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“I remember wondering where all the people had gone. I tried to stand, but it was a little difficult. Then Walter said some things I still don’t understand. The next thing I know, I was on my back, and he was trying to force himself on me.”
“Oh my God, I didn’t mean for you to relive that. I’m so sorry.”
“No, you wanted the truth about the business. I got lucky. My family stepped in to handle Walter, and I never heard from or saw him again,” I say.
“But he violated you,” she says with tears in her eyes.
“No, he didn’t. Walter didn’t know I have a certain set of skills. I hadn’t had enough of the champagne to knock me out or incapacitate me.
“When the shock wore off, I kicked his ass and got him off me. That’s when Matthew came into my life. I’ve never run into a situation like that again.”
“You mean, the handsome guy with the green eyes?”
I give her a smile. “You checking out my manager?”
She giggles. “No, ma’am. He’s just very handsome. Um, can I tell you something?”
“Yes, I’m a safe place.”
“I’ve learned something that I know will hurt my family. It will change so much for so many people. I don’t know how to tell them, so I’m thinking I should leave.
“I was thinking I could go and sing and do what you did, start my life over. Find myself. I’ve never left Texas. I wouldn’t know what to watch for or how to avoid bad men like the one who tried to hurt you.
“Maybe, that’s just a bad idea. I probably wouldn’t make it pass the auditions anyway,” she murmurs the last part into her lap.
“Jess, look at me,” I say gently.
She lifts her head and locks those greenish blue eyes on me. I point across the room. “Go grab that guitar over there and bring it over here so you can play for me,” I say.
Her eyes round in shock. Then she jumps up and runs for the guitar. She nearly trips over her own feet as she returns.
I pinch my lips to keep from laughing at her. She sits and looks lost for a moment. I tilt my head to the side and study her.
“What’s wrong?” I ask after a few beats.
“I don’t know what to play?”
“Always go with something in your range. Then pick something that’s in our heart. Something you can sing with your all,” I offer.
She nods and tucks her dirty blonde curly hair behind her ear. I give her time to think and figure it out. Then she begins to play the opening cords of one of my songs.
I lift a brow. This isn’t an easy one. It’s at the top of my range. My mouth falls open when she begins to sing.
This baby has it. She sounds beautiful. Although I’m in awe of the emotions she places in the song.
It’s a song about betrayal and heartbreak. I close my eyes and begin to sway as she sings the song almost better than I do. Her voice is raw but trainable, and she plays well too.
“I’m sorry I butchered your song,” she says when she abruptly stops.
I open my eyes and look at her. “You did no such thing. You made me proud, Jess. That was amazing. If you really want to come to New York, I’d be happy to help you.”
“Really? You mean that?”
“I’m not saying to run away from your family like I did, but if you want to come after you work things out here, my door is always open,” I reply.
She places the guitar down and launches herself at me. Wrapping her arms around my neck tightly, she gives me a squeeze. I hug her back and palm the back of her head.
“Thanks, Auntie Cakes. I think you’ve more than earned the honor.”
I chuckle and give her a squeeze. For the next few hours, we sit and talk like two old friends. Jess grows on me with each passing second.
Trevor
“I was surprised to get your call. Although Tasha had been grumbling about me calling you. She wants me to do this for you,” Paige says.
I lift a brow. No one will tell me what happened during my walk with Sammy. I get the feeling Donna stopped by, but I don’t know what she did or said. However, I get the sense she pissed everyone off, which isn’t hard for her to do.
“I’m glad you both could come out and meet with me,” I say to her and Bobby as we sit in this steakhouse having dinner.
“Do you mind me asking what changed your mind?” Paige asks.
“A number of things. It’s all been adding up for a while. I want to move on with my life.
“I can’t pursue what I want with this hanging over my head. Before I can make amends where I need to, Donna has to be gone,” I reply.
