A Voice to Love (Fallen Tuesday Book One) (A Brothers of Rock Novel) (12 page)

"After a sound check
a little while back," Mack said. "Luke darted into a bathroom and I
thought I heard him coughing. He came out and I went in, telling him I had to
piss. I could tell something was off about him. He wasn't the same Luke we all
know. Something was off about him. I thought maybe it was the cute chick he met
but I wasn’t sure."

"So you saw blood in
the sink?" Gray asked.

Mack nodded. "My
head started to spin. I..."

"You didn't tell
us?"

Mack looked at Gray and
frowned. "Don't..."

"No, no," Trent
said. "Gray's right. We just tore Luke apart for not telling us about his
throat. Yet you saw something and didn't say a thing."

"I didn't know what
to do," Mack said. "I wanted to keep a close eye on Luke. You know,
in case he was messing with drugs."

"Who would know
better about drugs than me?" Gray asked.

Mack swallowed.

Gray stood up and kicked
the table. "Dammit. You know everything I went through with my little
brother, Mack. How much I watched him. How he acted. Confronting him, fighting
him, getting him to clean himself up. If anyone in this goddamn band even
thinks someone is messing with drugs, they better come to me."

"Gray, I get
it," Mack said.

"No, you
don't," Gray said. "I still have to check on my little brother, okay?
I still call him. Text him. Call his friends. It never ends with that shit. Yet
you thought something about our lead singer, our best friend,
our brother
,
and you held back."

"Fine," Mack
said. "I messed up too then. Okay? I messed up too. I tried to push Luke
about it, he played it off. Maybe I'm just as wrong then. I thought in my heart
if something was wrong he would tell us. Or if he really was on drugs, I would
be able to tell."

"This is a
disaster," Jake said. "A little bit of fame and look at us."

"What the hell does
fame have to do with this?" Trent asked. "This is about the health of
our lead singer. And everyone keeping secrets. We've had enough secrets, right
Jake?"

"Guys, come
on," Mack said. "We're not getting into past bullshit right now.
Focus on the present."

"So he obviously
wasn't on drugs," Gray said. "He just has something with his
throat."

"What's our next
move?" Mack asked.

Gray turned and looked at
Mack. "Maybe we should stay put right here for the night. Then tomorrow we
do what we had planned... we split up for a bit. Let Luke go see his doctor and
then we meet up and talk. I mean, whatever he needs, we're with him,
right?"

"Of course,"
Mack said. "I would never..."

"I think Luke's afraid
that we're going to replace him," Jake cut in. "Kind of like how he
replaced Rick from Chasing Cross."

"There's a
difference between a lead singer and a drummer," Trent said.

Mack kicked the table,
sending it jumping toward Trent. "What the hell does that mean?"

"Whoa, calm
down," Trent said. "I didn't mean it in a bad way... Luke didn't quit
the band. Everyone knows he has a throat condition."

"There's no need to
think it or even talk about it," Gray said.

"Agreed," Mack
said. "I guess we really would die for this band, huh?"

Gray let out a breath and
shook his head. "I don't know what to say."

"I say we
drink," Mack said. "We drink. We think. We sleep. I need to get to my
motorcycle."

Mack got up and stood
next to Gray. They both looked out the window, the faint reflection of
themselves against the glass. The brotherly bond between the four members of
Fallen Tuesday may have been tested, but it wasn't broken.

**

Amy rarely worked with
her cellphone in her pocket. When it was time to focus on dinner, nothing was
more important than serving everyone in the restaurant. By nine that night
every baked good Amy made had been sold. Uncle Tom came to the kitchen and
begged Amy for more. She explained that they weren't brownies from a box and
that they took time.

"Well, then we need
to make time," Uncle Tom demanded. "We need to figure out how to make
this work."

Amy had an opening right
then to talk about her idea for a bakery, but she couldn't do it in front of
the entire kitchen staff. She played it off by smiling and sending Uncle Tom
back to the restaurant to mingle.

After the texts from
Denny, Amy didn't feel safe unless she was in the restaurant. Even then, being
around her staff and her uncle wasn't enough. They didn't know the potential danger
of Denny and Amy secretly worried that if Denny did something she would be
putting everyone else in harm’s way.

Dinner service got busy.
Amy's phone stayed silent with the exception of one text message that came
through from Luke. When Amy felt her leg vibrate she hurried to finish plating
a meal and then excused herself from the kitchen. In reality, Amy didn't need
to cook nearly half as much as she did. Her kitchen was well staffed and had
some great talent in it. Her plan had been to take over the restaurant and hand
the kitchen over to Jeff, but Uncle Tom ruined that. It made the idea of the
bakery so much more doable because Amy could be in two places at once... not
physically, but mentally, yes.

