“There is no decision to be made, Jacinda. I told you. I am not interested.” I emphasized every word.
She nodded. “Fine. I won’t say another word.”
As it turned out, it was too busy to say another word. The word had gotten out about our famous guest that weekend, so we were packed solid from the time we opened the doors that Friday evening. The Hollis Five had already developed quite the following by that time, so the crowd was electric once the band took the stage. Every now and then I’d glance that direction, watching Tony Paul in spite of myself. I watched how he stalked that stage with confidence, which reminded me how he clutched me to his body. He crooned to the girls in the front row, which reminded me of that peck he planted on my nose in lieu of a more invasive kiss.
That he fought for my job had surprised me. That he promised to give up his womanizing ways surprised me more. It was the first time any guy had ever put himself on the line for me. Even Christopher had bailed when it got to be too much. I didn’t know what to make of it.
When Tony Paul finished his ballad, I looked his direction and he looked mine. I knew he couldn’t see me under the blinding lights, but I felt the connection between us anyway. It sent that familiar rush of warmth through me.
I couldn’t stop thinking about any of it the rest of the night. By the time the club closed and the crowd dispersed, I was a bundle of nerves waiting to see if he would join me. What would I say? Would could I say? Nothing had changed. I still had no intention of dating anyone involved in music, if for no other reason than my mom would kill me.
I was skating on thin enough ice by owning my secret guitar.
There was only one thing to do. I had to tell him there was absolutely no chance of being with me. Then he would resume his regularly scheduled programming by seducing every sexy girl in sight. I timed my exit to coincide with his. This time, I was the one who followed him to his car. “Tony Paul. Wait.”
“Hey smoky girl,” he said as he watched me approach. “What can I do for you?”
I stopped a foot in front of him. “You can stop telling people that there is anything between us.”
“I could do that,” he said as he nodded. “But I was always told it was wrong to lie.”
I sighed. “Why can’t you leave me alone?”
He laughed. “Excuse me?”
“I’ve told you in every way possible that I’m not interested.”
“Interesting words from the girl who approached me,” he smirked.
“To tell you to leave me alone,” I reiterated.
He dropped his belongings in the front seat of his car before he turned back to me. “In case you missed it, I’ve done that for two weeks.”
“Yeah, Jacinda told me about that. You were keeping your distance so your mother wouldn’t fire me.”
“My mother wasn’t going to fire you,” he said. “She was pissed but she wasn’t going to fire you. You’re good at your job and she’s too smart of a businesswoman to fire you over some kind of grudge.”
“Then what were you trying to prove?”
He laughed softly. “You really don’t know, do you?” He shook his head. “Sometimes I forget how young you are.”
It echoed Christopher’s words from years before. And it pissed me off. “Think whatever you want,” I said as I tried to spin away, but he grabbed my arm easily to pull me towards him. He tipped my chin to look up into his face.
“You told me to keep away from you and I did. I told myself that if you felt what I felt, you’d find your way back to me. And I’ve left myself open for that every night since I first held you in my arms.” Hypnotically, his arms closed around me and pulled me closer to that body that left me so inexplicably twitterpated. “I wanted to be ready for you when you came to me. And here you are. So tell me again how you aren’t interested.”
His face lingered mere inches from mine. I cursed his dastardly plan because it had worked perfectly. By withdrawing his interest, my interest in him had deepened. I felt his thumb brush rhythmically against my back as he held me.
“Tell me you’re not interested and I’ll let you go,” he went on softly and hypnotically. “Tell me you haven’t thought about me since that first time you were in my arms and I’ll never bother you again. Or you could just admit that you can’t stop thinking about me anymore than I can stop thinking about you.”
“But why?” I asked. “I’m no different than any other girl.”
“Oh, baby,” he crooned as he caressed the side of my face. “You couldn’t be more wrong. You are something special. Someone who is meant to be seen. Someone who is meant to be loved. You’ve locked yourself away and it’s a fucking shame. Let me in and I could show you what you’re worth.”
Again I felt his body shift against me. Again I yanked away. “I told you. I don’t date, especially musicians. You have your answer. Please. Leave me alone.”
I stalked on shaking legs to my car.
Chapter Six
If I thought Friday night was chaotic, nothing compared to the standing-room-only crowd that started lining up before dawn that Saturday morning. Most were giggly college girls, but some edgier rock chicks had lined up as well.
Apparently Giovanni Carnevale could draw groupies of any age.
The club opened early, by noon, for the special event. Gay had it catered, so there was a nice spread to keep the growing crowd sated until the main event. The Hollis Five took the stage around two, entertaining the screaming rock fans until Vanni showed up at three. He was going to surprise all his fans with an impromptu performance singing his biggest hit.
The tall man with flowing dark hair showed up during the concert, when the girls were suitably distracted by Tony Paul. I was part of the crew going back and forth between the dressing room and the bar to make sure he and his assistants were properly served. His assistant, a lovely, full-figured woman named Andy, seemed more than capable to handle that task, but it was clear he valued her too much to make her some kind of go-fer.
Instead, that task fell to me. Though he was a star rising quick to fame, he was polite as we interacted. He made sure the other people in his crew were taken care of as well as himself. Jasper hadn’t come, which I had a feeling annoyed the piss out of Gay. But she played a gracious hostess as we opened up a bottle of our finest champagne for them backstage.
I poured him a glass. “Thank you, Lacy,” he said with a lopsided grin. I could see why the girls went so crazy over him. Every time he looked at me I felt like the only person in the room. He had an intensity that compelled one to stare at him, to learn more, to figure him out.
I watched him unleash that energy when he exploded onto the stage like a bat out of hell. Though Gay had worked tirelessly to cultivate that same energy in Tony Paul, it was clear he was playing for second that day. Vanni, as he insisted I call him, was indeed “pure sex” when he sang, barefoot and bare-chested, his hair wild about his face, like some hybrid of Jim Morrison and Michael Hutchence reincarnated.
I was unable to take my eyes off of him.
Afterwards he sat for three hours straight, signing autographs, posing for photos, meeting his fans and giving each and every one of them personal attention that left them giggly and flustered, whether they were eighteen or eighty.
He would give me a wink whenever I brought him a new bottle of water, to wet his whistle as he indulged his fans. Andy had mentioned this was their last stop for the day. They’d been on the go since early that morning. I watched how she carefully picked his favorite foods from the buffet, so he could have something to snack on whenever he got a second between his many fans.
The look they shared was warm and familiar. Something about it just made me happy, though I didn’t know why. Finally it was six o’clock and security began to clear out the club so we could set up for the evening. This gave Vanni some respite. He was whisked away to the dressing room while Andy headed upstairs with Gay to call a limo for the ride back to their hotel.
I t
ook Vanni another bottle of water. “That was really special what you did out there,” I told him.
He grinned. “Thanks, Lacy.” He studied me for a minute. “Do you sing?”
I opened my mouth to issue my pat denial, which I always had, but something about those dark brown eyes emboldened me. “Not professionally.”
He looked me over. “You’ve certainly got the look for it. Let me hear you.”
I shook my head. “I couldn’t.”
His voice was soft. “Sure you can. We’re friends here. Just open your mouth and sing.”
I glanced around. The coast was clear. I softly launched into one of the songs I used to sing with Lucas. It used to hurt to sing that song. But I found myself strangely liberated alone in that dressing room with this complete stranger.
He was smiling as he sang along with the chorus, which made me sing a little louder. He clapped softly when I was done. “Very nice.” Again he looked me up and down. “You’ve performed before, haven’t you?”
I nodded. “When I was a kid, yeah.”
He chuckled. “You’re still a kid. What are you? Eighteen?” Again I nodded. “So, what are you doing here? Just paying some dues until they let you onstage?”
“No, I don’t want to perform.”
“Why not?”
I opened my mouth, but all the reasons I’d usually spill locked deep in my throat. “I’m scared,” was all I could say.
“Don’t be,” he said. “You’ve got a gift. You should share it.”
I felt myself blush as I shook my head. “I’ll leave that to you.”
“You may not have a choice,” he said ominously. “One call to Jasper Carrington and who knows what could happen?”
My eyes opened wide. “You’d do that?”
He pulled out his phone. Once the number was selected, he held the phone to his ear and held my gaze as he talked. “Yeah, Jacob? It’s Vanni. Do me a favor. Tell Jasper Carrington he needs to head to Southern Nights in Austin. I just found his next big star.”
I shook my head but he ignored me as he finished the call. “There. Done. Your life is about to change forever. You’re welcome.”
“What did you do that for?” I squeaked.
He grinned. “Because I knew you wouldn’t. But you totally should. Why waste yourself in darkened bars if you don’t have to? I did that. There’s nothing romantic about it, trust me. But… word of advice. Don’t sign the first contract you’re presented. If you want to keep everything that makes you you, you have to fight for it.”
Andy poked her head through the partially opened door. “The car’s here.”
He brightened when he saw her face. “Thanks, be right there.”
She nodded and disappeared. He stood, so I did too. “I gotta go. But remember what I said, okay? And if you need any help let me know. I’ll do what I can.”
“But why?” I found myself repeating for the second time in two days.
He leaned close to look me straight in the eye. “Because I know a star when I see one. It’d be nice to pay good fortune forward for a change.” He straightened and headed for the door.
It all sounded way too good to be true. He was probably just blowing sunshine up my ass because he was a big star and I was some low-level grunt. He could have been calling a buddy rather than Jasper Carrington’s office, I wouldn’t be any wiser. Before I could stop myself, I asked, “Did you make the same promise to Tony Paul?”
His brow furrowed. “Who?”
“Never mind,” I mumbled to myself. He gave me a small wave, which I returned. After he left, I slid down onto the stool. What the hell had just happened?
I didn’t have time to think about it. I had to rush back out to the bar to prepare for that night’s customers.
The Hollis Five performed again. I couldn’t help but notice the differences between Vanni and Tony Paul. It was clear they were in two completely different leagues. Tony Paul was just starting his journey. Vanni had clearly been there a while. His offer lingered around my subconscious all night. It seemed unthinkable that I might be the reason Jasper Carrington would finally show up to Southern Nights.
He’d be sorely disappointed if he did. Despite this unexpected validation that attempted to breathe life into my long-dead dream of performing, I had no intention of getting on that stage or any other. Let Jasper come. Let him see the Hollis Five. Fame and fortune were their dreams, not mine.
After the band finished performing, a bouncer stopped by the bar. “Hey. Could you take some champagne to the dressing room?”
I nodded. After the star treatment that Vanni received, it was only natural that the headlining band for the club, local stars in their own right, would demand the same.
The dressing room, however, was empty and lit by dozens of candles when I got there. I placed the ice bucket on the makeup table. “Hello?”
Tony Paul stepped out behind the door, which he shut. “Alone at last.”
“Tony Paul,” I started as I advanced on the door. He didn’t move. “What are you doing?”
His eyes locked onto mine. “Trying to figure you out. Little Lacy,” he said softly as he reached again for my hair. “The mysterious girl with questionable intentions.”
My eyes narrowed. “What does that mean?”
He shrugged as he leaned against the door. “You tell me. In one breath you tell me you don’t sing, the next I hear you in here singing for one of the biggest rising stars in music.” I opened my mouth to flatly deny it, but he wasn’t finished. “Alone. In the dressing room. With a single musician. Wooing him with your voice.” His voice was angry but controlled. “What’s your game, girl?”
“There is no game. He asked me to sing and I… I don’t know. I just did. It didn’t mean anything.”
“It didn’t sound like nothing,” he said. “When can we expect a visit from Jasper Carrington anyway?”
“You spied on me?”
He stepped closer. “I came to thank Vanni personally for choosing Southern Nights for his event. The door was open. I simply listened. So I guess that makes the better question: you lied to me?”
“I didn’t lie. I don’t sing.”
“Not based on what I heard,” he murmured. “Was that the end game? You couldn’t perform with the family, so you just waited for something better to come along?”
“Don’t be ridiculous,” I scoffed.
“Then, what?” he persisted.
“I just wanted the server job, Tony Paul. For the money.”
“You could make triple that singing with the band. I could talk to Mama…,” he said but I shook my head.
“I don’t want that,” I said.
“Then why are you here? You could be a bartender in any place in Austin and make as much money. A bar. A restaurant. Hotels. So why are you here? Why did you choose the biggest live music venue in the city?”
I swallowed any reply. As much as I hated to admit it, he had a point. I didn’t land here by accident. I had applied at Southern Nights, and no other place, the minute I had the chance. So why did I choose Southern Nights? Lucas had talked of nothing but playing this venue for years. Was getting my foot I the door my subconscious way of showing him up once and for all?
I wasn’t just a bartender. I had been secretly pursuing music on the side, with the guitar and the songwriting. I realized I had been lying to everyone… including myself.
I sighed and walked to the sofa along one wall, where I plopped with a sigh. I propped my elbows on my knees and dropped my head in my hands. “I don’t know.”
I felt him sit beside me on the sofa. He didn’t say anything, forcing me to look at him.
“I used to perform a long time ago. With my Dad. He had a band and they asked me to sing when I was twelve. For two years it was perfect. It was like we were this team, you know?” Whether he did or not, he nodded in response. “Then,” I started but the words still eluded me. I shook my head. I still wasn’t ready to talk about it. “Let’s just say h
e took a road I couldn’t follow. Mama and I gave him a choice. Family or music. He chose music.”
Tony Paul rested his hand on my back. “I’m sorry, Lacy.”
I nodded. “Me, too.” I sighed. “Maybe I was trying to prove something, I don’t know. But it wasn’t intentional. I swear.”
“And Vanni?” he asked softly.
“He asked me to sing and so I did. I don’t know why.”
“I know why,” Tony Paul murmured as he stroked my hair. “You’re a singer.”
My eyes searched his. Was this another line? Was he sincere? Had Vanni been sincere? Did anyone mean the pretty things they said?
I didn’t know who to trust, least of all myself.
He cupped my face, his thumb brushing against my bottom lip. “My mysterious Lacy. What other secrets are you hiding from me?”
I’m a virgin because I was almost raped four years ago and I’m scared of men and I’m scared of sex and I’m afraid that if I reach for a kiss right now it’ll wreck my future just like my Mama and my Grandma. “Does it matter?” I finally said.
“Yeah,” he responded in the same soft voice.
“Why?”
He leaned closer. “Because I am going to make you fall in love with me,” he said right before his lips covered mine.
At first I didn’t know what to do. I was rooted to the spot as his warm mouth opened over mine. I shuddered as his tongue rimmed my lips to coax them open. I was powerless to resist him as I tipped my head back. He groaned deep in his throat as he pressed me back against the sofa, his hands cupping my face as we kissed deep and long. He dragged his lips away at last. He was breathless as he stared down at me. “I don’t think I’ve ever wanted anyone as much as I want you,” he murmured. “And I want it all. I want you in my bed. And I want you on my stage. I will make up to you what your father did if you just give me the chance. I choose you, Lacy,” he said before he kissed me again, and that second kiss was even longer and deeper than the first.
It made no sense. I had no reason at all to believe him. But I was a goner from the minute our lips touched. I had been lying to myself about that, too. I wanted Tony Paul. I had ever since the first time he held me in his arms. I wrapped my arms around his neck and kissed him back. He guided me down onto the sofa, his hands on my body, his breath on my ear as he took the earlobe between his teeth. Finally he commanded, “Sing,” in a low voice that offered no room for argument.
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