Clara smiled. “You’re very thoughtful.”
“Well, they have a dual purpose. And now that you’re going to be performing with me this changes things.”
Warner stepped away from her and ran his hand over his hair as if he’d forgotten that his longer locks were gone. He turned back to her.
“I’ve had a lot of things going on since last night. I got an offer to do a reality TV show.”
Clara bit down on the inside of her cheek as she thought about that. Why hadn’t he said anything? Then she remembered she’d had him undressed and in bed before he could have. But that was really a big offer.
“What kind of show?”
“They’ll follow song writers and musicians trying to make it.”
“It would give you exposure.”
“It’ll give Patty something to shoot down.”
“And the world will actually see she’s wrong.”
He nodded. “Something else came to mind last night too and I wasn’t ready for it.”
Clara watched him collect his thoughts. Suddenly she was afraid she didn’t fit into this new plan of his.
He paced the floor and then looked up at her. “I’m not a family man. Not that I don’t want to be. I just don’t know how to be.”
“Okay,” she drawled out, confused as to what he was trying to tell her.
“Your family has really embraced me the past few weeks—all of them.”
“That’s what Kellers do.” She put her hands on her hips. “Warner, what are you trying to say?”
He scratched the back of his head. “I never thought I’d be the kind of man to get married or settle down. I’d never thought about having kids or owning a house.”
Clara could feel the sting of tears starting in her eyes. He was going to dump her. It was coming and she was going to blow when he finally delivered the last words of this little speech he was working up to.
“Spill it, Warner.” Her voice was edgy. “Just get it over with, would you? I have things to do.”
He nodded with his eyes wide. He stepped toward her and took her hands in his. She noticed immediately that his hands shook. “The roses are because I don’t have anything else to offer you.”
Clara swallowed hard. Here it comes, she thought.
“Didn’t know I’d be doing this when I saw you at that stop light. But, Clara, will you marry me? And I mean, will you marry me soon? Let’s elope next week. Do the shows with me. Be my partner. I don’t have anything to support you. I don’t even have a ring. That’s what the flowers are for. I can’t…”
She’d lost track of all the other things he was babbling about. “Whoa!” She sucked in a breath. “Warner, I was ready for you to tell me you were leaving.”
He took a step back. “Why would I leave?”
“You’re out of sorts.”
He laughed. “All the damn time. But I love you.”
Clara’s head was spinning and then she let out a chuckle. “Let’s back up. You bought me the roses so you could ask me to marry you?”
Warner nodded quickly. “Yeah. I realized that was what I wanted more than anything when I was talking to your aunt last night.”
Clara understood it now. “And you want to elope?”
He nodded again. “I don’t want to wait. And your aunt made it clear that the Kellers, when they find the right person they snatch them up. Well, maybe the Wrights should do that too. I mean if only my family would have gone after what they wanted maybe my life would have been a little different.”
She wrapped her arms around his neck again. “Warner, you did go after everything you wanted. Look at all you’ve done on your own. The jobs, the college degrees, the music. I do think you’re a Keller at heart.”
“That’s a pretty big statement.”
“And it’s true.”
Warner wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her to him. “Okay, but you haven’t answered me.”
Clara’s stomach was filled with butterflies as she looked into Warner’s eyes. She’d never been nervous, but he gave her this new buzz. “I’ll be your partner. Whatever it takes to get you sold. Do the show, Warner. Let them show the world who you are.” She sucked in a breath. “Now, I’ll let you know what I think about eloping, that’s going to take some thought. But, I will tell you, I would love to be your wife.”
His eyes opened wide. “Really? You’d want to marry me?”
“You asked me to didn’t you?”
“Yeah, I did. I just didn’t think you’d want to.”
“Are you backing down?”
Warner shook his head. “No. No. I want this more than anything. I’ve just never had anyone want me back in return.”
Clara pressed her lips to his. “I’m never letting you go. So you’d better decide this is what you want forever.”
He let out a breath. “It’s what I want.”
“Good answer.” She kissed him again. “I’ll tell you what. We see how it goes tonight and then maybe we can plan a trip to Vegas next weekend.”
“Really? You’ll marry me that quick?”
Clara shrugged. “I’ve never been one for big flashy events like overdone weddings. But maybe next month or so we can have a big reception.”
“I’d like that.”
Clara rested her head against Warner’s chest where she could feel his heart race against her cheek. “So would I.”
Chapter Twelve
There wasn’t much time for celebrating their pending nuptials. They had a show to get ready for in a few hours and they needed to practice.
Warner was going to have to carry most of the show himself, but that was okay by Clara. This was his music, his opportunity, and his dream. She would be the woman behind the man. There always was one—the one who kept it all together, she amused herself with the thought.
When Warner was in work mode—he was in work mode. There was almost a little demon that appeared when he talked. She’d seen the kind before. The music made them mad with a passion and it was nearly relayed in anger. There’d be no reason to get upset when he wanted to start a song over and over. She knew once the night was over he’d simmer and be back to normal.
