“He was dead weight, right?”
Burt’s mouth hung open.
“Yeah, I saw Clever Love and, believe it or not, he told me a different story. I had to hear the truth from someone else’s manager.” She chuckled. “No, someone else’s father. You lied to me, for years, you lied.”
He held up his hand as though that would calm her. “You don’t understand. You represented millions of African-American little girls. How would it be if—”
“Don’t you dare say it.” She planted her feet on the floor. “The show was about inclusion and diversity.”
“With a rat.” Her father smirked.
“The only rat was the person who lied to me. Here Hyde believed the story that Clever had told him about me being shallow and using him, and you lying and keeping secrets from me for my own good. Hyde tried defending you when I told him that my mother had cancer while I taped the show and you never told me.”
“You were ten. You didn’t need to know about your mother’s condition.” He shook his head vigorously.
“Hyde said the same thing. I was still a part of the family. You should have said something instead of keeping me in the dark.”
“Your mother and I made that decision together. We did what we thought would be best for you. I didn’t realize you were still holding on to this pain.”
“I didn’t realize it either until I saw Hyde believing his father over me and siding with him.”
As soon as she said the words, it hit her. As India had mentioned, she and Hyde had done the exact same thing. Both had been led by their parent through lies and manipulations, yet, they both ran to their families.
Blood was thicker than water.
“Look, baby girl—”
“I’m not a baby.” Tassia stood. She briefly looked down at her outfit to notice that she had on pink-and-white striped cotton sleep shorts and a My Little Pony T-shirt. She glared at her father. “I’m a grown woman who needs to be handling my business, personal and otherwise.” She started to walk by her father. “I left a good man in Tennessee without sitting down and talking about our issues.”
Burt sat up taller, but Tassia put her hand on his shoulder to still him.
“I love him, Dad. Fat, thin, white or otherwise. I love him. He saw my talent and appreciated me before I even learned to love myself. I don’t know if we can get back to that special time we had, but I’ll always have that memory. If you’ll excuse me, I have to make some calls and get my life back in order. I can’t keep hiding out and running to my daddy when I have problems.” She thought about Hyde’s words to her after they had sex the first time. “I need to stop running.”
“Even to me? You can’t run to me when you need help? I’ll always be here for you.” He stood and held Tassia’s shoulders.
She patted his arm. “I know. I need to learn how to stand on my own. I won’t do that if I’m steadily hiding behind you. And I won’t be able to have a positive relationship if I don’t stay to work things out. Guess I’ll know better the next time.” She kissed her father on the cheek and headed to her bedroom.
Tassia needed to stop her personal pity party and start living. Whether with Hyde or not, she had to make her way back to life. The first step would be to tackle her career. Time to get her team together.
Chapter 21
Chantel held Tassia’s hand in a waiting room area before the official press conference began. The connection shocked her as it normally did. Tassia looked at her boss in amazement.
“You’ve had a rough couple of weeks.” Chantel kept her voice low.
Tassia didn’t need to rehash the gossip about her songwriting skills or the fact that she may or may not have bedded and been dumped by the hottest man in entertainment. All of it hurt, but she gained some wisdom and backbone to ignore the negativity. She wished she could have figured out a way to not miss Hyde.
“I’m fine.” She patted the back of Chantel’s hand. “I appreciate your support. Keeping me on Charisma and all.”
“Of course. We have always believed you. As a matter of fact, our legal team is mounting a cease and desist order to Chatty Charlie to stop spreading lies about you or he’ll be sued.”
Tassia smiled at that bit of news. She would have been happier if she could have talked to Hyde before this press conference. Despite her last confrontation with her father at his house when she had vowed to make things right with Hyde, fear kept her from calling him. To hear him reject her would have crushed her.
“It didn’t surprise me when we heard from Hyde’s camp that he was still on board with the project. Since Clever Love is no longer Hyde’s manager, we could never get a confirmation on whether he would be here for this announcement.” Chantel looked almost remorseful as she patted Tassia’s hand.
Tassia tried putting on a brave face. After ignoring the man, she couldn’t blame him for ditching the project now. It also surprised her to hear that Hyde no longer had C. Love managing his son’s career. It made her wonder if that decision came about because of what had happened between them.
Truman stood next to Chantel. “You ladies ready?”
Tassia turned to Chantel. “Seems weird to do a press conference. Feels very old school.”
Chantel smiled. “That’s the point. I want to give it an almost presidential feel. I think this project is that important.”
Tassia and Chantel nodded. Truman stepped out first while holding his wife’s hand. In a show of solidarity, Chantel held Tassia’s hand even as they stood at the podium in the lobby of the Oceanfront Hotel in Virginia Beach.
“Good afternoon, and thank you for coming.” Truman took off his trademark cowboy hat as he spoke to the eager media that steadily snapped pictures and recorded the press conference with huge cameras.
