Dissonance (5 page)

CHAPTER SIX

S
he’d never been in love? Huh? The answer caught Chase by surprise. What was Kenzie saying? If she truly hadn’t been in love before, then why was she so down on the whole idea of relationships? It made more sense when she added that she thought she’d been in love once, but it turned out to be something else. Now he was getting closer to the truth, and probably to what accounted for the hurt.

“What happened?” Chase asked cautiously. “A past relationship wasn’t what you thought it would be?”

“Something like that.” Kenzie unlocked the door to her building and they made their way up to her loft, where he followed her inside.

“So you had a jerk boyfriend who couldn’t handle your success?” He was fishing for information, and not following Carey’s advice, but damn it, Chase wanted to know more about her, what made her tick. Especially since they were about to write a song together.

“Not quite.” The words came out in a bitter laugh. “I had an asshole husband who was
responsible
for my success.”

“What the... you were married?”

“Not what you expected, huh?” Kenzie opened the refrigerator and pulled out a pitcher of iced tea. “Do you like sweet tea?”

“No,” Chase said. “I don’t drink tea. Just water for me.”

“Water it is, then.” She poured him a glass and handed it to him before pouring herself a glass of tea. “Do you really want to hear this?”

Chase nodded. “Yes. I want to get to know you better. I want to understand you. I think it’ll help us work together.” And might help him figure out how damaged she was and how softly he needed to tread.

“Fine. Maybe it will do some good to talk about it.” Kenzie took a drink of tea. “I told you about my first manager, the one who discovered me at the bar where I worked.”

“The one who promised to make you a star, yes.” She’d said they’d had creative differences, prompting her to change managers, but now Chase wondered if those differences were about something other than music.

“Jesse Cole.” Kenzie leaned against the kitchen counter. “He swept me off my feet, said he’d give me a music career, and asked me to be his wife,” she explained. “I was young, and he was sexy and successful, and in the beginning, he treated me like a queen. Of course I accepted.” Another bitter laugh followed. “When my first single soared up the charts, I became the envy of lots of hopefuls in the business. Everybody wanted to be the next Kenzie Bolton.”

“I’m sure. A complete unknown, instant success...” It was something Chase knew about, too. The difference was he was still riding the wave of that success. Kenzie wasn’t.

“Yeah, from out of nowhere to breakout star. Jesse made good on that part of the bargain, at least.”

“And the rest? I’m guessing not so much.” The words “in the beginning” stuck in Chase’s head. Obviously, the “queen” treatment didn’t last.

“Good guess. Things went downhill quickly once we got married, and my dream turned into more of a nightmare.”

Her tone was flat, emotionless, but Chase sensed Kenzie was deliberately trying to stay detached in order to keep it together. “Did he cheat on you? Was he abusive?” Chase didn’t know Jesse Cole, but he had a sudden urge to slug him.

“I don’t know if he was unfaithful. It wouldn’t surprise me. I was never Jesse’s ideal wife, and he made sure I knew that. He constantly belittled me, picked at my appearance, told me I was nothing without him...” Kenzie’s voice trailed off as her eyes misted over. “He never hit me, though, so I guess that’s something.”

She was grateful the abuse was only emotional and not physical? Chase clenched and unclenched a fist. Yeah, he definitely wanted to slug this SOB, and if he ever came face to face with Jesse, he’d probably do just that. “I’m sorry,” he said, but the words sounded hollow. What was he supposed to say?

“Hey, I got out. Lots of women aren’t so lucky.” She wiped a tear from her cheek with the back of her hand. “Jesse was pissed, though, and he vowed to ruin me. Judging from how my career’s gone since I left him, he’s doing a pretty good job.”

“That new single, the one you played for me yesterday...” Hearing her story, Chase understood more about how personal the song was to her. “You said it wasn’t a hit.”

“Not even close. It bombed,” Kenzie said. “I’m on the verge of falling off the country music landscape if I don’t have a hit soon. So, you see, I’m kind of counting on this project with you. I need it, Chase. I
need
it to be a hit.”

