Phoenix was hot. No, hot didn’t begin to cover the level of heat. Lacey had never experienced anything like it. She was certain her sweat was sweating. Ugh! Why would people want to live here? Then she looked out from center stage like she always did before a show and saw why people would want to live here.

The outdoor amphitheater provided a wonderful view of the desert mountains. It was a different world. Even though millions of people called Phoenix their home, it still had an old west vibe in parts. She particularly like the cacti, the roadrunners, and the mountains. They were beautiful. She just hoped she didn’t see any of the snakes or scorpions. She shivered at the possibility.

At least she thought that was what made her shiver. Truth be told she was feeling out of sorts this morning. Ever since they had arrived in Phoenix last night she had felt off. One minute she was burning up, the next she was freezing cold. Probably just fatigue. She was dragging butt today. No time for it either.

She added cooling towels to her to do list. The band was going to need them more than ever tonight. She didn’t care what anyone said. It might be a dry heat, but it was still freaking hot!

She turned in search of Dalton when she heard his voice. He was having a discussion with one of the band mates. Her smile grew as she watched him. Ever since their talk after the Houston show, they’d been taking it a day at a time. Granted it had only been two weeks, but they had been two wonderful weeks of spending time together…together.

The shared kisses. The private jokes. The intimate looks. She still couldn’t believe this was happening…was afraid to believe it was happening. She’d wanted him for so long, it just felt too good to be true.

As if he sensed her watching him, his head came up. His gaze locked with hers. There it was. That look only for her. It made her insides warm and parts of her wet at the most awkward of times…like now. He knew exactly what he was doing too. She was certain he enjoyed it too by the devilish grin he shared with her.

Dalton handed his guitar to Guy, the bass guitarist, and strutted over to her. He picked her up and swung her around. The motion made her feel nauseous. This heat was kicking her butt for real.

“Hi.” He was still grinning.

“Hi, yourself.” She grinned back, stepping in closer.

“I missed you last night.” He whispered as he nuzzled her ear.

She felt her nipples tighten as his tongue teased her ear.

“Stop. Do you want an audience?” Her arms wound around his neck.

“Right now, I want you naked on top of me…and maybe wearing my cowboy hat. I like it when you shout ride ‘em cowboy.” He continued to nuzzle her neck.

She turned her head and locked lips with his. She was burning up with need. Lightheaded even. She broke off the kiss, leaning against him, forehead to forehead.

“You have this terrible habit of making me wet and leaving me to hang out to dry.” She sounded grumpy.

“That’s not a very nice way of putting it, sweetness. How about I promise to make it up to you tonight after the show, huh? What do you say? My room or yours?”

“I think yours unless you really do want an audience. I’m bunking with Jess tonight.”

“That’s a big fat no. Mine it is. Although it is ever guys dream to have a threesome. Maybe if we talked to Jess…”

She stepped back in shock and looked at his face.

“I’m kidding. I was kidding!” he hollered after her back as she walked away. She turned back before she exited backstage and stuck her tongue out at him. His laughter followed her.

By the time the trio was getting dressed for the show, Lacey was fighting a raging headache. Her back hurt, her head hurt, and her stomach wasn’t being easy to get along with. She just needed to get them on stage, and she could get go lay down on the bus.

Everyone was hot in the heat. It was grating on the nerves and making them testy. Dalton couldn’t find his belt. He hollered for her.

“Lacey! Where in the hell is my belt? I can’t find it anywhere. You know I need my belt.” He was shoving trunks open and closed in frustration.

“You wore it yesterday. It’s probably in your duffle bag.” She walked over to his bag and unzipped it. There it was, just as she’d suggested.  She pulled it out and handed it to him.

He huffed and threaded it through his jeans.

“You’re welcome.”

“Thanks, but it is part of your job anyway.”

She paused at the doorway between his and Jesse’s dressing rooms.

“What did you just say?” her eyebrows were raised.

“Well, it’s the truth. You are our assistant. That’s what you get paid for, isn’t it? It’s not like I was asking you to do something out of the ordinary.”

“Ya know, you’re right. I do get paid to assist you, but that job description does not include listening to your whiny ass complain or degrade my value. Now, I am going to go do my check and see if Beau or Jess need anything, unless you need me to wipe your ass or brush your teeth before I go?”

Her eyes bugged out at him, daring him to respond. He just turned his back to her and finished buckling his belt.

What the hell had crawled up his butt? She wasn’t in the mood to deal with his behavior right now. She was feeling downright horrible.

