by Laura John
I never thought that, at twenty-two years old, I would be starting over and living off of my friend like a mooch. But the universe loves to throw wrenches at the people who think they have it all.
Tomorrow, I leave on a six-week tour, and I’m nervous. My other best friend, Damon, has trained me well to go on tour, and it seems like everything is in order. I really believe I can do this, but it still doesn’t keep these nervous bubbles from popping up.
“Are you sure I’m ready?” I ask Damon while swirling my straw in my drink.
“You’ve totally got this.” He places his hand on my shoulder, calming me with the touch.
“You’re a strong woman and don’t take shit from anyone. You’re also so anal that I’m sure everything is completely organized down to a T,” Crystal tells me.
I glare at her, but then smile. “It’s true, but I think Damon has also taught me to be flexible if things go wrong.”
Damon smiles. “You did amazing with training. I’m really proud of you.”
“Stop it,” I say, pushing him. “I’m going to miss you guys.”
Crystal orders a round of shots. “To this bitch getting her life together and rocking the music world as the best manager there is!”
“Excuse me,” Damon says, raising his eyebrow at Crystal with a smirk on his face.
She rolls her eyes. “One of the best managers.”
“Cheers!” we all say, downing our shots.
The night ends early, because we all have things to do in the morning. And I need to be rested for my first tour ever.
“Good morning,” I say, smiling at Ace, who just pulled up to the lot we are meeting at.
He gives me a panty-wetting smile, and I swoon a little. It’s easy to be attracted to him, but I know he has a lot of baggage. And, honestly, I’m not looking for a relationship, and hooking up with one of the band members is not on my radar.
My priorities right now are to make a path for myself and children without anyone’s help. And to find myself. I can’t have myself getting sidetracked.
“What time did you get here?” he asks. “I’m usually the first to show up.”
“I wanted to be here early and make sure everything was all ready to go. The trucks with the equipment and a bus with the initial set-up crew have already left.” I kick at a rock on the ground, avoiding further eye contact. “I’m nervous and I want this to be perfect.”
He puts his hand on my shoulder, and oddly, I don’t feel any emotions. You’d think that when a sexy guy like him touches you, you’d have electricity running through your body, but nope. Nothing at all. I guess that makes this trip so much easier. No feelings to get in the way.
“You’re doing a great job!” he assures me. “Really. I’m so glad we got you. I know no one wanted to join this tour because of the shit storm I caused last year. But that didn’t scare you away, and I’m glad you’re here.”
Over the last year or so, Ace hit a large rough patch. He was drinking uncontrollably and not listening to anyone’s advice. After almost going to jail, again, the band decided they’d had enough, so Ace finally got the help he needed. He’s still healing. I don’t know everything that happened—we aren’t that close yet—but I know he lost someone close to him and he just couldn’t see a way out. But, thankfully, he cleaned up. The world would be a little bit darker without him. His music brings healing to people, and I’m glad he’s still here.
He pulls me in for a brotherly hug, and again, I feel nothing. I’m glad. This job will be a lot easier without emotions for a band member.
A loud slamming of a door causes me to jump and pull out of Ace’s arms.
I look to the Uber pulling away and see Tyler, the band’s drummer, standing there with an unreadable look on his face. Tyler is older than most of the band members, and I think he’s fifteen years older than me, but damn, he is a fine man.
He’s all muscle, like he was carved out of stone. His tall body towers over me when he stands close. His dark hair and dark eyes scream danger, yet I’ve never felt afraid around him. I don’t think he’s that kind of guy. His hair is usually kept on the shorter side, and that beard that lines his strong jaw…fuck, I wonder what that would feel like rubbing on my thighs.
I shake my head at the thought. Where the hell did that come from?
“Hey, Ty,” I say, waving at him.
He has always been so sweet to me, making me feel like I can really do this job. All of the band members have been.
He doesn’t say anything; he just grunts and walks onto the band’s bus.
“He isn’t a morning person,” Ace tells me.
I nod.
“Once everyone gets here and you get them organized on their buses, I want you riding on our bus for this first stretch so we can have a meeting and go over all the details,” he continues.
I nod again, still thinking about Tyler. Is he really just a grumpy morning person, or is it something to do with me?
I shake my head. I’m just overthinking it. I’m good at that. This is going to be a great tour.
It doesn’t take long for everyone to show up. I give instructions to all the crew as to which bus is theirs for the duration of this tour.
