TRAPPED UNDER ICE (ROCKING ROMANCE COLLECTION)

by M. J. Schiller

  ***

  Chad cursed after forgetting the words to the group’s first big song, “Out of Touch.” Practices hadn’t been going well and this one was no exception.

  “I’m done!” Keith finally announced, laying down his drumsticks.

  “Keith—”

  “No, Roger. I’ve had it! You call me when Chad here decides to quit being such an asshole.” He stormed off the stage without looking back.

  Everyone stared at him, but Chad only picked up the beer bottle by his feet and took a swig. David glanced at Roger. Roger nodded at him and David followed in Keith’s wake. He glanced over his shoulder and then waited in the footlights to see what would happen.

  Chad turned to peer at Roger. “So, aren’t you going? Surely you must think I’m an ass, too?”

  Roger set down his guitar, contemplating. “I think you’ve been acting like an ass, yes. What the hell’s gotten into you?” Chad ignored him and took off his guitar, moving to put it in its stand. “You’ve been on a slow burn since…St. Louis.” A sudden look of recognition crossed his face. “Since Beth.” Chad’s eyes flitted to him, but he said nothing. “That’s it, isn’t it?” He saw his words were hitting the mark, and decided to try another tactic. “You slept with her didn’t you? What? Was she that good?”

  “Shut up, Roger.” Chad moved closer, his jaw clenched.

  “A little hot mama like her must have been a good screw, huh, Chad?”

  “Shut up!” He stepped up and pushed his friend, anger written in blazing lines across his face, but Roger didn’t back down.

  “So where did you do her? In some seedy hotel room, or maybe in the dressing room? Or maybe you didn’t take a lot of time with it, just gave her a little poke backstage—”

  Chad launched himself at Roger, taking him into a stool and a cymbal stand. David came running from backstage.

  “CHAD, STOP!”

  It took all David had in him to pull his bigger brother off Roger after the three scrambled around on the floor for a little while. Finally, Chad got up, shook David off, and turned around, marching away and standing with his back to them.

  Roger got up wiping blood from his mouth onto the back of a hand, but wearing a huge grin. “You love her, don’t you? The impenetrable Chad Evans fell in love. And let me guess, you haven’t talked to her since, have you? HAVE YOU?”

  “I don’t have her number,” he mumbled.

  Roger moved forward and clapped a hand on his shoulder. “Well, guess what, buddy? There’s this new thing called the Internet. I could probably get you her number and find out what she ate for dinner last night. Let’s go back to the bus.”

  “Nah, man. I don’t know if she even wants to talk to me.”

  “Now, that’s the ten-million-dollar question, isn’t it? But there’s only one way to find out the answer. Come on.” Roger left the stage, and David followed, throwing Chad a backward glance. The big man hadn’t moved. He stood studying a guitar pick, turning it over in his hand. David shook his head, and walked off.

  ***

  When Chad entered the bus, Roger sat at a table with his laptop open. Michelle stood behind him, leaning over the bassist to read what was on the screen. But when Chad saw her, she slid away. Keith sat on an L-shaped couch, his back in the corner, one leg bent, one leg stretched out, tapping a set of drumsticks together, not making eye contact, but obviously still peeved. David stood by the window appearing somewhat nervous.

  “What the hell is this?” he questioned. “A freaking intervention?”

  “What was the name of her hometown? Bloomburg or Blooming City...”

  “Huh? It was Bloomington, you moron.”

  “I’ll let that pass since you’ve already beaten the crap out of me once today.”

  “And you don’t want me to have to do it twice?”

  “Exactly.” Roger typed. “Indiana or Illinois?”

  Chad scanned the rest of the group again, all of whom were eyeing him now. “Illinois,” he replied slowly.

  “And what was her last name again?”

  “Donovan.”

  “That’s right, Donovan.” Roger paused. “There’s four Beth Donovans in Bloomington.”

  “Four?” He crossed to look at the screen. “In a little city like Bloomington?”

  Roger handed him the phone. “Start dialing.”

