“Oh yeah, of course. I didn’t think … ” Katie stammered. She looked away in embarrassment. Blake laughed softly and opened the heavy glass door of the hotel for her. She stepped inside and said, “I don’t mind hanging out in your room for a bit. I’m sure you’ll behave yourself.”
“Right this way then, darlin’.” Blake led Katie to the elevators, his large hand resting on the small of her back.
• • •
“Holy cow, this is a hotel room! I’ve never been in one this big.” Katie stepped into the cool air-conditioned room and looked around appreciatively.
“Honey, didn’t anyone ever tell you that size doesn’t matter?” Blake chuckled at his own joke as he closed the door behind him.
Katie giggled and punched him playfully on the shoulder. “Oh you, stop it.”
“Darlin’, make yourself at home. Grab a drink,” Blake gestured to a tub of melting ice and bottled drinks on a marble counter near a giant wicker basket of fruit and wrapped chocolates. Katie couldn’t believe the variety. She plucked a fancy-looking bottle of raspberry lemonade out of the slushy ice and wiped it on her jeans. She looked around the luxurious hotel suite, taking in the plush couches positioned close to ornate floor lamps and a tufted leather ottoman in a seating area. Her eyes moved to the bed across the room that sat on a platform, covered in a luxurious looking satin comforter and several fluffy throw pillows. A small crystal chandelier hung over the bed, catching light from the two crystal bedside lamps on the night stands. Katie shook her head a little, forcing herself to take her mind away from Blake’s inviting bed.
She perched on Blake’s couch and reminded herself to breathe as he crossed the room to join her. He sank down beside her and angled his large frame so that they were facing one another. Blake pushed his boots off his feet and leaned back against the arm of the couch.
“So your show was great. Very impressive,” Blake said. “I had only heard one or two of your songs before tonight. I guess it would’ve been good for me to at least listen to your whole album before y’all joined me, but hearing your stuff for the first time live was a real treat.”
“Aw, thanks. Tonight was amazing. I’ve never experienced anything like it, you know? Our gigs have all been in beer joints or at local fairs. We were so jittery and excited before we went out there tonight. Once we started playing, though, I pretty much forgot to be nervous. It all seemed to just melt into one big ball of energy. Or love. Or something,” Katie said with a laugh. “We definitely felt something out there. It was indescribable. Of course you probably know exactly what I’m talking about.”
“Sure I do. There’s nothing quite like the first time, though,” Blake stretched a bit and leaned towards Katie. “Can I have a sip of your drink, sweetheart? I’m too lazy to get up and get my own.”
Katie handed over her bottle and looked into Blake’s twinkling eyes as he took a big sip. The unexpected intimacy of sharing a drink warmed her. She relaxed and allowed herself to sink back onto the couch. She undid the straps of her sandals and kicked them to the floor, sighing with relief.
Blake chuckled and nodded towards her shoes. “Do you have any shoes that aren’t pink?”
“Well, pink is kind of my signature color,” Katie replied with a toothy grin.
“I remember those cute pink cowboy boots you were wearing earlier today. I’ll bet those are a lot more comfortable.”
“They sure are, but sometimes a girl’s gotta suffer a bit for the sake of fashion.” She winced in pain, and pulled one foot up to massage it.
“Here, allow me,” said Blake as he took her foot in his hand and began kneading it for her. Katie sighed with pleasure and allowed herself to lie back on the couch as she watched Blake through lowered lashes.
“This is heaven for me. A girl could get used to this.” She reveled in the feel of his warm hands on her tired, achy feet.
“It’s my pleasure, darlin’. You have cute little feet.” Blake smiled at Katie’s obvious enjoyment.
The day’s travel, preparation, and show had drained Katie’s energy. She was so thankful that they were playing two nights in a row at the same venue. Life on the road might take a bit of getting used to.