Once they’d run through the short play list, they only had twenty minutes to perform, then they got ready. Clara was more than impressed with Warner’s choice of clothes he’d purchased.
“I very much like how your ass looks in those jeans,” she said leaning up against the doorjamb.
“I hate shopping. Did I mention that?”
“You mentioned it.”
He finally looked up at her and his jaw dropped. “Oh, Lord, you look good.”
“You think so? Too casual?”
He shook his head. “No. Just right.”
She gave him a wink and turned to walk back into the bathroom.
“Hey,” he called from the other room. “Your ass looks good in your jeans too.”
She only smiled and kept moving toward the vanity.
The curl in her hair probably wouldn’t last under the lights, but she’d sprayed it stiff. Her eye makeup was heavy, but she liked the smoky look to them. The flowy cotton shirt was the same one she’d worn when she and Randy had performed at The Stage. She liked it best. Usually she’d wear her boots with the ensemble, but she was really wanting to wear a pair of heels tonight. She’d put the boots in the Jeep just in case she changed her mind.
Randy hadn’t told her who was going to be there to listen to them. But she did wonder if Jeremy Smith had anything to do with the booking date.
She had told him to accept the TV show proposal, but she wondered how much that would just feed Patricia Little’s need to tear Warner down.
She wasn’t going to think about it. First she needed to get through the night. And then she needed to decide if she was going to tell her family that she was running away to get married, or if she should save that news for later.
Sunday night and the bar was packed. Warner had to wonder if the peo
ple of Nashville had a life.
Randy was already there and ready to back him up, but he hadn’t looked surprised when he saw Clara and gave her a big hug. Perhaps Warner had been the last one to know she’d be performing with him.
All the better, he decided. That way he hadn’t had too much time to piss her off by practicing over and over before the show.
“You ready, Warner?” Randy placed his hand on his shoulder.
“I suppose.”
“I heard you already met Jeremy Smith.”
“I met him.”
Randy flicked the guitar pick in his hand with his thumb. “You gonna do it? The show?”
“Clara thinks I should.”
“Wouldn’t hurt, that’s for sure.”
It would when Patricia Little got word of it.
Randy walked away and Clara moved in closer to him, her guitar already hanging in front of her.
“Ready?”
It would be a lie if he told her yes. “I will be.”
“Jeremy Smith is here.”
Randy looked out and saw him sitting at a table, there were others with him, their backs were turned to the stage. Knowing it was Jeremy Smith that was there to hear him put him at ease. He’d already met the guy and decided to work with him. Suddenly the set before him didn’t seem as daunting.
Though, he had noticed the entire table of Kellers waving up at him. He gave them a short wave back and moved out of sight of the audience.
He’d better not slip up and say anything about running away with his now fiancée. He’d better not even call her his fiancée.
The performer on stage ahead of them finished his set and the emcee for the night took the mic. A strange calm took over Warner’s body when he looked at Clara all gussied up and looking like a star. She was going to be his wife in a matter of days. That would be more wild than any performance he could ever give. The man in the audience wanted to have him on his TV show. That too was going to be quite an experience. His nerves kicked up when he looked out and saw Carlos looking up at him with his dark, stern eyes. The night had been fine until then. But Madeline reached over and had touched Carlos’s shoulder and he’d softened just as she’d spoken to him. That was what Warner wanted now, that kind of connection, and he had that with Clara.
“Okay, here we go,” Clara turned to him and said.
“I love you.”
“I love you too. Now let’s knock ‘em dead.”
Twenty minutes, that’s all they had to sell their goods and prove to this specific crowd that Warner Wright was worth showing off to the world. Randy had conveniently made himself nearly unnoticeable, but Clara shined like the star Warner thought she was.
They had killed it on Love Songs and his song Give It Up, which Clara had noted was his jaded song. When they started their finale with the song he’d written on the back of his eviction notice the crowd was on their feet.
It was only then that he noticed the woman at the table with Jeremy Smith was the platinum recording artist Savannah. A talent so big and a star so bright she only needed one name, just like Madonna or Cher.
Clara must not have noticed because her voice was solid and her chords were strong.
When he saw Clara’s father smiling and dancing with his wife, Warner knew they had a hit. The right person just had to hear it.
As they finished with the big finale he looked into Clara’s eyes. The curls she’d worried about had fallen limp and her hair framed her face. Her dark eyes were seductive and burning right there in front of God and the world—and they were meant for him.
They were a team and damn it felt good.
When the music stopped and the crowd before them was still on their feet and hollering their names he pulled Clara to him, as close as they could get with their instruments between them, and planted a kiss on her lips.
Thank goodness she’d been driving down the street singing at the top of her lungs. He was glad he wasn’t going to miss a moment with her.
They moved back stage and the electricity between the three of them was incredible.
“Did you see her?” Randy had a hand on each of their shoulders. “Did you see who was with Jeremy Smith?”
