Chapter 1
CHAPTER ONE
Grabbing my cell, I climb out of my midnight-blue metallic Ford GT luxury sports car.
It’s one of my more obnoxious vehicles, but sometimes it’s just fun to drive a fast car.
I wouldn’t have driven it tonight, but this venue has secure underground parking.
I nod at the security guard as he admires my vehicle.
“That’s an incredible ride. I’ll keep a close eye on her for you, sir.
” He smiles. I can’t blame the guy for checking her out; she is a beautiful machine.
“I’d appreciate that, man,” I say in passing as I head to the bank of elevators. They open and one of my business partner’s team leaders sticks his arm out to hold the elevator door for me.
“Good evening, Mr. Callahan,” he greets me.
“Hey, Tom, we’ve talked about this. It’s just Jack.” I extend my hand to shake his. Some people just can’t get past my last name—or the bank account associated with it. “Especially after your recent promotion to lead your team. Congratulations on that, by the way. Well deserved.”
We make small talk as we ride the elevator, which opens to the backstage area.
I follow Tom, but I’m forced to stop in my tracks when an absolute vision walks out of one of the rooms and crosses into another green room.
She has wild red hair and is wearing cowboy boots with tight denim shorts that showcase an incredible ass, and a smile that I bet would light up even the darkest room.
Time slows.
My breath stalls.
And then she laughs.
Her laughter is a soft melodic dance that I can feel in my soul. What is happening right now?
And then she’s gone. I want to follow her; I have to meet this goddess. I’ve never reacted to a woman like this before in my entire thirty-three years of life. A group of musicians follow her into the room, so she must be performing tonight. I’ll find her after the show.
I can be patient when necessary. I’m a lot of things, and I can be relentless when I want something.
And I want her.
“Right this way, Mr. Callahan,” the young executive says as he leads the way up a flight of stairs to the VIP area on the balcony for the concert. Waiting at the private bar is Wellington Sinclair: my college roommate, one of my best friends, and business partner for the last fourteen years.
“Jack!” Wells exclaims as he walks over and we pat each other on the back as we briefly hug. “It’s so damn good to see you, man.”
Wells and I started our entertainment streaming company when we were in college.
Our unique approach to allowing artists to retain the rights to their music, while giving them access to the platform—along with a healthy dash of luck of the Irish—has resulted in tremendous success for our company. Lux has been illuminating artists…
And our bank accounts.
Who knew that two college kids trying to right a wrong and dinking around with computer code could lead to an entire empire?
And that’s exactly what Lux is today—an entire empire.
Over the years, we expanded to all entertainment media avenues, and after Wells started the production company five years ago, we now even produce our own television shows and movies.
Wells oversees that part of our business, with our friend Max Riley managing the music portion, and I focus on the overall company direction and growth.
Wells is a savant when it comes to computer coding and all things tech.
I was always impressed with my brother Liam’s IQ score of one-forty-five until Wells casually mentioned one day that his IQ is one-sixty-two.
But if someone were to look at his ever-expanding tattoo sleeve, glasses, and black T-shirt with black jeans, he looks more like he belongs on the stage performing rather than running our multi-billion-dollar company.
A lot has changed in our lives since we started our company in our college dorm room, but neither Wells nor myself have allowed the obscene amount of success to change who we are at the core.
He is still the guy that loves to enjoy life no matter what and is fiercely loyal, and I’m the guy that will always show up for my people—even if they all will say I take life too seriously.
It would be nice to see my business partner and friend more than I do, but he mainly stays in London and I’m primarily in Nashville, so when he told me his little sister was having a concert in Nashville, I made sure my assistant cleared my schedule.
It’s been over six months since Wells and I have been in the same place, even though we talk multiple times a week.
Plus, it’ll be nice to see his sister again since it’s been …
shit … at least a decade, if not more, since I’ve seen Tinsley.
“It’s been forever, long overdue,” I agree with Wells as the bartender points to the whiskey he just poured for Wells, and I nod in response.
“How’s London?”
“It’s good, but it’s also nice to be home. I might stay a little longer, maybe tag along to a few more shows,” Wells says as he takes a sip of his whiskey. “Sometimes, I feel like Tinsley doesn’t always give me the full story about her life, so it will be nice to spend some time with her.”
