Rockstar Secrets

by Ja'Nese Dixon

  “Yes. I can.” Brione was fully confident in her abilities to handle the job, it was him that gave her pause. The dates spanned July and August. Almost two months of traveling basically alone with Marques. The awareness of his scorching eyes on her made allocating his nearness as “professional” impossible.

  “I selected two cities on each coast and two in the south. We'd like to stream the Atlanta event, but Eliana’s still trying to figure that one out.”

  “I think the dates are off.” She sat forward and grabbed her cellphone to use the calendar as a reference.

  He leaned across her and the scent of his cologne ignited memories of her being wrapped up in his arms with the wall against her back. She forced back a groan by pinching her lower lip between her teeth.

  “That is our off week. I want to give the team some downtime. We’ll spend the week in Miami.”

  “We, as in the entire band?”

  “Yes, we. But I don’t expect the guys to hang around. It will be the two of us. So don’t forget to pack your bathing suits.” He relaxed draping an arm across the back of the couch.

  “What if I don’t want to stick around either?”

  “That would be too bad. I think we could have a lot of fun together.”

  “Andrew is this business or personal?”

  “Both.” His eyes dipped to her lips, and they tingled in response. “Have you visited Miami?”

  She shook her head.

  “I’ll be your personal tour guide. I have a couple appearances to make, but we could do some sightseeing. Visit South Beach or enjoy doing absolutely nothing but vegging on the beach.”

  “Is this a condition of me accepting the contract?”

  “No. Tell me you’re not interested and I’ll leave it alone.”

  She tilted her head. Nothing about this man said he would quit that easy, and she didn’t want him to. The thought that he wanted to spend time alone with her held her curiosity. That layered with the promise of seeing him in swim trunks on a beach.

  “I have one condition.”

  A stunned expression crossed his face, “And that is?”

  “Whatever we have on the road, must stay on the road.” She didn’t have time for a relationship. But something told her she’d be foolish to pass on this opportunity. Besides, she needed the money to convince Stewart she was capable of providing for Kayla. Some people had spring flings, she’d have a summer one, and then, they’d go their separate ways.

  “And I’ll have you all to myself for an entire week?” Her neck jerked back. He didn’t move, but he felt closer. “We are consenting adults. Say no, wave the white flag, and I’ll walk away.”

  Her shoulders relaxed at the finality in his tone. “And the same goes for you. If, you find someone else you want to dally with—”

  “Dally?” His eyebrow piqued and a slow smile crossed his face.

  “I’m not naive. I heard those women at your show. And I don’t blame them. But I won’t share.” She crossed her arms over her chest. Who knew she’d be negotiating for a week in Miami with a singer, a rockstar. A man that held a room of screaming women captivated. And he wanted her.

  One week to have him all to herself.

  “Neither will I. Something is happening between us, and it's not just the contract.” She merely stared at him. Lying about the chemistry between them was useless. “I want to know all of you. And we’ll take it as slow as you’d like. But promise me one thing, we keep it honest with each other.”

  His words gripped her heart. Today she was Brione the consultant giving Brione the woman a pass to enjoy life a little. She would leave her issues with Stewart, the Bradleys, and her parents behind in Texas.

  Brione extended her hand to seal the deal. Andrew took her small hand into his much larger one. He lifted it to his lips and kissed the back of her hand. And in an instant, she wanted his lips on hers. Instead, she slipped her hand from his.

  “Thank you for giving me this opportunity.”

  “You’re welcome.” He stood, and she did too. “I’m going to leave before I overstay my welcome.”

  “There’s no rush to leave.”

  Marques smiled. “I appreciate it, but I want to stand by my word and sitting here with you alone is too tempting.” He leaned in and kissed her softly. “I’ll call you tomorrow.”

  “Okay.”

  They walked to the door. “Which do you prefer Andrew or Marques?”

  He shrugged. “Either. My parents and most of my family call me Andrew, except the fellas. They call me Marques mainly due to business, and it stuck.”

  The thought of calling him Andrew seemed personal. Intimate.

  “Don’t forget to add calling Cameron to your list.”

  She chuckled stopping at the front door. “What list?”

  “I saw your monster notebook Sunday.” He reached for the door and opened it.

  “Of course. And Marques,” he glanced over his shoulder. “Thank you.”

  “You’re welcome, princess. Don’t forget to lock up behind me.”

  And like that he was gone. Brione had the financial means to ask Stewart for Kayla for the second half of the summer. Tomorrow she’d call Cameron and then the Bradleys. Her emotions were a jumbled mess. Excitement concerning the tour. Curiosity about the man whose kiss lingered on her lips. And hope to close out the summer with her baby under her roof.

  Then her phone rung. One glance at the display zapped the joy Marques left behind. She could talk to him now or later.

  “Hello Stewart, I wasn’t expecting to hear from you. How’s Kayla?” It was always safest to keep their conversations trained on the reason her life was chained to his.

  “Hello to you too.” Brione once thought of his cockiness as attractive now it reeked of the stench from a skunk, burning her nose and eyes, absorbing into her skin. “She’s in bed. I called to see if you’ve thought about our last discussion.”

