Luca frowned at the number flashing on his phone. It was Chance Biggers. As thrilled as he was with the man’s success in launching Jacey’s career, he was really starting to despise the guy who’d taken his wife away from him. It was petty and unfair to feel that way, but that didn’t alter the sentiment broiling through his gut. Apparently he wasn’t beyond being petty, selfish and a thousand other uncomplimentary adjectives where the proximity of his wife was concerned.

He connected the line with a suppressed snarl. “Calcagni speaking.”

“Mr. Calcagni! It’s Chance Biggers down in Nashville, the luckiest agent in the world to be representing J.C. Crew.”

Luca’s first concern was for his wife. “Is everything okay with her?”

Chance gave one of his jarring, too-loud laughs. “Is everything okay? You tell me. You’re the one with the amazingly talented wife who’s shining with the stars tonight. I’m just the one who negotiates the contracts, the big advances, and all the other minor details.” His voice clearly indicated those details were anything but minor. “And I’m about to make your night with the latest news I have to share.”

I seriously doubt it, but lay it on me, champ. “I’m listening.” His tone was more terse than he intended.

“Everybody in Lady Rock’s entourage loves J.C. Crew. No surprise there, sir. And the two of them have grown close during the tour. A beautiful friendship that I foresee opening up a lot more opportunities like this.”

Chance seemed to be expecting some sort of response.

“Like what?” Luca’s voice was dry.

“Lady Rock wants to extend Jacey’s tour another three weeks, and your wife was delighted to accept. She couldn’t believe it. For her, it’s all about the music. But between us businessmen, we know that means more money, more exposure, and a broader listening base for her amazing songs.”

Luca settled deeper in his leather swivel chair behind his home office desk, too stunned to respond right away. Jacey wasn’t coming home for an additional three weeks. By choice. And she hadn’t even bothered calling home to discuss it with him first. Breathe through it, man. It was a shot in the chest. One that left a gaping hole.

He mustered up his voice. “I appreciate all you’re doing for her, Chance. She deserves every bit of her success.”

“Yes, she does. She’s an incredibly special woman. The kind most agents only dream of finding. It’s an honor to represent her, sir. A true honor.”

Luca was only half listening while staring up at his custom bamboo ceiling. His mind was already leaping ahead to his next move.

He must have been wrong again. Though exhausted and rundown from her recent baby delivery and hectic schedule, Jacey was happy enough on the road to extend her tour another three whole weeks. The homesickness he thought he saw in her was no more than wishful thinking on his part. He was losing his wife. Plain and simple. Losing her — not to another man as he originally feared — but to her career.

“Mr. Calcagni? Are you still on the line, sir?”

“I’m here. Is here anything else?”

“Isn’t that enough?”

“Good point. Thank you for the call.” He disconnected the line before the man could respond.

Weaker men would give up in the face of such odds, but it simply wasn’t in Luca’s DNA. He never gave up anything worth having without a rip-roaring fight, and he didn’t plan to this time. No matter what it cost or how badly he might lose in the end.

He hadn’t gotten to where he was as the CEO of a Fortune 500 company at age thirty-four by being a pushover. He had at least one last card in his deck to play, and he intended to play it well. His entire future and happiness was at stake.

He cornered his secretary the next morning in her office. “I need you to clear my schedule starting this Friday.”

LeAnne tossed her lunch sack in the mini fridge on a low cabinet between her desk and the wall. “For how long, sir?”

“Fourteen days.”

Her back straightened. “That won’t be easy, sir.”

“No. It won’t, and I wouldn’t ask it of you if it wasn’t important and completely necessary.”

“Very well, sir.”

“If there is anyone you don’t feel comfortable rescheduling, feel free to put them through to me.”

“I appreciate that, sir, but I hope I don’t have to trouble you.”

“It’s no trouble. Our clients are worth it.” So was Jacey. She was more important than all of them.

Don, Colette, and Britt were shocked to hear they would all be present for the final three weeks of Jacey’s tour. Race, too. The way he saw it? They were Jacey’s home team. Not him alone. She needed to see how much they loved and adored and supported her collectively.

Only Merl would remain behind. She would oversee the commencement of construction on Jacey’s new music studio, a soundproof room complete with recording capabilities. He couldn’t wait to unveil it to her.

But first, he had to convince her to come home.