Dean pulled out the chair, but it jerked to a stop when Andrew’s foot looped behind the leg. The bass player crossed his arms. “You’ll need to answer some questions first.”
“Sure.” Dean glanced down at the chair, and the tension slipped away as Andrew pulled his foot back. He sat down and spread his hands wide. “What do you want to know?”
“Liana hired you?”
He nodded. Close enough to the truth.
Jackie cleared her throat, and West turned pink. Dean slid her a quick look before returning his even gaze to the two younger men. And they were younger. Both in their twenties. Both probably quite emotionally attached to Liana, either having crushed on her or thought of her as their sister.
And in walked this guy they don’t know, and he’s got his hands on their boss, who probably doesn’t share a lot with them…
They were protecting her and they had no idea what the threat was. That was noble. Dean could get behind that. Jackie knew more, clearly. He gave her a respectful nod, and she returned it.
“I’m not looking to get in anyone’s way, and nobody on this bus has anything to worry about. I’m not spying on anyone, you know?” He gestured toward Liana’s room. “I’ve got her back when she’s out in the bigger world. That’s all.”
“Jackie says you’re Canadian.”
“I am.”
“You like beer?”
He grinned. “I do. Not when I’m on duty, but yeah, I’m sure there’s a time or two when we’ll get a chance to drink to your boss.”
“You on duty now?”
“Fraid so.” He laughed at the legitimately disappointed look on West’s face.
Andrew cackled at his band mate. “None of us drink much. Poor West isn’t quite enough of a loser to do it on his own.”
Dean knew that Jackie was sober. Liana hadn’t told him that Andrew didn’t drink, and he made a mental note to find out more about that. “I do play cards, though, if anyone wanted to take my money.”
West groaned again, this time with an edge of excitement in his voice. “Shit. She told you.”
“She did.”
“She warn you that we’re good?”
“Yep.”
“Then put your money where your mouth is. Twenty dollar buy-in.”
He got out his wallet as Jackie called for Dwayne to join them, and just like that, the inquisition was over before it really got rolling.
He won enough hands to earn respect, and lost more because he wasn’t stupid.
— —
The dress rehearsalwent off without a hitch, and they went back to the hotel for the night. Liana insisted Dean didn’t need to walk her to her room, and he insisted he did, but when they got there, she found herself not wanting to say goodnight just yet.
“Would you like to come in and debrief?”
He hesitated just long enough for her to worry that maybe it had sounded like an invitation for more than she’d intended, but then he nodded.
“You looked confident tonight,” he started, settling into the chair at the far end of the room. “It feel okay, being on stage?”
She nodded as she sat on the bed and unzipped her boots. Wiggling her toes, she set them next to her suitcase which had appeared thanks to the magic of her crew. She grabbed her purse and pulled out her phone, holding up a finger to pause Dean’s next question. “Sorry, I just gotta send a quick thank you note to the roadies.”
Hey guys!
