Strum Beat

By Arabella Cornell

Book Two of the Punch Sound series.

Logan Langstead is lead guitarist for Australia’s hottest new rock band, Punch Sound. Living life to the full, he is seen as a risk taker and bad boy. Women are one of his biggest weaknesses, especially curvy blondes who aren’t afraid to be a little adventurous. When a petite brunette catches his eye at an art exhibition opening, he doesn’t believe she’s really his type, but still he pursues her.

Stuck in a dead end job at the gallery, Allie Sharpe dreams of becoming a successful photographer. Having to fill in as a drinks waitress instead of attending the opening as a guest sparks rebellion in her heart. She is wary when Logan makes his move but feels an undeniable attraction. Maybe sex with a stranger is exactly the sort of fun she needs.

A hot night together leads to their lives becoming entwined as Punch Sound’s European tour looms. Allie is faced with a choice – to chase her dreams by Logan’s side and risk having her heart broken, or end it now while the sensual glow still lingers.

Punch Sound. Four sexy rockers, as hot off the stage as they are on it.

* Contains erotic MF and MMF scenes *

• Language: English
• Publisher: Arabella Cornell
• Release date: Feb 9, 2017
• ISBN: 9781370350148

Arabella Cornell

Arabella lives in small Australian city with her husband and daughter. When not watching music videos of hot rock stars or listening to their music, she can often be found cycling or hiking, or practicing guitar. She has many other sexy tales coming your way soon. Arabella can be found on Facebook and Twitter.

Book preview

STRUM BEAT

Punch Sound Book Two

Arabella Cornell

© 2017 Arabella Cornell

Cover photo © Feedough | Dreamstime.com

All rights reserved.

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your enjoyment only, then please return to Smashwords.com or your favorite retailer and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are the products of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, actual events, places or businesses is purely coincidental.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Dedication

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

About The Author

Also By Arabella Cornell

Coming Soon

DEDICATION

This is for all the risk takers out there, chasing their dreams and daring to take the lead.

CHAPTER ONE

Fuck, thought Logan. Why had Max punched him so hard? The split lip would heal fast enough, but he knew there would be more than a few photos taken that night. He was fine with having a bad boy rocker image but it didn’t stop him wanting to look his best. He hadn’t even been serious when he’d asked Max if he’d share the blonde chick in his bed. Logan knew Max didn’t share, not while they were still in his bed anyway.

Sighing he flopped down into a chair in his hotel room. Why the hell had they needed to spend so much time in this damned hick town, anyway? It wasn’t like it was Sydney, with a myriad of delights to entertain. Almost two weeks, they’d been here at the bottom of the world in Hobart. Max had suggested they have some quiet time to decompress before they started their tour. It wasn’t like they were 50, for fuck’s sake.

He thought about the concert they would be performing that night. Just six songs and they’d be done. It hardly seemed worth it, but the pay packet had been too good to ignore. An artist, known simply as Kashnov, had decided he needed them as the entertainment for his latest exhibition opening. Logan had no idea who the dude was, but he sure had deep pockets.

There was a knock at his door. Opening it warily, he flung it the rest of the way open when he saw Jem.

Come on in, dude, he said.

Jem entered, closing the door behind him.

You okay, man? asked Jem.

I’m fine.

What the hell happened this time? Max wouldn’t say anything.

I think I pissed him off, said Logan, his smile turning into a wince as his lip threatened to bust open again.

You guys could have wrecked this whole gig, said Jem.

So? It sucks here anyway.

Maybe, but this Kashnov dude has a lot of influence. If we kill it tonight, it’s going to do great things for the band.

Think of it as publicity. After all, our name is Punch Sound, said Logan.

Yeah, as in sound with punch, not punches thrown.

How was I to know he’d be so touchy? I’ve joked around with him plenty of times before, said Logan.

Tell me what happened, said Jem, crossing his arms.

