Chapter 6
Ronnie didn’t take it well.
“What do you mean, you met someone?”
Tana’s stomach twisted. “I’m sorry, Ronnie. I just … I just don’t think it’s gonna work. Me being on tour is a lot different than I thought it would be.”
“Then fucking come home. Quit the tour. I need you in pit row, like always. I crashed out Tuesday night ’cause you weren’t fucking there. This ain’t working for me, T.”
Quit the tour …
Is he insane?
“Ronnie, I’m sorry. I ain’t quitting. I’m getting to live my dream now, and I’m not giving it up to sit in pit row.”
“Then fuck you, Tana. Selfish bitch. I hope it’s worth it. I’ll have a new girl by Saturday night. Just watch me. Go fuck yourself and your dreams. I don’t want you back anyway.” He hung up.
Tana stared at the phone and blinked repeatedly. “Oh my God.” She choked on a sob.
A knock came on the bedroom door.
“It’s Bill. You decent?”
Tana shoved the back of her hand over her mouth as she tried to stave off the tears. But she couldn’t. “Just a minute.”
Her heart clenched and tore in two. She hadn’t expected he’d take it well, but she hadn’t expected that. Not after everything.
Bill knocked again. “Come on. Open up. We gotta get you inside. You go on in thirty minutes.”
Tana flailed an arm out and whacked the knob. “Oww.”
“Tana, what the fuck is going on?”
“Can you get Mick?”
“Tana—”
“Please,” she said on a sob.
“Fine. I’ll try. Just … get yourself together. The show must go on—you hear me?”
Tana swallowed and dropped back on her bed. She remembered when she’d first boarded the bus a few days ago, how magical it had all seemed. And now … Tana felt like her entire world was upside down.
A few minutes later, there was another knock on the door.
“Hey, sweetheart. You all right?”
“No.”
The door burst open, and Mick’s massive frame filled the doorway.
“What the fuck happened?”
“I did it.” She snuffled.
“Oh, honey. Come to Big Daddy Mick.” He hopped up on the bed, then hauled her across it and onto his lap. “Don’t cry, sweetheart. I hate to see that.”
She leaned into his body heat as he rubbed her back and stroked her hair. After a few minutes, her sobs slowed and quieted.
“Tell me what happened,” he said.
“He was so mean,” she whispered.
“Course he was. He just lost the best thing that had ever happened to him, and he knows it.”
She sniffled. “You think?”
“Trust me. A man knows.”
“He told me he didn’t want me back, and he’d have a new girl by Saturday.”
“Fucking prick,” Mick said quietly. “He ain’t never getting you back, girl. I promise you that.”
He stroked her back, and Tana never wanted him to stop.
“Mick?”
“Yeah, baby?”
“Are you really like this? Or are we pretending?”
“Oh, honey. There’s not a single part of me that’s pretending shit.
Not the part that wants to beat the dog shit out of him for making you cry.
Not the part that wants to pin you to this bed and make you forget he ever existed.
And sure as hell not the part that wants to make it all better for you and take the hurt away. ”
“I think I like you, Mick.”
“I like you too, Tana.”
“Just don’t break my heart, okay?”
“I’ll do my best, sweetheart. That’s all I can do.”
She sniffed in a breath. “I must be a mess. I gotta fix my makeup before I go onstage.”
“Just one second, honey. Look at me first.”
Tana lifted her blurry eyes to his blue ones, and an instant later, his lips descended on hers.
It was a first kiss to end all first kisses. His lips were soft and molded hers exactly where he wanted them. When Tana moaned, his tongue slipped into her mouth, and the minty, spicy taste of him filled her awareness. His hand tangled in her hair as he tilted her head to kiss her deeper.
The man knows how to kiss.
Tana’s tongue slid along his, and he groaned against her mouth. He tore his lips away.
“If you didn’t have a show, I wouldn’t let you out of this bed until dawn. Sugar pie indeed. Lord knows, I want you. But you gotta get inside.”
Tana blinked a few times, and in that moment, she wanted nothing more than to give Mick everything he wanted from her.
She was a free woman. The life that had tied her down was no more. The tethers were gone.
And she had a whole new world ahead of her. Including a show to perform. Opening for Mick Vines.
With strength and purpose filling her, Tana straightened on Mick’s lap.
Even though, minutes ago, she’d thought she’d never smile again, as soon as she felt his hard-on beneath her butt, a little grin tugged at her lips. Tana couldn’t help but wiggle against it as she slid off him.
Mick groaned quietly. “You should come right on back up here, sugar pie.”
“I got a concert. I gotta go.”
“Woman … you did that on purpose.”
“Thank you, Mick. You’re the best.”
“Tana. Wait.”
She turned in the doorway.
“This is happening. You and me. It’ll be as real as it gets.”
“I said yes to fake. But I am more than willing to let you convince me of anything you want, big guy.”
His look of relief had Tana feeling on top of the world.
“I’m gonna hold you to that. No bailing after your show. I’m bringing you out onstage to play with me tonight.”
Panic shot through her. “The duet’s not ready.”
“You must know some of my other songs.”
“Well, yeah, of course.”
“Good. Be ready. We’re putting on a show tonight.”