by Every, Donna
After the first session, a high energy performance that had the crowd dancing and singing along, the lights dimmed until there was a single beam spotting on Nick. He sat on a high stool near the front of the stage with an acoustic guitar which he began to strum softly.
“I want to dedicate this song to the people who lost their lives and those who were injured as they tried to get into our concert in Chicago. As the lives of their families will forever be changed by that tragedy, our lives will forever be changed and they will always have a place in our hearts. It’s called ‘Place in my heart’. Let’s light this place.”
All over the arena, specks of light from the thousands of tiny flashlights that were given out at the gate turned the blackness into a sky filled with stars. There was total silence as Nick began to sing. Shari didn’t even realize that tears were running down her face as Nick shared the anguish he felt when he heard about the deaths.
“…And though I didn’t know you from the start, you’ll always have a place in my heart.” He wiped his own cheeks and bent his head as the stage went black. There was a moment of silence as if the crowd was too emotional to respond and then thunderous applause split the silence and lasted until Nick left the stage to get ready for the second half of the show.
“Wow,” Lily whispered reverently next to her.
“Wow,” Shari agreed. She was moved beyond words at the new depth that Nick had revealed on the stage as he allowed his fans to see beneath the performer to the person that was Nick Badley. Something shifted in her heart to make room for Nick.
Shari didn’t know how the rest of the show would flow after the way the first half had ended, but when Nick returned to the stage it was as if the song had helped him to release something that had been holding him back. He performed with such freedom and abandon that no one could dispute he had given his all to them and their screams of delight showed how much they appreciated it.
After two encores, he and the band finally left the stage and staggered down the stairs to be greeted with hugs from Lily and high fives from Brad and the crew. The noise level was almost as high as when they were on stage and Brian was in the midst of everything, filming the euphoria, while Shari hung back from the celebration. Technically, she wasn’t working (although she was making mental observations of things to add to the documentary) and since she wasn’t part of the crew, she wasn’t quite sure where she fit in so she stayed in the background.
Nick looked around and, seeing Shari on the fringes, pushed his way over to her and grabbed her hand, pulling her with him to his dressing room. Lily silently watched them with a question on her face. Nick had certainly come a long way from protesting about having to do the documentary. Shari had apparently made some significant inroads into gaining his trust. She seemed like a nice girl so Lily hoped that Nick would be careful with her heart.
Nick closed the door behind them and gave Shari a quick celebratory hug. She didn’t protest as she knew he was still on a high because he had faced his fears and won.
“That was amazing, Nick. I think this was your best concert that I’ve seen, although it’s only my fifth.”
“You mean to say that you’d never been to one of my concerts before Vegas?” he teased. “Actually, I think it was one of my best concerts ever too and God knows I’ve done a lot,” he agreed without any modesty. “I feel as if I faced a huge mountain and conquered it. My fear is gone. That is amazing. Your prayers must be working.”
“Glad you know who is responsible.”
“Yes, I do.”
Heading to a rack with clothes hanging on it, he selected a black button shirt with long sleeves and a pair of black pants. It was the most formal outfit that she’d seen him wear so far.
“You’re dressing up tonight for the party?”
“Yes, for a change and I see that I’ll have to keep you next to me all night so that the men don’t try to make moves on you. You look very beautiful.”
“Thank you. You’re prepared to give up the attentions of your adorning female fans to keep me safe from predatory men?”
“Yes, I am prepared to give up all adorning females for you.” He sounded sincere. Shari chose not to place any hope in his claim.
“Yeah, right! I bet you say that to all the girls. I’ll leave you to shower and get dressed. See you later.” She let herself out the door and went to find Lily.
Nick peeled off his T-shirt and headed for the shower in his dressing room. He’d told Shari that he was prepared to give up his adoring female fans for her, but was he? She was different from any other woman he knew and there was a goodness about her that appealed to him but, from what she’d said, she was into marriage. He was into one night stands. Hell, he’d barely known her for two weeks. It was crazy to even have her and marriage in the same thought. After all, he’d married Patti a month after they’d met and look how that had ended. Thank God for pre-nupts.
The party was in full swing by the time Nick made it. Before he could even properly cross the threshold, he was swamped by three women in revealing cocktail dresses. It was as if they’d been waiting for him. They reminded Nick of vultures, circling to get the choicest morsel first which, apparently, was him, in this case.
“Hi, Nick. Great concert tonight.”
“Yeah, I got hot just watching you.” Not subtle this one, thought Nick.
“I’m still hot.” Nor that one.
“Glad to hear that, ladies.” He smiled. Were they for real?
A minute later, a waiter brought him a drink. Sipping it, he realized that it was his favorite. Someone had sent it over; probably Lily. This was the life.
Shari observed the women competing for Nick’s attention from across the room as she sipped a glass of red wine. It was a good thing she didn’t take Nick seriously when he said he would be at her side. He was too much in demand to be by one woman’s side, she thought wryly, returning her attention to the record executive that she had been talking to. She wished he would address her face and not her bosom when he spoke. She regretted that she had worn the dress. Had she deliberately dressed to attract Nick? She didn’t want to answer that on the grounds that it might incriminate her.