She rapped on Jesse’s door before entering. “Hey, Jess. Just checking in. You have everything you need?”

Jesse came out of the bathroom looking like a star in her red sequined mini-dress and purple and red Old Gringo cowboy boots.

“Wow! You’re going to knock them dead before you even open your mouth. You look beautiful and hot!”

“I do look pretty good, don’t I?” she joked. “Now if I just don’t melt. It’s crazy hot here, isn’t it? Whoever scheduled a concert in Phoenix in July should be whipped.”

“Speaking of hot, I procured extra cooling towels for you and the entire band. They are in the stand with your water bottles. Just in case. You don’t want to overheat.”

“You’re the best, Lace. You think of everything.”

“Thanks. At least some people think so.” She muttered.

“Hey, you okay?” Jesse asked, looking back at her through the mirror.

‘Yeah. Just off today. Probably the heat. Hey! Knock ‘em dead, girl.”

“Thanks, Lace. See you after.”

She closed the door of Jesse’s room and a wave of dizziness hit her. She really needed to lay down. She guessed if they needed anything, they’d text or call. She was going to go lay down for just a few minutes.

******

“She’s not answering her phone or her text messages.” Jess was worried.

“Mine either. Where the hell could she be?” Dalton paced the now empty meet and greet.

“Did you do or say something to upset her?” Jesse accused Dalton.

“No. Not really. Nothing to make her disappear anyway.” He huffed defensively.

“What does not really mean?” Beau chimed in.

“She wouldn’t have disappeared over a tiff about my belt, okay? I may have been a bit of an ass, but I was tired and hot and took it out on her. She knows my moods.”

“Don’t we all.” Beau agreed.

“Hey! Whose side are you on?” Dalton protested.

“No one’s. I’m Switzerland, Dude.”

“This isn’t helping. We must find her. I have a bad feeling…” Jesse was interrupted by one of the crew members.

“We found her. She’s on the bus. She doesn’t look so good.” That had all three of them running.

The trio bound onto the bus, shaking its front end in their haste.

“What the hell?” Dalton cursed.

They found Lacey curled into a shivering ball on her bed, the blanket wrapped around her. Jesse approached her first.

“Lacey, honey, are you okay? What’s wrong, sweetie?” The only response was a sound between a moan and a whimper.

Jesse looked over at Dalton and Beau, worry lines marring her brow. She touched Lacey’s forehead.

“She’s burning up. That’s what’s wrong. She’s sick.”

“Why won’t she get up or answer you?” Dalton sounded angry.

“What do you want me to do – yell at her to get up? She can’t because she’s running a raging fever and shivering. We need to get her fever to break. I’m going to get the ibuprofen. You’re going to have to help me get her to swallow it.”

“How am I supposed to do that? I’m not a doctor!” He practically screeched.

Jesse came back into the room with four pills and a glass of water.

‘Would you quit your bellyaching and help her sit up. Get behind her and support her back. We are going to have to rouse her enough to get her to take these. The last option is to douse her in a cold bath. I really don’t want to have to do that.”

Lacey was limp as Dalton lifted her and sat back on the bed holding her. He brushed the damp hair from her forehead.

“Lacey, honey. Come on. We need you to take some medicine so you can feel better, honey. Please. Open up for, D. like a good girl.” He was caressing her cheek.

She whimpered. Her eyelashes fluttered. “Dalton.” Her voice was hoarse.

“I’m here, honey. Open-up. I need you to swallow these. Do you understand me? Open your eyes, Lace.” His concern was growing. He’d never seen her like this before. He felt helpless.

Jesse gave him the pills, and he put them in her mouth. He held her head up for her to drink the water and swallow.

“Come on. Three swallows. Let’s make sure we got ‘em down. That’s a good girl, Lacey. You are going to feel better very soon.” He set the glass of water on the nightstand.

“She’s on fire. What should we do? Call the doctor. We need to call the doctor.” He demanded.

Beau had been watching from the doorway, keeping his distance. “Look, man. Sickness freaks me out. I’m out here. No offense. I can’t deal.”

“You go on to the hotel. I’ll stay here with her. I don’t think we should try and move her.” Jesse told the guys.

“No, I’m not leaving her. Tell me what to do. I’m not leaving her.” He set on the bed holding her close, continuing to caress her hair.

“Let her lay down, D. She needs to rest. She needs to sweat out the fever. I’ll get a wet washcloth we can put it on her forehead, and then I’ll call Dr. Alexander and see what else he recommends.

