Take Me Back (Vegas Bad Boys #2)

by C. Morgan

  “What’s the gig?”

  “My wife is having a charity dinner. It’s a pretty swanky deal, and I want you wearing a new tux and turning on the charm.”

  “How much does it pay?” I wanted a dollar amount, and since he was the money man, he should be able to tell me.

  “We’ll work that out if you’re interested. Lloyd tells me you don’t want to travel.”

  “Right. My son is having surgery soon. I need to be around for him and my wife. That’s why I need to see how much I have to scrape together. Times have been tough lately.”

  “I’ve heard.” He let out a breath. “Look, the only reason I’m still interested despite your past is that LeRoy Cole stuck up for you, and I know you’ll see that this is too big to lose. This is a life-changing deal. My company has entertainment complexes and casinos all over the United States and abroad. I’m prepared to offer you a full-time contract, along with a signing bonus. That is if you can pull this gig off as good as the last. You see, Clay, I want you to work for me, tour for me, and we’re going to build an entire brand around you.”

  I couldn’t believe my ears. “What’s the job, other than playing and singing?”

  “Coordinating shows with the new complex.” His phone rang before he could say more, and he got up from his stool. “Excuse me. I have to take this.”

  When he stepped away, I looked at Lloyd. “This is too good to be true. What’s the catch?”

  “You give him exclusive rights to you through the contract, which is for the next eight years, and he’ll keep you happy. Hell, I’ve seen Hawk be very generous to people who can prove they are reliable. So whatever you do, don’t fuck this up. Because I’ve also seen him squash men’s dreams with a few phone calls.”

  I glanced across the room where Hawk looked to be having a very serious conversation. Although with his strong features and deep-set eyes, he always looked serious. “I won’t mess it up. I’ll be there.” I felt as if something big was about to happen to me. Maybe my dreams would all come true.

  “I should also warn you that the offer is going to come with a few conditions if you make it that far. For one, he’s going to want you to go to one of the other locations and be trained, and possibly do a tour through the other stops to get your name built up.”

  “I really hope he doesn’t send me off for too long. I have to consider my family.” Beth didn’t like me taking off when she and Jack needed me. I was going to have to have a long talk with her about it, and hopefully, she’d understand.

  Lloyd shook his head. “It’s just something he’s done in the past, and again, no guarantee. But I’d consider that you might blow this wonderful opportunity to support them. It’s a little work getting your foot in the door, but once you do that with Hawk, you are gold. Trust me. It’s worth the trip to see how it all works, and it’s not like you can’t take your family along for the ride. Hawk loves a family man.”

  I made a mental note not to let Hawk know about my impending divorce and wondered if Beth and Jack would want to go along.

  If everything he was saying was true, I was on my way to a wonderful career that would make Beth happy.

  I sipped my drink, put the glass back on the coaster, and pushed it to the bartender for a refill. Despite the good news, Jack’s surgery was still weighing on my mind. “I’m waiting on a call to find out when they’ll book my son’s surgery. Other than that, there’s nothing on my plate. And with his medical expenses, this is going to come at the perfect time.” I needed it so badly and still wondered if I was dreaming.

  “Well, I hope it all works out for you and him both. Don’t mess it up.”

  “It feels like a dream.” Good things didn’t happen to me. At least not lately. Other than being with Beth. And I didn’t want to lose that.

  Lloyd slapped my shoulder. “Clay, this is real. You’re very talented and have the charisma with the crowd that we’re looking for. The rest is up to you.”

  It was all up to me. Making better choices had already steered me in the right direction, and now all I had to do was keep my head above water and stay on course.

  Hawk ended his call and walked over as he put the phone away. “Sorry about that. I’m afraid that’s all part of running a business. Never a moment to myself.” He smiled. “I came down here to see you and look you in the eye. After what I heard, I wasn’t sure about you. But since LeRoy was willing to speak up for you, then I can look past it. This once.” He took a deep breath, puffing up his chest. “I understand you have a temper, Clay, but that has to change. And to show I’m willing to give you a chance, I’m going to offer you a contract. It comes with a signing bonus, and when I make my offer, you’ll either take it or leave it. No negotiations. You think it over, and we’ll work the deal after the charity dinner.”

