"So don't be bashful. We have a lot to celebrate. And we still have a lot of funds to raise. Put your hands together and let's get this party started."
She began to clap and the crowd was in unison with her. I looked around at the spell she had cast over these people. They were happy. They fucking loved her.
And that's when I realized there was a part about the football glitz I loved. The flood of adrenaline. The fans chanting my name. The cheerleaders screaming on the sidelines. It was fucking amazing. The rush of football. It was everything to me. And for a split second, Lexi Wilde looked at me and I felt it. I felt that same rush.
And I couldn't move. I couldn't turn away. The gentle sway of her hips and the way her eyes lit every time she turned toward my end of the stage captured my full attention. I was stuck. Stuck listening to something angelic in her voice. Stuck waiting for the next song to play.
I followed her legs and those sexy boots as she moved from one end of the small stage to the other. There was something fascinating about Lexi Wilde and I had to figure out what it was. Why I couldn't turn away. Why I stared. Why I suddenly picked up my phone and needed to cancel my car.
6
Alexa
"Babe, that was beautiful. You were beautiful." Jake met me at the back of the stage, handing me a bottle of water, and planted a kiss on my cheek. He looked almost as flush as I was.
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."
"Since when do you decide who my fans are? I thought any press was good press?"
"Babe, we both know there is such a thing as bad press and Luke Canton is the definition of it. He's the equivalent of a morally deprived man whore. I don't want you within a five-mile radius of him. Understand?"
I smirked. "Guess that's going to be pretty hard since we're under the same roof at the same charity event." I smiled sweetly. "For the children."
"I didn't know he was going to be here, or I would have prepared for the optics. Must have been a last minute addition to the guest list." He stopped long enough to suck in a breath. "He's off limits, Lex. Off limits."
Before he could berate me any further, I stepped quickly into the room where the fans were waiting for autographs. For this event, there was a charitable contribution expected, except from the children. I'd never accept a penny from them. They were the reason I was here. One hundred percent of the proceeds from tonight's concert and all of my merchandise would be donated to the new wing of the hospital.
This hospital was going to become the gold standard for what children's medical care should look like. There were aquariums in the lobbies. Rooms full of toys. There was an art studio and even a music lounge for kids to kick back in gaming chairs and listen to music.
No one wanted to bring their child here, but if they did, they knew they were getting the best care in the best environment.
I took my place behind the long table and took a sip of water. There were a dozen different colored markers scattered and a pile of pictures from the cover of my latest album. I was lying in a field of wildflowers. The sun illuminated the blond streaks in my hair, and my guitar was in the grass next to me. I snickered every time I had to sign that picture. It was the day I had a full-blown allergy attack and Helena had to redo my makeup at least ten times. All of it was smoke and mirrors. My entire career was like that cover.
Jake left me to greet the fans. "We'll talk about this on the ride back to the hotel. Stay away from him."
"Yes, Dad, and did you want to give me a curfew too?" I grinned sweetly.
I reached for the first picture. "Hi." I smiled at the woman in front of me, dressed in a silver glittery gown. She looked like she could be one of the hospital's big donors. I wanted to be extra sweet in case it added to her generosity tonight.
"Who should I make it out to?"
"Betty, please."
"All right, Betty." I scribbled my usual wishes for love and music and signed my name.
"It was a beautiful concert," she gushed. "Just beautiful."
"Thank you. I'm glad you could be here for the event." I handed her the glossy photo before the next fan moved forward in line.
I don't know how many people passed through. I didn't keep count of the tuxedos or cocktail dresses snaking through the line. I reminded myself I was raising thousands of dollars. My wrist was starting to ache. I had barely glanced up when I heard a deep voice. A solid, strong hand slid my album cover in front of me.