Hearts on Fire

by Alison Packard

  While waiting for him to end his call, she brushed her hair over her shoulder and watched as Barry tried to schmooze the CMT guys. What a jerk. She rolled her eyes and turned her attention back to Wally.

  “Thanks for the call,” Wally said, and lowered the phone from his ear. “Good news.” He smiled at her. “Preliminary ratings show your concert was one of the top rated shows on cable this evening.”

  Jessie grinned at him. “That’s because there wasn’t a new episode of Swamp Hunters on tonight.”

  Wally let out a bark of laughter. “Whatever the reason, it’s good news for us.” He slipped his phone into his jacket pocket. “You and the band were on fire tonight. I think that’s the best show we’ve done so far on this tour.” The creases on his brow deepened as he studied her intently. “There’s something’s different about you.”

  Her cheeks warmed under his probing gaze. She’d thought for sure he’d heard her admit her feelings to Drew, but maybe he’d been so riled up at her that he hadn’t. She smiled reassuringly and patted his arm. “I’m just tired. It’s been a long day.”

  He covered her hand with his. “Why don’t you go up to your suite and get some rest? I’ll cover for you.”

  “Thank you.” She leaned forward and kissed his cheek. “I don’t know what I’d do without you.”

  Wally’s eyes grew suspiciously moist. “You’ll never have to find out. You’re the daughter I never had, Jessie. I love you.”

  She swallowed past the knot of emotion lodged in her throat. Although she always suspected how he felt about her, he’d never come right out and said it. And neither had she. It was time. “I love you too, Wally.”

  For a moment she thought he might cry, but instead he gave her a quick hug, then pulled back and treated her to a smug smile. “Was I right about that duet, or what? I swear you could have heard a pin drop for almost five seconds after it was over. I’m not gonna say I told you so, but…”

  “You told me so,” she said, with a soft chuckle.

  “I’ve never seen you connect with any singing partner like you have with Drew.” He hesitated as if he wasn’t sure he wanted to continue. “I wasn’t going to mention this tonight, but judging from the reaction on social media I’m thinking you two should record “You and I” and release it as a single.” He squinted at her. “What do you think?”

  “If Drew’s willing, I’m in. I love the song.” She looked past him and still didn’t see a trace of Drew anywhere. Although she did see Trista holding court with one of the bigwigs from an elite Nashville talent management agency. Judging by Trista’s confident posture and beaming smile, it appeared the conversation was positive. Good for her. “Speaking of Drew, have you seen him?” she asked.

  “No. Not since right after the show. I thought he’d be here.”

  Jessie manufactured a smile. She thought he’d be here too. But maybe he didn’t want to talk to her—maybe he didn’t feel the same way she did and was avoiding her. Her heart ached at the thought.

  “I’m gonna take your advice and head up to my suite.” She gave him another peck on the cheek. “We’ll talk more tomorrow.”

  Outside the ballroom, John and a security guard provided by the MGM flanked her as she made her way through the casino and toward the lobby of the hotel. Along the way, she stopped and signed more than a few autographs, and smiled into about a dozen cell phones while her fans took selfies with her.

  The love and support her fans had shown her ever since her past had been revealed astounded her. That people who she didn’t even know could show her so much kindness had restored her faith in humanity and warmed her soul.

  When she reached the elevator, she turned and put up her hands. John and the security guard halted in unison and regarded her with identical stoic expressions.

  “I can take it from here.”

  “Jessie, you need to let us escort you to your suite,” John said firmly.

  “I appreciate your concern, but I think I can handle an elevator ride and the short walk to my suite alone.” She sighed when he didn’t reply. “Fine. But I don’t need two of you.” She pushed the call button. “Thank you for your assistance, but John can escort me from here,” she said to the security guard, who gave her a nod before striding away. A few seconds later, the doors slid open and she and John stepped inside.

  As the doors closed, she pressed the button for her floor and thought about the concert. Wally was right, she’d never been more connected to an audience before in her life. It was as if every single person in the arena had wrapped their arms around her in a warm, loving embrace.