  “I don’t mean to sound like a broken record, but how much does the charity dinner pay? I can’t work for free. Hell, even LeRoy pays me to sit in.”

  “Two grand. The party starts at five thirty, and I’ll need you there an hour early. I’ll text you with the address.”

  “Thank you, sir.” I shook his hand, not knowing how I’d ever be able to thank him enough. Even though I had no idea what kind of signing bonus it might be, anything was better than nothing.

  Lloyd gave me a sly smile. “Congratulations, Clay. It’s not many who get this kind of offer, so I hope you respect it.”

  “Oh, I do. And thanks again for all you’ve done. I won’t let you down.” I shook both of their hands, and they left their drinks and made their way out.

  I sat there a minute, just staring at my empty glass. I was so excited to tell Beth. She was going to be proud of the opportunity. I wouldn’t have to work late nights, and I’d be able to schedule my playing around family time. It was everything she wanted for me.

  Before I could dial her number, the phone rang in my hand, causing me to nearly drop it. It was Beth, and when I said, “Hello,” she let out a deep breath.

  “Hey, Clay.”

  “You sound tired.”

  “More than you know. I got a call from the doctor, but I was wondering if you wanted to come over for a while. I’ve already put Jack to bed, but a lot is weighing on my mind.”

  Was that her way of saying she needed me? I suddenly felt a wave of panic. “What’s wrong? Is it Jack? Did the doctor say something?” What if they looked at the tests again and found something else? Doctors were capable of mistakes. Or what if they were afraid something could go wrong? I let my mind run away with all sorts of crazy scenarios.

  “No,” she said. “I’m sorry. I’m a bit out of it. Could you just drop by so we can talk in person? I know it’s a lot to ask, Clay, with everything between us, but I don’t want to be alone.”

  “Yeah, I’m on my way.” I pushed the drink aside and shook my head as the bartender went to fill it again.

  I ended the call and went to tell LeRoy goodbye between songs. He shook my hand and went back to playing as I walked out into the night. It was a night of miracles. First, I was offered a big contract and a bonus, and Beth actually needed me.

  Chapter 32

  Beth

  When Clay showed up, it took all my strength not to fall into his arms crying.

  “Hey,” he said, giving me a hug. He smelled of alcohol, but it wasn’t like he was drunk.

  “You’ve been out?” I stepped aside and invited him into the house we’d bought together.

  “Yeah, I had a couple of drinks at LeRoy’s and hoped he’d let me sit in, but he was hanging in there tonight. I’m not drunk, Beth. I swear.” He held up his hands.

  “I know,” I said, kissing his cheek.

  He put his hands on my shoulders and looked me in the eyes. “Don’t take this the wrong way, but you’re freaking me out.”

  “I’m sorry,” I said, pulling my robe tight around me. “I guess having the surgery scheduled only put more worry on me. I thought it would ease things.”

  Clay nodded. “I don’t think w
e’ll be eased until it’s behind us and Jack’s healed.”

  “True.” I led him to the couch and pulled him down beside me where I cuddled against him. “I just want this nightmare to be over.”

  “Me too. So, when will it be? Did they tell you a date yet?”

  I couldn’t believe I’d forgotten to tell him. I was so beside myself. “Oh, Clay. I told you I’m out of it. The surgery is Wednesday.” I let out a deep breath as he stroked my hair. He had always held me this way when my mind was full of worry, especially back in the early days while I was still in college and Clay was in and out of jobs.

  “Wednesday? Like two days from now Wednesday?” He seemed a bit struck by it. “That’s fast.”

  “I know. It’s all too sudden, and we have a lot of paperwork that they faxed over. It’s consent forms and a lot of medical information on Jack. I thought we’d go over that together if you want to stay a while?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Thank you, Clay.” I really couldn’t get over how sweet he’d been to me lately. He reminded me more each time I saw him why I fell in love with him.

