His tone brooked no argument and my feet moved without hesitation. Sliding into the seat on his left, I folded my hands in my lap and stared at the untouched place setting. Bone china. Only the best.
“What terms are you talking about?”
Surely he didn’t want to pour over the details. Like my mother had always said, money was never discussed in polite company. Not if you had class. Since I feared she was right, and I didn’t have any, I decided to let it fly.
“I know you think that a d-degree in art isn’t worth the paper it’s written on, but it’s all I have. Something that’s all m-mine.”
Running a finger around the rim of his cup, he sighed. “I never said that, Lily.”
“You didn’t have to. Taking away my car and refusing to pay my tuition was enough.”
I’d never seen my father surprised. It’s what made him so good at his job. But as I looked at him now, thats what I saw. Shock. And something else. Something more.
Slowly his gaze shifted to the door where my mother had disappeared. And when he looked back at me, pain had replaced the confusion in his eyes.
He took my hand, something he hadn’t done in years. “I want you to start at the beginning,” he said, his tone low and maybe a little sad. “And tell me exactly what deal you’re talking about.”
* * *
I pushed myself to sitting when Logan slipped through the door of the dressing room at the Parish. “What’s the good word?”
He walked straight to the bar in the corner, grabbed a bottle of tequila, and dropped onto the chair across from me. From the look on his face we weren’t celebrating. More like drowning our sorrows.
“Mac says he’s not comfortable scheduling any studio time until we get our management situation squared away,” Logan said as he poured a shot for each of us. “He gave me the name of someone at Distinct Management who wants to set up a meeting.”
Groaning, I let my head fall back. “We said we were going to hire local. I don’t want to get into another Lindsey situation.”
Logan blew out an irritated breath. “Lindsey did a lot for us.”
That was the guilt talking. In the six weeks since we’d fired our manager, the band’s opportunities had virtually dried up. And Logan blamed the hell out of himself. So much so that he wouldn’t see reason.
Still, I tried. “Dude, don’t you see what Mac’s doing? He’s not our friend. He owns the label. He’s just trying to make us think we don’t have any options.”
Logan tipped forward, glaring at me. “I hate to break it to you, but we don’t have any options. Not if we can’t secure representation.”
“Bullshit,” Chase growled, taking a seat beside me on the couch. “You’ve got two singles on the Billboard charts. And—”
“And our reputation is shit,” Logan interjected. “None of the big concert promotors are taking my calls. We’re fucked, man.”
My brother chuckled dryly. “That’s what Mac wants you to think. And you’re playing right into his hand. He’s the one who set you up with Lindsey in the first place. And I got news for you, he probably knew about all the shit she was pulling.”
Logan’s gaze found mine. “You’re giving them too much credit. Nobody knew what was going to go down in Dallas.”
The band around my chest tightened, stealing any argument I was about to make. Because I knew he was talking about Lily. Slumping against the cushions, my mind wandered to places it shouldn’t. Like where she was. And if she was happy. And how it felt to sleep with her tangled in my arms.
I’d tried to get over her. With varying degrees of success. A couple of days ago I’d managed to get a girl all the way back to the dressing room before giving up and sending her on her way. The minute her lips had touched mine, I knew I wasn’t ready. Unfortunately, my dick didn’t get the memo, and we were no longer on speaking terms.
“Listen,” Chase said to Logan, using the same tone he did when I stole his car my freshman year in high school. “Get your head out of your ass and hear me. You’re not hurting for money. Stop trying to force something to happen. This shit with Lindsey will blow over. You’ve got a gig here for as long as you need it.”
I half expected Logan to storm out. But after the shitstorm in Dallas he was making an effort to control his temper.
After a tense moment, Logan jerked a nod. “Yeah. Okay.” Hauling to his feet, he roughed a hand through his hair. “I’m going to go find Sean and Christian. You coming, Cam?”
“He’ll catch up with you in a minute,” Chase said, before I could answer.
