Chapter 15

Kate curled her fingers into her palm for a second before she took his hand. And just as before, the flash of heat and fizz of awareness jerked through her. Mercy.

The zing of skin on skin connection drilled up his arm. Goddamn what was it about this girl? He could feel her already twisting her fingers from his grasp. He gripped her fingers tighter, unwilling to let her pull away as he wound his way between bodies down to the main floor. Passing the front of the stage the singer called out, "HEY JON!! Come join us!"

Jon stopped, having the DJ flash a record at her was one thing, but getting on stage? That would probably shut her up. He waved at him, unsure if he wanted to get up there and have the entire room know who he was.

“Who’s that?”

He glanced down at her pleased that she’d stopped trying to squirm away. "That's John Lyon, the singer of Southside Johnny." Jon grinned over at her. "Johnny was one of the first people to really influence me. He’s king of the bar band sound."

She glanced at the brass and the guitars, the two different types of drums and shook her head. It reminded her of once upon a time as her eyes rested on the sax before settling on the singer. The sandy haired man kept right on singing but seemed to taunt Jon at the same time. "He looks like he wants you to get up there.”

“Yeah, I know.” He looked at the stage; he could feel his blood starting to simmer. There was something about just getting up there to actually play for the joy of it. He’d been making setlists and decisions, always looking ahead for so long he didn’t even know if he knew how to just enjoy singing anymore.

“You don't want to sing?" Kate looked over her shoulder catching him staring at the mic stand.

Jon flashed a grin, "Baby, I always wanna sing."

"Well then show me, wannabe," she said with pure honey to her voice.

Challenge lit her eyes leaving his cock hard and aching. She liked to push his buttons; he could see it in her bottle green gaze. He leaned in close to her and let his lips brush against her ear, pleased when she shivered a little. Friggin’ wannabe. Man alive he was going to love to see the change on her face when she figured it out. "You stay right there and watch."

Finding a spot next to the stage, she leaned back against the railing. She shouldn’t be finding him attractive. The cocky nature was something she’d thought she’d grown out of for God’s sake. Hadn’t that caused her enough heartache? She sighed. He did look natural up there, huddling with the band, conferring with sheet music and she laughed when his fingers instantly fluffed his hair before he turned around.

The opening riffs of a song began to play as Jon took center stage and palmed the mic in front of him. His blue gaze honed in on Kate as he began to sing.

"An angel's smile is what you sell
You promise me heaven, then put me through hell
Chains of love got a hold on me
When passion's a prison, you can't break free…"

Kate's eyes skimmed along the stage, interest and curiosity took hold, but then the words started to sink in. She frowned, trying to figure out why there was a sense of familiarity to them. "Must be a cover song," she muttered.

He continued to sing. The words took on new meaning as he watched the words sink in. He could have written it with her in mind.

"You're a loaded gun
There's nowhere to run
No one can save me
The damage is done

Shot through the heart
And you're to blame
You give love a bad name
I play my part and you play your game
You give love a bad name
You give love a bad name "

"Oh my GOD!" came a screech from beside her. "That's Jon BON JOVI!"

She rushed by and pushed Kate aside until she was crushed into the rail. Kate's brow lifted as the chorus snagged on a memory. What the hell? She looked over her shoulder at Elena, but she was still oblivious. Her mouth was too busy on Richie’s to pay attention to a switch in song.

He kept singing, his hips swiveling against the mic stand as his gaze burned into hers.

"Paint your smile on your lips
Blood red nails on your fingertips
A school boy's dream, you act so shy
Your very first kiss was your first kiss goodbye

Kate’s mouth dropped open as the entire crowd yelled with him. It couldn’t be…

You're a loaded gun
There's nowhere to run
No one can save me
The damage is done
Shot through the heart
And you're to blame
You give love a bad name
I play my part and you play your game
You give love a bad name
You give love a bad name”

As the band revved up and the brass section put a new spin on the end of the song he turned around and clapped at the band, then flashed a smile at the crowd. Lyon put his hand up in a fist and Heart of Stone filled the bar. He’d sung the song with him a million times so the words came easily.

"Oh hell," Kate put her face in her hands. She'd just totally dressed down the man who had a number one album on the top forty charts. He was part of that band? The friggin’ song was on the radio every hour on the hour.

As the crooning rose and Jon and John melted into one, her embarrassment level rose exponentially. How could she have been so stupid? His name just hadn’t clicked. Mercy.

Jon was in his element. Just living for the music and letting the old words trip free felt amazing. Singing along with Southside would never get old, but his gaze drifted to hers. He watched her realize just who he was and the I-told-you-so’s faded away. The song moved into the next and John took the mic to cup his hands around his harmonica. Taking advantage of the quick lull in singing, he nodded at the band and hopped offstage to stand in front of Kate.

"I suck at eating crow," she said with a proud tilt to her chin. "I seriously didn't know who you were.” She twirled a lock of red hair around her finger then stuffed her hand in her pocket when she realized she was twirling. “I hope you know I wasn't just blowing smoke up your ass."

He shrugged, "The fact that you actually knew the song and NOT my face is a compliment. It’s a rarity, that’s for sure.” He gave her a rueful smile, “Honestly, after I got over the initial shock, it actually felt good. Not to mention your reactions were way too genuine.” He tucked a sweat lock of hair behind his ear. “Just make me one promise?"

"I'll try."

He leaned forward with a smile, "Never change."

Not knowing quite what to say, she let her first real smile out to play. "You can count on that, Sugar."