In Tune

by JN Welsh

  “I will, Mom.” Leona embraced her parents and hoped it wouldn’t be too long before she was able to spend time with them again. “Love you guys.”

  Chapter Nine

  Opening day of the tour in Hartford, Connecticut, arrived. The last month had been grueling, but Leona and her team had pulled it all together. During that time, Leona communicated with Luke via Tommy and Abe unless necessary, so neither one of them had an opportunity to further damage their already strained relationship.

  Forty tour dates in four months were planned, not including Luke’s residency at Aurora and other one-off performances. Everything was set for the opener and Leona was a positive drill sergeant, keeping everyone on their toes and the machine well oiled.

  An hour before showtime, roadies and technicians buzzed around the chaotic venue with focus and purpose. Leona sidestepped equipment and venue security to check on her artist. She searched the usual places, but Luke was MIA.

  “Has anyone seen Luke?”

  “Not for a while, no,” said one of the crewmembers as he moved speakers and wires.

  Leona went behind the stage to a false addition. Inside was cool and dark, housing dressing rooms for Luke and the dancers, as well as an area for the media. She was about to abandon her search when she saw the soft glow of light. She followed the light and found Luke in a corner with headphones on, a computer on his lap, and a few USB flash drives by his side. He snacked on animal crackers and bobbed his head to the music.

  Leona’s approach was tentative and she readied herself for battle. Music drifted from his headphones and no matter how gently she tried to engage him, she would startle him.

  Luke’s body jerked when he spotted her.

  The big bad wolf is scared.

  He fumbled with his headphones. “What’s up?”

  Leona hated doing this, but making sure he had everything he needed, even moral support, was her job.

  “I’ve been looking for you. As your tour manager, it’s a good idea for me to know where you are.”

  “You found me.” His full-body shrug made it clear the interruption was unwelcomed.

  Leona sighed. “Do you need anything? Food? Drink? Whatever you need to be comfortable, I’ll make sure you have it.”

  “I’m good. My rider has my preferences.”

  “Right. Well, you’ll do great tonight.” She needed to flee the confining space. At least I tried.

  “Leona?”

  “Yes?”

  Luke fell into his pensive pose. “Something I may not have mentioned is that when I come offstage, I’m pretty wiped out. I normally like to have a banana and a Gatorade until I can get something more to eat.”

  She made a mental note. “Okay. I’ll make sure to have those for you. Anything else?”

  “I’ll be drenched, so a fresh shirt.”

  The image of his drenched shirt clinging to his sculpted body flashed in her mind’s eye. “You got it. I’ll update your rider, as well.” She waited.

  “That’s all.” Luke moved to put his headphones on.

  Leona made her exit.

  “Thank you,” was his faint expression to her back.

  She stopped short and pivoted at the genuine gratitude in his words. His focus returned to the computer.

  “You’re welcome.”

  She left before either of them said anything more to ruin the moment.

  Back at the stage, the crowd poured into the venue. The bright neon colors and glittering clothing matched the anticipation of the fans. One of the contest winners provided pre-concert tunes as shirtless boys, and girls in flower bras, flooded the stage.

  Minutes before his performance, Luke wiggled his limbs to get loose. Leona argued with her body. I cannot react to him. But his hypnotizing eyes and athletic build delivered undeniable swag no matter what he did. He was welcoming and cheerful with everyone around him. He laughed easily with Tommy, who stood close by, and the crew.

  Luke’s eyes landed on her and she gave him two thumbs up accompanied by a bright expression. His smile faded.

  Leona’s breath caught in her throat. Ice cold. “Well, he’s not scowling. That’s an improvement,” she mumbled to herself. She continued to appear positive even though there was a pinch on her heart.

  Luke was announced and ran up the stairs to the stage. The packed park erupted into cheers when they saw him. The outdoor event lucked out with cool air and no rain in sight. As darkness descended, the night called for something magical.

