ALEXANDRA wanted to throw her phone. She had spent five amazing days with Bash after his surgery. Every day was better than the one before, but sadly, it had to end. Her father was being released today, and the perfect bubble around her and Bash had to pop, letting the realities of the outside world back in.

Bash didn’t want to be in the public eye, and in all honesty, Alexandra wasn’t ready to share him with anyone, especially not with the media reps who had camped out at Dad’s hospital. Today, they each had to go it alone. Bash had his post-operative appointment at the clinic, and Alexandra was here with Dad—as Lexxi Rock, just as Rick suggested. She arrived at the hospital shortly before her father was officially released, and should have known not to answer Rick’s call.

She glanced inside. Rosa hovered near her father, who was busy shaking off the orderly trying to help him into the wheelchair so he could be wheeled out.

“Sir, you need to be wheeled out today. It’s a requirement for discharge from the hospital,” the orderly said calmly.

“I said I’m fine,” Dad answered. “I don’t need that wheelchair.”

From the hallway outside the hospital room, Alexandra shrieked into her phone, “No! Absolutely not! That’s not acceptable, Rick!”

Rosa and Dad both shot troubled glances in Alexandra’s direction. She tried to lower her voice, but anger crept up fast, with what Rick was asking of her.

“Well, I tried to tell them that, Lexxi, but the label insisted. I’m not the bad guy here. Look, I can’t stop Rita Sage from showing up in Arizona, and neither can you. You have to know by now that when Blaze Entertainment says they want to meet with you, I have to make it happen. That’s all there is to it.”

“I’m in the middle of checking my father out of the hospital, which is supposed to be a good thing, but guess what? It’s not, thanks to the media. Hospital security was kind enough to order them outside, but the paparazzi won’t leave him alone. Just this morning, two camera-wielding trolls snuck into Dad’s room already.”

“Ouch. How did Max react?”

“He threw his bedpan at one of them.”

Rick laughed. “Good for him.”

“I can’t tell you how large the crowd is outside, Rick. I ended up making a deal to get Dad out the back using a service entrance. This goddamned impromptu meeting is going to have to wait, Rick!”

“Alexandra,” Dad said tensely.

“Excuse the language, Dad,” she added.

Rick grumbled on the other end. “I can try to reschedule, but I can’t stop Rita from showing up in Arizona.”

“Thank you for trying, Rick,” she said, still wound up.

Ending the call, she turned around, flushed and almost seething. Strands of her purple wig fluttered into her eyes as she pivoted, and she nearly tugged it off her head completely, trying to get it out of her face. She gestured for Rosa and Dad to lead the way. Rosa exited the room, followed by the orderly wheeling Dad out. Alexandra trailed behind, taking in a long, calming breath when she realized she was still trembling from Rick’s call. She didn’t feel calm at all.

Dad turned to her. “You really don’t have to ride with us, Alexandra. If there’s somewhere else you need to be for work, just go on and take care of it.”

Alexandra glared at him.

“Now isn’t the time, Max,” Rosa said to him.

“Don’t worry about it, Dad. Rick is rescheduling the meeting,” Alexandra explained, softening her tone. It wasn’t Dad’s fault she had to fight tooth and nail for anything she wanted if it deviated from what her label had in mind. Her eyes darted to the orderly. He had heard everything.

I should brace myself for his exposé on witnessing me throw a hissy fit.

She shrugged, positive he had seen worse. Hurrying along, they soon got out of the hospital. They had to make a short stop at Dad’s house so he could get a few things and see what the contractor had started. After that, he planned to stay at Rosa’s until the bulk of the repairs were complete. She couldn’t wait for this day to wrap up.

* * *

Alexandra’s driver maneuvered through the congested streets, and a thick silence came over the three of them in the back of the limo. Rosa was holding on to Dad’s hand. Alexandra took a moment to study him. He looked so much better. There was no visible reminder of the severe pneumonia that had almost taken his life. She had only a couple of days with him at most, but Rick decided to give the all clear to her label to invade on that sliver of time, now that Lexxi Rock was officially back from the French Riviera.