Amy went into the office
and read the message from Luke.

Tour is off. My throat is
messed up. I'll explain... I'm coming to you tonight.

Amy wasn't sure what to
do with the message at first. The great news was that she would see Luke
tonight. She hadn't expected to see him for another week, maybe longer. But
then there was something about his tour and his throat. What had happened? If
the tour was off did that mean Luke couldn't sing? Her stomach felt uneasy from
nerves.

Amy forced herself back
to work but her focus wasn't in the kitchen. It was a first for Amy. The idea
of losing focus for her career scared her, but so did the idea of seeing Luke.
Their last time together had been more passionate than Amy could ever remember
with another man. Every few seconds Amy caught herself looking up, waiting to
see Luke. She wasn't sure if he would just walk into a crowded restaurant in
public like this. It made her body tingle imagining it though. He was a famous
rockstar and he was coming to see her.

"You're smiling a
lot tonight," Jeff remarked.

Amy looked at Jeff and raised
an eyebrow. "How do you feel about closing down tonight?"

"Alone?"

"Why not?"

"You've never let me
do that before," Jeff said surprised.

Amy reached back and
untied her apron. "Well, maybe you should tonight. I have other
plans."

"You... have
plans?"

"Cut it," Amy
warned.

Jeff smiled his flirty
smile he offered Amy twenty times a night. She almost felt guilty like she was
going to hurt Jeff, but she couldn't help herself. She had no interest in Jeff
and he knew.

Amy took her apron off
and hung it up. She stared at it, knowing that everything in her life was
suddenly changing. She couldn't hide from her feelings. She couldn't hide from
her past.

When Amy turned she saw
Uncle Tom standing with his hands on his hips.

"What?" she
asked.

"Planning on leaving
early?"

"No. I'm staying.
Just... giving up a little power for the night."

"Yeah, for the
night," Uncle Tom said. "Does it have anything to do with my dining
room right now?"

Amy tried to look past
Uncle Tom. "What's wrong with the dining room?"

Uncle Tom laughed.
"Your guy friend just showed up."

Amy gasped. Luke was there.

(11)

Luke walked into Tommy
Two's like any other patron there. He barely made it to the hostess station
before the young woman standing there dropped her pen and put her hands to her
mouth. Just like that, Luke was busted. He wouldn't be able to sit down and eat
as a normal guy or as a friend of Amy's. He would be treated like a rockstar
celebrity.

"Listen," Luke
said as he approached the hostess. "I'm looking for Amy. I need to see
her."

The young woman nodded.
She still couldn't speak. Luke then saw Tom walking toward him. His face seemed
puzzled but he smiled and shook Luke's hand.

"Hey, Luke!" he
said.

Luke winced. It called
the attention of half the restaurant. When everyone looked and saw Luke, the
reaction was mixed. Most of everyone knew who he was. Some people pointed. Some
people stared in awe. Then came the muttering and whispering. People asking
each other if this was really happening. People daring each other to say something
to Luke. Finally, a woman at a table called out, "I love you, Luke!"

The restaurant broke out
in laughter.

"What brings you
here?" Tom asked.

"I need to see
Amy," Luke said.

"I thought you were
out traveling."

"Change of
plans," Luke said.

"I'll be right back
then," Tom said. "Grab a seat at the bar."

Luke looked at the bar.
The walk wasn't far, if he was going to walk a straight line. He knew he
wouldn't be walking a straight line. Luke hadn't walked a straight line since
his music career exploded last year. And considering all that had just gone
down with canceling the rest of the tour, Luke needed the fans. He needed to
see them, shake hands, sign autographs, and talk to them.

So that's what he did.

Anyone that had the guts
to come up to him, he talked to. To his disbelief, everyone wished him better
health. Luke made sure to order a water at the bar because he didn't want to
give the wrong impression of himself. That's all the band would need...
lead
singer of Fallen Tuesday leaves the tour but is caught drinking!
The
headline and picture would bring another storm to the band. It was the price of
fame, one that Luke never considered because the fame itself always seemed much
more worth it.

Luke had received plenty
of hugs, a few pats on the back, a toast to him from a few guys at the bar, and
even a local doctor who offered to take a look at Luke's throat free of charge.
Luke politely declined and explained he had a doctor already taking care of
everything.

When the kitchen door
then opened and Amy came walking from the back, Luke smiled. He couldn't help
himself and he didn't care who saw him smile or what that smile implied. He
waited for Amy to come to him. His hands twitched and his heart raced. He
wanted her to run up to him and hug him. Instead, she stopped right in front of
him and looked just as confused as he probably did.

"Hey," Amy
said.

Luke nodded.