The ballroom where the press conference took place had been stripped except for a few chairs for the press and the podium with various microphones.
“We’re here to formally announce an upcoming project.” Truman glanced at Tassia before he said the news. “Charisma Music is putting together a duets album that will have our artist, Tassia Hogan, who you may remember from the hit song “Ride Me” by Aaron, and country singer and superstar, Hyde Love.”
At the mention of his name, the flashbulbs from the cameras intensified and loud murmurs echoed off the walls.
“Announcements have gone out on all social media networks. We’re hoping to release the album in the spring of next year.” Chantel leaned forward to speak into the bank of microphones.
“Will a tour follow?” one reporter in the crowd asked.
“It depends on their schedules.” Truman’s tactful answer would hopefully keep the ravenous group at bay.
“Where’s Hyde? Why isn’t he here to say anything?” another reporter asked.
This time Tassia stepped forward. “Of the two of us, he has more demands on his time. But he is still committed to this project.” At least, people in her camp and at Charisma kept telling her so. “You’ll see this announcement on all of his social media feeds right now, too.” At least she had been told that by Chantel and Truman. Since Tassia still hadn’t talked to Hyde since their final phone conversation, she had no idea where Hyde stood.
“Will your recent bad publicity about you not writing any of your songs hurt your sales?”
That question angered Tassia enough that she gritted her teeth.
“Uh, no.” Chantel squeezed Tassia’s hand like she wanted to calm her. “Those stories are false, and our legal team is going after every news outlet that has recently reported this as being factual. Tassia is a phenomenal songwriter, who—”
Chantel stopped speaking when music piped into the room. Tassia didn’t recognize it at first. Guitars and a solo piano playing complemented each other until the singing started. Then it hit her. The demo version of “Kidnapped by the Cowboy” filled the
expansive room.
Hearing Hyde’s strong, soulful voice had Tassia’s knees weakening and her stomach churning.
She turned to Chantel. “I didn’t know Hyde shared these with you.”
Chantel moved back from the microphones. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. He didn’t send us any demos. Are you saying this is you and Hyde?”
Tassia nodded. “If he didn’t give these to you, then…”
She peered behind the sea of reporters and caught a view of something she had been wanting to see for the last couple of weeks. Hyde Love stood behind the group that had had their full attention on Tassia, Chantel, and Truman. Even without his trademark backward baseball cap, he still looked the same to her, still hot, still sexy.
Then one reporter turned and caught Hyde.
“Oh my God. It’s Hyde Love!” The reporters and cameras all turned to him as he made his way through the group to get to the podium.
He shook Truman’s hand first. “Sorry for being late.” He kissed Chantel’s cheek. “Thanks for the invite.” Then he stared at Tassia. “Hi.”
Tassia fought to keep from smiling like a silly schoolgirl. She had to remember that he had chosen the word of his father over hers. Then again, hadn’t she done the same thing?
“Hi, Hy, um, Hyde.” Tassia remained on the side of Chantel away from Hyde.
Even from where she stood, she smelled his familiar musky scent. The aroma reminded her of everything right and good about being with him in Tennessee.
Hyde turned to the media. “Hi, everyone. I’m Hyde Love.”
Laughter rippled through the group as though the man needed any kind of introduction. The fact that he did introduce himself made him even more appealing.
“I apologize for getting here late. I wanted you all to hear a sample of one of the songs from the upcoming duets album. It’s only a stripped-down demo without a band behind us or a producer working it over. What did you think?” Hyde scanned the group.
Tassia saw a lot of head nodding.
“And Tassia wrote the song. I just did my part of it. I know some allegations had been made about her skills. Believe me. She is hardworking and talented.” Hyde glanced at her for a long moment.
A female reporter stood up. “What will the album be called?”
Hyde chuckled. “Funny you should ask that.” He peered over at Tassia. “We were talking about that and wondering the same thing. A title hasn’t been decided yet. I had a couple of ideas.” He said nothing until he locked stares with her. “My suggestion is ‘Love and Strength.’”
“Why that?” A cameraman aimed his camera directly at Hyde.
“Is it true about the rumors that you and Tassia—”
“Yes.” Hyde didn’t wait for the woman to finish her question, and Tassia couldn’t breathe.
This man, who had at one time admitted to not wanting to put his business out in front of the media, now had shared with the world that they had more than a working relationship.
“I’m tired of hiding. I’ve known Tassia Hogan since I was eleven on the Ratty Rat’s Fun Crew TV show. I was too shy to talk to her then, but I’m making up for lost time now.” He moved away from the microphone to get in front of her. “I’ve made a lot of mistakes these past couple of weeks.”
Tassia, not willing to let him off the hook just yet, nodded. “You sure have. You believed your dad.”
“And I shouldn’t have, especially since I know all the things he did, which I’ll share with you later.” He reached for her hands.
Tassia pulled them away. “You assume there will be a later?” She tried keeping her voice down but couldn’t. Emotions ran too high in her.