Katie felt her eyelids flutter closed as she luxuriated in the soft pressure and steady rhythm of Blake’s foot massage. She let herself drift off as she imagined how nice it would feel to sink into a hot bath and then tuck herself between the cool clean sheets of her bed in her hotel room. She hadn’t slept on the tour bus yet, but she was pretty sure that it wouldn’t be very relaxing. In such tight quarters, each band member would have to be mindful of the others to avoid major tensions on the road.
Sterling had played countless shows, but Orange Blossom, Texas was so close to the Austin clubs where they were usually booked that they had always been able to hit the road in their van. They had played in Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Arkansas as well, but everywhere was within driving distance and they had never been gone long enough to justify the expense of leasing a bus. The bus the label had provided for them for this tour was actually very nice, if a bit crowded, with curtained-off bunks, two lounge areas, and a little kitchen area. The tight quarters and sparse amenities did nothing to dampen Katie’s enthusiasm for being on the road, finally touring with a major act.
“ … Tuscaloosa?” Blake’s voice snapped Katie out of her reverie.
“I’m sorry, what did you say?”
Blake chuckled. “Am I boring you, sweetheart? I just asked if you’d been to Tuscaloosa before. You must be exhausted. I think you would’ve fallen asleep on this couch if I hadn’t woken you. Let me walk you to your room so you can get a little rest. We’ve got a big day tomorrow.” Blake stood up and helped Katie to her feet. His hand lingered at her elbow a bit longer than necessary.
When they reached Katie’s room, she fished her room key out of her handbag and looked up into Blake’s eyes. “Thank you for tonight, Blake. I had a great time.”
“Me, too, Katie; I’d like to do it again soon. You get some sleep tonight, all right? I’ll see you tomorrow,” he said, his lazy drawl sending a frisson of electricity through Katie. Blake leaned in as if for a kiss but stopped at her forehead where he planted a tender peck before turning and walking back down the hall.
Katie sighed and let herself into the cool sanctuary of her hotel room. With her back against the closed door, she didn’t see Blake return, hold up one hand to knock, and pull it back before turning around and heading back to his own room.
Chapter Three
The second day on tour was a blur of activity as the bands were shuffled between interviews and photo sessions. Katie had hoped to spend more time with Blake and maybe build on what they had started the night before, but she barely caught sight of him as the musicians were rushed from one commitment to the next.
Katie attended a band interview for the local paper, smiled and chatted her way through a couple of radio station events, signed autographs, and posed for pictures with fans. She was sure that most of the people crowding around her were more familiar with Blake Jackson, but the publicity was great nonetheless. As the lone female in the band as well as the principal songwriter, Katie generated plenty of interest. Most of the questions Katie answered were about the band, the album, or the tour. Only a handful of people mentioned Blake Jackson, and even fewer actually asked Katie anything about him.
Katie reluctantly headed to her dressing room where the hair and makeup team were waiting. She had hoped to see Blake again and had let thoughts of him distract her all day. Blake had been the first thing she thought of when she woke up and all she had thought of during the day. She had been on edge all day, expecting a phone call or a quick visit with him. That seemed foolish now since he hadn’t made any effort to contact her. It was time to get her mind focused on her show, her band, her career.
Tonight’s show was important, maybe more important than the last one. Blake had sold out the first night so quickly that they had added a second sho
w to the schedule in Mobile, Alabama. Katie was certain that fans expected no less than the best and she was determined not to disappoint them. There was no use moping around hoping to catch a glimpse of Blake tonight. It was his tour, and if he wanted to see her, he could have made that happen. She had worked too hard to get to this point in her music career to blow it by losing focus over some guy who apparently hadn’t thought of her all day.
She shook her head, blonde locks swishing over her shoulders, and looked herself square in the eyes in the huge dressing room mirror. Katie McCoy, focus. Tonight you are a star, not a fan of Blake Jackson, not a lovesick teenager. Get it together.
