Music Notes (40 page)

Two Months Later

Holy crap, I’m about to see myself on television. Again. The network special airs tonight–
Beau & Layne: In Love
. After four days of following us around at home like a new puppy, as well as covering the first stop on Beau’s tour that kicked off a little over a month ago, I was glad to see three cameramen, one producer, and four production assistants take off at the end of filming. It was exhausting and invasive.

Eli will make minimal appearances in the special that airs tonight. Before I could even voice my motherly overture about him not being affected by filming and keeping his air time to a bare minimum, Beau had already stepped in and laid down the law. There’s something about that cowboy when he gets all bossy and uses that low, no-nonsense, this-is-how-it’s-gonna-be voice. That voice does crazy things to my lady parts. Especially when he takes an authoritative stance regarding Eli.

Beau has never overstepped when it comes to Eli. In fact, it’s quite the opposite. I find myself easily sharing the parenting responsibilities with him, allowing him to discipline or teach him important life skills like cooking eggs and picking up your socks off the bathroom floor. Sharing the parenting load comes easy when I’m sharing it with Beau. He’s going to make an amazing father. Someday.

“Mommy! There you are!” Eli shouts over the sound of the television. We’re sitting all together on the worn leather couch that Beau refuses to get rid of for sentimental reasons. This couch was the first thing he purchased when he moved to Nashville from Oklahoma in search of a musical career. Even though the thing is old and well-worn, it’s more comfortable than any piece of furniture I’ve ever owned so I’m in no hurry to get rid of it. I just like to get him all riled up by threatening to toss it in the trash.
Shhhhh
.

I turn my attention to the massive television centered on the wall in the rustic family room at the rear of the house. Sure enough, there I am with Beau as the intro to our special plays out. You can’t hear words over the love song the network purchased the rights to use–the song I’m now very familiar with.

Eventually, the brief intro ends with that full-on, steamy kiss from our final episode. Becker stands before the camera, positioned in the center of the
Rising Star
stage. “Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. I’m Becker James, host of
Rising Star
. Over the next hour, we’re going to have a special look at the relationship of Beau Tanner and Layne Carter. As you may recall, Beau and Layne took social media by storm towards the end of last season’s show. Let’s take a look back at how it all started.”

Highlights of the show fill the screen. From my audition for the judges and first glimpse of Beau to the accusations by contestants over our speculated relationship. It’s all there in high definition color. The producers focused on the smoldering looks and extra-long glances when we thought the cameras weren’t rolling. But, as always, the cameras caught everything!

Eventually, we get a glimpse at Beau and Layne now. The first shot is of us walking hand-in-hand out the front door of the home we share, each of us carrying a travel mug of coffee. The first thing I notice is the extra poundage I apparently have put on in the ass and hips region. I guess when they say the camera adds ten pounds, they aren’t shitting…

Note to self: Lay off the midnight snack-sized Snickers.

On the couch next to me, Beau picks up Eli and sets him on his lap. Eli sits transfixed on the television screen, watching our every move with a subtle little smile. Beau takes his free hand and links his fingers with mine. The gesture is soothing and reassuring.

“You look hot in those pants,” he whispers.

“I look like I’ve eaten nothing but Oreos since I left the show.”

“You speak nonsense, woman. You’re hotter than a crawfish boil on the Fourth of July.”

I stare at the man I love for several seconds before bursting into fits of laughter. “Did you just speak Southernese to me? Is it considered a compliment in Oklahoma to compare me to crawfish?”

“Naw, I just wanted to make ya laugh. What I wanted to say wasn’t exactly appropriate for small ears.” Beau’s eyes turn to smoldering ash right before my very eyes. He goes from casual to turned-on in point two seconds flat. The sudden desire to cross my legs is strong, but I know it’s futile against the ache that only Beau can create.

Beau seems to read me like a book and leans over to kiss my shoulder. The soft caress of his lips against my skin promises things to come with each swipe of those very talented lips. “Behave, you.”

The sound of singing draws my attention back to the television. Over the next thirty minutes, we watch with America as our lives are broadcast for the world to see. My time in the little studio behind the house, Beau picking Eli up from preschool, a grocery store run, and, of course, backstage access from his show at the Ryman Auditorium–the show that kicked off his latest tour. The producers do a great job at showing how hectic, yet incredibly normal our lives are. There’s no fighting. No drama. No unnecessary stage acting to boost ratings or create more hype. Just Beau and me and what works for us.

At the very end of the program, Becker thanks us for participating in the network’s special.
As if we had a choice…

“I leave you tonight with the exclusive first look at Beau Tanner’s new video for “Stay With Me,” off his forthcoming album,
Cross The Line,
releasing later this year. Beau and Layne sang this song on their very last episode together. I hope you enjoy.”

The familiar opening melody to the song I sang on stage with Beau in Denver–the one he wrote for me–starts to play. While I was a major part of the process of making this music video, I have yet to see the finished product. Beau viewed it a week ago, but I wouldn’t let him give me the details. I opted to be surprised tonight with the rest of America.

The beginning shows Beau walking into the recording studio, down the long hall with photos of famous smiling faces hanging from the walls, and into the control room. He looks hot in a pair of tight Wranglers, a western style black button-up shirt, worn boots, and his trademark Stetson cowboy hat. I understand instantly that the video is depicting the process of making a video. Quickly, Beau is standing in the middle of the recording studio singing into the mic.

His voice is low and seductive as he sings the opening lines of our song. The video bounces between Beau standing in the recording booth and master producer, JP Sanders, in the control room. JP is the cream of the crop when it comes to record producers, and Beau was extremely excited to secure him for his new album.

When Beau gets to the refrain, he sings strongly and confidently into the mic. It’s a euphoric experience watching him sing, even if it’s on screen. He holds so much passion for what he does that it’s truly hypnotizing to witness.