  He started punching in the first number. He turned around. Keith looked much happier now and swung his feet off the couch to lean in so he could listen better. The others were similarly posed. “A little privacy?” Chad growled. They all tried to look busy. He shook his head and turned back around. On the second number he reached her.

  ***

  When Beth picked up the receiver she was shocked to hear Chad’s voice.

  “Beth?”

  Her heart caught in her throat. She thought it would be a friend or neighbor wishing her a happy New Year. The sound of his deep, gravelly voice filled her. She hadn’t been able to play any of his music after leaving St. Louis. She shut her eyes, struggling to find her voice. She had moved on, she had. And now, just the sound of his voice, and she was right back to that night on the riverboat.

  “Beth? Are you there?”

  “Chad,” she managed to get out.

  She recognized his voice; that was a good sign, Chad thought.

  “How are you?” she asked, her voice small.

  He sighed, rubbing his eyes with his long fingers, the silver rings gleaming in the sunlight coming in through the windows. “I’ve been better.” Someone sniggered and Chad turned around to give them all a menacing look. “How are you?”

  “The same,” she admitted.

  Chad turned away from Roger’s prying eyes, leaning his clenched fist on the window. “I want to come to see you. No, I need to come see you,” he blurted out.

  There was a long silence. “Oh, God, Chad,” her words came in torrents, as if the floodgate of her heart was shattered. “I’ve been so miserable. I can’t stop thinking about—”

  “I know,” he stated simply.

  “When can you get away?”

  “I’m in Alberta now. We’ve got a couple of days of travel ahead of us, but…let’s see, we’ve got a show in Milwaukee Thursday night, one in Chicago Friday. I’ve got to sing the national anthem at the Black Hawks’ game Saturday afternoon. Then, I’m off until Monday. I could come down on Saturday, after the anthem.”

  “I don’t want to wait that long. Could you leave tickets for me for Friday night’s show?”

  “They’ve been waiting at will call in every city since St. Louis, just in case,” he admitted.

  “Great! Oh…wait!” She moaned.

  “What?”

  “I really can’t. Ugh! I forgot that Cassie has a tournament game Friday! And then her friend, Jessica, is coming home with her after the game to spend the weekend with us. Her parents are going to Galena for their anniversary. I promised them I’d take care of her. I can’t break that promise and I can’t leave two sixteen-year-olds home alone.”

  Chad thought fast. “Come Saturday then. Bring the girls. I’ll get rooms for all of you. We can spend the rest of the weekend together.” He held his breath.

  “I don’t know. I’d have to ask Jessica’s parents, and I’m not sure that they’d approve of her spending the weekend with a rock star.”

  “I’m not just a rock star,” he said desperately. “I’m a guy, Chad Evans.”

  “It’s not just that. They don’t know you—”

  “Come on, Beth! Say you’ll at least ask.”

  “Ask them if it would be okay if I took their daughter, and my daughter, on a date?”

  He sighed. “Ah, when you say it like that, it sounds bad.”

  “That’s what it is, isn’t it?” she insisted.

  “Yes, but…we’ll have separate rooms.”

  She hesitated. “We’d have to behave ourselves.”

  Chad saw a glimmer of light. “I can do that!”

  “
I’m not sure I can,” she murmured.

  He shifted, parts of his body becoming awake. “I want to see you.”

  Her voice brightened. “I’ll ask.”

  “Good!” He sighed. “So maybe I’ll see you in just a few days then. Call me tomorrow, if you can.”

  “I will.” She paused. “I’m really glad you called.”

  He smiled. “Me, too.”

  He held on to the receiver for several seconds after she hung up. He turned to his friends with a huge grin on his face. “She’s going to try to come to Chicago.”

  They all whooped and offered various phrases expressing their relief.

  “Thank God!”

  “Maybe now there’ll be some scotch left for the rest of us.”

  “Yeah, and we can get through a set without Chad ‘accidentally’ breaking something.”

  “Ahh, shuddup,” he returned with a smile, but he knew, in their own twisted way, they were all happy for him.

  CHAPTER NINE

  As Beth pulled into the circular drive her jaw dropped. The girls in the backseat gasped.

