Part 22 (1/2)

”His a.s.shole board of directors sent that guy behind Mason's back to make sure he closed the deal. When Revell reported back about your arrangement, they decided to take it into their own hands.” Jax tilted his chin, daring her to call him a liar. Realization slid from her scalp down her back like an ice cube.

”He didn't know,” she whispered. Not a question. A statement of understanding. ”But what about Tina?”

Jax frowned. ”What about her?”

”She was working with the GEM guy. Before and after I let her go. She acted like it was no big deal. She understood. Blah, blah, blah. Did Mason know she was stabbing me in the back?”

He laughed. She scowled back. ”I'm pretty sure Mason would have shut that s.h.i.+t down if he'd found out. He made his feelings about you pretty clear. After LA, he sent an email to Joe, saying he was withdrawing GEM's proposal, and you were a far better choice for the band. Sounds like he withdrew because someone from his company interfered and broke your agreement. Seems fair to me.”

The acid in Kevan's belly threatened to crawl back up. ”Then why did he leave me and the tour? Why didn't he stay and explain?”

Had she even given him the chance to explain?

”Don't you think you owe it to him to find out? Do you love him?”

She nodded. She had a.s.sumed Mason was betraying her, and he'd let her think it. She had proved she didn't trust him, and that's all he'd ever asked of her.

”Then you need to go after him, make this right.”

”Even if I do love him, Jax, we're so different. Each time I put myself out there, I get screwed. Every time. What if it's me?”

”Stop with the pity party, Kevan. It's not your style. Sometimes you have to take the big risk. Did you really ever put yourself out there for f.u.c.king what's-his-professor-jacka.s.s-name? You're better off without him, but did you?”

”No, I didn't. But this right here is the exact reason I don't get my hopes up.”

”If it wasn't meant to be, it wasn't meant to be. And honestly, Mason would have to be a f.u.c.king dolt not to want you. You're the full package-sweet, s.e.xy as h.e.l.l, smart, the real deal.” Jax leaned over and kissed her cheek. ”I'm not even sure he deserves you. But someday I hope someone looks at me the way you looked at him.”

”I really screwed it up, didn't I?”

”Hey, I don't know. But I gotta get onstage. Think about what I said.” Jax turned to walk out the door before she grabbed his hand and tugged him back. She wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him in tight for a hug.

”Thank you. For everything.”

Two hours later, Kevan was in the middle of the end-of-tour party in a casino hotel restaurant. Still nursing a hangover, she sipped her standard cranberry juice, trying to hold a conversation with the record exec from the hardcore label. His name was Benji or Banjo or something. He was clearly interested in the band and had even been talking to Joe about a full alb.u.m and supporting tour after h.e.l.lfire.

Everything she and Mason had worked so hard to accomplish for the band had happened. They'd increased their fan base, they'd engaged fans in the different communities they played, and she'd managed to ramp-up both their traditional and social media engagement. They'd even exposed Manix to new markets by visiting college campuses and playing free, impromptu acoustic sets.

Yep, they'd been so successful. But at what cost? Was a broken heart worth their success?

Unfortunately for Kevan, she was no closer to coming to a conclusion about what to do about Mason and the whole d.a.m.n kerfuffle than she had been after the conversation with Jax. She looked up from Brody? Benson? Bailey? Yes, Bailey. He slurred his words as his gla.s.sy eyes appraised her and he raised a beer to his lips. He liked her. He'd told her so with both his words and his grabby hands. Thought she was a ”pretty little thing.” Said they should celebrate Manix Curse in style back in his suite at the Circus Circus. Yeah. Like that was gonna happen.

He wasn't bad looking. Actually, he was kind of cute, and she wanted nothing but to forget all about the big bear of a man that haunted her every thought. Maybe she could lose herself in some random affection. Bailey looked at her expectantly. He must've said something and was looking for a response. Should she give her demure, coy smile? Or the more overtly s.e.xual one? Or, how about the polite one that said she was flattered but not interested?

