After a few moments, Caroline Mathers entered Blake’s dressing room with her usual cool efficiency, impeccably dressed and armed with her BlackBerry and a neat stack of papers. “Blake, I have your schedule for today, a few interview requests we need to decide on, and a couple of choices for local staff. Did you need something special or are you ready to get down to business?” She smiled at Blake indulgently as she set the papers down on his table and patted her perfectly coiffed auburn hair.
“Caro, I’m all yours, darlin’. Whatcha got for me?” Blake crossed the room to join her and willed himself to focus on business details. It would be good for him to get his mind off the young Miss McCoy and back on the business at hand.
Blake struggled to pay attention and make clear-headed decisions as Caroline went through the day’s business. The business he really wanted to focus on was Katie McCoy. He thought of her silky blonde hair and wondered what it would feel like in his hands. He remembered her surprisingly hearty laugh and was pleased to have been able to coax it from her. His mind wandered to her beautiful green eyes and he realized that he couldn’t remember the last time he had actually noticed the color of a girl’s eyes, much less found himself thinking that they looked like sparkling emeralds. There was something special about Katie, and Blake was willing to use his tour to explore it.
“Hey Caro, why don’t we do a little meet and greet with the opener?” Blake tried to sound casual as he put his hands behind his head and leaned back in his chair.
“Ah, sure, I suppose we can set something up. You want to do drinks after the show?” Caroline remained professional and didn’t question his unusual request. Blake rarely went out of his way to socialize with opening bands, staff, or press. He was friendly and welcoming to fans, and while he could be very casual with her, he was always clear that theirs was a working relationship.
“That sounds good. Would you mind finding somewhere good around here and setting it up?”
“Sure, I’ll call around and see what I can do. I’m sure we can find a place that won’t mind reserving a space for a large group if it includes you. We just need to make sure security won’t be an issue. Let’s see, they’ve got five guys.” Caroline scanned her papers. “Wait. Make that four guys, one young lady, plus security. I guess I can figure that out when I get info on the bar itself.” Understanding dawned in Caroline’s eyes and a knowing smile danced across her lips.
Blake was fairly sure that Caroline could figure out what he was up to, but he continued to play it cool. Caroline had worked for him for almost five years, and since they had known each other, Blake’s relationships rarely lasted more than a couple of weeks. She had to know that if he was going to this much trouble to put himself in Katie’s path that it was important.
“I’ll get it set up. Just let me know if you have any special requests.” Caroline straightened her paperwork in her arms and moved towards the door. “I’ll be on site and available all afternoon if you need me. Otherwise, I’ll see you tonight after your set. Have a good show, Blake.” She shifted the paperwork to one arm and let herself out.
Blake allowed himself a satisfied smile. Katie might not realize that tonight’s get together would be orchestrated strictly for her benefit, but the boys in the band certainly would. He would take their good-natured ribbing, though. He had a feeling that it would be worth it.
Chapter Two
Katie couldn’t tear her eyes away from the beauty queen staring back at her in the dressing room mirror. In a little over an hour, the hair and makeup team had transformed her from small-town cutie to sexy ingénue. Her wavy hair had been curled, teased and sprayed until it was a shiny mound of smooth honey-blonde curls, her eyelashes went on for miles, her lips were painted in a shimmery pink fancier than anything she’d ever applied herself, and her clothes . . . wow. She had traded jeans and a T-shirt for sequined shorts that showed off her legs and a fitted shimmery top in the most gorgeous shade of blush pink that she had ever seen. She hardly recognized herself.
“Wow, you guys . . . I can’t believe that it’s me. I have never looked like this, and I couldn’t have done it myself. I feel like a princess. Thank you so much!” Katie was bubbling over with enthusiasm for the team. A brisk knock on the door interrupted them.
“Hey Katie, wait . . . whoa!” Her band mate, Jeff, poked his head in. He stepped in and took in Katie’s new appearance. “You look beautiful.”
