Nick Of Time (Blue Ridge Romance 2) (17 page)

She laughed, but Cooper had actually used those words, and Tucker believed him.

“Why didn’t you call? Why didn’t you have Mitch call?” She wasn’t being demanding or accusatory. She simply wanted to know what had gone wrong with their communication.

“Mitch is running himself ragged. I have people pulling at me everywhere I go for interviews and photo shoots, and now they’re talking about a music video. I’m going to get an assistant soon. I hope it will make it easier. This is what happens when you’re trying to get your name out there. I guess I forgot this part. I only remembered the good parts.”

“People always remember what they want to.”

“So I’ve heard.” He kissed her.

“I really would have loved to have you next to me at that ball, but I understood why you couldn’t be there.”

“I understand why you didn’t tell anyone at work you were dating me.” He glanced over at her white coat, piled on the floor next to his jeans.

He wanted his life to be just like this.

But his phone rang again.

“What’s going on?” she asked. “I don’t think this misunderstanding with Collin is the only reason you’re here.” She was good. She was the only person, besides Cooper, who could read him so well.

“I have an opportunity, but I’m torn.”

“Do you want to talk about it?”

He kissed her softly.

“I don’t want to bother you with this. You didn’t sign up for any of this craziness.”

“It affects you, so it affects me.” She sounded so smart and so mature. He’d never dated anyone like her. She had some natural way of making him feel better. He found himself wanting to tell her his problems and letting her help fix them. Because they weren’t just his problems. As she’d pointed out, they affected her, too.

“Okay.” He pulled back so he was lying on his side, looking at her. “
Our
song hit number seventeen on the charts. I have another song at twenty-two.”

“Oh my God! Tucker, that’s amazing! Congratulations!” She beamed at him, genuinely happy for him.

“Thanks. They offered me my own tour. It’s ten cities, and I would be the main act. I’d have an opening act that would stay with me. We’d be doing a few songs together between sets.”

“Is it with Wilted Lilies?”

“No. It’s Lydia St. James. She and I would be doing a duet.” He watched her closely, waiting for her reaction. Her smile faded slightly. Would she tell him not to do it? He almost wanted her to tell him what to do so the decision would be out of his hands.

He wanted to be with Nichole.

He wanted to be onstage.

He couldn’t choose.

 

“Wow. That’s a great opportunity.” Nichole recognized the name Lydia St. James. The girl had long straight hair, as black as night, with purple streaks. She had a nose ring and lip piercings and tattoos. She dressed like she was ready to swing on a pole all night.

“It would be a lot of exposure. It would get my name out there,” he explained, though Nichole couldn’t imagine who didn’t know the name Tucker Matthews by now.

“That’s what you want, right?” She wasn’t in the entertainment business, but surely he needed to be out there.

“If I want to get back into this side of the business, yeah. It’s the best way to promote. If that’s what I want.”

“Why wouldn’t you want that?” She didn’t understand his hesitation. This was his dream. Why did it seem like he was unsure?

He took a breath and wet his lips with his tongue.

“It didn’t go well for me the last time. I cracked under the pressure. But I also didn’t have someone waiting for me,” he explained.

Her brows raised in surprise. He
was
actually considering their relationship when making this decision. Her heart swelled with love. She realized right then that she needed to support him, no matter what it cost her. She would miss him terribly, but it would be selfish to ask him to walk away from this opportunity so she wouldn’t be lonely. And it would be worse to use his self-doubt to her benefit.

“Tucker,” she said quietly, “this is your dream. It’s the second chance you hoped for. You didn’t want to be a one-hit wonder, and you’ve already accomplished that goal.” She kissed the corner of his mouth. “I’ll be right here when you’re done. And if gets to be too much, you can call me and we’ll talk. I’ll help you work it out however I can.”

“Will you still go with co-workers to balls?” he asked with a frown.

“Probably. But you’ll be okay with it because you’ll know I only love you. Just like I’ll be okay with all those women screaming your name because I’ll know I’m the only one screaming your name in your bed.”

He smiled and leaned closer to kiss her.

“You’d really be okay with this, Nic? I don’t want to do it if it means I’ll lose you. I’d pick you.”

She was touched to tears by his words. He wiped them from her cheeks and kissed her again.

“I think you should go for it, Tucker. You don’t need to pick. I’m in this with you.”

“I can’t believe I ever thought you were a snooty bitch,” he said as a big smile took over his entire face. “Thank you.”

