Finding Us

by Debra Presley

  “I don’t agree, but if you insist, we can meet for a few minutes this morning. I’ll have my assistant call you with a time.” She hung up the phone before Danny could say anything else.

  He stared at Abby sleeping in the other room. If he wanted to prep her for their meeting, he needed to wake her now. Danny returned to the living room.

  “Abby,” he whispered and sat next to her on the ottoman. He shook her gently. Nothing. She didn’t even stir. He watched her sleep for a moment then leaned over to gently push her champagne-colored hair away from her face. He took in her fair complexion sprinkled lightly with freckles and then abruptly stood. He needed to stop before his thoughts got the better of him. The last thing he needed was for Abby to see how much she affected him.

  He worked hard at keeping things professional because he knew all too well what happened when he cared too much for someone. Since Vanessa, Danny hadn’t allowed himself to get close to any woman, and he still wasn’t ready to take that step. Shit, last night he nearly lost it when he saw Sean with Abby. It brought up too many memories that hit too close to home. He failed when it came to Vanessa; he wasn’t going to let anything cloud his judgment this time.

  He watched Abby resting soundly, but he couldn’t stop thinking of his fiancé. He blamed himself for her death. And at the time, it nearly destroyed him.

  Their tour of duty in Iraq had been tense, and his mind was on other things. He missed the signs that something was wrong, and after she died, nothing anyone said could convince him that he wasn’t responsible. Not only were they engaged, but she was also a fellow soldier who he’d worked with since boot camp. They’d served side-by-side, both sergeants in the Psychological Operations unit, commonly known as Psy-Ops.

  “Abby.” He said her name louder but didn’t touch her this time. Abby said something in her sleep, but he had no idea what. Danny chuckled because, really, she was just too adorable.

  “Come on sleepyhead; you have to wake up,” he coaxed.

  “Go away.” She gathered the blanket closer to her body.

  “I can’t. It’s time to get up. Let’s go.” He pulled at the blanket and saw that she was only wearing the T-shirt he gave her last night. He stared. Her legs were smooth and sexy, and there was a hint of her purple lace panties peeking out. Danny threw the blanket over Abby and stood quickly. He worked for Abby. He didn’t need images of her half naked in his brain.

  He walked behind the chair. Distance was a must right now. His phone alarm sang “Reveille” and instead of shutting it off, he increased the volume and placed it by Abby’s ear.

  She jumped, causing the ottoman to shift forward. Danny laughed at her expression but stopped when she lost her balance and fell to the floor. Like a scene from a sitcom, she landed on her ass, with her legs up in the air. Abby quickly covered herself with the blanket.

  “Are you okay?” he asked.

  “Screw you, Nucci.” She looked up at him with narrowed eyes. “Now help me up, asshole.”

  Danny helped her stand, mindful of her bruised arm. The blanket fell to the floor, leaving Abby in his old New York Yankees T-shirt. Even though he knew what to expect this time, the sight was too much to ignore. He tried to avert his eyes but failed.

  Abby laughed and walked slowly into the bedroom, shaking her sexy ass. “I’m gonna grab a quick shower. Can you get my suitcase or do you have another one of these I could wear?” Abby flipped up the end of Danny’s shirt, giving Danny an eye full.

  “I’ll get your clothes.” Danny sighed and looked up at the ceiling. He was clearly off his game.

  “Thanks.” Abby winked and laughed even louder. She closed the door and left him standing in the living room with his mouth hanging open. Holy shit. His mind raced with all the things he wanted to do to her, and he was thankful for the reprieve. He grabbed the keycard to Abby’s room and left to go get her things.

  * * *

  Danny, Abby, and Sophie rode the elevator to the lobby in silence. He could tell Abby was nervous about the meeting with Vivien and the attorney for Murphy Entertainment, the company that managed her career. She hadn’t stopped fiddling with her hair since they left his room.

  “You’ll be fine. Stop doing that. It makes you look like you did something wrong.” Sophie broke the silence. “Which you didn’t,” she quickly added.

  “She’s right. Take a deep breath. I’ll be right by your side,” Danny assured.