Bastard. I’m positive Rick gave them the okay without consulting me first.

The morning after she went to stay with Sebastian, the first series of texts came in, asking about interviews. She had ignored them, only using her phone once to tell Rick to decline them. She had seen Eva just once during the time as well. While Bash was in surgery, they had lunch together. Eva was enjoying the downtime in her hotel room, and had gone sightseeing with her driver one day. Contrary to her diva-like reputation, Eva was low maintenance, and never complained off-set. Other than those few times, Alexandra only took calls on her phone a few times, such as the call from Rosa that Dad would be released today. Everything else had been set aside, and her time with Bash was heavenly because of it.

Now this. Rick was right that she couldn’t turn down the label, no matter how much resistance she put up. If the CEO wanted to meet with her it had to be about something important. The beginnings of a headache throbbed at her temples.

When they pulled up to Dad’s house, Bash was sitting out on his front porch. She smiled at him, and he nodded before quickly averting her gaze. No one needed to know what was going on between them until they were both good and ready to share. Part of her tension stemmed from the fact that Dad and Rosa were around, but it had more to do with the fact that the media could be watching. They had already invaded Dad’s space at the hospital, and some could have followed them here. She didn’t want Sebastian to have that burden as well.

With just a couple of days left here in Tucson, she barely had time to say goodbye to Dad and Rosa, let alone Bash. She wasn’t gone yet and she already missed him. Taking a breath, she set the thought aside.

I don’t have much choice.

Her phone chirped as she stepped out of the limo and walked ahead to unlock the door to the house. Rosa and the driver helped Dad get up the steps and inside.

It was Rick on the phone again. “What did they say?” she asked once she took the call.

“They gave you an extra hour.”

“One hour? That won’t do, Rick. Dad’s checking up on the house and after that, the driver has to go across town to drop them off at Rosa’s place before I can make a meeting. I’ll have to leave now to make it there in time, given the traffic, and that’s not possible. Can you swing another hour with the old witch?”

“Lexxi, Lexxi,” he whined. “You’ll be sorry you said that when you hear she and I lined up some A&R people to make that style change you wanted. They ‘re already in Tucson.”

Dad shuffled past her and headed to the staircase. “Where are you going?” she asked in surprise. “You shouldn’t be trying stairs on your own so soon, Dad.”

“I need to check out my bedroom, young lady. I told all of you already that I’m fine.” He grumbled some more about how much he hated being coddled as he labored up to the first landing, already breathing heavily.

“Wait a minute, Dad—”

Rick interrupted her impatiently, “I’ll do my best. So, can I tell them you’re on your way?”

“Rosa!” Alexandra shouted, pointing at Dad.

Rosa hurried over to her. “I couldn’t stop him.”

“I have to leave now. Do you mind waiting here until the driver takes me downtown? He’ll come back for you within an hour and a half.”

“No problem. You go ahead and get to your meeting. I’ve got this, dear.” She turned and rushed up the steps to help, knowing full well that Dad wouldn’t be deterred once he put his mind to something.

“What do you want me to tell them, Lexxi?” Rick pressed for an answer just as the driver knocked politely on the wide open front door.

“Did you need me to wait for you, Ms. Storme?” the driver asked.

She nodded as Rick tried again to get her attention. Finally, she told him, “Okay, dammit. I’ll meet them now. I’m heading out the door.”

“Thank you, Lexxi. Who’s my favorite rock star?”

“Just stop, Rick.” She let out an exasperated breath.

As she walked out the door, she happened to glance over at Bash again. He was deep in a daze, and seemed so out of it. He hadn’t moved since the limo pulled up. He didn’t even look in her direction. The expression on his face seemed so lost and forlorn. Alexandra groaned a little, wondering if he looked that way because of her. Rick blabbered on through the phone, laying on the empty flattery to stay on her good side.

She hung up, overwhelmed by everything happening at once. What she wanted to do was walk next door. If she could, she would phone Rick back to tell him the meeting was off. Bash looked like he needed someone right now, and damn, she wanted to be that someone. She couldn’t do it. This meeting couldn’t wait.

Sighing glumly, she turned away and stepped inside the car.

