“Do it again.” Bruce said.
She opened her eyes and saw Cameron standing over Bruce’s shoulder. She felt his determination. Yes, for RSE to make the project a success but for her too. He thought enough of her voice to take a chance on her.
“Sydney sing this song and mean it. Each word should have a face or memory attached. Don’t have a memory use one for a movie. Find your inspiration and hold on to it. Everything is gone and now you have a chance to start over. This run is not about perfection. Make me a believer. ” Bruce rolled in his chair sliding left and right. Her focus was locked on Cameron. “Run it again.”
Cameron moved to dial and lowered the lights. From the booth all she saw were the board lights reflecting off his face. Then he was gone. He went to his favorite spot on the couch. Armed with her inspiration she gave the song a new meaning in her heart. Instead of focusing on what she loss, she would sing about what she gained.
This one’s for Cameron.
Bruce added strings to the opening notes with only her voice. Eyes closed she dug deep, visualizing the fires in her life. Her parents. Her career. Her confidence. It was time to emerge from the ashes a new woman.
Cameron heard the shift in her voice. The vulnerable ache when her voice cracked. The power in her voices steeled them all. She stood like a strong statue, eyes closed, reaching into the space when the music built expanding to a robust instrument arrangement. Then it pulled back and her final word, barely heard yet the emotional declaration seeped into his pours.
“…baby I’m blowing in the wind…”
“You gotta get her to stay.” Bruce whispered.
“I know.”
Chapter Nine
Cameron was scheduled to leave for LA on Tuesday. He entered RSE, eyes trained towards the executive suite. Damian handled the Houston Headquarters. Their five acre compound gave them plenty of space for the studios and large executive offices. Most days he loved his office but it was rare that they called him in for an “issue”. He dropped his briefcase in his office and went directly to Bruce’s studio.
He crossed the doorway and the energy hit him. Sydney sat arm crossed on the couch, her leg bouncing as if throughly agitated. Bruce sat in his high back chair with his back to the booth, his thumbs drumming on his knees. The two hit a rough patch, so rough Cameron was called in to mediate.
His best friend and the woman he was growing quite fond of regarding each other like enemies. Bruce tossed a quick wink, before his face went back blank. This is part of his process. Cameron rolled his eyes. He’d have to play the bad guy too.
“What’s the problem?” He lowered into the free chair, keeping his gaze on her.
“Ladies first,” Bruce mumbled.
“How kind of you?” Her expression was a mask of stone. “Run it again. Run it again. Run it again. How many times do we have to run the damn thing before its done?” She took to examining her unpolished nails.
Cameron turned his face to the ceiling calling on the Man above for help with his lady. The thought lodged in his head. He saw Sydney as his. The thought scared the hell out of him. They’d only known each other a month. But spending time with her here and there established a rhythm between them, and he wanted more.
He looked over at Bruce and mouthed, You owe me big time. He rolled closer to her on the couch.
“Sydney, baby,” his voice dropped in volume, “this is part of the process. You told me you’d ‘live, eat, drink it if I could’, now is the time.”
“Cameron don’t baby me. I’m not singing that song again. ‘Change that word.’ ‘Sing that line.’ ‘Run it again!’” She mocked Bruce and man was she mad. “And if he says ‘Run it again’ one more time I swear I’m gonna scream Cameron. And I mean it. Scream.”
“Sydney I’m sorry but this is Bruce’s call.”
“I’m…not…singing it again.” The word stretch out in a lethal tone, her neck rolling let him know she meant business, but so did he.
“Your Royal Highness, we don’t sit on our butts. You do as the producer says or you’re locked out of the studio and the booth.”
“Locked out!” She popped to her feet, her eyes blazing golden fire.
“I didn’t stutter.” Cameron knew exactly what was going on. “Sydney you can’t expect to get better if you don’t want to be challenged. You both have a job here. I do too and it’s not serving as a referee. I have a class to teach at the center. Get your bag. You’re going with me.”
He could kill Bruce for putting him in the middle. Cameron trusted the process but having a standoff with Sydney was not his idea of a good time. She looked like she wanted to charge him. He texted Bruce, You owe me!
Cameron grabbed his briefcase and waited at the front door for Sydney. “Chop, chop, the kids are expecting me.”
Sydney picked up her pace. He examined her face and noticed the bags under her eyes. He’d take her to Harmony Dance then back to the hotel to rest. He pushed the glass door open and she dragged her feet to the car.
Cameron opened the door. She got in with a huff. He sat behind the wheel, turning to look at her directly.
“Baby, when is the last time you slept more than a few hours?”
“I’m not talking to you Cameron Carter, no matter how many times you call me baby.” She gave him a sideways glance.
“What if I said, please baby baby baby please?”
She was fighting the urge to laugh, she shook her head. He started making loud kissing noises and she burst into a full-hearted laugh.
“Now kiss me woman.”
“Only because you said please.” She pulled him close and kissed him slow. “I needed that.”
“Buckle up. We are heading to Harmony Dance. It is owned and operated by Damian and his wife Imani.” They made it in record time. Cameron hopped out and rounded the car to her door. “We all volunteer in different capacities. Today I’m teaching a music business class.”
