by Ava Miles
“She managed to take you to the top,” Clayton said, “when you were farting around.”
“I’m a changed man,” Rye said. “Beau, if you learn anything from the change in my image, it’s this: fans like to see the true heart of a man. My fans enjoyed my bad boy ways, but now the very same people praise me for being a family man. You’re not swinging as far from the left to the right as I did. We have some shoveling to do, but this is going to settle down pretty fast. Trust me on that.”
“I do,” he said, glad to hear his friends echo his earlier thoughts about the fans. “You’re a good friend. Both of you.”
“We got your back, Bubba. Now go call your mama and do what you’ve got to do.”
Something slammed, and Beau glanced over sharply to see a dark-haired man in a suit standing in the doorway. The tailored suit and hard look in his green eyes, the same shade as Caitlyn’s, told him he’d met Quinn Merriam.
“You’ll need to cut that call short,” the man said in a terse tone. “We have business.”
Caitlyn appeared, her face stark white.
She knew about Ryan Williams. They both did.
His chest tightened. God, he’d never imagined hurting her like this. “Rye, I need to go. I’ll take care of things and get back to you.”
“We’ll be waiting,” Rye said.
Beau set the phone on the windowsill. “If this is about Ryan Williams—”
“You’re damn right it is,” the man ground out. “Let me introduce myself. I’m Quinn Merriam, and I’m going to sue the hell out of you for breach of contract, verbal or otherwise. And I’m going to break you in two for lying to my sister.”
“Quinn—” Caitlyn grabbed his arm. “Beau, tell me it’s not true. Was it your mom? I know you wouldn’t do this.”
Her faith moved him, never more so than in this moment.
“The hell he wouldn’t,” Quinn said. “He only signed an NDA, Caitlyn. That keeps his options open, right, Beau? What did they offer you? More money?”
Beau stalked across the room and faced the man down. “Look, man, I didn’t authorize this. I’m fully committed to Caitlyn’s perfume. My mama—my manager—acted without me. I was about to call and fire her before you stormed in.”
“Quinn, I told you,” Caitlyn said, grabbing his arm.
The man stared at him through narrowed eyes. “That doesn’t begin to undo this clusterfuck. You promised my sister you would be the spokesperson for her perfume, and now people around the world know you’ve signed a contract with Ryan Williams. And after your cozy evening out with my sister, which is plastered all over social media.”
Beau got in his face. “You’re calling me a two-timing liar?”
“If the shoe fits,” Quinn said.
“Quinn—”
“Out of respect for Caitlyn,” Beau interrupted, “I’m not going to punch you for that. But you’d best watch your tone. I didn’t lie.”
“No? Well, the media is going to think maybe you did. Some might say you’ve been playing with Caitlyn on the side while making a deal with our competitor. Or that my sister has been using her wiles to get you to sign with her. Do you understand our problem? And don’t you dare tell me to watch my tone.”
“You are so out of line, Quinn,” Caitlyn said, her hands fisted at her sides.
“Quinn,” Caitlyn’s father said, coming into the room. “I’m not supposed to intercede in Merriam business anymore, but I heard you both shouting all the way downstairs. Given my impression of Beau—”
“You only met him last night, Dad,” Quinn said.
“I taught you to take a man’s measure in one look, one handshake. You need to hear me on this, son.”
Quinn opened his suit jacket, laying his hands on his waist. “Fine, but we’re in a serious predicament here, Dad. And that’s not even considering how this will affect Caitlyn or her reputation.”
“Stop speaking for me,” she said, coming over to Beau and standing before him. “This is my project we’re talking about. Beau, tell me what’s going on. Start from the beginning.”
He put his hands on her shoulders and gazed into her strained eyes. “I love you. That’s first up and the most important.”
Her brother scoffed, and Beau shot him a look.
“Second, I didn’t authorize the Ryan Williams thing. My mama threatened me through a friend and my label about meeting with them, but I didn’t think she’d go this far—not when she knew how I felt about your venture.”
“What?” She stepped back from him. “You knew she was talking to them?”
