Love Revolution (Black Cat Records Shakespeare Inspired trilogy) (4 page)

Throughout the meeting in the second floor executive conference room, JR watched Samantha. She sat next to Beth, Black Cat’s attractive middle aged Vice President of Public Relations, typing notes into her laptop, a wave of reddish brown curls obscuring her face. Several times he’d tried to catch her attention without success. She was obviously ignoring him.
What the hell?
He thought they’d really hit it off the other day. Why was she playing hard to get now? His long fingers drummed impatiently on the reflective surface of the large ebony table.

Mary shot him a sideways glance, before turning to Beth. “Could you run through the album launch schedule again? I’m not sure that everyone is paying attention.” She focused a narrow glare at Marcus and Avery.

Avery’s cheeks blushed almost matching her auburn hair. She elbowed Marcus in the ribs. Brutal Strength’s temperamental front man lifted his head from her neck, ran a hand through his shoulder length brown mane, and gave her a questioning look.

“Sure, Mary,” Beth said, shuffling through her notes. “Like I said, there’s not much left to do, especially PR wise. Since the recent
event,”
she paused for emphasis
,
“media interest in Avery and Brutal Strength has been at a fever pitch.”

Avery visibly winced. “Sorry.”

“Hey you don’t hear me complaining, Avery. A girl guitarist disguising herself to get into a rock band…” Greyish green eyes twinkling, she smiled with genuine affection. “I couldn’t have dreamed up better publicity if I tried. It’s gonna be one hell of a tour. All we really need to do is put the album out there and the fans will go wild.”

Marcus pulled Avery’s wheeled conference chair closer until there wasn’t an inch of space separating them and whispered something in her ear. Her face reddened again.

Watching the interaction, JR smirked. The two of them had been disgustedly off the charts affectionate with each other since returning from a week on Vancouver Island. He saw Sam watching them with a wistful expression. He could relate. It was hard not to be envious of the bond the couple obviously shared.

Beth regained Sam’s attention by asking her to email an itinerary to each of the band members. She nodded and bent her head back down over the keyboard. Beth went back to addressing the group. “This week we’re all set to do a performance at the Rickshaw. It’ll be the official debut for the album. It’s going to be very limited seating, one guest for each of you, no exceptions.” She paused and glanced at Dwight, Marcus’ brother and the bassist in the group. “Will Lisa be ok with an aisle seat?”

“Sure. Thanks, Beth,” Dwight replied.

She nodded. “No worries. Where was I? Oh yeah, I’ve scheduled a couple of radio and television spots after that, but that’s it until a VIP party at Blue Water the night before you guys leave on tour.

“Ok that’s it then,” Mary said, gathering her papers. “The meeting is adjourned.” She glanced over at Samantha as everyone stood. “Sam, I need you to stay a minute. I want to have a word with you.”

“Sure,” Sam replied, chewing nervously on her bottom lip.

JR frowned in frustration as he slowly filed out with the others.

Mary glanced up at the young intern. “Sit,” she ordered.

Samantha immediately complied, pulling out a chair and taking a seat next to the formidable executive. Her stomach fluttered.

Mary turned and studied her for a long moment before patting her hand. “So, how are things going? Everyone treating you alright?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

Mary smiled. “And how do you like working with Beth?”

“Oh, it’s wonderful. She is so knowledgeable. I am so grateful for the opportunity to learn from her.”

“Good. Good. Beth tells me that you’re ready to handle being her full time assistant. Any reason you’d have a problem with that?”

JR immediately came to mind but Sam pushed that errant thought aside. She could do this. “No ma’am. Thank you. I won’t disappoint you,” she replied in what she hoped was a confident professional tone.

Mary gave her a curt nod. “Ok, better hop to it then. Head on over to HR right now. They have the paperwork ready.”

Samantha dipped her head and scurried out of Mary’s presence, both elated by her good fortune and grateful to have survived a run in with the Queen unscathed.

“Oh!” She immediately collided with someone in the hall. By the way her body instantly flooded with warmth she knew exactly who it was without even bothering to look up.

“Ah, Sam, we’ve gotta stop meeting like this.” JR chuckled as his hands curled gently but firmly around her upper arms.

