An uneasy feeling pitted Jordan’s stomach.
She’d tried hard not to think about the media who’d be here tonight. And she’d succeeded, until now.
White spots floated before her eyes.
Breath had seized in her lungs.
She flattened her hand against her belly button to calm herself and force air into her abdomen. The glossy fabric of the dress she wore brushed her palm, soothing her.
This was bad news. For all of them. They shouldn’t do this. Be here. Put their hopes and dreams out in the open like this.
She couldn’t stop one of these people she loved—hell, she couldn’t even stop Tony, the one person she should have had some influence over, from performing tonight. Not when so much was at stake for them.
She sucked in a deep breath.
So she just needed to let her worries go.
She blew out the breath she’d been holding.
They’d figure it out. Some would do great tonight. Some might fall flat on their faces. But they had their families surrounding them and a community of friends who loved them.
It would be okay. Really, it would.
Jordan felt Josh’s presence before he even touched her. His clean woodsy scent wrapped itself around her, tickling her nose, permeating her senses, and reminding her of the hot, raw sex and tangled sheets of last night with him. Even this morning her skin had smelled of him.
She’d been loath to shower it off, wanting to cling to their shared intimacy, the passion they’d shared just a little longer.
Liquid heat pooled at her core. Her nipples hardened.
Josh’s broad chest pressed against the bare skin of her shoulder blades.
He slipped his hand around her waist, pulling her against his body.
She settled back against him.
Josh’s lips brushed her temple. His breath warmed her ear when he finally spoke. “You look a little skittish.” He laced his fingers with hers, his palm covering the hand she still pressed to her stomach. “You having a panic attack?”
She forced a smile and looked up at him. “I’ll be okay.” Yet her breath stuttered in her chest.
“You are such a liar.” He chuckled. “Save me a seat. I’ll come sit with you after Tony’s performance.”
He hugged her tight, both arms around her, pressing her back fully against his chest, groin, and thighs. She felt the rigid length of him and almost groaned out loud.
“A kiss for luck?” he asked.
“Like you need luck.” She turned in his arms, aware the whole town probably watched. “I hate PDAs, but I like you more.” She tipped up on her toes to brush her lips against his. “What are you worrying about? You’re a professional.”
“What was that? You call that a kiss? Come on, baby.” Josh drew her closer, lining them up, hips to hips. “What do you say? Let’s give them a thrill they won’t soon forget. Public displays of affection are our bread and butter, after all, right?”
He wanted a real kiss. She could see it in the way his eyes latched on to her mouth and didn’t move. She didn’t do PDAs. Not any more, especially not after living every relationship so publically as a precocious teenager. Hell no. She’d avoided anything even remotely close since she’d moved to Serenity.
She lifted her chin, offering herself to him, and got lost in his gaze. He cupped her face and held her as he deepened the kiss.
There were hoots and hollers from the peanut gallery.
A camera flash blanched the darkened interior.
Jordan froze in Josh’s arms.
He pulled back to study her face. “It’ll be fine. Breathe. I promise, I won’t let anything bad happen to you. I promised you no paparazzi. We kept it as low-profile as possible tonight.”
“You can’t promise me nothing bad will happen. You’ll be performing. You won’t even know what’s going on out here.”
“Wrong. I always know what’s going on everywhere when I’m on stage. It’s my job.”
“You do have a God complex.”
“You know it.” He grinned and lifted her chin, kissing the tip of her nose. “Besides, I own this place. I invited everyone, and they know better than to piss me off. Anyone looks cross-ways at you and I’ll toss them out on their ear.”
“Now you’re being ridiculous,” she huffed incredulously. “You’re not going to toss anyone out of here on your opening night.” She lowered her head and rested her forehead on his chest and held on to the front of his shirt with her clutched fists. She sucked in another breath.
“No, ridiculous is the amount of fear coursing through your veins right now. Relax, babe.”
“If only that were an option.” Her whole body trembled.
He soothed his hands up and down her spine in a comforting motion. Feeling better, she pushed away and hooked her arm through his and asked her question from earlier. “Hey, why would Ben be in Tony’s dressing room before the performance?”
Josh looked startled. “Ben’s not here yet.”
“I saw him coming from the same room you just entered and exited.”
Josh shook his head. “You must be wrong. Tony didn’t say anything and I just came from there.”
Jordan shrugged one shoulder. “I know what I saw.”
“Okay, we’ll ask him after the performance.”
“I’m sure it’s nothing.” She brushed it off, intending to do just that—ask Tony what Ben wanted from him.
A crowd started to form around them. Jordan noticed they were all women, hoping to get Josh’s autograph. Time for him to be a rock star.
She smiled up at Josh, and sucked in a breath at the beauty of his face. The bright blue eyes, the hint of dark stubble on his jaw. The dimple that etched his cheek when he smiled that sexy smile. God. She was a little bit more than starry-eyed herself over this man. He looked really good tonight. Like a total rock star with a God complex. Tricked out with his jewelry and black ankle boots. Sexy jeans that hugged his ass, thighs, and outlined his large package in mouth-watering detail. And a tight silver T-shirt that showed off his muscled biceps and the contours of his chest under the expensive woven cotton shirt.