“Don’t keep him too long,” Logan said on his way to the door. “We’ve got a show tonight.”
“What’s up? I asked once we were alone.
Chase pulled a postcard from his back pocket and held it out for me. “Tanner’s hosting a small show for a new artist at his gallery in a couple weeks.” I stopped short of plucking the card from his hand when I spotted the “L” in the corner beside the hand drawn flower. Flicking my gaze to my brother, I blinked at him. But he just shrugged, like the choice was mine. But it wasn’t. Lily had made her feelings clear when she left me without a word.
I hopped to my feet. “I’m going to go find the guys.”
Chase nodded, tucking the card back in his pocket. “Have a good show.”
Pausing at the door with my hand on the knob, I sighed. “Why did you tell me?”
I hated myself for asking. For wanting Lily so badly, still, that I couldn’t help myself.
“Because she asked me to.”
* * *
“For someone who just sold a ton of paintings, you look seriously unhappy.”
Taking the glass of champagne Tanner offered, I gave him a practiced smile. “I’m not unhappy. I’m…”
Disappointed.
But I couldn’t say that. My debut was a success. People had actually shown up to see my work. It was a bitter sweet victory. Because the one person I wanted to share this night with, wasn’t here.
I cleared my throat. “I’m just a little overwhelmed. Do you have any idea how we d-did?”
“I haven’t added it up yet. We’ll do an inventory on Monday and issue you a check by next week.”
My cheeks flamed, and I jerked a nod.
In the real world people discussed money. But it wasn’t something I was used to. Or comfortable with.
“It’s f-fine. Whenever.”
It wasn’t like I was hurting for funds. My bank account was swollen to the point of bursting, thanks to my father. As it turned out, I’d never been destitute. Not really. My grandparents had provided a sizable trust fund. One I was to inherit on my twenty-fifth birthday, or upon graduation from college. Prior to meeting those two conditions, I could only access the money for “necessities.”
In the world I’d grown up in, necessities included trips abroad, a car, my tuition, and a number of other things enumerated in the one hundred and fourteen-page document on file with my family’s attorney.
Because money was never discussed, and always taken for granted, my father never thought to ask if I was drawing funds from my grandparent’s estate. He’d just assumed. He’d made a lot of assumptions. But then, so did I. I’d assumed that he didn’t love me. And that I was a disappointment.
Tanner’s gaze landed on the balding man standing in front of a grouping of charcoals at the far end of the gallery. The little man scribbled in his small notepad, wearing a most serious expression.
“I can’t believe Cecil Burke is here,” Tanner marveled. “How many favors did your mother have to call in to convince him to fly to Austin?”
Again, I felt the heat rise in my cheeks. Getting the most renowned art critic in the country to attend my show was a small price for my mother to pay to save her marriage. Not that my father would actually file for divorce. But he was pissed about all the deception. And no amount of Abigail’s whining, or her pleas that she was “only doing it for my own good” and “trying to build character” was cutti
ng the mustard with my father. In public, they’d smile. Hold hands. But the rift between them wouldn’t heal for a long time. And maybe I should’ve felt guilty about that. But I didn’t.
Before I could answer Tanner’s question, his receptionist made eye contact with him from across the room. “I’d better go see what she wants,” he said. “Enjoy yourself, Lily. Have a drink. Or ten. You deserve it.”
I caught his arm as he turned to leave. “T-Tanner.” He inclined his head when I didn’t say anything right away. My stutter was markedly better, but I still did my counting ritual. “Th-thank you for hosting my show.”
His features softened, and he patted my hand. “Thank you for making me a shit ton of money.”
He gave me a wide grin, then sauntered off.
Snagging another glass of champagne off one of the server’s trays, I wandered over to the window. The city was beautiful. So different from Dallas. Smaller, with an artsy vibe that I’d grown to love in the week I’d been here. But I wasn’t sure how much of that adoration had to do with Cameron. I looked for him everywhere. Saw his face in every musician I passed on the street. And it was his voice that I heard in the melodies that floated to the window of my second story loft.
