by Tara Randel
“Cassie, I don’t have to stress the importance of this next record being a hit.”
No, he didn’t. She thought about it every second of every day.
The bell above the door tinkled as new customers walked in. A tall, dark-haired man walked by with his arm around a snappily dressed woman with reddish hair. She was just about to look away when she noticed the third person in the trio. Luke. She shifted away.
“Cassie, what’s wrong? You blanked out there.”
“Sorry. I’m in a busy coffee shop.”
“Back to business. What’s your plan?”
“To keep coming up with songs.”
“You only have a few weeks.”
“Please, don’t remind me.”
“Then I’m gonna say it again—get Hastings on board. The label will be thrilled.”
She glanced at Luke who stood in the order line, chatting up the couple. What would he say to her manager’s idea of collaborating? Did she dare ask?
Lowering her voice, she said, “Travis, you can’t say anything about Luke. No one is to know we’re working together.”
“You gotta be kidding. This is big news.”
“I’m not going to blow this chance by spooking Luke. If you say anything, how long will it be before the tabloids get wind? I can guarantee he won’t talk to me afterward. Then my plan goes up in smoke.”
“I understand. Just promise you’ll keep me in the loop. If you’re still having trouble, call me. We’ll figure something out. Together.”
“You know, for a guy who plays favorites, you’re okay.”
“Buttering me up, are you?”
“Of course.”
His chuckle assured her he was on board, even if grudgingly. Now she had to launch into the next part of the conversation.
“While I still have you on the line, I have a request.”
“Hit me.”
“Since my father’s wedding, he’s been making overtures to connect himself professionally with me. I wondered what the big hurry was and finally got to the truth last night. He wants to do another movie score and asked if I would talk to you about maybe representing him.”
The long silence made Cassie nervous.
“I’m gonna be up front with you, Cassie. No one wants to work with Robert.”
Despite her strained relationship with her father, Travis’s words shocked her.
“Why not?”
“He has a reputation for being difficult. Likes to run people over to get what he wants.”
“I had no idea. I mean, I know what he’s like when he wants something, but others in the industry are aware of it? Sounds pretty serious.”
“I’m afraid so. As much as I’d do anything to help you, in this case, I’ll have to pass.”
She tugged at her side braid. Her father was not going to be happy with this news. And he’d likely blame her. “Thanks for hearing me out, Travis.”
“Cassie, there’s more.”
Oh, no.
“He’s been casually dropping hints that the two of you are a package deal. I’ve had a few calls on the subject. Assured certain people that’s not the case.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I know how...difficult your relationship is with Robert. I just handled it for you.”
How like Travis. To look out for her welfare, unlike her very own father.
“I’m... I don’t know what to say.”
“Say you’ll keep writing. Keep your father away from your career. Make me and the label proud. You need a hit, Cassie.”
No pressure, right?
The daunting task of making so many people happy made her stomach revolt. The coffee she’d enjoyed moments earlier now burned, leaving a sour taste in her mouth. She said a hasty goodbye to Travis and gathered her things. Before escaping, she chanced one last look at Luke. To her surprise he was already watching her, his brows angled over his eyes. Their gazes met, held, and a jittery warmth crept over her. Time to go.
Once on the sidewalk, she panicked, unsure of which direction to run. Desperate, she caught sight of the town gazebo in the distance. She stumbled in that direction, gulping fresh air as she went.
At the park, she ran up the steps of the gazebo, dropped her belongings and plopped down on the bench. Lowered her head between her knees. Breathe. You can do this.
But could she?
Travis’s words weren’t meant as a threat, but his intent was clear. Perform or the label drops you. Maybe even Travis, too, if things went sideways. If she didn’t get inspiration soon, she might be back to booking gigs in local clubs. While she’d loved it on her way up, she didn’t have the enthusiasm for that life. She wanted stability, which was not a cohesive concept in the creative world. One day you were on top, another no one remembered your name. That was why she needed the next record to be a hit, or her short-lived success might crumble.
And what about her father? He lived for his career. This news would be devastating to him, but worse was his underhanded way of grasping her coattails. So he’d developed a negative reputation in the business. How was it her problem?
“Cassie. Are you okay?”
Her head jerked up. Silhouetted by the bright sun behind him, Luke stood in the entryway, his broad shoulders filling the space.
“You took off from Cuppa Joe’s like you’d gotten bad news.”
She tried to speak, but found her throat blocked. Tears swamped her. How she hated this loss of control, especially in front of Luke.
When she didn’t answer, his shoes thumped over the wooden floor as he crossed to sit beside her.
“Cassie?”
She held up a hand. Mentally got her act together. Luke didn’t need to be privy to her problems. She hated being so needy and vulnerable around the man she’d only wanted to impress. The man she was so easily falling for. The man who couldn’t let go of his past.
“It’s nothing.” She strove for a wobbly smile. “I was talking to my manager. Going over career logistics. You know the drill.”