And to him, it was just a way to pass the time, and stretch himself musically, until Jordy was ready to come back to the band. They were in completely different places in their careers, but Chase couldn’t ignore the connection he felt with Kenzie. He wanted their song to be a hit for her. “It will be.” He set the glass of water down on the small kitchen table and walked over to her. “We’ll make sure it is,” he said, putting his arms around her. “And why wouldn’t it be? Top producer, great idea, two incredible singers...”

“Well, when you put it like that...” A hint of a smile formed on Kenzie’s tear-stained face. “I’m sorry for breaking down in front of you.”

“Breaking down? That wasn’t a break. Maybe just a little crack.” Chase used his finger to wipe away one of her tears, and then he couldn’t help it. She looked so uncertain, yet so beautiful, and he brushed his lips across hers.

Just a peck. It was meant to be just a peck. He wanted to comfort her. Except at that moment, he wanted a lot more than to comfort her, and when Kenzie opened her lips and her tongue met his, Chase sensed she wanted more, too. He pulled away abruptly. He might be half crazy, but one thing he’d never do was take advantage of a vulnerable woman.

“So, um, I guess we better get to work,” he said. “We have a song to write.”

***

A song. Right. For a second there, when Chase’s arms were around her and his lips were on hers, Kenzie almost lost sight of what they were supposed to be doing. Fortunately, he seemed to have slightly more willpower, but the way he stood there awkwardly, his face a little flushed as he rubbed his hands on his jeans, told Kenzie all she needed to know. He felt it, too. He wanted her. And sooner or later, they might just have to act on the attraction to get it out of their systems.

It wouldn’t be now, though, not since he was already halfway up the stairs to the loft area. Kenzie followed him, and got there just as Chase picked up her ukelele and began to strum a few chords.

She smiled as she listened. “Pretty good. You can play.”

“I want to play some uke in the song. I’m not sure how or where yet, since we don’t have any lyrics, but I want to.”

Kenzie recalled his remark that he wanted to incorporate the uke into a song one day, but his band mates thought he was weird. Maybe Chase needed this project, too, even if not in the same way she did, or for the same reason. “Then we’ll find a way,” she said. “But we need lyrics first. At least that’s how I work. I write some lyrics first, then try to set them to music.”

“Me too,” Chase said, “so we should make a good team.” He set the ukelele down. “You said something about finding love...”

“I did, yeah, but it’s just one idea, and maybe a bad one,” Kenzie said. “Especially if neither one of us has any experience with that particular subject.”

“It doesn’t mean I can’t write about it, though,” Chase said with a shrug. “Just because I haven’t found it yet, doesn’t mean I don’t want to.”

“Are you saying you do want to?” Kenzie raised an eyebrow. “That you’re actively looking?”

“I plead the Fifth,” Chase said, making her laugh.

“Um, I’m no lawyer, but I’m pretty sure that only works in criminal trials,” she teased. “And come on, I told you my sordid tale. Isn’t time you told me yours? It’ll help us work together,” Kenzie added, tossing his own words back at him.

“Touché,” Chase said. “All right, but there’s not much to tell. I just haven’t met anyone that I really connect with, in the way I need to if it’s going to me more than a casual fling.”

“So you’re into casual flings?” No doubt there were plenty of women ready to throw themselves at him after his concerts. Kenzie knew what the music business was like, especially for those at the top of the charts. “Do they call you ‘Love ’em and leave ’em Radcliffe?’”

“Ha. Hardly.” Chase snickered. “No, that’s more my drummer’s speed. I’m more reserved, and I do want to settle down someday,” he said. “My meddling mother thinks that someday should have happened already, so she’s constantly trying to set me up with girls she thinks will make a perfect doctor’s wife.”

“Ah, the doctor thing again.”

“Yeah, that’s my family for you.” Chase rolled his eyes. “I get compared to my perfect cousin, the one who became a doctor, then married a proper woman, and now just welcomed his first child. A son, who will also undoubtedly be expected to follow in his dad’s footsteps.”