  Abby didn’t say anything but offered a small smile.

  “All right, I’m going to make sure the bus is ready so that when you’re done we can get the hell out of here.” Sophie gave Abby a quick hug and left to do her job.

  Danny held the conference room door open for Abby then followed closely behind and pulled her chair out at the table. He sat next to her as a show of support. He hated that she had to meet with Vivien, but also knew it had to happen. Sean was Vivien’s personal pet and getting her to see their side of things would be a difficult task.

  “Abigail.” Vivien joined them at the table, opposite Abby. Abby glared at her mother. Everyone knew she hated being called Abigail.

  “Mother,” she replied.

  “I hear there was a tiff last night between you and Sean.” Vivien looked bored and disinterested.

  “It was more than a tiff,” Abby said. “Sean attacked me after I broke up with him. I’d like him removed from the tour.”

  Danny impulsively took her hand and squeezed it under the table. He wanted her to know he was here for her. They’d spent the last half hour prepping for this meeting. He knew Vivien intimidated Abby.

  “Attacked? I think you’re overreacting, Abigail. You look fine to me.” She turned to the attorney. “I don’t see anything here that warrants releasing Sean from his contract.”

  “Excuse me?” Danny said. There was no way he was letting that asshole get away with what he’d done.

  Vivien stopped and looked at him. “Do you have something to add, Mr. Nucci?” She narrowed her blue eyes at him, and for a moment, Danny couldn’t deny the resemblance between Vivien and Abby.

  “I think you need to get all the facts before you dismiss what happened. Abby needs to explain the entire incident.” He hated the way Vivien steamrolled Abby when they disagreed.

  “All right, Abigail, please continue.”

  Abby stared at her, hard.

  Danny gave her another squeeze, silently encouraging her. Don’t let her walk all over you.

  “I walked in on Sean with one of his groupies.”

  Danny could see Vivien had already made up her mind. There was nothing Abby could say to make her change it.

  “When I told him that our relationship was over, he threatened me and then grabbed me.” Abby’s shoulders relaxed as soon as she finished. He knew how hard that was for her.

  “That’s all?” Vivien and Abby stared at each other, and it seemed to Danny that they were having some silent exchange that he didn’t quite know the meaning of. “He has an iron-clad contract, and I’m not going to pay a team of lawyers to fight him in court because your feelings are hurt.”

  “What?” Danny and Abby asked in unison.

  “Not to mention, the press would have a field day with this,” she continued, ignoring them.

  “Abby, I understand your concern, and I sympathize, but Vivien’s right. He really could fight us on this. It’s your word against his,” the lawyer explained.

  “Danny, Ron, and Sophie were there. They’re my witnesses. How can you say it’s his word against mine?”

  “Were they with you the entire time?”

  “No,” Abby admitted.

  “And why was that? Why do I pay for private security if you are roaming around by yourself? Why weren’t you with her, Mr. Nucci?” Vivien tucked her platinum-blonde hair behind her ear. Danny stared at her; she didn’t have a wrinkle on her face, and her nose was perfectly straight. She obviously had some work done, but he could still make out some features that were similar to Abby’s. They
both had an oval-shaped face, full lips, and eyes that spoke volumes with just one look.

  “I didn’t tell him I was leaving. Sophie and I ran down to look for my phone. When things got out of hand, Sophie phoned him. I even used the panic button when Sean grabbed me,” Abby said.

  “Without a witness, it’s your word against his,” the lawyer explained.

  “He grabbed me so hard he left fingerprints on my arm.” She lifted her sleeve and showed them her bruises. Vivien winced; it was slight, but Danny caught it. “A lawsuit and negative press isn’t as bad as letting him stay.”

  “I agree with Abby,” Danny wanted to appeal to Vivien. Abby’s marks had spurred some emotion in her, and it was the first sign she might bend. “He not only threatened and assaulted Abby, but he also threatened and attacked me. I don’t think it’s wise to keep him on this tour. I’m no lawyer, but you have plenty of evidence to show that he’s a threat. He’s unpredictable, and I wouldn’t put it past him to try something again.”