His steady gaze revealed he wasn’t convinced by her answer. “You seem pretty rattled.”
“I’m counting the days until I go back to the studio, Luke. So yeah, I’m a bit off.”
“Nothing new has come to you?”
Yeah, lyrics about his kisses. Like she was going to admit the truth. “I came up with another song last night.”
“You still need more.”
Yes. She did. Staring over the pristine beach adjacent to the park, with the sugary sand glistening and the clear blue water meeting the horizon, she breathed a silent prayer. “Yeah. You’d think with this beautiful view, how could I not come up with a winner?”
In reality, she needed to sit here. Soak in her surroundings. Children scampering about and laughing, parents watching their children with eagle eyes as they played in the surf. Bodies lined up to bathe in the sun, spreading coconut-scented lotion on pale skin. Boys throwing a Frisbee in the ankle-deep water while girls walked by, whispering about those same boys.
It may have been years since she was a teen, but she recognized it all. Running with every bit of inspiration the beach scene offered her, she dug her songbook from her bag. Scribbled her observations.
“Let me guess. You got an idea?”
“I don’t know why I didn’t come here sooner. I love the beach. I always loved lying back, dozing off after a late night by the town bonfire, my sunglasses on so no one knew I was asleep.”
They looked at each other. Said simultaneously, “Sleeping in Sunglasses.”
Cassie held up her hand for a high five. “Cool name for a song.”
Chuckling, Luke slapped her hand with his. He lingered, the rough calluses on his fingers from playing the guitar brushing over her tende
r skin. Their gazes met. Held. To her dismay, the heavy longing weighing her heart for this man overwhelmed her and soon, they both dropped their hands.
Luke settled back against the bench. When he spoke, his voice was thick. “Just let it flow, Cassie. Naturally. You know you can’t force it.”
She peeked at him, then grinned.
“My inspiration could be you, you know. You show up and...” she said and snapped her fingers in the air. “I get an idea.”
“That’s a nice compliment, but it’s all you.”
“Tell that to my manager.”
“He’s breathing down your back?”
“No. Concerned, naturally, but always supportive.” When he wasn’t piling on the pressure of her commitments.
“Write down your impressions. If you want, we could go over them later.”
“I don’t want to bother you.”
“Actually, it would kind of be a trade-off.”
“How?”
“The band is playing a wedding Saturday night. Ryan’s baby is sick and his wife is stressed, so he cancelled. I was going to ask if you’d fill in for him.”
“I’d love to.”
“Great. There’s no pressure, but you should also know it’s an audition, too. The couple I was with in Cuppa Joe? They’re getting married in a few months and will be at this reception. They haven’t booked music for their event yet, so we have to make a good impression or they’re going with a DJ.” He shivered in mock disgust.
“Are you going with the standards?”
“We usually do.”
“Then I shouldn’t have any problem following you.”
He placed his hands on his knees, pushing off as he stood. “The reception starts at seven.”
“Wait.” She looked up. “Before you go, I have a question.”
He nodded.
“Have you heard Erin sing?”
“Not solo. But I have heard her harmonize with a group.”
“I was thinking, what if we get her to lead the song for the news story? It’ll include her in something important, maybe give her some confidence.”
Luke lowered himself back to the bench. “I like the idea, but Cassie, I have to warn you, getting close to Erin might not bring the outcome you expect.”
“She’s obviously struggling. It probably has to do with her home life.”
“No doubt. But until she’s willing to sit down and talk to one of the counselors the Klub keeps on staff, I wouldn’t delve too deeply into her problems.”
“All I want to do is show her I care.”
“Which you should. Anything beyond that, you’re treading on thin ice.”
“Then why have volunteers at the Klub?”
“To steer the kids to professional advice.”
Made sense. But Erin had touched a kindred spirit inside her. Cassie only wanted the best for the teen. “I get it, Luke. I won’t play counselor, but I will continue to involve her.”
“Then ask her to sing. The others will be on board and maybe it’ll be the tipping point to get her to open up.” He stood again. “Do you want me to pick you up Saturday?”
“Sure. It’s a date.” Which it wasn’t, but she liked the sound of it.
“It’s a date.” His eyes grew smoky for a moment, then he pivoted on his heel and walked back to Main Street.
Cassie watched him go, admiring the sway of his shoulders, his confident stride. Oh, she might as well admit it. She had it bad for Luke Hastings.
With a sigh, she turned to the beach scene. A sort of peace came over her and she spent the next couple hours playing around with lyrics and melodies. Maybe she’d have a complete song list before she boarded the jet back to LA.
* * *
“SO, HOW DID you feel about the first set?” Luke asked Cassie as she stepped from behind the keyboard. Tonight she’d dressed in sleek black leather pants and a black tunic that screamed pop star. A spunky smile curved her lips, a welcome sight after the uptight expression he’d witnessed a few days earlier.
“The bride and groom look happy, so there’s your answer,” she said as she adjusted her chunky necklace.
