Made in Nashville: HarperImpulse Contemporary Romance (14 page)

Byron had phoned, the cab had been late and on the drive to the strip they’d rehearsed the song she was going to sing. It was the classic hymn
How Great Thou Art.
Jared had told her Vince Gill and Carrie Underwood had done it together and their version was famous for getting standing ovations. He was convinced that no act at Kelsey Rio’s was going to sing something so gospel. It would be different. It was perfect for her voice. He knew the guitar part. The guy from Gear had a soft spot for Vince Gill. It was perfect.

‘You know this is completely crazy right?’ She pulled at the blonde wig she had on. At the moment she was concerned it was too big and was probably going to fall off the second she opened her mouth.

‘Sometimes you have to do a little crazy to make things work for ya.’ He grinned and tugged at the ZZ Top style beard he had stuck on.

She took a breath. The cab had dropped them a few meters down from the bar. The strip was busy and there was music emanating from every open door. The atmosphere always gave her shivers but tonight everything was heightened ten-fold.

‘Relax there, Lindy, no one knows who you are,’ Jared whispered in her ear.

The warmth of his breath had her insides lurching. ‘This is insane, Jared.’

‘Not insane. Just a little crazy, like you said. If you’re gonna be spendin’ time with me things are always gonna be a little bit crazy.’

She smiled at him. She should have known that. Wikipedia had told her about a few stunts he’d pulled in the past. Riding his motorbike through a shopping mall, playing a set in the middle of the freeway. There wasn’t much he’d done the straight way.

‘We’re busting in on Mia and Byron’s date.’

‘Enough of the excuses, Lindy, we’ve got work to do. Come on.’ He held his hand out to her.

‘Wait, can we just do one more run through?’ She was nervous as hell.

‘There’s no time.’

‘Please, just once more,’ she begged, indicating an alleyway off the main street. She saw him check his watch again.

‘One run through of the intro,’ he agreed. She passed him her guitar and led the way into the shadowy walkway.

Once they were out of sight of the drinkers and revelers she cleared her throat as Jared began to play. She prepared to come in.

‘Fuck! Man, the string just broke.’ He took the guitar off his body and looked at the flailing wire.

‘I said she needed restringing. You bought me new ones.’

‘Don’t suppose you have ‘em with you?’

She shook her head. They were on the worktop in the kitchen, next to the dirty grill pan she’d cooked the ribs on.

‘Jeez! OK, listen, here’s what we’re gonna do. We’re just gonna have to go in and ask to borrow a guitar. The place is full of musicians, it’ll be easy.’

‘Musicians in competition. Would you lend your guitar to anyone?’

‘One of them maybe. There’s at least a half dozen I’ve never got on with.’

‘Jared, these unsigned artists don’t have fifty guitars at their disposal and they aren’t going to lend you the only one they have.’ Her nerves were hammering inside of her more and more as every second ticked by.

‘I could buy one, from the store you work at. The chick’s right in there.’

‘There’s no time. I’ll just have to sing it a capella.’ She had no idea why she had said that. She was scared enough as it was without putting additional pressure on herself. Singing without accompaniment on little practice was just plain stupid but what choice did she have …  if she was actually going to go through with it.

‘You can do that? Man, you’re better than I thought. No wonder I want you on my tour.’

She formed her lips in a smile and took another deep, long breath. ‘I don’t know why I’m doing this at all.’

‘Singin’ for Flynn Fisher? Or wearin’ a wig?’

She let out a nervous laugh. ‘Both.’

Jared’s cell phone began to ring from the pocket of his jeans. ‘That’ll be Byron. We’d better get gone.’

He took hold of her hand and squeezed her fingers. ‘Feelin’ scared is just the same as feelin’ alive.’

‘Do you really believe that?’ She raised her eyes to meet his.

‘You spend too much time thinkin’ about stuff. Come on!’ He pulled her back towards the street.

‘I can’t take you seriously looking like Billy Gibbons.’

