Cameron commanded his feet to move and let another man succumb to her alluring gaze. Because giving in to what his body wanted right now would be asking for trouble. And he’d learned the hard way that women like the honey-dipped beauty standing less than ten feet away tend to be trouble with all capital letters.
Trouble that he couldn’t afford. Especially since he’d been asked to oversee the score for a major motion picture, thanks to his cousin. So, the pressure to assemble the RSE roster was amplified by one thousand percent. He had a label to build. Artists to sign. Music to record.
Cameron tipped his head, and her ruby red lips parted into a smile showing beautiful white teeth. His chest felt tight. Was the universe serious right now?
Keep your eyes on the prize. He pushed open the heavy glass door and found himself in the open courtyard.
Cameron had one “real” relationship, and it managed to annihilate his heart with a sledgehammer. Then he witnessed Marques’ wedding and his love for his wife, Brione. Something inside Cameron shifted. And he no longer wanted to be known as Playboy Carter.
That reality and Cameron’s nonstop schedule had him spending his nights alone. Not due to the lack of offerings. However, in his position, gorgeous women were the norm. Cameron attended the “it” parties, red carpet premiers, exclusive events. They all wanted to be wined and dined and pampered. They all wanted to be seen on his arm. They all wanted something.
Cameron, the music executive. Cameron, the son of a celebrity. Cameron, the mogul. None of them wanted Cameron, the man.
He’d played along because they all knew the deal. It worked, for a while.
He circled the globe. He sampled its offerings. Cameron was a fisher of women, having his fun. But his big houses were empty. And a part of him was ready to settle down.
Cameron had played and lost at love. He wasn’t a quitter, but he wasn’t glutton for punishment either. He glanced back at the door.
He wanted to ask her name. Did she have a man? Did she want a man? But none of that was his business. To get something different, he had to be someone different. And she looked to be more of the same. A party girl, looking for a good time.
He’d learned the more success they saw with RSE that catching a woman wasn’t the issue. Catching the right woman was.
A woman not hypnotized by it all. A woman not “enthralled by the glitz and glamour of fame,” as his Pops liked to put it.
Cameron walked towards the food trucks. Space would do him well. But her warm honey scent left a lasting impression.
And on top of everything, he wasn’t ready to expose his heart not when casually dating gave him the freedom of keeping it stored away for safekeeping. Opening himself up meant letting someone in. Again.
It was best to focus on the task at hand. Nail the soundtrack. Forget the girl. Nah, wasn’t nothing girl in her, she was all woman.
Forget the woman, focus on the music.
Tonight he’d enjoy his family and friends. Then back to business.
“Cameron?”
He glanced over his shoulder as Isaac closed the space between them. “Hey man.”
“You good?”
“Yeah man, what’s up?”
“I called you a few times.”
“Man, my head is stuffed with this week’s ratchet music. I need a vacation to cleanse my music palette.”
They laughed as they walked closer to the food trucks. Cameron was still shook by her ruby red lips and sexy full hips. He honestly hadn’t heard Isaac.
“Well, you’re in for a treat tonight.”
“A treat?” He turned towards Isaac.
“Yes, sir. My sister decided to join us tonight for the first set. I had to beg her.” He laughed.
“Beg?” Cameron scanned the signs trying to decide on what to eat. He settled on the barbecue.
“Beg, and I promised to take her shopping at the Galleria Mall in Houston.”
“Oh dang!” Cameron ran his hand over his fade. “You better dust off your credit card.”
Isaac covered his mouth as he laughed. “Tell me about it. But it’s worth it. You’ll see.”
“Let me grab some food and then hear this blackmailing sister of yours.”
“Alright, cool. And thanks for coming.”
“No doubt. You’re family.” They hugged, and Cameron watched as Isaac went back inside. Tonight would be an excellent night for RSE. Isaac was a gifted young musician and a valuable member of RSE’s house band. But pairing him with Bruce could groom him to be an amazing artist.
