Chapter Three
Summer woke up, a bundle of nerves in her stomach. Today was her first national appearance since her days on Star Power, and so much was on the line. This was the break she’d been waiting for her entire life. If she lost out on the opportunity to open for Jade Glow, she would have to reevaluate everything she’d worked and strived for since she was a little girl.
She’d been on Star Power when she was twenty-two, and now she was twenty-six years old, doing voice-overs and making a very nice living but not living her dream or doing something she was passionate about. She pushed off the thoughts of the crossroads she’d be at if this opportunity fell through and focused on today’s performance. The Morning Show would do an interview with both her and Tawny, then each of them would sing individually. She had a song she’d written and was excited to perform live. Her pre-audience nerves always disappeared once the music took over her entire being.
She blew out a deep breath and readied herself in her bedroom, snapping selfies and posting pre-appearance photos on her various social media sites. She’d undergone many hair and makeup lessons in an effort to save herself money in the days before she’d begun doing voice-overs, and she had no problem pulling herself together. She knew The Morning Show had makeup artists who would make sure she was television ready before she went live.
She made herself a protein shake while Ben showered, and she kept her mind off the hot naked man a room away, whose rock-hard body she vividly remembered and she was dying to see again.
Instead she focused on the song she was going to sing. Which wasn’t easy when the bathroom door opened and he stepped out with a towel wrapped around his waist, his hair damp from the shower, his muscles flexing, his tanned skin glowing.
She paused with her drink halfway to her mouth and swallowed over the sudden arousal pulsing through her body. “Umm … good morning.”
“I thought you were in your room,” he said in a gruff voice.
“I figured I needed something in my stomach so I don’t pass out in front of an audience.” She lifted her glass with her breakfast blended inside.
“You’ll be fine. The stage is definitely a place where you shine.” He looked shocked he’d complimented her before schooling his expression into his usual bland look.
She didn’t care that his words had slipped out. He’d said them and she beamed at his compliment. “You really believe that?”
“Yeah. I do. I remember watching you from the side of the stage on Star Power. You captivated your audience and had them in the palm of your hand. You’ve got this,” he said in a reassuring tone. “And now I need to get dressed if we’re going to make sure you arrive at the studio on time.”
He turned away from her, exposing the firm lines of his back and the flex of muscles as he bent down to pull clothing from his duffel bag.
She regretfully dragged her gaze away and told herself to stop wishing she could run her hands over his taut skin and feel those muscles flex beneath her fingertips or her lips. After one last lingering glance, she headed back into her bedroom while he dressed.
Rose had sent her home with an aqua jeweled tank top and black spandex, which she changed into, leaving her hair down and curled. Her shoes were her favorite performing shoes, a pair of black patent booties with a chunky but high heel she had no trouble strutting around on stage in. She wasn’t about to risk wearing the pair Rose had sent her home with, which would no doubt result in an embarrassing tumble without practice wearing them.
She stepped out of her bedroom to find the couch put back together and Ben sitting on the sofa, drinking a cup of coffee. His gaze swung to hers, his light blue eyes opening wide at the sight of her, darkening with heat as they took in her whole outfit.
Her body shocked with what felt like an electric current, and her nipples puckered tight at the sexual need and admiration in his gaze.
“Like what you see?” She couldn’t help but tease him like she had in the old days, when things were easy and fun between them.
“Behave,” he said in a gruff voice.
She refused to be deterred, having decided she was going to win him over by sheer force of will and a perpetual good mood. “You can say it. It won’t kill you. Summer, you look good.”
An unwilling half smile pulled at his lips. “Summer, you know damn well you look good,” he said, rising from his seat.
It was a small concession, but it gave her intense pleasure to hear his admission. Besides, the outline of his erection tenting his pants was a blatant stamp of approval on her appearance.
“Now let’s get going before you’re late.”
Too quickly, they’d made the trip by car to the studio uptown. A greeter met them at the entrance and escorted them to the Green Room. Someone came by immediately to touch up her makeup, getting rid of any shine, then she was instructed to remain there and wait to be called.
