Love So Tender: Taking Care of BusinessPlay It Again, ElvisGood Luck Charm

by Stephanie Bond

  “That doesn’t exactly make me feel better.” She whispered the words into his shoulder as he held her. “She’s so desperate to get back into the career I denied her that she’ll go behind my back?” A small shiver trembled through her, so subtle he wouldn’t have even known it if he hadn’t been touching her. “I don’t have any choice but to feel guilty.”

  Not having a clue how to answer her fears, Brett let the chaos of the backstage areas swirl around them while he held her, wishing he knew what to say to set her free from her old promise. And not just for his sake, damn it, although he’d be lying if he said that wasn’t part of it. He wanted her to see that for her own happiness she needed to fix things with Rosa.

  Inhaling the cinnamon incense scent of her, a permanent fragrance around her shop that followed her wherever she went, Brett slowly became aware of her fingers trailing over his shoulder.

  His Graceland tattoo.

  “I never asked what made you decide to imprint Graceland here.” Inching back enough to look up at him, Alyssa tossed a lock of dark hair out of her eyes. “You’re a fan from way back?”

  “Actually my mom was the fan in the family.” He didn’t have many memories of her, a single mother, but he could still hear her singing an Elvis Christmas tune in his head while she decorated an early holiday tree. “Cancer took her right before my fifth birthday.”

  Her hand stilled on the tattoo for a moment before she leaned close to place a gentle kiss on his shoulder. “I’m sorry.”

  “My aunt told me afterward that my mother always wanted to go to Graceland but she never made the time to just get in the car and go.” He was sure a woman so young would have had a lot of other things she wanted to accomplish in her lifetime, but that unfulfilled wish was the only one his aunt had shared with him. “It always bugged me she didn’t take that trip. Realize her dream.”

  Alyssa edged back again to glance up at him, her gaze wary. Speculative. “We can’t always accomplish everything we dream about.”

  “We can sure as hell try.” The needle burned that message into his flesh the day the tattoo artist imprinted Graceland on his arm. “I got the tattoo the day I left the financial world to go after a music career. And whether I make it big or not isn’t the point. But I won’t go back home until I give this everything I have.”

  For once Alyssa the brash, bold talent manager who conjured spirits and protected the Presley image, didn’t have a single thing to say. Brett took the opportunity to press home his point. Tugging her closer to his heart, he cinched his arms tighter around her.

  “Chase your dreams with me, Alyssa.”

  He didn’t know if his words had made an impression or not because just then, the double doors to the backstage area swung wide and a excited rumble went through all the Elvis Legacy wannabes.

  Rosa Renato had just entered the building.

  BRETT’S TEMPTING request still ringing in her ears, Alyssa instinctively moved out of his arms toward her sister, knowing she’d never consider his offer without talking to Rosa first.

  God, how could she even be thinking about taking this up with Rosa after all her sister had been through? Alyssa needed to at least tell her face-to-face that she’d only agreed to help Brett because she’d been scared spitless Rosa would fall back into self-sabotage once she stepped on stage again.

  Of course, Alyssa hadn’t counted on how much it would hurt to walk away from Brett and all he seemed ready to share with her now. It seemed she was doomed to being scared no matter what she chose.

  “Rosa!” Alyssa shouted over the throng growing around her sister, who could still attract a crowd when she went into rock star mode.

  And in a backstage area crammed with musicians who would give their eyeteeth for the successes Rosa had already seen, Rosa pretty much ruled the room.

  “Make way! A-list talent manager coming through.” Elbowing her way through the Rosa Renato groupies, Alyssa shouted for her sister again.

  Eventually, she cleared herself a path. Faced the sister who’d been through so much with her.

  A sister who kept a white-knuckled grip on a tall, lanky guy wearing a Celtics shirt and a sporting an auburn crew cut that was only slightly less fifties’ looking than Jesus Vargas’s ducktail.