He said it without any trace of bitterness, but Kenzie suspected there was
some
bitterness, or at least resentment, buried beneath the surface. “That’s a lot of pressure. I can’t even imagine...”

“Hey, nothing like the kind you’ve been under.” Chase ran a hand through his hair. “I’m just the family black sheep, doing my own thing. I love my family, all of them,  even if they drive me crazy sometimes.”

“I thought that was what families were supposed to do.”

“Yeah, truth,” Chase agreed. “So, anyway, you want us to fall in love?”

“What?” The abrupt change of subject caught Kenzie off guard.

“I mean in the song,” Chase clarified. “You want it to be about falling in love?”

“Yes,” Kenzie said. “You know, like maybe where you least expect it?” The wheels were starting to turn now.

Chase nodded. “I like that. I can work with that,” he said. “I have an idea.”

“What’s that?”

“We split up for now, each work on a verse. Our own side of the story,” he explained. “We’ll meet up tomorrow to see what we have. If it works, if it clicks, we’ll work together on a chorus and chord progression.”

It sounded straightforward enough, but Kenzie had never written a duet before. And their styles were so different. Could they really pull this off? “What if it doesn’t click?”

“Then we’ll try a different approach,” Chase said. “Have a little faith, though. I think we can do this.”

Faith. Right. It was hard these days, but maybe things were about to turn around for Kenzie.

CHAPTER SEVEN

C
hase took a longer route back to his hotel, using the time to think. His mind wasn’t on the song he had to write, though, but rather the woman he’d be writing it with. Kenzie was a study in contradictions. She’d been badly burned by love, and professed to have sworn off relationships as a result, but when they began to discuss the song they would write together, her first suggestion was to write about falling in love. That told Chase that she wasn’t as cynical as she claimed to be. On some level, she must still believe in love. She’d surprised him by suggesting a hopeful theme for their song, rather than a more somber tune.

What did that mean for Chase? Was he about to trade in his brooding, melancholy persona for saccharine sweet? No. Hell no. He could sing about love, but he was maintaining his edge. He had to. His edge sold records. Lots of them.

Back in his suite, Chase got out the spiral notebook he used for writing music and tried to get to work. After writing two different opening lines and crossing both out, it was clear his focus wasn’t quite there, and he knew why. He couldn’t stop thinking about Kenzie and what she’d told him about the jackass she’s been married to. Chase definitely wanted to punch the guy. No question about that. In spite of what Kenzie revealed, though, he couldn’t shake the feeling she’d held something back. There was more to the story. But what?

Chase set the notebook down and grabbed his laptop and booted it up. Research time. He couldn’t believe he hadn’t done this the second Carey suggested he pair up with Kenzie. He hadn’t done his due diligence, but that would change now. He typed Kenzie’s name in the search bar.

Not surprisingly, it yielded a lot of results, most of which were of little interest to him. He didn’t need to read about her chart-topping first single or her Academy of Country Music award. One headline did catch his eye, though.

Bolton, Cole Announce Split.

Chase clicked on the link and skimmed the article, but didn’t find it particularly newsworthy, simply announcing that Kenize and her manager/husband had announced their separation after two years of marriage. It went on to talk about Kenzie’s breakout success, and posited that Jesse was the driving force behind it. Of course. The asshole must have loved that.

He clicked the back button on his browser, taking him back to the search results. More of the same, and one headline that caught his eye. It was from a popular gossip site called The Dish Zone, or TDZ, that Chase seldom placed any faith in. After all, it was TDZ that had once speculated that Chase’s wedding—to none other than Lisanne Ward—would be the hot ticket for spring. Since Chase knew better than anyone that reports of his engagement were greatly exaggerated, he was disinclined to believe anything the website printed. It was hard to ignore the headline, though.

Rehab Stint for Nashville’s Sweetheart?

Chase clicked on the link.