  Discussion? Take the high road. Think of Kayla. “Actually I was just about to call you.”

  “Really?” She heard the alarm in Stewart’s voice. “That’s a first.”

  “My clerkship was moved, and now I have the end of the summer free. I’d love to spend that time with Kayla.”

  “Kayla?”

  “I will also do some research on venues for the…wedding,” she croaked.

  “How do you plan to take care of her, alone? How about we both come down for a visit?”

  “I don’t have classes, and we need this time to bond. Please, Stewart. She and I can hang out, and I’ll take her around the city to the zoo, the aquarium, maybe a little shopping.” She plastered a smile on her face. She once read somewhere that smiling made the voice sound more pleasant, she sent up a quick prayer asking for forgiveness for the small lie she had to tell. “I have a list of great places, and once I have the location, I can give you a date.”

  There she said it. Nothing could be further from the truth. She didn’t want to marry Stewart or give him a date. But she had to show them her ability to care for Kayla alone. Then he’d see there was no reason to keep them apart, and she’d negotiate to share custody with them after graduation.

  “How long are you requesting?”

  “Two weeks.” She held the phone close to her ear. Would he say yes? She wanted a month but not this time. It was best to baby step into her plan.

  “I’ll talk with my parents and call you back.”

  “Thank you, Stewart.”

  Brione ended the call and sat unmoved. She stared at the phone in disbelief. He was actually civil. Had an alien taken over his body? Had they really talked without threats and intimidation?

  A yelp of pure joy slipped from her mouth. She leaned back into the couch needing to release the exuberance pulsing through her veins. Her feet ran in place, arms flying like a mad woman. The net sum of it all filled her until she couldn’t contain herself. One by one the hidden desires of her heart were appearing in her life. She secured a six-figure contract, a wee
k in Miami with Marques and she could have Kayla alone in Houston. She laughed and kicked and wailed until her voice was hoarse and her legs were tired. Things were finally looking up for her.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Marques entered the building with one room in mind. The booth.

  For the past two weeks, he and Brione met with Cameron as they ironed out the details of his tour. Seven weeks on the road, one week alone with Brione. The venues were secured. The golden tickets mailed. Now it was up to him to deliver the goods. He had to give a superb show.

  He walked the quiet halls alone. He passed the plaques stopping at the cabinet. “National Academy of Recording Arts and Science. Best New Artist. Andrew Carter.”

  Reading the nameplate off his Grammy served as inspiration and a reality check. His first album moved at the speed of lightning. He signed with a major record label before his twenty-first birthday. He sold over a million copies, and he rode on the high for two years until it all crumbled around him. He blamed everyone for his fall—the world, his parents, his friends, his girlfriend at the time Samantha Foster.

  “Samantha…” He continued walking down the long hall. Sam did not compare to Brione. But he had fallen for the ambitious writer not knowing she would be instrumental in his fall from grace, using it as an opportunity to build her own career.

  Marques pulled the door open bidding the thoughts of her betrayal farewell. It made the second chance RSE provided much sweeter, and he would not allow another woman to derail him. Once was more than enough. One week should be more than enough to get the lovely Brione out of his system. And what if it isn’t? He shook off the thought, no woman was worth his second chance.

  Reminding himself of this fact did very little to curb his mind’s tendency to recall details of her smile. The intense face she made while jotting notes in her notebook. The way she used her fingers to drum on her cheeks when she was deep in thought. She’d jumped into the tour planning like a seasoned pro to the amusement of the entire RSE team.

  Entering the studio to find Bruce in his usual spot behind the mixer. They spent the past few nights finalizing his show tracks, but tonight he planned to deliver some bad news to his producer and friend. Thanks to his growing fascination with Brione he totally revamped the vibe for the tour.

  His mind raced with thoughts of one person for much of his waking hours. It was easier for him to release his energy through music and there seemed to be something about her that ignited his hormones and his urge to create, hence the new sound he wanted to test for his show. He’d find himself staring into space thinking about her, and a melody would emerge. Much like tonight.

  “What are you doing here?” Bruce asked glancing over his shoulder.

  Marques dropped into the chair beside him. “I’m here to drive you insane.”

  Bruce chuckled and turned in his chair to face Marques. “Spill it.”

  Marques pulled out his cellphone. “I want to find a way to keep the same setlist but recreate the sound.”

  “Recreate? What do you mean?”

  “I’m not sure. I want the setlist to remain the same but switch up the sound and delivery. I wanna take the audience on a journey. From old school to new school. Rich live vocals to a modern layered sound. Soft and intimate to edgy and raw.”

  “I like where you’re going with this.” Bruce nodded and rolled across the floor. He pressed play, and the two listened to the last version of his opening track. They bobbed their heads in sync.

  “Okay for this track. I’m thinking we could strip it down and make the vocals velvety.”

  Bruce lowered his head glancing at the floor. Marques waited. They had a musical relationship mirroring that of Motown when artists were developed from the ground up. After losing his deal, Cameron flew Marques to Houston where they spent over a year developing a new sound for him.

  “I think I got it. Jump in the booth.”

