Pitch Perfect

by MCLANE, LUANN

  Her eyes widened slightly. “So I’m your girl?” she asked softly.

  “I hope so,” Cam said honestly, and although the crowded restaurant buzzed with noise, it suddenly felt as if they were they only two people in the world. He reached over and took her hand. “Are you?”

  “Yes,” Mia replied, and damn, he wanted to take her back to the hotel and make slow, sweet love to her. When her smile faltered slightly, he knew she must be thinking that she was going to have to tell him sooner or later who she really was. It no longer mattered to Cam that she was Mia Monroe, and he wished that he could assure her that it was going to be okay, but she was going to have to own up to it on her own terms.

  “Good, that means I get to buy you something in the gift shop,” he said in a playful tone. He had to be careful or he was going to go and start saying some of the sappy stuff on the tip of his tongue. Funny, because Cam hadn’t known he had a sappy, romantic side, but then again he had never felt this way before.

  “Sweet!” Mia said, and after he paid the bill they headed over to the cute little store that had everything from country ham to jewelry. After looking at every single item in the store, she finally settled on a pretty bracelet that she immediately put on. “I love it,” she said with a bright smile.

  Cam remembered the diamond tennis bracelet she had worn on the day they met and shrugged. “It’s not much,” he said, suddenly feeling a little bit worried. What if he couldn’t provide what she was used to having? Would it matter to her?

  Mia pulled up short and put a hand on his arm. “The cost of something doesn’t matter, Cam. Expensive things don’t make me happy. I treasure gifts because of who they come from, not how much they cost.”

  Cam looked into her beautiful eyes and knew she was sincere. She knew firsthand that money couldn’t buy happiness. “Good, because I don’t make much money,” he said lightly. He hoped that would change one day soon, but in a roundabout way Mia had opened his eyes to what true wealth really meant. All of the years he had resented the rich people he worked for and envied all of their wealth, but getting to Mia made him realize that there was much more to life. Sure, he hoped to make the major leagues, but being on this small-town team made him realize that he loved the game above all else. If he got to play baseball for a living, everything else was gravy.

  “Are you ready to hit Nashville?” Mia asked with a big smile.

  “Let’s get this party started!” He grabbed her hand and hurried for his SUV.

  Mia laughed as she hurried along with him. When they were in the vehicle, instead of starting the engine he reached over and pulled her closer. He threaded his fingers through her hair and then captured her mouth in a lingering kiss that left him shaken and wanting more. Mia made him happy and he was going to do everything in his power to keep her in his life. “I’ve wanted to do that all day,” he admitted.

  “I hope you want to do it all night too,” she said and then clamped her hand over her mouth. “I didn’t mean to say that out loud.”

  Cam laughed. “That’s okay, because you were reading my mind. But first things first.”

  “Let’s party!”

  “Once again … reading my mind.” Cam laughed and put the SUV in gear. “Look out, Nashville, here we come.”

  25

  God Bless the Broken Road

  AFTER VALET PARKING THE SUV, THEY WHEELED THEIR overnight bags into the hotel and checked in. While it certainly wasn’t the first night they had spent together, there was just something so very sexy about a hotel room that Mia wanted to throw Cam onto the bed and have her way with him over and over again. But she knew that if they got started they would end up staying in each other’s arms until the break of day, and Mia had promised Cat that they would have some fun bar hopping on Lower Broadway. Although lots of college students hung out at some of the clubs on Fourth Street, Mia preferred the old-school honky-tonks like Tootsies and the Stage and Legends Corner, where so much country music history was made.

  “I think I’ll freshen up a bit,” Mia said, making a point of not even looking at the bed.

  “Okay, I’ll turn on ESPN and catch some sports,” Cam agreed in a casual tone, but Mia knew that he was as jumpy as she was because he carefully avoided touching her. The room practically crackled with sexual tension. And although they joked about painting the town red, they both knew that they were going to have some fun with Cat, who would most likely call it a fairly early night with opening day tomorrow. As much as she was looking forward to seeing her friend, she couldn’t wait to come back to the room with Cam.

