“I’m walking off this bus in five minutes,” Haley growled.
Shane looked at Rich. “I guess I’m being summoned.”
Chapter 14
Shane wasn’t surprised to see the mob of people outside waiting for Haley’s autograph as they walked towards the waiting bus line. Haley’s show was downright ferocious with crazy pyrotechnics and her signature rowdy vocals. Hundreds of people were screaming her name and reaching for her as Shane shuffled her away.
“I need to sign some autographs,” Haley said as she began to pull away.
“It’s not safe out here, you’re in the wide open,” Shane replied.
“Nothing is going to happen if I sign my name a few times. Give me a break. Besides, I haven’t gotten a letter in almost a month.” Haley pushed away from her security detail and walked over to the group of cheering fans.
Shane shook her head and stormed after her, making sure to stand next to Haley, scanning the crowd for suspicious male figures while she signed autographs. Shane actually wished Leroy had been their letter writer so she could go on with her life and leave this hellfire to her own runaway train she called a life, but after the call she’d received earlier in the night, she’d be stuck there a while longer. Leroy Marvin had nothing more than a few speeding tickets on his record in the last ten years. He wasn’t their guy. Shane knew it was an extremely long shot, but she could leave no stone unturned when it came to threats on someone’s life.
“That wasn’t so bad was it?” Haley snickered, feeling a little less constrained as she walked past her towards the waiting bus.
Shane wanted to smack some sense into her when they stepped onto the bus; she settled for slamming the door closed instead. She went straight to her stateroom without looking back and quickly shed the jacket she’d been wearing to cover her handgun. She put the gun and shoulder harness in the nightstand drawer and kicked her shoes off. She was so used to working in suits that she actually felt uncomfortable in jeans and a windbreaker.
After splashing water on her face, Shane checked her watch and decided she really wanted a glass of something strong, but Haley was more than likely sitting on the couch and still wound up from the show. It usually took her hours to unwind, which was why she always stayed up working on new music, at least, until Shane came along and invaded her space. She decided two drinks would do, one to calm her nerves and one to deal with Haley and her attitude. It would be at least another hour before the buses pulled anchor.
***
Haley had changed from her jeans and boots to short, cotton shorts and bare feet. She sat on the couch with her legs stretched out and her guitar in her lap strumming a light melody that was similar to the one Shane had heard her playing when she thought she was alone earlier that afternoon.
Shane stood at the edge of hallway, watching as she flung her wild blond curls over her shoulder. The innocent gesture made her smile. There was no denying the fact that she was attracted to Haley. The woman was beautiful…but she was like gasoline on an open fire. Shane had no doubt Haley would rock her world and leave her with a broken heart. If she wasn’t such a huge pain in the ass, she might actually think twice about going a round or two with her between the sheets. Shane adjusted her position to try and relieve the pressure building between her legs, but the slight noise was just enough to grab Haley’s attention. To Shane that was like waking a sleeping dragon.
“Sneaking up on me will get you nowhere quick,” Haley said without looking up.
Shane stepped into the small living room area and sat on the couch across from her. “I wasn’t sneaking up on you.”
“You were watching me.”
“I was listening to you play,” Shane countered.
Haley shrugged. “Same thing.”
“He’s still out there. The guy we apprehended barely has a speeding ticket on his record. I’m almost certain it wasn’t him.” Shane spoke without enthusiasm. Her voice sounded very plain and to the point, mostly because she was tired. Tired of babysitting a grown woman, tired of being treated like a piece of shit, just plain tired.
Haley set her guitar down and raised her eyes to the woman across from her. Shane’s dark hair had gotten slightly longer and her gray eyes looked haunted. Haley was angry at herself for finding the reserved woman attractive. She’d been on her mind since the moment they’d met. She didn’t want to think about her, dream about her, want her. She hated the situation, and the mere presence of this woman was making her nuts. She reached for the empty glass that had been full of vodka and juice at one point. Frustrated, she turned her eyes back to Shane, only to be met by a questioning gray gaze. She swallowed the lump growing in her throat and stared into those eyes for what seemed like minutes. Finally, she got up and refilled her glass and snatched her guitar off the couch. “You make me so,” she mumbled in frustration. “Never mind,” she sighed heavily as she walked away.
Shane shrugged, watching her back as she retreated. The short, cotton shorts barely covered the tight little ass under them. Shane wanted to bang her head on the wall. She had to catch this guy and soon before she either had a nervous breakdown or worse, a sexually charged meltdown. She needed to get out of this stuffy environment and wished she could take a weekend to go home and hit the town. A night of dancing in her favorite bar, followed by a romp in the sheets with a hot body, would clear her head.
Chapter 15
A few days later, Shane was busy reading the security checks and walking the perimeter at their latest stop on the tour. No one had bothered to alert her when a flower box had been delivered for Haley, until it was too late and she heard Haley screaming her name into the radio. Shane ran towards the bus in a full sprint.
“What happened?” Shane said as she stormed onto the bus.
Haley and Rich were sitting at the dinette table across from the galley. Haley had dried tear lines on her face and a blank look in her eyes. Rich slid a card towards the edge of the table.
