Aftershock (26 page)

“He is,” she agreed. “But there are so many things to consider. So many obstacles.”

“I hear you.” She sighed. “I just hope you guys can find a way around them.”

“You won’t, you know, say anything to anyone, right?

Emma gave her a quick hug. “Of course not. And if you need someone to talk to, I’m here for you. I want you to know that.”

Sydney hadn’t been so touched in a long time. In her desperation to achieve her goals, to show Janine she could be successful in a profession the woman denigrated, she hadn’t allowed herself time to make friends.

Anyway, this wasn’t the moment for her to get into a discussion about her past or her goals and ambitions. Or about people like Macey Shreiner who would tear her apart because of it. Or to unburden herself and unload her fears on a friendly shoulder. Thankfully, right then, Butch left the stage, the house lights dimmed, and the local radio disc jockey headed out to greet the audience.

“Here we go,” the manager said, standing on the other side of Sydney.

Emma slipped her hand into Sydney’s and squeezed it.

“I won’t talk too long,” the deejay said, “because I know I’m not the one you came to see.”

“That’s right,” the audience hollered back, among other things they said.

“Y’all are here tonight to see a band that’s been at the top of the charts for the past three years. Let’s hear you say hey for Deep Blue River.”

A massive shout answered him back.

“But we also have an extra special treat for you. How many out there saw the great video of Marc and Emma on YouTube?”

The answering shout shook the rafters.

“Their brand-new—and
first—
single is busting the numbers in less than twenty-four hours.”

More yelling from the audience.

“So, tonight, we’re very proud to introduce to Houston a band that in less than twenty-four hours shot to the top of the music charts. Has a YouTube audience growing by the thousands every minute. Last night, they exploded onto the scene with thirty minutes of grab-your-throat music. Ladies and gents, get ready because….” He pumped his fist in the air. “Lightnin’ has struck!”

“Yesss!” the audience screamed.

As the deejay ran off stage, into the wings, the curtain opened with a forceful
swish!
  The lights blazed, Rick struck the opening chord of “Take the High Road,” and the audience went crazy. Emma squeezed Sydney’s hand even harder as the band rolled from one number to the other and each time the applause grew louder. When Rick brought Marc up to the front and had him introduce “Music Lady,”
the audience chanted “Emma! Emma! Emma!”

“You’re on, kiddo.” Sydney had to shout to make herself heard.

Emma gripped her hand one more time before she walked out on the stage to join Marc. Sydney knew the woman was shaking inside, but she smiled and waved to the audience then hitched herself onto the stool Rick brought up front for her. Her blond hair shimmered golden in the stage lights, her coloring set off perfectly by the deep purple of the long cotton dress she wore. She sat with hands folded in her lap and watched Marc the entire time he sang. When he hit the final lyrics and the song crashed to an end he bent his head and brushed a kiss over her lips.

Sydney thought the place would shake apart with the applause and the screams and foot stomps. Then, as they’d done the night before, the band played the last verse again. When the final notes hit, the curtain swept slowly across the stage and the lights dimmed.

Sydney waited to give Emma a big hug as the woman collapsed in her arms, still beaming. The guys were soaked in perspiration but their faces split with their grins. Butch pumped everyone’s hand and gave them each a man hug. The members of Deep Blue River had gathered to watch the last song and made it a point to congratulate every member of Lightnin’. A class act all the way, Sydney thought to herself, and took a few seconds to thank each one.

Butch looked like a man at the top of the world, laughing and high-fiving the members of both groups.

Sydney grinned at her band—
her band!
—
as they pumped their fists in the air. She glanced at Rick, and his eyes sought hers at the same moment with a look she could only call smoldering, heated, filled with sexual desire and an emotion she didn’t even want to try and name. Hot voltage crackled between them, so intense to her she wondered why no one else noticed it.

For a good ten minutes, bedlam reigned backstage before she and Butch managed to get Lightnin’ back to their dressing room. In five minutes, the two reporters who had been granted brief early access would be showing up, escorted by the security guard who had their names. Sydney wanted to make sure the guys had a chance for a cold drink and a change of shirts. A pile of Lightnin’ T-shirts sat on a small table with a stack of towels next to it. The band was going nuts with excitement but, with Butch’s help, by the time the guard knocked on the door, they were as ready as they’d ever be.

