Rising West: A Turner Artist Rocker Novel (The Turner Artist Rocker Series Book 1)
Page 24
“It’s not exactly the virile affirmation of manhood a badass rocker wants to hear.”
“Badass rocker, huh?” she asks, squinting at me. “I don’t think so. Twenty bucks says you’re not even the lead singer of your band. Let me guess… guitarist or drummer and you write the songs. You’re the talent, not the face.”
I’m more than a little impressed as I shrug. “That’s kind of scary, actually. How’d you know?”
“Virile affirmation of manhood. Who says that? Only songwriters. Plus, I told you. You have that look.”
“Pathetic puppy dog, yeah,” I mutter.
“I never said pathetic.” Her crystal blue eyes search mine, and my heart thumps straight down my chest toward my jeans. Shit, I’d follow her to the coat closet right now if she wanted. “What’s your name?” she asks.
“Xander.” My voice sounds hoarse with the pain of desire, and her eyes ignite. We stare at each other for several long, enflamed seconds.
“Do you have any idea how many egotistical badass rockers I have to deal with day in and day out, Xander?” She leans closer, almost at my ear when she whispers. “You can imagine how refreshing it might be to encounter a sexy, incredibly virile, puppy dog poet.”
I can’t breathe as she sits back, those blistering eyes suggesting everything she wants to do to me. I’m already there, imagining how her elegant black dress would slide off her shoulders. How, after wrecking a freshly made hotel bed, we’d be able to finish the night with an intelligent conversation. God, I’m starving for a woman who would challenge me.
“Are you single, Xander?” she asks.
I nod. So single. So wonderfully single.
“Thank god,” she breathes out and lifts her phone. “What’s your number?”
I give it to her, holding my breath as she punches it into the keypad. A second later my phone buzzes with a text, and her grin confirms it. This is happening. Pulse pounding, I’m downright starving as I glance down for the name and number of the goddess siren of my dreams. Hello… Lydia Carmichael.
CHAPTER 2
LYDIA
I stare at the empty stool beside me, trying to figure out what the hell just happened. Five minutes ago I was flirting with the most gorgeous hazel eyes I’ve ever seen, certain he was into it too. Now? Just me and a commiserating bartender who’s starting to irritate the crap out of me.
“Another one?” Drew asks as I slurp the last of my third drink.
“No thanks. Just the bill.”
He nods, his gaze settling on the empty seat beside me.
“Seemed like a cool dude,” he says, seriously threatening his tip if he keeps up this sympathetic bullshit.
“Yeah, he did, didn’t he. Just the check, Drew.”
He nods and leaves me alone to mentally replay my disastrous fail for the eighth time. Where did it go wrong? No matter how many times I suffer through the highlight reel, none of it makes sense.
Girl spots attractive troubled man at bar. Girl hits on attractive troubled man. Attractive troubled man turns out to be even more interesting than she hoped. She’s hooked and ups her game to irresistible. Flirt, flirt, flirt, right up to the goal line, and bam. Suddenly he remembers he has to wash his hair, or whatever the dude equivalent of bailing on a hookup is.
Problem is, I wanted this one. Badly. More than I’ve wanted one in a long, long time. When you’re constantly surrounded by entitled ego, sincere poets like Xander wreak havoc on bored hormones. And the fact that they couldn’t indulge in that sexy deep pool of substance means he’s now cemented in my brain’s shrine to unfulfilled fantasies. My body is still screaming with the urge to explore his, to discover the secrets of that captivating gaze. Some people just have a way of existing that makes you desperate to know more. I suspect that same quality allows him to hide from the masses who only have the capacity to notice glitz and flash. Me? I know the real brilliance lives in the shadows. That’s where individuals like Xander typically hide to construct their poetry for life, unencumbered by the restrictions of the spotlight. It’s why I had to find out more, and by the end, wanted to know everything. It’s also why leaving with nothing is so damn painful.
I force away the image of long thick lashes blinking over a shy smile I wanted to devour. Xander. Shit. My fingers itch to message him, and he’s probably not even back to his room yet. His room. Somewhere in this hotel that man is about to strip naked without me. Are you really wishing you’d stalked him to the elevator? What is wrong with you, Lydia?
