Jolt: Rusted and Reckless

By Charlotte Casey

Jason Keefer, drummer for Rusted and Reckless, has the fame and money he's always wanted, but something is missing.  The sweet letters he gets from his five-year-old "biggest fan" keeps his life in perspective.  But when he receives an anonymous tip that she's in trouble, Jason doesn't hesitate to help.

Encountering the little girl for the first time in her rundown trailer, he soon learns that they're more connected than he ever realized.  Her aunt, Jade Holmes is the one girl he let get away years ago.  Now, smitten with the little girl and drawn to Jade, Jason sets out to make a difference in both of their lives.  But when the past refuses to let go and traps Jason by the balls, he's backed into a corner.  Can he fight the reckless demon from his past for a future he's always wanted?

• Language: English
• Publisher: K.C. Stewart
• Release date: Oct 9, 2017
• ISBN: 9781386575467

Charlotte Casey

USA Today Bestselling Author, Charlotte Casey, has roots in country that go back to singing Achy Breaky Heart in her car seat at the top of her lungs. She finds nothing sweeter and nothing more desirable than a southern man with drawl. A romantic at heart, Charlotte couldn’t imagine reading or writing anything that doesn’t revolve around romance. Her stories may be fiction but her characters will leap from the pages and pull you into their world. 

Book preview

Prologue

Six years ago.

She couldn't believe that had actually worked.

Shaina had promised her that she would get them backstage but Jade had her doubts. A few batted eye lashes, some hushed whispers and a shimmy from Shaina's overflowing chest and they were in.

What did you promise him? Because there was no way in hell they had been let in out of the goodness of his heart.

Shaina shrugged. Don't worry about it. Hey, I gotta use the bathroom. Wait for me here. She turned and walked away before Jade could tell her she'd go along. Behind her a new security guard took over. She watched the one who let them in come down the hallway and…go right into the bathroom Shaina had entered.

Oh no, Shaina you didn't? Meeting the members of Rusted and Reckless was not so important that Shaina had to have sex with a stranger just to get them inside. When her cousin had told her that she could get them backstage Jade had assumed it was of legitimate means.

It took only five minutes before Shaina was walking back towards her. She was quickly followed by the guard who looked more than satisfied.

You didn't have to do that! Jade said under her breath as she linked her arm in her cousin's and pulled her down the hall.

What? It was just a BJ, Shaina said passing it off as if she did that all the time. Which, she probably did. Ever since high school ended and they went their separate ways— Shaina working at the grocery store and Jade going to college—they hadn't been nearly as close as they once had. Jade tried to like the person Shaina had become but if she was being honest, her cousin was a slut. She'd known for a lot longer than tonight. This concert was a way to celebrate their 21st birthdays that each had missed while Jade was in school. It was also probably one of their last outings together.

Jade was a double major in business and art. Her specialty was painting but she made money selling her pottery. One day she would open up her own studio where she could bring art into a community and teach. She was one semester away from graduating and beginning that dream.

I don't care who you want to have a go at but Nix is mine, Shaina said as they looked for the right door.

Jade didn't plan on having a go at anyone. She just wanted to meet them and drool all over them. Unlike her promiscuous cousin, Jade didn't just give anyone a BJ for the hell of it. The one and only one night stand she had was horrible and never bared repeating. Jade was more of a relationship girl. In fact, since she was fifteen she had always had a steady boyfriend. There might have been a total of six months where she was single, but it never lasted long. She was in one of those single stints now. It was depressing if she thought about it. Which is why she had agreed to tonight. If nothing else, Shaina's antics would entertain her.

Ok, so if Jason Keefer wanted to have a go, she might have a hard time turning him down. The drummer was every naughty thought and dream molded into the ultra-dirty embodiment of Jade's perfect man. Tonight, when he had come out on stage in a kilt, she could feel her ovaries exploding like popcorn.

That man was the reason why she hadn't been questioning Shaina's plan the whole night. What the hell was she supposed to say to the man if they met? Uh, hey. You're hot and shit. She was an art student, which meant she was a social zombie. Yes, she would also have a business degree which helped even the scales a bit but that didn't make her any less odd when she initially met a person.

Jade had found art as a way to hide as she grew up. For the majority of her life she had been mistaken as a boy. Puberty did not bring with it breasts and curves, just acne. The term was athletic build but she didn't have an athletic bone in her body. If she could jump six inches off the ground she would be shocked. So she had hid in the art room with the rest of the socially inept kids. There she learned to speak fluent Elvish, found her one true love within classic Doctor Who, and how to make any kind of weapon or armor out of foam core. Artists were a unique brand of human with sub genres galore. Jade hadn't wanted to just be in with the painters, or the cosplayers, or the potters, or the jewelers. She wanted to be in all of them. Basically, she was in the cool kids group of art students. That meant nothing in real world standards but as long as she was a student, she had a place to fit in.

Here it is, Shaina said squeezing her arm. How are my tits?