The bar room at Kelsey Rio’s was buzzing. On stage was a three-piece band doing a cover of a Lady Antebellum number. There was something a bit off about the accordion and the double bass player had sweat dripping down his forehead.

‘Don’t look at them. Look at me.’ Jared could see Honor wasn’t fully onboard with his idea. He pulled her hands, directing her attention away from the band and back towards him.

‘What are we doing? I’m a professional artist. I don’t qualify to be here and I shouldn’t be here. I should be doing things the right way.’ She put her hand to the fringe on her wig.

‘The slow, antiquated, borin’, snail’s pace way?’

‘Did you just say
antiquated
?’

‘Truth time, Honor. I want you on the tour but I need to sell that to Gear. We need a big name to love you and sign you and get you out of that damn contract with Micro. Who better than Gear themselves? I asked Buzz … ’

‘What? You asked your advisor to pitch me?’ Perhaps he should have kept his mouth shut. The look on her face was telling him he was about to get a tongue lashing.

‘No …  not like that.’

‘Then what?’ Her hands were on her hips now. ‘What
did
you do?’

‘Say, there’s Byron, maybe he’s got some strings on him.’ He ignored her last question and headed across the room.

‘Jared! I mean …  Randy …  whatever I’m supposed to be calling you!’

Byron stood up as they approached. ‘Loving the look, man.’

‘I rock it don’t I?’

‘She’s up next.’

‘You got any strings with you? Broke a damn string just outside.’

‘I don’t. Want me to grab you a guitar? There’s a guy I know over there.’

‘You’re crashing my date, doll, you do know that. Have you colored your hair?’ Mia smiled and sucked on her bottle of beer, swaying a little.

‘ … and next we have Lindy Marshall and Randy Mitchell. Let’s give them a warm welcome.’ The crowd gave a half-hearted applause.

‘Where is he?’ Honor asked.

‘Who?’

‘Flynn Fisher.’

‘That’s him,’ Byron pointed out.

Flynn Fisher was sitting at a table near the front of the stage just a little way away, an iPad, a notepad and a bottle of water on the table in front of him. He was gray from head to foot. Gray hair, gray shirt and trousers, steely expression on his face. Jared didn’t recognize him from any meetings he’d had at Gear’s offices. He had to be new.

‘Lindy Marshall and Randy Mitchell? Are you here?’ the announcer called, looking out into the audience.

‘Listen, if you wanna … ’ Jared began.

Honor didn’t respond. She just turned and made her way up to the stage.

All of a sudden she was surprisingly calm. She didn’t know whether it was the wig or the new name or Jared’s completely stupid idea for a stunt, but whatever it was she wasn’t nervous. Maybe it was because nothing was really riding on it. If it all went south she’d just think again, adjust. She was learning to do that now. She could make changes if she needed to. Altering her ideals wasn’t going to be the end of her. She’d survived much worse.

‘I’m Lindy Marshall.’ She pulled the hair on her wig a little, desperate to cover her scar.

‘Great, er …  no Randy?’ the announcer queried.

‘No.’

The announcer looked at Honor and then behind her at the empty stage. ‘No guitar? Backing track?’

‘No. I’m good.’ She gave him a smile and took the microphone out of its stand.

Looking a little bewildered, the announcer backed off stage to the wings and left Honor alone. It was just her, the microphone and a bar full of drinkers that wouldn’t be expecting what she was about to do.

She took a breath, closed her eyes and found the note in her head.

Jared sat down next to Byron, his eyes fixed on the stage, on Honor. He watched her open up her eyes, directing her gaze into the middle distance and then she started to sing.

The very second the first line was out of her mouth the hairs all over his body stood to attention. There was just something about her perfect tone, the pure notes and nuances of her vocals that got to him like no voice ever had. It was angelic, there was just no other word for it. It was as if Heaven had descended into the room.

He moved his eyes to focus on Flynn Fisher. The man who had appeared like a gray version of the Grim Reaper was sat forward on his seat, transfixed by what was happening right there in front of him. Jared turned his head to look at the bar room. The bustle of beer trading and chicken bucket eating had silenced and stilled. There wasn’t one person in the room not being bewitched by Honor’s song.