Sam’s face flushed to match the heat rushing throughout the rest of her body. “Yeah, very funny.”

He parried by flashing a lopsided smile that appeared to be part bravado with just a dash of vulnerability, a potent winning combination.

She took a step back. This was how she’d gotten into trouble downstairs in the break room. It would be so very easy to fall for him.

JR’s eyes narrowed underneath the fringe of his blond bangs. “What’s going on Samantha? You didn’t reply to my text last night. And now… are you ignoring me?”

“No…nothing’s going on,” she swallowed. “I just changed my mind about going out is all, ok?”

His smile fell. “I guess,” he said hesitantly.

Samantha turned away quickly before he had a chance to protest and headed down the hall. JR had looked so disappointed, and she hated to hurt anyone’s feelings. But there was no way a man like JR would think twice about a girl like her turning him down. She was just too big of a softie for her own good.
Keep walking girl
, she told herself.
Remember the pictures.
John Raymond is just a heartbreak waiting to happen.

Chris jangled his car keys as he came in from the parking garage and walked down the hallway to the reserved recording room. He was pissed as hell at Mary for forcing him to work with this country chick. Fine, he’d do it, but no one said he had to play nice.

He’d done a little internet research on her last night. It had been quite illuminating. The sharp tongued bitch sure got around, riding a virtual carousel of relationships.

He leaned against the doorframe, studying her through the lens of this new information. Last night, he’d worked hard to convince himself that she hadn’t been as good looking as he’d remembered.
Ok. Wrong.
It was no wonder she had her pick of men.

Chris totally got the appeal. Why all those other guys, knowing what he now knew, had risked it anyway to be with her. Admittedly, he was sorely tempted himself. She’d been on
People
magazine’s list of top one hundred beautiful celebrities last year for a good reason. Her curves were definitely in all the right places. But then there was that mouth of hers…

“You’re late, grandpa,” she said glancing at her watch. “Mary said eight. What’s wrong? Forget your Viagra?”

Chris rolled his eyes. Looked like they were going to continue from where they’d left off. “I’d need more than that to be interested in you. Seriously woman, I may be old, you got me there, but at least I haven’t been out on the town with half of Nashville.”

Sara sucked in a shocked breath, letting her hair fall forward to shield her flaming face. Knowing her reputation and having it thrown back at her like that were two separate things. He must have been on the internet. Though the image wasn’t one she cultivated, she didn’t do anything to change it, either. It was convenient, attracting the only type of guys she wanted in her life, short term ones.

So Chris wanted to play hard ball. Fine, she could throw one right back at him. She’d done a little homework of her own. “At least I can keep ‘em until
I
decide I’m tired of them. Unlike you and your ex-wife, huh?”

Chris’ lips flattened and his muscles noticeably clenched. Evidently the mere mention of his ex still affected him. He took in a deep breath before meeting her gaze. “Ok. Listen. I get it. I don’t like you. You don’t like me. But we’re stuck working on this project together. Agreed?”

Sara nodded, feeling a tad guilty for her barb. Chris looked sucker punched. Maybe she might have taken things a bit too far.

“Ok. Well. I’ll agree to lay off the personal attacks if you will,” he continued. “We’re both professionals. We can do this song without any blood being spilled, right?”

Sara cringed at his choice of words wondering if they were intentional. She searched his face, looking for a sign that he knew. But how could he? They had been minors when it happened. The records had been sealed. She waited for the follow up, but relaxed when it never came.

Chris’ text alert pinged and he glanced down at the display. “I’m sorry. I need to answer this. Did you get a chance to listen to what I have recorded for the album?”

“No, I…”

He cut her off, holding up his phone. “I’ve got to go listen to a couple of guys who’ve come to audition for my band. Why don’t you get a digital copy of what I have so far? Dalton in productions should be able to help you.” He moved toward the door but stopped, tapping the frame twice before turning around. “Listen, Sara, I think Mary is right. Your music, your voice will be a good fit for the sound I want on the album. If it’s ok with you, I’ll meet you back up here on Thursday, and we can get started.”

“Sure. That’s fine.”

“Good.” He gave her a thin smile and left.

Sara was glad that was settled. A professional relationship was all that she wanted from him.