  “This is your new boyfriend?” Alyssa regretted the surprise in her voice because the guy was actually very good-looking, he just—didn’t look like the rock ’n’ roll type Rosa usually went for. But judging by the way Rosa leaned in close to him, it was obvious she thought the world of the Irish professor.

  “Sean, meet my ever-tactful sister, Alyssa. Sis, make nice with my new husband, Sean Halloran.”

  A few cheers broke out among the musicians still clamoring for a little of Rosa—Mrs. Halloran’s?—attention.

  “You got married?” Alyssa couldn’t decide if she felt betrayed or happy. Pissed off at being left out of the loop or thrilled her sister had found The One.

  “Don’t be mad.” Rosa moved deeper into the protective circle of her new husband’s arms, a gesture that startled Alyssa half out of her sneakers.

  Did Rosa think she’d be mad?

  A lightbulb flashed on so bright in Alyssa’s brain she suddenly identified with her clients who complained about the blinding lights of the stage. Of course Rosa worried Alyssa was mad. And with good reason since Alyssa had half debated being upset just now.

  What if all the time Alyssa had been trying to protect her sister, Rosa had been as intimidated as anyone by her sister’s admittedly bulldog tactics? Not all that hard to believe since Alyssa always had a knack for wheeling and dealing. Getting her way.

  Oh hell.

  Regret whistled through her in the empty space that had once been a great relationship with Rosa.

  “I could never be mad about you being happy.” She leaned in to hug her sister. Gently. Tenderly enough to not annoy Sean, who despite his skinny frame looked like he wouldn’t let anyone mess with his new bride. “You are happy, aren’t you?”

  Alyssa ducked back, reassessing the pair together again. An odd match, her exotically beautiful sister and the ghostly pale professor. But their twined hands, so strong and united together…that told Alyssa all she needed to know.

  Rosa rolled her eyes and ignored the question she seemed to think was too obvious to answer. Her husband backed up enough to shoo away some of the musicians, giving the sisters a little room to breathe.

  “Sorry I didn’t return your calls the past few days,” Rosa whispered, still clinging to her new husband. This total stranger she’d fallen in love with while Alyssa had been absorbed in her own worries that maybe were…a little over inflated?

  “I was afraid you were upset with me because I’m representing Brett.” Alyssa had tried explaining her motives on her sister’s answering machine a few nights ago, tired of waiting to talk to Rosa in person.

  She pulled Rosa behind a wall of electronic equipment and monster-size speakers that had a devil’s face painted on them in red spray paint.

  “Upset?” Rosa’s gaze flicked over Alyssa’s head to someplace behind her where Brett probably waited. “I’m just so grateful you’re getting back into the business. I’ve felt like crap for the last two years about falling apart on you. I know I haven’t been the best sister, and I know I was such a disappointment—”

  Tears stung Alyssa’s eyes as she realized how much she’d failed the woman who meant more to her than anyone in the world.

  “You have never disappointed me. Ever. I thought you were mad at me for making you quit the business because it seemed like you went so quiet every time we talked. And I didn’t want to upset you any more since I knew the eating disorders could be triggered by stress and—ah, hell, Rosa, I’m so sorry.”

  They hugged and cried, ignoring the whole rest of the world around them, although Alyssa’s new brother-in-law did a pretty good job of keeping everyone at bay.

  Alyssa babbled about the promise she’d made to Rosa and all the reasons why sh
e’d worried her sister resented her. Rosa rambled about the pressure she put on herself to be successful and the way therapy and flower-arranging were both helping her to accept herself.

  “But, if you’re in the competition today you want to get back into singing, right?” Alyssa vowed to clarify everything with her sister from now on, determined never to rely on her faulty sibling radar again.

  First and foremost, Alyssa planned to put the brakes on her séance trick for Brett today if her sister really thought she could reclaim her old success as a singer. Would he understand?

  Alyssa’s gut clenched, knowing he would gladly accept the challenge of performing without any gags or stunts. He was a good man. An honest, fair-minded guy with great principles.

  Which was why he needed a crafty manager so damn badly.

  But not at Rosa’s expense.

