by Leah Braemel
Gabe grinned. “Face it, Ben, he blew you away. Your brother can sing. Nice hat, by the way. It’s just like Ed’s.”
“Yeah, it’s almost exactly the same,” Ben agreed. “Even the same brand.”
Shit. They’d noticed. He snatched it back from Ben who was examining the inside. “Yeah. It’s a prop. That’s all.”
Gabe bumped his shoulder. “Yeah, you’re just using it to hide your receding hairline.”
“Hey, I got more hair than you.”
“You’ve got more hair than a lot of the women here. Next thing we know you’ll be getting extensions and perms.”
“Fuck you, Larson.” A lightness descended over him and the laughter welling inside bubbled over. Wow. Things really were getting back to normal. Even though there was still a stiffness between them it wasn’t as bad as it had been just a couple weeks ago. “Thanks for coming tonight. It means a lot.”
Gabe touched the neck of his beer bottle to his temple in a mock salute. “Hey, not every day I get to say I know the lead singer personally.”
“Or that he’s my little brother,” Ben added. He moved closer, and lowered his voice. “Ma decided not to come. She didn’t figure she’d be welcome.”
Figured Ben would shine the spotlight on the big ass elephant sitting on his chest. “Yeah, well, it’s probably for the best. Until she’s ready to tell me who my real father is, I’m not ready to talk to her.”
“Jake,” Ben said quietly, or as quietly as he could over the din of the crowd, “did you ever figure she may not be able to tell you who your real father is because she may not know who he is?”
Shit. Shit fuck damn motherfucker.
“Come on, I know it’s hard to think of Ma as getting busy with some other guy...” Ben grimaced, “...but she was twenty years old. She may have just picked some guy up in a bar. God knows we’ve done the let’s-not-exchange-names deal a few times ourselves. I’m not saying she was right to cheat on Pop, but it was twenty-eight years ago. You can’t hold a grudge the rest of your life.”
“Says who?” He chugged back half his beer. Guess Paige would be doing the driving home tonight.
Ben edged closer. “Don’t do this. Don’t cut Ma off like this. Not for one mistake.”
“One mistake? Not only did she cheat on...Ed...but she lied to him about it. She’s lied to me—and you too—about it my whole fucking life.”
“She’s our mother. She made your meals and wiped your shitty butt, cleaned up your puke, worried about you, and put up with all that shit you and Gabe pulled when you were a teen. She deserves some respect.”
While he knew Ben was right, he shook his head. “I can’t. Not right now. Maybe one day, but I can’t right now.” Another reason why going on tour might be a blessing, even if it did take him away from Paige. Distance might give him a better perspective.
A tense silence fell between them as Jake finished his beer and held up a finger to a passing waitress for another. Luckily enough the headlining act was so loud, talking would have been futile anyway.
Once the band switched to a quieter slow number, Gabe cleared his throat. “So do we get a copy of your new single for free or are you gonna make us buy it?”
“What? You can’t spare ninety nine cents, rich boy?” Ben drawled.
“It’s a buck twenty nine these days,” Jake reminded him. Okay, this was good. As long as they stayed on a safe topic.
Gabe grabbed a handful of peanuts from a bowl on the bar. “Hey, did you get it written in your contract that they have to serve you only red M&Ms or something stupid like that?”
“Nah.” Yeah, things with Gabe were going to be okay. “The whole thing is surreal, you know?”
“I’ve always said you’re a good singer. I’m not surprised.”
“Surprised the hell out of me.”
“Okay, yeah, it surprised me too.”
“Fuck you.” But he said it with a smile. God, he’d missed this. This semi-peace inside him, not that it was perfect, but it was better than it had been. Maybe things were going to be all right finally. He still didn’t know who he was, but he didn’t feel like there was a train barreling down the tracks about to run him over anymore.