Now that the show was over, maybe I’d have the nerve to seek him out. I just didn’t want him to tell me to leave before I’d accomplished this one thing. Because I would. Leave, that is. Austin was Cameron’s city, and I could live anywhere.
“Oh my God, Lily!” Tess exclaimed as she rushed up, and threw her arms around me. “You did it! I can’t believe it! Your work is so… gah!!”
I hugged her back. “Thank you.”
Her gaze flicked to Bobby when she pulled away. “We’re going to go get a late supper. Do you want us to wait for you?”
If I were honest, I wanted her to move to Austin so we could be roommates again. But that was never going to happen.
“I can’t duck out of my own party.”
The crowd was thinner now, with only a handful of people milling around. But I was my mother’s daughter, and I’d wait until the last of my guests departed to take my leave. Just like I was taught.
“M’kay,” she said. “How about breakfast tomorrow before I head back to Big D?”
Nostalgia washed over me, and I looped my arm through hers. “You can’t stay a couple of more days? My treat.”
She shook her head, smiling. “I still can’t get used to you having money to throw around. But, no. Some of us have classes to attend.”
“Hey. Nobody told you to major in business.”
When Tanner had agreed to host my show, the head of the art department had allowed me to graduate early. That wasn’t special treatment. Ms. Esteban couldn’t care less who my family was or how much money they donated to the school. She told me that my show was “real world experience,” and far more valuable than anything I could learn in three months sitting in a classroom.
“Be that as it may,” Tess said. “I have to get back. But, breakfast, okay?”
I nodded, my chin quivering when she gave me another quick hug.
An hour later, Tanner and I waved to the last patron, heading to his car with an original Lily Tennison charcoal tucked under his arm.
“I’m beat,” Tanner said as he flipped the switch next to the door. The room went dark except for the canned lights illuminating all the art work. “Do you have your key?”
“Yep.”
“I’ll see you Monday, then. That is, if you still want to work at my lowly gallery after all this.”
I laughed. “I’ve waited for years to land this k-kind of job. You’re not getting rid of me that easy.”
“Good answer.” He tossed me a wink before heading to the private parking lot in the back.
I toed off my sky-high Louboutin pumps, then plucked a half empty bottle of champagne from one of the tables. Slipping into the back room where all my oil paintings were displayed, I bit down a smile, noting all the yellow stickers affixed to the frames. Two thirds of the pieces were sold.
Spinning around when I heard footsteps, I nearly dropped the bottle of Moet when I saw him standing mere feet away, bathed in soft light. He looked like art. And inspiration. A beautiful muse.
“Cameron.”
He glanced me over like he wasn’t sure if I was real. “Hey,” he finally said, then held out a bouquet of roses wrapped in green paper. American Beauties, like the ones he’d given me in Dallas. “Congratulations on… um… all this…”
While Cameron fumbled over his greeting, I inched closer. And before he could finish, my mouth was on his. It was supposed to be a friendly hello. Well, more than friendly, but I didn’t intend to attack him.
His lips parted, maybe to protest, but I couldn’t resist, and my tongue found his, twisting and tangling. Pulling me closer, his fingers threaded my hair. And God, how I’d missed him. His taste, and his smell, and the way he felt pressed against me.
“I missed you so much,” I whispered. And I wished I hadn’t. Because whatever magic lingered between us, my words broke the spell.
Cameron took a step back, looking at me with wounded eyes. “You want to tell me what you’re doing here, Lily?”
* * *
“Would you like to sit down?” Lily asked, hopeful. But I didn’t want hopeful. I wanted answers.
“Just tell me why you’re in Austin.”
The smile wobbled on her lips. “Tanner contacted me. I guess you sent him some pictures of my work. And he offered to host my first show.”
