Every Heart Sings (Serenity Island Series) (17 page)

“Sounds like a difference of opinion over your creative direction.”

“Exactly. That’s what I’ve tried to tell him, but he won’t listen to me. Ben wants me to keep moving in the direction I’ve always moved—big rock anthems. He thinks my fans will only stay with me if I continue to produce more of the same. The high-energy rock ballads with the pop dance moves.”

“What do you think?”

“I think I need to do something a little different.”

“Something like what?”

Josh rubbed the back of his neck. “I’ve got a few ideas about going back to where I started. I want to write music like I used to write for other musicians before I hit it big. Music like I wrote for Luke and a few others.”

“Well, be prepared to lose money. I don’t know how much you rake in now, but, it’s going to be significantly lower. Maybe even zilch.”

He laughed. “Why do you say that?”

“Because Luke never really made any big money. And nothing has come in for years on his albums.”

“That can’t be right. Tony and Grace should be drawing a modest income from those royalties—maybe not rock-n-roll dollars, but still. I just played his most famous song at my last concert. That’s a bill of ten large.”

“Ten thousand dollars?”

“Yeah.”

“Then where the hell is the money going? Because Grace and Tony haven’t seen any of it.”

“I plan to find out. I asked Ben to research it.” His voice sounded tight with frustration when he mentioned his manager’s name. Certainly they had a more turbulent relationship than Josh was willing to admit.

He marched away from her, stalking toward the marina.

Jordan knew all about bad managers and the churning waves created by differences of opinion on creative direction from her parents’ management, or rather, mismanagement of her career.

“Wait. I thought you didn’t want Ben to know you were here?”

“He still doesn’t know where I’m staying. Besides, this is more important than my peace and quiet. You don’t fuck with a performer’s royalties. I don’t care who you are.”

She ran after him. Shit. This would not end well.

For either of them.

“Hey, Ben. Imagine seeing you here. I thought you went home. Dude, what did you do to yourself?” Josh kneeled next to Ben and laid a hand on his wet shoulder. “You okay?”

“Drove the Winnebago back today from Charlotte.” Ben gulped big breaths and shook his head violently. Then he groaned again. “No. Sick as a dog.”

“Man, what were you thinking? Getting on a boat that size in the ocean. You have a problem on the band bus.”

“Don’t I know it? Shit. Thought it would be a fun way to divert time. Wore the damned patch. It didn’t help.”

“Probably needed a stronger dose for the wide-open ocean.”

Ben pushed himself off the dock and stumbled to his feet.

“Whoa, there.” Josh steadied him and pushed him back to a seated position on the dock. “You need to just sit a few minutes.”

“Everything is still moving. Up and down. Up and down.”

Josh peered at Salty, who still stood in the boat. “Rough water out there today?” he asked.

“You could say we had choppy seas.” Salty grinned.

Josh raised his eyebrows and looked back out at the ocean, which seemed pretty calm right now. He had no idea what Salty had done and he wasn’t sure he wanted to find out.

He sat on the dock next to Ben. They sat in silence a few seconds. Ben with his eyes closed, Josh looking out at the water. Jordan stood by Salty, talking softly.

“Ben, did you find anything out about the royalties for Luke’s music?”

Ben flinched, but remained quiet.

The man must still be riding the ocean swells. Wasn’t a feeling Josh envied. Nothing worse.

“No, man. I’ve been a little too busy trying to catch up with you to dig up anything more on that issue.”

Anger bit into Josh’s gut and shook, yanking back and forth for all it was worth like an animal trying to take a piece out of his hide. He could barely hold himself still. Damn it. He’d asked Ben several times to look into this issue with Luke’s royalties.

It took a tremendous amount of willpower to keep Josh seated casually on the dock, hands behind him propping him up, feet flat on the weathered boards, instead of verbally tearing into his business manager.

Salty spoke up behind them. “Jordan and I both know a good entertainment lawyer. I could have her look into it for you.”

Josh caught Salty’s shrewd look and considered him. “Sure. Why don’t you do that, since Ben’s been busy.”

“No. No.” Ben pushed himself to his feet. “I got this. Seriously. I need to go rest a bit, let this seasickness wear off. But I’ll make some calls and let you know. I’ve got to warn you, it might take some digging, though. Where are you staying?”

Josh wasn’t going there yet. No matter how many times Ben tried. “Give me a call when you find something. I’ll meet you at The Down Dog Café.

“Deal,” Ben said, and squinted at him before stumbling away. He picked his way gingerly along the boardwalk up to more solid ground of the parking area where he crawled into a rented golf cart and peeled out.

“You think he’ll be okay to drive?” Jordan asked.

“I’ve seen him drive under much bigger influences than seasickness. I think he’ll be just fine,” Josh said. When he turned around, both Salty and Jordan watched him in silence. “Were you telling the truth when you said you had a friend who was an entertainment lawyer? Or were you blowing smoke?” he said.

“Nope, I spoke truth. Actually, it’s Jordan’s entertainment lawyer, Caitlin Kitteridge.”