  “We’re supposed to meet Cat at Tootsies around eight. She’s opening for Toby but is actually the very first act, before Trace Adkins, and she told me she has permission to leave after her short set. So we have plenty of time to walk around.”

  “Which translates to shopping,” Cam said with a laugh.

  “A little.” Mia wrinkled her nose and held her thumb and index finger about an inch apart. “I want to get a cowboy hat for Cat to sign so we can give it away tomorrow, or maybe I’ll save it for the Fourth of July.”

  “I was teasing. I can handle going in some shops downtown. I could use a new pair of boots.”

  “Well, then, I’ll hurry up so we can get out of here. Everything is within walking distance.” Besides, if she looked at him lying on that bed a minute longer, she was going to join him—and not to sleep. So after a quick touch-up of her makeup and running a brush through her hair, Mia was good to go. She used to take much longer getting ready to go out, but she had lightened up and simplified her social life along with her wardrobe. She found that she preferred the more natural look instead of preening over every detail of her makeup. Physical perfection, she decided, was way overrated.

  When she emerged from the bathroom, Cam looked over and seemed a bit startled. “What’s wrong? Is my hair a mess or something?” She looked down. “Or is my fly open?”

  “No, it just seems like you get prettier every single day since I met you.”

  “Thank you, Cam.” Mia felt her heart turn over in her chest. She really wished he knew who she really was, but she felt a shot of fear slither down her spine. He’d made it clear on several occasions how he felt about arrogant, wealthy people, and she only hoped that he cared about her enough that it wouldn’t matter. She was in love with him. She had known it for a while now, and it would tear her apart if he turned his back on her after learning that she was Mia Monroe instead of Mia Money. “Cam?” She thought it was about time that she came clean and got it over with. Face the music … you know, since they were in Music City and everything …

  “Yeah?” He sat up from his lounging position and looked at her expectantly.

  Mia swallowed hard and lost her nerve. “Are you hungry?”

  His expression softened and he leaned back against the headboard. “Not yet, but I thought it might be fun to split a burger or an appetizer at Margaritaville. I’m a Jimmy Buffet fan and I might want to shop in the store there too.”

  “Oh, I won’t turn down shopping anywhere,” she replied and inhaled a deep breath. “I saw a T-shirt in the one in Key West that said I’M THE WOMAN TO BLAME, and I wish I would have bought it.” She mustered up a smile. “Let’s go!”

  Cam eased his long frame from the bed and walked over to her. “Hey, are you okay?”

  “Sure, just a bit nervous about opening day, I guess.”

  “Shouldn’t I be the one nervous, since I have to hit the ball and all that stuff?”

  Mia smiled. “Probably. But hey, let’s go grab a drink and chase away those nerves.”

  “You don’t have to ask twice.”

  Mia grabbed her purse and they headed out the door. They walked past Printer’s Alley and down to Lower Broadway, where there were lots of shops nestled between the honky-tonk bars that Nashville was famous for. Mia posed by a statue of Elvis and then took Cam’s picture as well. She missed sending pictures to Facebook, but that would have blown her cover long a
go.

  Even though the sun was still shining, the music never stopped in Music City. Country music hopefuls could be heard from inside each and every bar. Mia had to laugh when she spotted a guy sitting on a stool singing in an ice cream parlor. She turned to Cam. “Really?”

  Cam shrugged. “I guess you have to do whatever it takes. How did Cat get discovered?” Cam wanted to know while they waited for a light to change.

  “She was discovered at a talent competition over at the Wildhorse Saloon. She didn’t even win, but it was one of those being-in-the-right-place-at-the-right-time kinds of things. A record producer liked her sound and she was signed soon afterward. I think it helped that she was a fresh, new kind of sound. She was lucky, I guess.”

  “I can relate to that,” Cam admitted. “There are lots of talented baseball players that never get scouted. You have to have a thick skin if you want to make it in something as competitive as sports or entertainment.” He shook his head. “Getting a second shot is even tougher. I should have learned how to mend my wild ways.”

  “Oh, really? Let me ask you this. How many of those times were you coming to someone’s defense like you did with me?”