“I didn’t do anything.” She laughed as he kissed down her neck.

“I’m back, baby! I’m back! It’s going to be different this time. I’m not going to take anything for granted and I’m not going to mess it up.”

“Good plan. You can start by answering your phone.” She pointed to it as it began ringing again.

With a quick kiss, he swiped his thumb over the screen and started the next phase of his career. Something in her stomach twisted in fear, but she pasted a smile on her face. Tucker needed this. He needed to prove to himself that he could do this without drugs and alcohol getting him through.

An hour later, she was dropping him off at the airport. He hadn’t stopped smiling since their talk.

“So you have my real phone number?” he asked.

“Yes.” She called it and made sure his phone rang, just in case.

“And you have Mitch’s number?”

“Yes.”

“I’ll get you the number for my assistant as soon as I hire one.”

“She’d better not be young and sexy,” Nichole said with a laugh.

“As if it would matter to me. I’m yours, Nic. One hundred percent.” He gave her one last kiss and got out of the car. “Call me whenever you can. We can still leave messages for each other if our schedules don’t line up. At least I can hear your voice.”

“I will.”

“I love you. Thank you for believing in me.”

“Anytime. I love you, too. Be safe.”

He turned once to wave before he walked into the airport, and then, with tears in her eyes, she drove home.

L
ydia St. James was a tiny little thing with a big attitude.

She had a quick smile and looked like trouble with dimples. One second with her and it was obvious she was used to getting anything she wanted from anyone with a penis.

Tucker’s defenses went on alert.

He felt sure he wasn’t in danger of messing up what he had with Nichole, but he was a guy, and for the most part he knew how stupid guys were.

Plus, he was really missing Nic.

True to their promises at the airport, they called each other frequently over the next few weeks as the tour was being set up. When he got out on the road and started preforming, he was happy to have a message waiting when he got offstage.

He would return the message late that night or early in the morning, while she was sleeping.

But by his fourth show, he was desperate to hear her real voice.

He was just getting ready to start the next song when his phone vibrated in his pocket.

“Oh, wait!” he said into the mic, and stopped playing so he could pull out his phone. “Hey, everyone! Quiet down for a second. It’s my girlfriend!” He held up the phone before answering it on speaker, the crowd quieting. “Hey, baby.”

“Tucker? I thought you were playing San Diego. I was going to leave a message,” she said in happy surprise.

“I am playing San Diego. Everyone, say hi to Nichole,” he instructed his fans, waving his hand.

“Hi, Nichole!” the crowd chorused.

“Oh my God! You answered your phone while you’re on stage? Are you crazy?” Tucker was holding the phone close to the mic so everyone laughed at her concern.

“They all wanted to meet the girl who stole my heart.” The crowd roared. “So, what were you going to say in your message?” he prompted with a grin.

“Nothing. Nothing at all.”

“Come on. Tell me. I want to hear it.” He covered the phone and said, “She loves me” to the crowd, and they went crazy.

“I wanted to say I love you,” she gave in with a little laugh.

“Aww. I love you, too, baby.” He did. He didn’t care if he sounded whipped. He loved her and missed her and wanted to walk off the stage and fly back to Virginia that second to see her.

“I was talking to the fans in San Diego, not you,” she said, making the crowd go nuts as he chuckled at her joke. He quickly took her off speaker and held the phone to his ear.

“I love you, Nic. I’m having the best time. I wouldn’t be here without you. Thank you.”

“You did this, Tucker. Enjoy it.”

“I’ll talk to you tomorrow,” he promised.

“Okay. Put me back on so I can say good-bye.” With a laugh, he held the phone up to the mic again. “She has to go to bed. She’s a doctor!” There were a bunch of hoots in the crowd, probably other doctors.

“Have a great time, everyone!” Nic called. “I wish I could be there with you right now! Give lots of love to my guy for me!” The crowd went crazy.

She’d hung up, so he tucked the phone back in his pocket and started the song again, feeling like a man who had everything he could ever want.

 

One of the things he wanted was an assistant, and per Tucker’s instructions, Mitch hired a man. Well, he looked more like a boy, though he had finished college the year before with a degree in something or other.

Tucker was just pleased the kid, Jason, could use a phone,
and
Tucker wouldn’t be rumored to be having an affair with him.

Although the same
couldn’t
be said of Jason and Lydia.

Every time he needed Jason, he had to practically peel him off his opening act. She treated him like a cute little puppy, using him to fetch her things.

