by Riley Sierra
After a solid month of practicing, they were ready to hit Mile High Studios and get these songs committed to permanence. And they were good songs, too. Songs Blake had faith in.
A smile tugging at his mouth, Blake looked over the faces of his band.
Erica looked better than he’d ever seen her. She’d gone back to her natural hair color, no more dramatic Old-Hollywood look. She looked healthy, with a bit more meat on her bones, her face a bit fuller. And, most importantly, she smiled way more often.
Carlo had gotten some more tattoos and shaved his head again. But that was typical Carlo, and nobody held it against him.
Lily was the one Blake had been in touch with the most. Partially because she lived closest, partially because she was pathologically incapable of shutting up.
Jake Davenport, the laconic bassist, had probably changed the most out of all of them. After the tour had imploded, he’d married his long-term girlfriend, who was apparently pregnant with twins. He’d grown from a laid-back pothead to a serious, determined father figure, seemingly overnight.
And Cal was Cal: amazing. Tan. Perfect. Great on the frets. Also nice to look at.
Blake Bradley and the Sinsationals were ready to ride again. And this time, their fate was in nobody’s hands but their own. Blake could take on the world with Cal beside him, and he planned to do just that.
* * *
Recording led to a new contract. A new contract meant a new tour. A new tour meant life on the road again, which was a double-edged sword. Blake loved touring, but he’d grown so used to Denver. He still hadn’t moved out of Cal’s asbestos-ridden apartment and on days when they weren’t in the studio, Cal still turned up faithfully for his shifts at the bar.
The Sinsationals were about to embark on a short tour in support for their new EP, a stripped-bare acoustic record titled “Closet Full of Skeletons.” The songs were, in Blake’s eyes, among the best he’d ever written. He knew there was a certain demographic of fan they might not recapture: the listeners who’d really loved Rhett’s poppy grooves and distorted guitars. But Blake hoped the majority of their fans would at least give it a try.
And if not, well, there was a surprise coming down the pipeline. It hadn’t happened in time for this tour, but Palmer had word from a reputable source that Rhett Ballard was in dire financial straits after a drunk-driving arrest in Malibu. That combined with the lukewarm response to his solo work meant Palmer was borderline certain their team would be able to negotiate a sale of at least some Sinsationals rights.
Good things sometimes took time. Blake accepted that now more than ever.
Sitting around a small table in The Garage, the doors locked for the night, Blake and Cal and Yanmei hashed out logistics. Cal had whipped up some of his Mexican Mules again, the peppery slush at the bottom stinging Blake’s tongue as he sat and listened.
“And you’re sure you’re okay with this?” Cal said to Yanmei, his expression serious. He watched her like a hawk.
“Calvin,” she said. “This really isn’t as radical and crazy an idea as you think it is. Plenty of celebrities own bars and restaurants. And most of them don’t serve drinks and wash dishes there every night. How often do you think Gordon Ramsay cooks at all his restaurants, huh?”
“Not the same thing,” Cal groused.
“But it is pretty close,” Blake chimed in.
“Oh, so you’re taking her side?”
Yanmei, teeth flashing in a grin, held up a palm to shush them both.
“I’m fine with it if you are, boss. I swear. I mean, I expect you to compensate the heck out of me, don’t get me wrong, but a change of career might do you good.”
Cal hurriedly butted in.
“Of course! You’d be getting a substantial raise. More annually than I gave myself when I was in charge. It’s only fair.”
“Do I get business cards?” she asked, perking her eyebrows.
“Hell, I’ll just change the name on the bar’s cards to yours. Mine doesn’t even have to be on there anymore if I’m on tour all the time.”
Blake sat back and listened to them hash out their game plan. It was cute, how Cal angsted over not putting in a forty-five hour work week while also moonlighting as a country star. But it wasn’t the best way to go about things. Signing over the General Manager job title to Yanmei was the smart option. Cal could stick around as Company Director and help out when he had the chance, but he didn’t need to beat himself up over not being around to change the light bulbs and take the garbage out any longer.
As usual, it had been Blake and Yanmei’s idea. They’d drawn up a proposal together in secret before ever bringing it to Cal. Blake trusted her judgment. After all, without her meddling, he wouldn’t be falling asleep in Cal’s arms every night.
“And you’re sure you’re all right with this?” Yanmei asked, smirking in Cal’s direction.
Cal curled half his mouth in a modest little smile.
“It’ll take some getting used to. But yeah. I am. I trust you. And I think Blake and I have both learned some valuable lessons about not working so damn much or so damn hard.”
“Yep, it’s bathrobes and unemployment from here on out,” Blake said.
Under the table, Cal kicked his ankle.
If all went well on tour, they’d even discussed taking a vacation. Apart from the occasional trip up to the mountains, Cal hadn’t taken one of those since childhood, a fact Blake scolded him for repeatedly. Some sun would be nice. Cal had to take Blake to meet his dad some time, right? Blake could almost imagine the expression on Mr. Lindsay’s face…
They were taking things one day at a time. Together. They had the rest of their lives to conquer the world, and when he was with Cal, Blake thought he just might manage it someday.
~ END ~
Also by Sierra Riley
Firewall
"You got me fired!"
"I made more enemies than friends."
Justin West is one of the world's most sought-after IT security specialists. His skills as a network penetrator are renowned, but in meatspace he's seen as cold and awkward. His Aspergers makes it hard to be a team player and in a cutthroat industry, enemies abound. Justin is framed for a massive security breach and soon it's not just his job on the line; his very life is in danger.
"If I can't keep you safe, what good am I?"
Bodyguard Calder Lesley takes pride in his career protecting others. In contrast to his geeky hotshot best friend, Calder uses body language and psychology to excel at his job. He only ignores his instincts when it comes to Justin. Even though their friendship has been long distance for eight years, Justin's feelings for him are obvious. Calder's afraid of nothing... except losing a friend to pursue a new kind of love.
"We're both in danger unless we act now."
When a rival hacker threatens Justin's career, he's going to need the help of the person he trusts most, but Calder can't protect him from a distance. Forced into Calder's orbit for protection, the sparks begin to fly as Justin's career falls apart. Opposites might attract, but can they last?
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About the Author
Sierra Riley was born and raised in a small town where she spent all her time reading under trees before she moved to the Bay Area to pursue her own love story.
She writes the kinds of books she loves to read: rollercoaster rides with happily-ever-afters. She's rarely at a loss for ideas, and credits her wonderfully supportive friends with helping her stories actually make it onto the page, as well as her husband and kids for giving her the chance to follow her dreams.
When Sierra isn't busy writing, she enjoys knitting, traveling, listening to the Pet Shop Boys, or just curling up with her dogs and cats and devouring a good book.
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