“I’m not leaving you guys. I’m not a putz, I just don’t do sickness.” Beau tried to explain.

“It’s okay, Beau. Go to the hotel. I’ll call you if anything changes. We’ve got security here on the bus. We’ll be fine.”

“I’ll stay, just please don’t make me help. I’ll make phone calls or run errands. Anything but…”

“Okay. Calm down. She’s just picked up a bug or something. Haven’t you ever been sick? I didn’t know you had a phobia of sickness, Beau.”

“It reminds me of my mother.” He said sadly.

Jesse hugged him. “I’m sorry, Beau. I know how hard losing her was.” She pushed him toward the door. Now go with Jimmy and get us some food, Nyquil and a thermometer. I’ll text it to you so you don’t forget. Oh, and soup for Lacey for later.”

They opened the bus door to find a large group of the crew, stage and band members standing outside waiting to hear how Lacey was doing.

“How is she?” Stan, the stage manager asked. It was obvious that Lacey was cared for. Jesse’s heart was touched.

“She’s burning up with fever. Must have caught a bug. We’re staying here tonight with her, and I’m calling the doctor. We’ll take good care of her, guys. Promise.”

“Alright, well, if you need anything for her, let us know. We’ll be glad to help out.”

“Thanks, Stan. I’ll let her know you were all asking about her.”

Jesse shook her head. Lacey had made quite an extended impression on this tour. Everyone loved her. Some just didn’t grasp the extent of it yet. She looked down the hallway where Dalton sat on the edge of the bed next to Lacey just watching her.

She sighed. She was exhausted and ready for a shower and bed, but Lacey had never let her down. She wasn’t about to let her down either.

She pulled out her phone and called Dr. Alexander on his home phone, thankful that one of the perks of this job allowed for them to have a doctor on call.

“Doc says to ply her with fluids and keep the ibuprofen in her ever six hours. If we can’t get the fever to break tonight, we’ll have to take her in to the ER tomorrow.” Jesse watched as Dalton wiped Lacey’s forehead with the cloth.

“She’s going to be fine, D. You’ll see.” His frown told her he wasn’t convinced of that.

“Why don’t you go lie down. I’ll watch out for her.”

“I don’t want to leave her. Do you mind if I bunk in your bed tonight? You can sleep in mine.”

“That’s fine, but call me if you need me. I don’t mind getting up, okay?”

“Okay. I will.” He continued to watch her.

“You’re a good guy, Dalton Gentry.” She told him before she left the room.

A weary smile crossed his face. “Yeah, just don’t let it get out. It would tarnish my bad boy rep.”

“Your secret is safe with me, booty boy.” She teased him with the term his fans had dubbed his rocking backside.

He threw a pillow at her retreating back.

A few hours later Dalton sat straight up in bed. Something had woken him. He looked over at Lacey. She was moaning and thrashing in her blankets. He jumped out of bed scared out of his mind.

“Jesse! Come quick. Hurry up.”

Jesse stumbled into the room taking in the scene. Dalton looked panicked standing over Lacey. Lacey was withering in her half-state of sleep, moaning.

“Let me see her, D.” She pushed him aside to get closer.

Up close she could see Lacey was sweating profusely.

“Her fever has broken, D. That’s a good thing. See? She’s sweating it out. That’s why she’s uncomfortable. Let’s get her changed out of her wet clothes and into a clean t-shirt. Then we can wipe her down with the washcloth again. That will help her feel more comfortable.”

Relief flooded Dalton’s face. He hugged Jesse tightly, lifting her slightly off the ground.

“Thank God! Thank you!” He kissed her forehead. “She had me scared there for a minute.” He admitted.

“She’s going to be fine. Let’s get her comfortable.”

They removed her damp clothing put on a clean t-shirt. Dalton had never undressed a woman without sex being involved. It was strange how he just wanted to protect Lacey. He wanted to take her pain away for her.

They settled her back onto the bed and Dalton once again washed her forehead and face with the cool cloth.

“Dalton.” Lacey whispered.

His hand stilled. “I’m here, Lace. I’m not going anywhere.” He leaned down and kissed her forehead.

“I love you.” Her words were a shock to his soul. His hand stayed suspended mid-air as he digested her words.

“Go to sleep, Lace. You need your rest.”

She settled into her pillow and blanket to Dalton’s satisfaction. He sat down on the bed across from her with his head in his hands.

“What have I done?” he whispered to himself.