  Marques pushed up from the chair, he liked the spark in Bruce’s eyes. He knew how to push him into a better vocalist and a better writer.

  Marques entered the booth and stood behind the mic. To his left, he grabbed the headphones and lowered them over his ears.

  Bruce stood at the mixer and pushed a button, his voice traveled through the headset. “I want you to record the chorus for Intoxicated.”

  He nodded and waited for the music to flow. Marques didn’t need the sheet music or words to sing Intoxicated. He closed his eyes as Bruce lowered the lights. The track played, and the words took on a new meaning as Marques thought of Brione. In the booth, he didn’t have to filter his feelings. They made the songs more vibrant, more relatable. Tonight he’d sing about wanting her, being addicted to her, all while knowing he could not have her.

  One week would have to be enough.

  He’d make it enough.

  The music stopped, and he opened his eyes removing the headphones. He watched Bruce on the other side of the glass in the studio. Bruce motioned with a flick of his hand for Marques to rejoin him.

  “You killed that!”

  Bruce rolled around the room from the mixer to the computer off to the side. The screen showed the sixteen tracks. He clicked around as Marques lowered to the couch. Music was everything to him. His parents’ favorite party story was of him singing melodies and harmonizing with his father before he could talk. The threat of losing it had changed him into a man that refused to settle.

  His head dropped back as he let Bruce toy with the vocals. As the youngest child, Marques had nearly everything handed to him. To his detriment for years. He ran around with women, spent money like it grew on trees until his family cut him off cold turkey.

  One night.

  One night caused him to spin out of control. He tried to drown himself in booze and women. Anything to forget that night.

  There were many days that he wished he could erase it. That night molded him into a man that didn’t quit when the road got bumpy. He knew how to fight for what he wanted. And he wanted Brione.

  His eyes opened as he searched the ceiling for the courage to pursue her fully and remain intact. Could he do it?

  “Ready?” Bruce asked.

  “Yeah, man. Let me hear it.”

  His voice filled the room. He sounded like…like his father. He sat up, a slow smile crossed his face.

  “I knew you’d like it. I duplicated your voice.”

  Marques walked over to the computer as Bruce pointed at the tracks. “I stacked your voice five times. This one is the straight up. Then I panned the others in varying degrees to give us that old school sound you talked about.”

  “I love it.” His face hurt from smiling so hard. “Can we recreate this for the live show?”

  “Of course, you could do it with live vocalists, or we could mix the track and take the lead vocals out leaving the harmonies.”

  “Can we do both and I’ll run it by Brione? I wasn’t planning to take background singers. But we might need to reconsider and review the budget.”

  “How many songs do you want to use this sound?”

  Marques pulled out his phone and reviewed his notes. “I’m thinking maybe a quarter or so.”

  “Then what?”

  “I want to evolve the sound to mirror the mumble rap style. And I have a new song idea to debut.”

  “What’s gotten into you dude?” He slapped Marques’ back. Then rolled back to the mixer. “I’m loving this. Get back in the booth. We have a long night ahead.”

  It wasn’t what, but who. Marques retraced his steps back to the booth. Fighting his way back taught him about the boy he was and the man he wanted to become. At his core, he was a Carter man.

  A man that loved hard. The thought of loving again had the potential of spiraling out of control, which made him hesitant. He entered the booth and placed the phones back on. He closed his eyes willing her face to come to him.

  The softness of her lips, her laugh, the way her eyes sparkled when he kissed her. He wanted more of that Brione. The
music flowed through the headset, he knew to win her over he had to let her in. God help them both.

  Chapter Fifteen

  Brione glanced at her cellphone and noted the time. It was after midnight. She couldn’t sleep and knew he was at the studio. He’d invited her several times. She flashed her ID to the guard and walked down the hall. She dropped her keys and phone into her purse.

  The sound of Marques’ voice beckoned her forward. She stopped at the door with the red recording sign shining. She quietly opened the door and smiled at Bruce. He nodded in her direction as she tiptoed into the room and placed her bag on the couch.

  Bruce glanced over his shoulder and patted the seat next to him. She walked forward and sat in the chair. A single soft light shined in the booth. Marques had one ear covered with the headphones and the other exposed as he sang about the rocky road of love.

  Brione leaned forward hearing the ache in his voice, her heart raced as if his words were pulled from the pages of her diary. Thankful for the darkness she let his voice carry her away. His proposal unlocked a door she swore would remain closed for eternity. She played along with her parents’ plans for her life. She agreed with the Bradleys' plans and tolerated Stewart’s insistence on them being together for Kayla's sake. But Marques asked what she wanted not forcing it or her. He gave her the room to come to him and here she was.

  She’d sat alone in her condo fully packed for the trip wanting to share her good news with someone. Stewart said yes. Kayla could spend two weeks with her in August. Now she was ready to embark on the tour with Marques.

  The music faded, his eyes opened landing on hers. The heat in his gaze melted Brione's insides. She sent a finger wave in his direction. He removed the headphones, walking out of the booth.

  “Surprise, surprise.” The awe in his voice palpable.

  “I hope you don’t mind me stopping by.” She stood closing the space between them.

  “Not at all. Bruce can you give us a few minutes.”