by Tanya Stowe
He tried to snuggle her a little closer and kept his voice pitched low. “I know, but I thought…maybe we could change that.” He tilted his head and leaned close to kiss her.
Sunny placed her fingers on his lips and halted his forward movement. The light from the door lit half of his handsome face. His lips were soft and firm. The rasp of his afternoon shadow scraped against her fingertips in a pleasant way, but there were no sparks, no fire. Not even a tingle from his touch. He wasn’t Jackson.
Understanding spilled into his eyes. His hands dropped, and he stepped back. “This isn’t working, is it?”
She shook her head. “Not in the way you were hoping. I care about you, Brody. You’re a good friend, but I just don’t…” Don’t what? Her mind cast about for an answer. What had Jackson said? He could see their future together, riding horses and watching sunsets. “You need a woman who can share that beautiful cabin in the mountains. One who will love parties and walking down the red carpet with you. But it’s not me.”
He looked away from the light so that his entire face was in shadow. “Maybe I don’t want a woman who will love parties and the red carpet. Maybe I’m looking for something different.”
She reached for his hand. “Then you need to go out and find her, because it’s still not me.”
He took a deep breath and nodded. “I suppose I’ve known that all along. But it’s hard to let go, Sunny. You light things up, make the world a better place. I feel at peace when I’m with you.”
His words sparked a thought. “Maybe what you’re looking for is the One who really lights up the world, Brody. I’m just a pale reflection of Him.”
He chuckled. “You pointed me in that direction once before and I didn’t pay attention.”
“Perhaps you should listen this time.”
He let his head droop and was silent for a long time. Finally, he looked up and gave her a rueful smile. Wrapping his arm around her shoulder he led her toward the door. “Come on. Let this ‘friend’ walk you to your car.”
~*~
No doubt in Jackson’s mind. He and his friends were being primed for a spectacular scene at the red carpet event. His rented tux was delivered nearly four hours early with info on the arrival time of the limo.
Brody had mentioned how he’d insisted on designing his own duds for the red carpet with silk lapels on the jacket and pointed white-gold cuffs on the tips of his black shirt.
Sunny said the show’s makeup artist and hair stylist were arriving at her house in the early morning, long before the awards ceremony.
Yep. They were all being primed and gussied up for a fabulous scene. Jackson wasn’t sure what Stockard expected to happen, but Jackson was determined to make sure it didn’t.
Brody loved this kind of affair and would have been the perfect candidate to send. Jackson and Sunny could have stayed safely in the background. Jackson didn’t like being manipulated. He was pretty sure Sunny felt the same way. So what did Stockard say or do to make her agree to this farce?
Whatever Stockard had used against Sunny had done some damage to her attitude. All week during taping of the show’s finale, she’d put on her happy little smile, but it never reached her eyes. They never sparkled or flashed with delight.
Jackson watched closely, but it never happened.
She was kind, conscientious and worked hard to keep the contestants’ nerves calm and the show on track.
Oddly enough, Jackson and Brody agreed on the results. When Brittany Atherton, Brody’s contestant, won the last round of judging, Jackson was the first to congratulate both of them. Brittany had improved the most and deserved the win. He made an effort to say so on air.
But no matter how well things went on the show, Jackson was all too aware of Sunny’s underlying sadness. Strung too tight, the vibrant, energetic woman he cared about so deeply appeared as brittle as an old guitar string ready to snap. He’d only agreed to attend the Viewer’s Award ceremony tonight because he thought one more strain might make her pop.
If his own observations hadn’t given him enough evidence, Buzz had told him to keep an eye on Sunny. His cousin had fostered a relationship with Sunny’s assistant, so Jackson was sure he had inside info, but for the first time in memory, his talky relative wouldn’t give over. Buzz insisted he was there to manage Jackson’s career, not his love life.
