by Thia Finn
“No damn clue. He didn’t say, and Tinkerbell wouldn’t spill. Just when I thought she was gonna come through, she blew me off like a speck of dust.”
The bastard had the nerve to laugh at me. “What?”
“Nothing. I know you’re not used to being owned by a female.”
“Shit, I’ll show her little fairy ass what it means to be owned one of these days.”
As the last word left my mouth, Peri came outside in a see-through flowy thing with her bikini under it. Ryan’s wife’s beauty and sweetheart personality made her the perfect woman for him and the band.
“Hey, Peri.” I stood and kissed her pale cheek. The alabaster skin set off her fully-colored tattoos.
“Hello, yourself, Carter. Who were you talking about?”
Great, she heard what I said. “I’ve been at the studio.”
Before I could finish what I wanted to say, Peri cut me off. “So you’ve met Johnna?” The shit-eating grin I received said she knew exactly what my next sentence would be.
“Yeah, I hear she’s been taking lessons on how to exert her authority from some of the best.” I gave her a look. Peri could be a hardass if needed.
“Why, whatever do you mean, Carter, honey?” Her southern belle accent fooled no one considering Peri transplanted from Cali to Austin several years ago.
“You know exactly what I’m talking about so don’t give me that ‘honey’ shit. Little Miss Farmer thinks she knows how to exercise her control on whoever comes in there, and I’m damn sure not succumbing to her high-handed bullshit.”
“So what’d she do, forget to fall at your rock-god feet and offer up worship?” Peri stole Ryan’s beer to take a sip, but he stole it back before she could.
“Hell no, I didn’t offer her my best effort for that. I wanted to see Cash and the little she-bitch thought she was going to stop me.”
Ryan jumped up and landed in the pool next to Tuck. “Dude, let’s swim to the big rocks. I think Uncle C and mommy are going to have a discussion.”
“He’s gonna be in trouble, isn’t he Daddy? He’s saying words that make mommy get red in the face.”
Ryan started laughing. “Yeah, he is, but mommy’s got it taken care of. Race ya.” The two headed off toward the waterfalls.
“So she did her job and that made you mad? We hired the right girl for the job then.”
“You want someone treating your best clientele like shit?” I asked her.
“No, we want her to follow directions, be discreet, and keep the office running smoothly. What was it you were trying to see Cash for that I couldn’t do for you?” Peri finally sat down so I didn’t have to look up at her.
“I wanted to talk about some specific items that need to be on the damn bus when we leave, and I just happened to be close to the fucking studio. I stopped by but your door was closed so I asked, polite as fuck I might add, if he was there. She refused to disturb him. The real kicker is he was hiding someone in his office. That’s what started the whole shit show with her.”
“If you were mean to her, I’m gonna kick your ass,” Peri said with such a calm voice that it kinda scared me.
“Hell no, I wasn’t mean to her. It was the other way around. She got vicious in a heartbeat. Got between me and his door before I could blink. Told me what I could do with my demands.”
“Good for her,” Peri smirked, which was all kinds of wrong because that’s my move. “I was there this morning discussing her role in the office. I must’ve said all the right things.”
“What little pixie gets between a grown-ass man and what he’s after and expects to win the fucking battle?”
“Okay, I get it. She thwarted your attempt to see what was going on, and it pissed you off. Carter, just because she’s small doesn’t mean she can’t be forceful.”
“She’s got some lady balls. I’ll give her that,” I smirked at Peri.
“You should also know she’s got her sights set on someone else already, too. Don’t be getting any ideas about exploring her ‘lady balls’, please.”
“Not a problem. She’s sure as shit not my type.”
“Sounds like it. So, who was in Cash’s office?
“Hell if I know. Cash refused to say.”
“Hmmm. Now you’ve got me wondering. Oh, wait. He did say something this morning about a country singer he went to see play last week coming by today.”
“Country? Are you fucking with me? Cash isn’t into country.”
