by Lisa Lewis
“All right. But this is your last chance. You can only push my restart button a couple of times before I completely shut down.” Tom gave her a quick smile to soften his words, letting her know he was kidding. After taking another sip of whiskey, he asked, “But really, how was your first day as a roadie? Things go okay?”
Beth nodded. “Yeah. We loaded up as much as we could on the truck today, and we’re going to finish up tomorrow after the band’s final rehearsal. Cole, Mike, and the other guys were really helpful. They showed me what to do and didn’t yell too much if I messed up.”
“You’ll get the hang of it. The crew seems like a good group, and we really are glad your father took the job as road manager. I think Freestone Records did the right thing in asking him to work with us. With his help, and the way the tour schedule has been planned out, we’re thinking things will run pretty smooth.”
“I haven’t had time to check out the exact tour itinerary.” Beth leaned an elbow on the bar and propped her cheek against her curled hand. “We’re hitting some major cities on the East Coast, right?”
“Major cities, minor cities, and everywhere in between. Basically, this is Roadhouse’s trial run in the limelight. If we can’t fill the seats, there’s no sense in planning any more tour dates after this trip. And Marty, our manager, arranged a very specific route, too.”
“What do you mean?”
“Marty is big with building anticipation. He wants to draw in as many fans and ticket buyers as he can along the way. What better way to do that than through local media coverage and word of mouth?”
Bethany still looked puzzled so Tom continued on. “It’s like this. Our first show is in Jacksonville—only a hundred and fifty miles away yet it’s far enough to be a pain when getting the equipment moved. But when the reviews of our performance hit the TV and newspapers, Jacksonville is close enough so people here in the Savannah area might catch some of them. Assuming we do a good job and the talk is good, our next show in Macon will have gained some additional concertgoers.”
“But you guys have been playing around here for years. Wouldn’t anybody who’d wanted to see you perform done so by now? And all it would have cost them would’ve been a cover charge for the bar entry. Why would anybody be foolish enough to shell out an indecent amount of money to see a less intimate show in a big auditorium?” A stricken look came across Beth’s face, and she covered her mouth with her hand. “Please don’t be offended. That really was just an innocent question, not a personal attack.”
Tom let a soft laugh escape. “Don’t worry. I’m beginning to see how you are. Speak first, think later. But in answer to your question, everyone who might’ve wanted to see Roadhouse perform wasn’t able to before. Not all country music fans are gray-haired old ladies, you know. We’re attracting listeners of all ages, some who’ve even crossed over from the rock or pop scene. Actually, the first time that ‘Dandelions’ was played on the radio it was on a Top 40 station, not a country one.”
“So this tour really is an opportunity for all your fans to see you.”
“Definitely. And since these shows will be a lot more extravagant than anything we’ve done in the local clubs, even the fans who’ve seen us before won’t get the same old thing. The sound, the lighting, the whole atmosphere will be different in these larger venues.” Tom rubbed his hands over his face and shook his head. “I get nervous just thinking about singing to a crowd of more than a few hundred people. This really is going to be a big step up for Roadhouse if we can pull it off.”
“I’m sure you’ll be great.” Bethany lifted her half-empty glass of beer. “Here’s to a successful tour. May you enjoy every second of your celebrity.”
“Let’s not rush things. Let’s take it one day at a time.” Tom lifted his own drink. “To Jacksonville,” he said, and touched his glass to Beth’s.
She smiled. “To Jacksonville.”
•
In a stone mansion on the edge of Savannah’s Historic District, a young woman ran up the stairs to her west wing bedroom. She was ecstatic, barely able to contain her excitement.
Pulling up the candid photos she’d loaded onto her PC, she sat down in front of the machine and let out a long sigh. It seemed like each passing minute was an hour.
But soon she’d see him on stage. Live and in person.
She’d been waiting for this moment for a long time. Okay, a year—but it had seemed like forever. And now she didn’t have to wait much longer to meet him.
He was going to be in a public arena. A huge theatre. She didn’t have to worry about getting a fake ID in order to gain access to a local bar. There was no age limit for admittance to the upcoming concert, and she was going to be there. Not quite in the front row, but close enough that he would see her while he played.
She was so proud of him. He was on his way to the big time now, and she intended to be by his side as he finally got all the recognition he deserved. He was so gorgeous and talented. And he was hers.
At least he would be, once they finally met face to face.
Chapter Two
Beth put down her bottle of lemonade and looked around. The stage was all set for Roadhouse’s performance later that evening, and the crew of roadies and local stagehands were taking a well-deserved break.
Her job had been decided right after she’d been hired. Laying electrical wires meant less heavy lifting for her to do, and it freed other guys for jobs she couldn’t necessarily do as a rookie. Or as a woman. As the final equipment was being broken down and packed up in Savannah yesterday afternoon, Mike had given her a brief rundown on how the lines had to be arranged and connected.
Beth had traveled down to Jacksonville in the same van as her father and Cole. Although she was quick to pick up new skills, she had to admit that the onslaught of electrical terminology Mike had thrown at her earlier had been a bit overwhelming. She’d been glad to have the opportunity in the truck to ask the two men a few additional questions.