  Luke’s music teased through the speakers and the crowd screamed in anticipation. He sang the vocals with his fans and they loved it. Leona had seen him play at Aurora, but this was another level and she was again entranced into the world of happiness he created. On this enchanted night, among tens of thousands of fans, everyone felt like one unified entity.

  “Wow.”

  Tommy leaned over and yelled into her ear. “Amazing, isn’t it?”

  Leona curtly nodded, attempting to appear unaffected. But in that moment she understood. She and her team needed to bottle this experience and feed it to the masses to get Luke to the level he sought to achieve. The level he deserved as an artist. She got that nervous, heart-racing feeling that happened just before she embarked upon accomplishing a big, hairy, scary, exciting, and absolutely audacious goal.

  Oh boy.

  When the show was over, Leona waited at the foot of the stairs with Luke’s requested items. She brainstormed ideas like a machine, not to mention she was still entranced from the show. But she reminded herself about the work ahead of her.

  “Great show, Luke.” She handed him the fruit and drink and then ushered him to his dressing room. “We’re on the move,” she mumbled into a walkie-talkie.

  As they hurried to Luke’s dressing room, he scarfed down both snacks before trashing the remains.

  Before he was behind closed doors he undressed. The first thing she noticed was the smooth skin of his torso. His raised arms accentuated the lean, well-defined muscle of his abdomen, side, and back. She knew how each of them felt against her hands and body.

  Leona tried to avert her gaze but his physique was having none of that. The tattoo that normally peeked out of his shirt on his forearm was a much larger sleeve tattoo, snaking up his arm and over his strong shoulder. On his opposite side, more ink spanned the length of his torso, disappearing under his jeans. Leona felt robbed once his shirt came down to cover him again.

  Luke caught her open appreciation. The rise and fall of his chest deepened.

  “Uhh...” She approached him as nonchalantly as her legs would allow. She was sure the flush of embarrassment displayed on her face. “Are you ready for the press or do you need a minute?” She could smell his familiar musky fragrance and it added further distraction.

  Luke shook his head. “I’m good.”

  She was warm, and pressed the heel of her palm against her forehead.

  “Do you need a minute, Leona?” He surveyed her face, which only served to increase her discomfort because his effect on her was obvious.

  “I...uh...mmm... No.”

  Leona led Luke down a corridor, wishing she had a cooler response to him. She felt his eyes on her and slowed her hastened speed. “Just this way.” She turned to confirm he was following her.

  What she didn’t expect was to find Luke mere inches away from her. She bumped into his strong form with unintentional force. Unable to regain her balance, Leona began tipping backward. Frantic and seeking something to hold on to, she grabbed at his waist. Luke’s hands shot out to clutch her forearms, steadying her. She slammed into him and his warmth coupled with the recent visual of his body set her skin ablaze, and her insides tingled from her navel to her center. Her surroundings faded further into the background and his electric green-gray eyes mesmerized her.

  Luke’s grip on her forea
rms tightened, and he hugged her near. “Are you okay?” His eyes settled on her mouth and his face hovered so close she smelled the lemon-lime sports drink on his breath.

  She nodded but her tongue lacked life. Being close to him like this atrophied her in place. Luke’s head inched even closer and Leona’s heart leapt at the thought of his lips anywhere on her. Her mouth parted in waiting invitation.

  “Leo?”

  Leona gasped and fear seized her muscles when she recognized Sara’s voice. “Oh my God.”

  He ran his fingers through his hair and his exhale rang with frustration.

  Leona scanned the corridor for her colleague.

  “Leo? Leo, pick up.” Sara’s words were enveloped in electronic static.

  Leona almost sank to the floor in relief when she realized Sara’s voice emanated from the walkie-talkie on her hip. Leona attempted to clear the fuzziness in her head and fumbled with the equipment. “Leo, here.”

  “Is Luke on his way to press?”

  Leona glanced at the hint of pink in Luke’s cheeks as she spoke. “Affirmative. ETA thirty seconds.” She affixed the device back in place and attempted to speak.