  And then there was Drew. Just knowing he was there on the stage made her feel safe—like she could do anything. And as for the duet, well, there were no words to describe its magic. Chills ran down her spine as he’d stared deeply into her eyes and seduced her with his beautiful voice. In those four or so minutes, she honestly believed that he could be in love with her, just as she was in love with him. But evidently not. He’d made himself scarce as soon as they’d walked off stage.

  The elevator bell chimed and stopped at her floor. After the doors slid open, she and John stepped out onto the carpeted hallway and moved down the corridor side by side. Usually, they’d talk about the show, or about his young daughter, but tonight, they were both silent. By now he knew her well enough to know that when she had something on her mind, she didn’t feel like chatting.

  Opening her small clutch, she pulled out her key card and rounded the corner. Glancing up, she saw Drew leaning against the wall opposite her suite, looking hotter than hell in a pair of faded jeans and a Music City Saloon T-shirt, and for a moment, she damn near forgot how to breathe.

  Her steps faltered as he turned his head and their gazes locked. He didn’t move, he just watched her with unreadable eyes that gave nothing away.

  “I’ll wait here,” John said.

  Startled, she looked at him. She’d been so wrapped up in Drew, she’d forgotten he was there.

  “Thank you.” She shot him a quick smile and continued on. The closer she got to Drew, the faster her heart raced. She took a breath to calm herself as she halted in front of him. “Hey. What are you doing here?”

  “Waiting for you.” His husky voice sent a shiver of awareness over her skin and made her breath come a little bit faster.

  “I didn’t see you at the after party.”

  He grimaced. “I hate parties.”

  Jessie chuckled. “Tell me how you really feel.”

  “That’s why I’m here.”

  Her knees trembled at the implication of his words. She held up her key card. “Would you like to come in?”

  He held her gaze for several charged seconds then pushed off from the wall. “Yes.” He plucked the card from her hand, then moved to the door and inserted it into card reader. After the telltale click, he opened the door for her, then followed her into her suite.

  Once they were inside, and he closed the door, and she turned to face him and said the first thing that popped into her head. “Wally suggested we record the duet and release it as a single. What do you think?” She grasped her small purse like a lifeline. She’d hoped to see Drew after the concert, but now that they were face to face, she wasn’t sure what to say. What did one do for an encore after blurting out I love you?

  He stared at her intently, as if committing her face to memory. Flustered by the intensity in his eyes, she tossed her purse on the sofa.

  “Wally’s got an excellent track record,” he said. “I’m down for anything he suggests. What about you?”

  Jessie brushed back her hair and gave him a cheeky grin. “Not to brag or anything, but I do think the song could be a hit all over again if we recorded it.”

  His lips quirked with amusement. “Then I guess it’s settled. Just let me know when and where, and I’ll be there to record it with you.” He paused. “I got a call from Garrett Shaw this afternoon.”

  “What did he say?”

  Excitement
sprang to life in his eyes. “That the Full Moon A&R execs want me to audition for them. They’re interested in signing me.”

  Unable to contain her joyful squeal, Jessie launched herself forward and threw her arms around him. “Congratulations. That’s wonderful. I’m so happy for you.” She breathed in his clean scent; a mixture of soap and shampoo, that filled her senses. She felt his hands at her waist as he pulled her close. She fit against him perfectly. As if they’d been made expressly for each other.

  “Thank you,” he said, and moved one hand slowly up her spine.

  Suddenly, every nerve ending in her body went on high alert. She leaned back and tilted her head upwards to look at him.

  “After I talked to him, all I wanted to do was to find you and tell you the good news.”

  He twined his fingers in her hair, and she was acutely aware of the way his warm body pressed against hers.

  “Do you know why?” His eyes burned into hers as she shook her head. “Because no amount of success is worth a damn if you don’t have somebody to share it with.”

  Jessie’s heart skipped a beat or three. “I’m so happy you wanted to share it with me,” she said, aching for him to kiss her.