  He caressed my hair. “Hey, don’t thank me. It’s my job and my honor. Now what kind of information do they need?” He pulled out his wallet. “I have my ID and social.”

  I laughed. “Clay, I have had those memorized for years now. I could say them both in my sleep.”

  He chuckled. “Oh, yeah, I guess you always did that stuff on your own before.”

  “Yeah, I can even fill out the part for your family history better than you. I guess I just needed you here for moral support. And your signature, even though I could forge that one too.” I should have done that on the divorce papers.

  He put his arm around me and took the pen from my hand. “Show me the dotted lines. I’ll gladly give my soul for both of you.”

  “It’s not that bad,” I said, handing him the pen. “Here and here. And at the bottoms of each of the rest. I’ll date them.”

  “So, what else is going on?” he asked as he made his way through the stack, scrawling his autograph where instructed.

  “What do you mean?” I tried to play it off, but I should have known he could see through me.

  “Having me here? You seem worried, and I can tell something is on your mind.” He was suspicious. I never had a chance.

  “You got me. I’m terrified. He’s just so small. What if he dies?” I covered my mouth with my hand. “How could we survive that?” I wanted to bite my tongue off for saying it out loud. It had been like a weight pressing down on me ever since surgery was mentioned. “I don’t think I could.”

  He stopped flipping through the pages and looked at me. “Hey, don’t even talk that way. He’s our boy. He’s going to be fine. He’s going to be strong and healthy, and so what if he can’t hear perfectly? He’s perfect because we made him. And we’ll work through it together.” He pulled me a little closer, looked down at the forms, and went about signing his name. “Some of these are scary at a glance.”

  “I read them all before I signed, and I really don’t think there’s anything to be worried about. They’re all pretty standard.”

  “Life support? Jesus, no wonder you’re scared.”

  “It’s standard,” I said again, hoping I’d start to feel standard myself. “It’s just like my worry. Della said it’s normal, but nothing feels normal. It’s like I’m in some bizarro world, and this is happening to other people like us, and I’m just looking in.”

  He moved the papers to the coffee table and pulled me onto his lap. “Beth, I’m so sorry I’ve made it hard. But that’s all going to change if you’ll just stick with me. I promise I’m going to take care of you both. No matter what it takes. And I might have a great job. I have an offer coming in.” He forced a grin. “I don’t want to jinx it. But as soon as I know it’s a done deal, I’ll tell you all about it.”

  “That’s great. Another gig?” I was going to try and be supportive, but just with those few words, I felt like he was already far away from me.

  “Not exactly. This would be more like a management gig. But anyway, I’m excited. If all goes well, it could make all of our problems go away.”

  I wasn’t convinced. “All of them? I’m not sure about that. We’re kind of a mess, aren’t we?”

  He kissed my forehead, and while it was nice, I wondered if he was getting too comfortable and if I was leading him on.

  “Yeah, I guess we are a mess,” he said, looking hopeful. “But we don’t have to be. We can be whatever we want. We make the rules.”

  “What would your rules include?” I was curious to know how he’d expect things to be if I let the divorce go and went back to him.

  “A lot of sex,” he said, meeting my eyes. “And kissing.”

  I nudged him in the ribs. It was his time to show me he could be more than the horny boy I dated. “I’m serious.”

  He met my eyes. “I am too. I miss the way we used to kiss.” He kissed my cheek, and I put my hand between us.

  “But what else? And if you say dating other people, I’m going to kick your ass.” It wasn’t time for jokes.

  But he wasn’t amused. “You’re the one gunning for that, not me. I was perfectly happy with my vows.”

  “Which you skirted all the time. Don’t even act like I’m the only woman you’ve flirted with.”

  He gave me a pointed look. “I think my first rule would be no dragging up my past.”

  “Have you ever cheated on me?”