“Can you call her and check into this for me? I need an answer—the truth—as soon as possible. In the meantime, I’ve got a bang-up grand opening to plan for the music café.”

“Will do. Not a problem. Caitlin might not be happy to hear from me, but she owes me. Unless you’d like to call her?” he asked Jordan. Salty shrugged, like a man resigned to dealing with a difficult female.

“Nope. I’m good. The farther I stay away from this issue right now, the better. Because when I do get involved, whoever did this to Tony and Grace is going to pay. Big time.”

Josh knew the feeling. He glanced at Jordan. She wore a stubborn expression. He’d want blood if this had been his relatives. As it was, he wanted justice for Luke and his family. “I understand.”

“You’re really going to do this? Push the issue with an entertainment lawyer?” Jordan faced off with Josh, toe to toe. “Shit.” She squeezed her eyes shut and pinched the bridge of her nose. “You know this is going to blow wide open, don’t you? This could be really bad shit.”

He gripped her shoulders and pulled her into his chest. She fell into him with a grunt. “No. The situation is not going to blow sky high, I promise. I trust Ben. We’ll give him some time to do his thing first. He’ll make a few inquiries. You wait and see, this is just going to be some simple misunderstanding. Nothing more than a paperwork glitch.”

“You’re not really that naïve, right? Someone is stealing money. I can damned well guarantee it.” She mumbled into his shirt. “Fuck. Great. Just great. I just don’t want to be anywhere close when the stars are knocked from your eyes, buddy. It’s going to be nasty.”

He held her at arm’s length. “Look at me. It’s going to be fine. I know Ben. He’s like family to me. Have a little faith, Jordan.”

“Ha. Yeah. Family is the worst.” Bitterness made her words bite.

Josh understood where her trust issues came from. “It’ll be fine, you’ll see.”

“And if it’s not? If this blows up and it’s something big? There will be media coverage. They’ll track Tony and Grace here. They’ll find me.” She sounded panicked. Her breathing shallow, her words pinging like staccato bullets.

Ah . . . so that’s really what it was all about.

The media finding her. The café, digging for answers to Luke’s money. Both scared her because she was worried the world would find her.

“Then we’ll deal with it. Together. You can do this. We’ll do this together. You’ll be fine. And if you want to open that fancy theater you’re planning, you’re going to have to get over yourself soon anyway, right? Learn to deal with the media.”

“What fancy theater?” Salty asked behind them, his voice held a spark of curiosity. Josh had forgotten his presence.

“Damn it, Josh.” She slapped his shoulder. “You’ve got to out me to the whole village?”

“It’s not the whole village. It’s Salty.”

She narrowed her eyes. “Obviously you don’t know the gossipy ways of the men in Serenity very well, do you? Men are the biggest gossips here.” She looked over her shoulder.

Salty held up his hand. “I won’t say a word. Hand to God.”

“Right. This from the man who doesn’t believe in God. Sorry, Salt. Nice try.”

“Hey, I never said I didn’t believe . . .” His voice trailed off.

“You didn’t have to. We all know. It’s hard when you lose someone you love.”

Salty growled. “When did this become about me, damn it.” He shook his finger at her. “Oh, I’m on to you, missy. Trying to redirect so I miss the best piece of news since Josh stepped onto the island and bought your café. No deal. Spill it.”

Josh nudged her with his shoulder. She glanced over at him. She really hated this. But it was good for her.

“I’m thinking of renovating the cannery.”

“Making it into a theater? Jordan, that’s brilliant.” Salty rubbed his palms together briskly.

“Yeah. But it’s just a dream right now. I don’t have the capital to build this yet. I’m only meeting with an architect to talk about plans.”

“Build it and they will come, isn’t that what they say?” Salty said.

“Ah, Salt, that’s not the way general contracting usually works these days, especially in a down economy. Everyone wants everything upfront.” Jordan studied the wooden decking.

Salty hopped off the boat and brushed past them, up the dock toward town.

“Where are you going?” she asked in a suspicious tone.

“Ah, I’ve got a library book I forgot to return.”

“Damn it, Salt. Please, don’t go spreading the word yet. I’m not sure . . .”

“Hell, girl, if you’re talking about it, that’s progress enough for us. Everyone will want to know.” He rushed off without looking back.

“Shit. Why’d you have to go and do that?”

“In for a penny?” They watched Salty go. The tall, surfer boy looked less nonchalant and more focused than Josh had ever seen him. “There’s no turning back now.”

“That’s exactly what I was afraid of, damn it.”

Chapter 14

Family Matters & Café Prep

Jordan hated nothing more than being backed into a corner. It’s what her mother had done to her repeatedly over the years. But this time, it was her own doing. She should’ve never told Josh about the cannery. Now the whole town knew.

She’d met with the architect the week before and they’d laid out a multi-step plan for renovations for the cannery that would give them a nice functional space to start, but would allow them to enhance it over the years as money came available.

Jordan wasn’t interested in sinking all her money into this project, but she wanted something nice to start. She’d put money in trust for Tony’s education, the rest, she’d use to begin this project. It would at least get them started, especially since contractors on the island had called in favors when they heard about the project—they were donating supplies and man-hours.

