“Shit!” I gasped, opening my eyes.
“What?!” Avery asked pulling off the exit and briefly glancing at me in concern.
“He’s my boyfriend,” I said.
“Evan?” she questioned, a smile playing on her lips.
“Yeah,” I replied, shaking my head. “How did that happen?”
“How could it not happen?” She laughed.
“Brat,” I returned, smiling myself, leaning over to slap her playfully on the arm.
She was right. How could it not have? The man had chased me to no end, showered me with affection, and had put himself out there all for me. All despite my efforts to put distance between us and keep him at arm’s length. Now, I just needed to figure out how I was going to protect my heart if everything went array.
“Stop overthinking,” Avery chided, putting her blinker on and turning into the parking lot of a large brick building. “Evan has never given you a reason to question him, so don’t start making them up.”
Sighing, I reached over and squeezed her hand. She was right. He hadn’t. Yet, everything with Ryan was still so fresh and weighed heavy on me. The two were night and day, that I knew, but it still didn’t keep the thoughts at bay. While Ryan had broken my heart, Evan had the power to destroy it.
Once we parked and made our way to the side of the building, my nerves turned into excitement. I couldn’t wait to be wrapped in his muscled arms and to have those blue eyes locked with mine. I was becoming quickly attached to this man, the one thing I had always prided myself on not doing.
“Well, there are the two most beautiful women in the world,” Mikey greeted as we reached one of the main entrance doors.
“You do know we are both spoken for, right?” Avery teased as she stepped into his arms.
“Ah, only you, technically,” he chuckled, wrapping his arms around her.
I rolled my eyes, a smile playing on my lips, as he let her go and reached for me. Mikey was Cooper’s bodyguard and had been with the band from the beginning. While the others all had individual security as well, he was more like family. Rumor had it he had a younger sister as well, that he didn’t see much. Avery had a theory that that was the reason he was always worried and watching out for us. If he couldn’t do it for his own blood, then he would do it for the next best thing.
“The guys don’t have a clue you’re coming,” he told us as he led us down a long hallway where the concessions normally would be. “They were just getting on stage when I came to get you. The times got shifted.”
When we entered the area where the stage was, I was floored. While I had been to concerts before, it was totally different when all the seats were empty and it was just the band. It was no less awe-inspiring. Their country rock pounded through the space and my heart seemed to beat in time inside my chest. Something was off, though. I couldn’t put my finger on it. The music and notes seemed right.
“This way, ladies,” Mikey gestured after we had walked down aisles to get us in front of the stage.
A handful of chairs were set up and a few were taken by what looked like reporters or radio personnel. I knew for a fact that the band was pretty strict about who was allowed near them. Problems in the past had led them to tighten security and only deal with people they trusted.
No sooner had we sat down did I realize what was wrong with the music; well, it wasn’t the music but rather with Evan. He was playing and from the outside, everything looked fine; however, the smile on his lips as he belted out the lyrics to “Party” with the others didn’t reach his eyes. I searched his face and noticed slight smudges under them. What the hell?
“Has Cooper said anything to you about Evan?” I asked Avery without taking my eyes from the stage.
“Nope, why?”
“Something isn’t right,” I told her.
“Haven’t you been talking to him?”
“Yeah, but the past week has just been phone calls and text messages,” I replied, finally looking at her. “I was playing catch up at the Mass office, and he was running ragged with concerts.”
“He looks okay,” she said, turning back to the stage to look at him.
I shook my head. He might have looked like he was fine to the average Joe. I knew better. I’m not sure what bothered me more, that he hadn’t talked to me about it or that I hadn’t noticed, even through our phone conversations.
Sound check only lasted for about an hour. The guys all seemed really happy with how everything went and didn’t want to tire their voices out. As it was, their tour schedule had been a grueling one and still had months to go. Avery and I stood back as they came off the stage, and the others seated next to us approached them. I wasn’t even sure they were aware we were there yet, they had been so engrossed in their bubble.
“We’re done,” I heard Coop’s voice tell the group surrounding them, a half hour later. “My woman is here and I need to get my hands on her.”
Avery laughed beside me. He was the first one headed our way and only had eyes for his wife. It made my breath hitch the way he looked at her, so full of love from a tattooed hard-ass. Cooper didn’t care who was watching. First, he leaned down and whispered to her belly, almost causing me to look away on what should have been a private moment, and then he stood to his full height, cupped her face in his hands, and kissed her like they were alone in their bedroom at home.
“Damn,” I heard a voice mutter from beside me. “I have to compete with that.”
I turned and found Evan looking at me with a smile, one that again didn’t reach his eyes, and noticed that his baby blues were dull and almost lifeless. He pulled me into his arms without hesitation though, and I felt him let out a deep sigh as I wrapped my arms around his neck to pull him closer. He nuzzled into the spot where my shoulder meets my neck and squeezed me so hard I thought I was going to burst.
