Chapter Three
A s Christine sat in her office, chai latte in hand, chatting with Julianna, the door flung open and Austin walked in.
“Chrissy. What’s up?” Austin walked past Julianna without looking at her.
Christine sat in shock. Nobody walked past Julianna without doing a double take. Most asked for her autograph, assuming anyone who looked like her had to be famous.
“Austin, meet my friend Julianna. Julianna, meet Austin.”
“Nice to meet ya, Julianna.”
“The pleasure is mine,” she said, shaking his hand and using her most sultry voice.
Christine scoffed.
His gaze returned to Christine. “Found me some tunes?”
Christine sat up straight. She needed to sell this, and sell it hard.
The future of the company was in her hands, and it all hinged on Austin cutting a song from Hit Songs Publishing.
Sweat formed on her forehead, but she pretended it wasn’t there.
What is it they say? Never let them see you sweat?
She had to play it cool. She forced a big smile.
“I did. I went so far as to go through an old box of cassettes.”
“God, I love that. Those old forgotten songs can be gems.”
“I have a handful to play for you. Want to grab a seat?”
“I’d rather listen in my own environment. Can I take them with me?”
“Of course. I can put them on a drive or send you MP3s. Do you have access to Box?”
“Slow down, Miss Technology. Just send them to my phone. That’s how I like to listen. Cruising around. Don’t most people listen to the radio in their cars?”
“That’s what they say,” Christine said.
“Then that’s what I’ll do. What are you doing this weekend?”
“Um, nothing. Why?”
“How about coming on the road with me? I’m the opening act on a run with Jackson Williams. I’ll be playing in front of more than twenty thousand people a night.
It would help you understand me even better if you saw me perform and were a part of it.
You can watch how the audience reacts from the stage to get my vantage point.
Ride the bus. You’ve already seen me in my underwear, so why not? ” He smiled.
“You saw him in his underwear?” Julianna stared, wide-eyed.
Christine shrugged.
“It wasn’t my finest moment,” Austin said. “What do you say, Chrissy? You up for a road trip?”
The offer had been on her mind since he’d mentioned it on that first night.
Christine could think of nothing worse than jumping on a tour bus with a bunch of guys.
She’d heard the stories of bus life and wanted no part of it—the women, the parties, the disgusting smells, and the noise.
But she knew what it would mean for the company.
Quality time listening to music with Austin meant a better shot at having him choose one of her songs.
Every plugger she knew would give anything for this opportunity. Why would she pass it up?
“Sure. I’ll go.”
“Cool. Matt will get you the details.” He turned to leave, reaching to shake Julianna’s hand. “Nice to meet you, Julie.”
Julianna’s eyes opened wide and her mouth dropped open. Christine could tell she was shocked. Nobody forgot Julianna’s name, or face, or body for that matter.
“It’s Julianna,” she said.
“Right. Catch ya later, ladies.” He sauntered out the door while Christine and Julianna watched him leave.
“Damn. He looks as good leaving as he does coming,” Julianna said.
“Yep.”
“So Matt will call you?” Julianna said.
“It’s business.”
“For now,” Julianna said, making kissing noises as she left the room.
CHRISTINE REGRETTED SAYING yes to going on the road with Austin.
Of course, it was important for Hit Songs Publishing that she fast-track her work relationship with him.
And even more important after her talk with Rick.
She’d have time alone with Austin to better understand what type of songs he was looking for.
This could be the opportunity she needed.
But the bus? She’d briefly met the band, and they’d seemed nice.
She knew them by reputation. It was a small town, after all.
They were talented songwriters along with being excellent musicians.
And there was at least one other female, Alicia.
The others on the bus would be complete strangers.
She’d see Matt, which was a plus. But Matt would also see her —first thing in the morning.
She knew people would find it odd that she cared more about what Matt thought than what Austin did.
Austin was the famous singer women screamed for and fought over.
Yet it was Matt whose mere presence had made her stomach flip and her skin feel tingly.
She’d felt giddy when he was around. And Christine was not known for being giddy.
Having read many women’s magazines over the years, she knew attraction released dopamine as well as other happy hormones she could never remember the names of.