The young couple, Bart and Jewel, danced to the entire set. The crowd, rowdy and upbeat, lifted the energy level on the outside patio of the Grand Cypress Hotel. The night, just now turning an inky black, tinged with sparkling stars, was still young, with plenty of dancing in store for the guests.
He shouldn’t have been surprised when Cassie harmonized with him like they’d been singing together forever. He’d noticed their ease initially at the Klub concert, when they’d naturally combined their voices. She exuded talent, no doubt about it, but when they sang together, his admiration for her went deeper. A time or two he’d looked over and their gazes met and held, banding his chest tight. He’d had to look away to concentrate on the words of the song he was singing. Yeah, Cassie had that much of an effect on him.
Sonny and Brian had jumped off the makeshift stage as soon as the last song ended, leaving him alone with Cassie. Well, alone as anyone could be at a reception full of people. If he were smart he’d join his buddies, but the lure of Cassie kept him in place. Her playful expression tied him up in knots because, let’s face it, he couldn’t deny his feelings any longer. He could make excuses all he wanted, but the truth stood before him, her hair in her usual braid, a mean green streak threaded through the twist, a smile on her lips and a twinkle in her eye. All he wanted was to run off with her. Write songs together. Sit on the back deck at his house and spend time getting to know every detail about her.
The truth had slowly snuck up on him. He’d spent too much time over the past two years trying to justify his anger at Tracy. Cassie’s presence in his life had actually been the catalyst to let it all go. Life was changing and he’d yet to catch up, but tonight was different. Tonight he needed to let Cassie know how he felt.
Yes, he’d intentionally kept her hanging when she’d asked about where he stood with his ex-wife. At the time, he hadn’t wanted to discuss Tracy or the past. But the bleak expression in Cassie’s eyes told him he had to make a choice. And fast. Otherwise she’d leave town and he might lose her.
Asking her to play with the band hadn’t only been about filling Ryan’s place. He hoped to have a conversation later that might change both their lives.
A shout of laughter yanked him from his thoughts. He wasn’t sure how the night would end, but right now he should focus on the job at hand. “I was wondering if you wanted to add one of your songs to the next set.”
“Uh, I’m flattered, but Luke, this is your band. I’m just the help tonight.”
“Hardly. Look, everyone here knows who you are. Might as well throw in an extra number. Who else can say Cassie Branford played at their wedding reception?”
“I’d be honored... If you don’t mind.”
“I wouldn’t have asked if I did.”
“True.” She bit her lower lip before saying, “How about throwing in one of your songs?”
That old familiar panic tightened his throat. “We don’t usually do my music.”
“So tonight we mix things up. Give the newlyweds a treat.”
His one rule, no music from his past, seemed foolish. Tonight was about new beginnings. Why not give it a go? “Any suggestions?”
“‘Won’t You Love Me Always.’”
“Wow. That was fast.”
She grinned, very unrepentantly. “I’ve always loved that song. Singing it with you would be a dream come true.”
Or a disaster. That had been the first song he and Tracy had written together. Their first hit, launching their career. But if he wanted to let the past go, that meant moving beyond the memories. The songs he’d written with Tracy would never go away, but the heaviness accompanying each one had
lessened. Maybe singing this particular song with Cassie was just what he needed to completely wipe away regrets. After all, the beginning of his career hadn’t been all bad.
“We’ll trade off. One of your songs and one of mine,” she said with that cocky smile that always took his breath away.
“Deal.”
“I’ll let the guys know.” She turned to walk to the steps at the end of the platform when Luke called out to her.
“Wait.”
She turned back. “Something wrong?”
“No. I wanted to thank you.”
When she tilted her head, he looked away. “No need. Playing tonight has been lots of fun.”
“Not for filling in. For the past few weeks. Getting to know you. Seeing you with the kids.”
An attractive blush swept over her fair skin.
“And I owe you.”
Her questioning brow rose.
“I never answered your question about my ex. I’ll admit, I hadn’t meant to forgive her any time soon, but being with you has made me rethink many things in my life.”
Her expression softened. “Are you saying there’s a chance we can build on this attraction?”
“I’d like to.”
Her grin started slowly, blossoming into a full-fledged smile as her eyes lit up. “I’d like to, as well.”
Nerves hit him like when he was a teenager, asking a girl out on a first date. “Okay, then.”
“So, where do we start?”
He leaned down and spoke into her ear, his breath sending a cascade of shivers over her skin. “I’d like to start by kissing you, but I noticed Mandy Rose lurking around. I don’t want this new relationship becoming fodder for the tabloids, especially before we figure it out. Been featured in those rags enough.”
She smiled at their secret. “I understand. And as much as I second kissing you, there are some things that should stay private for now.”
“And we need to get ready for the next set.”
As the band members returned, Sonny brandishing a napkin with a woman’s phone number on it, Luke told them about the change in the lineup.
“Dude, are you sure?” Brian asked, shock in his voice.
“We never do your songs,” Sonny chimed on the tail of Brian’s question.