The Hottest Ticket in Town (9 page)

She went to him and looped her arms around him. “Maybe you could come visit me sometime,” she suggested, brushing a kiss across his lips. “Would you like that?”

He sighed, knowing there was no good answer to that question. If all things were equal, he wouldn't hesitate to pick up where they left off here in Kentucky, but then what? Heartache and misery. He'd hate the idea of her going off on tour, leaving him for months on end, and he wasn't about to hop a tour bus to be her backstage boyfriend. “Let's just keep it simple for now,” he said gruffly, and she nodded, trying to hide the disappointment in her eyes.

“Of course,” she said, forcing a smile as she briskly switched gears. “In that case, tonight we're going to the Woodsville Harvest Festival.”

“What?” he groaned, unable to believe what'd popped from her mouth. “Are you serious?”

“As a heart attack. I used to love the harvest festival and I thought you did, too.”

“Yeah, when we were kids and we could sneak away for a few stolen kisses.” He tightened his grip on her with a seductive smile. “But we're not kids anymore and I don't have to steal what I've got in my arms right now. Let's just see what kind of trouble we can get into right here.”

“But I can't get homemade candied apples right here,” she countered, laughing when he nuzzled her neck. “C'mon, it'll be fun. I'll even let you steal a kiss on the Ferris wheel for old time's sake.”

She was really serious about this? He pulled away with a subtle frown. “You're not kidding?”

“Nope. Besides, we need a change of scenery. We've been cooped up here on the ranch for days. Time to get some fresh air, so to speak. Can you be ready by six?”

He could tell by the firm set of her jaw that she had her mind set. When he thought of the town of Woodsville, he had nothing good to fall back on, except for the harvest festival, but only because he'd been a love-struck kid with hearts in his eyes, and if Laci had asked him to rope the moon, he would've tried. But other than that...a small-town festival, filled with the small-town cronies who'd done nothing to lift a finger to help him or his brother? Nope, not big on that idea. However, he knew just as he was standing there that he'd go because Laci wanted it.

Some things hadn't changed—he just couldn't say no to the woman.

15

L
IKE
ANTS
SPILLING
out of a colony, everyone and their grandmother came to sell their wares, socialize and have a good time at the Woodsville Harvest Festival.

Kane and Laci stepped out of the truck, and Kane prepared himself for a mildly unpleasant walk down memory lane until Laci caught his attention with a blinding smile and he momentarily forgot why he hadn't wanted to come.

Maybe if she wasn't so damn hot. The woman had cornered the market on sexy, and if there ever was a stereotypical country-girl look, Laci had nailed it. Cowboy boots, short white skirt and a cute blouse with her hair tied up in a bandanna, Laci looked like something out of one of her own music videos.

Kane paid for their tickets and, as they walked through the arched entryway and into the festival, he was immediately assaulted by memories. To a passing stranger, Woodsville was a place where the South lived and breathed in all its colorful splendor, pretty as a picture and just about as chock-full of Americana as one could get without landing on a movie set where everything was carefully placed and planned for effect. But Woodsville was the real deal. People didn't lock their doors at night and it wasn't unheard of to hear tell that a barn raising was happening, but it wasn't all maple syrup and corn-husk dolls; there was an ugly side that he was well acquainted with. The poverty level was abysmal and those living under that federally recognized line of misery were often overlooked and forgotten because they were country folk who kept to themselves, which also meant that if there was abuse happening, of any sort, it would just keep on happening because there wasn't anyone who was going to step in to stop it. And guess where Kane and his brother had landed on that line? On the messed-up side.

Laci, sensing the tension, curled her arm around his biceps and pressed herself closer to him. Just having her on his arm had a calming effect, but he wasn't only on edge for himself—he was worried about someone recognizing Laci and causing a scene. He was no one but she was a bona fide country star. Sooner or later, if they kept pressing their luck, someone was going to recognize her. And then what? He didn't like the idea of people clamoring around Laci as if it were their right to do so. Given his line of work, it should've come easier to him, but he didn't care about his clients the way he cared about Laci. When he was working, it was all about the job. He wasn't emotionally involved in the clients' lives. And he sure as hell wasn't sleeping with them.

“You're rigid as an oak plank,” she teased. “What are you so afraid of? You're a successful man with your own business and there's no one here who can take that away from you. Just try to enjoy yourself.”

Laci knew of his demons, his nightmares, and the fact that she was readily on his side, defending him, warmed his heart, but he had to come clean. “It's not me I'm worried about. What if someone recognizes you?” he asked, voicing his fear. “What am I supposed to do? What if someone gets crazy?”

