Read Beautiful Music Online

Authors: Lisa DeVore

Tags: #Suspense, #Action-Suspense

Beautiful Music (7 page)

BOOK: Beautiful Music
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“Yeah…unless there’s a bar fight that shuts us down. Those really suck. Kills the cash flow and makes for a long week.”

“I bet.”
What a hard life
.

“You don’t know, do you?”

“Know what?”

He hesitated. “I’m in a
real
band, Jen. We have several albums, an agent, a crew, a big bus, and we play in front of real people who pay to hear us. I’ve traveled the world.”

Her eyes widened. Was he teasing her? “Are you serious?”

“Completely.”

“Wow.” She was stunned. “I had no idea.” Could this be a game changer? She was hoping to use her income as leverage for custody of Andrea. She leaned her head against the seat and stared out the window watching the Florida landscape pass her by. Well, she could still use the stability card.

Chapter Ten

“People know you in public?” she asked with sudden concern.

“I get the occasional autograph request. Is this a problem? Are you in the Witness Protection Program or something?” he joked.

“No, I just…”

“What?”

“I don’t like to be the center of attention. When we get to the restaurant will there be photographers there?”

“Easy, Jen. No one pays us much attention. That’s why we keep our home base here. We can have somewhat normal lives. My guitar player and I are the only bachelors,” he explained. “Living here allows for the others to raise their kids outside the game.”

“The game?”

“Yeah, that’s what we call it; the paparazzi, the attention, the crazy schedule, the attempt to keep your face in front of a camera to be popular. For us, the music is why we do this. We stay focused on that. We’ve kept it real, and we still make a good living. I learn from my mistakes.”

He noticed her squirm. She didn’t respond, but instead changed the subject. “How do you do it?”

“Do what?”

“Get up in front of all those people. I’d throw up.”

He laughed. “You get up in front of people.”

“Yeah, well, not that much. I do most of my work from a leather chair.”

“It’s my job.” He was quiet for a moment. “I still get nervous. Sometimes I don’t know if my feet will move, but after the first song… it’s just a rush. Hard to explain unless you experience it.” He made the decision not to tell her the first song was one he wrote for her.

“I had no idea,” Jena’s voice drifted.

“Jasmine never mentioned it?” He found that odd.

“Honestly,” she said cautiously, “I tuned her out when she talked about you.”

“You hate me that much, Jen?”

“I don’t hate you,” she answered quietly.

He wanted to ask so many questions, but now wasn’t the time. His objective was to talk her into staying in Clearwater. If she left, he would get no second chance. He decided to turn the conversation on her. “So tell me about life in Ohio.”

“It’s cold,” she replied evenly.

“I bet you’re a damn good attorney,” he chuckled.

Her forehead wrinkled. “What makes you assume that?”

“You answer a question with a question. I bet people hang themselves when you cross-examine them.”

“I’m not a criminal attorney,” she explained little, adding only, “my job isn’t very exciting.”

“I doubt that. What kind of law do you practice?” He needed her to drop her guard. She put up a wall once things got too personal.

“I’m a corporate attorney,” she offered. “I negotiate contracts mostly, mergers, acquisitions… although we do have lawyers with a concentration on lawsuits. I occasionally help with those.”

“Are you happy, Jen?”

“Well, I… why would you ask that?” she stammered.

“I don’t know. You seem all alone there. Jasmine said you work long hours and have no social life. I…”

Jena immediately cut him off. “Jasmine didn’t know everything about my life.” He hit a nerve.

“Oh. So, there’s someone back home?” he asked fearing her answer. He could tell by the tone in her voice she was already angry. Why not get it all over with?

“I don’t think that’s any of your business,” she huffed.

Okay. How to fix this? “It probably isn’t my business, but even though you stopped caring about me I never stopped caring about you.”

She turned her head toward the window and was momentarily silent. “Why did you have to ruin this?”

“Ruin what? I didn’t mean to make you mad. I was just curious what you’ve been doing the last ten years. Hey, let’s just change the subject.”

“To?” she asked.

“Oh, I don’t know. How about those Cleveland Indians?”

“You might want to try again. I’m a fan.” A small amount of humor had returned to her voice.

