by Brynne Asher
I hand her one of my flannels and watch her slip it over her slim shoulders. I stand back, pleased with what I see as she buttons it up. “That makes a much better dress on you.”
She holds her arms out low, looking down at herself where my shirt falls lower than her dress did and doesn’t show one curve. “It needs a slouchy belt, but it’s soft.”
I reach in to kiss her quick before going to unlock my office door. Gage, my general manager is standing there with his arms crossed. “Tried texting you. You ready for last call?”
I look to my watch. It’s thirty minutes ‘til close. I need this shit wrapped soon so I can start operating at full capacity, returning to a deeper black on my spreadsheet. “Yeah. Let’s call it and turn the lights up in ten. Once we get everyone cleared out of here, we’ll do another sweep before we lock up.”
“Sounds good.” He turns to jog down the stairs to the bar floor.
I go to Avery. “We should be out of here in an hour, baby.”
She flops down on my sofa, relaxed and sated. Tucking her arm under her head, she yawns. “If I come to work with you often, I’m gonna need a pillow and a blanket.”
I lean down to kiss her. “I’ll be back up to get you when it’s time to go.”
She smiles sleepily. “Don’t work too hard.”
I like her here—in my space, at my bar. Even though I don’t want to, I leave her to go shut things down.
Chapter 15 – Ablaze
set the night
on fire
Avery
“Wake up, little one.”
I roll to my back and look up. It’s quiet—the muffled sounds of music and people have disappeared and the only thing surrounding me is Link’s low baritone.
He pushes the hair from my face. “Everyone’s gone and it’s all locked up for the night. Time to go.”
“I don’t know how you keep this schedule and be up as early as you are. How are you not exhausted?” I stand and pull his soft plaid shirt down where it hits me right above the knees and slip on my suede booties. I’m glad it’s almost three in the morning so no one will see me. I look ridiculous.
“I’ve been working in a bar since I was twenty-one. I wouldn’t know what to do with a normal schedule.” Going to his desk, he throws all my stuff in my backpack and heaves it over his shoulder along with his own bag and grabs his keys. After putting my jacket on and grabbing my purse, Link locks up his office and we head down the stairs.
“I’ve been here when it’s crazy-busy, during the day with no one here, and now. I’ve got to say, this is creepy, all dark and empty—kind of hollow,” I note, taking one last look around before he flips off the lights.
Link grabs my hand as we head out the back of the building. “I’ll get up and take you to class in the morning. Until they find my old boss from Vegas and figure out who’s working with him, I don’t want you walking around on campus by yourself.”
“The officer from Vandy said I could request an escort. I feel bad you have to get up early with me, but I really can’t miss any more classes. I’m already behind.”
He lets go of my hand long enough to set the alarm and lock up the last door for the night.
“I don’t mind. I’d rather take you myself than worry if you’re okay.” He looks down and grins. “I’ll add extra sugar to my coffee to get me through.”
“Of course, you will.” I roll my eyes. “Not everyone trains like a prize fighter. I guess you can drink spoonfuls of sugar in your coffee when you work out that hard. I have no desire to exercise, let alone like you do. I’d rather eat veggie burgers and put sugar free jam on my ice—”
Link yanks me to his side, interrupting my commentary about his penchant for too-sweet caffeine. I frown and begin to ask what’s going on, but he’s got his phone out and doesn’t take his eyes off the darkened street. Picking up his pace, he pulls me along as he clips, “Let’s get you to the car.”
“What’s wrong?” I ask, but he’s already got his cell to his ear.
“Yeah, this is Lincoln Forester. I own The Knot at the corner of Grand and 37th. There are two cars idling down the street from my bar with the lights off and I recognize one—”
But he doesn’t get another word out. One second he’s whisking me across the parking lot and the next, our bodies are thrown forward by the heated explosion from behind us. Link’s arm comes around me just in time—folding me into his chest and shielding my head as we skid across the concrete on our sides, the pavement biting into my bare legs. Before our bodies come to a stop, he rolls, pressing my back to the hard ground. I squeeze my eyes shut and hang on to him, but that doesn’t mean I can’t hear debris raining around us. The heat from the blast is a stark contrast to the frigid ground below me.
Link doesn’t let go of his fierce hold on me as he cranes his neck around to look at his bar.
Holy shit.
His Goliath of a warehouse is still standing, but there’s a hole in the back where flames lick the black sky, setting the night ablaze.
“Fuck,” he growls, and just as quick as he took in the destruction to his bar, he swings his head around and looks back down the street. Never letting go of his phone, he puts it back to his ear while doing a pushup with one arm, and I lose his weight. “You still there?” he asks and grabs my hand, yanking me to my feet. “There was an explosion and my building’s on fire.”
Sirens ring in the distance and he starts pulling me into a run toward his truck just as tires squeal. When we get to his driver’s side door, two cars stop in the middle of the street next to the parking lot.
“Get down!” he yells and jerks me to the front of his truck, opposite the street. Gunfire rings through the night and I scream, not able to get close enough to Link. We’re hunched, me wrapped in his arms, with the sides of our faces pressed together.