He felt foolish standing
there like an idiot. He was a rockstar. He did whatever he wanted, when he
wanted. Yet, somehow, this woman was able to cut right through him and rattle
his nerves.

Luke pointed to the empty
stool next to him.

"I can't believe
you're here," she said. "I mean, I got your text... are you
okay?"

Luke shook his head. He
touched his throat. He didn't speak a word.

"What's wrong with
your throat?"

Luke just kept shaking
his head.

"You can't even
talk?" Amy asked.

She touched Luke's hand.
Luke felt his blood warming fast. How could a woman just touch his hand and
make him feel like this? How many women's hands did he touch on a daily basis?

Luke shrugged his
shoulders.

"Can you sing? Is...
is everyone okay?"

Luke shook his head again
and again.

Amy touched her mouth.
"I'm so sorry."

Amy looked really upset.
Luke leaned toward her and put his lips to her ear. The sexual desire raging
through his body tempted him to nibble on her ear. Maybe he could do that soon
enough, but right then, in the restaurant where Amy worked or owned or
something, Luke remained in control.

"I'm just playing
around," he whispered.

Amy pushed at him.
"You're a jerk."

She laughed and Luke
never heard a sound so beautiful in his life.

"I had to,"
Luke said. "Sorry. I've been having a rough day."

"So, you can talk?
You're okay?"

"Well, not
okay," Luke said. "You saw... the blood..."

"Oh, no," Amy said.
"Your tour is called off?"

"Yeah, it is,"
Luke said. "I'm going to see my doctor soon to figure this thing
out."

"You should go right
now, Luke."

"My doctor is in
California," Luke said. "Not right down the street."

"Oh."

A dose of reality had hit
Amy. The only time Amy had spent with Luke was in Syracuse. It only made sense
that she placed Luke in Syracuse permanently, even though it wasn't true. He
had an apartment on the outskirts of Los Angeles that was too small but cozy. He
hoped it would soon be given up for a nice beachfront house. But as he sat
staring into Amy's eyes, he didn't care where his apartment or house was
located. He only cared about the location of Amy's eyes and hands. He wanted
all her attention.

"I'm here right
now," Luke said. "I had to come see you. I... I really want to kiss
you right now, Amy."

Amy blushed. "Do
rockstars ask?"

"No, we don't. Ever.
That's what's driving me crazy right now. I shouldn't tell you, I should just
do it."

"Well..."

Amy bit her lip. The
nervous look on her face was priceless. Luke leaned in and kissed her cheek. He
then put his lips to her ear again.

"More comes
later," he whispered.

Amy looked flustered. She
blinked fast, obviously searching for words.

"I..."

Amy touched her pocket.
The sexy, innocent look on her face dropped away.

"What's wrong?"
Luke asked.

Amy looked at her phone
and placed it on the bar. "Nothing important right now."

Luke knew the look on
Amy's face. It was fear. The last thing he wanted to hear was that Amy was
afraid again. He casually looked around the restaurant, but he had no idea what
to look for. Not everyone that rode a motorcycle had the rough and tough
appearance as Mack did.

"What time do you
get out of here?" Luke asked.

"Soon," Amy
said.

Amy looked like she
wanted to say something else but then Tom came over to her and gently touched
her shoulder.

"Forgive me for
interrupting here," he said, "but I need to steal Amy for a second.
Situation in the kitchen."

Amy jumped up.
"Everything okay?"

"Yeah," Tom
said.

Amy looked at Luke.
"Stay right here."

"I have nowhere to
go," Luke said.

The moment Amy left, his
eyes went to her phone. It was wrong, very wrong to think what he wanted to do.
Amy went into the kitchen and Luke considered his options. Checking her screen
would be wrong if he was snooping or if he was checking for another guy or
worried about something dumb. This could be dangerous. Very dangerous.

Luke reached to the bar
and touched the phone. He hated himself but it was done. The screen lit up and
there was a message from someone named Denny.

Denny? Who the hell...

Luke's thought was lost
when he read the actual message.

I wonder what Tommy Two's
would look like in ashes...

The screen turned back
off and Luke felt his stomach turn. He saw Amy exiting the kitchen coming back
to him already. His mind and heart raced even more. Just what kind of trouble
was Amy into?

"Sorry about
that," Amy said. She saw her phone and quickly put her hand over it.

"That's fine.
Everything good?"

"Great," Amy
said. "Let's get out of here. You can come to my apartment if you
want."

How could Luke turn down
that offer? Amy was already on the move and Luke followed behind her. All eyes
were upon them as they made their way through the restaurant. Luke kept a smile
on his face and could only hope that every woman in the restaurant was jealous
of Amy... and at the same time he hoped every man was jealous of him because of
how beautiful Amy was.