“Let's not borrow trouble. Cora used to say, ‘Don't build bridges for rivers you don't have to cross yet,'” she said, smiling, not the least bit concerned. “I'm here with you and that's all that matters. Besides, I doubt anyone will recognize me.”

He didn't know about that. People would have to be damn blind not to recognize her but he supposed there was nothing he could do until the situation came up, so why ruin the moment? “Okay, I'll follow your lead.”

She brightened. “Excellent. Then I say the first order of business is getting a candied apple. You would not believe how much I've craved Woodsville candied apples. I swear, there's something magic in those apples because I've been to countless states and fairs and there's never been a single one to measure up to those delicious goodies they sell here at this festival.”

Her enthusiasm softened him up a bit and he realized he'd do almost anything to see her smile. So he'd just have to keep a watchful eye so that Laci could have a good time. “Then a candied apple you shall have. Let's go find one.”

They wandered around the festival, stopping here and there, found the candied-apple booth and then just when he thought Laci might want to call it a night, she dragged him to the Ferris wheel. He groaned, eyeing the contraption without a whole lot of confidence and said, “The Ferris wheel? Look at that thing. It looks like a health hazard. It's probably held together with string and bubble gum.”

She laughed and tugged at him. “Don't be such a spoilsport. I'm sure it's fine. It'll be an adventure.”

“I don't need adventure,” he grumbled, still eyeing the ride with mistrust. “Did I mention I get plenty of an adrenaline rush in my job? I don't really feel the need to tempt fate and board that rolling lawsuit.”

“Oh, yes you are and you are going to kiss me at the top just like you did when we were teenagers.”

He caught her gaze and couldn't help the smile creeping onto the edges of his mouth. The girl knew just how to push his buttons.

“Do you have a problem with that?” she teased.

“Far be it from me to keep you from what you want. Ferris wheel it is.”

“You're adorable when you pretend to be a pushover,” she said, giggling.

The night air was filled with laughter, savory country smells, the buzzing activity of countless individual ongoing events, and Kane wondered if he'd been holding on to anger for too long. The festival wasn't half-bad and so far the night had been pretty enjoyable. They climbed into their bucket and began their slow ascent to the top. The stars twinkled in the night sky, as if winking at them both, and Kane was sucked into the sweetness of the moment.

“I believe the lady wanted a kiss,” he reminded her softly as he leaned in to press his lips against hers. She grinned and kissed him back. Their tongues danced lightly with one another, teasing, exploring, much like when they were teenagers, and Kane's heart beat as quickly as it had back then. He pulled away, happy to see the haze in her eyes from his kiss and said, “I guess memory lane's not so bad, after all.”

“Not at all. So far it's been my favorite place to visit,” she murmured. “Tell me why it's taken this long?”

“Do you want the nice answer or the real answer?”

“I'm not sure. It's been such a wonderful night, maybe I'll take the nice answer.”

He chuckled. “Probably a good decision. Let's say we both know what we have is special but not meant to last. And maybe we were just saving ourselves the inevitable heartache.”

“Or maybe we were both too angry and hurt—or afraid—to ask the questions that needed to be asked of one another.”

“It's possible.” He didn't want to ruin the night and he knew that if they continued to pick at that wound, something would gush, but he couldn't help wondering if these were the things they should've said years ago. “I never forgot about you. How could I? It's like you were branded on my heart and there was no scraping that sucker off. Not a day went by that I didn't think of you. But eventually I got busy with my own life. I saw other women—nothing lasted—but I blamed the job even though I knew in my heart it was always because you were still in there. It was hard to come to terms with that but I had to.”

“I know what you mean. For so long I've been so busy with my career, driving to one specific destination in my mind until I completely lost track of what the destination was in the first place. I feel like I've made it but then I second-guess myself because my manager, Trent, keeps telling me that if I'm not out there, people will forget about me. I've worked too hard to lose it all now.”

“And just what exactly would you be losing? Your voice? Your voice is yours forever. You'll be singing tomorrow just as you were singing yesterday. That will never change. But if you're chasing after fame? Yeah, fame fades. That's just the ego, sweetheart. I can't tell you how many clients I've worked with who busted their tails to get to a certain place in their life only to lose it all because they were too busy trying to create a lifestyle that couldn't realistically be maintained. What are you looking for, Laci? You have to know that before you keep chasing your tail.”

“Honestly, I don't know what I'm looking for anymore. When it all started I just wanted to sing. But now, everything's all twisted up in what I think I need and what I want. I don't even know anymore.”

