She wasn’t. She’d been the one who always encouraged him—went to every one of his shows, even if it meant studying at a corner table because she had a test the next day. Rowan had convinced him to sign with Wild West Records. He wouldn’t be where he was without her.
Brett shrugged his shoulders again. “Then where is she?”
“She’s in Denver, as a matter of fact,” Marla said. “We sent her tickets to the concert.”
“You did?” Luke asked.
“That’s the point of the friends and family list—it’s a list of people you allow direct access to you, which also includes sending them tickets to the concert if the venue is within one-hundred miles of where they are. This is the third set of tickets we’ve sent her.”
“Really?” Rowan had been to his concerts?
Marla gave him what he liked to refer to as herhow do you not know this?look. At least it wasn’t theyou’re a dumbasslook Brett normally got.
“I don’t remember ever filling out a friends and family list,” Luke explained.
“You probably did it when you signed with Wild West Records and never updated it. Your manager should have done that before the beginning of the tour.” She pursed her lips and rolled her eyes in Brett’s direction. “I can take her off the list.”
“No!” Luke jerked in his chair. “No, you can leave her on the list.”
The corners of her eyes squinted as she assessed him. “It’s too late now anyway, since the tickets have already been delivered. I’ll make sure you review the list before your next tour. In the meantime, is there anyone else you’d like to take to the gala?”
“What’s the charity?”
“Childhood literacy. One of the emcees is Laney Faith—she’s an up-and-coming singer and she’s heavily involved in the charity. She’s also in need of a date,” Marla said. “She’s got a clean, wholesome image so she’d do wonders for yours.”
“Or people will think Luke dragged her over to the dark side.” Brett waggled his eyebrows at his insinuation.
She shot him another scathing look. “Her image is bulletproof.”
Funny thing was, Luke wasn’t a party boy. He hardly even drank—even beer. When he wasn’t on tour, he was usually holed up in the studio or his house in Nashville. He didn’t hit the club or party scene, so he wasn’t sure where the bad boy, party image had come from. Probably something Bobby John had cooked up. He’d been old school and thought any publicity was good publicity.
He lifted the baseball cap on his head, then settled it back in place. “I’ll ask my sister. She’s a teacher, so I know it’s something she’d support. And she’d love the chance to get dressed up.”
Marla stuck the stylus into her hair, twisted up on her head. “That’s perfect actually. It will demonstrate to your fans that family is important and that you take the issues seriously. I’ll prepare a couple of soundbites for you. If your sister’s the nervous type, I can do a couple for her as well.
“I’m lining up a couple of big talk show interviews for when you come home from visiting your family and before you go back in the studio—we’ll have time to figure out the rest of it and figure out a strategy.”
“Yeah, sure. Whatever you think needs to be done. You’re the PR person.”
“Let me know when you talk to your sister and I’ll send her all the details, including setting her up for a dress fitting and hair and makeup.” Marla stood and left in one smooth motion.
Brett wiggled his eyebrows at Luke again as if they were in on the same joke. Luke ignored his poor attempts at humor, picked up his plate, and dropped it in the large trash can on his way out the door.
He squinted as the bright sunlight hit him and he pulled his sunglasses out of the back of his collar. Marla had stopped to talk to someone a few feet away from the door and he called out to her.
“What’s wrong? Did you change your mind about taking your sister?” she asked.
He shook his head. “No, it’s not about that. I was wondering if you had Rowan’s phone number.”
“Let me see.” She worked her magic with her stylus and tablet. “There’s a number with a Tennessee area code. I sent it to your email.”
His phone was on the bus. “Thanks, Marla. Not just for that, but for everything you do for me. I know I don’t say it enough, but you’re one of the few people who manages to keep me on track.”
She smiled softly. “You’re welcome, Luke. Good luck with your call.”
“Thanks.” He half waved and strode toward his bus while his stomach turned over.
He didn’t think it was the chicken this time.