Cameron moved forward and ordered a sausage sandwich then hurried back inside. He shook his head at the thought of Isaac’s sister squeezing her brother for a shopping spree. It sounded like his little sister Lauren.
Cameron made it back to the lounge. He searched the room, and Asher flagged him down. He approached the table surprised by the sight. The Smith tribe was in full effect.
“Mrs. Smith?” He placed his plate on the table.
“It’s Mrs. Reinheart.” She still looked more like Asher’s sister, and not a day over thirty. Cameron chuckled at the hell they gave Asher in college over his mother. All the guys wanted a shot.
“I guess I missed my chance.” Cameron wiggled his eyebrows jokingly.
“Boy please.” Asher’s mother stood and hugged him.
“And don’t hug my wife too tight.”
Cameron outright laughed. “Nah man. I wouldn’t dare.”
“Jaxon, I’m with her.” He kissed her then extended a hand.
“Cameron.” Jaxon looked to be their age. Go ‘head Mrs. Reinheart.
“But I don’t blame you. She is fine,” Jaxon slipped in before circling an arm around his wife.
Cameron laughed. “No comment.”
“You better not. Always drooling over my moms. You know I’ll hurt you over my momma!” Asher added. Cameron decided to keep his lips sealed. Asher’s mother was always fine, still was. “You met her husband. I’d like to introduce you to my wife, Jazz.”
They hugged. “Nice to meet you.”
“And you know this guy. He finally married my sister.” Asher elbowed Dylan.
“Yuki,” Cameron grabbed his heart as if she wounded him, “don’t tell me I missed my shot with you too.”
“Dude, you acting real thirsty right now,” Dylan added pulling Cameron into a hug.
“Can you blame me? All these beautiful women.” Cameron shook his hands for emphasis, taking the free seat beside Asher.
“Yes, I can blame you. Get your own woman.” Dylan said.
“Oh no, not Playboy Carter,” Asher teased.
They laughed. Their energy and love were infectious. The Smiths rivaled the Carters as they all talked over one another, completed each other’s sentences, and he laughed until he cried. He sat back in the seat and took a long drink of the cold beer. Adding in a word or two as the women allowed. He passed a few pictures of his own, showcasing his beautiful niece.
They caught him up on the growth of their family, passing around cellphones full of pictures. He was truly happy for his friends.
Cameron finally bit into his sandwich. He groaned to his core.
“It’s good ain’t it?” Asher smiled.
“Man!” He wiped the smoky sauce from his mouth. This singer could sound like a toad and Cameron wouldn’t care. His outlook on the night went from gloom to promising. Good food. Great friends. Sitting back listening to them made this trip worth it.
Then the lights dimmed. Asher’s wife started clapping and bouncing up and down in her chair before the music began.
“My Lady, she hasn’t even started,” Asher whispered, the love in his voice made Cameron glance over.
“You know she’s my favorite,” Jazz whispered back.
“Y’all hush,” Yuki added from across the table, settling into Dylan’s side.
Cameron figured he had about a year to pull off this soundtrack. A year to assemble a formidable roster of artists to present their s
ound to the world. He wanted all the tracks to feature RSE artists. But the look they shared paled in comparison to the success he sought. It was one he envied. And like Marques and Brione, they all gave him hope. He lifted the sandwich entertained by their banter until he heard her first note.
Chapter Two
Nervous jitters swirled in her stomach as Sydney Jones stepped to the microphone. And the feeling never ever got old. It was sort of like real life magic. Fairy tales and birthday cake. And everything that makes life worth living. But it almost killed her.
Not metaphorically. But a real stretched out on a gurney, rushed to the emergency room, death situation. And all because of her first and only love, music. She took the whole, sex, drugs, and rock n’ roll to the extreme. Not the sex, but the drugs and touring, pushing her body to limit until she nearly overdosed.