  Cam shrugged. “I’d do it again in a heartbeat if anybody messed with you.”

  Mia felt a feminine flutter of appreciation at his alpha-male comment. “Well, I’ll try not to cause any commotion.”

  “Baby, you’re going to turn heads in these bars. You can’t help it. Just remember that you’re with me.” He jabbed his thumb toward his chest and gave her a playful wink.

  “Hey, I can kick some booty too, you know. There had better not be any chickies hitting on you,” she boasted with her fists on her hips.

  “No doubt.” Cam arched one eyebrow and nodded. “I’ve seen you in action.”

  Mia narrowed her eyes. “Nuf said, huh?”

  Cam nodded, but she could tell he was having trouble not laughing. “Hey, how about if I just hold your hand. That should keep everybody at bay.”

  Mia nodded and grabbed his hand. “Excellent idea.”

  They shopped for a couple of hours, and it was actually Mia who had to pry Cam away from a boots and belts store. Like a true gentleman, he offered to hoof it back to the hotel with the hat that Mia had bought, along with his boots, which looked so very sexy on him. Of course, she thought everything looked sexy on him, especially his baseball pants.

  “I’ll grab a table in Tootsies since it gets crowded there early. I’ll have a cold beer waiting if you stop at a vendor and bring me a hot dog. After that huge lunch, that’s all I need, and for some reason a hot dog sounds good. Maybe we’ll make it to Jimmy Buffet’s next time, if that’s okay?”

  “Baseball food,” Cam said, placing his palm on his chest. “Ah … a girl after my own heart. Margaritaville will have to wait.”

  “Hey, put the boots on and break them in,” Mia suggested lightly, when she really wanted to tell him that he had already captured her heart. She chuckled at his theatrics when he pretended to swoon and blew him a kiss as he walked away.

  Mia entered Tootsies, and as Cam had predicted, she turned every head wearing a cowboy hat. She loved the famous Orchid Lounge, where it was said that Willie Nelson wrote “Crazy.” The wall of fame was filled with music legends, and it was one of those places where she wished the walls really could talk. There was a round table open across from the bar and she grabbed it, knowing that the floor would soon be packed. This wasn’t the kind of place where her friends liked to hang out, but Mia had loved it the moment she walked in a few years ago when she was with her father while he was attending a convention. She had gotten bored with shopping and had strolled into Tootsies on a whim but oddly enough felt right at home as soon as she entered. Who knew that it was just the beginning of discovering her inner … redneck? She grinned at the notion and held up her fingers for two longnecks. She wasn’t much of a beer drinker, but it just felt right here at Tootsies.

  Mia drummed her fingers to the beat of a Kenny Chesney cover sung by a cute guy in a black Stetson and worn jeans. She knew from Cat that these singers played for tips in the jar that they passed around and nothing else, not even a cut from cover charges. The percentage of the people who made it had to be small, making her heart go out to the guy up there singing his heart out. He was really good, with a whiskey-smooth, mellow voice, perfect for country songs. He tipped his hat at her when she applauded with gusto, and she smiled, hoping there was someone who discovered his talent.

  Mia supposed her love of country music was partly because so many of the songs were about family. She had grown up listening to the music that many of the hired help preferred, and it had stuck with her through her teens and remained her favorite genre today. Most of her friends listened to Top 40 pop tunes and couldn’t understand her preference for country music, but Mia totally got it. It was the lyrics. While she was all alone in her huge house, she would rather have been in a normal home with a loving family full of noisy siblings and a big, sloppy dog. Mia sighed and was glad when he stepped it up with a cover of Zac Brown Band’s fun song “Chicken Fried.” Just about everyone in the bar, including Mia, started singing along.

  Just after the barmaid brought her drinks, the cute cowboy started singing “God Bless the Broken Road,” one of her favorite Rascal Flatts ballads. The lyrics spoke to her in a very real way, and she felt her eyes well up as the cowboy crooned as if directly to her. It occurred to Mia that perhaps “Broken Road” was so true in that everything happened for a reason, bringing you where you were today, and all of the pain endured was just part of the journey. While Mia had dated, she had never really experienced a broken heart, but she fully understood heartache and loneliness. She had often felt lost and over the past couple of weeks had learned to look at life from a different angle and with new meaning. Somewhere she had read that happiness could be achieved only when you had purpose in life, and she understood that to be true in more ways than one.