He laughed with her as he pulled into the parking lot of the beachside restaurant. He didn’t miss her intake of breath as she realized where they were. “Do you remember the place?” he asked as he shut the truck off and unbuckled his seatbelt.

Chase held his breath waiting for a response as she stared quietly out the window. “Yes, I remember.”

“Good. I was hoping you would. It was a special place for us.” He knew he was pushing the envelope. The conversation ended as Chase exited the truck to open Jena’s door.

He couldn’t read her expression. Had he gone too far?

****

Jena lowered to the ground with Chase’s hands around her waist. His face was inches from hers. She couldn’t breathe. He captured her eyes with his and she couldn’t move, couldn’t look away. . A shiver ran across her skin in the warm air.

“Cold?” he asked throatily.

“No, I…shouldn’t we go in?” Yeah, that was a great comeback, Jena. She was silently kicking herself.

He didn’t move. “We should.”

He made her nervous, always pushing. The shivering, the flip-flops in her stomach, and the blood rising toward her face was definitely not attraction. He was crowding her. Jena would show him she wasn’t going to cave. “I would rather not stand in the parking lot all evening.”

Chase chuckled as he touched the small of her back to lead her toward the restaurant. The shivering was replaced by shaking. The prospect of sitting alone with him…here…petrified her—so many memories.

They walked across the parking lot and the only sounds were Jena’s heels clicking on the pavement, the surf crashing to the beach, and her pounding heart. She stopped suddenly at the place where asphalt met sand.

“Is something wrong?” the concern evident in his voice.

“No,” she lied. The memories invaded her mind as soon as she saw the sand and smelled the familiar smells coming from the restaurant. She was happy then. The realization slammed into her and took her breath. Life was something she had awaited with excitement. She knew, now, Chase had been the reason. There was no way around the truth. Jena had been trudging through life without him, going through the motions. She wasn’t happy. Admitting this to herself was one thing, but admitting it to him? None of it changed the fact she had a job she loved, a home, and friends waiting back in Ohio. She had a comfortable life and wouldn’t sacrifice it for a temporary thing called love.

She glanced at him quickly and focused on the waves she could barely see through the darkness. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath of the moist, salty air. The ocean had its own smell. She exhaled slowly with a smile unintentionally remembering happy times with Jasmine and Collin…and Chase. The damp ocean air caressed her skin, relaxing her tense muscles. She did love the beach.

She opened her eyes in surprise as Chase took her hand gently into his, another familiar one-of-a-kind sensation. She wanted to remove her hand, but she couldn’t seem to move. His warm, strong hand gave Jena a sense of protection she hadn’t realized she needed. She had been self-sufficient for a very long time. This moment was an indulgence she wouldn’t allow herself to get used to.

Her hand lifted to his lips as she watched, like an outsider, unable to stop the motion. She trembled at his touch. She couldn’t think, couldn’t look away. The moment mesmerized her. Barely above a whisper Chase said, “Are you remembering how much I loved you? How much we loved each other?”

Jena’s lips quivered. How should she answer? There was no denying the electricity that passed between them.

“Would you like to walk on the beach before we go in?”

Jena shook her head. She needed to gain control. “I’d rather go in.” She struggled to keep her voice even as his thumb caressed her hand.

“Are you hungry?”

Grateful he was attempting to change the subject she replied with a smile, “Famished.”

“Good.” He squeezed her hand. “Let’s go in.”

Chapter Eleven

The hostess greeted them with batting eyelashes that immediately irritated Jena. “Your name, please?” she said with a sweetness that made Jena’s teeth ache.

Chase wrapped an arm around Jena’s waist. She smiled smugly toward the hostess, surprised by her childish reaction.

“Reiss. I have a reservation for two.”

“Yes, Mr. Reiss,” the hostess purred, “I have the reservation right here. Won’t you follow me?”

The young woman cast a quick glance over her shoulder to check Chase out. Jena was sure of it. She glanced at Chase who seemed oblivious to the adoration.

At the table, he pulled out the chair for Jena to be seated. He surprised her by moving his chair directly to her side. Normally, she didn’t appreciate being crowded, but to her amazement she was pleased with the intimacy of his action.