  “Ahh, and how about that for rule number two?” He looked away from me and took a deep breath before turning back to me. “What kind of question is that? And how did the conversation take a turn in that direction?”

  I sat up and looked him in the eyes. “It’s an honest one. And one you have nothing to lose by answering it. Technically, I’ve divorced you. So, if there’s a skeleton skank in your closet, I want to know.”

  “No, I never have and never would. Trust me. I have had many chances. I had a whole buffet of women in Las Vegas, but not one of them was you. Of course, one of them ended up being Nick’s cousin, so there was that whole thing, but no, I’ve behaved. Ask any of my friends. Call Zane. He’ll tell you.”

  Nick’s cousin? “A buffet?” What the hell did that mean? “That’s a figure of speech, isn’t it? Or are you talking about a whorehouse?”

  “I wish it were a figure of speech. And it’s not a thing for you to worry about. I’ve never cheated, and I’ve never even been to a whorehouse. So, if that’s why you’re leaving me, you didn’t even have a valid reason.”

  He still didn’t get it, and the more time I spent with him, neither did I. All I knew was he’d broken my heart, and that was enough.

  “Can I get you something to drink? Coffee?” I figured I should at least be a good hostess to him.

  “That sounds good. If you’re done giving me the third degree.” He raked his hand through his hair as I got to my feet. “Do you know if we’ll get to be in observation while Jack’s under?”

  The subject change was welcome. “No, I don’t think they do that, and honestly, Clay, I don’t think I could handle it. Seeing him that way? It’s too hard to even think it. I’d be a mess.”

  “I think it’s the hardest part for me, letting him go through it alone. I mean, yeah, it bothers me, but I’m supposed to protect him, right?”

  I prepared the coffeemaker and placed his cup on the dock. “You are, by giving the doctors permission and room to do their job. It’s all we can do, Clay.”

  “Well, I feel helpless. Just when I thought my chest couldn’t possibly ache any worse.”

  I wanted to say I was sorry for hurting him, but I knew it would be followed by another let’s get back together plea, and I just couldn’t deal with that at that moment.

  “I should have been there more, instead of out playing, and I guess this is what I get for that, right? For being an idiot. I should have done better.” Clay wiped his eye. “That’s why I know I ha
ve to from now on. Helpless is bad enough, but to feel useless? God, it’s worse.”

  Seeing him steeped with such emotion made my own chest ache. “I wanted you to come over and make me feel better,” I said. “I guess I just made us both miserable.” I gave him his hot mug of coffee and went back to the kitchen to prepare the maker for my own.

  “At least we’re together. I’d rather be here miserable with you than anywhere else right now.”

  “You say the sweetest things.” I hit the button and listened to the sound of the coffeemaker.

  Clay got up and came to stand at the bar. “So, you never told me. What time is the surgery? First thing in the morning?” He sipped his coffee and sat on the nearest stool.

  “Actually, it’s at seven p.m. Believe it or not, they do some surgeries at night.” My coffee was ready, so I turned my attention to adding sugar and creamer.

  “Why? Can’t they change it?” His tone turned my head. He had a frightened look in his eyes.

  “No, they can’t change it,” I said, wondering what had come over him. He was taking it much harder than I thought. “I know it’s sudden, but the doctors had to schedule a time they could both be available since Dr. Lenz wanted to sit in on the surgery.”

  “Why does he have to sit in?” The question caught me off guard.

  “Why wouldn’t we want him to?” she asked. “I thought it was really nice, considering he doesn’t technically have to, but he said he would like to carefully follow his progress since he’s directly under his care. I think it’s really smart.”

  Clay was so still that I thought he might have stopped breathing. “Hey, are you okay?” I looked up at him, and he seemed distracted. “Is there a problem? Surely, nothing is more important than Jack.”

  He looked dumbstruck. “No. Of course, it isn’t. I just had a gig, but I’ll cancel it. No big deal.”

  “Yeah, I don’t think any gig is more important than your son’s surgery. He needs both of us, Clay.”