“You know how that music bleeds over to rock and pop these days. You can hardly call most of it country anymore. Look at Hayden. He was country all the way when he came from East Texas and now he’s opened for AD. Cash mentioned this new artist likes to do duets with males so maybe Cash is thinking about the two of them teaming up for a few songs.”
“What’s his name? Would we have heard of him?” Maybe he’d be good for Hayden’s career. Broaden his appeal. Not that the kid needed it. His music’s outstanding, and the ladies love him. He has a huge following after opening for us.
“No, it’s a she. She’s a local girl who’s getting a name for herself here in the Austin area. Cash kept hearing great things about her so he went to watch her set. I think her name’s Victory.”
“Victory, weird name.” I finished off my beer and stood up for another. I held it out offering one to Peri, but she declined.
“Doctor said no more beer for me.” She looked me square in the eyes. “And no, I’m not pregnant.” Long pause. “Yet.”
“So another little Powell on the horizon?” I lifted an eyebrow.
“On the horizon, but not in the oven.” She smiled and rubbed her hand over her naturally rounded tummy. Peri was a real woman with softness in all the right places. I knew what Ryan saw in her. Hell, everyone did. She was a sweetheart, a best friend, a kickass tour manager, and a great mom to little Tucker and his cousin, Crew Devillier, Hayden’s son.
“Hey, I’m sure Ryan’s enjoying all of the practicing.”
“Practice makes perfect, and I know this because perfection is sitting there on that rock by the falls.” She motioned out to Ryan and Tucker.
I followed her line of sight to the father and son having a serious discussion with their feet flipping water. Damn, that was a photo waiting to happen. “Want me to go for a swim with Tucker to allow for some spontaneous practice? You can never get too much in, you know.” I wiggled my eyebrows up and down.
“As good as that sounds, I think I’ll take a raincheck? Wrong time of the month for that.”
“Dammit woman, that’s TMI spewing from your mouth.” I didn’t need to hear that. Living on the tour bus with Chandler was bad enough since she never held back on that whole hormone explosion. I knew why God didn’t give me sisters.
“On those words, I guess I’m going to hit the road.”
“Don’t let my honesty run you off. I’m sure you’ve got a swimsuit here still. Jump in with the boys.”
Ryan yelled at me. “Don’t go, dude. Come swim with us. We need another team member to play volleyball if Peri’s getting in too.”
Peri took off her cover-up and walked into the pool. “Your suit’s in your drawer in the laundry room. Come on.”
“Guess I’ll stay awhile then. We get first serve, though,” I yelled as I opened the back door.
Chapter Two
“You really think we can make my music work?” I said flipping through the contract lying on Cash’s desk.
“I know we can, Victory. Your sound is outstanding and will appeal to the audiences Hayden attracts. He has quite the following already. His last solo tour did better than we expected. You’ll open for him, and then the two of you will sing a couple together. It’ll be great exposure for you. If everything goes well, we’ll start adding more duets. When y’all return from this tour, we’ll get you both in the studio to create an EP that will drop before joining the big tour with Assured Distraction.”
“You know, I’ve never actually toured before.” I
looked at him gauging his reaction.
“Gotta start somewhere. This fifteen-show tour will fly by, and you’ll be back in the studio in no time. Hayden knows touring already. He’ll help you. It’s the kind of man he is.” He looked at me like he was expecting an immediate answer. I didn’t know if I was prepared enough for all of this.
“What the hell. Let’s do it.” I picked up the pen and signed my name before I could change my mind. This was what I’d been working for, wasn’t it? I played every bar in a fifty-mile radius of Austin ten times over. I’d be living on a tour bus for a short time with all of Hayden’s backup band. I could do this. Dammit, I deserved to do this.
I stood up and offered my hand to Cash, and we shook on the deal.
“There’s only one more thing I need to tell you, though.”
“Yeah?” He raised his head and dropped my hand. “What’s that?”