  “What is this place?” Jessica whispered in awe.

  She glanced at the paper beside her, double-checking to make sure they were in the right place. “The St. Ives-Augusta, I guess.”

  “Holy shit!”

  Beth frowned, though still staring out the window. “Cassandra Marie! Watch the language, please.”

  Jessica giggled.

  “Sorry,” Cassie mumbled.

  In the rearview mirror, she caught her daughter elbowing Jess. They were both unbuckled now and breathing down her neck to get a look out the front.

  She drove her late-model sedan slowly to better take in the sight, hunching over the steering wheel to look up through the windshield at the massive building that arced with the sweep of the drive. A wide, circular stone staircase curved up on either side of a long terrace in front of the brick structure. It was impressive.

  “Holy shit!” she mouthed, careful to not let the girls catch her, eyes wide as she took in the architecture. She suddenly became aware of a man in a long wool coat at the edge of the roadway. She jerked and stopped abruptly for fear of hitting him. Where had he come from?

  “Oh, man!” She glanced over at the seat beside her where a half-eaten bag of popcorn sat.

  “What, Mom?”

  “Valet parking!” Beth shoved the popcorn bag at Cassie. “Hide this!”

  Cassie and Jessica passed it around like a hot potato for a minute, squealing in alarm and laughing at the same time. They fumbled the bag and spilled some kernels before they hurriedly stowed it under a seat.

  Beth thrust the sheet of directions in the mini-trashcan between the front seats, keeping her eyes on the attendant as he passed in front of the car. At the last minute, she spotted a soda can in the cup holder and launched it over the seat. Cassie, though surprised, caught it, dropping the can to the floor and kicking it under the seat in front of her in one smooth move. Beth scrambled to grab mittens and a scarf off the passenger seat just as the man reached her door, and attempted to open it for her.

  “Oh!” She looked up at him with a smile while searching the door handle for the unlock button. “Sorry,” she said through the glass. Her fingers finally located the button and it popped up, startling her with its loudness. The attendant swept the door open, and she brushed at the flecks of popcorn on her black coat, straightening her shoulders and trying to appear somewhat sophisticated. “Hello!”

  The man tipped his hat with a smile, flashing brilliantly white teeth as he stood back for her to pass. Beth got out of the car. Hearing a shout, she glanced up. Chad was hustling down the staircase on the right, dressed only in a Blackhawks jersey and jeans, despite the threat of snow in the air and broadcasted warnings throughout most of Illinois. Her smile grew wider. He slipped on the slick stairs but grabbed the railing to right himself as he came around the corner toward her.

  Catching the move, the attendant warned, “Careful, sir.”

  Chad reached their side. “Uhh…yeah. Thanks, James,” he said under his breath, though smiling at Beth. “I was trying to play it cool in front of the ladies. Thanks for blowing my cover.”

  The attendant laughed.

  “Hey!” Chad said softly, bending down to kiss her cheek. “How was your trip?”

  “Good. Good.” Beth smiled, but then turned to watch as James reached inside of her car and removed the keys, which she had left in the ignition. He strode purposefully to the rear of the car as the girls tumbled out on opposite sides.

  “Hey, Cassie!”

  Cassie gave a short wave. “Hey, Chad.”

  He turned toward the passenger side of the car. “And you must be Jessica.” He extended his hand and she placed her colorful, mittened hand in his.

  “Nice to meet you, Mr. Evans.”

  He pumped it. “Hey now, it’s Chad, okay?”

  The teen smiled brightly. “Sure.”

  He started. “James, what are you doing?” He moved toward the trunk.

  The attendant answered, without looking up, as Chad came around the corner. “Getting the luggage, sir.”

  “I can handle the luggage.” He looked into the trunk, glanced at the three small bags on the ground, and then back into the trunk. “This is all?”

  “Yes,” Beth replied with a smile.

  He checked the bags again, and peered back into the trunk, as if confused.

  “We’re only here for one night,” she reminded him.