She hit the first high note. ‘Holy Mother of God,’ Mia stated, gripping hold of Byron’s arm.

She wasn’t on the stage. She wasn’t even in the room. The deep, moving words were propelling her along with them. It felt like she was being guided by the story in the lyrics, to do justice to this beautiful, inspiring song and nothing more. The moment was everything. Her voice, interacting with the power of the message, was more special, more necessary and important than putting on a show for a record company scout. This was her, almost how she used to be, living for the love of song, singing for the love of country.

She hit the final note and held it with everything she had. A whole twelve bars went by before she stopped. She dropped her head and the wig fell off and landed on the floor of the stage. The bar room erupted into a pit of cheering and clapping as people rose from their tables, booths and stools to get to their feet.

When she raised her head there were tears streaming down her face. That song had given her back the feeling she’d been missing. She didn’t just want to come back because the world thought she should; now she wanted to come back because this really was where she wanted to be. She wanted to feel how she had just felt forever.

‘I’m goin’ to her,’ Jared said, standing up.

‘Just wait a second. See what Flynn Fisher does,’ Byron suggested, catching Jared’s arm.

‘Did you not hear what she just did? It’s gone way beyond scoring a contract.’ Jared ripped off the fake beard and pushed past chairs to get to the stage.

The announcer was on his way to Honor and they met stage right, Jared rushing to get to the microphone before he could.

‘Howdy y’all. We apologize for bustin’ in and everythin’ but I wanna just share somethin’ here with y’all.’ He looked to Honor who was wiping at the tears on her face with the back of her hand.

‘Woo hoo! It’s Jed Marshall! We love you Jed!’ a member of the audience yelled out.

‘Love you too, man.’ He laughed. ‘Right, well, first off, I wanna introduce you to someone. You’ve probably all guessed already after that performance, but this isn’t an unsigned artist called Lindy Marshall. This is the talented Honor Blackwood.’

There were whoops and cheers from the crowd but a few shaken heads and groans of disapproval from the other artists who’d performed.

Jared continued. ‘I know some of you probably saw her bring down the house at Cody’s the other night, right? Well, some things have changed and one of those things is …  Honor’s looking for a new label. And we’re really hopin', Mr Fisher, that you’re gonna be the guy to change that.’

Jared looked at the man in the suit in the front row, addressing him as directly as he could without grabbing him by the shirt collar. He was hoping for a sign, a nod of the head, anything to make him know that this trick had paid off. He carried on.

‘Because, as you know, Gear’s my label. I love the guys over there. They’ve been so good to me and …  I know they know talent better than most. Better than most but not better than you guys. So what do y’all think? D’you think Gear should sign Honor?’

There wasn’t a second to think about this going wrong. The audience responded the way he’d hoped by giving a resounding roar and banging on tables with hands, feet and silverware.

Flynn Fisher met Jared’s gaze at last and nodded his head at him. The overwhelming feeling of joy and relief flooded his gut and he reached for Honor’s hand as the crowd continued to clap and cheer.

‘Thank y’all so much. Honestly, thank you from the bottom of my heart. It really means so much to have your support.’ He paused, took hold of Honor’s other hand until she was facing him. ‘It means so much because …  the other thing I want to tell you right now is …  this is my girl right here. She’s come into my life and she’s hit me hard and I ain’t never felt like that before.’

He could hear and feel the crowd going crazy now. People had cell phones in the air recording the scene and taking photos. This was big Nashville news happening right in front of them, and he knew that and no longer cared.

He cupped her face in his hands and drew her towards him, kissing her slowly, deep and long, unconcerned by the presence of hundreds of people. She put her arms around him and felt her hold on tighter than she ever had.

‘What am I doing here and who put the freaking boom box in my head?’

Mia walked into the kitchen dressed in just her t-shirt from the night before and panties.

‘You don’t really want to know the answer to either of those questions.’ Honor pushed a mug towards her and indicated the hot coffee pot simmering on the worktop.

