by Sandy James
“People won’t care.”
She rolled her eyes at his nonchalance.
“Trust me on this. They really won’t give a shit. And even if they do know, all they’ll think is how lucky I am.”
“Lucky?”
“To have you. Want to come back to my place?”
Although she would love waking up in his arms, she had to shake her head. “I need to go home.”
“Then I’ll follow you there. Up to you if I spend the night.”
Caroline would have a million questions if he did, but at her house, she and Brad could finally have a much-needed talk about her career.
* * *
“Thanks again, Mom.” Savannah leaned against the open door, waiting as her parents walked through on their way to their car.
Mary patted her cheek as she passed her. “You’re welcome, darlin’. See you tomorrow.”
A sigh of relief almost slipped out until Savannah realized how ungrateful it sounded, even if her parents were out of earshot. One day she’d find a way to pay them back for everything they’d done for her. She’d see to it.
Checking on a slumbering Caroline, Savannah took a few long minutes to simply watch her precious daughter. Then she changed into yoga pants and a comfortable shirt and waited for Brad to arrive. He wasn’t long in coming. Despite all the time she’d spent with him already, she was anxious enough to meet him at the door.
She took his jacket and hung it on the coat tree. Then she took his hand and led him to the couch. Folding her legs under her, she settled in and hoped to heaven he’d understand what she was about to tell him.
“So…now we talk?” she asked.
He nodded, then leaned back to drape his arm across her shoulders. “I assume we’re talking about Greg.”
“Yes…and no.” The words should’ve been easy. This was a man she cared about. Why couldn’t she open up about what she wanted for herself, for her life?
Because, she suddenly realized, she’d lost the battle to protect her heart.
It belonged to Brad, and damn if that didn’t terrify her. How was she supposed to share a plan for her career with him since his actions had made it crystal clear his goals for her were different than those she set for herself? She was sure about what she wanted, had been from the time Michael walked out on her. He’d dreamed big, and she’d latched on to those dreams as though they were her own.
But they weren’t. Not then.
Just like Brad’s dreams weren’t hers now.
Would he still want her if she refused to follow the path he wanted her to walk?
Savannah was ready to follow her own dreams, yet she feared it might cost her this new and wonderful relationship.
She firmed her resolve. Life’s harsh lessons had changed her in so many ways, and she was ready to stand up for herself and what she wanted. Even though acknowledging that she was in love with Brad had been enlightening—and rather liberating—she refused to change her plans simply to be the woman he wanted rather than the woman she was.
He’d either learn to accept her and her hopes for the future, or he’d turn away from her. It would hurt like hell, but she needed to know. Even if telling Brad forced him to walk away. Better now than after they became even more tangled up in each other’s lives. Or worse, before Caroline grew even more attached to him.
“Savannah?” Brad coaxed.
“One of the reasons—actually the main reason—I agreed to work with Greg was because he understands what I want. For my singing career, I mean.”
“He’ll be good for you, love. He’s also good for us.”
“Pardon?”
Brad pulled his arm away from her shoulders and leaned forward. “I set some goals for you. I thought you wanted what Katie wanted—to be the best thing that ever happened to country music.”
“But I’m not,” Savannah insisted.
He tossed her a lopsided smile. “That’s debatable. But Greg—and Ethan and Russ, for that matter—opened my eyes. My goals aren’t your goals.”
“No, Brad. They’re not.”
Picking up her hand, he cradled it in his. “Then tell me what you want.”
“First, I want to make enough money to stop waiting tables.”
Turning his head to look at her, he furrowed his brow. “You already accomplished that.”
She nodded. “Then I want to be able to buy a house.”
His gaze swept the room. “But you have a—”
She put her fingers against his lips. “This place might be a house, but it’s a dump. You know it. I know it. I want a place where Caroline can play in her own yard and not have to walk to the park to see grass. I want her to be able to swim in her own pool. I want her to go to a good school. It’s not like I need a home as grand as yours or anything. Just a nice place on a big lot in a great neighborhood. Picture a Cape Cod on a half acre. That’s what I want. And I think it’d also be great to buy a bigger house for my parents—a place close to mine. I’d get them a housekeeper. A gardener. I owe them so much for all they’ve done for me.”
Brad squeezed her hand. “Do you have any idea how high you could climb in Nashville if you wanted to? You could be the next Taylor Swift and—”
“That’s the last thing in the world I’d ever want. I’m thrilled just singing someplace like Words and Music. It’s a dream come true.”
“Then we’re on the same page, and we’ll work together for the same goals from now on.”
She kissed him, a quick kiss. He pulled her back for more, leaving her humming in happiness when he ended their connection.
“You understand now?” she asked.
“I do.” An enigmatic smile filled his features. “I also think I can help with one of your wishes.”
“You can?”
“I can. How about you and the squirt move in with me? I’ll get some great playground equipment, and I’ve already got a pool.”
“I can’t move in with you.”
He quirked an eyebrow. “Why not?”
“For pity’s sake. We barely know each other. We haven’t even been dating two months. It’s too soon.”