No matter how she tried to focus on what was happening around her, in that very moment, she couldn't stop thinking of Mason. Mason hadn't lied to her. Mason hadn't thrown her under the bus. Mason hadn't tried to ruin her. In fact, he'd walked away from the whole arrangement and basically handed her the band. Why hadn't he tried to explain? Why just leave without a fight?

Maybe she was the one at fault. She'd expected his betrayal from the beginning. And he'd known that. Her sadness and anger had created a toxic c.o.c.ktail she'd swallowed down and spit back at him. Her pain had clouded everything. And she'd chased him away with cruel words and a total lack of faith in him. In them.

d.a.m.n. She jumped up, catching her tottering gla.s.s before spilling juice all over. Understanding seeped into her bones in the midst of giggling fangirls, beer pong, and loud metal music. What had she done? Mason hadn't run out on her because he was a liar and a cheater. The one man she'd ever truly loved hadn't left her. She'd left him before he could do it to her.

Across the room, Jax must have caught the perplexed look on her face, because he gently patted the girl on his lap, and she stood, pouting. He smiled and kissed her cheek, then walked toward Kevan with a smug look on his handsome face.

”Well, gorgeous, are we done here or what?”

”I think so.”

”Took you long enough. Let's get the f.u.c.k out of here and get your a.s.s home.”

Chapter 24.

Mason's plan was now clear, his path defined. Using his hands-free phone system, he called Joe.

”I was two seconds from calling you,” Joe said, followed by a good-natured chuckle.

”Yeah? What about?”

”A meeting. Want to talk to you about the tour and look at our options.”

They spent a few minutes catching up on the end of the tour and discussed the possible recording contract. Joe was a good guy. He really seemed to have the band's best interests at heart.

”You know, I'm wondering when you're going to ask about Kevan.” Joe's usual cheerful tone turned serious.

”How is she?” Mason asked, surprised.

”Your girl is walking around like a zombie. She thinks she has everyone fooled, but she's just putting the time in, smiling when appropriate and playing the good marketing and PR rep that she is. Last night, your record guy was pawing and panting all over her. She was polite but then suddenly hopped up and left. Practically ran from the room with Jax.”

A branch of cold dread wound up his spine and squeezed. Mason knew she was home, since an email had popped up on his phone, alerting him of the RV's return. But he hadn't known she'd left with Jax.

”She hasn't called me.” He paused. Perplexed and unsure what move to make next. ”For once in my life, I don't know what to do.”

Mason understood her misery. He lived his own version. He hoped she could hold it together until he could fix all this. If she would let him.

”My suggestion is to grovel, beg, bribe her. Whatever it takes. That girl is special. You know it. I know it.”

Mason laughed. ”Oh, I'm fully aware of Kevan Landry's special something. But I don't know how to fix this.”

”Come to the meeting. Bring your A game.”

Afterward, Mason made a lengthy call to his attorney with some specific instructions regarding his employment termination, as well as some issues about his future plans.

He hung up as he pulled into the parking lot behind Tatuaggio. He reached over to the pa.s.senger seat for the printout he needed and a CD fell out of his bag as he grabbed the beaten leather briefcase-a gift from Jami when he'd received his business degree. He picked up the disc and started to throw it on the seat, when he recognized the pretty rockabilly woman on the cover. Imelda May's Mayhem. Kevan loved Imelda May and had everything she'd ever recorded. He'd admired her lovely voice and the upbeat tempo of the music. Kevan loved her voice but also her style.

He turned the disc over in his hand and recognized Kevan's impatient scrawl on the note taped to the back.

To my own Big, Bad, Handsome Man. This copy is all for you (just like the song). -K Kevan must have bought the CD and slipped it into his briefcase for him to discover at a later date. A surprise. Cunning, sweet girl. She was so...so what? Giving? Considerate? Impulsive? s.e.xy? Beautiful? Yes, yes, yes, and yes. Check all of the above. Even then she'd been thinking about him and his offhanded comment that he liked the music. Had anyone ever paid that much attention to his wants or his interests? No, never. Just her.