One of the girls tapped his arm, above the elbow. “Nicodemus, could I get your autograph?”
The girl, who couldn’t have been more than eighteen, handed him a Sharpie marker and pulled her shirt up, exposing her firm belly. “Here.” She pointed to the area left of her navel.
Something flashed briefly in his eyes as he glanced at Jordan—maybe a world-weariness, she couldn’t be sure—but he kept his smile firmly in place as he took the cap off the Sharpie and scrawled his name on the girl’s skin. “There you go.”
A chorus of other girls chimed in. He held up his hands. “Catch me later, girls.”
They groaned in unison.
“There’s Ben and a few of the scouts.” Josh turned back to Jordan to brush a kiss over her lips and squeeze her elbow before he sauntered off to greet the new arrivals. “Shit. I’ve got to go, babe.”
Jordan didn’t understand the sudden urgency in Josh’s tone until she caught site of the front door. There stood Ben, with a few sharply dressed men in suits, but behind them, a cadre of professional cameras flashed, creating a strobing effect.
Shit was right. The paparazzi had arrived en masse.
She turned back to the table and slumped into her seat.
It would be okay. She could do this. Really, she could.
The majority of the people in this room were friends. They loved her. They knew and understood her. No matter what media or press came to the opening tonight. It would be okay. Maybe they’d never notice her in the crowd. Besides, Josh was the draw, not her. She sucked in another breath and forced it out.
“Sounds like Josh is minding his business.” This f
rom Sidewinder. Jordan didn’t understand his comment, but Sidewinder wore a big shit-eating grin.
“Yeah, he’s minding someone’s business.” Delilah winked at Jordan. “How ya doing, J.D.? That kiss could have fried an egg, hon. You got any brain cells left? Or they fried, too?”
Jordan waved a dismissive hand at her friend. “Stop. I will not discuss hot kisses or brain cells here, in front of everyone.” They both knew she was talking about a lot more than brain cells.
“I don’t know why not. You kissed him in front of everyone, surely you can tell in front of everyone, too.” Delilah lifted her drink to sip from it, brow arched at her best friend.
“We want all the gritty details. Last time I saw you two together you were circling one another. Contact had not been made. Now you’re all lovey-dovey in public. Huh. I feel a little cheated. Didn’t get the play-by-play.” She nudged Sidewinder. “You are falling down on the job, old man. Where’s the gossip mill when you need it? What good are you?”
“Don’t blame a blind man, woman. I only call it as I hear it. Can’t usually hear kissing. But I’ll sure be tweeting about it now.”
Jordan groaned. “Oh, God. Really?”
They laughed at her and slapped Sidewinder on the back.
Taylor sidled up to their table. She wore black shorty shorts and a tight black T-shirt with the new Down Dog Music Café logo blazoned across her ample chest. “What can I get you, J.D.?”
“Sweet tea should do it for now. Thanks, Taylor.” Jordan laid her purse down on the table next to her friends. She turned to see the island cabal sitting at a long table near the front window. “I see the geezer cabal decided to ignore their early bedtime routine tonight to catch the café opening.”
“Seems so. No one in the entire village of Serenity is missing tonight’s opening. For very good reason.”
Jordan waved at Senator Smith.
The white-haired state senator smiled and winked back, but kept chatting with his six friends seated around him.
“Yep. They’re here to show their support for Josh,” Delilah said.
“No, they’re here to get their mugs in the newspaper.” Jordan pinched her lips against the acidic words that wanted to come out.
“Well, there is that. Grabbing their fifteen minutes of fame. We all want it.”
“Not me,” Jordan said.
“Well, you had yours, honey. Fifteen years of fame, actually.”
Jordan stuck her tongue out at Delilah. “Thanks.”
The lights dimmed. “It’s show time.” Delilah leaned over and whispered. “The fancy electronic sandwich board says Josh is up first, then Josh and Tony do a number together. Then Tony’s solo.” She squeezed Jordan’s tightly clasped hands in her own before the room went totally dark and she let go.
The spotlight blazed on Josh, where he sat at the piano.
Grace slipped into the seat next to Jordan.
“This is the debut single on my new album. It’s called ‘Bridges.’ I want to dedicate it to my grandfather, Saul Cohen, the only father I can really remember in my life.”
That tribute brought tears to Jordan’s eyes.
She’d come to the music of Nicodemus late. She’d only started listening to Josh’s songs after he’d arrived in Serenity. First on YouTube, then she’d bought all his albums to listen to on her iPod. She’d listened to them religiously over the past two weeks, trying to understand the man behind the music. But she knew, beyond a shadow of a doubt, this music—this debut single—was different than anything else she’d heard from him.
And it clearly communicated the man behind the music.
