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“Yeah, we’re happy. Would you be willing to sing a couple of songs next weekend at the Bourbon Ball? It’s at Wise Fox Hall. You know that stage pretty well.”
“Let me pull up my schedule.” After a few taps on his phone he says, “Sure. This is a first,” he says. “I haven’tnothad a gig on a Saturday night in ages. But I’m free.”
Vanessa shouts, “Yay! I’ve seen you in concert. You’re incredible.”
I give her the side-eye.Incredible?
“Hayes, this is Vanessa Barron. The other favor isn’t really a favor, it’s a business proposal. I’m looking to take our special reserve to new heights when it releases. It’s called Barron’s 12 Special Reserve. Maverick Bourne will have the exclusive rights for the airline business, and another friend of mine will have exclusive rights for clubs, but I need a few celebrities from different genres that ooze sex appeal to make the commercials.”
It's a good thing I know she loves me. Sex appeal?
She’s pulling out all the stops. She explains how he’ll get on a jet from Luxury Jet, have a Barron’s 12 in his hand, then we’ll flash to a concert before kicking back to him in a private club having another while wearing a suit. He’ll go from street clothes to a tight T-shirt he wears at concerts to a fancy suit. Women will want to be with him and men will want to be him.
“I’ll have to taste it first. I don’t recommend anything that I haven’t tasted, worn, played, you get the drift. Can you have a bottle at the ball?”
Vanessa has her hands in front of her face like she’s in prayer. “No, I’ll have my driver bring you down a bottle. It’s only two hours. I’d like to start scheduling time with everyone involved. It will probably be hard to find a day when everyone is available.”
“Great. We’ll talk soon.”
“Thanks, man. Can’t wait to catch up,” I say.
Vanessa gets closer to the phone. “Thank you so much.”
After we end the call, I give her knee a squeeze and she squeals, smacking my hand. “Your energy is infectious. You won’t have enough Barron’s 12 to go around.”
“Then we better start making more,” she says with sparkling eyes.
A message jolts my phone with Hayes’s distinct ringtone.
Hayes:Glad you’re happy. We don’t all get second chances. And thank you for suggesting me. I have a feeling I’m not going to see you nearly as often as I used to.
When we get inside, I respond.
Me:I’ll probably see you more than I’d like. Vanessa is starstruck.
Hayes:She won’t be when she gets to know me.
Me:Right. Singer. Guitar player. Rich. Humble. She may swoon a bit, but I know she’s mine.
ChapterTwenty-Nine
VANESSA
Ladies of Sex in the City…watch out. That’s how I feel walking down the quaint streets of Kissing Springs, coming out of each boutique holding several shopping bags with my friends.
When we finish, Mr. Taylor drives us to my house for brunch. Beau works from the upstairs bedroom so he can give us a little privacy—if you can call hidden cameras everywhere private.
The black and white marbled island is covered with tiers of fruit and veggies. There are Benedictine sandwiches, chicken salad, fruit, and banana nut bread—true southern staples.
“This banana nut bread is delicious. Lawdy. Nana would say this ismoister than a whore in a bathtub.” Ali moans as she swallows.
She’s a friend of Jessie’s. I don’t know what to say, but I’m loving Ali more every time she opens her mouth. She’s a girl after my own heart. She just says what’s on the tip of her tongue. I invited Ali and her husband to come to The Bourbon Ball. I want to have true friends again, and she’s fitting right in.
“Beau has always loved banana nut bread so last night we made it from scratch. We had one of those moments like Patrick Swayze and Demi Moore inGhost. It was freaking hot.”
Wynter says, “Don’t hold out on us. What happened?”
I lean in closer. “I was in my pajama shorts and tank because it was spur of the moment. He was hungry so I suggested we make some. I peeled the bananas and his fingers traveled down my shoulders to my hands. Beau does everything with purpose.”