Tawny was there as well, along with her entourage, a man Summer assumed was her bodyguard, and her agent, Michael Gold, a blond man in his mid-forties with a reputation as both a flirt and a shark in the business. As a matter of fact, it was through Tawny’s agent that Summer had found her own representation, Anna Davis. He’d been happy to recommend someone at his agency at the time Summer had been looking.
Michael stood extremely close to Tawny but Summer merely shrugged. He didn’t understand the meaning of personal space with her, either. Anna wasn’t here but there was no reason for her to be. Michael was a different kind of agent. Summer didn’t require the amount of handholding that Tawny did.
Also circling Tawny were her friends, who fawned over her … and her parents. The sight made Summer’s stomach clench with the familiar sadness that her parents weren’t here, too. They were traveling in Europe, leaving Summer to handle her career. Their itinerary was fluid, and she expected a call when they were back in South Carolina, where they’d bought a retirement home.
Things hadn’t been the same between them since she essentially fired them as her manager and agents soon after she’d been runner-up in Star Power. Her reasons had been valid. She’d lost a key booking because they’d pushed too hard at the wrong time, and she knew then she’d needed professionals. All the people involved with the show had told her so. Unfortunately she’d created a rift between them she’d never intended.
Anna was solid and in her corner, a good professional fit, but she missed the close-knit family feeling she’d had when her parents traveled with her. But her mother and father couldn’t differentiate between being her parents and controlling her career, so they’d agreed it was better for them not to tag along. And though Ivy showed up when she could, her presence was dependent on whether or not she had urgent deadlines for her website business.
Summer turned her gaze away from Tawny and her people, rubbing a hand over her stomach, willing away both her unwanted emotions and her performance nerves.
“Summer!” Michael called as he made his way over to her. “How are you?” He came up close, into her personal space.
She immediately stepped back, which made Ben slip in beside her, his protective instincts coming to the surface.
“This is Michael Gold, Tawny’s agent,” she said to Ben. “Michael, this is my bodyguard, Ben Hollander.”
The men shook hands, and Summer couldn’t get over how different they were in both build and stature. Michael wasn’t a bad-looking man, but he wasn’t Summer’s type and he was small compared to Ben’s more muscular frame.
And where Ben was secure in himself, Michael was flashy in his designer suits and the gold Rolex he displayed by constantly rolling his dress shirt sleeves to put it on full display. Added to that, he drove a vintage Rolls Royce and made sure everyone knew it. But he was a top agent, and that’s all that mattered from a client’s perspective.
“Are you ready?” Michael asked her with a wink. “Stiff competition.” He gestured toward Tawny.
“I can handle it,” she assured him.
“Good. I like a good competition.” He walked away, onward to do his thing.
Ben scowled after him. “I don’t like him,” he muttered.
“He’s pompous but harmless.”
“So just to go over today’s scheduling,” the producer of the show said, interrupting them. “You’ll be interviewed and perform immediately after. Tawny is up first. Break a leg,” he said, clasping her forearm before walking away, pulling out his phone as he left the room.
She blew out a disappointed breath.
“What’s wrong?” Ben asked, perceptive to her sudden mood shift.
“Going second means I can’t set the bar high. I have to surpass whatever bar Tawny sets.” She rolled her shoulders, pulling in a deep breath and willing herself to relax. “It’ll be fine,” she said, trying to convince herself.
Because Tawny was many things Summer didn’t like, but she was definitely talented, and Summer would have much rather put the pressure on her than vice versa.
Before Ben could reply, a woman with a clipboard strode into the room. “Tawny, you’re up.”
Tawny turned and headed for the door, stopping by Summer. Her blonde curls bounced around her face, and she pasted on her patented fake smile.
“Hi, Summer.”
“Tawny.”
The other woman’s gaze shifted to Ben. “Well, I’ll be damned. Ben Hollander. That’s who they assigned as your bodyguard?” She shook her head in disbelief.
“I’d say it’s a pleasure but I’d be lying,” Ben said.
“Right. Because Summer thinks I’m the one who outed your affair.”
Ben raised an eyebrow. He had no idea what Summer believed because she’d never shared her opinion with him, thinking the hows and whys no longer mattered. Tawny had a long memory and she liked to stir up trouble.
