Reforming the Cowboy

by Marisa Cleveland

  And when his lyrics shifted to how strong she became, and perhaps a bit cynical, she realized she had to let go of the past if she ever wanted a future.

  When the third verse revealed what she’d stupidly missed in Nashville, her chest constricted and tears blurred her vision. It wasn’t the breakup she’d imagined. He wasn’t calling her a stupid fangirl. He wasn’t telling her to let him go. He wasn’t embarrassing her in front of everyone.

  He was on the edge of fame, but that was nothing compared with standing on the ledge with her. They were on the ledge of something new and wonderful, and her faith in him made him a better man.

  Her country singer’s serenade shot straight to her heart, and she knew she’d do anything to make it work.

  She blinked. The final notes floated over a silent audience. He unhooked his guitar and set it against the stool. Then the applause erupted.

  He strode off the stage and over to her, his gaze not once leaving her face, and she could only nod with her hands covering her mouth and what must be shock in her eyes. He wrapped her in a bear hug, lifting her. She ducked her head into his shoulder as he carried her through the kitchen and into her office, the sounds of excited chatter and clapping following them.

  With their privacy ensured, she dug her fingers into his hair and dragged his head down to hers. Their lips slammed together, and she tasted the salty wetness of her tears. He frowned and swiped her cheeks with the pads of his thumbs.

  “Don’t cry. I never want to make you cry,” he whispered into her hair and kissed her temple, her forehead.

  “That was so”—she shook her head in bewilderment—”moving. Lovely. Wonderful. Billy, your songs are amazing.”

  The tension seeped from his shoulders. “You don’t know how relieved I am to hear you liked it.”

  “Liked it?” She stared at him, in awe. “Words can’t describe…”

  “So now you know.” He kissed her.

  She pulled back. “Now I know?”

  “What you missed in Nashville. Why I had to follow you back here. Why I needed you to hear the ending.” He brushed her lips again.

  “Does it change anything?”

  He gripped her upper arms. “Lacey, I told you I love you. It changes everything.”

  He was right. It did. And she believed him. The sincerity in his eyes, in his voice…

  “I don’t know how good I’ll be at long-distance.” She voiced her fear.

  His eyes clouded. “You don’t have to make any decisions right now, but I’d like you to consider a more close-distance relationship.”

  “I’ll move.” She knew that without hesitation. She could open a café in Nashville. Beg Simon and James to help her. Staring into his steel gaze, she could see herself and her future, and she wondered why she would ever choose a brick-and-mortar building over him. She had a real shot at a lasting relationship and wasn’t that what she’d wanted all along? Something permanent. It was a no-brainer.

  The corner of his mouth curled upward. “Lacey, I’m not asking you to.”

  “What do you mean? You just said more close distance than long.”

  He stared at her and waited. She heard the introduction to Trixie’s set, the light pop rock and the sped up rhythm that matched her heart. Billy watched her with a quiet calm.

  Her eyes widened. “Oh! No.” She shook her head. “No.”

  He lowered his forehead to hers. And then his lips covered hers. And then he whispered, “I want to move here.”

  Panic struck her in the gut. He couldn’t live in South Beach. His career… She couldn’t let him make that sacrifice. How could he even think about that? She turned away. She couldn’t look at him, at his intensity. “What about your career? You’re a country singer. You need to be in Nashville.”

  He spun her around. “I need to be with you.”

  “I can’t let you give up your dream for me.”

  “I’m not. I told you about my dad, right? How he loved music? I thought being famous was his dream, and he gave that up for my mom, but then I realized being famous wasn’t his dream. My mom was his dream. He chose her over fame, but he never stopped making music.”

  Tears pooled in the corners of her eyes, and she blinked them back. This couldn’t be happening. She couldn’t be getting everything she ever wanted. Not when it meant Billy sacrificing his dream.

  He gave a little laugh. “I remember him sitting on the porch, strumming the guitar, and making up lyrics. He wrote songs until his accident. For my dad, it was about the music and nothing more.”