Tucker wanted to make fun of him, but he could remember a few women who had treated him the same way when he was younger, and he hadn’t minded one bit.

At least with Lydia’s attention focused on Jason, Tucker didn’t have to worry about her. Not that he had time to worry about much of anything.

The tour had picked up more shows and Tucker was feeling the burn. Some nights he didn’t even know what city he was in. He had to ask before he went out onstage.

Having lost another phone, he hadn’t gotten any messages from Nichole in two days.

“Have you heard from Nichole?” he asked Jason as they walked backstage before his show.

“Nope.”

“Really?” That surprised him. She knew how he was with his phones and usually called Mitch or Jason if she couldn’t get a hold of him.

“Nothing. Sorry.”

“Can you get me a phone so I can call her and check in?”

“Sure. Here’s mine.” Jason offered his phone with a smile.

Tucker pulled Nichole up on his contacts list and waited for her to pick up. He stepped away from Jason for some privacy. He really wanted to talk to her. Just to say hi and tell her he was thinking about her.

It went to voice mail.

“Hey, baby. I’m sorry I missed you. I’m about to go out for a show, but I wanted to talk to you a minute. I love you. I miss you. I’m having one of those moments where I’m not sure if I made the right choice. There’s a lot of stress and crap, and I just wish I could hold you.” He took a breath and swallowed. “Sorry to be a whiner.” He chuckled. “I just miss you is all. I guess I’d better get going. I lost my phone, but I’ll get a new one. Call me at this number when you get a chance. Love you. ’Bye.”

He walked back to Jason and gave him the phone.

“Let me know if she calls back. I’d like to talk to her.”

“Sure thing.”

“Send her some flowers for me. Tell her I love her.”

“Can do.” Jason gave Tucker a salute and walked away.

He could hear Lydia ramping the crowd up for his entrance, so he went to the edge of the stage and waited. He slid his guitar over his head and took a deep breath, enjoying the moment.

It was his favorite part, getting ready to walk out onstage. It didn’t seem to matter if he was playing in a crowded arena or a small bar, he loved that moment. He could almost feel the anticipation radiating from the crowd. Waiting for him. He thought of how they had spent their hard-earned money on a ticket to hear him play, and he wanted to make sure they didn’t regret one cent.

“Come on, Omaha! Let’s put those hands together and try to get Tucker to come out here and do our song!” she said. He winced at the way she said
our song
. It wasn’t
their
song. It was his and Nichole’s song. He would mention it to her later.

The crowd was amped up. This was why he loved performing. It was like a thousand people reaching out to him with their voices. Giving him a kind of power over them for the night.

“Omaha!” he yelled, and the crowd roared so loud he could feel it in his chest. The band started playing the song as he walked out to the second microphone and sang the first line.

Lydia smiled over at him and held her hand out as if putting him on display. Then she sang her part, moving her hips seductively. He didn’t like that either. The song wasn’t about sex. It was about a deeper connection with someone. But every time she sang the words, “ ‘I want you, you’re all I’ll ever need,’” she looked over at him and clenched her hair like she was close to orgasm.

The fans seemed to be eating it up, so he smiled and finished the song.

“Thank you! Please give a round of applause to Lydia St. James!” he said, gesturing to her before they went into another song.

To his surprise, she had taken the opportunity to move over to his mic. There was hardly any room, so she crowded up against his back, rubbing him like he was a stripper pole.

It felt wrong. Very wrong.

Unfortunately, there was no way to make her stop without making a scene.

She wound her arms around his stomach and writhed against him while she sang. It was as if they were having sex in front of everyone while wearing their clothes.

Well, he was wearing clothes. She was practically wearing lingerie.

Damn it.

He saw the flashes of light from camera phones all around the crowd. Photos of him and Lydia would be posted everywhere in minutes. What would Nichole think? He’d never had to worry about this issue before. He hadn’t had a girlfriend before. He would just pick someone out of the crowd for the evening. Now his reputation mattered.

Somehow, he made it through the song. She took a bow that showed him exactly what was going on under her short skirt, which was not panties. Holy hell! With a kiss on his cheek and a wave, she left the stage, her band following behind her.

Tucker’s band came out, and he finished the concert without seeing anyone else’s female parts.

When he walked out to his tour bus, he asked Jason to have Mitch come see him.

“Nice set, Tuck!” Lydia called. “You want to come over for a drink?” She pointed to her own tour bus, parked behind his. He picked up the pace and stepped up to open his door.

