Josie was sure her heart stopped beating for a just a few seconds as Scarlet absorbed what Bethany had said. “Y’all have tickets for the charity concert at Gracie’s tomorrow evening?” she asked in a tone so cold it sent a chill down Josie’s back.
“Not exactly,” Josie said, not at all surprised that Scarlet knew about the concert. Of course she knew about it. It also meant she’d tried to get into the event and failed.
“Oh?” Scarlet lifted her chin slightly, her lips pressed into a thin smile. “Then how, exactly, are you getting into an event that is by invitation only?”
Josie knew she shouldn’t answer her honestly, but having the upper hand wasn’t likely to ever happen again. Besides, she knew from past experience that Scarlet would either prevent Josie from going to the concert or find a way to go in her place.
Stepping out from behind Colin, Josie rolled her shoulders back and flashed her pearly whites. “Maybe because Colin and I were personally invited by Jackson McCall.”
Chapter 18
Colin
While Colin wasn’t keen on adding more lies, he wasn’t sure revealing their personal invitation from Chase Nichols’ mate was the best option. Scarlet didn’t take the news well.
“Mother!” she screamed, sounding like a banshee from Irish folklore. “Get in her right now!”
“I think I’ll take Bethany upstairs,” Charlotte whispered as Scarlet continued shouting out demands like a dictator.
“Wish I could come too,” Josie said under her breath.
Colin was about to tell Josie to go with Charlotte and her daughter while she still could when Ford and Monica rushed into the kitchen, demanding to know what was going on.
“Josie and her boyfriend are trying to ruin me,” Scarlet said, sounding like a spoiled child.
As Scarlet continued with her rant about how unfair it was that she didn’t have an invitation to the charity event, Josie sighed heavily and leaned into Colin. “You should probably go find Charlotte and Bethany,” she whispered close to his ear. “This hissy fit is bound to go on for at least another thirty minutes.”
“I heard that,” Scarlet snapped. “And I’m not pitching a fit.”
Josie didn’t argue back, prompting Colin to keep his mouth shut too. While Scarlet was no longer shouting, it opened up the floor for Ford and Monica to jump in the foray. Colin noticed that Josie’s father was nowhere to be seen. The man should be ashamed of himself for not sticking up for his daughter. At least, he’d had Gran fighting for him. Josie had no one.
“I insist that you let Scarlet come with you,” Monica said to Josie.
“Sorry, but that’s not up to me,” Josie said, still remaining as unruffled as one of the guards at Buckingham Palace. “Y’all will have to take that up with the event planner.”
“We’ve tried getting tickets,” Scarlet whined. “It’s not fair that you got invited, and I didn’t.”
“Life isn’t always fair,” Josie said in a quiet but firm voice.
“Then you’ll just have to let Scarlet go in your place,” Monica said in a tone that said she fully expected Josie to agree. “I heard that Phillip Jacobs is attending. Scarlet needs to be seen by him as well as Chase Nichols.”
Colin didn’t know that Chase’s business partner was going to be there too. Meeting both producers for the Phillip-Chase record label was more than luck. It was divine intervention. He couldn’t miss out on this opportunity, but how could he let Scarlet take Josie’s place?
“I agree with Monica,” Ford said. “Scarlet’s career is on the line. In fact, I’ll go with her.”
Wait? What? Now Ford wanted to go in Colin’s place? Feeling like he wanted to throw a tantrum of his own, Colin glanced at Josie. She was staring down her stepmother but still hadn’t said anything. He needed to speak up.
“No,” Josie said.
“No?” Monica repeated incredulously.
“No. This isn’t about Scarlet and her career,” Josie said in a calm voice. “This is about introducing Colin Wilde as a country music solo artist.”
“Good luck with that.” Ford let out a low chuckle. “I’ve done my research, and no one like Chase Nichols or Phillip Jacobs is ever going to sign someone with Colin’s reputation.” He glanced at Colin, a look of disgust on his face. “He’s an alcoholic, has-been, rock star who probably doesn’t even have the chops to make it alone.”