  “But what about you?” It wasn’t fair that he should lose out on his opportunity.

  “I feel the same way. Lacey, if it wasn’t for you, I wouldn’t have written one new lyric. You helped me hear the music again, and honestly, I can’t make music if I’m not with you.”

  “Maybe you can record here?” She brightened as she remembered how many musicians thrived in Miami.

  He grinned. “Chip has me involved in this charity for children’s heart disease at Mercy General.”

  “Mercy General?”

  He scratched the back of his neck. “Yeah, imagine that, huh? It’s part of the Global Heart Foundation. I’m spearheading a musical therapy workshop in their children’s ward.”

  “That’s…I don’t know what to say… It’s fantastic.”

  “It is pretty exciting,” he agreed.

  “So you’re staying here for that?” She willed her heart to calm down. If he planned on returning to the hospital, then that meant he’d be in South Beach no matter what.

  “Yes.”

  “And not for me?” she asked.

  His brow furrowed but he smiled. “Would that make you feel better?”

  “It would make me feel less guilty,” she admitted. If he had another reason to set aside his career, then she wouldn’t be the one stalling his comeback. She wouldn’t be the one he blamed if, years down the road, he regretted his decision.

  “Well, too bad. I’m only here for me, and I need to be near you, and if that makes you guilty, then I hope you can learn to live with guilt.”

  Could she? She didn’t know. But staring into his steady gaze, she knew she wanted to be with him more than she wanted her next breath of air.

  …

  Billy shoved the cart through the automatic doors and grinned at Lacey. “You ready?”

  He’d invited her to his first workshop with the children, and she’d eagerly accepted. “I hope I’m more of a help than a hindrance.”

  They unloaded the guitars and stickers, picks, and straps, and Billy directed Lacey on how to help him prep the room. With the music books and crayons spread out, Billy took a moment to study Lacey as she placed some extra supplies back on the cart. He really did owe everything to her. But before he could tell her again how much he loved her, the children entered with Nurse Emma and a dozen parents. Billy grinned.

  Nurse Emma explained, “This is a new workshop, and our parents were curious given the excitement of their children.”

  He should have expected the parents would be interested to see him in action. Especially since he was a stranger coming into the hospital and interacting with their children. What parent wouldn’t be cautious or eager to learn about him? But as the room filled, the parents greeted him, thanked him for taking the time to work with their children, and spoke highly of music therapy for healing and helping. And as he realized they were grateful, not just curious, for him being there, Billy felt something he hadn’t felt in a long while.

  Worthy. These children needed him, and he was qualified to help bring a little music into their lives. To sing to them and to teach them how to play the guitar. A tightness balled in his chest as he remembered the first time his father put a guitar into his hands, and even though the memory hurt like hell, it was there and it was the reason he played now. It was the reason he loved his guitar like a security blanket.

  As he demonstrated in the front of the room, Lacey mingled with the children,
helping them place their fingers on the strings and strum a chord or two. They laughed with him, their smiles contagious, and he knew he’d made the right decision.

  The session ended way too soon for both Billy and the children. When Nurse Emma apologetically announced the hour was up, the children protested, making Billy’s heart swell. They could have rejected him. But they hadn’t.

  Lacey gathered the oversized cushions and tossed them in the corner of the room. Parents shook his hand and thanked him. Asked him about the program. But one father went further than polite inquiries.

  Tall and lean, probably in his early fifties, the man shook Billy’s hand and stared him straight in the eye. “Can you tell me how long you plan to stick with this program?”

  A valid question. Billy hoped to make the program permanent but with foundations and grants, it was never a guarantee. Of course, he couldn’t tell this man he intended on staying in South Beach because of Lacey, so even if the grant ran its course, he would most likely stick around.