  “Well, isn’t that what you’re here for? Aren’t you security? Isn’t this your forté?” Any spark of hope Danny had was gone after that comment.

  He kept his expression neutral. He didn’t want her to see how frustrated he was. “Yes. And I’m giving you my professional opinion that he’s not stable and shouldn’t be allowed to continue to work on this tour.”

  “If we let him go, the entire tour would be bombarded with even more press at every stop. It’d be a Goddamn circus.” Vivien pushed back her chair, stood, and straightened her bright-blue pencil skirt. “I’m sorry, Abigail, but it doesn’t make any sense to let him go now. The tour is winding down. We’ll let him finish out his contract, and we won’t renew for the next one. That’s the best I can do.”

  Danny snorted at the absurdity of this meeting. No one gave a rat’s ass about Abby’s safety or the fact that she was hurting. He looked over at Abby. She was picking the bottom of her shirt. Another nervous habit. He tapped her on the forearm. She looked up, and he motioned with his head that she should continue.

  Abby looked over at Vivien. “I don’t feel comfortable with Sean. I don’t want him on this tour, and I am not going to pretend we’re a couple. You’re going to have to figure out how to make that happen.”

  “You’ll do as you’re told.” Vivien stood there, her arms crossed defiantly.

  “Last I checked,” Abby stood, her palms flat against the table as she faced down Vivien, “it’s my name on top of the marquee, and I’m the one people pay to see. I don’t want to be anywhere near him. That includes on stage, on the tour bus, and at the hotel. Hell, the entire goddamned hemisphere. I don’t give a shit how you do it. Get it done.” She smacked the table, and the sound echoed through the room.

  Danny kept his expression neutral, but his heart flushed with pride.

  “Abigail. It doesn’t work like that. So what if Sean hurt your feelings? Men do that. Sean is good looking and charming. He’s also feeling neglected, and that’s on you. A man like that will find entertainment elsewhere if you don’t give him a reason to keep coming back to you. I’m not going to fire him because you didn’t learn from my mistakes. If you need to go through this on your own to understand it, fine. But you don’t get to stomp your feet and expect me to put this entire business in jeopardy simply because it will make you feel better. Suck it up, Abigail. It’s what we women have been doing throughout eternity. That’s not going to change just because your name is on a marquee.”

  What the hell was she going on about? Danny glanced at Abby, then back at Vivien. This was no longer about Sean.

  “Learn this now. Men don’t know how to be faithful. They aren’t wired that way. You have so many advantages I didn’t have when I was your age. You have talent and money. That’ll keep Sean in line and coming back to you, and trust me when I say you’ll want his attention on others. It’s safer that way.”

  This was getting strange. Vivien had some twisted thoughts on relationships and was filling Abby with her poison. Danny stood. He wanted to get Abby out of this room before Vivien said anything worse.

  “Come on.” Danny touched Abby’s elbow gently and continued in a low voice, “Let’s go.”

  “We’re not done here,” Vivien snapped.

  Danny put his hand on Abby’s shoulder in support, and he stayed standing.

  “If I’ve taught you anything Abigail, it’s to not be a naïve little girl. There is no prince charming. No happily ever after. So his eye wanders. Who cares?” Vivien placed her hands on the conference table and leaned toward her daughter. “Get over yourself. This is the music business. Expecting fidelity is absurd. Let him beg another day or two before you take him back. Make him sweat. It’ll teach him a lesson.”

  “But…” Abby tried to argue.

  “He stays.” Vivien’s voice was firm.

  The color drained from Abby’s face, and Danny reacted instantly.

  “Time to go.” He turned to their attorney, hoping he’d see reason. “Figure out how to keep him away from Abby, or I will. Understood?” He hooked one arm around Abby’s waist and pulled her from the room; she stood frozen in what he could only assume was shock. Her mother had lost it. Telling her that it was okay for Sean to cheat on her and that she should just forgive him for what he’d done. Danny barely managed to keep from slamming the door as he fought his own outrage.

  “Let go,” Abby said loud enough that she drew the attention of the people passing by.

