“To the label,” I finish.
He shakes his head. “You know, I’ve wondered this from the beginning, but I still don’t understand how they could burden you and you alone with Mae and all that comes with her.”
“Mae is not a burden,” I say sternly. “Despite what you might think, she has never been a burden to me. That girl has gonethrough hell to get where she is. I’m the only one looking out for her in this town.”
“You’re not the only one any more,” he corrects. I think he can tell that I don’t truly believe him, but it’s the truth. He bridges the space that has steadily shrunk since he first joined me and lends me a hand. “I can promise you that all I’m here to do is my job, to keep you both safe. I won’t let anything get in the way of that.” Our eyes meet and the weight of it all settles between us. In this moment, he understands me and I him. “I promise I’m here for the right reasons,” he finishes, and for the first time in a long time, I trust what a man is telling me.
Chapter 10
Dalton
I’VE DOUBLED DOWN since I found out just how much Raleigh’s profession means to her. I hadn’t meant to stress her out that night at Mae’s show, but I played it too cool and got burned for it. She was right, I didn’t need to be drinking on the job. I’d gotten too cocky too quickly and thought I might be able to take a moment and try to add a few pieces to the puzzle that is Raleigh Davis.
Despite us being here for Mae, she was clear that all communication from me and my team should go through Raleigh. We’ve done our best to ease the extra work by putting together a precise plan of action before each event. She’s signed off on each of them without complaint, which I hope means that she trusts me to do a good job. Raleigh runs a tight ship, that much is for sure. I don’t want to be the one to let her down.
Tonight’s red carpet event will be the first real test. The girls’ stalker has been released with a restraining order, and while Idoubt he’d be dumb enough to show his face here tonight, his release was a reminder of the importance of our new position. There’s also the uncertainty of a new reporter that Raleigh mentioned having an affinity for publishing the truth about Nashville, no matter how dangerous those truths could be to the artists. Obviously having been through the media wringer before, Mae shakes it off and simply reviews her talking points for questions and a possible acceptance speech.
Even with the extra edge of the unknown out there, preparations for the event are still easier than it had been with Trenton. There’s far less alcohol involved and complaining is lesser still. Raleigh and Mae go over the plan for the evening and the rest of the glam team converses as they curl Mae’s hair and work on her makeup. I’ve staked a claim in a corner while the boys take care of the car.
When Mae is swept into the room next door to get into her dress, Raleigh relents and finally admits to my presence. “I looked over the plan for tonight,” she starts, pushing away from the wall where she had been planted but stops a few feet away.
“Do you think it’s tight enough?” I ask, genuinely wanting her opinion.
“You’re the professional,” she says, crossing her arms in a move that seems defensive.
“It’s alright, Raleigh. It’s airtight.” Not knowing where else this conversation could go, I turn to step outside. She stops me with a slight hum.
“It’s just, with…”
I turn to see her hugging herself tighter. “Him?” I ask, meaning the stalker. She’d heard about his release then. Of course she had. My guard is instantly up for her. They'd both been tough the night of, but to know he got no more than a slap on the wrist and a potential paper to sign signifying empty promises, I’m sure they didn’t feel great about it.
“Yes”—she swallows—“I just don’t want any surprises.”
I nod in agreement. “We’ll be careful.” I see the slightest upturn of her lips before it’s all banished for a real smile for Mae in her stunning gown. Raleigh is almost like a proud mother. I hadn’t seen it before, but Raleigh is full of protection and pride for Mae, more so than the average publicist. The sad thing is, I don’t know if Mae realizes that.
The two of them admire the completed look together and then her team gathers her skirts for the trek downstairs. Taking a step back, I let the long procession pass me by before I can be smothered by 12 layers of dress and the guarded aura of the woman in command.
Once in the car, we depart in an abundance of quiet. Glancing at the rearview mirror, I find Raleigh tapping away on her phone, and Mae mouthing what I can only imagine are her talking points from the flash cards from earlier. Mae’s fingers find their way to her mouth whenever she gets caught up, and Raleigh reaches across and removes them without lifting her eyes from her screen. It’s just one more example of their complete ease with one another, they don’t even have to think about it.
Raleigh must feel my gaze on her because she glances up from underneath her lashes and scowls. “Keep your eyes on the road,” she says before returning to her work.
I’m not even in the driver’s seat but I listen anyway.
***
Red carpet events are a whole new beast when it comes to accompanying Mae. Nobody ever cared much about Trenton and his walk. He didn’t really care all that much either, but Mae eats up every second of it. Raleigh and I watch from beyondthe line of photographers while one of my men trails her on the carpet.
“Smile,” Raleigh mumbles next to me. I trace her eyeline straight to Mae and notice that she is, in fact, not smiling.
“Should we be worried?” I ask, leaning in close enough that my breath makes an indentation in her hair next to her ear. She tosses it over her shoulder and turns to me.
Surprisingly, she doesn’t scold me, merely answers my question. “Not particularly worried,” she starts, her fingers thrumming against her leather-bound notebook. “We’re just trying to give everyone a softer look.”
Squinting back beyond the photographers, I try to see Mae in a different light. Despite the strong look on her face, I can’t imagine her as anything but a bright young woman. “Who’s been saying that she needs one?” I ask, turning back to Raleigh. She meets me with a disconsolate look. It seems she’s about to answer but then Mae’s moved on to media row and Raleigh hurries to catch up.
The first reporter on the line is a young woman, can’t be much older than Mae, with a fury of curly hair. Raleigh stiffens beside me as the young professional introduces herself as Genelle Cienski withThe Nashville Reporter. It’s the woman the girls had discussed earlier. Mae seems to realize this at the same moment because an easy smile comes across her face. Confident and excited to take on the challenge she had been preparing for all afternoon.
Genelle flashes a brilliant smile as the camera starts rolling. “I’m here with Mae Evans, the Queen of Nashville herself. How are you tonight, Ms. Evans? We noticed that your man isn’t on your arm tonight. Anything to say about that?”
