, slow down. We have to stop,” she said but he licked down her top and against the cleavage of her breast.

  “You’re so fucking beautiful and sexy. I want you, Ivy. Want to make you my woman. My brothers want that, too. They do.”

  “No. No, Bronc.” She shoved at his shoulders. He slowly set her down but didn’t release her. He used his body to keep her pressed against the matted wall. He placed his one forearm above her head and the other hand held her waist. She was trapped as he towered over her. With any other man but Bronc or his brothers, she would feel on edge and scared of what he could do to her. She held his gaze.

  “That was incredible.”

  “A mistake,” she said to him.

  His eyebrows furrowed. “Not a mistake. It was a long time coming.”

  “Since when, Bronc? Getting bored of your regular screws? We can’t do this. My brothers will—”

  He cupped her jaw and clenched his teeth. “God damn it, you don’t think we’ve been over it a hundred times? You think we just decided that you’re hot and sexy and want to be the best lovers you ever had?”