Katie dipped her head and looked at her friend through a fringe of impossibly long dark lashes. “Aw, thanks. These girls have outdone themselves.” She gestured at the hair and makeup team.
“I’ll say. Anyway, we are ready for the pre-show meeting if you’re good to go. Also, Blake Jackson invited us to go out for drinks tonight after his set. His assistant is going to set it up and get us the details.”
“Oh, really? Well, that sounds like fun.” Katie kept her excitement to herself, but the butterflies in her stomach were going crazy. She suppressed her gleeful grin as well as she could as she hopped off her chair and trailed behind Jeff to meet up with the band, waving good-bye to the girls as they packed up their tools and products. It was all she could do to keep herself from skipping.
Her arrival was met with wolf whistles and exaggerated compliments from the boys in the band. Sterling had spent so much time together between rehearsals, playing gigs, and traveling, that the guys were like big brothers to Katie. As an only child, the fierce protective nature of the guys had taken a bit of getting used to. Their attention was suffocating at times, but was often just what she needed as they traveled to some of their shadier gigs. Katie couldn’t recall a time when she had ever been in actual danger, but some of the clubs and bars that Sterling played were on the scary side. It was always reassuring to know that she had four men ready and willing to protect her should she need it. Tonight she took in their appreciative looks and allowed herself to forget the stress and tension of travel and preparation and just give in to the excitement that had been building in her heart all day. This was it, the day they’d all been waiting for.
Katie forced herself to pay attention to the information and last-minute details being given to her amid the frenzy of activity before the band took the stage. They had rehearsed, their road crew had checked and double-checked everything, but this was the biggest show of their career and it seemed like what they didn’t know could fill a book. Now it was time to shake off the lingering anxiety and focus on the music. There was no room for insecurity out on the stage, no hiding from the hundreds of eyes watching and ears listening. Tonight’s show was a huge step for her career, not to mention the culmination of countless hours of writing music, practicing, and networking. Sterling had paid thousands of dollars to join the tour, and they needed to start earning it back.
The band members joined hands, and Jeff offered a little prayer for the group. Katie paused, offered her own silent prayer, and centered herself before heading up the stairs to the stage. As she reached the top of the steps, she could see nothing but the stage and the blazing lights illuminating it. The crowd was an undulating blur in front of them. She could hear the audience cheering and knew that anything less than their best performance would disappoint the restless fans. Blake Jackson drew the crowds, but the members of Sterling hoped to find a few new admirers of their own. Katie and her band mates emerged onto the stage under the hot lights to a roar of cheers and applause as the announcer shouted, “Please welcome, all the way from Orange Blossom, Texas, Sterling!”
All her anxiety and doubts were erased and thoughts of everything but the music, the crowd, and the energy fell away as the band played their set. Katie allowed herself to be swept away with the music, on the wave of emotion coming from her band mates and the crowd. Sterling had been playing together for six years, so the beautiful feeling of being completely in sync with each other was nothing new to Katie. She had never experienced such a surge of adrenaline duri
ng a performance, though. The sheer size of the audience catapulted the experience to a whole new level. She marveled at her hands’ ability to seemingly play her fiddle on their own, and an irrepressible smile beamed on her face. This is it, she thought. This is what it’s all about.
Their set lasted over an hour, but before she knew it, the band was taking their bows and heading off the stage. One of the things Katie loved most about music was its ability to take her away, to carry her to a place where hours felt like minutes. The ecstatic buzz in her head gradually gave way to the reality of the arena. The crowd was roaring, and Katie followed her band mates as if in a dream, turning to wave at the crowd one last time, a huge smile on her face.
The sea of bodies and the thunderous applause was unbelievable, and Katie threw kisses to the crowd until she was out of their sight. The euphoric buzz of pulling off such a successful show distracted her enough that she didn’t notice a very special fan watching from backstage.
