When we got to the table, they both glanced up at me. With their blonde hair and crystal blue eyes, they could have almost passed for sisters. Their questioning gazes went from me to Jeff. “Jake suggested I bring her to sit with you two. She’s with AJ.”

“Really?” the youngest blonde squealed, her expression lightening up instantly.

I nodded. “I’m Mia Martinelli,” I said, extending my hand.

Instead of shaking my hand, she popped out of her seat like a jack-in-the-box before throwing her arms around me. “It’s so nice to meet you.” She pulled away to give me a beaming smile. “I’m Abby—Jake’s fiancée.”

Suddenly it hit me. “Oh, my God! You’re in Jacob’s Ladder, aren’t you?”

“Yes, I am.”

“I seriously love you guys—I’ve been a fan of your brothers for several years. I love the new album.”

“Aw, thank you. That’s so sweet.” She motioned to the chair beside her. “Please sit down.”

“Thanks.”

Once I was settled, the other blonde extended her hand. “I’m Brayden’s wife, Lily.”

“It’s very nice meeting you, too.”

Abby cut her eyes over at Lily before gazing back at me. “Now I know why AJ was acting so weird earlier tonight.”

“Oh he was?” I asked, trying not to let my heart do a crazy flip-flop in my chest.

With a grin, Abby replied, “Oh yeah. Very mysterious, very withdrawn…very lovesick, now that I think about it.”

A warm rush filled my body. “I don’t know about lovesick—we just started seeing each other.”

“How did you guys meet?” Lily asked.

“Um, it’s kinda an interesting story.” By the time I finished filling them in on the escapade in Frank’s room, they were laughing hysterically.

“Now that’s two of us who have met our guys unconventionally,” Abby said.

“Oh really?”

Abby grinned and then proceeded to tell me about literally falling into Jake’s bed. “Hmm, I think you may have my crotch drying story beat.”

“I think it’s a toss-up,” she replied.

Lily laughed. “Regardless of who wins best story, I’m just so very thankful to see AJ is with someone like you, Mia.”

My brows lifted in surprise. “Like me?”

Her cheeks tinged pink a little. “I didn’t mean anything bad by it, honestly. You’re absolutely gorgeous and so AJ’s type. But at the same time, I can already tell that you’re so…real.”

Abby nodded and motioned her finger between Lily and herself. “You know, like us.”

Lily using AJ’s word, ‘real’, wasn’t lost on me. All my nerves about meeting them had evaporated, and now I was just enjoying being accepted by them. I couldn’t help wondering if girls who didn’t get along with them probably didn’t make it long with AJ or Rhys. I felt a little giddy that I seemed to be passing the test with flying colors.

We were interrupted by the house manager taking the microphone. “Good evening. I’m so glad you’ve all come out on this special night to welcome back our most famous house band, Runaway Train.” Applause and cheering rang around the bar. “I can’t thank the guys enough for being willing to come back here and play again.” Glancing over his shoulder, he nodded. “So let’s get this party started, huh?” Once again the applause and cheering were deafening. “So ladies and gentlemen, Runaway Train!”

Abby, Lily, and I screamed along with the other fans as the guys made their way to the stage. Once AJ settled behind the drum kit, he locked eyes with me. He grinned and winked before twirling one of his drumsticks between his fingers. Damn, I knew all about those masterful fingers. Just seeing him work his fingers like that, caused goose bumps to rise on my arms. Trying to forget my inappropriate thoughts, I smiled back. Then he launched into the opening beat of the first song while the guys’ guitars followed in with him. While Jake’s smooth voice, echoed through the room, I couldn’t take my eyes off of AJ as he pounded out the rhythm. With his jaw set and a determined expression on his face, he was totally in the zone.

The guys played through several of their famous tracks—or at least I assumed they were their famous tracks by the audience’s reaction—when Jake switched gears. “As much as we love our old stuff, we want to do some of the acoustic tracks from our new album,” Jake said into the microphone. I watched as AJ left the drum set to come and sit on a stool beside Jake. Brayden and Rhys eased down on stools as well but kept their guitars.

“And here’s our latest Top Forty—Marrow and Bone.” Jake nodded his head to the guys. After he began the first line of the song, AJ joined in with Jake to harmonize. At the sound of his sultry voice, every molecule in my body shuddered to a stop. It took a moment or two for me to catch my breath. It wasn’t just that he could sing—it was the way he delivered the lyrics. The song itself was one of immense love, passion, and devotion, and AJ’s voice hummed with all those emotions. It touched me to the core…as well as other places.

