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  Better Than Sexy

  Sexy Series Book #3

  Club TEN29

  CARLY PHILLIPS

  Copyright © Karen Drogin, CP Publishing 2020

  Kobo Edition

  Cover Photo: Sara Eirew

  Cover Design: @Steamy Designs

  Editor: Amy Knupp, Blue Otter Editing

  Developmental Editor: Dana with Danja Tales

  * * *

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form by any means without the prior written consent of the Publisher, excepting brief quotes used in reviews.

  This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

  Insta-love only happens in the movies.

  Insta-lust? That she’d buy into.

  Until she meets take-charge club owner Landon Bennett and falls head over heels at a glance.

  When hot as sin Landon Bennet offers sexy songstress Vivienne Clark a summer residency at his popular Manhattan nightclub, it’s the opportunity of a lifetime and she can’t resist. Add in the man’s obvious interest and seductive attention and life is perfect. Until she puts together the pieces of his past. Fate might have brought them together, but is the intimate relationship they’ve been building strong enough to overcome the the secret Vivi is hiding?

  A complete stand-alone

  Chapter One

  “It’s over.” Landon Bennett sat at the bar of his club surrounded by his partners and best friends, Jason Dare and Tanner Grayson, exhaustion and relief seeping into his pores.

  When the judge’s gavel came down confirming Victor Clark’s guilty plea for numerous crimes, not the least of which had been calling in a bomb threat to Club TEN29, vandalism, assault and violating his parole, all three men, Landon, Tanner, and Jason had breathed a sigh of relief.

  The bastard who’d killed Landon’s twin brother in a hazing initiation gone wrong would be going away again for a long, fucking well-deserved time. He never should have gotten out of prison in the first place, but apparently the government placed a high value on Vic’s snitching on his cellmate, who’d been a bigger dirtbag than Vic himself.

  “To Levi, to the future, and to Club TEN29.” Which had been named for the date Levi died. Jason, from his seat on a barstool, raised his glass and they all took a drink.

  Nonalcoholic because despite the fact that they owned a nightclub, none of the guys had a taste for liquor since they’d experienced that horrific night with Levi during their freshman year in college.

  Landon drank his sparkling water and let out a long groan. “Now we just have to get through sentencing.”

  “Vic’s parole was revoked and he was originally in for manslaughter. Add all these charges including a federal one, and we won’t have to worry about seeing his face for a good long time. Don’t worry.”

  This from Tanner, the hotheaded one of the trio. But being with Scarlett, the woman he’d recently met at the club, had mellowed Tanner. Just like Jason’s relationship with Faith had changed him and put an easier smile on his face. Landon was happy for his friends, even if he couldn’t see himself settling down any time soon.

  His last serious girlfriend had cheated on him. While Landon had been working nights, she’d been doing her own thing in the evenings. Her own thing being her ex. Landon had left work early and gone over to her place to surprise her … and found her ex’s face between her thighs. She shouldn’t have given him her key. Suffice to say, after the jaded life he’d lived thus far, trust didn’t come easily, except for the guys … and his immediate family.

  “So I know you’ve been wanting to talk to us about the club,” Tanner said. “What do you have in mind?”

  Landon was grateful for the subject change. The three men, who’d met in college, ran Club TEN29 together and made decisions as a team. Levi’s death had bonded them in a way nothing else could have. Today they had a solid partnership. Tanner dealt with everything inside the club, Landon handled entertainment, and Jason held the position of CEO, running the business end of things. However, they tossed out ideas, collaborated, and made decisions good for them all.

  Landon had been thinking about his idea since the night of Jason’s thirtieth birthday party a few months ago, but they’d been so tied up with the Vic bullshit that he’d tabled the conversation. Until now.

  “Can we agree that the night we hosted Tangled Royal was a huge success?” The popular band that included Jason’s brother-in-law, Grey Kingston, had reunited for a one-night gig in order to help bring back customers to Club TEN29 after Vic’s bomb threat had scared them away.

  Both Jason and Tanner nodded. “We’ve been on an upswing ever since,” Tanner said.

  Landon leaned against the glass and wood bar. “What’s the big thing now?” Before they could consider, let alone answer, he said, “Las Vegas residencies. Britney Spears and Celine Dion were a success, now Kelly Clarkson, Keith Urban, Jennifer Lopez, all bringing in people. So I was thinking, why not host a summer residency here, at Club TEN29?”

  His friends looked at each other and Landon let them think, his own gaze going to the darkened stage they’d put in when Jason had the idea of opening the club to live acts in order to give the place a more Miami Beach vibe.

  A grand piano sat in the corner, and just looking at it, Landon’s fingers itched to play. But he hadn’t indulged in music since his brother was killed. Both he and Levi had shared a talent few possessed. They could hear a snippet, a piece of music, and immediately replay it on the keys. Same with quite a few other instruments. Prodigies, their parents had called them. Landon’s desire to play had died along with his twin.

  “Interesting idea,” Jason said, drawing Landon’s attention from the painful past. “Who did you have in mind?”