  He cleared his throat. “Well, sir, I’m hoping to keep it going as long as possible. I’m going to see about asking the foundation to write a grant to bring in more celebrities in different genres, but I’d like to manage the music program myself. The current grant already has an extension, so I’m confident this is a program the foundation would like to see continue.”

  The man seemed to consider this and then asked, “So this isn’t temporary? You won’t be returning to the stage or going on tour?”

  “Touring is not something I’m interested in right now.”

  “What about the stage or the studio? Given the success of the concert you just played, I’d imagine you’re eager to get back to it.”

  “Performing at that level doesn’t have the same appeal,” he slid a sideways glance to Lacey, “as it used to.” He neglected to say the stage or the studio, since he intended to play at Lacey’s whenever she let him, and she’d been right about studios in Miami. If he wanted, there was no reason he couldn’t record a song or two as he wrote them.

  The man scrutinized him for another long moment before nodding. “Well, it was nice to meet you.”

  “Who was that?” Lacey asked, wheeling the cart with supplies over to him.

  “I’m not sure.” Billy frowned and scratched at the tingle on the back of his neck.

  She smiled up at him. “So, you have plans for tonight?”

  “There’s this café I’ve been meaning to check out.” He winked at her.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Lacey tugged on Billy’s hand and stopped short at the sight of Beth and James arguing on the sidewalk. She hoped it didn’t have anything to do with the café. But before she could approach them, Chip blocked their path. He stood next to an older guy in a well-tailored suit.

  “Chip?” She greeted him cautiously but with a well-practiced smile.

  “Lacey.” He held out both his hands, and rather than snub him, she placed her hands in his and allowed him to kiss her cheek like they were old friends who hadn’t seen each other in a year rather than a week. “You’re looking wonderful, as always.” Then he clamped a hand on Billy’s shoulder. “Billy.”

  “What brings you back here?” She gave the other man a once-over. “Is this your newest client? Are you here to deliver on your promise?”

  Chip’s brows V-ed, and he frowned. Then his face cleared as he must have remembered telling Lacey he’d bring her his clients to help draw a crowd. “This is Mr. Ruthill. He’s the founder of the Global Heart Foundation.”

  Beside her, Billy stiffened.

  “Oh!” Lacey grinned and shook the man’s extended hand. “You have a wonderful foundation, Mr. Ruthill.”

  Billy shook the man’s hand. “Pleased to meet you, Mr. Ruthill.”

  Mr. Ruthill smiled. “Please, call me Henry, and we’ve actually met.”

  Chip rocked back on his heels and looked completely satisfied.

  Lacey saw the exact moment Billy placed the man in his memory. “Oh yes, of course. Last week at the hospital. I’m sorry I didn’t recognize you.”

  Henry waved a dismissive hand through the air. “Quite fine. Out of context and all that.”

  “Shall we?” Chip gestured toward the café’s entrance, and they stepped inside, choosing the booth closest to the door.

  Lacey waited until the men settled into the booth before offering, “Would you gentlemen care for a specific coffee?”

  Henry smiled. “You should sit too, Lacey. I have a feeling you will want to hear this, and it’s my experience that the story retold through the man’s mouth is never as detailed as the female wishes it to be.”

  She chuckled and admitted, “You’re right about that, but I’d really like to offer you some refreshments. On the house.”

  One of her new hires called from behind the bar, “I’ve got you covered, boss. Be right there with a sampler tray.”

  Lacey grinned and slid next to Billy. “Thanks, Liv.”

  Henry stretched his legs sideways and crossed them at the ankles. “I think it’s marvelous that you’re volunteering at the hospital.”

  “Thank you.”

  “But I feel that volunteering is too tame for what you could be doing.”

  “I’m sorry?” His gaze shifted to Chip.

  “Billy, I’d like to offer you an individual recording contract with Starscope Records and a full-time job as the director of music integration for the foundation.”

  Lacey watched Billy’s eyes narrow and his mouth open. Her own pulse hammered as she digested the words—the incredible offer. Who was this man?

