AllFreeNovel
Share Us
He laughed. “Same. That’s why it’s exciting.”
Only a few days since their recruitment as wedding-band bookers, and they were about to scout out their first group.
She eyed the pub they were queuing outside. “Are we sure these guys are legit? I mean, what kind of wedding band plays the small-pub circuit?”
He shot her a grin. “Who knows? They were recommended by Shuggie.”
“Shuggie?” This was not good news. “For fuck’s sake. I didn’t realize the friend who was mates with the wedding band was him. The guy skis naked. Plus he’s been sacked from every job he’s had for fornicating on the premises.”
Arran laughed. “But he has good taste in music.”
She drew her mouth into a disapproving line. “Good taste inmusic to shag in the back room to is not the same as good music to play at my brother and both of our best mates’ wedding.”
He shot her a wink, which made her weak at the knees. “We’ll soon find out.”
She shook her head with a smile as they moved to the front of the queue. At least they were getting in for free. Their names had been left at the door by Sam and Arran’s friend.
The temperature rose by at least ten degrees and by one hundred percent humidity as they crossed the threshold, and Liv removed her coat so as not to overheat and keel over.
The pub was situated in a nearby town and had a very rustic feel. In the adjacent room, which was an old converted barn, the band were setting up to play. To be fair, the place was pretty packed, so perhaps these guys were actually good—despite their dodgy recommendation.
Arran bought them a couple of pints at the bar and they made their way through the throng to a round table at the back of the gig area. It was the sort that was designed to stand at, so it had no seats. They put their beers down, and Liv shoved her coat underneath the table, Arran following suit with his leather jacket.
He ran a hand over his hair. “I haven’t been to this place in years. I saw my first gig here.”
“Nice,” Liv said, taking a sip of her pint. “I had my first snog here.”
Arran arched an eyebrow and it did funny things to her insides.
“Really?” He eyed her as he drank. “A situation you’re planning on re-creating tonight?”
Liv held his gaze for a moment, trying to work out whether he was flirting with her or not.
He gestured behind them. “Any of these guys take your fancy?”
Okay. Not flirting, then. She craned her neck to look behind him. “Nope.”
He let out a pained sigh. “Oh well. You’ll just have to be single with me forever.”
“I suppose so,” she replied, performing her own dramatic sigh and placing the back of her hand on her forehead as they smiled at each other.
Arran cleared his throat. “Let’s hope these guys are what we’re looking for and we can give Sam and Maya the go-ahead to hire them.”
Liv nodded, crossing her fingers under the table. Perhaps this would be a good find, despite the small, sweaty venue and the recommendation from the world’s flakiest man.
“How much do wedding planners make, by the way?” Arran asked her with a grin. “We should invoice Sam and Maya for our time.”
Liv laughed. “Are you saying that you need to be paid in order to spend time with me? Am I that much of a chore?”
His smile softened, and something flickered in his eyes. “Nah.”
Her attention was drawn from him as the crowd began to cheer and move away from their table, toward the small stage. Four bearded men appeared from stage side to clamber up to the equipment. One headed to the back to sit behind the drums and the other three took up positions in front, one lifting a bass and the other a guitar. The fourth, clearly the front man, grabbed the mike. “Hey. We’re Devil’s Erection.”
The crowd cheered loudly as Liv practically spat her drink across the table. “Devil’s Erection?”
Arran was laughing so hard he couldn’t speak. “Oh my fucking God,” he finally managed to get out.
“Are you telling me you didn’t know their name up until this point either?” Liv asked, her tone incredulous despite the smile threatening to crack her face in two. Though it only now occurredto her that she hadn’t asked the name of the band either; they’d heretofore only referred to them as “the wedding band.”