I went up to check on him. None of us had seen him for hours and I wanted to make sure he wasn’t in some drug-induced coma. Anyway, he wasn’t exactly welcoming, and I realized he had a chick there. So I took a look and asked if he’d mind sharing. I didn’t think he’d fucking attack me!

Logan…

I wasn’t being serious. Well, if he’d said yes, I would have taken advantage of the moment, but I was just fooling around. Anyway, we talked this morning, and all’s good.

I hope so. How are your hands? You’d better be able to still play guitar.

They’re fine, replied Logan. So are Max’s. He may have lost his temper, but he kept himself in check to a degree.

Good. We leave to go to the gallery in an hour. Make sure you’re ready.

Jem let himself out. Logan flipped the bird at the door as it closed. Of course, he’d be ready. Music was his life. Nothing got in the way between him and performing, although girls came close sometimes. Well, more than close, but he was alone tonight. Hopefully, he’d find a nice slutty girl at the art gallery to spend the night with. He’d hooked up with a couple of girls during his time in the city, but neither of them had been adventurous enough for his tastes.

As it turned out, Logan was the first one to be ready to go to the gallery. Jem soon joined him to wait for the car. Karl appeared, yawning, leaving only Max. After a tense ten minutes, their singer joined them. Max and Logan nodded to each other, and then Max smiled.

No hard feelings? Max asked.

Of course not. It was my fault anyway, won’t happen again, replied Logan.

The drive to the gallery was short. Logan looked at his watch.

I thought we didn’t go on until nine?

We don’t, replied Jem.

Don’t tell me we have to mingle first? asked Karl, scowling.

Only if you want to, said Max. Maybe you’ll find a nice girl to talk to?

Just because you’ve got cozy with some chick doesn’t mean the rest of us have to. I’ll give it a miss, said Karl.

The band entered the gallery through a rear entrance. Karl went and sat in an office that had been converted into a temporary dressing room, while the other three went towards the gallery area. The placed was packed, so much so that their arrival went largely unnoticed.

Logan saw Max stop dead and stare at a pretty blonde in a red dress. Fuck, was that the chick that had been in his room? As Max walked across to her, he realized she must be. No wonder the guy was smitten. He turned to speak to Jem, but he was already chatting to some straight-laced guy in a suit, drinking champagne.

Shrugging, Logan looked around to get a glass of his own. A waitress caught his eye as she stepped gingerly around groups of people with a laden tray. She looked tiny, her short, spiky black hair emphasizing her elfin appearance. No pointy ears, though, he noticed. She also looked flustered and far from happy. As he watched, a man wearing a ridiculous tweed suit stepped backwards, almost knocking the tray from her hands. Without thinking, Logan went over to the girl.

Want a hand with that? he asked.

Uh, no. It’s my job. Well, not usually, but tonight it is.

A woman elbowed her, causing one of the glasses to tip and spill red wine down the waitress’ shirt.

Fuck! Why did I ever agree to this?

Logan took the tray from her hands.

Let’s find somewhere to sit this and get you cleaned up, he said.

Yeah, I’m no good at this anyway, she said.

Logan sat the tray on a bench near the door and followed her out of the gallery area. She looked back at him, brow creased.

You don’t need to come, she said.

I know. Just want to make sure you’re okay.

It’s only wine, you know, she said looking at the red stain with dismay. I hope they pay for this. It’s the first time I’ve worn it.

Doesn’t your employer supply your uniform?

It’s not a uniform, she said glumly. I don’t work for the catering company, but when one of their staff didn’t show up, I was dressed similar enough that they asked me to fill in. I’m actually a junior gallery assistant. For now, anyway.

I’m Logan, by the way, he said, holding out his hand.

Allie, she said, shaking it.

Logan felt a shock of awareness, and from the look in Allie’s eye, he wasn’t the only one. He held onto her hand, so small and delicate in his. She shuffled her feet nervously but didn’t try to pull away. He looked down at the stain on her shirt.

You should get out of that and get it rinsed, he said.

Um, yeah. I have an old t-shirt upstairs I can wear.