  Chip grinned like he knew what a shock that statement was.

  When Billy remained silent, Chip said, “He accepts.”

  Billy swallowed loudly. “How?”

  Henry reached into his inner pocket and withdrew two business cards. The first was the foundation. Henry Ruthill, founder. The second, Starscope Records, CEO. “I remember the scuffle with Shawna and Marvin, and at the time, I thought I let the marketing people handle it correctly. But you’ve proven me wrong, and I’d like to make it right. I’d like you back on my label’s roster.”

  “I don’t understand.”

  “I wasn’t CEO then. In fact, for the time you were with us, I was overseas expanding our international client base in Asia.”

  Lacey watched the myriad of emotions slam across Billy’s face. She figured it out faster. Chip arranged the foundation gig. One of the boys with heart disease at the hospital was the son of this man. Chip knew the boy’s father was the CEO of the recording label. Chip wasn’t willing to let Billy disappear into the night without a fight. Lacey was actually impressed with the manipulations of the manager. He was close to pulling off quite an elaborate scheme. It was too neatly packaged to be a coincidence.

  She waited until her new hire set the tray on the table and then she addressed Billy. “Chip’s given you an amazing opportunity to connect with Henry.”

  Billy nodded. “Yes. It certainly is a lot to take in.”

  Henry leaned forward. “I understand you had reservations about returning to the stage, but I’m offering you a chance to get your music recorded and keep your day job at the hospital.”

  “Too good to be true?”

  “Not in my eyes. But I will warn you, the foundation works with more than just Mercy General. I’d like to develop a program for all our partner hospitals.”

  “And the record deal? Those contracts always come with promotions and tours and time-sucking obligations.”

  “You can do as much or as little as you’d like. The record deal could be secondary, if you’re more comfortable with that. I just thought, since I’m able to offer it, I would.”

  “I appreciate your generous offer. Please don’t think that I don’t. I just—”

  Chip interrupted, “Billy! You could write songs and record them or just write them and let someone else record them. Take the offer!”

  Henry’s smile softened. “It�
�s a lot to consider, but Chip’s your biggest supporter and he certainly played right into my hand by bringing you on board. You have star quality, Billy, and you interested me just like you did those kids and all those YouTube viewers.”

  Lacey could tell the compliment embarrassed Billy, and she grinned with pride. Just when she thought the conversation was over, Chip pulled a new trick from his worn bag.

  “Lacey, this is a contract for Billy to play in Lacey’s Concert Café’s at least four times a year. Once a quarter for ten thousand dollars a night. If he agrees to record any new material through Starscope.”

  “Chip!” Billy growled.

  “I need to make a living,” Chip remarked, but his smile relieved Lacey of her concerns. “I mean, Billy, you’re my best client.”

  “I’ll sign,” she said without hesitation. She wiggled her fingers. “Who has a pen?”

  “Right here,” Chip said and shot Billy a seriously-you’re-hesitating? look.

  Everyone watched as Lacey initialed the bottom right of the pages and then flared her full name on the last page. Then, she looked up and Chip said, “See how easy that was?”

  He nodded to Henry, who slapped a much-thicker stack of papers onto the table.

  “Chip already combed through this, but take your time with it. This is the record deal, similar to your previous contract, and yes, the terms do include tours and public appearances. It’s all up for negotiation. The last ten pages are the foundation’s contract for you as the new director.”

  Billy slid both contracts toward him. He looked down at Lacey’s signature on the last page of the first one. Then, he scrawled his name under hers. “I’ll take this one,” he patted Henry’s packet, “home to read through it.”

  Henry nodded. “Sounds reasonable.”

  Billy stood and the others followed suit. “Thanks for this. It means so much to me.”

  “You’ll be helping a lot of people with the music program, Billy. Whether you accept or not, we still intend to hire a director.”

  “I just need some time to discuss the details with—” His gaze slid to Lacey.

  “I understand,” Henry injected and held out his hand.