“Damn,” I murmured under my breath.

“Haven’t you heard AJ sing before?” Abby asked.

My heart did a funny little skipping beat. “No,” I murmured. I turned to look at her. “He’s really amazing—like panty-melting amazing.”

She laughed. “Yeah, I would have to agree, especially when he sings in Spanish.” At my incredulous expression, she held up her hands. “Trust me, there’s never been anything but friendship between AJ and me, but that still doesn’t mean I don’t find his singing sexy. But there’s no one who truly does it for me like Jake.”

After two more songs with both Brayden and AJ accompanying Jake, the guys put their guitars down and rose up from the stools. “We’re going to take a quick ten minute break, and we’ll be back to give you guys some more.” Jake’s gaze flicked over to our table. “I might even convince my fiancée to join me on stage for some of our new stuff.”

“I’m going to kill him,” Abby muttered, as Jake winked. She shook her head at him. “Tonight was supposed to be all about Runaway Train.”

Lily shook her head. “You know how much he loves having you on stage with him.” She patted Abby’s back. “Besides, tonight may be about the past, but you’re his future—both personally and with his music.”

“I guess you’re right,” Abby replied. But the moment Jake appeared at her side, she smacked his arm playfully. “Okay, you get this through your thick skull right now. I’m not singing with you tonight. You’re such a—” He silenced her with a kiss.

My attention was drawn away from them when AJ appeared at my side. I quickly popped out of my chair. “Oh my God, that was amazing—you were amazing!” I cried, throwing my arms around him. He pulled back to plant a long, lingering kiss on my lips.

“Thank you.”

“I didn’t know you could sing.”

He shrugged modestly. “Yeah, I can carry a tune okay.”

“I do declare, for once is AJ Resendiz not being an egomaniac?”

He laughed. “Fine then. I can sing the pants off anyone. Better?”

“I’d say pants and panties.” I leaned in to whisper in his ear. “Seriously, I think you got me wet.”

AJ groaned. “Don’t say shit to me like that now.”

“I can’t help but tell you the truth.” Gazing into his eyes, I said, “Will you sing me something in Spanish?”

His brows lined in confusion. “Why Spanish?”

“Abby said you sounded even sexier then, so I wanted to hear it.”

“That’s because she speaks Spanish and knows what I’m saying.”

I shrugged. “I don’t care. I still want to hear you.” I lowered my voice. “I wanna see if it gets me even wetter.”

He grinned at me. “Fine, amorcito mio. Tonight when I have time to spread you out beneath me, I’ll sing to you in English, Spanish, or whatever the hell language it is that makes you want me to fuck your brains out. But for now, I gotta grab some water and take a piss, okay?”

I rolled my eyes. “You’re so romantic.”

“Hey, I stopped here first, didn’t I?”

“That’s true.” When he started to walk away, I jerked him back to me. At his surprised expression, I kissed him. He warmed to me instantly, thrusting his tongue into my mouth. His hands came to cup my face, his thumbs rubbing along my jawline. My arms snaked around his waist, drawing him in even closer. When I rubbed myself against his crotch, he groaned into my mouth. Jerking away, he gazed down at me with lust-filled eyes. Both of our chests heaved as we fought to catch our breath. With his signature smirk, AJ asked, “Wanna join me in the bathroom for a quickie?”

“Oh so tempting, but I think I’ll pass.”

“But I know how public places get you hot.”

I rolled my eyes. “A stinky, public bathroom screams skeevy, not sexy to me, babe.”

AJ laughed. “Fine then.”

“Besides, you’ve got way too much stamina for a bathroom quickie.”

“Hmm, stroking my ego pretty hard tonight, aren’t you?”

“Just stating facts.” I smacked his ass playfully. “Now go take your pee break.”

He gave me a mock salute and replied, “Yes, ma’am.”

Once AJ disappeared down the hallway, I realized I needed to freshen up after our make-out session. “I’ll be right back,” I said to Abby and Lily. After I entered the restroom, I headed straight for the counter. Standing in front of the mirror, I dug in my purse for my lipstick. Two leggy blondes stumbled in the door before heading over to the stalls. Once they were shut inside, one of them moaned. “God, Jenny, did you see how fucking hot AJ looked tonight?”

My body instantly tensed at the mention of his name. “Yeah, he’s absolutely edible as always,” Jenny replied. “Too bad he’s here tonight with some chick.”

“With AJ, I’ll doubt she’ll be with him long.”