I twisted the cap and took a few sips. It wasn’t one of my full-blown concerts, but it was an entire set and I could already feel my voice starting to crack. He had pushed me too hard to do the extra meet and greet, and added an interview with the Austin Times.
“Thanks.” I held the bottle against my chest. It started to soak through my white shirt.
“The press is going crazy. You should see the social media accounts. They are blowing up. I can’t keep up with all of them.”
I glared at him. “Jake, these are sick kids. I’m not trying to exploit that.”
“No, you leave that part to me.”
He was like an evil genius I couldn’t control. I didn’t know when the switch had occurred for him. There was a time when he was a friend, a confidant even, but now he was hungry to be at the top. And I was his only way to stay there. He didn’t care if that meant using sick children for photo ops, or offering a free concert for national publicity. He was starving for every headline I could capture.
“What time do we leave tomorrow?” I asked. I rarely knew my schedule ahead of time, but I had been promised a few days home in Nashville. I had visions of sleeping in my own bed.
He steered me toward the side of the stage where we could talk without fan interruptions. “First, we have more photo ops. The mayor wants a picture.”
“Of course she does.”
“And before we take off in the afternoon I have you scheduled to stop by as many of the kids’ rooms as possible. Take your guitar and play a few of their favorites. They’ll want autographs. Meet a few of the doctors. You know the drill, babe.”
“That I don’t have a problem with.” I was about to lay into him about all of the other things he expected of me when my back slammed into something as solid as a wall, but it had arms and a chest.
I turned slowly and looked up. I knew that chiseled face and grin. I had seen those bedroom eyes pop up more than once in the headlines. What was Luke Canton doing here? This was definitely not his kind of scene.
“Sorry,” I eked.
“No, don’t apologize. I was coming back stage to see you. Good show.”
I stared at his massive frame. “You came to see me? You like my music?”
He shoved his hands in his pockets. “I liked it tonight.”
I laughed. “I guess I’ll take that. I just don’t see you as the country fan boy type.” The Warriors’ quarterback was notorious for partying, and I didn’t think any of my songs would make it on to his playlist.
That made him chuckle. “I have a lot of different tastes.”
Jake grabbed me by the shoulders and whispered in my ear. “We need to keep moving, Lex.”
Luke was in front of me, and he didn’t look like he had any intention of stepping out of the way.
“I was hoping we could talk.” His voice was low. “I like what you did up there.”
There was a slight shiver running through my heated exhausted body.
“I have a meet and greet and then I’m free.” I smiled. I could feel the anger rising off of Jake’s neck behind me. “You sticking around that long?” I asked.
“I think I could manage.” Good Lord his smile was having a sinful effect on me.
“Not tonight, you’re not,” Jake butted in. “You’re booked, Lex. Sorry, Mr. Canton. We can certainly put a fan pack in the mail for you. Would you say you’re a size XL?”
I spun around to face my dick of a manager. Jake had sized up the media fallout of this situation in half a second. He didn’t want me spotted with Austin’s most infamous playboy. He didn’t want me speaking to him, have a picture taken with him, and he especially did not want me spending any one-on-one time with him. Three years with Jake had taught me how to predict the way his manipulative mind worked. The panic was written in his eyes. The cameras were around the corner, and if I stepped into view with Luke things could turn into a publicity nightmare for Jake.
I suddenly realized the possibilities Luke Canton presented. I held my tongue, and instead of lashing out at Jake I turned my smile to the tall quarterback. I could have a little fun, and prove a point.
“Sorry my manager is a little rude.” I eyed Jake to put him in his place. “Like I said, I’m free after the meet and greet.”
“Great, I’ll see you then.” His eyes lit with promise and I couldn’t help the slight flutter it created.
I brushed past him with Jake’s ire on my neck, but I didn’t care.
As soon as we were out of Luke’s earshot, Jake hissed, “What in the hell are you thinking? You can’t be seen with him. Not even here.”