  “Oh my God, no. I’m not here to win.” Rosa pulled over Sean who winked down at her before planting a kiss on top of her head. “My therapist suggested I face my old demons now that I’ve made a lot of progress, just so the past doesn’t ever rule me again. If I can sing today in front of a crowd without passing out, I’m going to volunteer to lead the church choir. Be normal. Use my voice for something that won’t make me crazy.”

  Holy crap.

  Rosa really didn’t want to win. Her sister had just cleared the path for Alyssa to claim every dream she’d ever imagined. Graceland, here I come.

  But first, she needed to talk to Brett.

  “Rosa, do me a favor and don’t leave after your performance today, okay? I’ve got a friend who might need a little help from Meet the Presleys today.”

  She just hoped he wanted it. And even more, she hoped he still wanted her—high dysfunctional quotient and all.

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  FOR SEVEN DAYS in a row, Brett had woken up to “Can’t Help Falling in Love” playing in his head. Coincidence? Not a chance.

  Sad he’d been too boneheaded to see it until the strains of Elvis’s most famous love song gave way to an endless mental loop of “Heartbreak Hotel” resounding between his ears. His whole relationship with Alyssa was going down in flames in Golddiggers Resort and Casino, all because he hadn’t put himself on the line when he’d had the chance. He could have told her he was crazy about her. That he’d fallen in love with her so fast it made his head spin, and his brain cycle through old Elvis hits.

  But no. He’d been the biggest chickenshit of them all. And he’d accused her of not living her dreams?

  Picking up his guitar, he wound through the backstage area, needing to talk to her before his performance. But between the fans filtering into the ballroom and the party atmosphere rapidly taking over the place, Brett couldn’t make any headway. The M.C. had announced Rosa Renato by the time he made it to the other side of the room where he’d seen Alyssa and her sister talking earlier.

  Damn.

  Knowing Alyssa wouldn’t miss her sister’s act, Brett slipped closer to the main stage. Searching. Scouring the crowd for a sign of her. He ducked around roaming waiters toward the folding chairs set up in the middle of the convention center, circumventing the booths packed with memorabilia Alyssa would argue didn’t fully showcase the King’s abilities.

  Hell yes, he’d fallen in love with her.

  Finally he spotted her off to one side of the platform, her dark eyes locked on Rosa along with the rest of the room. Well, everyone but him, who only saw one Renato female.

  She must have sensed his gaze because she turned just then. Stared back at him.

  Call it intuition. Karma. Animal lust. Hell, call it all of the above and more than that, too. This had been love at first sight, even though he’d been too blown away by her to realize that’s what had happened the moment they met.

  He wanted to talk to her. Needed to tell her then and there she was more important to him than any competition, prize or music career. But as soon as he reached her, she splayed her fingers over his mouth to silence him before he could say a damn thing.

  “I have something important to say that can’t wait.” Still, she waited anyhow, as if giving him a chance to argue.

  He nodded instead.

  “I’m not one hundred percent sure if you can win strictly on your performance today, Brett.” She arched up on her toes to whisper into his ear, her words meant for his ears alone while her sister crooned her heart out on stage nearby. “But either way, I need you to know that I believe in you. And I am one hundred percent sure we can build you a kick-ass career on the West Coast with or without a win today. So it’s up to you how you want to chase your dreams.”

  Floored, Brett angled back to look at her. Found only gorgeous sincerity in her eyes.

  “You’re serious.” The love he’d been feeling in his heart burst so damn big he thought it would crash right through his rib cage. She believed in him. Wanted to come to L.A. with him. “You want to represent me?”

  “I want to do much more than that with you.” Smiling, she trailed her fingers over his cheek. “But being your manager is as good a place as any to start.”

  Thunderous applause broke out through the audience, and for a moment, Brett thought the whole world cheered his good fortune. What a lucky, lucky man he was to have a woman like Alyssa by his side.

  For good, damn it.

  “Hell yeah, I want to win.” He joined the applause for Rosa a little late, his attention taken up with Alyssa and what was happening between them. “But only if it won’t mess anything up with you and your sister.”