“Let’s go,” she told the driver.

* * *

Alexandra walked into the boardroom at the Arizona branch of Blaze Entertainment, the grittier, western-themed Alpha Country Records. Greeted weakly by execs, she took a seat. Rita Sage, one of the biggest music moguls in the industry barely glanced up from her tablet. Rita’s assistant was standing over her shoulder, showing her something they both seemed alarmed about. Alexandra cleared her throat to get her attention.

“I see you,” Rita acknowledged in an irritated voice without looking up.

Alexandra wanted to snap back at her and tell her she didn’t have all day, but she knew better. This woman essentially owned her music career. Reluctantly, she clamped her mouth shut and waited. Rita took her time, and eventually finished up with whatever she was doing.

“Lexxi.” Rita’s nasal voice rang out across the long conference table. All eyes turned to Alexandra and already, she was in the hot seat before she even took her place at the opposite end of the table.

“Yes?” She had no idea what Rita wanted with her. They usually had no problems with each other, but Rita was glaring at her. It seemed to Alexandra like there was now a problem. A serious one.

“You’ve been out of pocket for a while,” Rita said, smiling. “Right in the middle of prepping for what is probably your most important album to date. I had it out with your manager. He told me you had a family emergency. I trust that it’s resolved?”

Rita steepled her fingers and peered at Alexandra like a hawk, daring her to say it wasn’t. Rick had probably already made it known her father was discharged today. Rita didn’t appear to be looking for a response, because she got to her feet and sauntered over to the projection screen. An assistant cued up a PowerPoint chart.

Rita pointed to a red arrow on a downward slant. “That’s your current approval rating, and we’re going to release your album in less than two months. Do you want to tell me how you think it’s going to be received with your image taking a nosedive like that? Let me tell you something, Lexxi. This label has already sunk a lot of money into pushing that album when it’s released. I want things cleaned up, and I want it done now so that won’t be money wasted. The way the industry is these days, the first week of sales is already a toss-up.”

Alexandra cleared her throat. “Mrs. Sage, I’m in the process of doing damage control as we speak. My people and I tried to keep my father’s health woes out of the press. He’s better now, so we’ll be back on track soon. It’s unfortunate that the story of my being in France didn’t help things.”

“Oh, I know. That brainchild was irresponsible and poorly thought out. You should have brought it to us instead of sneaking around, especially at this crucial time.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Not to worry. What’s done is done. I assembled an ad campaign and added some new people to your Artist and Repertoire team. They’re in Arizona to spin the hell out of this clusterfuck you’ve left us with. That’s why I wanted to see you here. Lexxi, I’m counting on you to be the brilliant performer I know you to be.”

“I don’t know if I can pull this off,” Alexandra groaned. “I’m burnt out. I need a break. Is that so much to ask?”

“What was the last month, then?” Rita smiled a brittle smile and slinked around to where Alexandra sat. “I’m sorry things are tough for you, but you have a contract. You’re obligated to get this record done, among other things.”

There wasn’t an ounce of sympathy in her voice, and the warning in her words were as clear as day. Rita was basically telling Alexandra she had no choice. In no uncertain terms, it was time to get back to work.

“Of course,” she said.

Rita’s heels clicked across the tile floor as she walked to the door to leave. “A&R will be with you in a second. Have a nice day, Lexxi.”

“Now?”

Rita had already left. Alexandra slumped back in the chair. The execs filed out, all except the director of A&R, Gregory.

He blinked at her nervously. “So, your manager said you had some style ideas we could try out?”

Deflated, she answered with, “Do whatever you want to do, but this hair has to go.”

“How do you think you want it?”

Alexandra pulled out the wig clips at the sides of her hair and dragged off the wig. She ran her fingers through her short hair to lift it off her head and show Gregory the curls. “Like this. I’ll do anything else, but this is the hair I want.”

Gregory balked. “I’m…I’m not sure I have clearance to go that far, Lexxi.”

“Christ,” she muttered with an edge to her tone she didn’t even try to hide. It had been made clear. Lexxi Rock had no say. Lexxi Rock had a goddamned contract.