“Yes, you are,”Harmony countered.
“I’m paying fora very expensive hotel suite, sissy. LiLi would find that wasteful.”
Harmony grinned.“We won’t tell her, then.”
“How about Ihead to the hotel tonight, then I’ll come and stay here with all of youtomorrow?”
“Can you stayfor a year?” my nephew, Ares, begged.
“I’m not sureabout that, bud,” I said, hugging him. “But I’ll stay as long as I can, okay?”
“Yes,” hehissed, pumping his fist in the air.
“Help with yourauntie’s bags, please,” Harmony said. “Where’s Daddy?”
“In his officewith Train.”
“Ah,” Harmonymused.
“What’s atrain?” I asked, following Harmony inside.
She grinned overher shoulder. “The cavalry.”
“What?”
“Kids, takeMelody’s stuff up to the guest room, okay?”
“Sure thing,Mom,” Skyler said as Harmony took my hand and led me down the hall.
“No tour of thenew house?” I breathed out.
“After,” Harmonysaid, stopping outside a door and knocking.
She opened thedoor to Jaxon’s office and pushed me gently through before following me. Jaxonwas at his computer and sitting next to him was quite possibly the best-lookingman I’d ever seen. He was a big man, and even sitting down, I could tell he wastall. Taller than Jaxon who was over six-feet. He had dark red hair, and abeard I wanted to touch, and he appeared to have a good forty pounds of muscleon my brother-in-law. Judging by his attire, I deduced he was a member of theDogs of Fire, a motorcycle club that Lyric’s husband belonged to in Savannah,and Jaxon was friendly with here in Portland. In fact, two of Jaxon’s brotherswere members of the Portland chapter here and they were both pretty phenomenalhumans, as were their wives.
Both men werewearing headphones and I could see they were watching the live DVD, filmed onmy last tour. Jaxon, who was also a musician, had an acoustic guitar on hislap.
“What’s goingon?” I asked.
Both men musthave noticed movement, because they looked up at us, and Jaxon smiled, removinghis headphones. “Hey, Melody.”
“Hey yourself.”I glanced at his friend. “Who’s this?”
The man inquestion slid off his headphones and stood up. “I’m Train.”
“Nice to meetyou, Train. I’m…well…her,” I said pointing to the computer screen.
Train smiledwide, catching me a little off guard. For a man with such an imposing exterior,he radiated warmth.
“You must be theextra security Harmony was telling me about,” I said. “You certainlylook…physically qualified for the job.”
“Well, I…” Trainsaid, looking to Harmony.
“Train is yournew guitarist,” she said.
“What the fucknow?” I whispered.
“I had Kennysend Train soundboard recordings from the rehearsals and he’s been learningGill’s parts. He’s also working on some of the older songs with Jaxon, so he’llbe set to go by showtime,” Harmony said.