The moment they were
outside, Amy looked left to right as though she was crossing the street. They
weren't crossing a street though. She was nervous. Luke grabbed Amy's arm and
pulled at her.

"Hey, are you okay?
You look nervous."

"I'm fine," Amy
said. "I had a rough day too. I'm really happy you're here. If there was a
day or night I needed..."

Luke pulled at Amy's arm
again and brought her closer to him. She let out a gasp and hugged him. He
stared down at her.

"I screwed a lot of
things up today," Luke said. "Because of a secret. I don't want
secrets between us, Amy."

"There won't
be," Amy said. "Let's just get out of here."

"Fair enough for
me," Luke said.

They had to take separate
vehicles and Luke followed Amy to an apartment building. She parked and he
pulled into an unnumbered spot next to hers. She led the way and the entire
time Luke followed, his eyes danced up and down her backside. Seeing her, being
with her, took all the sting away. The sting of his throat. The sting of his
band. Everything.

Once they were inside the
apartment, Amy began to defend the place as if Luke hated it.

"It's nothing like
that hotel room," she said.

"I never said it had
to be," Luke said.

"I mean, if it's not
what you're used to."

"Amy, I live on a
tour bus. Well, I lived on a tour bus. For months. This is heaven right here.
It looks like my apartment in Los Angeles."

Luke smiled but Amy
didn't. The distance thing bothered her, Luke sensed it. However, that was a
subject best left for another time.

An awkward silence crept
into the apartment as Amy was unsure what to do next.

"Do you, uh, want a
drink?" she asked.

"No thanks. I want
you to ask me what's on your mind right now."

Luke smiled and Amy
looked away.

"Don't be shy,"
he said.

"Are you going to be
okay?" she asked.

"My throat? I don't
know. Maybe. Maybe not. I still have my voice."

"What about your
band?"

"It's not my band...
it's our band, the guys and I. I don't know what they're feeling right now.
They're kind of pissed at me. Rightfully so."

"You really kept
that a big secret," Amy’s voice was happier than she meant it to be.

She felt relieved that she
wasn't the only one with a secret.

"I didn't mean to
hurt anyone," Luke said. "I wanted to get through the tour and then
figure it out. That didn't happen."

"How did they find
out?"

"We had a surprise
concert for some fans. Just one quick song, but I wasn't ready for it. I sang
my heart out... something I can't control, you know? It's been my dream to sing
in front of fans. It's what I do. I can't scale it back. After we were done I
went back on the tour bus and started coughing."

"Blood?" Amy
asked.

Luke nodded.
"Everything got crazy after that."

"I'm sorry,"
Amy said. "I'm really sorry."

"I'm sorry for the
band and the fans," Luke said.

"You'll be
fine."

"You don't know
that."

"I can hope."

"Anyone can
hope."

Amy and Luke started to
inch their way to one another. Luke intertwined his fingers with hers. They
stared at each other. There were so many lingering questions. Yet, they both
appeared to be okay with ignoring them for now.

He moved down and kissed
her. He tasted the thin sweetness of her lips.

"I've waited for
that...," Luke whispered. He kissed Amy again. "For so long."

"I know," Amy
said.

Luke took his hands from
Amy's and gripped her ass. He lifted her and Amy let out a smiling cry and
hurried to put her hands around Luke's neck. He held her and now she looked
down at him.

"This is
crazy," Amy said.

"That's how life is
meant to be," Luke said. "I want you to know that you can tell me
anything..."

"You want to know
something?"

"Yes."

"Take me to my
bedroom. Right now."

**

There was no way Amy
would even think about talking about Denny. Not with Luke's hands cupping her
ass. Not with the look in his eyes. Not with the desire surging through her
body. She had never wanted someone to touch her as bad as she wanted Luke to
touch her. As Luke carried her to the bedroom Amy couldn't decipher right from
wrong. She honestly hadn't had a one night stand since freshmen year of
college, something that was probably pathetic to a guy like Luke. It also made
Amy wonder if she would be able to satisfy Luke.

Her confidence was shaken
by the time Luke placed her on her bed. She propped herself up on her elbows
and stared at the tall, wide man in front of her. The way his arms  looked in a
long sleeved shirt was amazing. Amy sat up and placed her hands under his shirt.
She slid her fingers up, feeling the gentle ripples of his rock hard stomach
muscles. When she got to his chest she spread her hands outward. She started to
stand, wanting his shirts off, but Luke stopped her. He grabbed his shirt and
took care of that himself. His bare body made Amy bite her lip. Her hands were
still on his chest. She began to tremble as her hands ran down his body. When
she got to his pants, her fingers curled around the top and she pulled, trying
to be flirty.

Luke put his hands to
Amy's. He shook his head. "No, baby, not tonight. This is for you."