Though the accent was different, the man sounded exactly like Harvey when he’d told Colin he was worthless and would never make it on his own. That Colin was nothing without him and didn’t have the talent to carry a solo career. What if Ford was right? What if Colin didn’t have the talent to make it on his own?
The sudden need for a drink made Colin’s hands shake. It sickened him how much he wanted to down a bottle of Irish whiskey and forget about everything. He shoved his hand into his pocket, fingering the reminder of his sobriety and his Gran. He’d come too far to lose focus now. Even if no one else believed in him, he knew his grandmother did.
“You’re wrong,” Josie said. “Colin is a very talented singer-songwriter. And his past has nothing to do with the amazing man he is today.”
Josie thought he was an amazing man? Colin’s fingers stilled as he let her words pull him out of the dark thoughts. She said he was an amazing man. And she believed in him. Believed in his talent. The desire for a drink left him as quickly as it had come, making way for the words and music of the song he was writing come into his mind at a velocity that made him dizzy. It was rushing at him so fast that he had to get his notebook and guitar before it tunneled through him and was gone.
Scarlet started wailing again. Thankfully, Monica escorted her daughter out of the kitchen, promising to get tickets for the charity concert. Ford narrowed his already beady eyes at them. “You don’t want me as an enemy, boy,” he said in a low voice. “Think about that,” he added before turning on his heel and walking out of the kitchen.
Ignoring the threat, the song filled Colin’s head, pushing all other thoughts aside. While he wanted to stay and talk to Josie, he had to get to his room to write. “Thank you for what you said,” Colin said, turning to find her watching him. “It means a lot to me that you believe in me.”
“You’re welcome.” She couldn’t quite meet his eyes. “I’m sorry they were so rude to you.”
“You don’t have to apologize, Josie,” he said in a soft voice. “Besides, it’s not anything I haven’t heard before.”
Her chin lifted, and she met his gaze straight on. “I guess it isn’t anything I haven’t heard either.” She gave him a small smile. “I told you this was Hillside Mania, right?”
Josie’s cell started ringing. She glanced at the screen. “Excuse me, but it’s Shelby,” she said, showing him the screen. “I need to get this.”
“Say hello for me,” Colin said. “I’ll just be in my room.”
The second Colin got to the room, he found a notebook and pencil and then grabbed his guitar. Thirty minutes later, he finished writing the song and knew it was the start of something good. He wasn’t entirely happy with the bridge of the song but needed to clear his head before he went over it again.
Setting the guitar aside, he stood up and rolled his shoulders back to work out the cramped muscles. Writing a song that quickly had been intense. He walked around the room for a few moments before going back to the bed and picking up the notebook. He read through the lyrics, the melody playing in his mind. The bridge still was off, but he couldn’t figure out what was missing. Aside from that, Colin knew the song was good, and he longed to share it with someone. No, not someone. Josie. He wanted to share it with her because the song was hers too.
Not sure if she was off the phone, he started to cross the floor when an overwhelming feeling of anxiety hit him. Ford’s cutting remarks that Colin wasn’t any good bubbled up out of nowhere, pounding in his ears with each beat of his heart. What if Ford was right, and Colin was just a washed-up, alcoholic, rock star?
Colin’s hands started to shake as the desire for a drink slammed into him with the force of a tidal wave. He struggled to draw in a breath as the room closed in on him, the feeling so intense it must be how Harry Potter felt when the Dementors had descended on him, sucking out all hope and light. Colin couldn’t remember the last time he’d faced this kind of temptation and won. It would take more than a magic wand to conjure up the type of Patronus he needed to fight off the dark demons trying to destroy him.
Swallowing hard, he licked his lips. One drink. He only wanted one drink. He tried to shove the intrusive thought out of his mind and started to reach for his sobriety coin. Instead, his fingers curled into a fist as he thought about the quickest way to the wet bar without being detected.