This was Josh. Heart and soul. The man who could take an emotional experience and turn it into a song that moved people.
She could tell from the tribute, but more so once he began to play. He’d fused classical and pop-rock music.
The introduction exhibited musical mastery and intricacy. She found the sound unique and interesting.
Then he began to sing. And the world melted away.
When he hit the first chorus, she knew she’d been right.
“I was young then, you were old. You knew better, but I didn’t want to be told. How to run my life. How to live and be free.”
This song expressed the spirit of the man behind the words.
And she identified with him. She’d been that same girl. On that same journey. She hadn’t wanted to hear the advice her mother or father gave her. Of course, she had the disadvantage of having parents who wanted to use her acting career and money to gain leverage in their own lives.
But, still. The sentiment was there. Broad as daylight, communicating the truth of the experience she’d had as a child actress.
And she loved him more for it.
She froze. Love. Yes, she loved Josh Nicodemus.
Oh my God! Where had that come from? It had snuck up on her, that’s for sure. One night with the rock star and she was falling in love. Who the hell did that?
They were kindred spirits. Two of a kind. He a musician, she an actress. Both entertainers who understood the importance of tapping into the human condition as they knew and experienced it to entertain and move people.
She’d felt their connection during lovemaking.
That soul connection that came from two bodies uniting to share the deepest of intimacies. But with them, it went even deeper. She felt Josh could see into her heart. That he knew her. Understood her like others did not.
Jordan had no idea where that left her.
Other than, she’d better not get too attached to the man, because that would most definitely leave her with a broken heart. And she’d had enough heartache in her lifetime to last her forever. She didn’t want more. Wasn’t even sure she could afford any more.
Josh finished his song. The crowd whooped and clapped and hollered. He stood and took a little bow, keeping an eye on the paparazzi that Ben had brought along with him. He’d told Ben to keep it low-key. He hadn’t listened. He wanted to splash the café on every news and entertainment banner across the country to pump the next album.
The Down Dog Music Café would be national news tomorrow. Like it or not.
He just had to keep the rabid paparazzi away from Jordan. And, by God, he’d do what he could to protect her. To do that, he’d have to keep the camera’s attention away from her until he could get rid of them. Damn it, Ben. Just another thing to worry about. They’d be talking about his poor decision afterward. But how could he really blame his manager? He’d never told him who Jordan was, after all.
“Thank you. But now the real reason for the reopening of The Down Dog Café.” He motioned to Tony to join him.
The kid did.
He had swagger, for a kid who’d never really been on stage.
Tony sauntered into the enclosed staging area, shoulders back, walking in that loose-limbed, lanky walk that only skinny teenagers who haven’t totally grown into their skin or frames can. He perched on the stool next to Josh and positioned his guitar.
“My vision for The Down Dog Music Café is to provide a haven for musicians and artists to come to try out their craft in front of a live audience for the first time. I also hope to mentor artists here, as my career allows.”
The crowd of people had grown silent. They wanted the world to hear what was going to happen to their community. They knew. Word had spread quickly through the village, thanks to Sidewinder and his grapevine posse. This message was for Ben, for the talent scouts in the room, and for the media.
“I want to introduce you to new artist Tony Alexander, on the stage for the first time ever. He’s the son of Grace and music legend Luke Alexander. Tony’s mom is here tonight, but his dad isn’t with us any longer. I knew Luke personally and I’ve gotta tell you he’d be mighty proud of his
boy. So give up a big Serenity welcome for Tony.”
The crowd erupted in loud, raucous shouts and applause.
When the noise finally died down, Josh finished the introduction. “Tony and I are going to sing our own version of ‘Gold In Them Hills,’ originally done by Ron Sexsmith and Cold Play’s Chris Martin on Sexsmith’s Cobblestone Runway album. Then I’m going to slip off stage for Tony to perform one on his own. So, let’s do this, kid.”
He smiled at Tony and launched into the song.
Josh knew the song was older and not as hip as Tony had first wanted when they talked over options, but they’d roughed it up, made it their own.
And it had ended up being one of Josh’s favorites because it showcased the kid’s guitar skills while allowing Josh to accompany him on the piano. The song contrasted their voices, then allowed them to blend in the final verse and chorus. The talent scouts and managers in the crowd would be all over Tony after their performance.
Only he wouldn’t throw the kid to the wolves.
He’d be there every step of the way with him. No one would be eating the kid alive like they had Tony’s father.
Josh Nicodemus would make sure of it this time.
Grace grabbed Jordan’s hand when Josh announced Tony. Both of their hands were ice cold, but they held on for dear life as if letting go meant certain death or bad performance mojo for Tony.
Jordan didn’t want Tony to do this.
But he had anyway. So they’d deal with the fallout.
She glanced over occasionally to monitor the media, but tried to forget their presence. Once they’d shown up with Ben, Josh had the waitresses section off an area for the cameras. They were kept to an area by the far wall near the front door.
Every Heart Sings (Serenity Island Series) Page 24