“Did you?” Ben asked.
“You’ll never know,” she said and turned to Summer, her gaze raking her over from head to toe. “Nice outfit. You think biker chic will appeal to America?” she asked with disdain.
The friends behind her giggled at the not-too-subtle dig. Tawny had opted for a softer lacey look, her entire outer appearance at odds with the hard, ambitious girl on the inside.
“I think America will appreciate good music,” Summer said, never quite having the right comeback for the other woman’s bitchiness.
“Whatever you say. I’m going to kick ass.” She flipped her hair and strode off.
Summer glanced at Ben, who’d been holding up the wall beside Summer, taking in everyone and everything around him. “She’s something else,” Summer murmured.
“She’s a bitch,” Ben said.
Ever since the staged cat fight at Star Power, Tawny had done little to hide her desire to get ahead or her mean-girl side. Summer figured it had been her own naiveté—and the fact that she’d rarely had exposure to cliques and girls with attitude because she’d been homeschooled and had been too busy performing—that had prevented her from seeing Tawny for who she was the first time they’d met.
Live and learn.
Ben pushed himself off the wall and, towering over Summer, grasped her shoulders. “This is what you do best. Your strength is performing, and you will be the one who kicks ass.” He met her gaze and winked at her, a sparkle in his usually intense eyes, his not-so-subtle way of reinforcing that no matter what had happened between them, he believed in her talent.
At this moment in time, with a morning show audience awaiting her, she’d take his confidence and tuck it away inside her.
* * *
On the screen in the Green Room, Ben watched with Summer as Tawny rocked her moment on TV. As much as he wanted to reassure Summer that she didn’t have a big shadow to live up to, that would be a lie. He still knew she could nail her performance and make a huge impression.
He’d prefer to do his job and keep his distance, but it was hard when she didn’t have anyone in her corner except for him. He hadn’t missed the longing in her expression when she’d seen Tawny’s entourage, and he wondered why her parents weren’t here to support their daughter. They’d barely left her alone back during the Star Power days. Although he’d been curious enough to ask, he knew she needed to be focused on her upcoming stage time, and he didn’t want to upset her even more.
Now, he stood backstage, keeping an eye out for anything amiss as Summer talked to The Morning Show host, holding her own, joking and enjoying herself on stage. By virtue of her real personality, she was more natural and likeable than Tawny. Just as Ben had assured her, the minute she stepped into the limelight, she shone. She brought people into her warmth—even him, and he knew remaining detached would be damned difficult.
She took her place on stage as the band began to play. Ben couldn’t tear his gaze from the outline of her curvy body in that sexy outfit she wore, the tank top that accentuated her full breasts, and skintight black leggings that encased her toned calves and thighs. And he’d felt those legs wrapped around his waist, ankles crossed at his back as she urged him to fuck her harder. Okay, maybe she hadn’t used that word, but the impact of her sexy groans and the clasp of her body as she’d pulled him tighter had the same impact. He shifted his position, glad he was hidden in the shadows to do his job.
She began to sing, and he was transported back to the first time he’d heard her sultry voice. He’d been impacted then and she was even better now. It was difficult for him to maintain the focus he needed on the people around her when all he wanted to do was get lost in the beautiful strains of her voice.
Suddenly her eyes opened wide, a panic-stricken look on her face. He scanned both the crowd and the stage, but on his end, everything was fine. One hand on his holstered weapon … just in case, he held himself in place despite the overwhelming urge to pull her off the stage and find out what was wrong.
She tapped the earpiece and frowned as the crowd began to boo.
* * *
Summer’s earpiece was dead. One minute she’d begun her performance, her band’s music in her ear, clear and on time, and out of the blue, she heard nothing but the roar of the crowd around her, the muffled sound of the instruments coming in with echoes and distortion from the speakers. And then her audience began to react and they weren’t happy. They weren’t interested in technological glitches and neither was she. She knew opportunity when she saw it, and she wasn’t about to lose this one.
She turned to the band and made a motion with her hand, indicating they should stop playing. Then she tossed the earpiece out of her ear, positioned the microphone in front of her, and began to sing. A capella. Without instrumental accompaniment.