Upon their arrival in the area early this morning, the crew had proceeded to check out the accommodations in the Florida Theatre. They needed to verify where all the equipment was to be arranged, where the stage exits and dressing rooms were, and other technical information that could change from one venue to another. Beth had enjoyed taking part in those activities, which added to her understanding of the many aspects of a roadie’s job. Once the initial inspection had been completed, everyone got right to work on the load-in and set-up of equipment.
Now, as she looked at the job she’d just completed, Beth was satisfied. Mike was still going to look over her wiring connections to be sure they were correct, but she thought they’d be fine. Her confidence was high even though her hands-on experience was low. And once she mastered this part of her job, hopefully more duties would be assigned to her.
Because Beth was really hoping that additional work would keep her mind off Tom Crowley.
The other night in Savannah, at Gregory’s bar, she had really enjoyed talking with Tom. Maybe too much. He’d treated her with respect and spoke in a very cordial manner, yet subtle glances he’d sent her way had conveyed his attraction to her. And Beth was sure he’d probably gotten the same vibe from her all evening, no matter how much she’d tried to hide it.
She really didn’t want to encourage attention from a man like Tom. Now, or any time soon. Things in her life were just too complicated at the moment, and she wasn’t sure when, or if, they were going to be straightened out.
After polishing off her lemonade, Beth whistled and waved her arms at Mike, currently at stage left hooking up the keyboards. “Hey, Mike, you want to check out my work when you get a chance?”
“Be right there,” he yelled back to her. He spoke briefly to the roadie who was assembling the drum set, then jumped off the stage and headed toward Beth at the mixing board.
•
Tom tried to be subtle as he looked around the theatre, searching for Beth among the various crew members doing equipmen
t checks. The band didn’t need to start their last run-through of songs for a few more hours, and it was near lunchtime now. He was hoping he could talk Bethany into joining him for a bite to eat.
He finally caught sight of her near the center of the auditorium, speaking with another technician. Tom headed her way, admiring the way she looked even in casual work clothes of T-shirt and jeans. Her blonde hair was pulled back in a ponytail, allowing him a clear view of her profile.
As Tom approached the pair, Mike threw him a wave. “Hey, Tom. Things are shaping up fine for tonight. Beth is going to do terrific on the tour, I can tell already.” With a nod, he began moving back toward the stage. “See you later.”
The look on Beth’s face wasn’t nearly as welcoming as Mike’s greeting had been.
What, did she think he was going to jump her bones right this moment? As his eyes traveled over her body, Tom knew he definitely would have no problem doing that. But he also knew if he seriously wanted to get closer to Beth, he had to move slowly.
“Hi, Beth. How’s the job going?”
She seemed to relax a bit in reaction to his business-like question. “So far, so good. Mike only needed to make two minor adjustments in my wiring layout. He said it was great work for a novice.”
“That’s good. But we’ll find out later if everything’s hooked up right.”
“Yeah, I guess so.” Beth flashed a brief smile.
“You know, it looks like you’re all done for now, and we don’t have to be back here for sound check for at least a couple of hours. Do you want to grab some lunch?”
She looked surprised at his offer. Then she quickly shook her head no. “I really can’t. I’m sure the crew has more work to do. At the very least, Mike will want me to stick around and observe.”
Just then Mike announced via the lead microphone, “Lunch break, everyone. Be back here by four o’clock sharp for sound check.”
Tom grinned at Beth. “Any other excuse you want to use?”
She frowned back at him. “Well, actually I’m not dressed properly. And I’m sweaty and dirty from working, too.”
“You’re dressed fine. It’s not like we’re going to a four-star restaurant. Just hit the bathroom to wash the grime off your hands and face and we’ll head out.”
Beth looked appalled. “I have something on my face? How bad is it?”
Tom reached toward her. “It’s just a small bit of dirt. Don’t panic.” Gently he smoothed his fingers over her soft cheek, brushing off the minute soil particles that contrasted with her lighter complexion. The instant his flesh touched hers he felt a connection. An electric current that swept through his entire being.
Slowly he lowered his hand, wondering if she’d felt it, too. “Come on,” he coaxed softly. “Come with me.”
“All right.”
•
Beth pretended interest in the passing scenery as Tom drove a black Ford SUV through the Jacksonville streets. “So, where did you say we were going?”
“We have enough time before sound check to hit the beach. It’s only half an hour away. I figured we could grab some seafood and take a quick walk on the sand. Sound good to you?”
It sounded dangerous, actually. She couldn’t believe she’d agreed to go out with him. But Beth turned to Tom and said, “Sounds great.” She watched as he confidently maneuvered the city streets. “You seem pretty familiar with the area around here. Have you visited Jacksonville a lot? You told me the other night that you were born and raised in Savannah.”
Tom smiled. “Yeah, I’m a Savannah boy through and through, but I did leave to attend college. University of North Florida, right here in Jacksonville. Leo and I shared an off-campus apartment, and we got to know the area well when we played different gigs.”
“Gigs?” She thought some of the music terms he used were cute. “You mean Roadhouse has been performing for what, ten years, and you guys are only hitting it big now?”