I can’t believe I’m able to hear sirens over the gunfire and flaming building, but as they grow louder, the gunfire disappears and the cars squeal off into the night.
Feeling Link’s warm breath on the side of my face—his lungs searching for air as his chest heaves against mine—I realize we’re okay. We’re alive and at least well enough to stay wrapped in one another’s arms, which is saying something after the last few moments.
The sirens get louder and when I look through the broken windows of Link’s truck, I see police cars pass just as fast as they approached.
Link forces my attention on him by taking my face in his hands. “You okay?”
I start to tremble, either from the cold or my adrenaline crashing and barely manage a nod.
His hands start to roam my body. “You’re sure? You weren’t hit?”
I shake my head—my voice as unsteady as my legs. “No. I think I’m okay.”
More sirens sound as fire trucks come blazing around the corner, followed by an ambulance, and two more police cruisers. The fire is spitting and hissing from the back of The Knot. Firefighters quickly start to do their thing and Link has his cell back up to his ear.
“They’re here,” he says into the phone and pulls me close to him. “They did?” I feel him tense and I tip my head back to look up to see him nod. “Good. The officers are coming up now. I’ll let them fill me in.”
“What?” I ask as he slides his phone into his pocket.
“My security company was watching everything on the cameras I have installed in the parking lot.” He motions toward the light poles above us. “They were reporting it to the police, that’s how they knew to chase the cars. One of them wrecked and they’re IDing the suspects now. I know it’s my old boss from Vegas—I recognize the car.”
As EMS, police, and big, muscly firefighters converge on the scene like the Justice League on D-Day, I exhale a big breath and hold tight to Link.
It’s then I realize, there’s no way I’ll make it to class tomorrow … or, later this morning. I’m just glad it’s not a Dr. Eubanks day.
Chapter 16 – Rich
to be millions i
n love,
I’m rollin’ in it
Avery
“I can’t believe it,” Sophie exclaims. She’s grasping onto my hand, shaking her head.
“You’ve had a shit week, girl.” November reaches around and gives me a side hug.
“I just feel bad for Link.” I gesture up to The Knot. “He worked so hard to open his bar and now look.”
I squint from behind my aviators, looking up at the damage from where we’re standing in the parking lot. In fact, we’re standing in almost the same place Link and I were targeted just a few short hours ago.
EMS checked us out at the scene and we’re both okay, but I do have scrapes down one leg to add to the bruises on my jaw. Link, on the other hand, must be made of armor—he was fine. We finally got back to his house around five in the morning for a couple hours of sleep and now we’re back.
“Don’t you worry,” November levels her eyes on me. “Asher said he’d clear the schedule or hire more crews if he had to. He’s hell-bent to do everything in his power to get Link up and running again. I know my husband and his brothers—they’ll move heaven and earth for Link.”
I give her a tired smile and look over at my man. He’s with Asher, Trevor, Cash, and Nico as we speak. It looks like they’re making lists, drawing up plans, and surveying every bit of damage. Insurance adjusters are on the scene and when I asked Link if he was worried about being shut down, he just leaned in to kiss me and said, “Got insurance for that, too. Don’t worry about me, little one. I just need to rebuild so your beautiful songs can be heard by the world.”
I’m not worried about that. Whatever happens will happen. I’m just glad we’re okay and I can go back to wandering campus freely again.
Last night, the police caught up with the second car after the first one wrecked into a light pole. Two men were arrested—Link’s old boss who was just paroled in Vegas and the bouncer who let me in the night I met Link. The same bouncer Link fired. It turns out he got a job with Link for the sole purpose of taking down The Knot in retaliation. It didn’t go well for either of them in the end. They’re in a heap of trouble and Nico’s friend, Leo, said we have nothing to worry about. There’s video surveillance of them planting the bomb and shooting from the car. They’ve broken every law from here to next year and won’t be getting out anytime soon.
“Don’t worry about babysitting for a while. You get caught up in your classes and settled. Susan said she can take the kids this week. Heck, she has all of them right now,” Sophie says, with a grin.
“Speaking of getting settled,” November adds and widens her eyes. “I hear you’re getting settled in with Link. That was fast.”
“I am?” My eyes go wider than hers. November laughs out loud and when I look at Sophie, she’s rolling her eyes with a smile on her face. “What’s so funny?”
“Been there, done that,” Sophie tips her head and shrugs apologetically. “I’ve never seen Link like this before. I have a feeling you should just let your apartment go and save yourself the monthly rent. My guess is, you won’t be sleeping in it ever again.”
“I can’t move in with Link. Not right now. My parents would kill me.”
November nods and pats my shoulder. “It’ll all work itself out. It always does. But, Avery, that man over there?” She motions to all the men but I have a feeling she’s talking about the one who doesn’t mind having unprotected sex with me. “You’ve hook, line, and sinkered him. I’ve seen it play out with all the Mayson men and Link is no different. He’s gone for you.”
Link glances over, catching me ogling him, his thick, inked arms folded across the expanse of his chest. I can’t see them, but I bet his blue eyes are shining bright from behind his shades, matching the color of the clear, fall day.
“You good?” he calls from where he’s standing with the men.