“The pieces of me, are like ashes in the wind…”
Sydney closed her eyes as her first public notes in five years emerged from the pit of her soul, bubbling up to the surface. She requested the low house lights to conceal her nerves and to mute the assessing eyes. Most people heard about her overdose. It was the worse day of her life, but tonight she would sing for her brother Isaac and walk away again. She had to.
She settled in for the set. Letting the music be the escape it once was. Isaac and his band backed her every note, scat, and adlib. Opening her eyes, she glanced at him, the euphoria was written on his face, and she couldn’t contain her joy.
Was it possible to love the very thing that was detrimental to her health? Her very life?
Yes.
Sydney scanned the room, feeding off the energy of the audience as heads bobbed, and fingers snapped. A woman near the stage sat with a pained expression on her face. That was music too. It could take you back to a place, a time, a love.
The next notes Sydney dug deeper and let her voice intentionally crack. To make it ache. To make it tell a story. Her story. Their story.
The final note escaped in a whisper, and she stepped back into the shadows of the stage. She could probably hear a pin drop, and then a thunderous sound filled the room as they clapped and cheered.
Sydney held back tears.
“Thank you.” She used the black towel on the bar stool to dab her eyes. “Tonight is my baby brother’s birthday. Can y’all help me out?”
They hooped and hollered.
“On the count of three, let’s sing Happy Birthday. One…two…three…”
And as requested, the crowd sang to Isaac, and she used the time to get herself together. Isaac was the light in her life. He helped piece her back together when everyone turned their backs on her. He didn’t give up on her.
“Y’all sound beautiful.” She took a drink of water, letting the shadows nurse her tattered soul. As they transitioned from the traditional rendition to the Stevie Wonder version.
“Happy Birthday to ya…”
Sydney held the microphone towards them as the band joined in.
“Give yourselves a round of applause.” They clapped louder as Isaac bowed. “I think I can dig up a few more songs if you’d like to hear them.”
The overwhelming sound encouraged her to continue. Sydney signaled the band and the music to a mellow Jill Scott number. Man could these guys play.
Sydney stepped back into the spotlight. And the lights shimmered off her sequin mermaid dress. She dropped the drugs and picked up cooking. It gave her a few more pounds than she was used to, but it made the rock of her body solid. A few people stood, as she cooed about living her life like it was golden.
Yeah, music was magical. She rounded the verse out and hit the chorus, and the audience hit every note and queue like real background singers. Sydney laughed tossing her curls back and forth, dancing around the stage. Clapping her hands over her head as the audience bellowed about freedom and she slipped into the moment.
The song ended, and this time they didn’t wait. Every man and woman stood on their feet. She clapped along blowing kisses, smiling so hard her face ached.
“We need to take this act on the road.” They laughed along with her. And as they took their seats, she wiped the sweat from her face. “Y’all I saw this fine brother tonight.”
“Alright now!” A woman yelled.
“Yes, girl. Tall, chocolate and fiiiine.” She fluffed her hair and shook her shoulders. That got them laughing again. “He was so fine I had to change my set list to add this one.” She flicked her wrist toward Isaac. He hit the introductory notes, and the party continued. “Oh y’all know this one too.” She gave her sassiest wink and settled the microphone into the stand. “This is what I should have said to him.”
Sydney cooed about his brown skin, rolling her hips to the Indie Arie joint that had the women grabbing their men. The silhouettes of couples slow dancing between the tables scattered around the room. She let the words flow like smooth milk chocolate, as she allowed him to run through her mind. And then she spotted him.
Center table near the back. And unlike the rest of the audience, his eyes were locked on her. The intensity pulled her from across the room.
Might as well make it count. Sydney slipped into her sultriest rendition, and the band didn’t miss a beat.
Her admirer leaned forward, and she let the words of the song do the talking. His eyes closed for the briefest moment, as his head rolled side to side, so slow she almost missed it. When his eyes opened the look he gave her made her want to jump off the stage.
The song ended, and Isaac thumped on his bass for her final number, and every hand went up in the air. Fingers snapped, bodies rocked.