  “I know. It just seems like there should be more.” When Beth just stared, he added, “I mean…three women…”

  She frowned and placed her hands on hips.

  James bent in and said in a low voice, loud enough for all to hear, “If I were you, sir, I’d just pick up the luggage and go.”

  “Good idea!” Chad bent and slung two of the bags over one shoulder and extended the handle on the third to pull it behind him.

  “Sure you don’t need any help?”

  “I can handle it, James. Get lost! You’re not getting any more tips.”

  Beth laughed. Was he trying to impress her with his show of chivalry? Despite his words, she saw Chad slip a bill into the attendant’s hand before shutting the trunk. He moved forward, the two duffle bags hanging at his side bumping together and bouncing against his hip. He smiled brightly, his eyes on hers.

  He was halfway up the side of the car when James called out, “It would be easier to hold the lady’s hand, sir, if you were less encumbered.”

  He stopped, as if considering. The attendant swooped in, plucking one of the bags from his shoulder and grabbing the handle of the suitcase. Then, he gave Chad a little push in Beth’s direction.

  She grabbed his now free hand. Chad smiled. “Anyone ever tell you you’re brilliant, James?”

  “Yes, sir.” James handed the keys off to another attendant who had arrived on the scene and proceeded around the car. “Have you ladies ever been to the St. Ives-Augusta before?”

  “No. Does it show?” Cassie joked.

  Beth tuned out their conversation, slipping her hand out of Chad’s and through his arm so that she could draw closer. “Are you trying to impress me?”

  He kept looking ahead, but she saw the corner of his lip rise. “Depends.” He turned his head to look at her. “Is it working?”

  She laughed and gave his arm a squeeze, surprised by how good it felt to be with him again.

  “Hey, hey! How are ya, Gorgeous?” Roger called out when they entered the lobby. He got up from the couch, where he was sitting in front of a roaring fire with his arm around Michelle. Keith and Pete sat on the couch opposite, leaning forward as if they had just been engaged in a story.

  “Oh, did I tell you that they would be here, too?” Chad asked dryly.

  Roger took Beth by the shoulders, hip-checking Chad out of the way to give her a kiss on the cheek. “And, Cassie. How are ya, hon?”

  “Good. And how are you?”

>   “Pretty good. You know. Slumming it here at the St. Ives.”

  “Yeah.” Cassie laughed.

  Roger turned to Jessica. “And who is this lovely, young lady?”

  Jessica blushed.

  “This is my friend, Jessica Matthews.”

  He shook her hand gallantly. “Nice to meet you, Jessica.” He held his arms out wide. “Welcome.”

  “Are you done?” Chad asked.

  He nodded. “Pretty much.”

  “I’m going to get these guys settled in. If that’s all right with you?”

  “Fine,” Roger said with largess, returning to the group on the couches. They waved and said hello, but didn’t get up.

  “He’s such a ham,” Chad mumbled, rolling his eyes.

  They followed James down a long carpeted hallway to the end where a large window revealed that the dreaded snow had begun to fall.

  “It’s started,” James commented before turning to open the door. Everyone stood and watched silently as the flakes floated down.

  The doors to the room were set at an angle to the hall. There were paned glass French doors with shades on the other side, which were closed. James unlocked them and let them fall open into the room, standing back so that the others could enter. Beth and Chad walked in with the girls on their tails.

  “Wow!” Cassie exclaimed.

  “Yeah, it’s pretty nice,” Chad conceded.

  A wide, high-ceilinged room spread out before them. To the right, three large plush couches formed a u-shaped conversation area in front of a massive fireplace. To the left, light shone in through French doors and the semicircular windows above them. The off-white blinds on the doors seemed to let the light in, while still blocking intruding eyes from the terrace beyond. A large dining table dominated that side of the room, a state-of-the-art, full-sized kitchen to the left of it. Chad gestured to a hallway off the living room.

  “The bedrooms are down there. You girls can have the two on the end or share one, if you’d prefer.”

  “First dibs!” Cassie called and the two tore off in that direction.

  As their laughter faded, it became oddly quiet. Chad cleared his throat. “And your room is also this way.”