Jackson and Sunny had barely spoken in almost five weeks. Every day had been torture, watching her from a distance, seeing her silent misery and not being able to offer comfort, to wrap his arms around her and tell her everything would be all right. He would have done it, ignored all the rumors and gossip and held her close if she’d ever looked his way or given him the chance.
But she didn’t. Not even once.
He’d tried to take Buzz’s advice to keep an open mind and not shut Sunny out. But he didn’t have to worry.
Sunny had closed that door. She made it clear she didn’t want or need his help.
Whatever might have been would never be. It was over. Jackson accepted it and could not wait to be away. Day after tomorrow, he and Buzz would be on a flight to Seattle. After that concert, they’d head out for a ten-state tour to promote the release of his new album. He’d be too busy to think about Sunny. By the time he returned home in the fall, his interlude with her would be long forgotten. Yeah, that’s what you think.
Ignoring that little voice, he headed in to shower and shave. By the time Buzz shouted up that the limo had arrived, Jackson was dressed and ready. He slid into his jacket and gave himself one last check in the mirror. Because he knew Brody had chosen all black, Jackson left off the black vest, opting for more white and a small bow tie. He wasn’t opposed to creating an image of opposites in color, but no way was he going to engage in any verbal battles tonight. Get in. Get out with smiles. That was his plan.
He greeted Dan and slid into the back. Because he lived the furthest out, he was the first to be picked up. Brody was next. When he climbed in, Jackson had to admire the cut of his black shirt with white gold tips on the collar.
“Good choice.”
“Thanks, man. I have to say the same about you.”
Jackson nodded. “I guess in some ways, we’re a good team.”
Brody dipped his head before looking out the window. “I think in more ways than either of us would like to admit.”
“I’m not sure I know what you mean by that.”
Brody gave a little laugh and kept his gaze focused outside the window. “It doesn’t matter.” The normally ebullient rock star was as silent as Buzz.
It might have given Jackson something to worry about if he hadn’t had enough on his mind already. He needed to focus on keeping his wits about him. Confined in close quarters with Sunny all night would be challenge enough.
Dan pulled up to the curb in front of Sunny’s apartment complex. Within moments the doorman opened the door, and she floated out.
Brody whistled quietly, and Jackson froze.
All in gold, she sparkled as she crossed to the car. The form-fitting gold dress gave her skin a smooth, creamy tone. Beading at the hips caught the light and dazzled. Below the waist, tiny pleats fit tight against the curve of her hips and legs like a silken glove. When they reached her knees, they burst out in an A-shaped flow that made her seem impossibly slender and elegant. A wide, beaded strap swept across her body and over one shoulder, where a sheer, silken scarf flowed down to the ground. Her hair was piled on top of her head, with messy curls that flowed down her back.
Jackson longed to plow his fingers through those gorgeous strands.
Yellow, teardrop diamond earrings dangled from her ears and wrapped around one delicate wrist. She floated to the limo like some beautiful white and gold angel.
Jackson was stunned.
So stunned, Brody beat him out the door to greet her. The rocker lifted her hand, kissed it, and said something Jackson couldn’t hear. Just as well. He could barely find his voice.
She stepped inside and
glided to her seat. “Hello, Jackson.”
“Hello, Sunny. You look…” Incredible. Unbelievable. Too perfect to touch.
“Awesome. She looks awesome.” Brody finished his sentence.
Jackson tamped down a resentful response and nodded his agreement. Best to let Brody take the lead. I’m likely to blow it the way I feel.
But Brody didn’t take the lead. They drove to the theatre in near silence, broken only once by a comment from Brody about the order of the event.
Sunny answered and they lapsed back into silence.
Jackson thought he was the only one in a mood, but they seemed even more subdued than he. His gaze moved back and forth between them.
Brody made another casual remark, and Sunny answered with a smile that never reached her lovely emerald eyes.
Climbing out, Bodine took her arm, but she purposely paused, waiting for Jackson to get out before she looped an arm through both of theirs.
Fans erupted with cheers.
Stockard was right about one thing. Their fans deserved this.