“I’d prefer to keep this under wraps for a while. Like, get out on tour without everyone who is signed with 13 Recordings knowing about the tour.”
“Is there a problem I need to know about?”
“No, there’s not a problem, but I want to see how things go before I make a splash here in Austin. What if it doesn’t work out? I’ve lived in this area my whole life. I’d hate to make a fool of myself with all of your big-named bands.”
“Well, yeah, I guess we can try. AD is finishing up their next album, and then they’ll be leaving on the U.S. tour. I want you and Hayden to join up with them. There’s no reason why you should meet up with them before you leave in a couple of days. Can you be ready to go by then? I realize this is very short notice, but I knew when I heard you during your two sets I caught, you were exactly what I’ve been looking for.”
“Great.” I hardly got that word out when someone knocked and tried to come in the room. Good thing I locked that door-handle lock when I came through it.
He spoke to Carter through the door, and I jumped behind it before he opened it. I didn’t want Carter to have any knowledge of me being there. I wasn’t here to see him, and I prayed it’d be some more time before we faced each other again.
So much had happened since he left years ago with AD to start their career. I secretly cheered his success with AD, but he never needed to know that. Getting signed by 13 Recordings was the beginning of an outstanding journey for them and when the band skyrocketed after joining Steele on tour, they were set for a lifetime of fame.
Eight Years Ago
I looked at my guitar leaning sadly in the corner by my closet door. I tried hiding it behind the door, but that was too much. My guitar was such a part of our time as a couple. We played together before he joined the band. Every time one of us learned something new, we couldn’t wait to teach the other. I took lessons, and he taught himself how to play. When his friends decided to form a band, he learned to play the bass, and that’s when he truly fell in love with music. He could play an acoustic as well as anyone I knew but with the bass, he was on another plane in his head while he played. It was like he was born to add that sound to a band.
It also marked the time when we stopped spending as much time together. Those guys were older than me and naturally could go play places I couldn’t go. My parents didn’t like the idea of their little girl hanging out with a bunch of older guys. They would never allow me to go to a bar if that’s where they played that week, so I rarely got to see them perform live.
“My parents won’t let me go to those bars in Austin, Carter. You know that.”
“I know, Halo, but we have to play there. When you turn eighteen, you can come, too. What a rush it will be to have you there watching us. Just knowing you’re in the audience will be awesome.” He pulled me into him and wrapped his arms around me.
We’d hugged before, but he held me there for longer this time. I can’t say I minded it either. Carter was super hot, but he never seemed to act like that’s what he wanted with me, and I was good with it. We had a great relationship playing guitars, hanging out, laughing, and just having fun together without adding emotions to it.
All of that changed when he leaned back, and he raised my chin up to look at him. He slowly lowered his head, and I knew what was coming. The first kiss, magic overwhelmed my senses. His soft and smooth lips gently slid across mine. The feeling mesmerized my sixteen-year-old brain. I’d been kissed before but nothing like this. This felt like a man and woman kiss, like a let’s do more kiss.
When he broke the kiss and moved far enough back away to look at me, I thought my bones were jello. The molten look of lust clouded his half-hooded eyes. Then he kissed me hard. I wrapped my hands around his neck and kissed him hard right back. Damn, I swear to God this was the experience of a seventeen-year-old’s lifetime.
He slid his tongue across the seam of my mouth to allow him entrance, and I let him. If we weren’t kissing, I would have begged him for one more. It was that good of a feeling going on in my brain as our tongues rubbed across each other’s in frantic movements.
As fast as it started, it was over. Carter slowly backed away from me.
“We better not do that in your bedroom, Halo.” His smile alone could’ve convinced me to drop my panties on the spot, but his words kept that from happening.
“Oh, okay. Did I do something wrong?”
“Hell no. You did too much right.”
That comment kinda confused me, but I wouldn’t argue with him. “Right. Too much right.” I didn’t know how to respond. I couldn’t think anyway, and now he was confusing me. “Now, exactly what does that mean, Carter? Too much right.”