“That's half your problem right there. If what you're saying is all you ever wanted to do was sing, then do that. Just sing.”

“It's not that simple. It may have started out that way but now I have a payroll. I have people who depend on me. I can't just sing like I used to, without a thought about how much the venue is going to offer me. Somewhere along the line life got a lot more complicated. I mean, I would love to sing at a place like this. Smaller venues are so much more intimate and you can feel the vibe from the crowd, you can practically smell the sweat from the backs of their necks and it's awesome. I see the smiles on their faces, the joy in their eyes. That's what makes me happy. The bigger venues are...sometimes overwhelming. The lights are blinding and the noise is deafening. My body is vibrating for an hour after I leave the stage and even though I'm wearing a headset, I swear my ears have gone half-deaf from being onstage. I don't mean to complain, but...I don't know, I'm just tired.”

“No,” he disagreed. “Life has always been complicated, but your love of singing wasn't. You've got a gift, Laci. And it ain't going nowhere. Stop driving yourself into the ground for a prize you're not even sure you want to win.”

* * *

G
OTTA
LOVE
THAT
country wisdom. Since when had Kane become so smart? Sexy and wise? Damn, he's the whole package. If only it were as simple as he suggested. “I have to finish the tour. If I don't finish, I'll be liable for breach of contract and I could be sued for millions. There's a lot at stake. I wouldn't be able to live with myself if I screwed over the people who work so hard for me.”

“There has to be a happy middle. You just need to negotiate with your manager. Celebrity singers cancel tours all the time and sometimes for stupid, inane reasons. In fact, Rian worked for a rap singer who canceled his entire tour because he was bored with road life. Of course, his PR team spun it into a story about the guy suffering from vocal cord strain, but that wasn't the truth. Here's the thing, no one cares about the truth. No one. Particularly in the business you're in. I'm not saying you have to screw everyone over. I'm just saying you need to start standing up for yourself.”

She knew he was right. But it was hard to hear. Before her daddy died, he'd been the one to drive her career. And before he'd died, he passed the reins to Trent. Daddy had drilled into her head how lucky they were to land someone like Trent Blackstone to manage her career.

And Daddy had been right, Trent had made her a lot of money. But he was ruthless and sort of an unfeeling bastard at times. Simone hated him, and Audrey sure as hell wasn't sending him a Christmas card anytime soon. So why did she hold on to him? Was it all about the money? What if she had to sell her ranch in Ojai or downsize that huge house in Los Angeles? Would she care?

She thought of the Bradford ranch and how happy and homey it felt and she knew without having to say out loud that she wouldn't miss any of that crap. She could be just as happy in a small house as she could in a palatial mansion. More so, even. She'd only bought that huge house in LA because Trent had assured her that it looked good for entertaining. Yet, she hadn't actually done any entertaining in that house because she was too busy touring! So what was the point of having all this money if she never got to enjoy any of it? Was she supposed to stay on the hamster wheel until she died? Uncertainty kept her from knowing her own mind and she hated the feeling of teetering on a ledge blindfolded.

“Trent is a good man,” she said, the words leaving her mouth as if on autopilot because she didn't know how to defend the choices of her life lately. “He's just doing what's best for my career.”

“Screw your career. What about you?”

What did he just say?
She blinked, offended. “Screw my career? Are you serious? I worked my ass off to get where I am today and you want me to throw it away? What if I said that to you?”

“My career is not trying to kill me,” he pointed out. “You dropped from exhaustion at your last concert.”

“And you run the risk of being shot at in your career choice,” she countered, bristling. “I don't appreciate you tearing down my career choice just because it doesn't jibe with what you wanted for me.”

He did a double take. “What are you talking about? I
walked away
from you so that you could build your damn career. I stepped aside so I wouldn't ever be in your way. Don't give me that. However, I never imagined that I was stepping aside so that someone else could step in and run you into the ground.”

Why were they fighting yet again? For Pete's sake, was this their curse? To always bicker and pick at each other if they weren't in bed? They hadn't always been so adversarial. At one time, Kane had been her biggest supporter; she had to remember that. She took a moment to dial back her own anger so she could think reasonably again. “Look, I don't want to fight. I just don't like when you say things like that. I've made a lot of sacrifices and I don't like the idea of someone coming in and crapping all over my life's work.”

“I didn't crap on your work. I love when you sing,” he said, glowering for a long moment until he grudgingly admitted, “I didn't think it was possible to wear out a CD, but I think I did with your first album. I played it so much in private that Rian declared a moratorium on Laci McCall until your new album came out.”