They entered and the it was crowded as usual for a Saturday morning. He guided Sydney down the hall. “You can join me or hang out with Imani. Let me see if she’s in her office,” he peaked. “Hey beautiful!”
“Or save your flirting for some unsuspecting woman.” She laughed and he shook his head. “I have company.”
“I’m sorry.” She stepped out.
“Imani Hughes I’d like to introduce you to—”
“Lady Bird, it is great to meet you.”
“Thank you, and please call me Sydney.”
Cameron should have known that Imani would know Sydney. “Imani spent time traveling as a professional dancer until returning to Houston to open Harmony Dance.”
“Don’t leave out the best part,” Imani chimed in, “They sent Damian to evict me.” She placed a hand on her hip.
“We did but she is making it sound worse than it really was.” He answered the question look on Sydney’s face. “How are you feeling?”
“I’m tired of being pregnant.” She laughed. “Go to your class. Sydney can hang with me. The ladies should be here shortly for brunch.”
“The ladies?”
“Yes, it’s first Saturday.” Her eyebrows wiggled.
“Sydney you can come with me.” He reached for her hand.
“Oh no you don’t.” Imani pushed him toward the classroom.
He turned for a final attempt. “Sydney believe only half of what you hear.”
Their laughter followed him down the hall. He knew Sydney would have a great time but he was slightly concerned about what they’d tell him. Please Lord, don’t let them mention Playboy Carter.
He enter the classroom with a plan in mind for the evening. Sydney being locked out was the perfect opportunity to spend sometime together. They’d squeezed in a few minutes, here and there. But sticking to his after hours requirement made it hard. He’d found himself wanting to hang out in the studio all day just to be near her. But he had a label to run and a class to teach.
Sydney spent the morning with the wives of RS
E. Who are these people? They had an air of this is too good to be true about the entire morning.
A catered brunch and it only took thirty minutes to relax. They joked and teased about everything from their husbands to their kids. And they about died when she told them Bruce got her locked out this morning.
“What did you do?” Sandi, his wife, asked.
“I told Cameron if he said ‘Run it again’ one more time that I’d scream.”
They laughed so hard Sydney thought Imani would have the baby. She held her belly and rocked back and forth as tears rolled down her face.
“Are you all in the industry too?” Sydney asked enjoying their company.
“Not really.” Brione, Marques’ wife, answer. “I’m an ex-lawyer but now I work as a co-manager for my husband with Cameron.”
“You know I run Harmony Dance. I also handle the dancers and any choreography.” Imani added.
“And Bruce and I have a cafe, Coffee Confessions. You should stop by sometime, although I don’t work much with the kids. I mostly take care of my family and help out around here.” Sandi said bouncing a little one on her knee.
Sydney had one sibling, Isaac, and never had many girlfriends. She could get used to hanging out with these women. They knew how to have a good time. Plenty of food and laughs to spare. They eat and cleaned up, while discussing details for the RSE Annual Picnic.
“So Brione you’re a lawyer?” Sydney asked wiping down a table. She’d been giving her contract with Southern Sounds a lot of thought. After working with Bruce on the soundtrack, she wanted her voice to stay on a few of the songs.
“I was.” Brione stopped and picked up the crying AJ—Andrew, Jr.
Sydney pinched his chubby cheeks and brushed away his tears.
“Do you need some help with something?”
Sydney glanced at the other ladies, she felt comfortable with sharing. “I’m not sure if my old music contract is still valid. I’d love to have someone look at it.”
“Have you told Cameron? Brione asked.
“No, I kind of wanted to handle it myself.” They nodded.
“Here’s my husband’s card.” Imani said. “If there’s something to be found, Damian will find it.”
“And that includes every grimy little detail. He helped me out a few years ago. He’s a saint.” Brione said.
“And The Shark.” Imani teased.
Sydney took the card. “Thank you.”
“Babe, you ready?” Cameron called out as he entered the room. All eyes were on her.
“Somebody is holding out on us.” Imani said.
“Now I see why my husband kicked her out.” Sandi teased. They bunch laughed them right out the center. They all promised to get together before the picnic.
Back in the car Cameron glanced over at her, “You have a choice, my place or yours”
“I’m too exhausted to decide.”
“Mine it is.” He turned the ignition over, “Let’s stop and pack a bag.”
Sydney was out before they left the parking lot. He glanced over at his sleeping beauty. She’d survived brunch with the RSE wives. He called Bruce after his class and found out the ordeal this morning. She’d been staying all night and the majority of the day. Bruce had pushed every button until she pushed back.
They both needed a break from each other.
Cameron shook his head. He sent a group text to the guys. He was taking a few days off. They needed to get clothes and toiletries but she slept so soundly. He made an executive decision, next stop the beach. RSE had a vacation property near the beach. He’d buy whatever she needed to rest for a few days.
He popped in the soundtrack demo and settled in for a nice ride with his lady at his side.