He smirked at me. “Let’s just say, that kinda kiss can only lead to no good in your bedroom, and your parents trust us to be playing music. That was some sweet music all right, but not the kind we should be playing.” He gave me a quick laugh.
“So, you thought it was a good kiss then?” He was confusing me with every sentence that spewed from his beautiful lips.
“Yeah, Halo. The best. Now pick up your guitar, and let’s go over some of the songs we are going to be doing at the show.”
“Okay.” I floated on air the rest of the evening. His words ‘the best’ were playing havoc in my head.
That night of two kisses in my room became the first of many followed by dates and lots of making out and the rounding of bases. Before school was out and he graduated, he slid in at home plate, and I stumbled head over heels in love.
Eight Years Later
“I’ll be ready to go. Just tell me when and where.” The calm exterior I exhibited on the outside in no way indicated what happened on the inside of my head. To put it plainly, freaking the hell out came closer to a description. I’m going on tour with someone who toured with a megaband. My brain screamed “Squeee!” but my mouth spoke like a normal twenty-something. I hoped Cash didn’t feel the sweat on my palms. I considered wiping them on my jeans before I took his hand but thought that would look even more awkward.
Cash stepped from his office. “Johnna, please call Camille and see if she’s available to work tomorrow? We need a quick makeover done and some wardrobe for Victory. If she’s not available, let me know ASAP.”
He turned to me. “Camille will see that you’re prepared to do this before you leave. She’s great at what she does.” Was he kidding? She could do whatever the hell she wanted to make me look ready. At this point, she could probably shave my head and paint me purple, and I would be okay with it.
“I guess I’ll head out then and get prepared so I can be with her all day tomorrow.” I tried to sound nonchalant about it all but damn, a girl could only keep her excitement in for so long.
“Great idea, and I’ll have the contracts ready for you before we leave. They’ll be the standard contracts but for the tour time only. Once we see how this is going to work out, we’ll look at something on a more permanent basis for you.” He’d been staring at papers on his desk and finally looked up at me.
“I can’t thank you enough for what you’re doing, C
ash. I look forward to meeting with Hayden as well.”
“Yeah, we need to get Hayden in here. I’ll get him on the phone shortly. Would you be opposed to meeting with him this evening if he’s available? I’ve been keeping him up to date on our meetings, and he’s completely on board with the idea.”
“Sure, that’s great. I’m willing to do whatever it takes to be ready. Give me a call.” I shook his hand again and made my way to the front door.
I prayed all the way to my car. Please don’t let me run into him. Please let him be somewhere else today. I didn’t want to run into any of the other AD band members either, but I doubted they would recognize me anyway. Carter would, and that might be disastrous at this point. I wasn’t exactly hiding from him, but I didn’t want to meet up this way either.
I never set out to capture the attention from someone at the same label where they were signed. I didn’t invite Cash to my set at the bar. So why did I freak out about this?
The simple answer, Carter Sheridan. How would we react to seeing each other again? I loved him then, but that was a long time ago. I’m sure we both had changed drastically since we said goodbye.
I’d had a lot of time to grow up. Now I knew what I wanted in life. I had a life plan in place, my eyes on the prize. I decided to give this music thing a couple of years of my life. I had a college degree behind me to fall back on if it didn’t pan out. I worked and saved while I went to school so I could live to play music now. If I made money along the way, that was icing on the cake for me. If it was meant for me to be a musician, then something good would have to happen in the time I allotted.
With Carter, though, he lived in the spotlight and had practically been since the day we parted. It wasn’t long before Cash discovered them, just like me. He led AD to the big time, especially after they hired the girl, Chandler Chatam, in the band. Now she’s one of the hottest females in music. Of course, it helped that she and Assured Distraction’s lead singer, Keeton MacDonald, were together. Their stage presence sparked gossip that made legends.