The crowd quieted down and listened, and Summer continued, picking up the beat until the audience was clapping and singing along with her. Her adrenaline, which had been born of fear and panic, turned to a rush of excitement and joy. She worked her way through the song, bending down in order to touch hands with the people in the front row enjoying the show. She’d won them over, and the relief coursing through her was huge.
She finished the song to a rousing round of applause, which she graciously accepted before heading to the right side of the stage, where Ben waited. Her heart was pounding hard in her chest, the thunderous live applause still echoing around her, and the rush of success and pride in overcoming what could have been a disaster had her soaring.
“Did you see that?” she asked Ben. “My earpiece went dead and I nailed it anyway!”
“You totally did,” he said, a huge grin on his face that let her know he understood what a big moment this was.
She squealed in excitement and threw her arms around his neck, needing to share her exhilaration. Their gazes met and locked, the air around them suddenly crackling with tension and sexual need even Ben couldn’t deny.
She knew what she wanted, knew there was no better time to go about it. Her gaze fell to his mouth and she pressed her lips against his. He jerked in surprise, then groaned, thrust his hand beneath her hair, holding her against him as he slid his tongue past the seam of her lips and kissed her back.
He might think he wanted to keep his distance, but his body was demanding they get close, his mouth gliding back and forth over hers, razor stubble bristling her cheeks in a sweet burn, and his tongue delved deep. Against her stomach, she felt the hard press of his erection, causing desire to sweep over her in waves.
No wonder she hadn’t found a guy she wanted to keep in her life. No one could live up to Ben.
He kissed like he wanted to possess her.
Own her.
Keep her.
“Summer! Summer, what happened?” Her agent’s voice penetrated the delicious fog that had enveloped her and Ben. She ignored her for a few more blissful seconds, taking in the feel of Ben’s lips, his tongue tangled with hers.
“Summer!”
“Anna!” She straightened and forced herself away from Ben and faced her agent. “I didn’t realize you’d be here.”
“I wanted to support you! What happened?” she asked, concerned.
“Yes, what happened?” Michael walked up beside her, joining their small group.
Ben straightened his shoulders and took a step back, letting her focus on her professional life. But a glance at his steely gaze and her stomach churned uncomfortably at the cool look in his eyes, telling her in no uncertain terms that he regretted that lapse in his precious self-control.
She frowned before turning to her agent, who she knew expected an explanation. “The earpiece went dead. I had no choice but to improvise.”
A flash of distress crossed Anna’s face. “But you stepped up and did great! Everyone’s talking about how you pulled out a win. Congratulations.” Her agent touched her shoulder in support. “Isn’t she a star?” she said to Michael.
He smiled back, but as he was pulling for Tawny, his gaze was rather cool. Speaking of Tawny, she glared at Summer from her corner of the backstage area. No great job would be forthcoming from her rival.
“We are so sorry!” The producer of The Morning Show came rushing over to Summer. “I don’t know what happened. The equipment worked fine for Tawny but you were amazing. Social media is going crazy for your performance!” The woman smiled and rushed off to handle another crisis.
“Summer, I’ll talk to you later,” Anna said and headed away as well.
Summer turned to Ben, wanting to address the moment despite the fact that the adrenaline pressing at them had passed. He might regret what had happened between them, but she didn’t. Not at all.
“Can we go?” he asked, all business.
“Umm, sure.”
He grasped her elbow in a professional hold and led her past the backstage crowds.
Gone was the hot-blooded man in whose arms she’d lost herself for a few glorious seconds, and back was the cool, calm, unaffected bodyguard. He was right by her side, but the distance he placed between them might as well have been miles. If she thought she had broken through his reserve, she’d been sadly mistaken and was definitely disappointed.
* * *
Back at her apartment, Summer changed into a pair of leggings and an oversized tee shirt and kept herself busy while waiting for Ivy, who was coming over in a little while to hang out. She spent time on the phone with Anna arranging voice-over work with companies who had contacted her agent with interest, and puttered around the apartment, watering her plants and straightening up. She deliberately ignored the man sitting on the sofa making himself at home.
