“No? WhatdoI look like?”
There were adozen ways I could describe Melody, and every one of them would cross everyline of professionalism.
I chose my wordsvery carefully. “You look like you’re ready to take on the world.”
Melody’s smilemade me so fucking hot, roadies were gonna need to lay down yellow caution tapein between us.
* * *
Melody
This guy wasgoing to get under my skin if I wasn’t careful. When Harmony introduced him asGill’s replacement, all I could see was a big, bad biker. But Courtland Nashspoke like he played. Soulfully and without a hint of unnecessary bullshit.
“Thankseveryone. We’re good to go,” Vick called out to the band. “See you all atdinner.”
“Dinner?” Trainasked.
“Most nights, wehave a big dinner for the band and crew. We travel with a chef who specializesin making gourmet road food. Everyone’s welcome.”
“Wow, thatsounds great,” he said, but something in Train’s voice didn’t quite match upwith his words.
“Oh, and if youhave any guests just let Brandy know and she’ll arrange to have tickets forthem at will call.”
“Thanks,” hesaid. “My only family is the club, and I can’t imagine any of those guys hittingme up for tickets.”
“What about yourgirlfriend?” I asked, instantly mortified that I’d asked.
Train grinnedand shook his head. “Not at the moment.”
“I…I…justfigured. You know, because some of the other guys have girlfriends, and I justwanted to let you know that if youdidhave a girlfriend she could cometo the show. For free, I mean. If you had one, but you don’t. A girlfriend,that is.”
What in thename of the Grinch Who Stole Christmas was I rambling about?
“Still nogirlfriend.”
“Cool. Well, Iguess I’ll see you at dinner then.” I turned and left the stage. My face andneck burning with red hot embarrassment.
Why the helldid I ask him if he had a girlfriend?
I was set totake the stage in a matter of hours for my first tour in three years and thiswas where my dumb head was?
Jesus, I neededto get a grip.
* * *
Train
“Thanks,everyone! Goodnight,” Melody yelled, after her second encore. We were allstanding with her at the front of the stage and gave one last bow, thenfollowed her off to the left, the night having flashed by in an instant.
The show hadfelt like a fever dream. Most of the time I was running on pure adrenaline andmuscle memory. I was all at once hyper aware of the audience but alsocompletely isolated from them. Most of the time, I couldn’t even see theirfaces through the stage lights. Other times, the crowd seemed to move as onegiant organism. Performing at this level was going to take some getting usedto. Melody was right. This was nothing like being shot out of a cannon. It wasmore like being launched into outer space.
“Oh my god, youguys were amazing,” Melody crooned as the sound guy helped her remove herin-ear monitors and pack. “Thank you for making the first show perfect.”
She hugged allof us and then we continued back toward the dressing rooms. We all expectedMelody to head to her private dressing room, but she stuck close to me as Ifollowed the rest of the band toward the green room.
“You’re comingwith us?” I asked. I’d been advised that Melody would disappear to her dressingroom, change, then immediately head to her bus alone, or with Brandy, todecompress without the band and it was typical that we wouldn’t see her untilthe next day. So the fact she was walking down the hall with me now was notwhat I expected.
She smiled.“Yeah. Got a surprise for you.”