They walked together up the red carpet to meet the first broadcaster with a mic, a petite dynamo in a flashy red gown.
“How was it, sharing center stage with another male singer?”
“Challenging.” Brody smiled his engaging grin. “Maise knows his stuff, and it forced me to up my game.”
Sunny tried to step back, but Brody purposely pulled her up to the microphone. She retaliated by drawing Jackson forward into the conversation.
The announcer turned to the country singer.
“Did you enjoy your first season on Rising Stars?”
“I did. Learned a lot. Even came to appreciate some of the finer points of life in L.A.” He paused. “Like fine pho restaurants.”
A shadow passed over Sunny’s features but only for a moment.
The broadcaster turned to her, and Sunny’s habitual smile slipped into place. “How was it working with two of Hollywood’s hottest stars?”
“Hot.” Sunny paused for effect.
The interviewer laughed. “Can you elaborate?”
“Sparks flew and every one hopped. Jackson and Brody made this season electric, charged everything with new energy. They’re both fabulous professionals, and I couldn’t have asked for a better season.”
Both. She kept including them both. As if she was determined to let no one be excluded. Was that part of the problem? Had Stockard made her feel guilty about rumors regarding the two of them?
Nearly forty-five minutes passed while they walked the gamut of the red carpet, answered all the questions, and posed for more stills and interviews. By the time they reached their VIP seating near the front of the theatre’s stage, Sunny’s smile had grown tight.
Even Brody was showing a bit of wear and tear.
Jackson was glad when the lights went down and the program started. His mind was churning, turning over events, trying to place exactly when Sunny had started to pull back.
If Stockard had manipulated the situation, influenced Sunny’s already uncomfortable feelings, it changed the picture. And not for the good.
Sunny was great at her job. Smart and savvy. Smart enough not to fall for the corporate games and pressures. If she was kowtowing to Stockard’s demands, he’d been wrong about those things. What else had he been wrong about?
By the time the presenters went through the lineup of shows and finally reached reality television, Jackson was more than ready to leave. He wanted nothing more than for this evening to end. But when the presenters announced Rising Stars, the audience went wild.
Jackson was forced to smile and wave.
Sunny gripped his hand then quickly gripped Brody’s. Almost as an afterthought. And, yes, she ducked her head as if she was embarrassed by her honest response in gripping his hand first.
Brody raised his clenched hands and waved. The rocker was in his element. Purposely, he reached for Sunny and kissed her cheek.
Flustered, Sunny turned and motioned for Jackson.
That little nervous gesture was the clincher. She was trying to include both of them in a silly game of playing “no favorites.”
Jackson pasted a smile on his face and rose.
Brody led the way down the aisle to the podium and insisted that Sunny accept the award and speak first. As the producer of the show, it was only right, but Brody’s gesture grated on Jackson. It was all he could do to keep a pleasant look on his face. He couldn’t even manage a smile.
“I want to thank the executives of my studio for taking a chance on an unknown, for believing in me when I said these two men were the best in their field.”
Was it his imagination or was her smile half-hearted? With his own emotions in such a jumble, he could hardly think straight.
Sunny turned and gestured to him and Brody. “What an awesome year they gave us, right?” Just like that, she turned the audience toward the two “stars.”
Jackson motioned for Brody to step forward.
“Thanks to Sunny for her insight and knowledge, and thanks to Jackson Maise for the great artist he is.” Brody’s words caught Jackson off guard. Then the man paused. “But honestly, we know the best man won.”
Laughter spread across the theatre.
Jackson smiled. Brody’s joke lacked the bite of his usual comments. Maybe he felt the same pressure Jackson and Sunny were experiencing. The whole event had taken on the aura of a performance. Jackson leaned toward the mic with a wry smile.
“This season, Bodine. But next one, it’s on.” Jackson had not signed a contract to appear again. He wouldn’t.
