Katie’s legs wobbled under her as she stood rooted in place, staring dreamily after Blake. The music started, the crowd went wild, and she became peripherally aware that everyone around her was staring. She sat down in her chair in a daze, intoxicated by her brief moment with Blake. Her face reddened as she slowly looked at the curious faces surrounding her. The small seating area was full of friends and family of the band members, contest winners, and staff members. Everyone had witnessed their exchange, noticed the special treatment, and looked like they wondered what was going on between Blake and the young fiddler.
She soon forgot to be self-conscious as the band played on and Blake’s dreamy voice filled the auditorium. Katie sat, mesmerized, as Blake sang the songs she had heard a hundred times before. She knew all of his songs by heart, could play most of them herself, in fact; but tonight they sounded new to her; it was as if she were under his spell. His warm voice made everything around her fade away as he sang; she couldn’t think of anything else but him.
She was momentarily jolted from her daze when Blake introduced his popular song ‘Someone Like You’, looked over at her, made purposeful eye contact, and told the crowd that the song suddenly had new meaning for him. Katie had to employ every last ounce of her self-control to remain upright in her chair after that. Was he playing with her? Was he flirting, trying to send a real message, or just working the crowd? If only she could get a few moments alone with him after the show, maybe he would give her a better idea.
Both Sterling and Blake had fan meet and greet events after the show, and Katie had to be satisfied with no more than occasional glimpses of Blake. There was no way they would have any conversation that night, private or otherwise. Knowing that he was in charge and could delay the fan events to see her, but chose not to, was tough to take. Katie knew that she shouldn’t be upset. He wasn’t avoiding her; this was work, and he was a professional. Blake didn’t get to where he was by upsetting fans and skipping commitments. He had caught her eye a couple of times, but she could never tell if it was coincidence or if he was thinking of her, trying to send a message.
Chapter Four
Katie looked out the window of Sterling’s tour bus as they left Mobile behind. In a little over three hours, they would arrive in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, where they would actually have a full day off before taking the stage the next evening. After the Tuscaloosa show, the tour schedule would pick up and there would be much less downtime between stops. Sterling had joined Blake’s tour during a slow period, and Katie couldn’t let herself get used to the leisurely pace.
Her band had spent several months in the past playing night after night with little time off between gigs, but they had always gone home or to a hotel afterwards. Sleeping on a tour bus was going to be much different. Each band member had their own private bunk, but only a curtain separated the beds from the open area of the bus. Everything was designed to make the most of the limited space, so there was no bathtub, only a shower; no full size refrigerator, only one that would be at home in a dorm room; nothing like the comforts of home. Sterling’s recent success had been such a whirlwind ride, such an exhilarating experience that none of it mattered. Getting their own tour bus was a huge step, such a sign of their success that they were too excited to grouse about the cramped quarters. Besides, the shows and fan events were so exhausting that the little bunks felt like heaven when the musicians fell into bed at night.
Katie sat back on a small black leather sofa in the front lounge area of the bus and admired her flowers. She wouldn’t be able to keep them for long; she had propped them up in the tiny kitchen sink for the ride to Tuscaloosa and it was only a matter of time before they’d have to be moved. Just seeing them made her smile as she let her thoughts run free, remembering the feel of Blake’s warm lips on her hand the night before, wondering what those lips would feel like pressed against her own.
As soon as the bus left the parking lot that morning, her band mates had descended upon her in the bus’s lounge area and subjected Katie to intense questioning about Blake, what was going on, and why she was getting such special treatment from the star. She had seen genuine concern in their eyes amidst their good-natured promises to put him in his place if he hurt her. The band was used to guarding her, always on alert for signs of trouble, as though she were their personal responsibility. They worried for her and didn’t relax until they knew that she was safe. She assured the men that she had only had a few casual encounters with Blake and that nothing had really happened.