Blinded by the intense craving, Colin moved toward the door. Perspiration beaded his forehead as he broke out into a cold sweat. Somewhere deep inside him, the man he wanted to be was trying to climb out of the dark abyss. Colin’s hand wrapped around the doorknob, but he froze when a flicker of light penetrated his thoughts, and the lyrics from the song he’d just composed came into his mind.
Then you saw me. The real me. The one I never knew. And I’m rescued as you take my hand and pull me up to you. Rescued. I’m rescued. All because of you.
Picturing Josie’s hand reaching out to him, Colin let go of the doorknob and plunged his hand into his pocket. He gripped the coin tightly, sure it would leave the imprint of a shamrock on his palm. Slowing his breathing down, he visualized performing his song before a live audience. Visualized his Gran smiling from the front row. Visualized Josie sitting next to her.
Then, as if someone had waved a magic wand, a set of new lyrics for the bridge of the song came to him, hovering in the air to give him time to write them down in his notebook. After revising the final line, Colin held his breath as he read over his work.
There was no light. There was no hope. I was drowning in the dark. But you saw the truth, reached out your hand, and rescued me with love. You saved me. Loved me. And healed my broken heart.
With the song complete, he picked up his guitar and strummed the opening chords. Closing his eyes, Colin sang the new lyrics to the haunting melody. Peace he hadn’t felt for a very long, settled over him, and he knew without a doubt that this song was his ticket to a new career. And it was all because of Josie.
A soft knock on the door came just as he sang the final line, and he knew the girl who had rescued him was on the other side. Another desire swept through him, one he didn’t want to fight. He wanted Josie. Not for a meaningless hookup or a short-term relationship while he was in America. He wanted her forever because he was falling in love with her.
The knock came again. “Colin? It’s me, Josie,” she said like he wouldn’t recognize her voice.
The doorknob felt cool as he twisted it and opened the door. Wearing a soft pink shirt with gray yoga pants, she looked like an angel, her sweetness filling the space with light and warmth. “Hi,” he said.
“Hey,” she said, studying him closely. “Is everything okay?”
It is now.
“Yes.” His mouth was still dry, making his voice crack. “You look quite beautiful, by the way.”
“Thank you.” She looked over his shoulder and smiled. “So that was you playing the guitar and singing.”
“You heard me?”
“Yeah, sorry, I was brushing my teeth in the bathroom.” Her blue eyes sparkled with admiration. “It was so good. Good enough that I was trying to search for a song about being rescued on iTunes.”
“Truly?” he asked. “You liked it?”
“You have to sing it for Chase Nichols, Colin.” She bit her bottom lip. “But first, will you sing it again for me?”
Colin couldn’t say no. She was the one who had inspired him. Still, he felt vulnerable. What if she knew the song was about her too?
“Please?” she said. “I can’t get it out of my head.”
Hearing her say that was the dream of every songwriter. “Sure, come on in.” He moved back to let her in, closing the door behind her. Josie’s shoulder brushed against his arm as she slipped past him, and Colin’s hand shot out, wrapping around her waist to hold her hostage. “I’m afraid there will be a charge if you want me to sing just for you.”
“Okay.” A smile curved her full lips. “But I don’t have any cash. I’ll have to Venmo you later.”
He grinned and pulled her to him. “I’m not asking for money.”
The heat of her body warmed him as she slid her arms around his neck. “Alright,” she said, fingering the hair at his nape, “what do you want?”
You. He nearly said it out loud but wasn’t sure she was ready for him to voice how deeply he cared for her.
“A kiss,” he said just before covering her mouth with his. She melted against him as he kissed her long and slow, savoring the taste of her lips. He loved having her in his arms, her sweet scent, and the feeling of her silky hair brushing against his arms. He didn’t deserve her, but oh how he wanted her. Urgency filled him as he kissed her over and over until they were both breathless.
Colin wanted to kiss her all night long. Could’ve done that if not for Josie’s self-control. “I have to post a few things for Shelby within the next hour,” she whispered against his mouth. “But you need to sing me your new song before I go.”