  The thought made Mia feel stronger, and she smiled in what felt like pure joy just as Cam walked back through the door. He held up two hot dogs and grinned. Mia knew it was probably partly from hearing the empowering lyrics of “Broken Road,” but she really did feel as if her whole life had led her to this moment. Everything seemed to be coming together in a positive way.

  “I’ll trade you a hot dog for a beer,” Cam said as he sat down on one of the tall stools.

  “Deal.” Mia took the warm bun from Cam and took a big bite. “Mmm, sometimes I just crave a hot dog,” she said as she licked a bit of mustard from her bottom lip. “It’s one of those things that just taste better from a street vendor.”

  “I know, and once you get a whiff, you have to have one,” Cam agreed. “Popcorn is the same way for me,” he said, tapping his boot to the beat of the music. “I can’t watch a movie without it.”

  Mia took a swig of her tangy beer and nodded. “Me neither.” She loved the way their relationship felt easy, not forced. She hoped that wouldn’t change when he found out that her father was Mitch Monroe. But before she could dwell on it, her phone beeped with a text message. She looked down. “Oh, it’s Cat. She’s on her way. She said to save her a seat and have a cold Bud Light ready.”

  “Will she cause some commotion when she enters?”

  Mia shrugged. “I’m sure she will. When I hung out with her in the past, she was up and coming, but after a few hits under her belt I would guess she gets recognized. It helps that she looks a lot like Shania Twain.” Mia grinned. “Hey, it won’t be long until you’ll be asked for autographs.”

  “I sure hope so,” Cam admitted. “I know one thing: If that day comes, I’ll never turn a kid down.”

  “Good for you,” Mia said, recalling some of the celebrities she had rubbed shoulders with who weren’t always as kind to their fans.

  Cam ordered another round, and their cold drinks arrived just as Cat entered Tootsies. She turned several heads, and the guy singing seemed to know her right off the bat.
Mia had a feeling that she was going to get asked to sing, and she sure hoped that she would. Not only did she have an amazing voice, but Cat Carson had stage presence, that certain star quality that she would need to make it to the top in this business. Mia only hoped that her friend would stay grounded and not let the business get the best of her.

  Cat waved when she spotted Mia and hurried over to the table. “Mia!” she gushed, opening her arms for a hug. “It’s so good to see you!”

  “It’s been too long.” Mia slid from the stool and hugged her friend. “And I can’t thank you enough for doing this for me.” She pulled back and gestured toward Cam. “Cat, I’d like you to meet my friend Cameron Patrick.”

  Cam stood up and shook her hand. “Nice to meet you, Cat, and I want to thank you for doing this for the Cougars too.”

  Cat waved them off. “Hey, it’s my pleasure,” she said as she sat down. “Well, as long as I get the national anthem right,” she admitted with a roll of her eyes.

  “So you’ve never sung it before a crowd?” Cam asked.

  “Nope. Not only is it a tough song to sing, but there’s something intimidating about it for some reason. But hey, I’m honored anyway.” She grinned at Cam. “I’m a baseball fan, so I’m looking forward to taking in a game.”

  “I’m sure you’re so busy these days that you don’t get to do much of that kind of thing,” Mia said.

  “Yeah, I miss doing the little things, but I’m not complaining. I get to do what I love for a living. Cam, I’m sure you feel the same way.”

  “I sure do, and I hope I don’t blow it.”

  “So how was the concert?” Mia asked. “Is Toby a pretty cool guy?”

  Cat nodded. “I like him a lot and I’ve learned so much from him. That man can work a crowd.”

  They chatted about Toby Keith and country music for a few minutes, but then Cam’s phone rang. He looked down and said, “Oh, it’s Noah. I need to take this. Excuse me,” he said and headed to the sidewalk outside, where he could hear.