Katie met her hairstylist’s eyes in the mirror and gave her a mischievous smile. “Feel free to go crazy and try something sexy. I wouldn’t mind looking amazing tonight,” Katie laughed. She looked to her makeup artist and quipped, “That goes double for you.” The stylists laughed and voiced their approval. With one show down and only eleven to go before Sterling left Blake Jackson’s tour, Katie had to make every night count. This tour could be very important for her music career, and lord knows she needed everything to go well. Katie had finished high school, but she never went to college and so far had never done anything else well besides write and play music.
If things didn’t work out with Sterling, maybe she could join another band. If worse came to worst, Katie could move back in with her parents and teach private music lessons. After getting a little taste of life as a successful musician, though, Katie wouldn’t give it up without a fight. Every show on this tour was a chance to promote the album, gain new fans, live her dream, and maybe catch Blake’s eye while she was at it. She might be reading too much into her brief encounters with Blake, but there was a chance that he felt the same sparks flying that she did.
When her hair and makeup team stepped back to admire their work, Katie took a long, appreciative look at her reflection. She had been surprised by the transformation last night, but that was nothing compared to the beautiful creature staring back at her in the mirror.
“You two are amazing! You might as well be magicians, ladies. I don’t think that I’ve ever looked this good,” Katie gushed to the hairstylist and makeup artist. “Thank you so much.” Katie hugged the two women and headed out to meet the band. It’s show time, she thought to herself.
• • •
While Katie was busy trying to get her mind off of Blake, Blake was thinking of nothing but Katie. He closed his eyes and let the hot water of his shower run down his back as he breathed in the steam and tried to wash away the day’s work and ready himself for that night’s show. His day had been filled with press commitments and fan events, and neither had been easy to focus on when all he wanted to do was whisk little Miss Katie McCoy into a quiet room and spend a little time getting to know her. He regretted not kissing her outside her hotel room the night before and hoped to get another chance soon.
Blake couldn’t think of anything but her beautiful face, that silky blonde hair, those glittering green eyes, those rosebud lips. Why hadn’t he kissed her last night? He had certainly wanted to, and it seemed like she would have been receptive. Blake tried to think of one other time when a woman had distracted him so much and came up short. He felt like a teenager when it came to Katie, a feeling he wasn’t entirely comfortable with. Blake was used to a lot of female attention from fans, and he was usually at ease, practically in his element when he met a new woman. He never saw any of them as a potential girlfriend, though. It was too hard to maintain a relationship when he toured most of the year, and when he was home, no woman was willing to sit on the sidelines while he spent his days and nights writing and recording albums.
Maybe Katie could fit into his life, since she would certainly understand the stresses and demands of an active music career. Katie could be someone special, and that was scary. Scary, but enticing. This might require more than just the patented Blake Jackson charm, the lazy smile, the little jokes he generally relied on. The regular playbook might not be enough when it came to someone like Katie.
• • •
Another amazing performance left Katie in high spirits, and she practically floated back to her dressing room. She thought that the band was tight before they joined the tour. The shows they played in the clubs and bars around Texas were nothing compared to the size and production involved on this tour. She couldn’t wait to see what the rest of the tour held, and was so glad that the band had managed to get these dates. Opening for Blake Jackson was going to put Sterling in front of thousands of fans, many of which had likely never heard of them. It was the chance of a lifetime, and she had to admit that she was more than a little relieved to find that they were holding up under the pressure of performing for bigger audiences than ever before.
She let herself into her dressing room and relished the whoosh of cool air that greeted her. Her jaw dropped when she stepped inside and saw a huge arrangement of pink roses sitting in a vase on her vanity. Were these from Blake? Her heartbeat quickened but she reminded herself that her sweet parents also knew exactly where she was and might just be sending their love. She plucked the card from amongst the leaves and sucked in her breath as she read the words.
Katie, You looked and sounded incredible tonight. I hope you’ll come to my show. There’s a seat backstage saved just for you. Yours, Blake.
She turned the card over in her fingers a couple of times and pressed it to her lips. She allowed herself a moment to close her eyes and imagine what it would feel like to kiss Blake, his lips warm and soft on hers, before she snapped to attention and got herself ready for his show. With her heart racing, Katie rushed through a shower and changed into clean clothes so she could make it on time to see Blake’s set.