  “Let’s go.” Luke reached for her as if to usher her along but then withdrew, shoved his hands into his pockets, and strode past her.

  Leona wanted to kick her own ass. Seeing Luke semi-disrobed had put a chink in her armor, and being so close to him disintegrated the entire shield.

  When they arrived at the pressroom, Leona handed Luke over to Sebastian, who guided him through the circuit of reporters and photographers.

  “The show went well,” Tommy said and she lined up between him and Sara.

  “Yeah. I’m glad you were here for it,” Leona agreed.

  “Me, too, but I’m happy to hand over all these management duties to you guys,” Tommy confessed.

  “I’m sure.” Leona gave Tommy a weak smile and her eyes once again found her client.

  Luke delivered his interviews, and his professionalism annoyed her. Isn’t that what she wanted—a show of unaffected professionalism by her client?

  Sara nudged her shoulder. “Everything okay? You look more stressed than usual.”

  Leona nodded. “How are we doing on time?”

  “For day one? Pretty good. We should be done here in an hour and on the road in three.” Sara studied her watch.

  “Great.” What the hell happened back there? Get it together, Sable, it was one fucking kiss. Whatever it was, now that they were on tour, by contract it couldn’t happen again. Leona sighed heavily. “Or it will end badly.”

  “What will end badly, Leo?” Tommy asked.

  “Did I say that out loud? I was referring to the line of questioning from the reporter.” A poor recovery but Tommy seemed to buy it. Leona turned to Sara. “He’s almost done. Let’s communicate to the team that we’re moving him.”

  Sara had her walkie-talkie in hand. “I’m on it.”

  “Thanks, everyone. We need to get Luke to Montreal. See you at the next location,” Sebastian announced.

  Leona gave Sebastian the “okay” sign as he and Luke walked her way.

  “Tommy and Luke have some business to finish and will meet us at the bus depot.” The words were thick in Leona’s mouth.

  As Luke’s agent, Tommy didn’t need to accompany them on tour, but instead worked from his California office on Luke’s behalf and communicated remotely with her and Abe. Once they said their goodbyes at the bus depot, Tommy would be heading back to Los Angeles. She and Luke would be buffer-free and no doubt rubbing each other the wrong way.

  “I’m heading there now with some of the team. The quicker we can head out the better. Luke needs rest and we need to debrief,” Leona added.

  Sebastian checked the time on his phone. “Sara and I will finish up here and meet you in an hour.”

  Tommy and Luke headed toward the exit and Leona couldn’t help but ogle his departing figure. Did he question what happened between them? Her concerns escalated when Luke glanced back at her.

  * * *

  Leona waited by the last two buses—Luke’s and the one she shared with her team.

  “We’re all accounted for and ready to go.” Sebastian confirmed.

  “Great. I haven’t seen Luke. Is he on his bus already?” Leona scanned the area.

  Sebastian scratched his chin. “I saw Tommy, so I assume he’s here but I’ll check.”

  Things were running close to schedule, just the way Leona liked it, but everyone was tired and that was when mistakes happened.

  Sebastian ran back with Tommy by his side. “He’s not here, Leo.”

  “What?” Her eyes widened at Tommy. “He’s not with you?”

  “He had something to take care of and promised me he’d get a cab here,” Tommy said.

  Sara came over to them. “Are we leaving? What’s happening?”

  “Luke’s not here and we don’t know where he is,” Sebastian explained.

  Leona clenched her fists at her side. “Houdini strikes again.”

  Chapter Ten

  Leona paced and Tommy did the same. If they didn’t leave soon, they wouldn’t get to Montreal in time for Luke’s morning interviews.

  Tommy mumbled about possibly missing his flight to Los Angeles and with it, some important meetings. He called Luke’s cell phone again.

  Leona sent the bus with her team ahead. Luke’s bus remained and the smell of exhaust filled her nostrils. Luke’s tardiness not only caused a delay in the schedule, but now she had to ride with him for seven long hours to Montreal.