“No, thanks. Not tonight. I have some phone calls to make.” To his girlfriend, so he could tell her what happened, and not feel like he’d cheated on her. “Give me your phone,” he asked Jason.

“Sorry, man. It’s dead.” Jason winced.

“Get me a phone. And Mitch. And hurry.”

“Got it.” Jason nodded and ran off as Tucker stepped into his home away from home.

Tucker went to take a shower. He was soaked with sweat from the show. The lights on the stage had felt like standing in Death Valley at noon. Or so he imagined.

He came out expecting Mitch to be waiting, but what he found was Lydia. In his bed. Naked.

“What the hell?” he said, pulling his towel tighter around his waist.

“We were hot tonight onstage,” she said with an inviting smile. “I could tell you wanted to take it further even though we were in front of everyone.”

“No. That’s not what I wanted. You need to leave. I have a girlfriend.”

“You know girlfriends don’t keep in this industry.” She laughed, and he couldn’t help but liken it to the evil witch’s laugh in
Snow White
.

“Some do.”

“I doubt it.” She stood up very slowly and picked up her nightie as Mitch stepped into the trailer.

“Uh, Jason said you wanted to see me.” He looked between Tucker and Lydia as she got dressed very slowly, not caring at all that his agent was now in the room. “Do you want me to leave?” Mitch seemed rather confused.

“No!” Tucker nearly shouted. “Stay right here. Lydia is leaving. Now.” He added that last part hoping it would make her hurry, but it didn’t. She took her time tying up the strings that held her top together.

Then she sauntered past them, wiggling her tiny ass. She kissed her index finger and tried to place it on Tucker’s lips, but he pulled away. She did the same thing to Mitch, who seemed to be stuck in her spell.

“What was that?” Mitch asked after the door was closed. “Are you and Nichole—”

“Me and Nichole are just fine. Nothing happened. I came out of the shower and there she was. Naked.”

“I saw that part.” He grinned appreciatively.

“I didn’t ask her to come here. Nothing happened,” Tucker repeated.

“Okay. You keep saying that.” Mitch chuckled.

“Shit!” He ran his hands through his hair. If his own agent didn’t believe him, what chance did he have that anyone else would? “What if Nichole hears about this? No way she’s ever going to believe nothing happened. Guys say nothing happened all the time when shit does happen.”

“How is Nichole going to find out?” Mitch asked, still smiling like he knew a secret.

“I’m going to tell her. Give me your phone.”

“I wouldn’t do that.” He pulled his phone away. “At least not over the phone.”

“Then get me a flight out to see her.”

“No. You know you have another show tomorrow, and there will be interviews before that. There’s no time. If you miss a show, do you know what the tour manager is going to do to you?”

“Rex will have to get over it.”

“Rex will lose over a million dollars if you miss a gig. I don’t think he’s going to get over it.”

“What am I going to do?” Tucker felt helpless. Normally, when he felt helpless, a drink fixed it.

“Let me fly her in for a show. You’d have some time with her before and after.”

“Okay. Thanks.” Tucker calmed down slightly. “I don’t like the way Lydia dances against me during our songs together. Can you do something about that?”

“The crowd seemed to like it. The public likes the idea of a romance or a scandal between the two of you.”

“I don’t want anyone to have that idea, so if you don’t want me to push her off me the next show, you’d better find a way to get her to back off.”

“We could give her Jason as a play toy. She seems to like him.”

“He’s supposed to be my assistant. Where is the goddamned phone I asked for?” He looked around his bus and shook his head. “Isn’t this the twenty-first century? Why is it so fucking hard to find a phone?”

 

“Why so blue?” Roslyn asked as Nichole stirred the tiny straw in her drink.

“I haven’t been able to speak to Tucker in over a week. We keep missing each other.”

“How is that?”

“He’s busy. He’s usually doing sound checks and interviews when I get off work and then going onstage all night. When he’s done, I’m in bed. In the morning he’s sleeping in. Our schedules conflict.”

“That sucks,” Lexi said with a sympathetic frown.

“Plus he’s on tour with Lydia St. James, who is like sex on a stick without the stick.” Nichole knew she shouldn’t let it bother her, but come on . . . The girl was hot. Not to mention available and, from the looks of the pictures she’d seen from the concert the night before . . . eager.

“Wow.”

“Yeah. I know I shouldn’t be worried. It’s stupid. Tucker said he only wanted me. I trust him. I know I can. But she’s so . . .”