The candlelight danced across the table, creating a romantic atmosphere Jena didn’t want to acknowledge. She glanced around the room trying to find anything to distract her. No such luck. The restaurant was as she remembered—romantic, dim lighting, linen tablecloths, soft music, sexy date, jealous female…. all there for a recipe of disaster.

“What are you thinking, Jena?” Chase interrupted her thoughts.

“I…” What should she say? She didn’t dare tell him what she was really thinking.

The waiter approached and Jena was beyond thankful he was male. He flipped over crystal goblets and filled them with water. Jena thanked him with a smile.

“Jen, I was thinking a bottle of wine…but if you want something else…”

“Wine would be great.” Her irritation returned as the hostess sashayed past them with a smile in Chase’s direction.

Jena tuned out the conversation between Chase and the waiter, choosing to open her menu. The words blurred in front of her as a thought crossed her mind, a totally insane thought. As the shock faded she found her eyes locked with Chase’s. Had she been staring at him?

“Is something wrong?”

“No, I, uh…” she fumbled for words. “I’m fine.”

Chase returned his attention to the menu and Jena returned to the disturbing thoughts she was having. She was jealous. How could this have happened? She was
not
the jealous type. Mortification wasn’t an emotion she was used to dealing with in her perfectly orchestrated world.

Jena did her level best to concentrate on the food choices, but her thoughts were all over the place. Food wasn’t what she wanted. She wanted to trip the hostess. And the wine choice? She’d rather skip to dessert—Chase a la mode.
Whoa! Get a grip!

“Anything look good?”

Did he just ask her if he looked good? No…no…he was talking about food.
Please don’t let me say anything stupid.

“Food, right.” She glanced back at the menu momentarily and closed it. “Do you mind if I freshen up?” She was out of her chair before he could respond.

“Are you okay?” He was looking at her like she grew an extra nose.

“I’m fine.” She concentrated on keeping her voice even. “I just need to powder my nose. Be right back.”
Don’t run
, she ordered herself.

****

She was acting odd. Had he made the right decision bringing her here? Chase scanned the restaurant for Jena, keeping an eye toward the ladies room.

That’s when he saw her and groaned. He sank down in his chair and opened the menu, but it was too late. She saw him. Just great.

The redhead from his past sauntered directly to his table. “Hi ya, handsome,” she purred.

“Hey, Mia, how are you?”

“I’m great now that I’ve caught a glimpse of your handsome face. You here alone, Chasey?”

“No, actually, I’m here on a date.”

She lowered her bottom lip in a pout and thrust out her chest. “What a shame. You never call. You’re a bad boy, Chasey.”

He made every attempt to be rid of her, but she had other ideas. Chase watched in horror as Jena approached the table. Could this get any worse? Jena arrived at the table in time to overhear the voluptuous Mia ask if they could hook up some time.

“Sorry, Mia, I’m otherwise off the market.” He smiled toward Jena who was flashing daggers from her eyes as she sat. He was praying they weren’t meant to hit him.

“Well, if you change your mind…” She glanced toward Jena for a moment and turned her attention back to him. “If you want a
good
time, give me a call. You have my number, Sugar.” She seductively ran her index finger down the side of his face and winked.

From the sounds coming from Jena’s chair, Chase knew she was angry. “Have a nice evening, Mia.”

Knowing he couldn’t avoid her wrath for the rest of the evening he attempted an apology.

****

Despite the buzzing in her ears she caught him say, “I’m sorry about that.”

“I can’t leave you alone for a minute, can I? The life of a rock star.” She attempted to cover her irritation with humor. The way she was clenching her fists under the table told her she was unsuccessful.

“That part I could do without,” he sighed.

“Oh, I bet,” Jena uttered cynically.

“Seriously, that’s not what I want out of life. Gets old. Are you mad?”

“Honestly?” she tilted her head with a pause. “I am mad, but not at you. I can’t believe the gall of some women. For all she knew we were a couple, and she’s…she’s…propositioning you right under my nose!” Tracking down the bimbo appealed to Jena. She scanned the restaurant.

“Take it easy,” Chase chuckled. “She’s nothing. Don’t let her ruin our evening, okay?”

Jena shifted in her seat. “I’m perfectly fine.”

“Do you know what you want to eat? The waiter is stalking us.”

BOOK: Beautiful Music
12.55Mb size Format: txt, pdf, ePub
ads

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