Noel’s words hung heavy in the air and silence descended on the room. Until everyone began talking at once.
“That’s not even—”
“I don’t see how that will—”
“Maybe we should just—”
“Well then, I see you all have some things to discuss. Feel free to stay in here as long as necessary until these contracts are signed.” With that, Noel Davies stood, slid two stacks of paper to each side of the table, and left. Trace’s hatred for the smug bastard intensified.
Once the door closed, he took a deep breath and met the gorgeous blues of a girl he knew would wreck him. In more ways than one.
“What do you think, Kylie Lou? Can we do this?”
He could hear the voice of Gretchen Gibson in his head.
No. You can’t handle this. You aren’t strong enough and she’s not worth your sobriety. You’ll only be repeating the same mistakes.
Kylie was out of reaching distance, but it didn’t stop him from feeling the connection. It was like watching a movie playing in her eyes as mutual memories flickered between them. The fights. The laughter. The lovemaking. The goodbye.
And when it ended, pure, unadulterated fear slipped past the bravado and she was as exposed to him as the first time they’d slept together.
A year ago, a look like that would have brought him to his knees. Even now, if they’d been alone, he would’ve dropped down and begged for forgiveness, pleaded once more for the right to kiss her, to hold her.
But as it was, they weren’t alone. And this was business. Kylie cleared her throat and broke their stare. Turning to her manager, she nodded.
The man nodded back and then at Maude. Suddenly, Trace had the feeling it wasn’t Kylie who was being ambushed at all.
“So here’s what we have,” Maude began. “Kylie is open to this possibility. Contingent upon some specifications, she’s willing to co-headline on this tour.”
Trace felt his eyes widen. So she had just been playing reluctant for Davies? Or was Maude playing everyone? He wasn’t sure, but he damn sure wasn’t up for being played.
He stared at Kylie, but she kept her gaze focused out the window. He wondered what Nashville looked like through her eyes now.
“Let’s hear these specifications. I might have a few of my own.”
That got her attention. He leaned back in his chair as she turned toward him.
“One,” Maude began, “she wants it in the contract that there is to be no drinking on your part. And if you’re so much as one minute late to a soundcheck or a show, she walks.”
He cocked a brow and tried to pretend it didn’t sting that she still didn’t trust him. Not that he’d done much to deserve her trust. But he could work on that.
“Two,” Maude continued, “no fake promos about your relationship or lack thereof, and you are to have separate living spaces of equal size on the bus. And in any hotels you stay in during the tour.”
Tilting his head, he continued to listen as their agent discussed the rest of Kylie’s conditions. He did his best to put off an air of boredom. As if these things were inconsequential to him. But in reality? Separate living spaces or no, this was not something he was sure he could handle.
He’d been depending on her to shut this whole crazy thing down. Even if she agreed to tour with him, she was a big damn deal these days. Sharing a bus was the biggest fake promo there was.
It said to the world that they were practically living together. Which they would be. Sharing a bus with her, knowing deep down that what he felt for her was bound to burst through the surface any second, might be the death of him. He was going to have to risk hurting her feelings and saying so in a room full of people.
But when she stood and he got a glimpse of her tight little body in that tiny dress, those smooth, tan legs that he’d once had wrapped around his waist while buried so deep inside of her he couldn’t remember his own name, all he could think was, What a way to go.
“DON’T YOU think I know that?” Kylie said into the phone wedged against her ear as she balanced precariously on one foot while trying to put a boot on.
“It’s just, it’s him, you know? And after everything the two of you have been through…after how bad things ended last year, I’m not sure this is the best idea. For either of you.”
“Lu, I’m aware of this. Believe me. But he agreed to all of my conditions, and the truth is, I think this tour is what my fans want. So even though it might be hell getting through it, I owe it to them. Without them, I’d still be waitressing at The Rum Room.”
She heard her friend huff out a breath. “Kylie—”