“I hoped.” He pointed to her. “But you ran.”
Tassia remained quiet. He had her.
“I think we both have a lot to discuss, including…” Hyde reached into his pocket and pulled out a robin’s-egg blue hued ring box.
Tassia heard Chantel’s gasp before she heard the media gasping. When she saw Hyde dropping down to one knee in front of her, she wanted to faint.
“Tassia Hogan, I have made plenty of mistakes in my life. One was letting you go not once, not twice, but three times.” He smiled. “If this were baseball, I would be out. But it’s not, and I’m hoping you will give us a chance.” He held her hand. “I don’t do public displays of affection.”
Tassia laughed. “You’re doing a great job of it now.”
“With you, I want to shout from every rooftop in the world that I love you.” He kissed the palm of her hand. “Not talking to you these last couple of weeks has been torture. But it allowed me to write one more song. I called it ‘Redemption.’ I just need you to help with your part of it. And I need you back in my life.”
She ran her fingertips down the side of his face. “I might be able to squeeze you into my schedule.”
He smiled even wider. “Is that a yes?”
She nodded. “I’ve missed you so much.” She finally looked at the ring in the box.
The diamond looked as big as a bird’s egg. Hyde slipped it on her finger and jumped to his feet to hug her. While everyone in the room applauded, he lifted her off her feet.
“I never want to be away from you for this long of a time again.” He kissed the side of her face. “I’ve missed you so much.” This time he kissed her lips.
The sounds in the room became muted as Tassia fell into the passionate expression. She missed and needed this man back in her life.
“I will never run from you again. I promise.” She nodded.
“And I won’t hide anything from you ever. I’m taking more control of my life, and that starts with who I want as my wife.” Hyde eased her back down to the floor.
“I can’t wait to call you my husband. But there’s one thing we need to do.”
Hyde’s forehead wrinkled. “What’s that?”
Tassia pulled him down so that she could whisper in his ear. “When I write my part of your ‘Redemption’ song, we need to—”
“Oh, yes. I think that’ll be contractual.” He winked at her.
Tassia laughed. “I love you so much.”
“I love you, too.” He nodded to the back of the room. “I have my guitar. You care to do some singing?”
“With you? Of course.”
Epilogue
Two years later
“And the award for Album of the Year goes to…” The lead singer of a popular rock band struggled to open the red envelope before he read the winner’s name. “Looks like a pattern tonight. Hyde Love and Tassia Hogan’s ‘Strong Enough’ duets album.”
Pepper, wearing a sparkly short dress, along with Graham and Norma raced up to the stage again to accept the award on Hyde and Tassia’s behalf.
“Turn that off, especially since they didn’t use my legal married name now.” Tassia waved her hand as she sat up in her hospital bed. “Come say hi to your son.”
Hyde turned off the hospital TV and sauntered over to his wife, who held the second most precious thing in his life. He brushed his index finger over their baby’s arm, causing the sleeping darling to splay his little fingers.
“He’s going to play piano. Look at those fingers.” Tassia kissed him on his forehead, covered in a small white beanie. She peered up at Hyde. “We did this.”
He wiped his eye with the back of his hand. “All of my professional life, I thought all I needed was to win an award.” Hyde shook his head. “What I really wanted was a family to call my own.” He pressed his lips against Tassia. “I love you, baby.”
“I love you, too.”
The hospital room door opened. With the curtain around the bed drawn, the identity of the guests didn’t become apparent until Mabel, Efrem, and Burt’s heads popped around the pale blue fabric.
“The nurses said we could come in.” Mabel wen
t to Tassia first and kissed her cheek. “My first great-grandson.” She openly cried as she looked down at the bundle in Tassia’s arms. “May I?”
Tassia smiled. “Of course.”
Mabel picked up the baby from her arms and went over to a rocker in the corner. Efrem and Burt followed her. “Did you two decide on a name? Who am I holding?”
Hyde looked at Tassia, who only smiled at him.
“We would like to introduce you to Noah Four Love.”
At the same time, Mabel, Efrem, and Burt said, “Four?”
The sound caused little Noah to start crying a little, which Mabel remedied with a little rocking and cooing.
“I messed up three times with Tassia. Fourth time for me was the charm.” Hyde held Tassia’s hand.
With his family there together, he now felt complete.
Love & Harmony Series
Don’t miss any of the books in the Love & Harmony Series
Crazy in Love
Love Like Crazy
Meet the Author
Crystal B. Bright graduated with a B.A. from Old Dominion University with a major in Creative Writing and a minor in Communications with an emphasis on Public Relations. She earned her M.A. from Seton Hill University in Writing Popular Fiction. For more information about Crystal and her writing, please visit her website at www.CrystalBrightWriter.com. You can also find her at https://www.facebook.com/crystal.bright.397, or follow her on Twitter @CrystalBBright.
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