Katie didn’t mention how much she wanted something to happen, though. She didn’t tell the guys that her world stopped whenever Blake was around, that the sound of his voice promised a beautiful forever, or that when he touched her hand she wasn’t entirely sure that her feet were on the ground. For the first time since she had joined Sterling, Katie began to wish that there was another female member. The guys were great but it would be nice to have someone to talk with about Blake.
Katie’s cell phone rang and she snapped to attention. She didn’t recognize the number but answered.
“Katie?” Blake’s deep voice was unmistakable.
“How did you get my number?” Katie teased. Her tension melted away as she sank back down into her seat when she realized that it was Blake on the line.
“Honey, I had my people ask your people. You might want to consider a change in personnel. It was pretty easy to get your information,” Blake replied with a laugh. “You guys on your way to Tuscaloosa yet?”
“We’ve been on the road about thirty minutes.”
“We’re just a little bit ahead of you, then. I’m calling to see if you’d like to have dinner with me tonight.”
“You mean like a date?” Katie asked. The conversations around her seemed to stop and everyone on the bus listened while they pretended not to listen.
“That’s exactly what I mean, darlin’. I know a great place in Tuscaloosa and I’d love to take you out tonight,” Blake said. Katie could hear the smile in his voice and closed her eyes as she imagined how sexy he must look. She pictured him relaxing on his own bus, maybe a little stubble covering his cheeks.
“I’d love to,” she said. Katie thought she should try to play it cool but found that she just couldn’t hide her feelings from Blake, nor did she want to. She wasn’t going to move too fast with him, but with a little less than three weeks together there was no time for games.
“Well, all right. I imagine we’ll roll into town around three this afternoon. I’ll give you some time to do whatever you need to do and I’ll come by and grab you at six. Does that sound okay?”
“Sounds perfect,” Katie answered.
“Great, see you then. Enjoy the ride,” Blake said and then hung up.
Katie was dazed as she put her phone down and looked around the bus. Had Blake Jackson—THE Blake Jackson—really just officially asked her out? On a real live date? She squealed and did a little happy dance as she stood up and made her way to the little refrigerator across from the couch. She grabbed a cold bottle of water and pressed it to her forehead, took a deep breath, and centered herself. So Blake Jackson asked me out. He’s sweet and we get along great. This should be fun. No big deal. It’s just a date.
Katie sat back down on the little sofa by the window and stared at the blank screen on the bus’s plasma TV. Now what? Before the phone call, Katie had worked so hard at convincing herself not to let her imagination run wild. A few sweet encounters did not mean that she and Blake had some romantic future ahead of them. Letting herself get excited over a couple of conversations and one gorgeous flower arrangement could set her up for major disappointment if she fell for Blake and he had simply been passing time being friendly to the lone girl in the opening band. His phone call asking her for a date changed everything, didn’t it? He wouldn’t ask her out if he didn’t like her too, right? Now if only she could manage to make it through a dinner with
out acting like a crazed fan or blurting out something stupid. She needed a distraction. Three hours on the road was long enough to work herself into quite a lather over her upcoming date.
Katie was thinking of popping in a DVD, kicking back, and shutting off her mind for an hour or so when Charles Cranston, Sterling’s singer, ambled through the bus’s short hallway and into the front lounge area. Charles dropped down onto the sofa opposite Katie and opened a bottle of water.
“So. You and Blake Jackson, huh?” Charles sipped his drink and eyed Katie with amusement.
Katie laughed. “It’s just dinner, Charles. He’s probably just being nice. I’m sure it doesn’t mean anything.”
“Well, honey, I notice that he didn’t invite the whole band, just you. If I didn’t know better, I’d say that you are going on an actual, real-life date tonight. Just try not to forget about me when you two fall in love and run away together.”
“Ha! I don’t think you need to worry about that. I doubt we’ll even see each other once we go back home. I don’t think much can happen in a couple of weeks, especially a couple of weeks on a major tour. We’ll both be too busy with the tour to fall in love, much less run away together. I mean, when would we have the time?” Katie giggled.