“Oh, I don’t know if you heard Ruben when he came over, but here’s my tour schedule.” Jake handed Gabe his itinerary. Gabe scanned it and handed it to Ben. “I’m not going to be able to help as much as I thought. Not until December, anyway.”
The crease in Ben’s forehead deepened for a second, then disappeared as if someone had wiped a cloth over it. “We’re going to have to hire someone to fill in, I guess. Don’t worry, bro. We’ll manage.”
Shit, Ben was hiding his concern. Maybe things with the finances were worse than he thought, though Paige would have told him, wouldn’t she? “We’re scheduled to go in to Fort Worth on Tuesday to sign the contract with the record label. Say the word and I won’t sign it.” Though considering their tour manager had made the arrangements for the tour, the tour would probably be canceled as well. Which left Cam and the other guys hanging in the wind.
“And I said we’d manage.” Ben slapped the itinerary against Jake’s chest. “I will not be held responsible for you giving up your shot at the brass ring. Go on tour. See how things go and then we’ll talk about what we do if you want to tour long term from there.” He slipped his hand in Allie’s. “I see you standing there, eyeing the dance floor. Let’s get this over with.”
Allie snorted. “Gee, could you get any more romantic, cowboy?” But she led him through the crowds and moments later the two of them swayed to the music as if no one else existed.
Gabe snorted. “Man, he’s got it bad for her.”
“Yup.”
“Lucky fuck.”
“Yup.” For the first time in his life, he almost understood how Ben felt. He let his gaze wander to Paige, who was talking with Roy. Yeah, he was lucky when he’d connected with her. Strange how fate worked sometimes. When he’d sat at her booth, he figured she’d scare off the hopeful teens behind her. It had worked, but he’d had no idea he’d sealed his destiny that night. If he was lucky.
“You’re lookin’ at her just like Ben looks at Allie. Are you two getting serious?”
He tried to picture himself with someone else. One of the tight-jeaned girls who had been right down front, yelling and cheering at him. Those who had jostled him as he’d come down off the stage and pressed their boobs against him as they begged for his autograph. Nope. None of them did anything for him. Paige was the only one who rocked his world. The only face that sprang to mind. Weird that he’d made such a commitment so quickly. First time for him. Yet it felt so right. “Yeah. I guess I am.”
Gabe pursed his lips. “Ben used to say that a lot of the women he dated saw him as dollar signs because he’s a Grady. I hope she’s with you for the right reasons.”
“I didn’t have a music contract when I met her, and she didn’t know I was associated with the ranch at first either. She thought I was JT Larson, remember? So yeah, I think we’re good.”
“Cool. I’m glad for you.”
And he was, Jake realized. Warmth spread through his chest. While Ben had told him he was proud, hearing confirmation from Gabe? Priceless. And yet there was something missing. He held out his hand. “Hey, darlin’, what are you doing way over there all by your lonesome when there’s a cowboy over here wanting to give you some sugar?”
A soft smile on her face, Paige strode confidently to him, and cinched her arms around his waist. Yeah, as long as he had her at his side, and Ben and Gabe at his back, life would be okay.
Now if he could only figure out who he was.
Chapter Sixteen
The next day, Paige sat on the couch beside Jake, her feet curled beneath her. The rest of the band lounged in the other chairs, D
rew channel surfing on the flat screen while Hunter played his guitar. Cam and Jake discussed the order of their songs for their upcoming concerts.
Paige flipped through the Graduates’ travel schedule. A weekend singing at a single venue in Oklahoma City, a half dozen venues in Virginia over six days—sometimes playing two towns in one day, an outdoor weekend concert in the Poconos, a concert in Hershey Pennsylvania, Greensboro, North Carolina, Louisiana, and Indianapolis. Two days in Nashville at Southern Gents’ studios to record a demo was followed by concerts in Louisville, Lexington, a conference in Columbus, Ohio, a half dozen—make that seven—venues in six days scattered across Tennessee, South Carolina, Alabama, Georgia, Atlanta and Savannah, then ending in Florida.