  “I want to share everything with you,” he said in a low voice. “I love you.”

  She let out a stunned breath, but before she could speak he continued, “The night we met at the MC I knew who you were. Everyone in Nashville knows who you are. I didn’t know why you were drinking so much that night, or why you came on to me, but I couldn’t take advantage of you, and I couldn’t let anyone else take advantage of you either. You seemed so…lost.”

  “I went to see my grandmother that day. She hasn’t remembered me for years, but…but it was my birthday the day before and she always made that day special for me.” Jessie rested her hands on his firm biceps and sighed. “I should have gone home like I always do after I go to see her, but instead, I went to the MC, got drunk and tried to pick you up. Not one of my better moments.”

  “For the record, I’ve wanted you every single day since that night, but I had it in my mind that we could only be friends. I didn’t want anyone to think I was using you to get a record deal. I wanted to make it on my own. Without help from anybody.” He grimaced. “God, it sounds so ridiculous now. It’s not wrong to accept a helping hand every now and again. If you hadn’t accepted Wally’s help, where would you be?”

  “I have no clue. But I’m grateful he came into my life.” She smiled at him. “And I’m glad you did too. What we had as friends was so much better than the few so-called relationships I had in the past. And I convinced myself that’s all we were, right up until the night we sang together at the MC. That’s when I knew what I was feeling was much more than friendship.”

  Drew leaned his head back and groaned. “That night has haunted me for months.”

  “Because of Hannah?”

  “It wasn’t just Hannah. When we sang together that night, our connection was so powerful it threw me. You definitely weren’t in the friend zone anymore, and I wasn’t sure what to do about it. On top of that, it was the anniversary of my dad’s death, and it’s a day that always hits me pretty hard. After we were done singing, I got a call from Hannah. She was wasted and needed a ride home. I picked up a twelve-pack on the way to go get her and…well…you know the rest.”

  “Yeah. That wasn’t a good night.”

  He opened his mouth to say something, then closed it and looked away from her. She studied his profile, a muscle feathered in his jaw.

  Two seconds later, he looked back at her. “You came to my apartment that night to tell me you had feelings for me, didn’t you?”

  “Yes.”

  “And tonight you told me you loved me without knowing how I felt.” Admiration filled his eyes. “That took guts.”

  “That’s me.” She gave him an impish grin. “I’m one gutsy gal.” She lifted her hand and brushed a lock of hair from his temple, then lightly caressed his cheek. “For the first time in my life, I know what real love feels like, and even though I’m scared to death, I’m willing to take a chance on it and on you. Because I love you, Drew. I love you so much.”

  His eyes softened with tenderness as he lowered his head, and their lips met in a kiss sweeter than any she’d ever known before. After several seconds, their soft kiss turned hot and demanding, and Jessie pressed herself against him until it seemed as if every soft part of her body was scorched by the hardness of his.

  When they finally came up for air, they were both breathing hard.

  “I love you more than I thought I could love anyone.” He gazed at her with such tenderness she thought her heart might explode with joy. “My beautiful Jessie.”

  Tears of happiness blurred her vision. Nothing could make this night more perfect. Nothing. Well, except maybe one thing. “Will you stay with me tonight?” she asked, as she linked her fingers around the back of his neck.

  “Why, Ms. Grant.” He cocked his head and gave her a wicked grin. “Are you propositioning me?”

  Jessie laughed. “You bet I am.”

  Epilogue

  Fourteen Months Later.

  As Drew handed his guitar to one of the stage hands, Jessie’s nerves were stretched as tight as a drum. They’d just performed their duet in front of a packed arena and now stood off stage while several production assistants scurried about, ensuring every scripted moment of the televised awards show went off without a hitch.

  Clutching Drew’s hand, she caught his glance and shot him a shaky smile. “We’re up against some stiff competition.”

  He nodded. “I know. The odds are against us. But remember, it’s an honor just to be nominated.”

  She burst out laughing. “You’re so full of shit. You want to win as badly as I do.”