“You’d be surprised at how much can happen in a couple of weeks, sweetheart. Being on tour is a bit like being in a pressure cooker. The conditions are perfect, and relationships can develop a lot faster than normal. I’ve been in this business a long time, and I’ve seen crazier things happen. Just be careful, you know, remember who you are, and you can have fun without getting hurt. Blake seems like a good guy, but you should still take care of yourself. Being on the road can make people do crazy things.” Charles stood up and stretched. “I think I’m going to grab a little shuteye before we roll into Tuscaloosa. Wake me when we get there, OK?”
“All right. You could use the beauty sleep anyway,” Katie said with a wink. She watched Charles climb into his bunk and pull the curtain closed. She smiled and shook her head. A relationship pressure cooker, huh? Charles was always dispensing wisdom about love, life, and music.
Without a distraction, Katie would drive herself crazy with anxiety over her upcoming date. It was too early to start getting ready, she was too fidgety to write a song or take a nap, so she decided to watch a movie. She fished her copy of Miss Congeniality out of the bin of DVDs and headed for her own bunk. A couple of hours propped up in her bed with her favorite movie would help her relax and forget about Blake, at least for a while.
Katie climbed into her bunk and closed the curtain, relishing the privacy, or at least the semblance of privacy, of the small space. She pulled her personal DVD player screen down from the roof of her compartment and started the movie. She breathed a contented sigh as she leaned back and tried to let Sandra Bullock take her mind off of Blake for a couple of hours. She’d be in Tuscaloosa soon enough and would have plenty of time to stress out before her date with Blake tonight.
Her date! What would she wear? Who would do her hair and makeup? She would be on her own this time. What would Blake think of everyday Katie, without professionally styled hair and expertly applied makeup? Oh God, he was going to realize what a nobody she really was, wasn’t he?
• • •
Katie perched nervously on the edge of the tour bus’s small leather sofa, checked her watch, and willed her leg to stop bouncing. The bus had arrived in Tuscaloosa and Katie had managed to get herself ready for the date on the bus, no easy feat. Normally, when a band arrived in town they secured a hotel room for the driver. He would sleep during the day and be ready to drive at night, and the band members could use the shower in that room in the meantime. There hadn’t been enough time to get the room secured, so Katie had to get ready on board the bus.
Her band mates had given her plenty of grief over the way the steam from her shower had perfumed the bus, how the outfits she rejected for the date were strewn over her bunk, and how her makeup was all over the table in the front lounge. Their teasing had embarrassed her, but now that she was alone in the bus, everyone else having gone off to find entertainment, she wished that the guys were still with her. At least their good-natured ribbing had distracted her enough to forget how nervous she was for a little while. Blake was due to collect her soon, but now the minutes were dragging by and her nerves were keeping her on edge.
Katie’s heart jumped into her throat at the sound of Blake’s soft knock on the bus’s door. She got to her feet, not completely sure that her legs would carry her in her frazzled state, and made her way to the door to greet him. She took the hand that he offered to help her walk down the steps and wondered if he felt the same jolt of electric attraction that she felt when their skin touched.
Blake looked down at Katie and kissed her forehead softly. He breathed in the scent of her hair and said, “Hey beautiful. It’s good to see you again.” His voice was husky and his dark blue eyes were intense.
“Hey yourself,” said Katie. “It’s good to see you too.” She felt a lump form in her throat as she met his gaze then looked away, scanning the parking lot. “Did you drive?”
“That’s me over there,” he said, pointing to a black Mercedes Benz S Class. “My assistant arranged a rental for me while we’re in town. Shall we?” Blake offered his hand and Katie took it. She grinned up at him when he gave her hand a little squeeze. He opened her car door for her and waited while she slid into the luxurious leather seat before closing it for her.