He stopped at a flashing red light and turned to give her a quizzical look. “Didn’t you get any information about the band from your father when he hired you?”
She shook her head.
As they continued down the road, Tom explained, “Leo’s family moved to Savannah when we were both freshmen, and we’ve been best friends ever since. Each of us loved music, was in the school band, and dreamed about becoming a famous rock star. After graduation, we both decided to go to the university in Jacksonville. We didn’t hook up with the rest of Roadhouse until after college, about five years ago.”
Digesting this piece of Tom’s history, Beth asked, “Okay, so what kind of gigs did you and Leo do in college? Frat parties? Bar Mitzvahs? Weddings?”
“Basically, anyone who paid us to sing, we’d do it. But since we ultimately decided we weren’t interested in the hard rock, headbanger music scene, we mostly played tamer, upscale kinds of parties. We had kind of a Simon and Garfunkel thing going. We both played saxophone in high school, but I really wasn’t great at it. I taught myself guitar and discovered I was better off using my mouth for singing.”
Beth slanted a quick glance at his sensual lips and figured he had mastered plenty of skills involving that body part. Of course, his hands looked mighty fine, too. Strong but lean, with long fingers and neatly trimmed nails. She pulled her gaze back to the city streets, trying to refocus on the conversation. “Did you write your own songs in college?”
“At first we covered a lot of other bands, just to build a name for ourselves in the area. Over time, we started to insert some of our own work into the sets, and the songs were well received. Actually, ‘Dandelions’ is a tune that I began to write back in college. I finished it last year, we put it on the album, and it was released as the first single.”
Tom swung the vehicle into a public lot near the beach and parked. He got out and came around to Beth’s side, opening her door before she could do it. Holding out a hand, he asked, “Are you ready?”
She honestly didn’t think she’d ever be ready for a man like Tom.
•
Tom waited as Beth hesitantly extended her hand. He understood why she’d be afraid, after their earlier connection. He still wondered if it had really happened. Now, as she placed her hand into his, he felt it again. She looked up, showing him with her widened, silver-blue eyes that he wasn’t alone in the feeling.
He tugged on her arm, gently pulling her out of the truck and closer to him. He didn’t back up but instead trapped her between his body and the truck door. Still holding her hand, caught in her beautiful gaze, he asked, “How hungry are you? Because, right now, I’m starving.”
He watched as she caught his double-entendre and a faint blush rose up her cheeks. But she didn’t back down from his less-than-subtle advance. Instead, she gave a mysterious little smile and replied, “I think I’m getting hungrier by the minute. It must be catching.”
Tom raised his other hand to cup her cheek, caressing her jaw line with his thumb. Her mouth dropped open in an invitation he couldn’t resist. He slowly lowered his head toward Beth’s, giving her ample opportunity to back away. He’d been imagining this kiss from the first moment he’d seen her only a couple of days ago.
“Hey, buddy! You leaving or what?”
Tom jumped away from Beth, startled by the shout and honking horn of an impatient driver. Apparently he wanted their parking space, like right now.
“Sorry, guy, but we just got here.” The man gave an angry little gesture and inched his car down the aisle, searching for an available spot.
Tom turned back to Beth, knowing that he’d missed his opportunity. The mood was broken, and from the way she was looking everywhere but at him, it definitely wasn’t coming back anytime soon.
Again catching her hand in his, he said, “Come on. Let’s go eat the best haddock on the East Coast.”
He locked up the truck with the click of a button, and they headed off down the boardwalk.
•
“This place is great,” Beth sai
d. She looked at the fishing equipment decorating the walls of the diner and laughed. “Who knew that fishing poles could double as curtain rods?” She slid into the booth indicated by the hostess and Tom took a seat opposite her. Colorful menus were placed in front of them.
“Yeah, Fred went a touch overboard with the maritime theme, but I guess he wanted to be sure people didn’t try to order steak.”
“Fred? You know the owner personally?”
“Fred and I took business courses together in college. We’ve kept in touch over the years, and Roadhouse has performed for some of his beach parties out back.”
Beth was confused. “I thought you studied music in college. Was I wrong in assuming that? From what you said before, it seemed like a career in music is all you’ve ever wanted since high school.”
“It’s all I’ve ever wanted, but my family didn’t necessarily share my goals.”
A waitress came to get their order, and after quickly scanning the menus, they decided upon fish frys, onion rings, and sodas. The woman collected the menus and moved off to the kitchen.
Resuming their discussion, Beth asked, “What do you mean by that?”
Tom gave a wry smile. “It’s hard to make it in the music business, and my family wanted to make sure I was prepared for failure.”
“That’s horrible! They didn’t think you had the talent to succeed?”
“No, that’s not it at all. My parents were very supportive of my career choice, and they thought I had plenty of talent. But a lot of this business depends on who you know and good old-fashioned luck. Being in the right place at the right time. My parents wanted me to have a back-up plan in case good things didn’t happen for me music-wise.” He shrugged. “I haven’t had a problem with that.”
“So what did you do?”
“My father owns a hardware store in Savannah. It’s been in the family for three generations. We agreed that I would minor in business at college in preparation for taking over the store and continuing the family business.”