• • •
Blake had watched Sterling’s set from the side of the stage, and he was impressed. For such a relatively new band, their stage presence, technical talent, and songwriting were phenomenal. Sterling was a great addition to his tour, and it was a shame that they would only be opening for twelve shows. He thought that they could make a good team and wondered about the possibility of hiring them for more dates. The tour had been planned out months in advance, but bands dropped out for various reasons all the time. There was always a chance a spot would open up for Sterling.
Blake was sure he was biased, but Katie McCoy was one hell of a fiddle player. She’s probably a pretty good kisser, too. Blake laughed to himself and shook his head, mentally clearing thoughts of Katie and her kissable lips, and headed to join his band for their own pre-show meeting. Blake Jackson was at the height of his career, and he could credit a single-minded determinedness for his success. When other men his age were out meeting women and dating, Blake was writing music and rehearsing. When other guys were getting engaged, Blake was making albums. Instead of building a family, he had built a career. He had never really had a serious girlfriend or given much thought to when he would marry and have children, he just focused on the music and becoming a giant in the industry. He didn’t get to be one of the best in the business by distracting himself with romance and beautiful blonde-haired, green eyed fiddlers. There would be plenty of time for that later.
Chet Wilson, Blake’s longtime fiddler, approached him with a playful glint in his eyes. “I saw you watching the opening act, boss. They put on a great show, and I noticed that their fiddler’s not half bad. Pretty cute, too.”
“Yep, they’ve got some real talent. You better keep your performance up, Chet. I might decide that I’m tired of looking at your ugly mug on stage every night. You may have competition.” Blake laughed good-naturedly and clapped Chet on the back. “You ready to do this?”
“Brother, I was born ready,” Chet said with a chuckle.
“All right, everyone.” Blake motioned for the band members to join him in a circle. “Let’s join hands.” The men joined hands and the guitar player offered a group prayer. “Guys, let’s get out there and show them how it’s done!” Blake clapped his hands a few times, and the band bounded up the stairs onto the stage, welcomed by the screaming fans.
• • •
Katie and her band seated themselves at a secluded table together in the corner of the dark club where Caroline Mathers had sent them. Classic country music blared from a jukebox in the corner, and couples swirled around a wooden dance floor, two-stepping the night away. A couple of waitresses arrived at the band’s table with pitchers of beer and glasses for everyone.
The band was still riding high on the success of their show and were congratulating each other and chatting when Blake Jackson and his band arrived. A hush fell over their celebration, and Blake walked over to their table, a smile on his face and his eyes trained on Katie. Conversations all around the bar faltered as people noticed and recognized Blake. Katie saw people whispering to one another and pointing as he walked through the bar. He stopped at their table and looked pointedly at the empty table beside the one the band was crowded around.
“Hey guys, I invited y’all out so we could all get to know each other better, so let’s spread out a little. Whaddya say?” Blake gave Katie a warm smile, and his eyes lingered on hers as he started pushing the empty table over towards theirs. Katie’s band mates changed seats, leaving a few empty chairs between each other, and the musicians from Blake’s band filtered in and seated themselves.
Katie held her breath, hoping that Blake would take the empty seat next to her. A thrill skipped down her spine as their gazes locked and he pulled back the chair next to her. “Miss McCoy,” Blake said with a nod as he sat down beside her. He treated her to a heart-melting smile as his eyes twinkled with interest.
“Mr. Jackson,” she said as she lowered her eyes and looked at Blake shyly.
“So you two met already?” Sterling’s singer, Charles, said with a confused look. Katie could hear the familiar protectiveness creep into Charles’s question. Charles was a good twenty years older than Katie and had always had a soft spot for her. Sometimes he treated her more like a daughter than a band mate.
“We met this afternoon when Blake showed me around after we first got to the venue. We just kind of bumped into one another,” Katie replied. Her heart racing, she took a sip of her beer, determined to disguise her self-consciousness.