  Her phone sounded. Sara had sent her flights out of Hartford in the event Luke didn’t show up in time to get to Montreal by bus.

  “Is this normal for him?” She felt the gray hairs and another wrinkle appear.

  “Not at all. Whatever is keeping him is important.”

  Leona paced some more, checked her watch and, like Tommy, dialed Luke’s cell phone again. No answer.

  “He’ll be here, Leo.”

  “I’m begging you.” She pressed her palms together. “Please don’t go.”

  “Luke’s a kitty-cat. You just need to learn how to stroke him.”

  “Isn’t it obvious? I’m highly allergic to puss... I mean kitty-cats.”

  Tommy whipped his head, meeting Leona’s winking eye. They shared a laugh.

  “Hey, since we have a moment, I’ve been meaning to ask you about Ivy.”

  Tommy sobered. “We don’t talk about her.”

  “Who is this ‘we’ you’re referring to, Tommy? It’s just me and you here.”

  Tommy sighed.

  “Is there any validity to the rumors? You and Luke are very tight-lipped about what happened. I can respect his privacy about details, but a high-level summary is just professional.”

  “And you’ve been given a very high-level summary to do your job.” Tommy grasped her hand, which she almost objected to had it not been for the platonic pat that followed. “I like you, Leo, but Luke is my client and my friend. It’s a dark past that I worked really hard to bring him back from. Let it rest.”

  Whoa. There was nothing she understood more than trying to let the past rest. “I just don’t want to be the person he takes his anger out on. My name is Leona Sable, not Ivy Nichols.”

  “I hear you.”

  Leona appreciated Tommy’s loyalty, but she still wanted answers.

  At that moment, Luke arrived with two reasons for his tardiness—a blonde woman on his right arm, and her redheaded friend on his left. The women were dressed similarly in purple skinny jeans, heeled sandals, and silver sequined tank tops. Leona questioned whether women and legal were the right terms for them.

  Luke approached and his eyes lingered on the hand connection between her and Tommy.

  “He’s goin
g to drive me up a fucking wall,” Leona fumed through clenched jaws.

  “Ow!” Tommy released her hand and pumped blood back into his fingers.

  “Sorry.” Leona crossed her arms, muttering a quick prayer for self-control.

  “Tommy? Leona? Meet Candy and Velvet.” Luke’s relaxed introductions further infuriated her.

  “Wow. This is awesome. It’s great to meet you, Leo,” Velvet said.

  Leona noticed half of Velvet’s red hair was shaved and what remained contained platinum blonde highlights. The woman was a striking beauty with her dark skin and model-esque stature. She bubbled with joy and jutted her hand out.

  Leona was reluctant to return the gesture. If it weren’t for the woman’s genuine enthusiasm, she would have declined.

  Candy followed. “Yeah. It’s an honor.” Her blond, short hair was cut with sharp edges and had a blue peek-a-boo streak. Leona was sure Candy was about to hug her, but Candy eagerly shook her hand instead. Leona gave both women a decent salutation before turning back to Luke.

  “You’re late. We have to go. Now.” Leona inched toward the bus.

  Luke turned to the women and kissed each of them on the cheek. “It was a pleasure, ladies. Boombox will take care of you from here. I hope to see you in Montreal if it fits your schedule.” He released the women to Tommy.

  Tommy shook his head and spoke under his breath but loud enough that Leona could hear. “She’s pissed at you. This is not the way to hit the road.”

  “What else is new?” Luke mumbled. “I had to take care of some business.”

  Leona had had enough and headed to the bus.

  “Where are you going?” Luke questioned.

  She about-faced. “Do you see another bus here? I’m riding with you.” She pointed at him.

  “I can’t ride with her,” Luke said to Tommy, shifted in his stance, and rubbed the back of his neck as if he wanted to take flight.

  “Hello? I’m still here.” She was certain she’d see aversion on Luke’s face, but instead his nervousness was baffling. “I wouldn’t have to, had you been on time, so put your big boy shorts on and let’s go. Trust me. I’m not thrilled either.”