• • •
Katie made her way to the backstage audience area, which was nothing more than a couple of rows of metal folding chairs and was actually more off to the side than the back of the stage. She had often wondered why people were so keen on getting to sit backstage, since the view was so limited and the sound was off. She guessed it was the allure of being granted special status, since it certainly wasn’t for the ambience or the view of the show. She found the seating area and saw that one of the chairs had a card with her name printed on it in bold letters and a single yellow rose waiting for her on the seat. She hurried to her seat as the house lights dimmed and the stage lights began to blaze. She brought the flower to her nose and inhaled deeply.
Blake paused by her chair when the band walked in and gently pulled her up from her chair. He drew her hand to his lips and kissed her knuckles, his eyes never leaving hers. “I’m glad you made it.” His breath on her hand gave her a delicious thrill. Blake released her hand and ran up the steps and onto the stage.
Katie’s legs wobbled under her as she stood rooted in place, staring dreamily after Blake. The music started, the crowd went wild, and she became peripherally aware that everyone around her was staring. She sat down in her chair in a daze, intoxicated by her brief moment with Blake. Her face reddened as she slowly looked at the curious faces surrounding her. The small seating area was full of friends and family of the band members, contest winners, and staff members. Everyone had witnessed their exchange, noticed the special treatment, and looked like they wondered what was going on between Blake and the young fiddler.
She soon forgot to be self-conscious as the band played on and Blake’s dreamy voice filled the auditorium. Katie sat, mesmerized, as Blake sang the songs she had heard a hundred times before. She knew all of his songs by heart, could play most of them herself, in fact; but tonight they sounded new to her; it was as if she were under his spell. His warm voice made everything around her fade away as he sang; she couldn’t think of anything else but him.
She was momentarily jolted from her daze when Blake introduced his popular song ‘Someone Like You’, looked over at her, made purposeful eye contact, and told the crowd that the song suddenly had new meaning for him. Katie had to employ every last
ounce of her self-control to remain upright in her chair after that. Was he playing with her? Was he flirting, trying to send a real message, or just working the crowd? If only she could get a few moments alone with him after the show, maybe he would give her a better idea.
Both Sterling and Blake had fan meet and greet events after the show, and Katie had to be satisfied with no more than occasional glimpses of Blake. There was no way they would have any conversation that night, private or otherwise. Knowing that he was in charge and could delay the fan events to see her, but chose not to, was tough to take. Katie knew that she shouldn’t be upset. He wasn’t avoiding her; this was work, and he was a professional. Blake didn’t get to where he was by upsetting fans and skipping commitments. He had caught her eye a couple of times, but she could never tell if it was coincidence or if he was thinking of her, trying to send a message.
Chapter Four
Katie looked out the window of Sterling’s tour bus as they left Mobile behind. In a little over three hours, they would arrive in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, where they would actually have a full day off before taking the stage the next evening. After the Tuscaloosa show, the tour schedule would pick up and there would be much less downtime between stops. Sterling had joined Blake’s tour during a slow period, and Katie couldn’t let herself get used to the leisurely pace.
Her band had spent several months in the past playing night after night with little time off between gigs, but they had always gone home or to a hotel afterwards. Sleeping on a tour bus was going to be much different. Each band member had their own private bunk, but only a curtain separated the beds from the open area of the bus. Everything was designed to make the most of the limited space, so there was no bathtub, only a shower; no full size refrigerator, only one that would be at home in a dorm room; nothing like the comforts of home. Sterling’s recent success had been such a whirlwind ride, such an exhilarating experience that none of it mattered. Getting their own tour bus was a huge step, such a sign of their success that they were too excited to grouse about the cramped quarters. Besides, the shows and fan events were so exhausting that the little bunks felt like heaven when the musicians fell into bed at night.
Kiss Me, Katie (Crimson Romance) Page 3