“I didn’t think she’d do anything. I hadn’t even read their proposal. I didn’t want to talk to her, so I…” Shit, this was on him. “I should have stopped her.”
“Yes, you should have,” Caitlyn said, staring at him.
“You were having problems with your manager, but you let her continue to act with legal authority on your behalf?” her brother asked. “I don’t care if she’s your mama. What kind of idiot are you?”
Beau closed the distance between them and shoved Quinn back a step. “I don’t need to explain myself to you.”
The man was in his face immediately. “You made a commitment to Merriam Enterprises verbally and in an NDA, and I’m the vice president, so you sure as hell do.” He shoved him back.
“Quinn!” Caitlyn cried.
“Stop this!” Shawn shouted. “Both of you. We’ll work this out like gentlemen. Squabbling isn’t going to resolve anything. Beau, you should go ahead and make that call to your mama. Then I’d recommend calling your lawyer so they can talk to the Ryan Williams people and explain that she acted without your authorization. It will be embarrassing, perhaps, but we’ll find a way to spin it for both of our camps.”
Standing between her father and brother, Caitlyn seemed small, her shoulders stooped in pure dejection. Beau was going to have to fix this for her as much as him. “I was talking to people on just those points when you came in.” He glared at Quinn. “You should know my record label just dropped me—”
“More good news,” Quinn sneered.
What an asshole. “We’re going to find me a new home. I’m signing with a new manager who has clout, but yes, right now my career is in trouble. There’s one thing I do know. Caitlyn, if you’ll trust me…”
“Oh, Beau, how could they drop you?” She shuffled forward and took his hands, searching his face.
Pain surged at her concern. He’d messed everything up, but she was worried about him. “They didn’t like my new songs or creative direction. Caitlyn, they dumped me in a voicemail. After being with them for my whole career.”
She put her arms around him. “I’m so sorry.”
“Me too, Beau,” Shawn said softly. “Quinn, let’s leave them alone for a bit.”
“Dad, we need to iron things out here and protect our interests,” Quinn said. “Caitlyn, don’t let him talk you into anything.”
“Shut up, Quinn!” she said, making her brother reel back in shock. “I appreciate you showing up with your fiery sword on behalf of me and Merriam Enterprises, but I’m not a child. If it makes you feel any better to hear it, you were right. I was wrong not to insist on Beau signing a contract up front, but I know we’re going to work this out.”
“It’s still going to look bad,” Quinn said. “Caitlyn, I hate to do this, but it’s my job. I green-lit your new perfume venture based on Beau Masters’ media appeal. That seems to be in the tank right now. Are you sure you want him? Take your feelings out of the equation. We can find someone else to be your spokesman.”
Caitlyn crossed her arms. “Just moments before you were spouting off about commitments, Quinn.”
Her brother’s gaze seemed to pick him apart. “That was before I knew about this. It’s a serious matter, Caitlyn.”
“I know it is.” She turned and looked at him, her inspection like the pause between a chorus and refrain, and Beau held his breath. “Better than you, Quinn. Beau, I was at the res
taurant last night and heard what that couple said. Do you believe your fans are going to embrace the new you?”
He met her gaze head on. This was the businesswoman talking. He knew the woman—his woman—embraced the new him. “I just got off the phone with Rye Crenshaw. We have a plan. If you know anything about Rye’s history, you know he got even more popular after changing his image. If anyone knows how to turn negative press around, it’s Rye.” He realized he was the one doing the selling, and perhaps that wasn’t a bad thing. Caitlyn’s brother needed to hear it. He wasn’t a man to go on blind faith.
“It’s still risky,” Quinn said, yanking on his tie. “I don’t know anything about this Rye fellow, but having you as our spokesperson just became a liability. Might be better to cut ties altogether.”
Beau held his breath.
“That’s my decision to make,” Caitlyn said, flicking her brother a hard glance. “If Beau says he’s going to turn it around, I believe him. I also believe in this new direction. In the beginning, I was a little concerned he was moving so far away from the image I originally wanted, but in truth, he’s more compelling now than he was then. I still think he’s the right man for the job. Add in the power of Merriam Enterprises, and we’ll get back on track.”
