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Bubba went on. “My brother wouldn’t even have this joint or be President of this gang if it weren’t for me. See, I loaned him a couple million dollars.” He snorted. “He’s lucky I’ve used his life story and name. Made some money with it. If he’d had the fame from being infamous, he’d have just ended up back in prison. Well, he did at first.”
“Really?”
“Yeah, first time he got out, he came straight to my house and shot me.”
My hand went to my chest. “He shot you?”
“Yeah, Maddie. I told you. Prison changes a man. Kingpin’s crazy. But I didn’t press charges. He did the time the state of Tennessee reckoned he should, and then I forgave him. Loaned him the money for this place.”
I smiled at Bubba’s words, but my heart longed to hear all this from the real Beau. My nerves prickled as Bubba helped me out of the car. Behind us, a line of cars followed. Bubba had brought out a slew of folks from the award show. Nobody as famous as him though.
Wondering why Bubba would bring so many people here if it was a bad place, I stepped into a tinier version of a fancy Vegas casino. Corey and I had had our honeymoon in Vegas, but I didn’t see very many naked women like I did now. I wiped my ex from my mind as I looked around at the neon lights. Them coupled with the wail of a fiddle reminded me we were in Nashville. Nashville with topless women serving drinks.
One of them came up to Bubba and swooned. “Don’t get jealous,” he said to me.
I laughed. As if. I’d not been jealous of all the women who threw themselves at Bubba. I knew in my heart it was a sure sign I didn’t have real feelings for him. I’d been living a lie, waiting to see the real deal.
The earth spun when Bubba asked me if I was ready, and we made our way across the bar to greet Beau. Feeling like I’d pass out, I clung to Bubba’s arm. I kept my eyes peeled for a man who looked like the country star but in a leather vest that said President. Bubba stopped to talk to a gorgeous specimen of a man with long dark hair and a big beard. His shirt off, he was delicious, littered with black tattoos and jewelry. Strangely, his leather pants were unbuttoned and his feet were bare. With the way he held himself and spoke to Bubba, I assumed he was someone just as famous, but a rock star or an eccentric actor, by the looks of him. We’d encountered so many impressive people all evening, and I’d been simply clueless, so I hung back. Waiting to be introduced, I tried to place this stunning guy who couldn’t take his eyes off me.
Then Bubba said, “Brother.” Flooring me.
“Beau, it’s been so long,” I barely got out.
My Beau Strick looked nothing like the handsome Country Star at my side. Nothing like the wild teenager I fell in love with either. Though just as sexy in his own way, he was the exact opposite of Bubba. Picturing him on a Harley, it all made sense. What made even more sense, his dark eyes cut me. Beau was just as angry as I imagined he would be.
“You said you’d wait for me.”
My body trembled. My heart ached. I couldn’t utter a word. This was my Beau, full of passion. We had a history. This was the man who’d loved me first. The look in his eyes screamed he still loved me. He got up on the bar stool and talked to the mob of people. No wonder I thought he was famous. Clearly the authority here, Kingpin quieted the crowd with one word. They hung on his every breath.
When he told his brother he’d be damned if he’d let him have me, his girl. I couldn’t take it anymore. I ran across the room to join the ladies I’d gotten close to the last two weeks. Hannah and Amber worked for Bubba as his publicist and assistant. I cried on Hannah’s shoulder. Thankfully, when the fight broke out, the women whisked me away to the ladies’ room to hide. It wasn’t long before a loud crash brought us out. Everyone had stopped fighting. They looked to the bar where the noise originated. I ran to it, knowing one of the men I cared for was behind it. Looking over the bar, I saw Beau ready to punch Bubba’s lights out.
“Stop,” I cried.
Glancing up at me, he did just that. Two scantily clad women appeared, checking on the real Beau. Doting on him, they got him away from his brother. The blonde went to dap the cut under his eye. The brunette waved her gun, and threatened Bubba’s crew. Ignoring them, Beau took my arm, but he began speaking to everyone else, like he’d deal with me when he could.
“Like I told you, Opry. Party’s over. Get this shit cleaned up.”
Harsh lights flipped on and shined overhead. Folks started filtering out. Bikers and half naked women gathered and started cleaning up the mess around us like this happened all the time. Bubba’s men got him off the floor like it was nothing new as well. I was glad to see my date was alive. But he was in no shape to see if I was alright. As his crew took him out, Hannah came over and asked if I wanted to head out with them.
Kingpin told her he’d be taking me home.
I nodded my head. “It’s okay,” I tried to reassure her. “Kingpin’s an old friend.”
“Friend, my ass,” he said. “Maddie’s my woman. Tell your boy to back off.”
Kingpin took me to a booth to talk. He let go of my arm, slinging me into the seat.
“I’m not your woman,” I said, first thing.
“That’s bullshit, Maddie. You know it. After all these years you show up with Bubba. You fucked him.”
“How do you know? And what business is it of yours?” I squealed.
“You were saving yourself for me, Maddie.”
“I suppose you’re single?”
“Why yes, I am. I’ve had many chances to tie the knot, but there’s only one girl I’ve ever loved.”