But it certainly gave the fans something to think about. They erupted like a volcano. Some cheered and stood. Everyone applauded, and soon the whole house was on its feet.
Jackson smiled back, satisfied that he’d shot a salvo over the bow for Stockard and all his manipulative cronies. He grinned with the sheer pleasure of getting the last shot.
A young woman accompanied them off stage for more interviews and comments.
When the reporters finally turned to the next group of winners, Sunny sighed with relief and held the crystal award in her hands at an awkward angle.
Brody waved to someone across the way. “Well, I think we’ve done our duty for the night. I’m going to enjoy the rest of my evening. I’ve been invited to an after-awards private party. I’ll catch my own ride home.”
A frown creased Sunny’s brow. “Brody…are you sure?”
He nodded, leaned in to kiss her cheek, and whispered something in her ear.
Something clicked. Just like that Jackson understood.
Sunny and Brody. Both missing during lunch breaks. More than usual quiet conversations in corners and meetings in Brody’s trailer. It all fit into place.
He’d heard something, but it hadn’t clicked—not then. Now, however, it explained why Buzz had been so reluctant to discuss Sunny with him. He didn’t want to be the one to tell Jackson that Sunny’s real reason for shutting him out had been another man. How had he been so blind?
Anger roiled through him. How foolish. How blind. If she had feelings for Brody, why hadn’t she’d just said so? Why make up all the stories about her career and her future? Had their whole relationship been a lie?
“Do you have another party to attend?” Sunny’s softly spoken question brought on another rush of frustration.
She’d betrayed him. Manipulated him and allowed them all to be manipulated by an executive. And she still managed to sound fragile and unsure. Jackson had to fight the urge to reach out, to pull her into his arms, and comfort her. Now his disgust was directed at himself. “I just want to get out of here.”
Jackson led the way to the back of the theatre where the limos were parked in a line. They had to wait for Dan to get closer before they could climb inside.
The street had been cordoned off and it was even longer before the car pulled out of the police controlled street and sped up to a somewhat faster pace.
Jack
son kept his gaze focused outside the window.
“What’s wrong?” Sunny’s voice was quiet, subdued.
He didn’t want to fall for it this time. “What makes you think something’s wrong?”
She gave a small laugh. “You have that little frown between your eyebrows. It makes your eyes crinkle, and look really fierce like you can pierce steel with your X-ray vision. You only get that look when you’re not happy about something.”
She wanted to talk now. Fine. They’d talk. Reaching across the space, he hit the button to roll up the window between the backseat and the driver. When it was securely closed, he faced her. “Why didn’t you tell me about Brody? If you’re involved with him, I would have appreciated an honest answer.”
Her lips parted…those pink, full lips he’d kissed and enjoyed so much. “It’s not like that.”
“Come on, Sunny. I’m not blind. Something is going on.”
“Yes, Something is. Brody and I have been friends for a long time. He asked me for a chance to see if it was more. I knew it wasn’t, but…”
“You knew you didn’t have feelings like that for him but you still went through with it? Why?” He shrugged. “Why didn’t you just tell him no?”
“I…I thought he deserved a chance. Especially after Lou mentioned…”
Jackson made a rude sound. “I knew he had something to do with it.”
Sunny heaved a sigh. “Lou heard the rumors about us. He said we had a delicate balance on the set, and that I couldn’t afford to show that kind of favoritism. I didn’t want it to appear that I couldn’t handle the situation.”
He gave a small shake of his head, thoughts tumbling in his mind.
In the silence, Sunny rushed to explain. “You have to understand. I’m already bucking the system. I’m young, female, and Christian. Do you know how much consideration and respect I get? If I don’t prove myself, I’ll never get the financing I need to start my company.”
All of his jumbled thoughts coalesced. “And that’s the most important thing to you, isn’t it?” His tone was as hard and cold as the fact.
She had the grace to hang her head. When she looked up, a glimmer of tears glistened in her emerald eyes. “You know I have a ministry, a purpose. I have to be a light in this world.”