After that is all situated, I climb on the bands bus and off we go.
I introduce myself to the bass player, Maddox’s, wife, Kacey, and the lead guitarist, Jason’s, girlfriend, Ashley. They’re both beautiful and really friendly.
“You know, you could sleep on this bus if you want,” Kacey tells me. “There’s an extra bunk, and then you don’t have to be with strangers. You’re family now that you’re the new manager, and we take care of our own.”
I smile at her. “I’ll see. There is an all-girl bus, but it would be nice to get to know you guys more. Crew members come and go, but I know you’re around for the long haul.”
She nods, her eyes warm. “And I hope you are as well.”
“That’s the plan, but it really is going to be hard to be away from my kids for so long,” I admit. “I have never left them for this long before. I hope I can do this.”
She places a warm hand on my arm. “You’ll figure it out. But I can tell you, once you really get used to these guys, you aren’t going to want to leave.”
“Okay, are we going to get this meeting going or can I go to my bunk?” Tyler asks, still looking grumpy.
I’m curious as to why he seems so different from when I first started hanging out with him. These past few months, I’ve mainly just been getting to know them and learning the ropes of being a manger, but I thought we got along well. Maybe it’s just an off day.
“So, this is only a short tour, then there a few months off before we start our full North American tour,” Ace starts. “Shae has everything organized and I’ve already seen the itinerary. It should be a really straight forward tour.”
“I have hotels booked for all of our longer stops, but there a few dates where we will be sleeping on the bus. I know you guys are used to that, but I do want you to be as comfortable as possible. I know we already went over what you all want in your change rooms and hotel rooms, but if you need to change anything, send me a text,” I tell them.
Everyone nods, except for Tyler. He just stares at me, making a weird shiver run down my spine.
“Is there anything else you guys want to discuss?” I ask. “I know I’m new at all of this, so bear with me, but I know I’m good at staying organized, and I want this to be a great tour for all of you.”
Everyone shakes their heads, and Tyler rises to go to his bunk, closing the curtain.
“Is he always this grumpy in the mornings?” I ask Ace.
“Sometimes. Honestly, he can be a bit of a grump most of the time,” he admits.
“That’s why we gave him the nickname ‘old man,’” Ashley jokes.
I giggle with her. I need this job more than anything so I’m glad everyone is treating me so kindly. I mean, besides the old man in his bunk. But I can deal with grumpy
.
I get to know everyone on a much deeper level before we stop at our first location.
“Kacey and I are going to get coffees. Do you want us to bring you one?” Ashley asks me as I step off the bus.
“Sure. I would die for a London Fog,” I tell her before they leave.
I’m very happy to see that the stage is already being set up and everything looks like it’s going well.
The rest of the crew quickly gets to work while I check over everything that has to be done. I really wish we would have had one home show before we started, but I know Damon is just one call away if I need to run anything by him.
I check the rosters for each band member and make sure their dressing rooms are set up properly.
“Seriously?” Tyler barks from his room, and I quickly rush over.
“What’s up?” I ask, a little nervous that something is messed up.
“I asked for Monster, not Red Bull,” he states, his voice low, and sending sparks through my body.
I pull out my clipboard with the roasters and see that Red Bull is listed. I must have messed up. Fuck. How could I be so stupid? This my first night and I’m already fucking it all up.
I close my eyes for a second, trying to focus myself.
“Sorry, Ty. I had listed that you wanted Red Bull. It’s my bad. I’ll get someone to run and get you some Monster.” I leave quickly before he gets angrier, and before I get more weird feelings.
My phone rings just after I send someone to the store, and I breathe a sigh of relief that it’s Crystal.
“Hey, girl. I’m really busy, so I can’t chat long. What’s up? Are the kids okay?”
“The kids are fine,” she giggles. “I just wanted to see how everything is going.”
“It’s going. Tyler is already up my ass. I got him the wrong energy drink. Heaven forbid he drinks Red Bull instead of Monster. I mean, neither are good for you.”
I hear her laugh, and it calms me. “You’ve got this, girl. I’m sure he’s just giving you a hard time to see if you can handle it.”
“Probably. Look, I’ve got to go. There’s so much to do.”
We say goodbye and hang up.
The rest of set up goes perfect. The caterers set everything up perfectly, and everyone is eating. An easy chatter fills the room, and I take a deep breath. So far, the energy drink issue was the only fuck-up, and that makes me happy.