Stress. That’s what’s wrong. I hate these stupid events and do my best to avoid them whenever possible. Hell, I’m only here because my boss insisted, and as the new girl on the block, I couldn’t exactly say no. The fact that my entire night revolved around avoiding an encounter with my father, the emperor of music himself, certainly hasn’t helped my cortisol levels. I’m sure Donna thought hiring the daughter of White Flame’s CEO would be a great connection for her firm. Maybe I should have been more up front about the fact that my entire career path is designed to avoid him as much as possible, while still working in the same industry.
My phone rings, and yes, my stupid heart stutters with a flash of hope that it might be the mysterious guy who just left me reeling. I glance down and grunt.
“Hey, Donna. What’s up?” I say, answering the call from my boss.
“Lydia, glad I got you. How’d everything go?”
“Fine. You know how these things are.”
Truthfully, I’m just assuming it was the same as every other event. I really only watched the circus for a few minutes from the back before slipping out—just enough to know that my dad’s label is in serious trouble if they thought signing Chris Lundstedt as a solo artist was a good business decision. If Donna is calling to assign me to that nightmare PR project, she will have my resignation on her desk by morning.
“Good to hear. We can talk more about that later. I’m calling because there’s been a change of plans. We just got an urgent call from a high profile client, so I’m pulling you off the ‘Pillow Talk’ campaign.”
“Really? We just started designing the—”
“I know, I know. It’s going great which is why I know Tim can handle it. I need you for something bigger.”
“Bigger than a Viper Rising tour?”
“Much bigger. I just got off the phone with Turner Artist Management.”
What? No freaking way. What are the odds? My annoying brain flutters back to hazel eyes and deadly smiles I was this close to owning tonight. Shit, what would those tattoos have looked like without the shirt covering them? Bet he has full sleeves and more. My disappointed body joins in the action, and I squeeze my legs together in a silent protest.
“Turner? What do they need? They have their own people, right?”
“Yeah, but this is… a more intricate assignment. They need specialists, so they called the best.”
“I already work for you, Donna. No need to sell me on the firm.”
“Hilarious. You know what I mean. Anyway, one of their new artists is struggling. Tons of potential, but needs some major work with their image and visibility. Sam thinks they have the talent to be huge with the right promotion, but they’re going to need help beyond the typical packaged campaigns.”
“What kind of help?”
“Honestly? Everything. We want to assign you to them full-time. Shadow them twenty-four-seven and mold them into a top-tier artist. They will be instructed that you own them and their careers for the next few months. We’ll have support for you behind-the-scenes, whatever you need, but you’ll be the architect. The artist and visionary, if you will. Or Dictator.” She laughs at her own joke. “You interested? Let me add, you’re insane and fired for being stupid if you’re not.”
I manage a polite chuckle, but my pulse is already pounding. This is huge. This is the break I’ve been waiting for since graduating with my masters and deciding to make my own destiny. This is it. My chance to prove myself as Lydia Carmichael, n
ot Stocker Carmichael’s daughter. Am I interested? Ha.
“Wow. That sounds…”
Incredible.
Too good to be true.
The chance I’ve been waiting for my entire life.
“I know it’s a lot to process. This is a huge opportunity, Lydia, and honestly, one that rarely comes along. I waited years before something like this came for me, but if you play your cards right and make this band a success, the sky’s the limit for you. Think about it tonight and give me your answer in the morning. In all seriousness, if you don’t want the assignment, I understand, but I think this one was tailor made for you.”
I think so too. Can I start right now? “I don’t have to think about it. Yes. I’m in. What do I need to do?”
“Really? That’s fantastic! Okay, well, in that case, our next step will be to meet with the Turner folks and the band before you roll out for the tour. Did I mention the tour? They leave Thursday so we don’t have a lot of time. We have to move on this immediately.”
“Not a problem at all. I can have my bags packed and be at the airport whenever you need.”
“I love your enthusiasm. I knew I tagged the right person.”
“Thanks for your faith in me, Donna. I won’t let you down. What’s the band anyway? I’ll start researching tonight.”
“Fantastic. The band is called Falling Back North. They have a unique sound that combines modern rock with almost a Latin twist. I don’t know, you’ll see what I mean. They signed with White Flame recently, so you may have crossed paths at some point. I’m sending you everything I got from Turner right now.”
A White Flame artist? So, project of a lifetime and I get to kill it in front of my skeptical father who thinks I can’t handle this (or any) business? Did I mention I was in?
“Great. Looking forward to it.”
“I’m glad. I have a feeling this will be the start of big things for you, Lydia.”