“Everything okay?” I asked when he finally let up enough that I could lean back and look him in the face.
“Better now that you’re here,” he told me in a whisper as he leaned down to claim my lips with his.
The kiss was nothing like the others we had shared. It was needy, sad, and desperate. I ran my hands up the back of his neck and into his hair to hold him and changed the angle. I took it deep and showed him with my mouth that I was here for him no matter what. This time, it was my turn to show him that I worshiped him without using any words.
I wasn’t sure if the girls surprising us outside of Boston had been good or bad. Having Julie in my arms for a few hours helped ease some of the shit I had been carrying around, but it had also hurt twice as bad to watch her go. Her kisses and quiet murmurs were just what I had needed, but my heart had physically ached at not being able to tell her.
Quietly, I shut the hotel room door behind me and made my way to the elevators. It was three o’clock in the morning and there wasn’t a soul in sight. I really should have been in bed, considering we had a show that night; however, sleep just wouldn’t come. I had tossed and turned for hours and finally decided I should just make use of the weight room to try and burn off some of my restless energy. I could nap later, after sound check, if I needed to.
When the doors whooshed open, I stepped inside and hit the button for the lobby. Before the doors could close, a body slid in and I had to shake my head at my jumpiness. Of course one of the bodyguards was going to follow me. They took rotations at night when we were at hotels, so I didn’t know this one’s name, but I nodded at him just the same.
Reaching the lobby, I took the left that would take me to the machines first. I figured a warm-up on the treadmill would be a good start and I would move to free weights after. The only people I passed on my way were those who worked at the establishment. The bodyguard was still behind me, I could feel it. Poor guy, he would be bored out of his freaking mind.
“Man, why don’t you go get a coffee?” I told him as I opened the door. “I’ll be fine, Scout’s honor.”
“I shouldn’t…” he started.
He too looked around. After a few moments of what I could tell was a battle between the devil and angel on his shoulders, the man put his hand out for my phone. I handed it to him and watched as he put his name and number in it. Feeling satisfied I was just fine on my own, he handed it back and turned to head toward the café.
Sighing with relief, I put my earbuds in and walked into the room. It was silent, almost eerily so, since the televisions and radios weren’t even on. Cranking up 90’s rock on my music app, I jumped onto the nearest machine and got to jogging. My muscles were sore at first, but quickly warmed and the pain became a distant memory.
Most people were surprised that we still worked out when we were on the road; after all, the physical piece of our show should have been enough of a workout. There was no way we could do what we did without putting in both cardio and weights, but it didn’t mean I still didn’t ache after a good show. Though, I’m sure a good part of it was also that I wasn’t eating or sleeping right. Outside stresses after we had gone on tour were taking their toll on my body.
The slowing of the machine alerted me that my time there was done. Getting off, I cleaned it and stretched before walking to the next room. I was alone once again and saw no sign of the bodyguard. Setting myself up for squats first, I got started on the same regimen I did at home. I did a little bit of everything—legs, arms, butt, and back—making sure I hit all the larger muscles.
Metallica pounded into my ears and the sweat started dripping off me. I caught movement out of the corner of my eye, but thought nothing of it. It was pushing four o’clock and I was almost finished my last set of reps. Early birds would be getting up and starting to use the gym or getting breakfast. Putting down my weights after my last set of bicep curls, I saw someone leaning against the wall, watching me.
“What the fuck?” I questioned, shaking my head to make sure I wasn’t imagining things.
“You can shake your head all you want, sweetheart”—the woman chuckled—“but I’m not going to disappear, much to your dismay.”
Standing on the other side of the room was none other than my mother. Barbara Foster. She looked just like she had eleven years ago when I originally left Maine. Tall, thin, and like she could stand to eat a few donuts. Her blue eyes were dark circles and the lines on her face were more pronounced than they had been years ago. The blonde hair that she had up in a ponytail was bleached and lifeless. I had always wondered if she had a drug problem, but she had never had them around the house, or alcohol either, for that matter.
I didn’t know what to say to her or know why the hell she was even here. Growing up, we hadn’t been close and by the time I was a teenager, we hardly saw each other. She had made sure our house was clean and there was always food in the refrigerator, but she had almost never been around. I hadn’t even said goodbye to her when I packed my bags for Nashville.
When Cooper and I first returned home to Maine last year, I had been surprised to find one of her homemade lasagnas on the deck one night. It included a welcome home note and stupid me started to get my hopes up. That was until she contacted me again only because she wanted more money.
“Why the hell are you here?” I asked, keyed up from the workout and ready for a fight.
“Oh, Evan, is that any way for you to speak to your mother?” she asked, straightening and coming closer to me.
I immediately stepped back and pulled my earbuds out. Shooting a look at the door, I noticed that the bodyguard still wasn’t anywhere in sight. So much for thinking I’d be fine on my own. Dumbass.