“Savannah!” Carla shouted as she jumped up and down. “Oh, Warner, when she heard Kick em’ Where it Counts did you see her eyes light up? To think you just threw that together the other day and she wants it. You could see it. She wants it!” She was jumping up and down and all Warner could do was smile.
“Did anyone notice she left the building?” Warner said calmly as the other two looked around the curtain.
“Doesn’t mean anything.” Clara shrugged. “Her people will call your people.”
“I don’t have people.”
“You have Jeremy Smith and he’s still out there waiting for you. So get your guitar stored and get out there and talk to the man.”
Warner nodded. He held his hand out to Randy. “Thanks for supporting me.”
“Hey, man, you have a great sound.”
That meant a lot coming from a man who was on his way to something big. Warner couldn’t wait to be that man too.
Clara went immediately to her family. Warner gave them a wave and walked over to Jeremy Smith. He knew Clara would fill them in and they’d forgive him for being rude and not saying hello.
When Jeremy saw him approach the table he stood and held out his hand to him.
“Warner, that was great. You sounded amazing.”
“Thank you, sir. I appreciate that.”
“Please, have a seat. Can I offer you a drink? Jack and Coke?”
Warner smiled pleasantly. “Just a Coke would be fine.”
Jeremy nodded and waved down a waitress to order drinks and then turned back to Warner.
“Have you given any thought to my proposal from yesterday? I have one space left and it’s all yours.”
Warner could feel his palms grow damp as his heart rate kicked up. “I have been thinking about it. And Clara and I were talking—and she thinks it would be a great opportunity for me to showcase my talents.”
“She’s very smart. That’s exactly what we want to do. I’ve seen you. I know a few artists that are making it big that don’t have as good a sound as you. And your writing style is fantastic.”
“Thank you.”
Jeremy leaned in over the table. “You did see who was here didn’t you?”
“I thought I saw Savannah.”
“You sure did. She’s looking for talent to open for her on tour. She had good things to say.”
That heat burned through his core again. His day was coming. He could feel it! Maybe when the ride was over he could teach again and no one would think twice of it.
He let out a breath. Where had that come from?
Well, no matter. This was the here and now. This was the life of a man who was going to elope with the woman of his dreams, be on a new TV show, and he was taking the comment as a sign that he’d be touring with Savannah. Now he just had to turn his body around and head to the Keller’s table and look Carlos Keller in the eye.
Hard times were ahead.
When Jeremy Smith finished his drink he shook Warner’s hand again and said he’d be in touch in a few days. He strode out of the bar as if he owned the whole town and Warner turned and walked toward the Keller’s table.
Darcy jumped out of her chair and ran toward him throwing her arms around his neck. He had no choice but to grab hold and let her hug him.
“Oh-my-God! You were amazing. Just amazing. And you wrote all those songs. Oh-my-God!”
He laughed as he set her back on her feet and she smiled up at him.
“Thank you. I’m glad you enjoyed the set,” Warner said as Ed walked up and shook his hand.
“Enjoyed it? She was screaming like you were Dierks Bently or something.”
“That’s quite an honor to be compared.”
Darcy smacked Ed on the arm. “You were wonderful. And we saw who was here. Isn’t that
exciting?”
“Very exciting.” Warner tried to keep a calm in his voice.
It was then he noticed Carlos stand and move toward him. His mouth went dry.
Carlos held his hand out and shook Warner’s. “That was a fine show you put on.”
“Thank you, sir. I couldn’t do it without Clara and Randy.”
Carlos nodded. “Oh, I think you could.” He placed his hand on Warner’s shoulder turning him slightly. “How about we step outside and get some air?”
He started for the door and Warner was sure he could feel his knees grow weaker. He turned to look at Clara, but she was deep in conversation with her mother.
Carlos was outside and already leaned up against the building when Warner made it through the crowd by the bar.
“Starting to get colder,” Carlos said looking up at the sky.
“Sure is.”
Carlos had his feet crossed at his ankles and his thumbs tucked into the front pockets of his jeans.
Warner stood there in the awkward silence and prayed for mercy.
“This kinda takes Clara out of her normal line of performing.”
“Yes, sir, it does. She was doing me a great favor by being here tonight.”
He nodded. “Must have meant a great deal to her to give up her last night on stage.”
“I never asked her to do that, sir. She said it was planned and she’d be here. I’d never ask her to give up anything for me.”
Carlos stood up straight, his thumbs still tucked into his pockets. “She’s a smart woman.”
“Yes, sir, she is.”
“She wouldn’t fall into the wrong crowd or follow something she didn’t have a passion for.”
“I agree.”
“She seems to have fallen for you and that scares me to death.”
The pain in Warner’s chest felt as if Carlos had shoved a knife into his heart.
“Sir, I don’t mean her…”
Carlos held his hand up. “I’m her father. It’s supposed to scare me to death.” He rested his hand on Warner’s shoulder. “Clara is thirty years old. She’s old enough to make her own decisions.”
Love Songs Page 11