I’m still smiling as I hang up the phone, relieved for a distraction from hazel eyes that suck you into forbidden waters. Eight years of hard work and sacrifice is about to pay off, and I’m already eager to be consumed by my new assignment. I open my phone to start a search on Falling Back North. With any luck, in just a few minutes I’ll be so beautifully engrossed, I’ll never have to think about sexy, mysterious puppy dog poets named Xander again.
Purchase FALLING NORTH on Amazon (available in KU).
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NOTE FROM ALY
Depression is a serious illness that can go unrecognized by the victim and surrounding loved ones.
If you, or anyone you know, have plans to harm yourself, or you just need someone to talk to, help is available. Please know you are not alone, and help is just a phone call away.
The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 1-800-273-TALK is the United States based suicide prevention network of 161 crisis centers. It provides a 24-hour, toll-free hotline available to anyone in suicidal crisis or emotional distress.
Seek help, and know that you are important and you are loved.
Sincerely,
Alyson Santos
PLAYLIST
So many songs and artists inspired me while writing this book. Although the genres and styles may vary, music speaks a universal language that transcends boundaries and touches lives. For more on the specific songs that inspired RISING WEST, follow this playlist, along with many others, on Aly’s Spotify channel.
I’d like to give a special shout-out to The Blue Stones whose bluesy rock sound inspired me throughout the writing of this book and dominates the RISING WEST Playlist. Check them out for a glimpse of how I heard Mason’s unforgettable vocals in my head!
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
From the start of my journey, I’ve been blown away by the support from new friends, readers, bloggers, and fellow authors. I can’t possibly see this as my accomplishment, but as an incredible blessing thanks, in large part, to all of you. There are so many people in my heart, and I wish I could list every one of you, even though I know it’s impossible. Please know that I treasure you all and take nothing for granted.
To my amazing husband who is always there to support me. Without you I would not be writing these words.
To Hazel James: I literally could not have written this book without you. I wouldn’t want to be a “clone” of anyone else. <3
To Lindsey Domokur and Jayne Frost: Thank you for believing in my words even when I didn’t. You gave me the courage to keep going when I needed it most.
To Sunniva Dee: Thank you for your encouragement and helping me sculpt these words to be the best they can be. Love you, AB.
To Beth Flynn: Another book into our journey together! So blessed to have you by my side. Thank you also for your construction input. Love you.
To Brenna Leigh, Teri Smitsky, Nicola Tremere, Brenda Travers, and Darlene Avery: Your friendship and feedback mean so much to me.
To Donna Payne Latham: Thank you for friendship and support, as well as, reviewing the photography scene and helping me find Mason. #allthestalking
To Jon Meckes: Thank you for sharing your music brain.
To Christine Estevez: Thank you for your friendship, support, and marketing guidance.
To Maria (Steamy Designs): Thank you for designing the perfect cover for Mason and Liberty’s story.
To Rory and Kerry Castellano: Thank you for your construction input and sharing your stories with me. (And for the awesome deck!)
To my “Mouse Rat” bandmates (Amanda, Josh, Bruce, Jason, and Aaron): Thank you for being the musicians who inspire my real musical journey (and many scenes throughout this book).
To Acoustic Pursuit (Christian Lopez, Brianna Storm, and David Ingrassia): Thank you for your collaboration and being a part of ABC.
To Megan Buisch: Thank you for sharing your medical knowledge and patience for my questions.
To the epic members of ABC (Aly’s Breakfast Club): I can never thank you enough for your encouragement and support. You always bring a smile to my face and remind me why I do this. I love you hard!
To all my readers, I wish I could thank every one of you. Thank you for taking this journey with me and I would love to hear from you!
Table of Contents
RISING WEST CONTENTS
CHAPTER 1
CHAPTER 2
CHAPTER 3
CHAPTER 4
CHAPTER 5
CHAPTER 6
CHAPTER 7
CHAPTER 8
CHAPTER 9
CHAPTER 10
CHAPTER 11
CHAPTER 12
CHAPTER 13
CHAPTER 14
CHAPTER 15
CHAPTER 16
CHAPTER 17
CHAPTER 18
CHAPTER 19
CHAPTER 20
CHAPTER 21
CHAPTER 22
CHAPTER 23
CHAPTER 24
CHAPTER 25
EPILOGUE
ORIGINAL SONG
MORE FROM ALYSON
STAY IN TOUCH
Excerpt from FALLING NORTH
CHAPTER 1
CHAPTER 2
NOTE FROM ALY
PLAYLIST
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS