by Violet Paige
“That’s the plan, sir.” I stuffed my hands in my pockets.
“It’s been a while since we’ve had any luck in the playoffs,” he reminded me.
I didn’t like where this conversation was headed. “New season. New team.” It was my standard answer.
“And the game against the Wranglers?” he prodded.
“You know sir, we don’t get sucked into that rivalry BS.” It was a lie I told repeatedly. We hated that team. The in-state league rivalry fueled hatred between the San Antonio Wranglers and us every season. Conversations like this didn’t help.
Bob slapped me on the back again. The bastard was staring to annoy the piss out of me. I saw the signs for the silent auction, pointing down the hall and away from the Crawfords. I’d have to make my way back to Vienna later in the night.
“If you’ll excuse me. I’ve got to make some bids. Want to make my contributions for the kids. Nice meeting you folks.” I nodded at them and strolled away toward the room with the auction items.
I started at one end of the long room and pretended to scan over the donated items. Each one started with a minimum bid of a thousand dollars. There were golf packages. Trips to Maui. I saw a signed print of the Warriors and walked past it. It was more up-to-date than the one in Applewhite’s office.
I scribbled my name on a set of golf clubs. I looked around for something else. Coach said I needed to win some of the higher dollar pieces to draw attention to my generosity. The whole thing was bullshit. Tomorrow morning I’d have to tell that dick Charlie how much I paid out.
I moved to the next table. There was a diamond ring. Too small for the Crawfords, I thought. There were fur coats. I saw a trip for two to Greece. I sure as hell wasn’t bidding on that.
“Oh, are you bidding on the horses?” a smooth voice spoke next to me.
I turned to see who was watching me. She was cute, but dangerous. I could tell from the deep V-cut of her dress. It dipped all the way to her navel, revealing creamy white skin.
“Just looking,” I answered. My eyes locked on her stomach.
“I love to ride.” She picked up the pamphlet on the stables. “Really ride.” She grinned.
Fuck. Did Coach know this was going to happen? Was this some kind of personal hell he had put me in to test me? The bartender. The hot as shit wife. And now this little sex kitten talking about riding. My cock twitched.
I took a deep breath. “I’m from Texas. We all know how to ride horses.” I bent down to add my name to the list. I didn’t know what I would do with a pair of pedigree horses, but I wasn’t going to walk away. The woman was basically purring on me, coaxing me to place a bid.
“So, if you win the horses, you’ll take me for a riding lesson?” Her red lips curled in a smile.
“I thought you already knew how to ride.” I straightened my shoulders. She was making this hard.
She picked up the pen from the auction clipboard, tore off a corner of the list, and scribbled her phone number on the scrap of paper.
“If you win, call me. You might teach me something new.” She handed me her number and sashayed away, showing me how deliciously curvy her ass was.
I held my spot in front of the horse display, willing myself not to chase after her. Women were falling from the sky tonight. Coach thought he was sending me somewhere safe, but he might as well have sent me straight to a strip club.
What I needed was a fucking drink.
I added my name to a few more of the lists before the lights started to flicker in the auction room. An announcer piped in over the loud speakers, “Ladies and gentleman, if you’d please finalize your bids and move to the main lobby. The concert will begin in five minutes.”
I had forgotten about the concert. Lexi Wilde was performing tonight. I’d listen to the first few songs and then call my driver. I didn’t need to stick around until the end of the show.
She wasn’t my kind of music. All she sang about was falling in love, family, and living out dreams. I knew who she was because she was on every single Texas country station. She was interviewed every night. You couldn’t get away from the girl. Her bright blue eyes and innocent smile were plastered on magazine covers and billboards.
I followed the crowd to the lobby where the mayor of Austin was prepared to cut the ribbon for the opening of the hospital. At least the damn symphony had stopped. I looked up to see long black curtains draped over the side with LW interlaced in white.
I listened to the mayor’s speech, while the people around me bobbed their heads in agreement. I posed for a few pictures with fans and then skirted my way to the front. I stepped off to the side. I figured the closer I was to the star, the less likely I was to be the center of attention.
The lights dimmed and I rolled my eyes as the tuxedo and sequin-clad audience clapped as if we were at a golf tournament. This party couldn’t be duller. I was sober. I had paid a fortune for crap I was never going to use, and I’d lost sight of Vienna Crawford. She probably had to leave early to get her husband tucked in bed.
I pulled my phone out to message the driver as the lights went out. I looked up as the spotlight made a bright white circle at the back of the stage.
It was all theatrics. Even in a small space like this, I could see the way it was choreographed. How Lexi would emerge and the fans would fall at her feet. Shit, there wasn’t much difference between this and running out of the tunnel on the Warriors’ field. The lights. The smoke. The intro music.
I saw this every week. The way the guys huddled together in the tunnel. The way the crowd roared before we took the field.
I felt my chest tighten for a second. I didn’t want to be anybody’s damn circus clown. This entire production reminded me that was exactly what I was. The Warriors were turning me into their own pop princess and I wasn’t going to play their game.
I turned to leave. I didn’t give a shit if Coach was mad I didn’t stay until the end. I had done enough for one night. I shoved my phone in my pocket just as the drums crescendoed and then there was silence, except for one clear note. One piercing note that ricocheted off the walls, and made everyone stare at the stage.
I stopped in my tracks and looked over my shoulder. The spotlight blurred her into a blaze of white, but slowly the lights evaporated like the smoke, and standing on stage was Lexi Wilde.
I didn’t know when it happened, but I pivoted and pushed past the people in front of me, taking my post on the side of the crowd again. I could see over everyone. One of the advantages of being six five.
And what I saw was like white fire. I couldn’t look away. I’d probably heard this song before. I’d heard all her songs, but I always turned the station. I didn’t know what she was singing about, or what the lyrics meant. But there was something in her voice. A pureness I heard without the instruments drowning her out. Without all the electronic manipulation.
And as stupid as it sounds, I thought I saw her look at me from the stage. She smiled with big innocent eyes as she leaned down to touch the hands of the kids they had lined up in the front row. But it was there. A look. Maybe a wink. Her sapphire eyes were shining in my direction.
She held the mic, walking down the stairs and made her rounds through the children. She stopped for hugs. She stopped to take selfies, the entire time singing her song, not missing a single solid beat.
I watched as she took the steps again and stood at the front of the stage. “Hello, Austin.” She waved.
The crowd clapped and I heard the kids making whooping sounds for her.
“Thank y’all for inviting me here tonight.” She grinned at the front row. “Because this is a special occasion. And I’m honored and blessed to be here with you to open the children’s wing of Austin’s Westwood Hospital.” She knew when to pause for the applause. “So, tonight this is a celebration. It’s a night to feel good about what we’ve done for these children, and for all of the children who are going to walk through those doors.” She pointed behind the crowd.
&nbs
p; “So don’t be bashful. We have a lot to celebrate. And we still have a lot of funds to raise. Put your hands together and let’s get this party started.”
She began to clap and the crowd was in unison with her. I looked around at the spell she had cast over these people. They were happy. They fucking loved her.
And that’s when I realized there was a part about the football glitz I loved. The flood of adrenaline. The fans chanting my name. The cheerleaders screaming on the sidelines. It was fucking amazing. The rush of football. It was everything to me. And for a split second, Lexi Wilde looked at me and I felt it. I felt that same rush.
And I couldn’t move. I couldn’t turn away. The gentle sway of her hips and the way her eyes lit every time she turned toward my end of the stage captured my full attention. I was stuck. Stuck listening to something angelic in her voice. Stuck waiting for the next song to play.
I followed her legs and those sexy boots as she moved from one end of the small stage to the other. There was something fascinating about Lexi Wilde and I had to figure out what it was. Why I couldn’t turn away. Why I stared. Why I suddenly picked up my phone and needed to cancel my car.
Six
Alexa
“Babe, that was beautiful. You were beautiful.” Jake met me at the back of the stage, handing me a bottle of water, and planted a kiss on my cheek. He looked almost as flush as I was.
I twisted the cap and took a few sips. It wasn’t one of my full-blown concerts, but it was an entire set and I could already feel my voice starting to crack. He had pushed me too hard to do the extra meet and greet, and added an interview with the Austin Times.
“Thanks.” I held the bottle against my chest. It started to soak through my white shirt.
“The press is going crazy. You should see the social media accounts. They are blowing up. I can’t keep up with all of them.”
I glared at him. “Jake, these are sick kids. I’m not trying to exploit that.”
“No, you leave that part to me.”
He was like an evil genius I couldn’t control. I didn’t know when the switch had occurred for him. There was a time when he was a friend, a confidant even, but now he was hungry to be at the top. And I was his only way to stay there. He didn’t care if that meant using sick children for photo ops, or offering a free concert for national publicity. He was starving for every headline I could capture.
“What time do we leave tomorrow?” I asked. I rarely knew my schedule ahead of time, but I had been promised a few days home in Nashville. I had visions of sleeping in my own bed.
He steered me toward the side of the stage where we could talk without fan interruptions. “First, we have more photo ops. The mayor wants a picture.”
“Of course she does.”
“And before we take off in the afternoon I have you scheduled to stop by as many of the kids’ rooms as possible. Take your guitar and play a few of their favorites. They’ll want autographs. Meet a few of the doctors. You know the drill, babe.”
“That I don’t have a problem with.” I was about to lay into him about all of the other things he expected of me when my back slammed into something as solid as a wall, but it had arms and a chest.
I turned slowly and looked up. I knew that chiseled face and grin. I had seen those bedroom eyes pop up more than once in the headlines. What was Luke Canton doing here? This was definitely not his kind of scene.
“Sorry,” I eked.
“No, don’t apologize. I was coming back stage to see you. Good show.”
I stared at his massive frame. “You came to see me? You like my music?”
He shoved his hands in his pockets. “I liked it tonight.”
I laughed. “I guess I’ll take that. I just don’t see you as the country fan boy type.” The Warriors’ quarterback was notorious for partying, and I didn’t think any of my songs would make it on to his playlist.
That made him chuckle. “I have a lot of different tastes.”