Jade would have laughed if her stomach wasn't impersonating a tilt-a-whirl. Great.

Shaina smirked, not missing the hint of jealously and knocked on the door.

Rory Freeman opened it a minute later. He looked at both of them before grinning. Jade took the chance to get an up close and personal look at Rusted and Reckless' guitarist. And there was plenty to look at. Holy crap that man was tall. And beautiful. And tall. And his hair was blonder than hers. And oh my god why was he so tall?

He was a Viking. She totally wanted to braid his hair and make him a hammer like mjolnir out of foam.

Ladies, are you lost? That smirk could be dangerous if she was exposed to it for too long.

Not at all. I think this is right where we belong. Shaina had dropped Jade's arm and wound herself around Rory. The man did not object. He waved Jade in the room with them and closed the door behind her. Can I get either of you a drink?

No than-

Two beers would be great, Shaina interrupted while simultaneously petting the Viking man. Thor be damned. Jade was now praying to the Norse god Rory.

You need to lighten up, Shaina told her when Rory was gone. She grabbed Jade's arm and pulled her over to the wall. You are twenty-one now. Act like it. Have a drink, loosen up, go fuck someone.

Uh…

Shaina got a little gleam in her eye. That was the other thing that had changed while she was gone. Shaina had become a hurtful bitch. Jade prepared herself for whatever was about to come out of her mouth next.

God, I don't know why I brought you. You don't drink, you don't smoke, you don't have sex. She shook her head while looking down upon Jade like she was bottom barrel scum. Tell me Jade, what do you do?

It was a challenge.

The lines had been drawn.

The champions chosen.

Now all she needed to do was throw down. To show Shaina that she could keep up. That she was fun. Cool.

Problem was, she wasn't so sure she wanted to keep up. After tonight, she didn't see herself hanging out with her cousin so much anymore.

Two beers, Rory said with a grin handing one to each of them. Jade smiled and mentally thanked him for his perfect timing. Now, introductions. I'm Rory and you are?

Shaina and my cousin, Jade.

It's a pleasure to meet you both. Let me point some people out. We have Greer and Sawyer over on the couch. Nix is manning the bar and Jason is, he frowned as he looked around. Jade looked too. She had a man in a kilt to see.

Right behind you, dickwad.

Jason came to stand right beside her. She never thought in a million years that she would ever find someone wearing a kilt, no shirt and a Stetson sexy. But here she was, being proven wrong. Jason's eyes glossed over Shaina and then turned to her. They crinkled at the corners as he took her in and smiled. Hi, I'm Jason.

Jade, she said with no stutter whatsoever. Yeah, that was pride in her chest. She said her own name in front of a country god. Ten points to Ravenclaw. Go her.

Jason held out his hand and she complied, sliding hers into his open palm. Jason being the gentleman that he was, lifted her hand to his lips and placed a chaste kiss on her knuckles. He had been giving her the crinkle eye lusty look the whole time until he kissed her hand. Then he frowned. Not just a frown. His nose wrinkled up as he looked down at her hand and, this is the part she would rather not remember, he smelled her hand.

SMELLED IT.

Uh, oh god. I'm sorry. I was in the darkroom earlier and the fixer smell is really hard to wash out of your skin. I should use tongs, I know. It would save my hands after all and not have me smelling like rotten eggs for days but I like a hands on approach to art and Jesus, why are you still doing that? Jade tried to pull her hand away but he held firm.

At this point Shaina walked away with Rory. Apparently Jade's mortification wasn't entertaining enough for her.

Jade, Jason said, releasing her hand. She snatched it back to her and held it against her stomach. Breathe, Babe.

She did. But not because he told her to.

So you are a photographer?

Uh huh, she said like a dope. She blamed it on Jason for calling her Babe. Her brain couldn't function with pet names and all that bare chest in her line of vision. Sensory overload.

I mean, no. I'm not. Well, kinda?

Jason laughed. He threw back his head and laughter came pouring out over them. Heads turned. Conversations stopped. All to see what had Jason Keefer bellowing out in laughter.

Jade blushed so hard the tips of her ears turned red.

Oh man, you are adorable. Alright, non-photographer who is a kind of a photographer, tell me about yourself. You in school?

She nodded. Yeah. Almost done. I'm a double major. Art and business.

Odd combination.

Not if you want to open an art studio.

He nodded and finished off his beer. True. So what kind of art?

He actually seemed interested. Here she thought that they would all want to talk about the show and how great they were. Stroke their egos until they could get something else stroked. But Jason actually looked like he cared what her answer was going to be.

A little bit of everything. I paint, watercolors mostly. I also sculpt and make mugs and bowls because it makes money. Photography is just something I do for fun. I took a few classes on it and liked the magic of developing a picture in the darkroom.

Fascinating, he said studying her.

What?

The way your eyes light up when you talk about your work. You just…glow, he said looking at her as if she were a light bulb that had just been turned on. I'd love to see your work-

Here you go! Shaina said pushing herself between them and handing Jason a new drink. I got you a fresh one.