“I have to be in London next month for some follow-up meetings with a small acquisition, but I’ll make sure our assistants get some face time on our calendars if you’re in town.”
“So long as they involve at least a few evenings at a pub, I’m in.
I spend too much fucking time in a conference room.
Don’t get me wrong, we are lucky assholes, but why are there so many meetings?
” Wells would rather be on the go than stuck behind a desk, so I’m sure his idea of too many meetings is still significantly less than what I consider a typical schedule for me.
“Who’s opening for Tinsley tonight?” I ask, assuming it’s another one of our artists.
Wells scrunches his eyebrows and tilts his head. “Uh … is it terrible I don’t even know?”
I scowl at him.
“No, no, it’s not like that—at least this time. The duo that was scheduled for tonight got food poisoning yesterday, so I don’t know who they found to fill in.”
“I think I saw her on the way in, and I don’t know who she is or if she can sing, but she is gorgeous.” Even that word seems to fall short in describing her beauty.
Wells laughs. “It always helps when the artists are both talented and beautiful, not going to lie. Gorgeous, though? Huh. I wonder if they were able to get that new girl we signed last week. What was her name … Fiona something? I don’t know; she’s an indie artist that’s found some mild success on her own, but she’s beautiful and can both sing and write.
” Our company Lux specializes in working with singer-songwriters who want to be heavily involved in both the performing and writing sides of the business.
Some of our artists only perform, and we have a handful of songwriters, but the ideal client for both our business model and their bank account, are the ones that can do both.
Talented and gorgeous? That’s a dangerous combination, but I’ve also never had a reaction like this to someone in my life. “Whoever it is, I’d love to meet her after the show.”
Wells punches my arm. “Holy shit, the Ice Man melts! And I get to see it?” Wells laughs and it’s true.
I do have an unfortunate nickname of being an ice man, but it’s not coldness, it’s control.
I keep all my emotions in check and only allow my guard down in a very select few situations, like around my family or my close friends.
The lights dim as the band walks out and begins playing intro music.
And there she is.
The redheaded goddess I saw earlier. Her hair catches the light and pops of copper and blonde weave throughout her vibrant wavy red locks.
She’s wearing cognac cowboy boots, those sinful shorts, and an emerald green top that showcases her amazing cleavage.
She looks incredible, but I also hate that every other asshole in here is seeing how good she looks.
She has curves for days and they’re in all the right places.
“Huh, things must have changed.” Wells shrugs as he takes another sip.
I briefly glance at Wells before my eyes zero back in on the siren. “So … that’s not Fiona?”
“What? No, man. What are you talking about? That’s Tinsley.” Wells elbows me but he could have knocked me over with a feather.
Tinsley.
That’s Tinsley?
The last time I saw Wells’s sister in person, she was barely a teenager, and I think she even had braces. Tinsley was a cute kid, but the woman on stage right now is just that—all woman.
“You okay, man? You look like you just saw a ghost or something.” Wells raises an eyebrow at me as Tinsley adjusts her guitar and steps up to the microphone.
“Hey there, Nashville! How y’all doing? My name is Tinsley Sinclair and I’m so happy you’re here.
” She—Tinsley—flashes a vibrant smile as she greets the crowd.
Her eyes scan the packed audience before she looks up to the VIP section of the balcony.
Her brother cheers loudly, and Tinsley laughs as she watches him pump his hands over his head like an idiot.
Her smile pauses, for just a moment, as her ice-blue eyes land on me.
Tinsley’s gaze commands every ounce of my attention by every fiber of my being.
She bites her lip, and I hold back a groan as the crowd cheers loudly and breaks the moment.
Standing on the stage is not the nerdy thirteen-year-old I last saw a decade ago, but a captivating twenty-three-year-old woman.
I knew she had grown up—obviously—but I guess I hadn’t paid enough attention.
Why the fuck wasn’t I paying attention to every single detail about her?
“Callahan.” Wells draws my attention away from the goddess on the stage. “What’s going on? You good?”
“Yeah, of course. I’m good; everything’s fine.” I take a sip of my whiskey but don’t even feel bad about lying to one of my best friends.
Everything is not fine, not fine at all.
If love at first sight is a thing, I think I just fell for my best friend’s little sister.