Take a long hard look at the flowers in this box. They were once beautiful like you, now they’re dead, and soon…you will be too.
Shane was careful not to touch the note. She peered into the box full of two dozen wilted roses. She had a feeling this would happen sooner or later. He wanted to let her know he was still out there, still watching, still waiting. Shane put her hands in her pockets and took a step back.
“I’m sorry, Haley. I can’t say I didn’t warn you. This guy is a lot more than the crazed fan you all think he is. I’m not here to play games. My job is to protect you when he decides to make good on his promise.” She turned to walk away and looked back over her shoulder. “Rich, seal all of that in an evidence bag; the flowers, box, card, everything and ship it to the same address you sent the other letters to. Try not to touch it without gloves.”
“Really, Rich? I just got a box of dead flowers and a letter saying I’m going to be dead and she just walks away? What the fuck?” Haley yelled when Shane stepped off the bus.
“What do you expect, Haley? It’s not like she’s going to sit here and let you cry on her shoulder. She has a job to do, and as far as I’m concerned, she’s damn good at it.”
“Oh, if she’s so fucking good, then why did I get these?”
“That’s probably what she’s addressing right now. I have a feeling she will be hiring a whole new security staff for tonight,” he said.
“That’s not good enough, Rich,” she huffed as she stormed to her room and slammed the door.
***
Shane was sitting in the front row across from the stage with her head in her hands when Rich caught up to her. She looked up, hearing the approaching footsteps.
“How is she?” Shane asked.
“Pissed and upset.”
“I fired the security agency and hired a dozen off duty cops for tonight.”
Rich sat in the chair next to her and grinned. “It’s not your fault.”
“No. I never said it was. Still
, when we have to ‘rent’ security at every venue, it can be dangerous. You never know when someone will slip something past me because they don’t understand the seriousness of the situation, or better yet, one day he could be hired as a security guard and we would never know it.”
“Maybe he made a mistake this time.”
Shane looked at him. “I doubt it. He’s smart and he’s getting brave. He will make his move soon.” She sighed and stretched her legs. “Do you play chess, Rich?”
“No, not really.”
“Well, in the game of chess you have multiple pieces that move in very different ways, but they all have one common goal, checkmate. Stalker killer minds operate like a chess game. They make different moves, each one a little bolder than the last until they get close and see an opening, then…checkmate.”
“Do you think he will try to kill her?” Rich wiped the sweat from his brow.
“There is no doubt he will try. He won’t succeed, that’s what I’m here for. The question is…when.” She stood and turned towards Rich. “He may have just found an opening with his latest move.”
***
Haley slid her feet into the scuffed, pointed toe boots she always wore on stage and added a small, black, leather vest that she kept open over her tight white tank top. When she walked into the living room area, Shane was sitting on the couch talking on the phone. Haley had no idea she was back aboard the bus. She took a second to look at the woman a few feet away. She was wearing loose fitting jeans, Doc Marten shoes, and a black t-shirt with her shoulder holster pulling it tightly over her small breasts. Her gun was tucked under her right arm.
“I’m ready when you are,” Shane said, hanging up the phone and slipping on the black, short-sleeved dress shirt she’d started wearing to cover her gun instead of the windbreaker that had been causing her to sweat to death.
Haley liked this look better, but wouldn’t give her the satisfaction of letting her know that. At least she’d stopped wearing the stuffy suits that made her look like a secret service agent. Her heartbeat sped up when she smelled the familiar floral and spice scent that lingered when Shane stepped in front of her and led them off the bus. Haley walked next to her, close enough to rub arms as they walked. Once she was secure under the stage, Shane took her post up on the edge of the stage where she could watch the crowd from all angles.
At the first strum of her guitar the crowd went wild. Haley’s elevator hadn’t moved yet to lift her to the center of the stage, and the sold-out building was already rocking. The fireworks went off as she appeared, already a few bars into one of her hit songs. Her long blonde hair hung loosely in wild waves that slung back and forth as she played her guitar. Feeding off the energy of the crowd, she belted out the lyrics like she was six feet tall. Her sexy smoky voice was light and cute with a southern twang when she talked, but it was a smoky blues sound when she sang. The drastic difference made her unique. She was a totally different person when she was on that stage.
Shane watched the people in the first row reaching as far as they could, trying desperately to touch her, even if only for a split second. There was no way that would happen. She’d made sure there was three feet between the crowd and the edge of the stage. She laughed out loud, wondering what these people would think if they knew how mean Haley really was.
***
A few songs later, Haley slowed things down. Sitting on a stool in the center of the stage alone, she picked her guitar and sang from someplace deep inside where Shane was sure no one else was allowed to go. The gentle melody rolled off her tongue like butter, capturing the hearts of everyone around her.
Shane leaned against one of the stage pillars, watching her intently. The vulnerability she heard in her voice as she sang made Shane want to hold her close and never let go. I could listen to that voice whispering in my ear all night long. Taking a deep breath, she pulled her eyes away from Haley’s grasp and moved to another area to scan the crowd.
