Chapter 4
“You want me to what?” Tana stared at Bill as the bus pulled out for Philly.
“You heard me. We think it’s a great idea. Your career will skyrocket. Fans will love it. You’ll be on every magazine cover known to man. Just wait, Tana. This is huge. The fact that Mick is even willing to do this is incredible. You won’t regret it.”
Tana’s head sounded like it was filled with static. She could not be hearing this right.
“Could you repeat the first bit again? Like, slowly. Pretend I don’t speak English well.”
Bill looked at her like she’d grown a second head. “Which part?”
“From the top, Bill.”
“Mick’s manager, Jimmy, has proposed that you and Mick have a fake relationship for the press—all tour long—which will rehab his image and set you up for country music superstardom.”
This is because I ghosted him last night, isn’t it? Tana couldn’t help but wonder. Men … always wanting what they can’t have.
“Okay … so—” she started, but Bill didn’t give her a moment to continue.
“Great. I’ll tell them you’re in. This is going to be amazing, Tana. You won’t regret it. They’re even talking about adding tour dates if this goes well. It’ll be awesome.”
He already had his phone ringing before Tana could correct him as to what she’d actually wanted to say.
“Bill, no!”
“Yeah, she’s in, Jimmy. No problem. What? Stop the bus? You sure? Oh … okay. Sweet. Yeah. I’ll tell the driver. One second.” He ended the call as Tana’s stomach tumbled somewhere near the mud flaps.
“What have you done?” Tana whispered as she blinked at her manager.
Bill smiled, all teeth, and for the first time, Tana wondered if he was actually all about what was best for her.
“I just made us both a fuck ton of money, kid. You can thank me in your speech when you’re accepting that New Artist of the Year award. One sec.”
He ran to the front of the bus, and the air brakes pitched Tana against her seat as the driver slammed on them.
When Bill came back, he jerked his head toward the door. “Grab your guitar. You’re riding with Mick. He’s written a duet he wants to sing with you. You’re fucking welcome, Tana, anytime you want to say thank you.”
Tana’s throat was bone-dry. How did this happen? And so damn fast?
Bill snapped his fingers in her face. “Earth to Tana. Guitar. Now. Jimmy’s riding on here with me so we can formalize the deal and sign it up.”
“Wha-what?”
“Tana. Fucking go. This is the opportunity of a lifetime, kid. Don’t waste it.”
Tana felt her body move, but she didn’t feel like she was in charge of it.
Alone with Mick? Sing a duet with Mick?
She remembered what he had said to her last night.
“I don’t see a ring on your finger, Tana Zephyr. Which means, as far as I’m concerned, you’re fair game.”
Tana sucked in a breath.
What in the world is that man up to? A fake relationship? For the whole tour? No. This cannot be real. Can it?
And yet Tana found herself carrying her guitar, Loretta Lynn, off the bus and passing Mick’s manager, Jimmy, as he jogged toward her.
“You won’t regret this, Tana. And who knows? You might even enjoy it.”
She wanted to say something like, Are you both insane?
But instead, she nodded and walked toward the open bus door ahead of her.
Managers. She’d only had one for all of a few months, and she wasn’t sold on the concept.
She climbed on the other bus and said a quick, “Hey,” to the driver, who smiled back.
She half expected there to be a dozen scantily clad women on board, but instead, there was just Mick in what was the nicest tour bus she’d ever seen.
“Damn.”
“You like it?” Mick asked from his giant leather chair.
The interior was smoky black wood with a copper trim, done up with rich brown leather.
“Fancy digs, Romeo.”
“Romeo?” he asked.
“What the fuck do you think you’re doing? Trying to corral me into a corner with this fake relationship BS?”
The glimmer grew in his piercing blue eyes. “If you think it’s BS, why’d you say yes?”
“I didn’t. Not really. My manager called yours, saying I did when I was just saying, ‘Okay,’ as in, Okay, the man’s obviously fucking crazy.”
Mick’s expression was unreadable. “You backing out then? No duet?”
“I have a boyfriend. I told you.”
“And why didn’t he put a ring on your finger before sending you off on tour if he was hoping to keep you? He stupid?”
“No, just … not ready to settle down and get married yet.”
“Well, I am.”
“Well, good for fucking you, Mick. Find a wife then. Not a fake girlfriend.”
“I am.”
“Then where is she? Why isn’t she on this bus?”
“She is. I’m staring right at her.”
Tana went silent as she met his mesmerizing blue eyes. All she could do was blink. Over and over again until words once again became a possibility.
“I do not understand what is happening here.”
“I like you, Tana. We’re gonna get to know each other.
We’re going to ‘pretend to date’ so I can clear the other women out of my life.
We’re gonna sing together, onstage, starting in Philly, on the biggest tour happening on planet Earth right now.
And in four months, you’re going to be begging me to make this real and marry you. How’s that for a deal?”
She went back to blinking for a few seconds while she shook her head.
“You’re insane, Mick. Absolutely fucking insane.”
“I heard what you said. In that interview. Tell me you didn’t mean it.”
Tana froze. He didn’t mean …
“Which part?”
His face softened as he smiled at her. “You know damn well which part, sweetheart.”
She hauled in a deep breath as the anger she was feeling melted away … and her heart softened. This man was trouble.
“Mick …”
“At least you’re not calling me Mr. Vines anymore.”
“I still have a boyfriend, Mr. Vines, and I am not the cheatin’ type.”
“Cool. Time to break up. He had his shot. You wouldn’t have said what you said if you’d planned to marry that guy. You know it, and I know it.”
“Mick …” she sighed. “It ain’t that easy.”
He let out a long breath and shrugged. “Give me two hours to convince you. All the way to Philly. If you think there’s a chance in hell you’re gonna marry—what’s this guy’s name?”
“Ronnie.”
He nodded. “If you still think there’s a chance in hell you’re gonna marry Ronnie by the time we hit Philly, then you tell me to fuck off when we get there. Deal?”
“What are you planning to do that’s gonna change my mind in two hours?”
Tana knew she had a choice. She could say no. He couldn’t force her to do anything.
He grinned and reached for his guitar.
“We’re gonna play together.”