‘Oh God, did I ruin the date with the hottest guy I’ve had since Leroy?’ She slid herself up onto a stool.

‘You tried your very best, but no. I hung your head out the cab window so you weren’t sick and Byron said he’d call you later.’

‘
Call me later
? Did it sound sincere? Because I’ve had all that before. One guy said he’d call me later and he called me
six months
later, after he was married, when he was drunk one night and needed someone to sleep with.’

‘It was the
call me later
of the good variety I’m sure. D’you want some breakfast?’

‘God, no! Ask me tomorrow!’

Honor took a sip of her coffee and turned on the TV.

‘Ouch! Way too loud.’ Mia reached for her head.

‘ … and there’s love in the air for country rock artist, Jed Marshall. Footage has started appearing on You Tube of a blistering kiss with returning newcomer, Honor Blackwood. The man himself announced Honor was “his girl” and that he’d been hit hard. Jed is nominated for the Male Vocalist award at this year’s Marlon Awards.’

‘Oh my God, it’s all coming back to me now. You sang like Carrie freaking Underwood and Jed Marshall told the world you’re a couple. After that I still have tequila blur.’

Honor turned down the volume on the TV. ‘That’s about what happened. That and the fact I have a meeting with Gear later to talk about signing a contract with them.’

‘You totally deserve that. That song, that Bible song …  you took everyone in that room back to the last funeral they attended …  but in a good way.’

‘It really made a difference. I’ve not felt this happy about everything in so long.’ She took a breath, a warm sensation spreading over her skin. Last night, after the performance, while Byron and Mia had gone to organize the cab, Jared had kissed her again and held on to her so long she thought her heart would burst. What she felt for this man and what she could tell he felt for her was stronger than anything she’d known. It was all encompassing.

‘I still can’t get over the fact you’re dating Jed freaking Marshall! Have you taken my advice and Googled him?’

‘I might have.’ She smiled. ’His birthday is November 28th, he’s the eldest of three and he has a tattoo of the national bird of Alabama on his back.’

‘You didn’t learn that from Google.’

‘No I didn’t,’ she admitted.

Mia smiled at her and laid a hand on Honor’s arm. ‘Just a couple days and you look like a different person.’

‘D’you think?’

‘I know it. Man!’ Mia slid down from her stool. ‘You actually put that thing in your house?’ She reached into the window for the owl ornament. Fingering the shells around its wonky eye she held it up to Honor.

‘Dan said it wasn’t from him.’ She gave a nod. ‘I like it.’ She hadn’t thought much about it if she was honest. She hadn’t had time.

‘It’s creepy and it’s also creepy that some stranger buys it for you. You don’t think … ’ Mia started then stopped.

‘What?’

‘Well, don’t get all freaked out or anything but you don’t think it could be the guy who attacked you, do you?’

A shiver ran over Honor, the mellow, comfortable feeling melting away. Her whole form stiffened and shrank as a vision of Simeon Stewart, a wild, crazy look in his eyes, being marched from the courtroom and off to jail.

‘Doll, don’t do that. I’m sorry. I don’t know what I was thinking saying that. He’s locked up, far away from here.’

Honor blew out a breath and tried to bring herself back into the moment. ‘He’s not.’ She took a slow, steady breath. ‘He’s out. He’s been out a couple years.’

‘What the hell? Why didn’t you say?’

‘Because I didn’t want to think about it. Because I know one of the conditions of his release is staying away from me. Because I know he lives in Nebraska.’

She got down off the stool and went to the sink, running the tap.

‘But if he’s out. If he’s as screwed up and unstable as he was when he attacked you, maybe … ’ Mia began.

Honor filled a glass with water and turned back to her friend. ‘Simeon Stewart wasn’t a stalker. He didn’t have photos of me all around his house or an effigy in his bedroom. I could have been anyone. I don’t know why he chose me over The Dixie Chicks or …  Miley Cyrus. It was a random act of violence, it wasn’t personal.’

‘You sound like a freaking cop. You should call them. The cops. They could get fingerprints off that thing and then you’d know.’