The women had formed a barricade of sorts around him, preventing him from venturing further into the room. They were pretty obvious, Nick thought, listening to their inane conversation with one ear as he looked around the room. What Tim said flashed into his mind. They all want to make it with someone famous. He knew it would take little effort if he wanted to leave with all three of them. His eyes searched out Shari, who he knew would disapprove of even that thought. The bright pink splashes in her dress made her easy to pick out across the room. She was talking to Max Ryan, a middle-aged record executive whose eyes seemed glued to her bosom. Time to intervene.
“Excuse me, ladies, but I have to go and greet some of the other guests,” he said, extricating himself from the group, particularly from one who felt it necessary to plaster herself against his side.
“See you later, Nick?” she asked hopefully. “We’d be happy to take good care of you. All three of us,” she added against his ear before giving it a quick lick just in case he didn’t get her meaning. Oh, he got it all right. He just wasn’t interested.
“Thanks, ladies. I’ll keep that in mind.” He didn’t plan to take up the offer. He hoped Shari would be proud of him for passing up a night of potential debauchery.
“Nick Badley. Were you really just going to walk right by me without even a kiss for old time’s sake? Is that any way to treat your ex?”
“Patti. What are you doing here?” It seemed as if his earlier thoughts had conjured her up. He hadn’t seen her since the divorce and he was happy with that. He had to admit that she looked good, but he felt no attraction to her. She seemed like a stranger. Had they really been married? How long had it even lasted? A year? What on earth had made him marry her in the first place, he wondered as he exchanged his now empty glass for a full one of the same from the tray th
at appeared next to him. Patti was sipping a glass of white wine.
“I’m here with Max Ryan.”
“Ryan? You’re with him now? After a bigger record deal?” He couldn’t resist that jibe. “Well, he’s the man to help you.”
“So glad you’re not bitter, Nick,” she said sardonically. “Shouldn’t we kiss and make up?”
“I don’t need to make up, Patti. I’m fine.”
“I can see that you’re fine. Even if you don’t need to make up we should at least kiss. I miss you,” she added huskily, drawing closer.
“How can you miss something that you didn’t really want?”
“I did want you, Nick, but I wasn’t ready to settle down with one guy. We never should have married.”
“For once we agree!”
“But it wasn’t all bad. We had some great times.”
“If you mean in bed, I can’t deny that was great, but we had little else going for us.”
“We can have at least that again. Want to come to my hotel after the party? Here’s a little something on deposit. You can collect the rest later.” She pulled his head down and kissed him. The wine she was drinking mingled with the vodka that he’d drunk. All Nick felt was distaste.
“We really shouldn’t mix drinks,” he advised, taking her hands from around his neck.
His eyes sought out Shari again who abruptly turned away on meeting his gaze. He pushed Patti away in annoyance, hoping that Shari didn’t think that he was participating in the kiss. Then again, it wasn’t as if they were in a relationship.
“Quit it, Patti. I’m not feeling nostalgic. Been there, done that, got the divorce papers to prove it.” With that he walked off, leaving her staring after him in anger.
He stopped to acknowledge the greetings and congratulations from well-wishers as he threaded through the crowd to reach Shari.
“Shari, I’ve been trying to get to you.”
She raised an eyebrow at him in disbelief.
“Max, how are you?” They shook hands.
“Nick, I’m good. I see that you ran into Patti. Her lipstick is not your color.”
“That’s what I told her,” agreed Nick, grabbing a cocktail napkin from a passing waitress to wipe his lips. “Patti is my ex,” Nick confirmed to Shari.
“It’s wonderful that you’re still friends with your ex in spite of everything.” Considering that she wanted nothing to do with Rob and they hadn’t even been married. Maybe that’s how it was in show business. She took another look at Patti who was now talking to Nick’s base player.
“Friends would be a stretch. Excuse us, Max. I need a little air.” Not even waiting for Max to excuse them, he took Shari by the hand and led her out to the balcony where they could talk in relative privacy. Nick wasn’t sure why he felt that he had to explain Patti’s kiss, but Shari didn’t even give him the chance.
“So what’s on the menu tonight, Nick? An ex-wife or a ménage á trois? Oh sorry, a ménage á quatre. That might be a bit much, even for you.”
“Neither.”
“That’s not like you. Maybe you need to check out the room to see what else is being offered.”
“Maybe.” Nick was beginning to get a little pissed off with Shari. She certainly wasn’t offering anything, so what was her issue?
“So do you usually go around kissing your ex-wives?”
“Is this for the documentary or for you?”
Shari was forced to ask herself the same question. What was she thinking? She and Nick were not an item and she was sounding like a jealous girlfriend or something. She was mortified.
“She was the one doing the kissing and, no, I don’t make it a habit. Don’t be a dog in the manger, Shari. Make up your mind what you want.”
“Dog in the manger?” she sputtered. “I certainly don’t want to sleep with you, but I’m not trying to stop anyone else from doing it. Knock yourself out!”