He shook his head. “I’m a guy who knows what he wants when he sees it, then he goes for it.”
Exactly like he’d done when he’d tried to dictate her career. “I can’t. Not yet, at least. You’re gonna have to give me a little time before I can jump into that kind of commitment. I have to think of my daughter, too. What message would I be sending her if I moved in with you so quickly?”
“She loves the house.”
Savannah chuckled. “She loves the pool. That and you’ve been indulging her every whim every time you see her.”
“So you won’t even consider having the two of you move in?”
“Not yet. Not now.”
Silence descended for long enough to make her worry. Then he sighed. “Fine. I get it.”
“Do you?”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
Savannah had promised honesty, so she gave it to him full force. “I’m falling in love with you.”
Eyes wide, he just stared at her. Was he angry or…afraid?
“But like we just discussed, you need to let me make my own choices. I know you’ve only got my best interests in mind, and your heart is in the right place. But you need to let me decide what’s best for me.”
His body began to relax, which boded well.
“I love that you invited us to move in, especially that you’re welcoming Caroline without hesitation. But you can’t try to solve all my problems.”
“I do that?”
She nodded. “Let me be the one to tell you what I need.”
He cocked his head. “What do you need, Savannah?”
“Right now, all I need and want is to be able to sing for a living—a comfortable living—without trading away my private life in the process.”
“That might not be in your control,” Brad pointed out.
Savannah nodded, unders
tanding that the snowball was already rolling down a very steep hill. Despite her reticence to hire a manager, she put her faith in Greg to temper the speed of her star’s rise. “You’re right. But there are tricks I can use to keep a lid on things. At least that’s what Greg told me.” She grinned, remembering their conversation. “Funny, but I really like the guy. In some ways, he reminds me of my father.”
“Do you trust him?”
“Ah, that’s the question, isn’t it?”
“For you, absolutely.”
“Then yes. I think I do trust him.” She picked up Brad’s hand. “And I trust you, too.”
He gave her hand a squeeze. “Even after all I’ve done?” The apologetic tone of his voice made her very happy. The man was finally getting what she was saying.
Maybe they had a future after all. Although she was a bit concerned that he’d said next to nothing about her declaration of love…Perhaps it was simply too soon for him?
She could only hope.
“Yes,” she said with a nod. “If you want to keep that trust, there’s one simple thing you can do.”
“Keep my promise to be honest.”
“Exactly.”
Chapter Twenty-One
Life fell into a comfortable routine, and Savannah found herself in a place she’d never expected to be—in a mature relationship with a great guy and just plain happy.
After three months of performing at Words & Music, she’d developed a loyal local fan base, had signed with Allied for an album release, and had fallen head over heels in love with her boss.
Brad had followed through on his promise to let her make her own decisions, although there were times she could tell how hard he champed at the bit. He liked to be with her whenever she and Greg had meetings, no matter how brief. Since Greg usually came to her at Words & Music, it would have been difficult to exclude Brad. Not that she wanted to. His experience was invaluable. Yet she couldn’t help but worry that he still wanted more for her than she wanted for herself.
At their last meeting, Greg mentioned that Allied would like her to tour.
Although she loved their faith that she could sell out big venues, not only did she disagree, she simply didn’t want that kind of grinding concert tour. There was also no way she’d leave Caroline that long, or worse, drag the poor girl from city to city. Thankfully, Greg offered a counterproposal, a plan of smaller and more personal settings, which made her comfortable. What could be worse than being booked into a huge arena and step onstage to find only a quarter of the seats occupied? No, better to play places where she could see every pair of eyes in the audience and give them a great show.
Brad let the plans proceed exactly as she wanted. Out of the blue, he’d also given her a raise, something he claimed she’d more than earned by keeping Words & Music packed every night she performed. Although she was still technically the opening act, he’d told her she far outshone the groups that had their turns following her.
As she’d promised herself, she put half of her earnings into savings and spent the other half fixing up her house. Her only indulgence was buying a reliable car. In his typical generous fashion, Brad had offered to buy her something, even going so far as to take her to a car dealer on one of their dates. The salesman was an old friend of his and had offered her a deal that she immediately knew was too good to be true. She’d quickly figured out that Brad had made the financial arrangements ahead of time. Instead of being perturbed, she’d led them both to a nice used CR-V that had fit both her needs and her budget.
There was only one sticking point in her wonderful new life, and she felt a bit petty for letting it bother her so much.
But it did.
Brad had done nothing more than acknowledge her opening her heart to him. She loved him. More deeply each day. And she loved him for who he was—bossiness and all. Now she needed him to find the courage to say those three important words aloud…
Unless he didn’t love her.
His deep voice cut through her post-performance reverie. “Hey, love. You ready to go?”
Love.
That was telling, and the more he used the endearment, the more she yearned to hear it again. She nodded, reaching for her guitar case.
His hand brushed hers away. “You’re still good with going to my house tonight?”
“Yep. Caroline was so excited to spend the night at Bri’s. Besides, you deserve to sleep in your own bed for once. I’m sure my old mattress must be killing your back.”