In addition to singing they had stops at radio stations, television stations, interviews with newspapers...talk about exhausting. “Holy moly, whoever designed this tour needs to be fired. You’re backtracking all over the place.”
“Roy slotted us into some holes he had in his schedule. Others were places he got specifically for us.” Jake grabbed a water bottle from the fridge, passed it to Paige then grabbed another for himself. “One day, when we’re with a bigger name headliner, or if we become a big name ourselves, we may have more say, but not yet.”
“He should be thinking only about you, not the holes in his schedule.” She pointed to one of the stops. “See this place? It’s a jazz bar. They’re not going to want to hear country.” She slid her finger down to another. “This one is going to take you ten hours on the road—you guys are going to arrive exhausted.”
Then again, she could be talking out the back of her hat. What did she know about the music industry? She added a note to research tours to her list.
“I don’t know how we’re going to afford it.” Hunter ran a hand through his hair. “I always thought if a band had a contract, the label would pay for everything but look at everything they’re charging us for—they’re going to take every cent out of our royalties.”
“Dude...” Cam rolled his eyes, “...I told you right from the beginning, that’s how the industry works.”
She tapped the note. “What does this ‘sheets’ notation mean? There’s a hotel listed beside it on some of the bookings but not others. Does that mean you’re playing in the hotel or staying in it?”
Jake peered over her shoulder. “That means they’ve booked a hotel room for us that night. I guess the other nights we’re on our own.”
He’d showered right before the guys arrived—Paige inhaled his fresh scent of soap she’d forever associate with Jake. Considering his schedule, she wouldn’t be getting much of a chance to be with him for the next two months. Would he end things with her, telling her that it was for her own good? Her chest burned at the thought of him sleeping with some groupie he’d only just met.
“Some of the hotels you’re booked into are higher class hotels. You might want to ask Roy if you can switch to something cheaper, save yourself some money.” She tapped the schedule with her pen. “Or if anyone has access to a house trailer, and you don’t mind using your truck, Jake, you could use it instead of having to pay for hotels every night. You’d have to find somewhere to park it, but most big box stores don’t mind.” She outlined other ways they could save money, keeping groceries in the trailer, making their own meals instead of buying them. “You’ll have to factor in the extra gas it’ll take to pull a trailer but that won’t be as much as the cost of a hotel room.” She’d need to factor in any costs if their vehicle broke down too.
“The ranch has an old trailer from when Ben and I were in the 4H club and went to a lot of fairs. I can ask Ben if we can use it. It’s not huge, but it’ll fit the four of us. And it’s got a fridge and sink unit, and even a shower if we stop somewhere with a water hookup.”
She glanced up, surprised at Jake’s offer. She figured he’d be too proud to ask Ben for anything.
“Dude, if it means saving us money, do it,” Cam said.
“Okay. Just be warned, it’s not going to be as comfortable as a hotel room.”
One problem down, six hundred and fifty three still to go. “I’ve emailed Roy’s assistant about getting more T-shirts made. And I’m planning on ordering ball caps too. You should also make up posters,” she continued. “Flyers, maybe with blank spots where you write in where you’re playing that night so you can use them at each stop. Hand them out wherever you park, post them in stores, restaurants or gas stations in the area. That type of thing.”
“Damn, these are good ideas, Paige.” Cam scribbled down notes as she spoke. “If things don’t work out with Roy, I vote we hire you as our next tour manager.”
As the afternoon wore on, they discussed their route again, and what they’d need to bring, the lists growing longer. Then they turned to their play list, debating what songs to include and which to drop. Jake handed out music to a few new songs he’d written. Drew left first, saying he had to head to work, Hunter went with him. Cam hung around another hour before he too decided they’d planned enough.
Once they were alone, Paige gathered all her notes and assembled them into order. “I’ll put these all together on the computer. Maybe save them on the cloud? That way you can check with your phone instead of having to worry about keeping track of them on paper.”