While she enjoyed Austin’s company, and he lightened up her serious personality, it was being around Matt that made her feel warm inside.
And now he was going to see her, first thing in the morning, with messy hair and no makeup.
CHRISTINE PULLED INTO THE strip mall, saw the blue awning with the words “The Bluebird Cafe” printed on it, and parked.
The Grand Ole Opry was known as the most sacred place in Nashville, but in Christine’s mind, the Bluebird was a close second.
From Vince Gill to Taylor Swift, every artist who was serious about a country music career had shared their song-writing skills on this stage.
And “stage” was a generous word for it. Considering it was a small room next to a laundromat, Christine was always amazed by the amount of talent that had graced this small café.
Christine walked in and looked for Julianna. She’d felt feisty when deciding what to wear and chose her favorite black leather jacket and aviator sunglasses. She had let her hair go wild and curly. She spotted her friend at one of the small round tables and grabbed the seat next to her.
“I’m sorry. That seat is being saved for—”
Christine’s eyebrows rose in question.
“Damn, lady. I didn’t recognize you at first. You’re looking all cool, like you rode in on a motorcycle,” Julianna said.
Christine busted up laughing. “If I was riding on a motorcycle, I’d be riding bitch. It would scare me to death to drive one.”
“Do they call it ‘driving’ a motorcycle?”
“I have no idea. I love bikes but can’t imagine being in the driver’s seat.”
“So, are you packed for the big weekend?” Julianna asked.
“What was I thinking? What happens if I need alone time?” Christine asked.
“Alone time?”
“Yeah, you know. Like, I need to go to the bathroom.”
“Then you go. The bus has a bathroom,” Julianna said.
“What if I have to really go?”
“Oh. Then you ask the bus driver to pull over. You can’t do that on the bus.”
“If I ask him to pull over, everybody will know what I need to do,” Christine said in a whiny voice.
“Pretty sure they all suspect you poop like the rest of the world.”
“But they don’t know when,” Christine said, her voice getting louder on the word “when.”
“I’m sure they will suspect that at some time during your three days together, you will poop. It’s not like you have a choice.”
“Sure I do. Sort of. If I’m on a liquid diet. What doesn’t go in won’t have to come out.”
“Good luck with that,” Julianna said.
“The upside is, I’ll probably lose a few pounds,” Christine said, striking a sexy pose. Julianna snapped a photo.
“That, my friend, is your new Tinder photo.”
“I don’t have Tinder. Do I look like I’d have Tinder?” Christine asked.
“When you wear your black leather jacket and let your hair go all long and curly, you kinda do.”
Christine waved her off while thinking that was one hell of a compliment.
“Maybe Matt’s on Tinder and you can swipe right,” Julianna said, picking up her phone and pretending to swipe right.
“Or he will see me on Tinder and swipe left, or whatever someone does when they aren’t interested,” Christine said.
“Geez. How did I never notice how negative you are?”
“’Cause you’ve never known me to be interested in a guy. My limited experience has not been positive,” Christine said, shaking her head.
“I get you had a really bad experience. Horribly bad. But, Christine, most men are decent guys. They’d never hurt a woman or force themselves on her. Did you get any creepy vibes around Matt?”
“None. Not the slightest bit. He may be the hottest, most normal guy I’ve ever met in this business.”
“Trust your instincts.”
“Please don’t say anything to Phoebe about my crush on Matt. She’ll just tease me about it.”
“Won’t say a word.”
Phoebe showed up right as the music started and all conversation ended.
The great thing about the Bluebird was that people actually came to hear the songs, not to talk over them.
Christine missed the last name of the guy who had just been introduced but caught that his first name was Justin.
He mentioned being from across the pond, which was unnecessary as his English accent gave him away.
His music was simple, staying within the three-chord progression of traditional country songs, but his lyrics were deep.
These weren’t songs about partying, drinking beer, and driving trucks.
He got to the heart and soul of family, with the verses going from grandparents to parents to his life and what they’d taught him.
His voice was deep and always on key. She made a note to get his last name and contact information.
Country music had once been known for its ability to tell a story, but it had started to get away from that as newer styles proved successful with the audience.
Justin’s songs told stories that had the audience close to tears at times and laughing at others. The two best emotions for a song.