Jade's smile slid off her face as her cousin inserted herself and her boobs into their conversation. She couldn't blame the guy for looking. Hell, a nice rack made her look twice and she was completely straight. Boobs were mesmerizing. It was a fact of life.

A sad fact since she had practically none.

Thanks, he said and took a sip.

So did you meet Nix? Jade asked. That was the whole reason they were there, after all.

She pouted. No some skank got to him before I could.

Don't worry, he'll be back out and you'll have another chance, Jason told her drinking some more but not looking like he enjoyed it. What is this?

Shaina looked thoughtful as she glanced behind her to a door where Nix was presumably banging some skank. Rum and coke.

He tried another sip. Tastes funny.

I added lime.

He grunted and sipped again. When he looked at her, his eyes had begun to glaze over. Not a big fan of lime.

Then drink it fast, her cousin suggested.

Jason smiled at her but didn't make a move to go at any other speed than the one he was at. They talked for a little bit more but the questions were now addressed to both of them. Jade kept waiting for Shaina to lose interest and find new prey, but she just waited there looking bored.

When he finished his drink, Shaina offered to get him another. Sorry Sweets but I'm at my limit. I never drink more than two or three. He turned around to place his drink on a nearby table and swayed a bit. Damn, he grinned. Probably should have stopped at two.

Shaina wrapped herself around his bicep. Her fingers slithering over his chest as if she had every right to do so. Jade looked on in horror as she leaned in and whispered something to Jason.

The man grinned. He blinked a few times and then lost his balance but caught himself before he tripped too badly.

How strong had Shaina made that drink?

'Scuse us, Babe, he said to Jade's invisible twin to her left. The man was so drunk he couldn't even tell where she was standing. Shaina winked at her and then tugged him along to a door.

That drummer stealing, fake tit, sleazy, whore.

Oh yeah, she knew about the boob job.

Jade wasn't sure what just happened, only that she needed to leave. Fuck her cousin. Fuck Jason Keefer and his lickable abs. Fuck. It. All.

Jade turned till she found a table to place her beer on. She hadn't even taken a sip of it.

You don't drink, you don't smoke, you don't have sex, what do you do?

I get the fuck out of here, that's what I do, she murmured to herself. With everyone immersed in their own conversations, no one saw her walk out the door and leave.

Chapter One

My Love, time is running out. You must respond back to me as soon as you get this. I know it is soon. Too soon. I promised to give you time in this life you have made, but the Time Hoppers have found me and we must go if we want to escape together. I don't wish to wait another lifetime to find you again but I will if I must. I will always find you, Jason.

God, he loved the crazy ones. Jason continued to read on about how he and Sheila here were soul mates and would find each other every life time. She was from the future. 2134 if he remembered correctly. Sheila was an outlaw from that time period who stole a time machine and went in search of her soul mate. But each time she found him, he died in some horrific accident involving the mysterious Time Hoppers. Reading her letters was like staring into his own horrible sci-fi rom-com.

He wasn't allowed to respond to the crazy fan mail, that would only stroke the fanatic fire but he found so much entertainment out of reading them. People were seriously fucked up. Some even making Shelia look tame in comparison. Jason had read about how he was going to die. How he had a long lost twin sister who was madly in love with him and how he shouldn't think of it as incest but blood loving blood. About how he was an alien warlord from the plant T'Wanek. He crash landed and had amnesia but he had come here to destroy earth and only the love of his fated mate, Derek, would save him.

Oh yeah, he had some crazy as fuck fans out there, and he loved them all.

He put Sheila aside. The next chapter of their love story would probably come next month. He saw the corner of one of one of his favorite’s envelope. For every ten insane fans, Jason has one true and honest fan who just loved him and his music. He wasn't sure if this one loved his music or if he was getting the letters by accident but she always made him smile. Two years ago he began to receive pictures from a little girl named Cara. She drew him unicorns and sunflowers that had legs and really cool hats. He got to see her Christmas mornings and birthdays through use of crayon. He loved getting mail from Cara. He had no idea who she was or why she was writing but her pictures lit up his day.

As per usual, the envelope was colored too. This time it was purple hearts. Last time had been purple cats. He figured purple was her new favorite color since lately everything was covered in it. Suns were no longer yellow, they were purple. Hair was no longer brown, it was purple. Sea, sky, grass, dogs, everything was shades of purple.

Jason made extra special care to not tear the envelope. He liked to keep her drawings and the envelope was included in that. He slid a knife in the seam and slowly cut through the side. Two things fell out onto the table. A drawing, of course, and a letter.

On the table his phone began to buzz. He looked down to see Sawyer's smiling face and then he noticed the time. Fuck. He was late. He picked up the call knowing he was about to get bitched out.

Sawy-

You're late, he said gruffly in greeting.

I'm on my way.

Sawyer grunted and hung up.

Good talk. Jason pushed up from the table. He'd finish all