Hell Yeah!: Man of My Heart (Kindle Worlds Novella) (The Omega Team Book 5) by Desiree Holt

for two weeks for them to learn and rehearse the new tunes. No sound engineer or anything.
    “We don’t need one until we get into the studio where we’ll record,” he explained to Caleb. “I’ve tried so-called rehearsal halls, other empty spaces, but they don’t have the acoustics places like this does.”
    “This has to cost a pretty penny, though,” Caleb commented.
    Carson just grinned. “Got to spend a penny to make a penny. Besides, I listened to her tape of the new stuff, and she’s got chart toppers there. The best she’s done yet.”
    “I heard bits and pieces,” he told the other man, “and I’m no expert, but, yeah, I agree with you.”
    “You keep her safe, and we’ll be knocking it out of the park. Listen, you’d probably be better off watching from the sound booth. Comfortable chairs and you’re out of the field of action, so to speak. But let me introduce you to the band, first.”
    Caleb watched Jasmine greet three of the band members like old friends, hugging each of them as if they hadn’t seen each other in forever. An unexpected spear of jealousy stabbed him as he watched their affectionate greeting, and he had to keep reminding himself it was just business. Just friends.
    He had their names memorized—Hondo Carr on rhythm guitar, Tony Baez on lead guitar, and Jack Duval on drums. The one new member of the group was the replacement for Cobra Mattice, a bass player, Hayes Vaughn. Carson had texted him the info as soon as he had the man in place so Caleb could get Omega to run it through their computers. Grey Holden had been more than happy to do it for him.
    “You getting back in the game, buddy? We can sure use you.”
    “Maybe.” He made his tone as noncommittal as possible.
    “Whenever you’re ready. Meanwhile, I’ll get you this info.”
    Thank the lord the guy came up clean. Just to be on the safe side, though, as he watched Jasmine greet the other guys like old friends and shake hands with Hayes, he snapped pictures of them. You just never knew when a photo would come in handy.
    He walked through the facility, making sure all the exterior doors were locked and no one hid inside. He took no chances. Then he settled in to watch the rehearsal. He had no idea what to expect.
    He had to admit, the music scene was so far out of his wheelhouse he might as well be on a different planet, but he knew he’d better learn fast. After an hour, he began to think rehearsals were the most boring things in the world. Learning the material, starting and stopping, trying different versions of things they called “riff,” all of that would drive him nuts if he had to do it for a living.
    “Ready to start counting tiles on the ceiling?” Carson joked. “I usually hang out a bit the first day rehearsing new material. That’s when you know whether it’s going to come together or not.”
    “You couldn’t prove it by me,” Caleb told him. They hadn’t even played one song all the way through yet.
    “It gets better,” the manager promised. He handed Caleb an envelope. “I’ve reserved rooms for all of you. Sometimes this will stop early and sometimes it can go until three in the morning. Driving home then can be a bitch. If anyone wants to stay over, they have a place. Hondo has the stuff for the guys. This is for you and Jas.”
    “Okay, great. Thanks.”
    “I plan on taking off shortly. You’ve got my cell number if you need me.”
    “I’ll be fine.”
    He focused on Jasmine. She’d taken her guitar out of its case and was playing part of one tune for the band. She happened to be facing him, and he saw her face come alive from the music, her body swaying to the rhythm. Something inside him uncoiled, like a spring wound too tight exploding in the freedom of release.
    What the fuck was that all about? Even before what he referred to in his mind as the disaster, he’d never had more than a sexual pull toward any woman. But, watching Jasmine, listening to her, seeing the joy in