As she finished the song, Haley turned and looked towards the side of the stage where Shane had been standing, before rushing into another fast song full of wild and reckless abandon. The people in the crowd stood on their feet, singing along at the tops of their lungs as Haley ran around the stage, spouting razor sharp lyrics like a spitfire.
“One minute she’s the sweetheart of country music, the next she’s a rock n’ rolling rebel, burning up the stage,” Rich said.
Shane turned to see him standing close by. “Yeah,” she muttered in agreement.
***
When the show ended, Shane fell in step next to Haley as she came off the back of the stage and maneuvered through the arena tunnel system that led outside.
“Great show,” Shane said as her eyes scanned all around.
“I didn’t think you saw it,” Haley said, sounding slightly sarcastic.
Shane grabbed her hand and stopped her. “Just because you don’t see me doesn’t mean I’m not there. I was less than a hundred feet away from you for the entire show.”
Already hyped up from the buzz of the show, Haley looked up into the gray eyes staring down at her. Gone were the snappy comebacks as blood raced through her veins. She felt herself leaning closer to the moist lips beckoning her…just before Rich rushed up and wrapped his arm around her, pulling her away.
“Fantastic show!” he said. “The roof nearly blew off this place!”
Shane walked along behind them. She wasn’t sure, but her body told her Haley had been about to kiss her. Which only twisted her even further. She had no time to analyze what that even meant as the sound of the screaming crowd outside grew louder. She cringed knowing it would be a nightmare getting Haley to the bus.
The rented security guards were doing the best they could to hold back the hundred or so people who had decided to wait for an autograph near the bus area, but the people were pushing and shoving, cheering Haley’s name.
“I have to sign autographs,” she said.
“Two minutes,” Shane replied, moving in front of her before the doors swung open.
Haley sauntered over with a huge smile on her face. “Did you guys like the show?”
“Haley, we love you!” one person yelled.
“I love you guys, too!” she laughed.
Shane stood right beside her as she took selfie after selfie and signed her name on everything from pictures and CD cases to t-shirts and human skin. Once two minutes had passed, she wrapped her arm around Haley’s shoulders. “We have to go,” she whispered, pulling her away.
Haley gritted her teeth, but smiled brightly at her fans. “I gotta go, folks! I hope you all enjoyed our show!”
Shane ushered her away with two security people following behind them. Haley turned around, waving at the crowd as she boarded the bus. The doors closed behind her and Shane went back to manning the security detail who was trying to get the people to leave. The buses wouldn’t be pulling out for a few more hours, and they didn’t need obsessive fans lingering about.
She never saw Rich walk by behind her and board Haley’s bus.
Chapter 16
“You weren’t up for any awards because your album just came out and your tour just started. I hadn’t expected you to attend,” he said. “However, it’s an honor to get asked to perform.”
Haley sat across from him on the sofa in the small living area, shaking her head.
“It’s Country Music Television, Haley.”
“I know that, but do you think it’s a great idea to detour the entire entourage for a last-minute performance at the CMT awards because another act pulled out? They didn’t invite us to perform in the first place. That chaps my ass enough, but to be their backup…” she shook her head. “I won’t do it.”
“I don’t think you were the backup plan. I believe they’ve been trying to reach me, but with us out on tour, it’s been hectic.”
“That’s bullshit, Rich. And you and I both know it,” she growled.
“They’ve also asked you to present,” he said carefully, waiting for the blowback.
Haley laughed. “You’re kidding me?”
“Uh…no. No. They want you to present best newcomer with Tucker Miller.”
“Wonderful. Country music already has rumors going around that we are an item. Why not force us to present together at the awards?”
“I need to get an answer to them now because I have to book you, along with the band, and Shane on a flight out—”
“Excuse me?” Shane said. Neither of them had heard the door open during their heated conversation. “We’re flying somewhere?”
“The CMT awards tomorrow night. Haley’s been asked to perform and present an award. Obviously, you’ll need to be with her.”
“Okay…why are we just now hearing about this?” she asked, leaning against the kitchen counter, sipping a bottle of water from the fridge.
“Because I’m the sloppy seconds,” Haley grumbled. “We’re not going, so don’t worry about freaking out over security.”
“Haley, I think that’s a bad idea. You should go and promote the new album and the tour,” Rich countered. “It doesn’t have to be a huge production. Play the new single. It’s slower, and you’ll only need guitars if you do it acoustically. You’ll arrive late and miss the red carpet, so that won’t be an issue,” he added, looking at Shane.
“I can deal with that,” she said.
“You’ve also been asked to collaborate with three or four other artists to sing some of Calvin Baldwin’s music. He’s being inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame this year and they are doing a tribute to him.”
Haley peeked through the curtains at the dark parking lot. The mass of fans was long gone and the buses were awaiting Rich’s word to hit the road. “Fine, but I’m not changing my music. We’ll need a drum set for Vince, and a keyboard for Eddie. Joey, Stiles, and I will travel with our guitars.”
Rebel Sweetheart Page 5