“Doesn’t matter which bed I sleep in so long as you’re in it.”
Words like that always made the hope that he loved her soar. “That’s sweet.”
He shrugged and led the way to his Escalade.
Her phone rang right after she buckled her seat belt. She plucked the cell from her jacket pocket. “It’s Greg.”
“Aren’t you going to answer it?”
She was, although she briefly considered letting it go to voice mail. One of the things she’d promised herself was that she’d allow her time away from the club to be private. It wasn’t an easy policy to follow since her singing career was so important, but had Caroline been there, she might not have answered. Her daughter always deserved Savannah’s undivided attention. Greg knew not to call her this late unless it was important.
“Hi, Greg.”
His gravelly voice rumbled in her ear. “Hi, dear. Sorry to bug you after office hours.”
“It’s fine. What’s up?”
“I need to find out if it’s possible for you to attend a reception Allied is hosting.”
“It depends on what night,” she replied. Since Brad was straining to listen to the conversation, Savannah took pity on him. “I’m putting you on speaker. Brad, there’s some kind of party that Allied wants me to go to. When did you say it was, Greg?”
“About that…What if I said it was tonight? Now, as a matter of fact.”
She checked her watch. “It’s nine already. If it’s too far away…”
“You’re just leaving the restaurant, right?”
“Yeah, but…”
“It’s not far,” he assured. “Do you know where the Continental is?”
“The Continental?” Brad asked. “That’s the renovated hotel on Church Street, right?”
“That’s the place,” Greg replied.
Savannah had read articles about how some local group had bought and restored the Prohibition-era hotel. The place was far too swanky for her jeans and casual top. “I’m not dressed for—”
“What you’re wearing doesn’t matter,” Greg insisted. “Listen, I know you hate to do stuff like this, but Marie Allen was rather insistent that you be there if it was at all possible. I told her I’d pass along the information but that you prefer to be home with your daughter after performances. She asked me to push you to attend.”
Marie had been easy to work with, so to hear she was practically mandating that Savannah go to the reception was odd. “That doesn’t seem like her style, to demand that I do something.”
A chuckle slipped from Brad. “Marie has been on her best behavior with you so far. Am I right, Greg?”
“Absolutely,” Greg replied. “Just between us, some of us call her Hurricane Marie. When she wants something, she tends to move heaven and earth to get it. Tonight, she wants you there.”
* * *
“Which is why Savannah needs you, my friend,” Brad said. His thoughts were in overdrive as he worried that Marie Allen had some trump card in her hand she’d yet to play. That, and he was nearly paralyzed with worry about how he’d handle being at that kind of Nashville party. The “users” would be on parade. He’d be on guard to keep any leeches away from Savannah.
Maybe he was worrying for nothing and could get the two of them out of this. “Do you know why Marie wants her there?”
“I’m afraid not. I went fishing but came back with an empty line.”
“Damn.”
Savannah let out a sigh. “So do we go?” she
asked Brad.
He nodded, knowing Greg was right about Marie. She’d start hounding Savannah if they didn’t show up at the Continental tonight.
“What’s the verdict?” Greg asked.
“We’ll go,” Brad replied. “But Marie’s getting us come-as-we-are. Jeans and all.”
“Well, then. I’ll try to get away and join you, but I have other business to wrap up first. Please keep me informed about anything that’s discussed, and I hope to see you there.”
* * *
Déjà vu.
There had been so many receptions exactly like this one that Brad had attended, both before and after his marriage. The Hitman knew how to party hard. The memories made him squirm in discomfort, especially since he’d met Katie at one of these shindigs.
There was nothing he could do to change the past, so he tried to let it go. Savannah needed him to be strong and to help her figure out exactly what Marie Allen wanted by demanding she come to this gathering.
“I don’t know anyone here,” Savannah said, her voice quavering. Then her eyes grew wide. “Unless that’s…Oh Lord, that’s Perry Sheldon, isn’t it? And Marta Kasey?”
“You know them both?” Brad teased, hoping to relieve her anxiety at being in a room full of Nashville’s finest. Not only were newer performers like Perry and Marta in attendance, but so were Grand Ole Opry old-timers, celebrities who were old enough to have been friends with Ethan’s parents. “Then we should go say hello so you can introduce me.”
She swatted his upper arm and gave him a wan smile. “Do you see Marie anywhere? I’d like to get this over with.”
“You mean you aren’t loving being the newest rising star in the Allied stable?” Since he was every bit as inclined to get out of there, Brad craned his neck to try to find their hostess. “There she is.”
He put his hand against the small of Savannah’s back and steered her through the throng, targeting Marie, who was waving to them from the farthest part of the enormous ballroom. Passing people he knew from his wild days—almost all of whom expressed surprise at seeing him—he finally got the two of them standing in front of Marie.
Taking Savannah’s hands, Marie started gushing over her. “I’m so glad you could make it. I need to talk to you, so I practically begged Greg to convince you to come by.” She directed her gaze to Brad. “Could I please have a few minutes to talk to Savannah?”