“Considering you’re only that by blood,” I murmured, “not by choice, I’d say it’s just fine.”
The sting of a slap on across my cheek had me wincing. Her eyes filled quickly with hatred, but her mouth moved into a menacing smile. One that had my stomach knotting instantly.
“Now, why did you have to go and say something like that?” she tsked. “I just came to talk to you.”
“Then talk,” I spit, wiping the sweat from my face with the bottom of my shirt.
“You really need to learn some manners,” my mother admonished. “I’m not exactly sure where I went wrong with you. I loved you, and kept you clothed and fed, but are you at all grateful?”
I rolled my eyes and grabbed my water bottle. Looking at my phone, I noticed that I had a text message from Cooper, wanting to know where I was. If he only knew, he would be down here and on her like a dog with a bone. He couldn’t stand this woman any more than I could.
“I know what you can do to make up for that,” she said, putting her finger to her chin and throwing me another smile that had my gut telling me I wouldn’t like what was coming next.
“And what’s that?” I asked, trying to figure out how to get her out of here before the other guys in the band came down.
“It seems I have some compromising photos and information that may be bad news for you, your band, and your new lady friend.”
I stopped moving and looked up at her. Her grin grew. She knew she had me. I wouldn’t do anything to hurt any of them. She was hitting me at my weakest point—those who I felt were my true family.
“If you give me a little spending money, I could make it all go away,” came her solution.
I had known that was coming. Shaking my head, I realized I couldn’t do this with her anymore. Money really wasn’t an issue because I hadn’t spent much of what I had earned over the years. Other than helping with the purchase and costs of our Nashville home, everything was invested or in savings.
“You would really do that to your own son?” I asked, not entirely shocked, yet exasperated at the same time.
“The one that isn’t appreciative of everything that I did for him growing up? Yes, yes I would.”
“Evil bitch,” I muttered.
“Funny, your father used to say the same thing,” she cackled.
It amazed me how quickly I had gotten used to the noise of having the guys in the band around. Not just Evan, but Coop, Matt, and Chris as well. The laughter, testosterone, and smells all brought some level of comfort. Even the arguing was heartwarming; it meant that there was love there.
For the first time I could ever remember, I sat in my office, restless. Usually I thrived on my work and the stress that it could bring; I had been raised on it. More times than I could count, I had come to the office with my father to sit and help him look through numbers. I had been groomed for it.
Looking at the picture of Evan and myself from Avery and Coop’s wedding that sat on my desk, I smiled. She had it printed and framed for me when I had started coming to the Maine office. The feelings on both of our faces warmed my heart. If it wasn’t love, the friendship alone made me happy. Shifting my gaze, I found the one of my parents and myself. It had been taken at a bank dinner back in Massachusetts, just before I had filled out the paperwork for Avery to become a co-owner. It was the last event my parents would go to as owners of Lane & Son. There was no love there. It looked like three associates, not members of a family.
My phone ringing brought me out of my train of thought. When I looked down, I noticed that Nicole was transferring me a call. It was my father. Speak of the devil.
“Hello, Father,” I greeted, leaning back in my chair and kicking off my heels to wiggle my toes.
“Good morning, Juliette,” he responded, sounding more like a professional and causing me to cringe when he used my full name.
“Did you receive the email I sent this morning?” I asked, knowing full well he did and had already gone through the information.
“I did,” he said. “The numbers are better than expected in the new location.”
“They are,” I admitted, smiling with pride. “We picked up two more businesses than planned. I also had to hire another accountant.”
> “Good to hear,” he murmured, and I could easily see him looking over the spreadsheets as we spoke.
“I’d like give some of the employees the option to have satellite offices between the two locations.”
“Not a bad idea,” he agreed. “What about management? Will you and Avery be splitting the offices as originally planned, with you in Massachusetts and her in Maine?”
I felt the blood drain from my face. Pinching the bridge of my nose between my thumb and index finger, I took a deep breath. What I had originally told my father had now changed. Evan had come into the picture and since I wasn’t sure exactly what we were, I didn’t want to commit to one office. Now, how did I tell him that.
“That has not been determined yet,” I told him slowly, choosing my words. “I will continue to be at both offices until after Avery has her baby and her husband is back home.”
“Understandable. Is she still fully committed to the business?”
“Of course she is,” I snapped, sharper than I meant to. “She always has been, otherwise I wouldn’t have brought her in.”
“I just wanted to check,” he argued. “No need to get all emotional.”
I got up out of my chair and paced in the little space behind my desk that I could reach with the phone cord. This man was the other one that could get under my skin. All I wanted was the business to officially be mine. It was so close I could taste it.
“I apologize,” I managed to get out, even though I really wasn’t.
“I’ll call Coin and have the paperwork drawn up,” he finally said. “The business will officially be yours by the end of the year.”
The Unknown (The Comeback Series Bonus Book Book 2) Page 7