He wanted to close the distance between them and kiss the heck out of her. Given the company, he settled instead for “thank you.”
“That’s settled then,” Shawn said. “Like Caitlyn said, we’ll put all our resources behind this. Come on, Quinn, let’s find a bucket of water to put out your sword.”
“Dad, I’m doing the job you asked of me,” the man said, leaving with his father. “This situation—”
“I know, son,” Beau heard, and then he and Caitlyn were alone together.
Needing to touch her, to claim her, he kissed her full on the lips before pulling back. “Thank you, Sunshine. You have no idea what that meant to me.”
“My brother was out of line, but he was also forcing us to look at the business side of things. I’m still mad, but I’m glad he pushed it. Because this is business, Beau, and we swore to keep the personal and professional separate.”
He nodded. “Speaking of, I need to call my mama,” he said, the thought making his belly cramp. “Will you sit with me? I… It’s not every day you fire your own mama. God, how did it come to this?”
Some of the good times flashed in his mind: celebrating at Outback Steakhouse after he signed his first record deal; presenting her with his first CMA award backstage; watching her cry when he played the first song he’d written about her, “Always in My Corner.” He hung his head. Not all his memories were bad, but that didn’t matter. She wasn’t in his corner now, even though she probably thought otherwise.
Caitlyn patted his back as he dialed her number.
“Hello, Mama,” he said when she answered.
“Boy, it’s about time you called. Beau, we have one hell of a storm to weather, but we’re going to do it. Tommy is going to rue the day he cut my son.”
Even the outrage in her angry drawl didn’t appease him none. “Mama, you were wrong to sign me to Ryan Williams. You knew I intended to do Caitlyn Merriam’s perfume.”
“It’s bad for your image, but you wouldn’t listen. That girl has you tied in knots, boy. I saw those pictures of you in that fancy Eurotrash suit, sipping pink champagne. Don’t tell me what I know. You never dressed like a homo before you met that girl, and you sure as hell never drank. She’s a bad influence, and your label dropping you is proof of that. Luckily the Ryan Williams people like your new look—classic Americana, they’re calling it, even if it sounds like bullshit to me. They didn’t drop you, which is why I put out that press release after talking to them. We needed a move, and after managing you all this time, I knew what had to be done. That you question it shows how messed up in the head you are.”
He wondered how long ago she’d signed it. It hadn’t been the last-ditch act of desperation he’d believed it to be. That made it easier to say what he needed to say, but it still didn’t feel easy. “I’m not going to honor the contract, Mama. In fact, I’m calling to tell you… It’s time we parted ways.”
Silence hung heavily on the line, and then she burst out, “You’re firing me? Your very own mama? The one who raised you and helped you become the man you are today? The famous singer you are today? No, sir. This isn’t my Beau talking. I know you’re mad at me right now, but you’d never do something this hurtful.”
He clutched the phone. “Hurtful? Pot calling the kettle black, Mama. I never thought you’d lie or go behind my back. Mama, we’re through.” Discussing it further would be pointless. “Clayton Chandler will be serving you papers shortly on that score, and then Georgia Belle Chandler is gonna help me turn around things.”
“Rye Crenshaw’s old manager? That son of a bitch. I knew you were tight, but this is—”
“He’s a good friend, Mama. I don’t know what else there is to say. Maybe we’ll speak of other things someday…”
“Other things,” she said, her drawl turning from honey to battery acid. “You mean your real daddy. Isn’t that why you’re punishing me, Beau?”
He rubbed his jaw. “Mama, I’m not punishing you. I already asked you for the truth, and you refused to give it to me.”
“But that’s before you told your mama she was out.” Her breathing was audible over the line. “What would you give me for your real daddy’s name, Beau?”
Even he could hear the serpent’s hiss in her voice. How he wanted that apple. “You offering a trade, Mama?”