“You couldn’t get your mama to hook you up somewhere else? Isn’t that why you ran off?” I could see her struggling to answer. And yeah, I was a dick for not waiting for her response. But I couldn’t help myself. “I guess I served my purpose, right? Mommy and Daddy couldn’t wait to welcome you back. For the right price.” Me. I was the price. And I dared her to deny it. But she didn’t. And that was worse. “I read the email from your mom, Lily.”
She inclined her head. “Wh-what email?”
“The demand letter Abigail sent you the day you walked out on me. You left it on my computer.”
I thought maybe she’d jump my ass for invading her privacy. But it was sorrow I detected in her gaze, not anger. “If you r-read that, then you’d know my m-mother didn’t welcome me anywhere.”
Any bit of empathy vanished when I shifted my attention to the shiny new Honda parked at the curb. “I guess it all worked out. I would’ve held out for a Mercedes, though. It’s not like your folks can’t afford it.”
I thought I’d feel better once I got everything off my chest. But I didn’t. And being around Lily was too hard. Too much.
“Wait!” she said, when I spun for the door. “Cameron, please! Just let me explain!” But I didn’t need any more answers. I just needed to be gone.
“I live here now,” she blurted, nearly colliding with my back when I skidded to a stop. For once, it was me who couldn’t find the words. “I’m so s-sorry, Cameron. For everything. I d-didn’t know what to do. I couldn’t just let you take c-care of me. I wanted to b-be your equal. But I didn’t know how to d-do that.”
“So you thought that leaving without a word and not returning my calls was a better option?”
A tear raced down her cheek, and it took all my willpower not to wipe it away. “I thought it was my only option. As much as I wanted t-to be with you, I wanted this too.” She looked around the gallery, frowning. “I was going to move to New Mexico and start fresh. I f-figured if I did that, then maybe you and I could have a chance. But then I found out I didn’t have to.”
“Why’s that?” The little crease formed between her brows, a sure sign there was more to the story. “Whatever it is, just tell me.”
Given what I knew about her mother, it wouldn’t surprise me a bit if it was something drastic. Like a promise to marry some douchebag in exchange for a few months of freedom.
“My g-grandparents, they left me some money. A lot of m-money. I didn’t know about
it until recently.” A smile curved her lips. “When I found out that I d-didn’t need anyone’s help to follow my d-dreams, they lead me here. To you. And if you can’t forgive m-me, I understand. But I had to t-try. Because I love you. And I know how s-stupid that sounds. Because nobody falls in l-love in a week. And—”
My mouth crashed into hers, partly to shut her up, but mostly because I couldn’t go another minute without kissing her. I had her up against the wall a second later. “It didn’t take me a week to fall in love with you, Lily. I think I loved you from the start.”
She blinked at me with that look of disbelief she wore so often. Like she was waiting for the stipulation. But there was none. Yeah, we had a lot to work out. But I loved her. And something told me I always would. I kissed her again, tasting the promise on her lips.
When my hand slipped under her skirt, she tipped back. “We can’t.”
Lacing our fingers, I pinned her arm over her head. “Why not?”
“Because, I work here now.”
If it were possible, I got harder. She worked here. And she was staying.
“Baby, you’re killing me. I haven’t had sex in six weeks.” I ground my erection against her hip. “We’re dealing with a serious situation here. It might have lasting effects. What if everything heats up and we won’t be able to have kids someday?” She went still in my arms, and I looked down my nose at her. “What?”
“You want kids?”
I’d never thought about it. But when I looked into Lily’s eyes, I saw the future I never knew I wanted. Kids. And a home, alive with music, her paintings on every wall. The world slowed down, and everything fell into place. It was like harmony. Or hitting the perfect note. Finding the one lyric that made the song complete. That was Lily.
Her eyes widened when I peeled her off the wall. “I didn’t mean to scare you,” she said, nervous laughter bubbling from her lips.
I pressed a kiss to the back of her hand, then guided us toward the door. “You didn’t. And to answer your question: yeah, I want kids. I want everything with you, Lily.”