He hadn’t felt like he’d made it irrationally or impulsively. Morris had approached him the moment he’d returned from Belle’s meet-and-greet in Nashville. He’d said several of his contacts had told him how amazing the meet-and-greet was and how much they enjoyed meeting Adam specifically.
He’d outlined his desire to retire, be a full-time dad so he didn’t miss his kids growing up, and Morris had offered Adam a contract with Country Quad as their manager. Everyone had already signed off on it, even Harry’s daddy, though they hadn’t told anyone.
It was a million dollars a year to live in small-town Wyoming and manage a retired band of four country music stars.
A million dollars.
Adam had had a few interviews in Nashville, only one of which had produced a job offer from an up-and-coming female country music star who’d landed a three-album deal. It would have been like working with Harry from the beginning, but she was spoiled and demanding, and Adam had not truly enjoyed their first interaction.
But he needed a job.
Rather, he needed something to do. Because in truth, Harry had paid him very well, as had some of his previous celebrity clients, and Adam had plenty of money in the bank. He simply wasn’t an idle man. He wouldn’t know what to do with himself if all twenty-four of his hours every day truly belonged to him.
“All right,” Morris bellowed into the microphone. “Everyone settle down.”
Luke said, “Dude, you’re holding a mic. You don’t need to yell.”
That caused some in the crowd to laugh, and Adam told himself he better be happy. He better put on his professional celebrity skin. He better be ready to shake hands and hug and give explanations.
He paused at the end of the island where he could see Morris and the rest of Country Quad.
“Right, right,” Morris said. “Sorry, but everyone just keeps talking.”
“That’s why you have the mic.” Tex grinned out to everyone.
Morris ignored him and kept going. “We wanted to make a quick announcement. First, thank you so much for coming to help Leigh and I move today. We’ve ordered food from our favorite place, Pork and Beans. It’ll be here in half an hour, so make sure you stick around long enough to get fed. Shawn’s going to set up a tent out in the driveway, since it’s kind of chaotic in the house.”
“Yes, thank you!” Leigh yelled without a mic, and plenty of people heard her.
Morris grinned down the line of his brothers. “Country Quad is retired, but I didn’t retire with them. I’ve still been working on managing their appearances, their requests, and their social media. They still get paid all the time. Someone has to manage that, and there’s plenty that goes on residually even after someone retires.” He paused and took a big breath, his dark eyes taking on a heaviness they hadn’t had a moment ago.
“So they need a new band manager, because I’m going to retire at the end of the year.”
Murmurs moved through the Young family crowd, and they definitely constituteda crowd. People started to chatter over each other, and Morris said, “Don’t make me yell into this thing again,” in kind of a yell.
Adam grinned at him and folded his arms.
“So, the five of us are all real happy to say we’ve brought on Adam Harmon as the new band manager for Country Quad.”
The words sat there, echoing through the house from the amplification of the microphone.
Then someone shrieked, several people gasped, and Harry himself said, “You have got to be kidding me,” in a voice definitely loud enough for everyone to hear without a mic.
“Come on up, Adam,” Morris said, and Adam moved through the crowd of teens, adults, and children until he stood next to Morris. He smiled out at everyone and raised his hand as if they didn’t know who he was. Of course they did.
“Good, yeah,” Morris said, “Harry, make yourself useful and take our picture so we can announce our staffing change on our social media.” Adam stood next to Morris with Tex and Trace pressing in on his right side and Otis and Luke pressing in on his left.
Morris lowered the mic, and Harry’s wasn’t the only camera held high taking pictures. Adam only looked at his, though, and when he lowered it, he met his best friend’s eyes. Harry didn’t seem like he’d commit murder in the next ten seconds, and Adam’s gaze automatically fell to those who had been close to him, Belle and then Joey.
Now,shedefinitely looked like she was about to go postal and commit some sort of homicide here in this room.
She glared back at him, her arms folded, and one skinny hip cocked out, and he knew then that she wasn’t going to commit homicide. She wanted to commit Adam-icide. She scoffed loud enough for him to hear, then turned and stomped outof the house.
Adam watched her go, noting that he wasn’t the only one. In fact, her daddy said, “What’s wrong with Joey?” which sent a tremor of fear right down to his heels that then rebounded up to the top of his head.
Then he got swarmed by other members of the Young family congratulating him, and he came face-to-face with Harry, who said, “You dirty dog. You did not say a word,” before he grabbed onto him and hauled him into a hug. As he clapped him on the back, he said, “I’m so glad you get to stay in Coral Canyon.”
Adam was too, or he had been until he’d seen that murderous look on Joey’s face. He should just leave well enough alone. But he knew he wouldn’t. He’d have to find her and ask her why him being the manager of Country Quad had upset her so much.