“I’ve never been in a car this nice before,” Katie said as she looked around the vehicle’s interior. The car’s air conditioner blew deliciously cool air on her face, and Katie’s heart squeezed a little when she realized that her band’s CD was playing. Blake Jackson had a copy of her band’s album! And he was listening to it!
“Yeah, it’s a pretty sweet ride, I guess. I prefer something a little more practical myself. I drive a pickup at home.”
“Where’s home?” Katie angled herself so that she could face him a little better as Blake pulled out of the parking lot and into traffic. She enjoyed the opportunity to indulge herself and stare at him without interruption. His face looked freshly shaven, and the hair behind his ears was still a little damp. He might be as excited about their date as she was.
“Nashville. My parents and older brother still live in Knoxville, where I grew up, but I moved out to Nashville as soon as I got serious about music. I love Knoxville, but at the time, I couldn’t see a way to really make it in country music without hitting Nashville. That’s where all the talent seems to get discovered. It paid off, I guess. Maybe I can take you to my place when we get to town. I haven’t been home in a couple of months but I have a guy who helps keep everything at the house running smoothly.”
“I’d love to see your house, Blake. That would be really nice,” said Katie as she lowered her eyes shyly. It was hard not to get ahead of herself when everything he said sounded so cozy and romantic to her.
“So you guys are from Orange Blossom, huh? I’ve actually got a little place out in Austin. I don’t get down there as much as I’d like, but I love it when I’m there, unless it’s summer, of course. I don’t know how you Texans stand that heat, it’s so brutal,” he said. “I’m surprised that I never caught one of your shows. I love the music scene in Austin, and I’m sure y’all played all over that town.” Blake glanced over at Katie and grinned before training his eyes back on the road. She loved watching the muscles ripple in his tan forearms as he drove.
“Yeah, we pretty much play anywhere that will have us. There are quite a few bars and clubs in the smaller towns around Austin that are always glad to have cheap live music, but it’s a little tougher to make it in Austin. Short of moving to Nashville, Austin’s our best bet for exposure. It was worth the trouble, though, you know? Look at us now, opening on a big time tour.” Katie giggled.
“Yep, look at you
now.” Blake smiled at Katie indulgently, fond amusement dancing in his eyes. “Does your family live in Orange Blossom?”
“Yes, well, my parents do. I’m an only child. My folks have been there forever; I don’t think they’ll ever leave. My dad has the only optometry practice in town, and my mother is practically an institution. I don’t think there’s a person in town who doesn’t know her.”
“Sounds like my folks. They’ve been in Knoxville forever. So you’re an only child, huh? I can’t imagine what that’s like. I have an older brother, so I’ve never been the only one.”
“Well, I think that they would’ve liked to have had another child, but it just never happened.”
• • •
Blake pulled the Mercedes into the parking lot of a small, unassuming restaurant, Evangeline’s. “We’re here, darlin’. Hope you’re hungry.” Blake hopped out and rushed to open Katie’s door for her. She giggled at his exaggerated strides as he made his way around the car. He offered his hand as she pulled herself out of the car, knowing that she didn’t need help maneuvering herself but unwilling to pass up the chance to hold her hand.
Blake opened the restaurant door, and Katie stepped inside. The couple was greeted immediately by a hostess who was obviously flustered and star struck, but trying to act natural. “Welcome to Evangeline’s. Table for two?” She said.
“Yes, ma’am,” Blake looked at the hostess’s nametag, “Elizabeth. We should have a reservation for six-thirty. Bl-”
“Blake Jackson. I know who you are, sir.” Elizabeth flushed bright red. “Sorry for interrupting.” She lowered her voice to a stage whisper and said, “I mean I know who you are. We have a private table for you and your date. Right this way.” Elizabeth led Blake and Katie through the restaurant to a dim corner table partially shielded from the dining room by a decorative column. “Meredith will be your server this evening. Enjoy your meal.”
Nashville Nights Page 34