Suddenly, Beau reaches the end of the refrain and pulls back from the mic. I step slowly into the shot, moving to a second microphone that wasn’t visible until this moment. The producer was going for a casual, yet chic look for the video so I’m wearing a black smock-style top that hangs off my right shoulder, a jean skirt that borders on too short, and pair of black cowboy boots. Yep. Beau convinced me to buy my first pair of boots, swearing that they’re more comfortable than anything I’ve ever worn. And after you get past the initial “breaking in” period, I concede that they are pretty dang comfy.

The hairs on my arms stand on end when I start to sing. Even though the video took two days and was shot from so many different angles that it left my head spinning, the finished product is amazing. It really doesn’t look as if it’s a compilation of dozens of cut and pasted takes. It looks like one fluid take from start to finish.

When I finish the second refrain, it cuts to Beau and I sitting in the control room, smiling and cutting up with JP. We both bob our head to whatever it is he’s playing from the board. Looking relaxed, Beau and I smile at each other between cuts of Beau playing the guitar in the studio.

Finally, Beau and I step up to our microphone. Instead of using two mics, we’re shown sharing a singular microphone. We each hold the mic stand, his hand wrapped protectively around mine. This is the first real indication that whatever started at the end of the reality show has continued. Oh, sure there has been speculation. Paparazzi have stalked us religiously since our time on the show ended, but we made sure to never give them what they really wanted. What they received instead was photos of us walking together or riding in the car. Touching or anything intimate was rarely displayed for the world to see, which is what led to the most recent rumors–break-up gossip.

Together, we sing the remainder of the song. It’s about love and a future. About asking the other to spend the rest of their life together. It speaks of hope and commitment. Everything Beau and I stand for, but have never allowed everyone else to see.

Until now.

As the song winds down, the video cuts to the production room where you see hands moving slides on a soundboard, each one having such a key part in the audio quality coming from the adjacent room. Reaching the end of the song, JP moves all of the slides downward, fading all of the elements of the music.

And there we are. Exiting the studio and heading out to the street. Beau isn’t alone like he was when he entered the studio. This time, his hand is wrapped firmly around mine as I walk beside him. Stepping onto the sidewalk outside, the glass door closes, separating us from the camera that was following us.

But the camera doesn’t cut. Instead it captures the moment that the world has been waiting for. Beau dips me in the middle of the sidewalk, in full view of the cameras recording our every movement. When he kisses me, it’s fierce. Passionate. Absolute. When he brings my left hand up to his face, Beau essentially flashes the camera the big piece of juicy story they’ve been waiting for. What America has been waiting for.

Confirmation.

Adorning my left ring finger is a glimpse of the breathtaking diamond and sapphire engagement ring Beau and Eli presented to me the night before we started making this video. This was never part of the original plan, but when JP told us of his vision on that first day of filming, we went with it. Knowing that the network was striving for that big bang factor, I’d say they definitely got their money’s worth.

The video fades to black.

I finally pull my eyes away from the television and glance at my fiancé. His soft eyes match his smile as he gazes at me with more love than I ever expected to receive in this life. The video may be over, but our lives have only just begun. I have no idea where we’re headed, but as long as we’re together, we’ll weather any storm.

He is the music notes that complete my life and make my heart sing.

My song begins and ends with him.

~ THE END ~

If you originally chose The Dangerous Door, you can go back and read
The Safe Door
here.

Also by Lacey Black

Rivers Edge series

Trust Me, Rivers Edge book 1 (Maddox and Avery) – FREE at all retailers
http://amzn.com/B00MV4DHAS

~ #1 Bestseller in Contemporary Romance & #3 in overall free e-books on Amazon

~ #2 Bestseller in overall free e-books on iBooks

Fight Me, Rivers Edge book 2 (Jake and Erin)
http://amzn.com/B00P89GD2M

Expect Me, Rivers Edge book 3 (Travis and Josselyn)
http://amzn.com/B00S5H69DM

Promise Me: A Novella, Rivers Edge book 3.5 (Jase and Holly)
http://amzn.com/B00VC70G0Y

Protect Me, Rivers Edge book 4 (Nate and Lia)
http://amzn.com/B00Y9CS3YA

Boss Me, Rivers Edge book 5 (Will and Carmen)
http://amzn.com/B015BS3LWE

Trust Us: A Rivers Edge Christmas Novella (Maddox and Avery)
http://amzn.com/B01BFMSNPK

~ This novella was a part of the Christmas Miracles Anthology and will be releasing as an individual e-book soon!

Bound Together series

Submerged, book 1 (Blake & Carly)
http://amzn.com/B0190P5EPQ

Coming Soon

Profited, Bound Together series book 2

Acknowledgements

A huge thank you to everyone who had their hand in this release! Sara Eirew for another beautiful cover. Nazarea and the InkSlinger PR team. My amazing editor, Kara Hildebrand. Joanne Thompson for your masterful line edits. Sandra Shipman and Lisa McGuire for beta reading. Holly Collins for reading the pieces of this book as I created it. Brenda Wright for working your formatting genius on a difficult project. Lacey’s Ladies for helping spread the word and making me smile. My husband Jason and our two little ones, thank you for your forgiveness on the nights I get lost behind a computer screen. And to all the readers for sticking by me as I discover different styles of romance that speak to me.

This book was a long time in the making. When I first brainstormed, Layne wasn’t supposed to sleep with Beau. As I was writing and got to the hotel room scene, she went and did it anyway–completely on her own. She rewrote the entire ending. Then I got to the end and I couldn’t stop thinking about it. The book continued to speak to me, and I realized that maybe two endings was okay. So, I went back and wrote the original ending that this book was supposed to have (the Safe Door).