Chapter Ten
Sydney opened her eyes and sat straight up alarmed. Where am I? She didn’t recognize the room. The sound of crashing waves caught her attention. She walked over to the window and remember she’d been in the car with Cameron. He’d said something about time off, the beach, she mumbled her agreement and went back to sleep.
“Cam.” She called out, her voice echoed back.
She walked to the door and glanced into a spacious living room. There he was, sleep on the couch with his feet propped on the coffee table. His jacket tossed across the arm, his tie hanging loosely around his neck, with a laptop on his lap. She leaned against the wall openly assessing him.
He surprised her.
While recording he’d pop in and out. He made sure she had meals and made it back and forth to the studio with ease. He said very little but his actions spoke volumes. So much so, that she wondered if she was out of her league. Cameron did not compare to the men she usually dated. She liked her men with an edge—street cred. But they all managed to do her wrong, cheat on her, steal from her. Take while giving very little in return. They made it easy to place a “Sorry I’m Closed” sign over her heart.
She wasn’t expecting Mr. Suit-and-Tie to be so attentive. Sexy? Absolutely. But doting and observant. Demanding yet catering.
She couldn’t say he lacked an edge, it was there hidden in his dark eyes. The tailored suits, clean hair cut, made him appear perfect. Always ready. Always put together. The tamed heat in his eyes, let her know if lie in wait.
Sydney watched him and the RSE tribe, as they called it, for the past month. They were like the Huxtables to her PJs. The Brady Bunch to her Married With Children. And Isaac fit right in with them. They made no difference between him and the others. Priding themselves on “family”.
A word she’d never quite experienced either.
They were rich—scratch that, wealthy. Second and third generation wealthy. Their kids, kids, kids would be wealthy, rich. Who sends a private plane for a meeting? Funding million dollar charity organizations. Buying out exotic islands. Scoring a major motion picture soundtrack because your cousin asked.
Wealthy people.
But what punctured a ginormous hole in her thinking was their generosity. Their kindness exceeded anything she’d ever expected from people like them. And she was wrong because they were a real family, and something she’d never had. It was just her and Isaac.
A vision of the RSE wives sitting around at brunch laughing and passing around their babies. What she wouldn’t give to have that?
Sydney slowly removed the laptop and placed it aside. Then she sat on the floor. She went after him for a good time instead she’d found herself in new territory.
Lady Bird would jump his bones, let him wine and dine her, and move on. But Sydney was tired of being alone. Tired of always having her own back. Lady Bird would find a way to sabotage it before Cameron had a chance to walkaway. Sydney knew she could have it all. But she had to leave fear behind no matter how much she distrusted people in the music industry.
She had to find fearless Sydney.
Give it a shot, a voice inside insisted. And then what? She drew her knees to her chest bracing herself from the unknown. But unlike men in the past a relationship with Cameron wouldn’t mean settling. That was if she didn’t count his “after hours” request. Which made sense, right?
The CEO and the employee.
The music executive and the artist.
Maybe he was right, it made for bad business.
But did bad business feel like this? He made her smile with his antics like the annoying kissing noises. The way he called her baby today. Baby….
Cameron shifted on the couch, crossing his arms over his chest. Knowledge is power. Knowing was better than not knowing. Just like her record deal. She planned to reach out to Damian next week. No more hiding. No more waiting for One Time to destroy her life. She’d survived once, she’d do it again.
Cameron said something about hanging out for a few days. She’d use this time to see if they could have more than stolen moments. If not, she’d enjoy the time they have together and when they wrap the soundtrack she’d head back to Austin with no regrets.
Sydney felt the cool breeze coming from
the patio door. She stood and quietly moved to the chair, grabbing the fuzzy blanket. She draped it over Cameron and placed a soft kiss on his forehead. She turned off the light and went back to the bedroom.
She found a clean bathrobe in the bathroom and decided to take a long bath. She emerged an hour later a new woman.
She now went in search of her phone, she needed to call Isaac. They’d left for a few shows in Chicago earlier in the week. She looked around the bedroom and didn’t find it.
Cameron must have it, she thought. She went back to the living room.
“Hey gorgeous.”
Sydney about jumped out of her skin. “Hey!” She placed a hand over her heart, “You scared me.”
“My bad.”
“No problem.” She took a deep breath to settle her racing heart. But looking at him increased it a notch or two. “How was our nap?”
“Amazing. I didn’t realize how tired I was. Join me.” He pat the cushion beside him.
Sydney walked across the room. The soft glow from the moon and the light in the bathroom lite the room enough to see his figure on the couch. She approached and the details of his face became much clearer. He casually draped an arm over the back of the couch and shifted turning his body towards her.
“I think we should talk.” She could feel his breath on the side of her neck. He placed a soft kiss at the base sending a chill through her body.
“About what?”
He pulled back placing a finger under her chin. “Us.”
This conversation was necessary but she couldn’t trust her voice. Not with feeling his firm body against hers.
“I’m listening.”
“You’re driving me insane woman.” His smile turned into a strained chuckle. “I walk into RSE and I smell your perfume. I visit the studio and I hear your voice. It’s like you’re everywhere but where I want you the most.”
Rockstar Sinners (Forbidden Chords Book 2) Page 7