Shari stalked away from Nick in anger. He had a one-track mind when it came to women. Well, she wasn’t about that. If all he wanted was her body, then the trio and his ex-wife were welcome to him, at the same time if they wanted.
Chapter 19
Shari rejoined the party determined to enjoy herself and ignore Nick. Spying Steve in a corner of the room with his arm around the shoulders of a petite brunette, she made her way over to them, curious to even see Steve with a woman, far less hugging her to his side. Her faith in men was at a low right now so she really hoped that it wasn’t someone he had picked up for the night.
“Hi, Steve. That was a great concert,” Shari greeted him.
“Thanks, Shari. Look who flew in to surprise me and be here for the concert. This is my wife, Marie. Marie, this is Shari Goodwin who I told you about.”
“It’s great to meet you, Shari. Steve had great things to say about you.”
Shari smiled broadly as she shook Marie’s hand. “It must be a mutual admiration club because I think Steve is great too.” She looked at Steve. “Thanks for helping to restore my faith in men, Steve. I was just about to demand who this woman was since I’ve never seen you with another woman.”
Steve laughed and drew Marie closer to him. He looked down at her with such love that Shari felt a twinge of envy for Marie.
“See, I told you that I’m yours…faithfully,” he quipped.
“You have a good man, Marie. Don’t take that for granted.”
“I know and I don’t. I just wish he wasn’t on the road so much, but music is his life, so we’ll figure it out.” She gazed adoringly at Steve.
“We’re going to be heading back to the island soon, Shari. You’re welcome to share the yacht with us, or do you want to hang around longer and come back with the others?”
“No, I’m more than ready to leave. I’ll just let Lily know that I’m going with you.”
“Shouldn’t you let Nick know too?”
“Why should I? He has no claims on me.”
“But maybe he’d like to,” observed Steve.
“I seriously doubt that. I don’t think his belt could take another notch and he knows that I won’t be giving him the chance to put one on it.”
Steve and Marie chuckled.
“You’re an original, Shari Goodwin,” Steve complimented her. “I hope Nick appreciates that.”
Shari didn’t think that Nick appreciated anything about her right now or was even giving her a second thought. He was currently flanked by two women with enough bosom and make-up to share with all the women in the room. OK, that was an exaggeration, she admitted, but they were almost like carbon copies of the ones in Vegas. Ladies, he’s been there and done that. I believe that the trio may have more luck than you.
She hated the fact that her eyes kept seeking him out, almost of their own volition. As her gaze returned to him, Nick bent his head to hear what one of the women was saying. Laughing at whatever it was, he took a sip of his drink and looked up, meeting Shari’s eyes. Shari abruptly turned away and said to Steve and Marie, “I’m going to find Lily.” She shouldn’t care what Nick did; she had no claims on him after all.
Nick’s eyes trailed Shari as she made her way over to Lily and then joined Steve and his wife at the door. They appeared to be heading back to the hotel. Just as well. He could feel her censure every time she looked at him. What was she, his conscience? He’d just had the best concert that he could remember; he felt on top of the world and he deserved the best that life had to offer tonight. He had earned it and if he wanted to celebrate with a duo or a trio that was his call. He was free to do what he liked and he didn’t need Shari Goodwin judging him.
Nick and Lily finally met up half hour later, by which time Nick had downed about four or five drinks.
“Nick, did I tell you what an awesome tribute that was? You’ll have the press eating out of your hands tomorrow, mark my words.”
“Once you’re happy, I’m happy,” smiled Nick. He was already half-way to being mellow, his earlier anger with Shari long gone.
“Brad is talking to Mitch Blackwell. He says they want to have a meeting to discuss your next album. This one is still riding high so it would be good to keep the momentum going.”
All Nick felt at the thought of doing another album was tired. He couldn’t wait until December 16, the date of the last concert at Madison. Then he would head home for a week before going to his parents’. He wondered if Shari still intended to come.
“That’s wonderful, Lily, but all I want to do after this tour is take a long holiday. Humor me, OK?”
“Whatever you say, Nick. We can talk about that another time. Enjoy yourself tonight; you deserve it. Shari has gone back to the hotel with Steve and Marie. Don’t forget that we’ve arranged for the tour bus to pick us up at the Marina at eleven to drive to Fort Lauderdale. So please don’t stay out until the crack of dawn, Nick.”
“Yes, mother,” he teased.
“I’m serious, Nick. I know you. You’ll say that and before my back is turned some woman will make you an offer you can’t refuse and the rest will be history.”
“Really, Lily. I’m hurt. Do you think I’m so fickle? I’ll have you know that I’ve turned down two offers tonight already, not that I’m boasting.”
“Alright, Nick. Have a good time, but please get back early.” She kissed his cheek in a rare show of affection. She must really be happy with the PR that the concert had brought, thought Nick.
He hadn’t gone more than a few steps before he heard his name being called. He barely had time to turn around before a lush female form launched itself against him. It was a Broadway dancer that he’d met in New York the year before; Cinnie, short for Cinnamon. Not a name he was likely to forget.