It was her song, but Colin wasn’t quite ready to reveal that yet. “Yes, ma’am,” he said with a twang that made her laugh softly.
“You’re quite good at that, mate,” she said in a British accent that wasn’t too bad for a girl from the South. “For a regular bloke, that is.”
Chuckling, Colin gave her one last lingering kiss before leading her to the chair next to his bed. His hands shook as he picked up his guitar, but this time it was his nerves making him shaky rather than a craving for alcohol.
“It’s called ‘Rescued,’” he said, strumming the opening chord.
The song was so much a part of him that he only had to glance at his notebook a few times, keeping his focus on Josie. Her blue eyes shimmered with an emotion Colin was afraid to name. As he strummed the final chord, he held her gaze, feeling vulnerable for revealing so much of his heart to her.
She had to know he’d written the song for her, but did she know why? Colin swallowed hard, holding onto his guitar like it was his lifeline. The real question was…did he dare tell her?
Chapter 19
Josie
Josie listened to Colin’s song, trying to stay in control of her emotions. The words spoke to her as no other song ever had. Rescued. It could be her song because she felt like Colin had rescued her. With him by her side, she didn’t feel alone. Didn’t feel so lost. Because he saw her.
Colin’s voice softened after the bridge, his eyes locking onto hers with an intense look that stole her breath. “I found you. The real you,” he sang in a raspy voice that sent a shiver across her skin. He continued singing, never taking his eyes off of Josie. “The one meant just for me. Surrounded by your love. Our hearts now beat as one.”
Everything around her faded as the final words of the song penetrated her soul. Oh, how she wished he was talking about her. That she was the one meant just for him. Josie knew the lyrics came from his life experiences and not hers. Still, she related to every single line. Anyone who listened to it could relate, and she knew this was the song that was going to make Colin a star again.
It scared her because Josie knew that this magic between them would be gone once he was swept into a world she could never be part of. A world where Scarlet reigned.
“What do you think?” he asked, sounding vulnerable and unsure. She guessed Ford’s cruel words had hit the mark and were probably still circulating in Colin’s
mind.
“It’s beautiful, Colin,” she said, blinking a few times to clear her vision. “We have to find a way for you to sing this for Chase tomorrow night.”
Relief washed over his features. “You really think so?”
“Wholeheartedly,” she teased, affecting a British accent again. She had to keep things light between them. Otherwise, she might confess that she’d fallen in love with her fake fiancé for real.
“Quite,” he said as a slow grin tipped his mouth, making her long to feel his lips against hers once more.
Josie felt a little desperate to hang onto this moment for as long as she could. Tomorrow, the world would be reintroduced to Colin Wilde, and everything would change. And she knew that whatever was happening between them would vanish as quickly as Georgia’s morning fog disappeared once the sun came up.
Before she made a fool out of herself by declaring her love, Josie’s phone buzzed. “Shelby’s sending me the pics I need to post,” she said, standing up. “It might be a while, so I guess I’ll see you in the morning?”
He looked like he didn’t want her to leave. Josie waited for him to say something, maybe beg her to come back to his room when she was done. As desperate as she felt, she wasn’t sure she could resist his invitation.
“Yes,” he said, licking his lips. “I’ll see you in the morning.”
They both stood up but didn’t move as their eyes met and held. Tell me you love me, she thought to herself. Tell me you don’t want this to end. Or maybe she should tell him.
Her phone buzzed again with another incoming message. Shelby and James had attended a fundraiser supporting the Conquer Children’s Hunger campaign that Ground Zero, a nutritional supplement company out of North Carolina, had sponsored this morning. Mrs. Dalton wanted to post the pics to Instagram and her blog to promote awareness to her followers. Shelby was eager for Josie to meet with Weslee Steele, the owner of Ground Zero, to sponsor a Conquer Children’s Hunger campaign in Savannah next month. Josie loved the idea but knew Colin would be long gone by then.
Moonlighting with the British Rock Star: A Georgia Moon Romance Page 15