Rick and Marc were the main objectives for the reporters, but Rick coordinated with Sydney to make sure Danny and Garrett got some cover time, too. With his usual ease of manner, Butch had helped Sydney clear the room of nonessential people by the time the River finished their first number.

For a long moment, they all stood and looked at each other. Then Rick and Marc did the fist-bump thing, hugged the other two guys, and let out a loud rebel yell.

“We did it, man.” Sydney had never seen Rick so pumped up. “Holy shit! We really did it.”

“In spades.” Butch grinned. “Those two reporters? They freelance for magazines like
Billboard
and
Rock On.
”

Danny’s eyes popped. “Did you say
Billboard
?”

Butch nodded. “Let’s hope that’s one of the places she puts this interview. Sydney, I’ll have my secretary follow up with her because she’s got some good connections. Also….” He pulled his cell out of his pocket and scrolled through his texts. “We’re getting close to a million hits on YouTube and the single just hit number one on iTunes.” He looked at each of the band members. “Boys, we need to book some more studio time at the earliest opportunity.”

“We’re ready,” Rick told him. “You just say when.”

“If you’re all set with ‘Take the High Road,’ I’ll look at our schedule and see when we can fit it in. After that, we need to schedule the rest of the album.” He threw his head back and laughed. “Hot damn. Can I pick ’em, or what?” He looked over at Sydney. “Come over here. Take credit for what you did, too.”

“I think that goes to the band,” she protested.

He shook his head. “You got them here. You had the ideas. You made it happen. Take your bow, kiddo.”

When Butch got ready to leave, to catch the rest of the River’s set, Sydney waylaid him just outside the door.

“First this.” She grinned as she showed him the texts she’d been getting from the lobby. “Sold out again.”

“Music to my ears.”

“Also, if we have some time after we get to Tampa, I have a couple of ideas I’d like to run by you.” Her original plan had smacked her in the face when she’d heard the deejay’s words tonight. “Lightnin’ has struck.” She wanted to capitalize on that. Use it in their promo.

“No problem. Got your phone?” He pulled his phone out and brought up his calendar. “The concert’s Saturday night, but you’ll be in town by tomorrow afternoon. I had Linc cancel your commercial flights and arranged for you to fly in with the band. How about meeting for a drink about four o’clock? There’s a nice, quiet little bar in our hotel. That work for you?”

She removed her own cell from her pocket and punched in the information on her calendar.

“See you then.”

“Mickey’s got all the info on the charter flight. I’m leaving on a commercial flight at eight in the morning so I’ll see you tomorrow afternoon. I should have the air date for TMZ by then, too. After this, they’ll be in a hurry to get it out there.” He shook her hand. “I’ll say it again. Damn good work, Sydney.”

She stood outside the dressing room in a daze as she watched him stride away, Deep Blue River’s music blasting from the stage. Then she closed her eyes and allowed herself a little smile.

What do you think now, Janine?

***

Sydney stopped to take a breath, looked around, and thought,
This is crazy! Good, but crazy!

The area encompassing the stage and the wings was jammed with people. At one side, two bartenders were serving people as fast as they could. Despite the fact everyone seemed to be talking at the same time, their guests had somehow managed to demolish the buffet table. Moving the media people along from musician to musician had required skill and tact. Sydney was especially protective of Emma, promising people special interviews, even if by phone.

Her goal at all times was to guard “her boys.” To avoid exposing them to questions they had no idea how to answer. To make sure everyone got his or her ten seconds with someone. Linc had texted her several times, apologizing for not being able to fly into Houston and offering suggestions. But as the after-party wore on, she found herself in a groove, juggling people and situations and almost feeling comfortable.

Until a voice in her ear cut into that satisfaction.

“So, you don’t plan to leave me alone with Rick, right?”