  “Okay. Yeah. I want to win.” He grinned as he scrubbed a hand over his lightly-stubbled jaw.

  “Hey, y’all.”

  Recognizing the voice instantly, Jessie turned and smiled as Garrett Shaw moved toward them, looking every inch a cowboy in his Wrangler jeans, crocodile cowboy boots, black shirt, and matching black Stetson. Jessie looked pointedly at the cream colored envelope in Garrett’s right hand.

  “You didn’t happen to get a peek inside that envelope, did you?”

  “That’d be against the rules,” Garrett said, with a wide-toothed grin. “But I’ve got a helluva good feeling about this. I think you’re going to win.”

  “Are you saying that because I’m on your label?” Drew asked, amusement curving his lips.

  Garrett shook his head. “No. I was blown away the first time I heard you and Jessie sing that song—which is why I fought like hell to convince Clark to loan Jessie to Full Moon to record the duet.”

  “I’m still surprised he allowed it,” Jessie said, looking from Drew to Garrett.

  Garrett grinned. “Clark’s got a good head for business. Putting the track on your new album and Drew’s debut album was a win-win for everyone.”

  Jessie squeezed Drew’s hand as they exchanged a glance. It had been a win-win. Not only had their duet topped the country charts for twelve weeks, it still hovered in the top ten and was currently climbing the Billboard top 100 chart. And as an added bonus, it had boosted the sales of Drew’s first album, and he’d gotten some ridiculously good reviews as well as a legion of fans.

  Garrett looked past them. “I best be going, they’re signaling me to get to my mark.”

  After Garrett tipped his hat and sauntered toward the stage, Wally appeared from behind the backdrop and hurried toward them with a huge grin on his face. “Y’all killed it.” He clapped Drew on the back. “You can thank me now,” he said smugly.

  “For what?” Drew asked.

  “For the duet.” He waggled his snowy white brows. “After all, it was my brilliant idea.”

  Jessie shared a quick smile with Drew. “Thank you, Wally,” she said. Then, out of nowhere her eyes filled with tears. She hadn’t known it at the time
, but Wally had saved her life. Without him, her life would be so much different. And more than likely, not in a good way. “I don’t know what I would have ever done without you. I’d probably still be busking at the farmer’s market if you hadn’t come along and changed my life.”

  Wally’s cheeks flushed. “Now don’t go gettin’ all mushy on me.”

  “She’s been emotional all day,” Drew said. “I figure it must be award show jitters.”

  “That’s odd.” Wally pinned her with his shrewd eyes. “You never get nervous before a performance.”

  “Well, there’s a first time for everything,” she said, quickly averting her eyes before Wally guessed she was hiding something.

  “I’m heading back to my seat,” Wally said, then put his hand on Jessie’s shoulder and squeezed gently. “I’ve never see you happier.”

  Wally was right. Jessie had never been happier. She had a wonderful career, a man who loved her, and whom she loved equally in return. She’d been blessed with four CMA nominations, including female vocalist of the year, and musical event of the year for her and Drew’s collaboration of “You and I”. And while it had been a remarkable year, the next year looked to be even more remarkable. But not just because of her career.

  “Good luck.” Wally’s paternal smile encompassed them both before he moved past them toward the stairs that lead to the arena floor.

  As hosts Carrie Underwood and Brad Paisley sent the show to its commercial break, Jessie felt the now familiar wave of queasiness threaten to overtake her. She turned to Drew, who looked amazingly hot in his indigo jeans, white shirt, and tobacco colored leather jacket. “I think I’m gonna be sick.”

  “Seriously? Now?” Drew looked at her with worried eyes. “I think there’s a bathroom somewhere around here.” A frown marred his brow. “You’ve been sick a lot lately. You should go to the doctor.”

  “I did. Yesterday morning. Before we left for the airport.” Jessie gave him a wan smile. “Remember that night on our honeymoon when we forgot to use a condom?”

  After several silent seconds, Drew’s eyes widened as comprehension dawned. His gaze lowered to her stomach before lifting again. “You…you’re…”