Confidential sources report that country music sweetheart, Kenzie Bolton, recently checked herself into the Hamilton Clinic for treatment of an undisclosed illness. Could Nashville’s breakout artist of 2015 be seeking help for an addiction? Details are sketchy, but Bolton did recently split with her manager-turned-husband Jesse Cole. Perhaps she’s had a hard time dealing with the breakup and turned to drink or drugs to help her cope.

“Yeah, right. She couldn’t wait to get away from him, you idiots,” Chase muttered under his breath. He wondered if there might be some truth to the piece, though. After all, the speculation of his would-be nuptials came after he’d been spotted with Lisanne at a gala where Chase’s father had been named president of the local hospital, and his mother had made no secret of the fact that she thought it would be a wonderful time for Chase and Lisanne to become engaged. It was typical of the gossip site to take a tiny bit of actual news and turn it into rampant speculation, so maybe Kenzie
had
sought treatment.

For what, though? Rehab didn’t fit, because she hadn’t hesitated to order a beer at the chicken place, and even told Chase about some of her favorite local beers. Okay, maybe it was possible she’d had a drug problem and still drank alcohol. That wasn’t unheard of, but it didn’t ring true to Chase. No, it had to be something else, but what?

What are you hiding from Kenzie? What did that jerk do to you?
Chase continued searching, but came up blank. There was nothing else about a possible hospital stay or a medical issue. If something had happened, Kenzie and her representatives had done one heck of a job keeping it a secret.

***

Kenzie intended to get right to work on the song as soon as Chase left, but she was interrupted by a phone call. One glance at the Caller ID told her it was a good interruption. A smile tugged at her lips as she answered. “Hey, Aunt Audrey.”

“Hiya, Sugar.” A familiar Tennessee drawl greeted her. “How’s my favorite niece?”

“I’m your only niece,” Kenzie reminded her. And Audrey was her only aunt, but Kenzie thought of her more as a mother. After all, it was Audrey who’d raised Kenzie after her own mother’s death when she was only eight.

Audrey chuckled. “Which means less competition for you, not that it matters. You’d probably still be my favorite. You didn’t answer my question.”

“I’m good. Better than I’ve been in a long time,” Kenzie said. “I’m working on a new project. I think it’s going to be great.”

“The duet with that rock star? What’s his name, Chance Something?”

“Chase,” Kenzie corrected. “Chase Radcliffe. And how did you know, anyway?” They’d barely made the decision a day ago. Had Carey started the promotion machine rolling already?

“Oh, honey, I have my sources,” Audrey said. “I may be retired and living in Florida now, but I still have friends there, and they have their ears to the ground.”

“Apparently.” Audrey Carlton was a former recording artist, and even if she’d never been a huge star, settling mostly for being the opening act rather than the headliner, Kenzie shouldn’t have doubted her aunt’s knack for being in the know. She also should have heeded her aunt’s warning about Jesse. “I’m excited about the project,” Kenzie said. “Chase is very nice and talented.”

“And sex on a stick, from what I’ve seen.” Audrey whistled. “Oh, my. I’ve looked at a few videos on You Tube. Hot.”

Kenzie laughed. Her aunt was something else, and it was easy to see why she’d been a popular figure in the Nashville scene in the late eighties and early nineties. Kenzie wished she had even a tenth of the brash confidence that Audrey did. “I haven’t watched any of his videos.”

“But surely you’ve noticed he’s sexy.”

Yeah, I’d have to be completely blind not to notice that.
“Maybe a little,” Kenzie tried to sound nonchalant. “But we’re working together. That’s it. The last thing I need is another relationship.”

“It depends on the relationship,” Audrey countered with a huff. “You don’t need another toxic one, that’s for sure. But don’t tell me you couldn’t make room in your life for a man who’s good and honest and treats you right.”

“I don’t know,” Kenzie mused. “I haven’t met one yet.”

“You will,” her aunt predicted. “And when you do, I hope you’re brave enough to let him into your life and your heart.”