For her last selection, the lights lowered back to a dim, and she beckoned him to her using the words from Marvin Gaye, Sydney took them on a journey. Crooning for the lover outside her reach.
She sent the message with her body, every calculated wale, and extended note. Mr. Suit-and-Tie, I’m gonna make you come to me.
The bridge came, and Isaac took over for the guitar solo. Sydney closed her eyes, letting her hips sway, as the melody from the crowd built in a simmering chant, singing the words of the chorus.
Sydney sprinkled her well-placed runs around the room. Then she took them all up a notch folding over and coming up tossing her hair reaching towards the object of her affection.
Her signature beg and plea blended with riffs of the guitar and the audience brought it on home. The song ended and thunderous sound filled the room again, seeping into her pores, and this was why she loved music. Too bad her love didn’t love her.
Sydney turned towards the band and clapped with the audience. Isaac grabbed her hand, lifting it up and they screamed so loud she thought she’d be deaf. She’d have to soak it up. This was a one-time gig.
She mouthed her thanks making eye contact with people here and there. Then her eyes found his, standing as if a spotlight hung over his head. The expression on his face said he felt every word she sent his way.
“Give it up one more time for my big sister, Sydney “Lady Bird” Jones.”
She bowed and exited the stage. I need a drink.
What a show! Cameron had to have her.
He’d never had an experience like that in his life. The hour set exceeded his expectations. She radiated star quality. She had that elusive “it” factor that couldn’t be trained or explained. It just was. And she had it in abundance.
He was raised in a musical family, and it gave him an advantage. He’d seen his father perform with his group for his entire life. He’d seen his brother perform around the world. But Sydney bewitched the audience with each sway of her hips, bounce of her curls, and her voice. God that voice. He wanted to experience it again.
Cameron stepped around Asher and made his way to the side door. The audience stood clapping, still transfixed by her show. Thankful for his six foot, one-inch height, he bobbed and weaved through the crowd, extending his neck to see which way she went. His heart raced faster than his feet could carry him. He crossed the doorway, and he
ran smack dab into Bruce Daniels, his music man, and partner with RSE.
“Man, I was coming in to find you. Everyone is waiting for you.” Bruce gestured over his shoulder.
“Did you see a woman in a black dress come through here?” Cameron used his hands to cast her silhouette while scanning the length of the walkway in search of her curly fro. He guesstimated she stood to his shoulder. But her hair should make it easy to spot her. He saw nothing.
Bruce shook his head. “What woman?”
“Isaac’s sister.” He walked toward the front, she disappeared. The people were flowing out of the lounge, and it buzzed with energy.
“Isaac’s sister?”
“Yeah, man. Isaac’s sister. Sydney something Jones.” He was getting agitated with all the questions as the area between the lounge and bar flooded with people. They swirled around him obstructing his view.
“You mean, Sydney “Lady Bird” Jones?” Bruce spoke over the crowd.
Cameron stopped turning back to Bruce, zeroing in on his best friend, and business partner. “You know her?”
“And you don’t?”
“Should I?” Cameron wanted to scrub the humor off Bruce’s face. But not knowing most artists helped him form an independent opinion based on the music. It let the music, be the music.
“And she’s here?” He heard the awe in Bruce’s voice, as they scanned the swelling crowd for her.
“Yes. She. Is. Here. ” He glanced back inside the lounge. “She was here.”
“And I missed it?”
“Bruce.” Cameron stopped in front of him. The adrenaline from the show and his desire to find his curvy bombshell had him ready to throttle Bruce. “Who is she?”
“Cam, I don’t know if you want to entertain that one. She has an amazing voice. But I’m not sure she’s what you’re looking for.” He averted Cameron’s gaze.
“I need her for the soundtrack. Her show was electric. The audience loved her. You should have seen it. Fast. Slow. She didn’t miss a beat. When we put her voice with your music… We’d be unstoppable.”
Rockstar Secrets (Forbidden Chords Book 1) Page 23