If he’d acknowledged the kiss or discussed the intimate moment between them, then she’d be more willing to move forward like two adults. He had a job to do, to protect her, and she didn’t want to make it more difficult. But the fact that he was deliberately pretending like that kiss hadn’t happened pissed her off and hurt her feelings. She just hadn’t decided how to handle him yet.
Instead of dealing with him, she headed for the kitchen, took out two glasses, and poured herself some wine, setting one aside for Ivy. She settled into a chair at the kitchen table, scrolling through her laptop, checking her various social media sites for mentions of today’s performance.
A YouTube video had already gone viral, and a photo with contrasting shots of her panicked face when she realized the earpiece was dead and her triumphant hand pump at the end when she’d nailed her performance had hit the entertainment blogs. She’d been hailed a success, but all in all, it had been a long day.
A knock sounded at the door, and she jumped up to let her friend in. Ben beat her to it, his big body blocking the entire entrance. “Who’s there?” he asked in a rough voice.
“It’s my friend Ivy.” She tried moving him over, but he was like a brick wall.
“Ivy Jameson,” a familiar female voice replied from the other side of the door.
“You see?”
Ben unlocked the door and opened it partway. “ID please.”
“That’s ridiculous. I can vouch for her.” Summer grasped his forearm, shocked by the hard muscles she encountered and the jolt that went through her system at the innocent touch.
He stiffened, obviously affected, too.
She pulled her arm back and curled her fingers into a fist.
Ivy slipped her license to Ben.
He studied it and handed it back. “And you’re alone?” he asked.
“Yes. One hundred percent I’m here by myself,” Ivy said.
Ben put a hand on his weapon and waited as Ivy slipped inside. “Hi. Ivy Jameson. Best friend,” she said, extending her hand to Ben.
“Ben Hollander. Bodyguard.” He shook her hand and glanced at her with the passing interest of a man doing his job and studying the newest visitor. Not that of a man captivated by the woman in front of him, which was curious because with her blonde hair, light brown eyes, and slender figure, Ivy turned most men’s heads.
Ben stepped to the door and turned the deadbolt once more, locking them all inside before heading back to his position on the sofa in front of the TV.
Ivy hooked her arm with Summer’s, and they walked toward the kitchen. “So that’s your hot ex?”
One thing about Ivy was her overly loud personality. Even in this small setting, her voice carried, and Summer had no doubt Ben had heard over the sounds of the television.
“Shh.” Summer’s cheeks heated, and to shut her friend up, she handed Ivy her glass. “Here. Take a drink.”
“I’d love one. Tell me all about today! I saw you on TV. I was so worried, but you were amazing, singing without your band and getting the audience to eat out of your hand. I was cheering out loud.”
Her words and tone held a pride Summer needed to hear from her friend. Someone close to her who understood how hard she’d worked for the opportunity she had and how important every appearance was toward her goal. She’d hoped to hear from her mother or father, even from far away they knew her schedule, but so far there’d been no word.
She took a long sip of her wine, finishing the glass and pouring another.
“Whoa. Let me catch up!” Ivy laughed and took a big drink of her own.
“I’m so glad you’re here,” Summer said, pulling her friend into a hug. “Thank you for coming over.”
“My best friend is on The Morning Show and kills it. Where else would I be but here to celebrate?” Ivy tapped her glass against Summer’s.
For the next couple of hours, they talked and drank, and when the pizza Ben had ordered arrived, they shared that as well and drank some more.
Ben maintained his seat on the couch, which continued to aggravate her, his aloof manner driving her to distraction. While she couldn’t get that kiss out of her mind, he seemed to have put it behind him, and easily at that.
Pouting and tipsy, she leaned closer to Ivy, who had just finished regaling Summer with a story about her latest date, an online site disaster of a matchup.
“I kissed Ben after the show today,” Summer whispered.
Her friend started to reply, and Summer placed a hand over her mouth before Ivy could shout something Summer didn’t want Ben to hear. “He hasn’t mentioned it since,” she said just as softly.
“He’s a tough one.” Ivy glanced over at Ben. “I think the fact that you’re both under one roof is going to make things escalate sooner rather than later.”
“I hope so,” she said and poured another glass of wine for fortification.