I hope so, too
, Kenzie thought.

They talked for a few more minutes, catching up on everything from the weather to
The Young and the Restless
and Audrey’s upcoming trip to Vegas with Kenzie’s step uncle, Eddie, a trip they made every spring. Kenzie hung up with a smile. Her aunt was a hoot, and she always enjoyed their conversations.

It was time to get busy, though. She had a song to write, or at least an opening verse. Chase was probably already done with his, and Kenzie wanted to impress him, even if she had no idea how. What kind of lyrics was he likely to write? Could he keep his melancholy side in check and write a hopeful song? Better yet, could Kenzie keep her cynicism in check? What had she been thinking, suggesting a love song, anyway? This might be her biggest challenge yet.

***

Chase studied the page in front of him. Great. So far, he’d crossed out no less than ten lines. Yeah, some songwriter he was. Maybe he should’ve agreed to use one of the songs Keith had in mind for him and Kenzie to record. Well, too late for that now. He had to come up with something. Hopefully Kenzie was faring better than he was, not that that would take much.

Frustrated, Chase ripped the page out of the notebook, balled it up, and aimed for the wastebasket. And predictably missed. His shooting touch was not improving. He got up from the bed, picked up the wad of paper and properly threw it away, then picked up his phone. Since Chase had to write a song about love, and he knew nothing about it, he’d better consult with someone who did.

He considered calling Jordy. After all, it was Jordy’s crazy decision to get married that put their band on hold. But no, Jordy was still honeymooning in Costa Rica, and Chase doubted he and his bride would welcome the interruption. No, better to call someone who wouldn’t hang up on him, if for no other reason than he was family.

His cousin answered on the second ring. “Yo, Chase, how’s it going?” Colin greeted him.

“Not bad,” Chase said. “How about you and Taylor and the baby?”

“Good. We’re all fine. Mason’s growing like a weed.”

“I bet.” His nephew was eight months old now, and getting bigger all the time.

“So what do I owe this pleasure?” Colin asked. “Not that I don’t want to hear from my little cousin, but it’s kind of out of the blue in the middle of the week.”

“Yeah, I know,” Chase said. Colin was an ER doctor who worked long hours, and when he wasn’t on call, he wanted to spend his time with his wife and their son. As a result, the two of them didn’t see each other as much as they had in the past. As in before Colin got married. “I just felt like saying hi. I’m actually in Nashville at the moment.”

“Nashville? What are you doing there?”

Good question.
“New project. I’m recording a duet with a country singer named Kenzie Bolton.”

“Duet? Country?” Colin repeated. “Are you feeling all right?”

“I’m feeling fine,” Chase said. “It’s a great opportunity. Well, except I’m supposed to be writing a love song and I know nothing about love.”

“A love song? You? Mr. Melancholy?”

Chase had to wait for Colin’s laughter to subside before he spoke again. “Yeah, yeah. I know. It’s happening, though.” He couldn’t back out now. “That’s why I called you. I need some help,” he said. “What’s it like to fall in love?”

“Are you serious?” Colin asked. “You sound serious.”

“I am. Tell me, when you met Taylor, what’s the first thing you noticed about her?”

“Her left hook,” his cousin deadpanned.

“You mean she punched you?” Chase teased.

“No, dickweed. It was in a kick box class. We met in kick box, and she was the most beautiful woman I’d ever seen in my life, and even though she’d had a rough life, and she was hard to get close to at first, she was easy to love,” Colin said. “Even when it was difficult, even when she tried to push me away, I thought she was easy to love. And I still do.” He paused. “And those, cousin, are my words of wisdom on that thing we call love.”

Chase exhaled. “Wow.”

“Sorry you asked?”

“No,” Chase said. “It’s just a lot to think about. Thanks, buddy.”

“Anytime,” Colin said. “Good luck with the song. And the girl.”

“Girl? I never said anything about a girl.”

Laughter came over the line. “You didn’t have to.”