I smile and nod, appeasing him enough to turn his attention back to his burned bar.
“Yeah, November is right,” Sophie agrees. “Let that apartment go.”
I can’t take my eyes off Link, him surrounded by his friends who have become his family, and me surrounded by their wives who have become so dear to me. I even adore their kids and Susan and James. Generations of love, right here in Tennessee—exactly what I grew up with at home with the Carpinos.
I realize how lucky I am. Not many people ever experience love like this, not to mention getting it twice in one lifetime, all at the young age of twenty.
I never knew it could be this good. Until Link, I had no idea how rich life could be.
Chapter 17 – Best Day
sometimes endings aren’t the end
endings are beginnings
Avery
Thanksgiving Eve
I’ve never been so nervous.
Not the day my parents moved me to Nashville at the young age of eighteen to start at Vandy where I knew not a soul.
Not the first of many interviews I had with Nico to babysit his children.
Not when Dr. Nancy Eubanks ripped my head off in front of the entire class for the first time. Although, that hasn’t happened since the day Link introduced her to me as his mother. I’m not sure if it’s because he threatened her or she genuinely seems to be trying to make an effort to repair her relationship with her son. Whatever it is, I’m grateful for it. Link and I are scheduled to have dinner with his parents this weekend, and compared to this, I’m not nervous about that at all.
My insides weren’t even a tornadic flurry the night I tried to fake-ID myself into Link’s bar to hear my music performed live for the first time like they are now.
No, at this moment, I think I’ll puke or pass out.
Tonight’s a big night. It’s the grand re-opening of The Knot. Finishing touches are still being made to the back entrance, but the bar passed inspection a few days ago, thanks to Mayson Construction. Asher and his crews delivered early and Link is back in business.
But tonight, the band who’s a friend of a friend of mine, is back. They told me they’ve been playing the hell out of my song at every gig and the crowds go crazy for it. I’m standing on the balcony outside of Link’s glassed-in office with Link and a representative from a record label. The rep also brought a friend who’s an agent in the business.
The agent was a surprise.
I feel Link’s lips brush the skin under my ear where he whispers, “Relax, little one.”
If only. And him telling me to relax when I really want to puke earns him an elbow to the gut.
He gifts me with an ass squeeze in return, but whatever.
The band is halfway through my song and as much as I’ve tried not to look at the record label rep or the agent, I can’t help myself.
They’re standing there with beers in hand, gazing down at the crowd and band. I have no idea what they’re thinking.
When it’s done, we move back into the semi-sound-proofed area that makes up Link’s office and I contemplate running to his private bathroom to lose the contents of my stomach. Before I can escape, the record label rep states in a way he might as well be talking about eating a boring hot dog, “I like it.”
I can’t breathe. I mean, that’s better than hating it, right?
But it’s also not as good as loving it.
His lips tip on one end and he adds, “A lot.”
Oh. That’s better, I guess.
Thank goodness Link grabs my hand because my body lists and I settle into his thick arm.
“I do, too,” the agent concurs, business-like. “It’s the most original sound I’ve heard in a long time. If we weren’t in Nashville, I wouldn’t even know how to classify it. It’s soulful-country with an edge. It’ll make the listener sit back and think about the last ten years, either feeling like shit or proud of themselves.”
I nod, not intending to make anyone feel like shit, but whatever gets my foot in the door.
“What are you doing Monday morning at nine?” the rep asks.
Fuck. Dr. Eubanks’ class is Monda
y at nine.
“She’s free,” Link says, sealing my fate with his mother the Monday following his family dinner where I’ll be attending as his date.
Not that I’d miss this meeting for anything—even an ass-chewing from Dr. Mama will be worth it. I finally speak up. “I’m free on Monday.”
“Great.” He pulls a business card out of his pocket and hands it to me. “That’s my office address. I’ll see you then—oh, and bring everything you’ve got. I want to hear what else you can do.”
I look at the card and still can’t believe it. “Thank you. I’ll bring everything.”
“Link, good to meet you. You’ve got a great space, here. Maybe we can talk about booking some of our clients.” All the men shake hands and, just like that, Link and I are alone.
He grabs me, pulling me to the sofa where he sits, and drags me onto his lap. His blue eyes are as warm as the month of July and his expression is a mix of smugness and fascination. “Proud of you, baby. They see what I know. Won’t be long before the world knows it, too.”
I lean into kiss him. “Thank you.”
His hands move on my body, pulling me close. “I’d do anything for you.”
“Yeah.” I smile and snuggle into his lap. “You’ve proved yourself in that area.”
He sinks into the sofa, taking me with him. “Tomorrow’s our first Thanksgiving.”
“It is,” I agree.
“We’ve got a lot of firsts coming. But do you know what I’m looking forward to most?”
I shake my head. Just when I think I’ve learned everything about Lincoln Forester, I find another layer that makes me love him more.
Love.
Even though I know I’ve had a crazy fascination with him from the moment our eyes met, with every day that passes, I know it to be true.
I love him.
He rolls me to my back and shifts on top of me. “Seconds, thirds, fourths … and I’m not talking about turkey. I’m talking about life with you.”