She made a rude sound. “To keep my place at your side, you bet. You’ll honor the Ryan Williams agreement. It will help your career. Besides, if you back out of this deal, your word will be shit. You know that, right, Beau?”
His jaw locked. Once a man lost his credibility, it was an uphill climb to get it back. “You’ve neatly boxed me in a corner.”
“I know my son.”
Yes, she did. He imagined she’d been planning this since the moment he’d left her house. “What else?”
“The new songs and this new Eurotrash look have to go. I’ll figure out a way to get the Williams people on board.”
His truth. She was asking him to give up his truth. He wouldn’t do it. “No.”
She was quiet, and he could almost hear the wheels in her mind turning. “I know every shade of your voice, son. Fine. The Williams’ cologne only.”
He couldn’t believe he was still talking to her, let alone negotiating with her, and yet…how could he pass up the chance to learn his daddy’s name? He had a plan to save his career, but this could be his only chance to learn the truth about himself.
“You’re still out, Mama.” That wasn’t negotiable.
“So I save my son’s career with this spokesperson gig, you walk into a new record deal, and you get your real daddy’s name? Sounds like I’m getting the short stick.”
But could he even count on his mama to be truthful?
“How will I know you’re telling me the truth about my real daddy?” he asked.
A shudder ran through him, and Caitlyn met his gaze. Before, she’d had her head down, and he’d been too caught up in the conversation to discern what she was thinking. Would Caitlyn understand? Her brother probably still thought they should find another spokesman for her perfume. Surely they could. With Ibrahim as their perfumer, the product would sell itself.
“You can do that gene testing thing, can’t you? Besides, he already knows about you. Has for years.”
He almost folded over from the pain. “What do you mean my real daddy knows about me?”
“You met him when you were young, before I stopped him from seeing you behind my back.”
He inhaled sharply. “What do you mean you stopped him? More betrayal, Mama?”
“Oh, you want his name so badly you can taste it. Let’s finalize our deal. You keep paying me my salary.”
Somehow he wasn’t surprised the money was a
consideration for her. “Fine.” He had more money than he could spend in a lifetime, and despite everything, she was his mama. He couldn’t let her be poor again.
“And you do the Williams thing. Then I’ll give you your real father’s name.”
He glanced at the top of Caitlyn’s brown hair. Could he really agree to this?
“Otherwise, I take it to my grave, Beau.”
He could hear the steel in her voice. God help him, she meant it.
“He’d probably even want a father-son relationship with you.” His heart thudded at the words. “After all, he’s a real good man. Like you.”
Her arrow struck hard and true. His mind filled with visions of meeting his daddy for the first time. He’d finally know the fullness of his roots. He’d finally understand where the other half of his features had come from. Maybe his daddy would come to his concerts. He could imagine grilling out back with him at the Dare River house, Caitlyn laughing with them as they all drank rosé together on the deck.
He squeezed his eyes shut. God, his mama was right. He wanted this so badly he could taste it. But he turned to the woman still resting her hand on his back in comfort. Could she understand this? She’d stood up to her brother for him, believed in him when it felt like no one did. But this was his daddy…
God, she had to understand.
“Okay, Mama, you win. The Williams deal and your full salary. Now, give me my daddy’s name.”
He felt Caitlyn tense against him. Watched as she stood before him, her narrowed eyes glued to his face.
I’m sorry, he mouthed, holding out his hand to her.
She shook her head slowly in disbelief and walked out of the room.
“Your real daddy is Carlos Garcia.” Mama laughed shrilly as the shock rolled through him. “Remember him? He was the landscaper at your elementary school after Walt died.”
“Mr. Garcia?” The quiet groundskeeper had been kind to him right after Walt had died, showing him how he cut the bushes around the school. Beau remembered helping him plant bright flowers in the big pots in the front of the school. Mr. Garcia had even let him sit on the riding mower when he’d mowed the soccer field and surrounding areas. He’d thought they were friends. But one day, he was simply gone. Beau had never known why, and the school representatives had told him he’d taken another job; they didn’t know where or why. He’d kept looking for him around town, but he’d never seen him again.