‘He has no reason to be here and why would he send me gifts? It isn’t his MO.’

‘Whoa! Stop! Far too much CSI. One word about spatter and I’m heading back to the bathroom.’

‘I used to get fans sending me gifts back in the day. Toys, flowers, chocolates … ’ She paused. ‘Fried sausages covered in grease.’

Mia clutched at her stomach. ‘You brat!’

Together, always together

It’s better, sharing whatever

Cos two hearts, joined up forever

Is the strongest thing I ever knew

The knuckle-rapping on the front door had him dropping down the pencil into his lyric book and heading to answer the caller. When he opened it up, Buzz greeted him with a newspaper slapped onto his chest.

‘What the hell!’

Buzz stepped into the house without waiting for an invitation and marched towards the den. Jared looked at the front page of the Nashville News. There was a photo of him and Honor locked in an embrace on the stage of Kelsey Rio’s. He knew this was coming and now he knew why Buzz was acting pissed.

‘Am I still working for you?’ Buzz spun around to face Jared, his eyes bulbous.

‘Of course. Why would you say somethin’ like that?’

‘Because you pay me to advise you and then you go and do something like that.’ Buzz pointed to the newspaper in Jared’s hands.

‘I pay you to advise me. I never said I was always gonna take that advice.’

‘Don’t get cute with me, Jared. I’m
this
close to severing our relationship.’ Buzz pinched his thumb and index finger close together.

‘I told you I wanted Honor with Gear.’

‘I told you I tried. I also told you not to go public with your relationship and this morning you’re making whoopee on the front page of my paper!’

‘Makin’ what?’ He stifled a laugh.

‘This is not a laughing matter. This is exactly what I didn’t want to happen before the awards next week.’

‘Why not? Maybe the public need to see another side to me. Because it isn’t all leather and grungy guitar solos. You know that’s only half the story.’

‘I know that’s the half of the story that sells millions of downloads.’

Jared shrugged his shoulders. ‘Well, it’s done now and this afternoon Honor’s gonna sign with Gear. They’re talkin’ to Micro, gettin’ her released from her contract and gettin’ her into the studio to record a new album.’

‘What?’ Buzz looked astounded.

‘Not heard that news yet?’ Jared threw the paper to the couch and put his hands into the pockets of his jeans. ‘She sang at Kelsey Rio’s last night. Brought the house down, it’s all over Twitter. Flynn Fisher was there and he couldn’t get her number quick enough.’

Buzz didn’t say a word.

‘Listen, I’ve not spoken to Honor this mornin’ but she’s in the market for a new advisor … ’

Buzz shook his head. ‘You’re not seriously suggesting I look after her?’

‘She’s comin’ on the tour, Buzz. It would keep things neat.’

‘It would cause no end of issues. You’re two completely different artists.’

‘Are you sayin’ you can’t handle it? Or you just don’t want to? What is it you’ve got against her, Buzz?’

Buzz shook his head. Jared could see there was something he was holding back. Buzz was the best in the business at what he did and Jared wanted Honor to have the best if there was a chance.

‘I’ve got nothing against her.’ Buzz lowered himself onto the couch and took a deep breath. Jared had never seen him like this before. He was quiet, had suddenly become introverted. He watched him take a moment then raise his head to meet his gaze.

‘I was there …  that night.’ Buzz’s voice was weak with emotion.

‘What?’ Jared leant against the wooden mantle over the fireplace.

‘I was there, in Illinois, at the concert, at
her
concert when that madman attacked her.’

Jared sucked in a breath, putting his hand to his cap.

‘I was meeting with the support act after the show to see about working with them. Honor was the best there was at that time. She had an unrivalled range and the ability to hold the crowd in the palm of her hand. I was in the very front row, about half a dozen seats away from …  him …  that guy.’ He paused to compose himself. ‘It was a small gig. Before anyone knew or could do anything about it, he’d got on stage and he’d cut her face.’

His fingers dug into his palms as raw rage manifested itself deep inside and swirled around, fighting to get up and out.