  “Not until we’re somewhere safe,” he said quietly in her ear. He wrapped his other arm around her.

  “My mother just said that I had to stay with that asshole. Tell me where it could possibly be safe.”

  “Let’s just get somewhere not so public, and we’ll debrief.”

  “Down here,” Sophie called from the end of the hallway.

  “Perfect timing,” Danny noted as he swiftly guided Abby toward Sophie.

  “The bus is all packed. I need to get my bag,” Sophie explained.

  “Will this even get us to our floor?” Danny asked as the elevator doors opened and they hopped on.

  “Not yours, but it goes to mine.” Sophie pressed the floor button for her room. “Hopefully, we can get to my room from this end of the hotel. If not, we’re gonna have to go back to the main floor.” She leaned against the wall.

  Abby stayed silent beside Danny, and that concerned him.

  “This way,” Sophie said when the doors opened. “I think if we go down here and make a left, we should be able to access my room. This all looks familiar. Yes, here’s the ice machine. It’s up ahead.” She swiped her keycard through the electronic lock.

  “Here we go.” She held open the door for the pair. He guided Abby toward the bed and waited for her to sit.

  “I’ll get her something to drink,” Sophie said.

  “You’re okay. Shh,” Danny assured her.

  “Here you go.” Sophie handed Danny a plastic cup full of water.

  “Thanks.” He took the cup and placed it on the side table.

  “Abby, look at me.” Danny sat down next to her on the bed. He needed to get a read on her. She was too quiet and disconnected.

  She looked up at him.

  “I need you to talk to me.”

  “What do you want me to say?”

  “Anything.”

  “Why? Nothing’s changed.”

  “I didn’t quite understand all she was referring to,” he admitted.

  “I can’t talk about him right now.”

  That didn’t help, but he wasn’t going to push her.

  “I have to get out of here,” she whispered. He could hear the desperation in her voice.

  “Yes, I know. But you can’t leave like this. Here, take a drink.” He offered her the water, and she downed the entire cup in one long drink.

  “Good?” She handed him the cup back.

  “Much better.” He smiled, trying to reassure her. She still seemed out of it, but she needed to get it toget
her, so they could make it to the bus.

  Danny rose from the bed and waited for Abby. “You can do this, right? We’ll get out of here and away from all the assholes. After that, you can kick the shit out of me if you want.”

  He saw the smile Abby tried to hide.

  “Take these.” Sophie handed Abby a pair of dark sunglasses.

  “Oh, thanks.”

  “Ready?”

  She nodded, and they left the room.

  “I’m going to see if I can find some good coffee. Do you want anything before we load up?” Sophie asked as they entered the elevator.

  “Maybe a soy mocha latte.”

  “With a shot of tequila?” Sophie joked.

  “Ha!”

  “Okay. Large?”

  Abby nodded.

  “Do you want anything?” Sophie asked Danny.

  “I’m good,” he said. “Thanks.”

  The doors opened to the elevator, and they all exited.

  “Okay, I’ll meet you on the bus.” Sophie veered left toward the shops, and Danny held Abby against him as they made their way out of the hotel. The bus was parked in the side lot, and Danny was sure there would be a small group of fans waiting. There always was.

  “Chin up,” he said to her.

  Ron met them halfway down the hall and took a position on Abby’s right. “There’re about fifteen people waiting for you.”

  “They’ll have to be disappointed. She needs to get on the bus,” Danny said.

  “No.” Abby looked up at him. “I can’t do that. Help me get through it quickly.”

  “I would really feel better if you’d bypass the crowd.”

  “I know, give me five minutes. Time me if you want, but I can’t ignore them.”

  “Five minutes. That’s it.” Against his better judgment, Danny agreed.

  “Thank you.” Abby tightened her grip around him and then let go.

  He stayed close as she walked through the exit door and over to her fans. She posed for pictures and signed autographs. “Hi, everybody,” she said, and Danny relaxed a little because she sounded more like herself.

  “Thanks for waiting. I love getting the chance to say hi.” She smiled for a picture and signed a T-shirt for someone else.