“Oh, well, all right, then. I’m Charles, Mr. Jackson. We are so glad to be on this tour, sir. Thank you for having us,” Charles said as he extended his hand across the table to Blake.
“Good to meet you, Charles, and just Blake is fine. Mr. Jackson is my father. I’m glad to have you on board.” Blake shook Charles’s hand. “You deserve your spot, man. You guys made this happen with no help from me.”
“I guess we’re just lucky then,” Katie said with a nervous laugh.
“I think I might be the lucky one,” Blake said under his breath. Katie thought she heard him but couldn’t be sure. She chanced a shy glance up at him through lowered lashes and was equally thrilled and embarrassed when their eyes met. She forced herself to look away and attempt to show an interest in the conversation beginning around the table.
As the night wore on, the two bands shared stories and the beer flowed. They got to know each other and congratulated each other on two great shows. Blake’s knee gently bumped Katie’s, his hand brushed against hers in passing, and he caught her eye more than once while their band mates talked all around them.
Katie wondered if Blake was initiating any of the contact on purpose or if she was just wishing he was. She had read countless interviews and articles about Blake over the years, but she could not remember ever having read about a special woman in his life. Surely he could take his pick—women must be lining up at his door every night. Katie was surprised to feel jealousy bubbling up under the surface of her composure when she imagined his female fans coming backstage. She pictured gorgeous, scantily-clad women catching Blake’s eye, maybe spending a few private hours with him, and had to deliberately calm herself down. She reminded herself that one brief encounter and a night out with eight other people gave her no claim on Blake.
As if he could read her mind, Blake turned away from his conversation and gave her a sexy smile. She was pretty sure she could drown in those dreamy blue eyes of his. Katie suppressed a wistful sigh and tried to think of something to say to him, finding herself speechless once she met his gaze. Blake leaned close enough for Katie to feel the heat coming off of his body and catch a hint of the soap he must have used earlier. She tried to be subtle as she breathed in his intoxicating scent, afraid she might actually swoon.
“You want to dance?” Blake’s breath was hot on her ear, and his soft voice sent a delicious shiver down her spine.
“All
right,” she said, barely able to form the words.
Blake put his glass on the table and pushed his chair back. He cleared his throat. “Excuse us fellas, Miss McCoy and I are going to take a few turns around the dance floor.” He winked and took Katie’s hand as she rose from her seat.
Katie kept her eyes trained on the concrete floor as she trailed behind Blake, her hand in his. She could practically feel the curious stares on her back as they left, but she didn’t trust herself to make eye contact with anyone. The parquet dance floor was crowded with couples, but Blake took Katie’s hand and led her into the thick of it. A spirited country song started up, and Blake put one hand on Katie’s waist and took her hand with the other. As smoothly as if they had been dancing together for years, he led her around the floor in a two-step with the flow of the crowd. Katie had spent plenty of time on the dance floor, but she had never danced with anyone as charming and confident as Blake.
In his arms, she relaxed and enjoyed the rhythm, the give and take between them, as she looked up into his eyes. His expression was relaxed, like he knew exactly what he was doing. He led her through the dance and never once stepped on her toes or let her bump into another dancer. His hand was warm on her back, strong and masculine. As they twirled around the dance floor, Katie could tell that most of the dancers recognized Blake. He probably didn’t get the chance to enjoy himself in public like this very often. Nobody could stop him to ask for an autograph as long as he was moving around the dance floor, though.
The song ended, and a ballad started. Couples left the dance floor and were replaced by others, and before Katie could figure out how to react to the slow song, Blake was pulling her close. Pressed up against his strong, distinctly masculine body, Katie felt light-headed with attraction. Her senses were assaulted and she tightened her grip on him. His spicy, rugged scent surrounded her, his warm body was large and hard against her soft curves, and she could just faintly feel the gentle scratch of his five-o’clock shadow against the top of her head. She was acutely aware of the way his hand felt on her back, the way her breasts were crushed against his chest. Too soon, the song ended, and Blake pulled back.
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