He gives me a wary look. “If you’re sure.”
When he doesn’t leave, I set down my notebook. “Is there something else you needed?”
“Two things. One, I need you to review these expenses.” He drops a folder in my lap before he blows out a breath. “And two, you’re opening for Marlowe tonight. I wanted to give you a heads-up.”
Shit. “Okay.”
“Sorry, Jace. I got the schedule change this morning. You killed it last night, so the label wanted you on the larger stage.”
I guess that’s good. “Thanks for letting me know.” When he just stares at me, I sigh. “I promise I won’t spiral, okay? I’m over all that.”
He taps the doorframe. “Bandit wants the bands to hang out so everyone can cross-promote. We’ll do it after your VIP fan meet-and-greet.”
“Fine.” This should be fun.
I pick up Layla and bounce her on my thighs. It helps having her here. My daughter’s a reminder of everything that’s on the line right now. I can’t afford to lose my shit or go on a bender or be an idiot.
After all that happened, I promised myself I’d never be that vulnerable with a woman again, and my sex cleanse has cemented that resolve.
Despite how much I trust Rory, around four thirty, I start glancing at my phone every few minutes because Frank’s made me paranoid.
“Where is she?” he asks for the tenth time.
“She’s on her way.”
Five minutes later, when I spot her, I let out a sigh of relief. I hand the baby to Frank, who sputters, and head outside.
The late afternoon sun hits her as she jogs toward the bus, shopping bags swinging, the distant music from sound check filtering across the fairgrounds.
“Fun day shopping, wife?” I ask when I meet her at the bottom of the stairs.
She laughs. “Yes, surprisingly.”
When I see her face, I do a double take. “Damn, girl, you clean up good.”
Her grin widens. “I had a makeover.” I brace my hands on her shoulders to look her over more carefully. “Um, Jace? What are you doing?”
“Appreciating how beautiful you are. Duh.”
She snorts and turns a pretty shade of pink. “Come on. You’re going to be late.”
I take all the packages from her and lean down to whisper, “Not that you needed a makeover, but you look great.”
Her eyes are sparkly and her lashes are darker. She’s wearing lipstick I’d like to lick off her. And she smells really fucking good.
Damn. I’m doing that thing I swore I wouldn’t do. I’m hitting on my nanny.
Again.
Rhett would have my ass right now. Except he can’t criticize me ’cause he married Paige so he could get a loan. And then they fell in love, so it worked out in the end.
But I can’t say the same about me and Rory. Because we want different things in life.
I’m still thinking about whatever’s happening with me and Rory when I get to the pavilion, but my attention snags on the star of the festival, Garrett Gamble. I don’t expect him to notice me ’cause I’m nobody and he’s a legend, but as I walk by, he smiles and holds out his hand. “Glad y’all could join me on tour, Jace.”
Hell, he knows my name. Rhett’s gonna lose it when I tell him. “Thanks, Garrett. Appreciate the opportunity.” I shake his hand, and a second later, he’s gone, rushed off by his people.
I stand there, a little starstruck, but at the same time feeling tugged in different directions. At the end of the summer, I’m hopefully getting a record deal. I don’t know where that’s gonna take me. New York? Los Angeles? Maybe we’ll get offered another tour or head to Nashville or Austin to record.