“Sit with us,” Ashley tells me after I fill my plate.
“Thanks,” I tell her, sitting between her and Ace.
“Sound check went really smooth; I know tonight is going to be an awesome show,” Jason tells me.
I nod. “I really hope so. This is the first show I’ve managed.”
“You’ve got this. We can be hard-asses, but honestly, you are doing great. Usually, something is fucked up in my room, but it was perfect today,” Maddox says with a big grin.
“At least yours was,” Tyler grumbles.
“Shut up, old man,” Ace jokes, pushing his shoulder.
“I’m really sorry about that. I promise it won’t happen again,” I say.
He stares at me for a moment; his eyes are saying something, but I don’t know what. Before I can decipher what it is, he looks away and goes back to eating.
What is it about this man that gets under my skin?
Best night ever! The show went off without a hitch, and I’m beaming as we head back to the hotel.
“You did great tonight,” Ace says, pulling me in for a side hug.
“Thanks. I’m really looking forward to this tour. Now that I have one show under my belt, I know I can make the rest of the tour fantastic.”
All the band members slap my back or give me a hug before going to their rooms.
Tyler is the last one standing, just staring at me.
“Do you think I did good?” I ask before going to my room.
He shrugs. “Don’t forget I want a massage first thing in the morning. Think you can get that booked?”
He raises a brow at me, and I want to roll my eyes.
“Of course,” I bite out with a forced smile.
Who the hell does he think he is? I’m not his goddamn personal assistant, but I don’t want to lose this job, so right now, I’m at his beck and call, at least until I figure out everything a little more.
Fuck, this man is going to drive me to drink. Whatever. We don’t have to be friends, but he’d better learn quick that I won’t be disrespected. I don’t put up with shit. I may have been a kept woman for the last five years, but I came from a background where I grew up fast, and I know how to hold my own.
I head to the front desk to book his massage, having to pay extra because they were fully booked and this is last-minute, but I get it done.
When I get to my room, my roommate is already asleep, so I quietly climb into the other bed and lie down, staring at the ceiling. Today, I was a bit timid, still learning the ropes, but that isn’t really who I am. Tomorrow, they’ll get to know the real me.
Here we are again. Another book down, and so many people to thank.
First of all, thank you for reading this book. Without you, I wouldn’t still be doing this. If you enjoyed this book, please leave a review. Reviews are how authors know you loved the book; it also lets other people know that this is a book worth reading.
I want to start by thanking the amazingly talented Lindee Robinson for capturing the perfect image for this cover, and Daria Ottenberk and Brian Boynton for being my Crystal and Dustin. Aren’t they both gorgeous? And my fantastic cover designer Kayla Reese for bringing my vision to life. Without all of these people, I don’t think I would have had a cover.
My awesome friend Nichole Thurston who helped me come up with the title Guarded Hearts. I usually have a really hard time with titles, and this one suits Crystal and Dustin’s story perfectly.
My amazing alpha reader, Katey, and my fantastic beta readers, Claudia, Katherine, and Jacie. They helped me polish this book before it went off to my editor. They provided me with lots of laughs and made me feel like this book was worth finishing. The talked me off some ledges, and I don’t know if I would have been able to finish this book without them.
My super-duper stellar editor, Carmen. This woman knows what she is doing. We don’t call her the Grammar Nazi for nothing. She polished this book off fantastically and gave me the most amazing feedback. I love not only working with her, but calling her my friend.
My tribe. They mean so much to me. It’s crazy how a group of women who have mostly never met each other in person can be such close friends. We all roughly started this journey together, and I am blessed to have these women in my life. They understand the struggles that I am facing and are always there to pick me up and push me forward. We are a family in a way, and I thank God every day that they were put into my life.
Last, but definitely not least, my husband. The man who holds me when I cry because I feel like I’m not good enough. The man who picks me up when I fall. The one who watches the kids so I can write. The one who supports me with so much love it’s crazy. I could not do this without him. He is my rock and my shelter. I love you, baby.
Thank you once again for reading all of this and supporting me.
Laura John is a contemporary romance author with a love for music. She lives in Alberta, Canada with her husband, two kids, and one loveable fur-baby. She loves karaoke, makeup, and of course, a good glass of wine. She mixes her love of words with her love of music and hopes to transport you into a world you don’t want to leave.
You can find Laura online here:
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