  Her smile was her only answer before she sprinted off toward the back of the room. What on earth?

  And, as he scratched his head and tried to figure out what she was about, the M.C. announced Brett’s performance. Making him realize he still hadn’t managed to tell her he loved her.

  No time like the present.

  Vaulting on stage, Brett warmed up his fingers on the guitar strings. Who was he kidding? He was warming up for the rest of his life with Alyssa.

  He had no clue what had come over her to make her put so much faith in him, but the financial analyst in him would figure it all out and add things up later. Right now, his inner rock star was going to leave it up to fate.

  And music.

  “This one’s going out to Alyssa Renato, the woman I can’t help falling in love with.” He heard the squeal in the crowd and wasn’t sure if it was from random fans responding to his corny Elvis impersonation, or a certain woman who might enjoy that bit of news.

  For now, he just planned to give the best performance of his life since he’d dedicated it to the most special woman in his world.

  ALYSSA SWOONED right along with every other woman in the crowd at Golddiggers as Brett Neale, rising star, launched into a rendition of “Too Much” that would make any female weak at the knees.

  And “Too Much” was only the beginning.

  His dedication of love still echoing in her ears, Alyssa gave the cue to Laura “Stargazer” Grimaldi to take the séance into high gear at the back of the room where only a few dedicated media members lingered since everyone else in the place had tuned into Brett. All of which was according to plan since Laura’s crystal ball conjured the coolest electronic holograph—an image of Elvis singing, projected up on stage right alongside Brett. They’d slaved away all night on the parlor trick and it couldn’t have worked any better.

  The whole place erupted in spontaneous applause. Out of the corner of her eye, Alyssa saw both music executives on their cell phones, each frantically trying to give her a thumbs-up sign. No doubt, Brett would have two solid recording offers by nightfall.

  A media frenzy that even Alyssa couldn’t have predicted swarmed the Meet the Presleys members while flashbulbs popped nonstop all around Brett. And although Alyssa knew Brett cared more about his art than the fame, she couldn’t help but rest easier now, knowing he’d always be able to play the music he loved thanks to his assured success.

  “That’s one hell of a stunt, Sis.�
�� Rosa appeared at Alyssa’s side, her face glowing with excitement. She’d dodged the circling reporters around the séance table to join Alyssa on the fringes of the spotlight.

  A place that made sense for Rosa, now that Alyssa finally understood her better.

  “He’s one hell of a guy.” Alyssa flung her arm around Rosa’s shoulders, ready to celebrate so many good things in her life. A new man. A new brother-in-law. A sister who looked happier than she could ever remember seeing her. “You realize that almost thirty years after our orphanage days, Elvis is still taking care of us?”

  “Looks like he’s taking pretty good care of Brett Neale, too.” Rosa pointed to Brett, who currently fended off journalists and photographers, TV cameras and a hundred swooning women as his song ended.

  Alyssa felt the familiar adrenaline kick in. She adored the music business, only this time the thrill was tinged with so much more, a swell of love for the man at the center of it all.

  And this time, she didn’t mean Elvis.

  Brett’s eyes met hers across the room. Searching. Finding. Communicating the love he’d announced to the whole convention center.

  “Guess I’d better go help him out.” Leaving her sister in the capable hands of Sean Halloran, Alyssa launched through the crowd toward the man of her dreams.

  The rest of the room faded away as she threw herself into Brett’s arms, giving him her heart and soul in a kiss captured by a sea of flashbulbs. Oh yeah, she was definitely living her dreams. And it was only going to get better.

  Brett broke away to look into her eyes, pulling her into a booth selling velvet paintings where they could grab a few stolen moments behind a life-size canvas of the King.

  “I hope you realize I’ll never be able to go back to being a financial analyst now that you’ve got me pouring my heart out on stage and falling in love at first sight.” He stroked his fingers through her hair, twining a curl around his finger. “No one who works with a calculator for a living could ever be that irresponsible.”