  “I didn’t. I’ve been tossing ideas around in my head but nothing’s felt right.” Landon knew the feel of what he wanted, he just hadn’t laid eyes on the right performer yet.

  “Grey is in Florida. No way he’s leaving his family for a two-month gig,” Jason said. “Avery would string him up by his balls and he’s not fighting with a very pregnant woman.” He chuckled at the thought. “And Lola”—Tangled Royal’s lead singer – “enjoyed the one night, but again, she’s in Miami and not leaving her husband.” Rep Grissom was the Miami Thunder football team’s wide receiver and they were based in Florida.

  “Yeah, I didn’t expect to get that kind of star power for the summer.” Landon drummed his fingers on the glass. “Any other suggestions?”

  For the next few minutes, they tossed around names. Big, small, rock, classic, pop, indie, but they couldn’t agree on the first person to approach.

  Jason snapped his fingers and pulled his phone from his pocket. “Faith watched one of the morning shows on television earlier today. On their Pop News segment, they featured this woman whose performance video went viral. Vivi something or other. You should check her out. Great pipes. I don’t think she’s going to stay unknown for long. Let me search…” He input something into his phone and muttered to himself as he obviously scrolled through videos.

  “While he looks, I want to make sure we’re on the same page,” Landon said. “When I say residency, I mean we need to provide a place for the performer to stay while they’re in the city, assuming they don’t already live here, and depending on what we agree to pay per performance, there may be supplemental payment or things we need to give as well.” He looked to Jason, who was still scrolling through his phone.

  As the CEO, he might find holes in the plan Landon had missed. Tanner, too. They complemented each other’s
strengths and weaknesses.

  “We could offer the upstairs apartment,” Tanner suggested. “Saves an additional rental fee and we don’t use it much anymore.”

  Landon shook his head. “You two very much attached guys don’t,” he muttered.

  Tanner shot him a wry glance. “When was the last time you hooked up upstairs, or anywhere, Landon? It’s the cheapest solution.”

  Frowning, he gave the point to his partner. “Fine.” He ignored answering the question because he couldn’t remember the last time he’d had a good fuck. Or any fuck, for that matter.

  He’d been over the club women for a long time and resistant to anyone who had the word serious written all over them. It would take a special woman to get him to change his mind, but he didn’t deny it was possible. Although his ex had royally screwed him over, his parents had an amazing relationship and had been happily married for the last thirty-two years. Even his equally jaded best friends had found their forever women. Landon just didn’t know if she existed for him.

  “You’re in charge of entertainment,” Jason finally said, glancing up from the phone screen. “I’m going to assume you’ve done your research.”

  “Damn straight. I’ve also got our lawyer working on a contract in case you both agree.” He grinned, knowing he was ahead of them, but hell, he believed in his idea.

  Tanner shook his head and laughed. “Fine. I’m in. Jase?”

  The other man nodded. “I like it. Now as for who … I found the video. Look.” Jason rose from his seat and walked over to where Landon stood behind the bar and placed his phone on the counter.

  The three men crowded around and looked down at the small screen. Jason tapped and the video filled the entire display.

  A gorgeous brunette with long hair hanging down her back in sexy waves rocked her way across the stage. Despite the ball cap on her head, she had presence, owning the space as she moved, hips swaying, her husky voice crooning magic.

  Landon leaned in, wanting to get closer to her, to view her as clearly as possible.

  “Hey, back up so we can see,” Tanner complained, smacking him in the arm.

  Feeling oddly proprietary over the video, Landon reluctantly lifted his head and stepped to the side so his friends could also check out the spectacular woman on the screen. But she’d taken off her cap for a brief second, and his gaze was locked on her face, his body captivated by her voice, and his dick completely engaged in a way he hadn’t been in years.

  “I want her,” Landon said, hoping his friends didn’t realize he meant it in a wholly different way than as their summer resident performer.

  “That’s her,” Tanner agreed, and a rush of adrenaline buzzed through Landon’s veins.

  “Then it’s unanimous.” Jason picked up his phone, taking away Landon’s eye candy.

  “Email me the video.” Landon ran a hand over the back of his neck. “Also include anything you know about her so I can track her down and make the offer when we’re ready.”

  Jason tapped on his phone. “Done,” he said, and Landon’s phone buzzed in his pocket. Something told him he’d be watching that video on repeat later tonight with his hand wrapped around his cock.

  “Make sure the contract is in order before you jump the gun and go see her,” Jason said. “I want to cover our asses and not get ourselves tied up with something we come to regret.”

  Landon nodded. “I’ll call Ryan and set up a conference call after he emails the documents,” he said of their attorney on retainer, Ryan Walker. “We’ll all be in agreement before we go forward,” Landon promised, his phone with the video burning a hole in his pocket.

  He needed to see her again. To pause on her face, listen to her sing, and know whether or not the initial gut reaction that had his pulse thudding, his heart pounding, and his dick hard as hell had been real.

  Because one look at the sexy songstress and Landon was hooked.

  * * *

  The sound of banging woke Vivienne Zane from a deep sleep. Exhaustion still nagging at her from her late night of tossing and turning, she dragged herself out of bed, pulled on a pair of pajama pants and a sweatshirt, and padded toward the door of her apartment.