She turned and stood almost nose to nose with Macey. Tonight the woman wore a Lightnin’ T-shirt with skintight jeans, a leather jacket, and stiletto-heeled boots. All the makeup in the world couldn’t hide the avaricious look on her face.

Sydney dug up a smile. “I have no idea what you mean, Macey.”

“Oh, don’t play dumb with me. You know damn well what I mean. You can deny it all you want, but I know you’ve got something going on with him. Be very careful. I can destroy you with one paragraph. Get in my way and you’ll never work in this business again.”

Nausea rose in her throat and she had to curl her hands into fists to control herself. This woman wielded a lot of power in the industry. Absolutely everyone read her blog and her columns. Too bad she wielded that power like a light saber. What she wrote could have a great impact on the band. With supreme effort, Sydney pasted a smile on her face.

“There’s nothing to write about here.” She kept her voice as even as possible, trying not to shout over the loud buzz of the crowd. “You’ll get your interview with Rick while we’re in Tampa. In fact, if you want to fly in from here, I can arrange lunch for the three of us.”

“What’s the matter, Sydney?” Her smile was more cruel than friendly. “Afraid to trust him alone with me?”

Count to ten. Count to ten
.

“You know one of us is always present at an interview, especially with a new band. That shouldn’t come as any surprise to you.”

Sydney needed to handle this and get back to babysitting the band. People were trying to hand them business cards and Danny and Garrett, in particular, had panicked expressions on their faces. And then Butch was beside her, the familiar casual grin on his face, his voice pitched in a low, easygoing tone.

“Anything I can help with here? Macey, we’re sure glad you came to Houston to see us again.”

The woman curved her mouth into its usual professional smile for Butch. But the look she gave Sydney said plainly enough,
I’ll get what I want, with or without you.

“Why, yes, Butch. As a matter of fact you can. I’ve been trying to get a one-on-one with Rick since last night, but your little assistant here seems to be putting a roadblock in the way.”

Little assistant?
  If they hadn’t been in a public place, Sydney would have smacked her.

Butch winked at Sydney. “You mean Full Moon’s hotshot PR person? Hey, I’m damn glad she’s assigned to Lightnin’. She’s done an incredible job.”

Macey looked as if she could spit nails, and Sydney had to swallow a smile.

“Oh. Well, she should know how important a piece on him in my blog would be. And my column.”

“She does. We both do. I’m sure she wants to make it happen.” He looked from one to the other. “I don’t see a problem here.”

Sydney thought if Macey moved any closer to Butch, she’d be crawling inside his clothes.

“The
problem
is I called today to set something up for tonight and she turned me down flat. What’s with that, anyway?”

“Macey, you’ve been in this business long enough to know we wouldn’t be able to squeeze that amount of time out of today’s schedule. But if you want to meet us in Tampa, I know we can set something up.”

“I was in the process of trying to arrange it,” Sydney told him. “Lunch in Tampa for the three of us. I suggested Macey fly in from here and let me know which day worked best for her.”

“And I told
her
,” Macey interrupted, “that if she’s busy, Rick and I can certainly handle lunch just the two of us. Don’t you think?”

She had such a look of arrogance on her face that Sydney wanted to smack her.

Butch chuckled. “Nice try, Macey, but this isn’t your first rodeo. You know I never let any of my clients alone with anyone from the media. Sydney needs to be there. In fact, give me just a minute here.” He pulled out his cell and scrolled through his calendar. “I think it might be good for the four of us to get together. I can give you the background on how and why I signed the band.” He looked at Sydney. “That work for you?”

She wanted to hug him. Swallowing a smile, she slid her own cell out of her pocket. “You bet, but do you have the time?”

He nodded. “I’ll be there early to handle some business, but the charter won’t land until around one.” He looked at Macey. “That means lunch won’t work. But Sydney and I were already planning to meet in the hotel bar at four. How about if we move it to my suite so we have some privacy? She’ll let Rick know to join us and you can get your interview. Sydney? That okay with you?”

She nodded. “That’s fine. That good for you, Macey?”

Stymied in her efforts to schedule the alone time she wanted with Rick, the woman looked from one to the other before dipping her head in a sharp nod.