Jake grabbed me by the shoulders and whispered in my ear. “We need to keep moving, Lex.”
Luke was in front of me, and he didn’t look like he had any intention of stepping out of the way.
“I was hoping we could talk.” His voice was low. “I like what you did up there.”
There was a slight shiver running through my heated exhausted body.
“I have a meet and greet and then I’m free.” I smiled. I could feel the anger rising off of Jake’s neck behind me. “You sticking around that long?” I asked.
“I think I could manage.” Good Lord his smile was having a sinful effect on me.
“Not tonight, you’re not,” Jake butted in. “You’re booked, Lex. Sorry, Mr. Canton. We can certainly put a fan pack in the mail for you. Would you say you’re a size XL?”
I spun around to face my dick of a manager. Jake had sized up the media fallout of this situation in half a second. He didn’t want me spotted with Austin’s most infamous playboy. He didn’t want me speaking to him, have a picture taken with him, and he especially did not want me spending any one-on-one time with him. Three years with Jake had taught me how to predict the way his manipulative mind worked. The panic was written in his eyes. The cameras were around the corner, and if I stepped into view with Luke things could turn into a publicity nightmare for Jake.
I suddenly realized the possibilities Luke Canton presented. I held my tongue, and instead of lashing out at Jake I turned my smile to the tall quarterback. I could have a little fun, and prove a point.
“Sorry my manager is a little rude.” I eyed Jake to put him in his place. “Like I said, I’m free after the meet and greet.”
“Great, I’ll see you then.” His eyes lit with promise and I couldn’t help the slight flutter it created.
I brushed past him with Jake’s ire on my neck, but I didn’t care.
As soon as we were out of Luke’s earshot, Jake hissed, “What in the hell are you thinking? You can’t be seen with him. Not even here.”
“Since when do you decide who my fans are? I thought any press was good press?”
“Babe, we both know there is such a thing as bad press and Luke Canton is the definition of it. He’s the equivalent of a morally deprived man whore. I don’t want you within a five-mile radius of him. Understand?”
I smirked. “Guess that’s going to be pretty hard since we’re under the same roof at the same charity event.” I smiled sweetly. “For the children.”
“I didn’t know he was going to be here, or I would have prepared for the optics. Must have been a last minute addition to the guest list.” He stopped long enough to suck in a breath. “He’s off limits, Lex. Off limits.”
Before he could berate me any further, I stepped quickly into the room where the fans were waiting for autographs. For this event, there was a charitable contribution expected, except from the children. I’d never accept a penny from them. They were the reason I was here. One hundred percent of the proceeds from tonight’s concert and all of my merchandise would be donated to the new wing of the hospital.
This hospital was going to become the gold standard for what children’s medical care should look like. There were aquariums in the lobbies. Rooms full of toys. There was an art studio and even a music lounge for kids to kick back in gaming chairs and listen to music.
No one wanted to bring their child here, but if they did, they knew they were getting the best care in the best environment.
I took my place behind the long table and took a sip of water. There were a dozen different colored markers scattered and a pile of pictures from the cover of my latest album. I was lying in a field of wildflowers. The sun illuminated the blond streaks in my hair, and my guitar was in the grass next to me. I snickered every time I had to sign that picture. It was the day I had a full-blown allergy attack and Helena had to redo my makeup at least ten times. All of it was smoke and mirrors. My entire career was like that cover.
Jake left me to greet the fans. “We’ll talk about th
is on the ride back to the hotel. Stay away from him.”
“Yes, Dad, and did you want to give me a curfew too?” I grinned sweetly.
I reached for the first picture. “Hi.” I smiled at the woman in front of me, dressed in a silver glittery gown. She looked like she could be one of the hospital’s big donors. I wanted to be extra sweet in case it added to her generosity tonight.
“Who should I make it out to?”
“Betty, please.”
“All right, Betty.” I scribbled my usual wishes for love and music and signed my name.
“It was a beautiful concert,” she gushed. “Just beautiful.”
“Thank you. I’m glad you could be here for the event.” I handed her the glossy photo before the next fan moved forward in line.
I don’t know how many people passed through. I didn’t keep count of the tuxedos or cocktail dresses snaking through the line. I reminded myself I was raising thousands of dollars. My wrist was starting to ache. I had barely glanced up when I heard a deep voice. A solid, strong hand slid my album cover in front of me.
“You can write it out to Luke.”
I cleared my throat. “Anything else?” I wanted to sound casual and normal, but there was something about Luke Canton that stirred something in my stomach.
I had only spent a combined total of two minutes in the man’s company, but I felt nervous and giddy. It wasn’t something I had felt in awhile. I was almost afraid to look up—afraid he would see what he was doing to me.
He leaned toward me. “Depends on how much you can put on one of these pictures.”
I wasn’t going to blush. I refused to let him get under my skin, even though he was blatantly flirting, and I was blatantly returning the cues.
I used the fuchsia pen and scribbled a few lines. I added my phone number at the end, eyeing him as I handed it to him.
His eyebrows rose. “Did you think I was asking for your number?”
“Weren’t you?” I challenged.
“I did pay a thousand dollars for the autograph.”