  She looked into the peephole and saw her best friend and personal assistant, Ellie Roberts, standing at the door, waving at her. “Let me in, sleepyhead! I have news!”

  Vivi groaned and opened the door. “You’d better have coffee this early.”

  Ellie, with full makeup, blonde hair curling around her face, met her with a smile. “It’s noon. And you won’t need caffeine after you hear what I have to tell you.” She pulled out her phone. “You went viral! I know you didn’t want anyone to know you went out to sing, but oh my God, look at the views!”

  Ellie shoved the screen in her face, and Vivi blinked in shock at the number of views beneath the video of her belting out her favorite tune.

  “Vivi, this could lead to big things!”

  And Lord knew they needed something to shake loose. Between bills that needed paying, her band that required money or they’d have to go their separate ways, and her family that had fallen apart thanks to her brother having been found guilty again, this time of so many crimes she’d lost count, she’d been emotionally drained for too long.

  Needing a break, she’d just wanted to just be herself, not someone who had people counting on her to come through. She just wanted to be Vivi, the girl who got lost in music when life was hard. So one night last week, she’d put on a pair of worn jeans, an old tee shirt, and a baseball cap and made her way to a bar owned by an old friend, where she sang her heart out to drunk people.

  “I didn’t notice anyone with their phones on me.” Then again, she hadn’t been looking.

  “Well, the contact email from your website has so many hits I’m never going to get through them all!” Ellie’s excitement was tangible. “Oh my God! Good Morning World picked it up on their Sunday Pop News segment!” She was practically bouncing on her heels, her body vibrating with contagious energy. “They used your actual music name!”

  Vivi swallowed hard. She wasn’t well known in the industry, but she was an up-and-coming artist known as Vivi Z, doing small gigs with her band and hoping to get a break.

  “Let me look at it again,” she said, now wide awake and realizing the implications of Ellie’s news.

  Her goals, to be a big-name pop star and to take care of her band and her people, were possibly within reach if they leveraged this opportunity the right way.

  Ellie handed her the phone, and she began scrolling through the comments. To her shock, not only had the video gone viral, but her fans, people who’d found her as an up-and-coming indie artist, had recognized her and were clamoring for the song to be recorded.

  “I’ll be right back.” She darted into the bedroom for her own phone, yanked it off the charger, and returned to her friend, already pulling up her social media pages, which were blowing up like crazy.

  She looked up at Ellie in shock. “This is unreal.”

  Her friend grinned. “If the world didn’t know who Vivi Z was before, they will now!”

  Hard banging on the door sounded.

  “Owen,” they both said at the same time. Her manager, Owen Rhimes, who had taken her on last year, would jump on this in a heartbeat.

  Vivi strode to the entryway, glanced through the peephole, and nodded at Ellie before opening the door. “Owen, what a surprise,” she said somewhat drolly.

  He walked in, tablet in hand, wearing a pair of light-colored chinos and a green Polo tee shirt, collar up, as usual. “If I’d known you were doing anonymous gigs for no money, I’d have been pissed, Vivienne,” he said, using her full name, as he always did. “However, given the outcome, I have no complaints. Now I just need to organize the offers that have already started coming in and present you with the best of the best.” He sounded certain … and full of himself, as if he’d had something to do with her big break.

  She rolled her eyes at Ellie, behin
d his back, of course. He was such a pompous ass, but she’d needed an agent, and very few had been willing to take a risk on an unknown musician.

  “I want to see all the offers.” She never wanted to be an artist who blindly trusted her agent. She intended to be in charge of her own destiny.

  He cleared his throat and frowned at her. “I know what’s best, Vivienne.”

  “And it’s my future. So I want to hear them all.”

  He glanced at his tablet. “Well, most involve touring as an opening act. The main acts aren’t huge … yet, but I can make some calls and–”

  “No touring, Owen. I want to be in one place so I can hole up in a recording studio during the day and work on new music. I want the time and money to record.”

  “Beggars can’t be choosers. We’re lucky that these offers are coming in, but there is no guarantee they’ll be around forever,” he said, his tone full of impatience.

  He might have a point. Not that he wasn’t a jerk at times, but she needed to hear him out. “Let’s sit down and you can tell me what you’ve got so far.”

  For the next thirty minutes, he went through a list of opportunities that included opening for B-list bands, and if she wasn’t so set on staying around the northeast, both for recording and especially for her mother, who was hurting from her brother’s actions, she might have jumped at the opportunity. But she’d rather play local clubs for the year than take off on her mother at such a difficult time for both of them.

  Her father, Victor Clark Senior, had passed away from a heart attack years ago, and that was both a blessing and a curse, because he’d been a big contributor to the bully and abuser her brother, Vic, had become, and Vivi carried her own share of guilt because she’d been his baby girl, his princess. Her brother had been his punching bag. But she preferred not to dwell on either of them now.

  She refocused on her agent. “I’ll think about all these, I promise. In the meantime, if something more local comes up, call me immediately.” She really wanted a well-paying gig that would help her afford in-studio recording sessions.