‘The band carried on playing at first. She didn’t even scream. The look on her face, the blood on her hands, her eyes so wide and innocent, so shocked.’ Buzz rubbed his hands over his face and took a breath. ‘I had my daughter with me, Jared. Lucille had a case she couldn’t pass over; I took Mona to that concert. A ten year old girl had to sit and witness something like that.’

Jared couldn’t hold it in any longer. He punched the wooden mantle with his fist. The force of the blow, together with the thickness of the wood split the skin at his knuckles. He didn’t feel a thing. Buzz had just described something he’d only read about on the internet. After he’d met Honor, when he’d found out what had happened to her he’d wanted to know everything, all the detail. But now, hearing it from someone who had seen it, made the true horror hit home.

‘Mona had nightmares for weeks. Kept asking me if someone was going to do that to her one day …  if she sang, if she did a show at school,’ Buzz continued.

‘Stop,’ Jared ordered. He rested his hands on the mantle, facing the wall, his head hanging.

‘I feel for the girl, I really do, Jared. But it’s too close to home. I’ve put it behind me and … ’

‘What?’ Jared raised his head and slowly turned around. ‘What did you say? You’ve put it all behind you?’

Buzz didn’t respond.

‘You saw what he did. Your daughter saw what he did, and what? That makes you want to wash your hands of her and stay away? What sort of man are you?’

‘You’re responding emotionally, Jared. You’ve hooked up with her and you’re not thinking straight.’ Buzz got to his feet.

‘
I’m
the one who’s respondin’ emotionally? You’re tellin’ me you won’t represent her because you witnessed some guy sticking a knife in her face and it upset your family balance for a few weeks. What about what she’s been through, huh? You shouldn’t be retreatin’, you should be offerin’ her everything you’ve got.’

Buzz looked to the floor.

‘I don’t understand it, man. I don’t understand it at all.’ He shook his head and paced out the room towards the kitchen. He really needed a beer right now. He threw open the refrigerator only to be greeted by scores of bottles of Pure Nectar. He slammed the door shut and let out a grunt of annoyance. How was he going to work this out?

He caught sight of Buzz in his peripheral and straightened up, leaning against the worktop and folding his arms across his chest.

‘You’re really serious about her? This isn’t just a couple of nights and over and done like that waitress?’

Jared shook his head, his eyes narrowing, his expression set on mean. ‘Damn straight I’m serious. This ain’t nothin’ close to anything else. And I don’t care how that makes anyone else feel.’

Buzz nodded his head and then buttoned up his jacket, shifting his shoulders back. Jared watched and waited. How was this going to play out? Was this going to be some sort of stand-off position where neither of them would give an inch? He didn’t want to find himself another advisor. Buzz understood him …  most of the time.

‘You were right. I was the one thinking with something other than the business side of my brain. And, if I’m honest, that’s how I’ve been thinking since the second you mentioned her name in conversation. That was unprofessional and …  that was wrong.’

Jared’s gray eyes met Buzz’s ebony ones and he nodded.

‘Whatever you want to do I’ll support you, you know that. It’s always been a given and I don’t intend changing things …  unless you want to,’ Buzz said.

Jared shook his head.

‘But if we’re going to continue working together you need to forewarn and forearm me so we make the most out of everything and avoid me getting calls from Davey Duncan at Countrified at six a.m.’

‘He’s got one hell of a nerve.’

‘Lucille’s never listening to him again.’ Buzz smiled.

Jared braced himself to ask the next question. ‘And Honor?’

He felt Buzz’s intake of breath as well as heard it. ‘I think it should be her decision. Larry Welt is a great guy. He knows the industry almost as well as I do and they have history. I don’t know what’s gone on with them but … ’

‘But if she asks? If she wants you to?’

‘If she asks and she wants to, I’ll be there.’

Before he had time to say anything else or backtrack, Jared clapped Buzz into a bear hug, slapping his back.

‘Alright, don’t crease the suit! Have you any idea how much dry-cleaning costs these days?’