“You were great today. You came up with some fantastic suggestions.” He pulled her onto his lap. “I wish I could ask you to go with me.”
She’d spent the last few nights staring at the ceiling, trying to figure out how she could go with him, too, but there were too many obstacles. Her job. Jake figuring they’d end up sleeping in their truck a lot of nights, which would be awkward enough with four people, let alone adding her to the mix. A sigh escaped her. “I wish I could come, but I can’t just quit my job.” Not until she had a plan for her own business. If it was viable. “Besides, I need to be here for the audit.” She shifted, pressing herself against his cock. “I’m going to miss you.”
“I’m going to miss you too. Every motorcyclist will remind me of you. Every leather coat or heavy boots, I’ll see you.” He nuzzled her neck. “And every time I use that app you loaded on my phone to keep track of my expenses I’ll think of you, and I promise I’ll keep the receipts in that plastic container so they won’t get wet or anything.”
“You make it sound like I’m anal about details.”
He pulled back and raised his eyebrows at her. “Are you trying to say you’re not? I’ve seen your sock drawer. And that neat little pile where you store your bills. You are anal about details. That’s part of what makes you such an enigma.”
“I’m an enigma?”
“Yeah. Here you are with all your piercings in your ears, and your nose stud. Nipple rings. Unusual hair. And let’s not forget all that leather. Yet you’re more organized than anyone I’ve ever met before. More cautious. Even if you do ride a motorcycle.”
Busted. “The piercings were from my rebellious stage my first semester of college. Mostly. Same with my tattoo. The hair. Why not do something different? It’s just hair. And if I’m going to ride a motorcycle, then it’s only natural I wear leather. Apart from the way it makes me look really kick ass.” Not to mention they all help keep people at bay.
“You don’t have to explain to me.” He stroked her face, his expression growing serious. “Would you look after Pebbles and Brewskie for me? Ma doesn’t like them in the house, but Pebbles—”
“—is used to sleeping on your bed.” Though at first she’d been startled by the beagle jumping on her feet in the middle of the night, Paige discovered Pebbles gave her a reason to snuggle closer to Jake. Like you needed a reason. Brewskie had been a different matter, but luckily the shepherd quickly learned to keep his butt on the floor instead of her pillow.
“Is this your way of making sure I’ll hang around?”
His breath tickled her ear.
“Will it work?”
“It might. My charge is I get to drive your Indian while you’re away.”
“My Indian?” His eyes widened. “I don’t know. I don’t trust her with just anyone.”
“Take it or leave it.” Though she might take it out on a single test drive, the challenge itself was whether Jake trusted her.
He separated the key from his chain and handed it to her as if he were handing her the keys to the crown jewels. “Treat her well.”
“I will.” She tucked the key in her pocket, then leaned over and kissed him. By the time she pulled back, they were both breathless. She traced his lower lip with her thumb. “Of course, if you tick me off, I might not give them back to you.”
“The bike or the dogs?”
“Both. I think Pebbles has grown particularly fond of me.” The feeling was mutual. She’d grown to love how Pebbles thumped down at her feet when she worked at the desk, and followed her around like a shadow. Face it, you’re a sucker for her big soulful eyes.
“I think Pebbles is more fond of the leftovers you feed her.” He rested his forehead on hers. “I’m going to miss you.”
She’d miss him too. She swallowed down the tears threatening to spill. “You look after yourself out there. If you get tired just pull over. Let someone else drive, and if they’re just as tired, just stop for the night. Find somewhere to park. All right?”
He thumbed her jaw. “You’re worried about me.”
“Of course I am.”
His smug grin reappeared. “You care about me.”
“I do.” Oh, wow, was she about to admit this? Could she afford to let him leave without knowing how she felt? Forcing herself to meet his gaze, she took a deep breath and jumped. “I think it’s gone further than just caring about you, Jake.”
He arched an eyebrow. “Are you about to use the L word?”