She’d put a cap on the volunteer hours. This was a livelihood for most of these men. They couldn’t afford to give it away for free. Each man could give ten free hours, then they’d start paying them the going hourly rate. Not that she had any hope of keeping to that rule with Hank in charge. But she had to try.

She was at home today, sitting on her screened-in back porch overlooking the water. Sea oats swayed in the gentle breeze. Her property was bordered on both sides by maritime forest—a low canopy of live oak, laurel oak, and red cedar.

The café was closed for two days to complete Josh’s improvements so the music café would open on time. The Open Mic night was scheduled for Saturday. Tomorrow night.

A knock sounded at the back screen door.

Josh peeked through the screen, hand shading his eyes to see inside on a sunny summer day. He waved when he saw her. “Hi. There you are.”

She motioned him in. “I haven’t seen you in a couple of days.”

“Nah. I’ve been putting finishing touches on the album and planning the café re-opening event for tomorrow.”

“Would you like a drink?” She pointed to the sweating pitcher of lemonade on the patio table. An overhead fan stirred the air, helping the shaded space to remain cool in the heat.

“Sure. Just wanted to check in on you. Make sure you were okay with everything going on at the café. You’ve been rather absent since I made the decision last week.”

“I don’t love the idea. But I haven’t been avoiding the café because of it.”

“Are you sure?”

She studied him. “I’m not sure of anything these days. You’ve kind of thrown everything into chaos here.”

Josh laughed. “It’s kind of what I do.”

She smiled at him. “Yeah, I bet you were always like this.”

He looked as if he were considering her statement. “Yes, I’d have to say, yes. I’ve always been this way. Ask my mom.”

“I’d like to.”

“You might get your chance.”

“Really?”

“Yeah, she and my sisters are coming for the grand re-opening of the café, if they can get away.”

“Nice. I can’t wait to see the women who formed you.” She made patterns in the beaded water on the outside of her lemonade glass. “Are you keeping the name of the café?” Jordan covered her eyes, like she didn’t really want to know.

“Yes. I’m keeping the island tradition. The Down Dog has been around forever, it’s an island staple. So I wanted to honor island tradition. And all the hard work you did. The café name will stay the same. I’ve just added a guitar to the logo.”

She laughed and blushed, embarrassed by the compliment. “The logo change sounds cute.” She brushed off the rest of his comment. “I didn’t do much with the café.”

“That’s not true. You’ve kept the café running under duress.”

“Not quite duress. Times have been hard, but they’ve been hard everywhere. More so here, because it’s harder to get to. The economy is bad. People are traveling and vacationing less.”

“And that’s why the music café is going to be such a hit. Those with money are still traveling. People who love music love music. They go anywhere to get what they want. They’re rabid. And they want the escape we’re providing.”

“Ha. I bet you’ve found out just how rabid.”

“You have no idea.” He shook his head with a bemused expression. “But that’s not why I’m here. Not really.”

She stretched her legs out in front of her.

He followed her movement, his gaze stroking down her legs as sure as any physical touch. He sucked in a sharp breath. “Damn, girl. How do you do that to me? Every single time. This attraction between us, it’s explosive. I’ve known a lot of women over my adult lifetime—”

“I’m sure you have.” She put up a hand. “I don’t think I want to know. Just like you don’t want to know about my wild teenage exploits.”

“You’re right. The past is behind us. But I have never experienced chemistry like ours.”

She arched a brow at him, a smile on her lips, curious to know if he was telling her the truth or feeding her a line.

“What? Have you?” His eyes were sober and a little wary.

Her Cheshire Cat grin faded. He was telling her the truth. “Well, no. Not this strong.” And she hadn’t. Ever. Not magnetism so strong that it pulled you off-course.

He nodded seemingly satisfied with her answer, like he was glad he wasn’t the only one. “Okay, then. That’s my point, exactly.”

“So why are you here today, Josh?” She clasped her hands over her abdomen, and relaxed back into her chair.

“Well. First, I wanted to make sure you’re okay because you’ve been avoiding me.”

“I said I haven’t been avoiding you. And I don’t lie. Ever. Promise.” She held her hand over her heart, like she was pledging allegiance or something.

“Okay, so you say.” He rested his elbows on his knees and considered her. “Second, I needed to make sure you’re going to be okay with the crowd I’m drawing to the grand opening. It’s important that we launch this right.” He pulled on his earlobe, holding her gaze as if he could pull the truth out of her.

Her gut squeezed at his words. “I’m sure I’m not going to like whoever it is you’re inviting to the opening. I don’t want to do this. Period. However, it’s best for Serenity. So do it up right, cowboy.”

She tried to give him an encouraging smile even though it made her feel sick to the stomach just to think about the media types who would be drawn to the island like ants to a mound of sugar candy.

He settled his strong stubble-covered jaw onto his fist and bit the corner of his bottom lip, his eyes squinted as he studied her response. He must have found something there he wanted to see, because he continued. “That brings me to the third reason. Caitlin called me back with preliminary information. Luke had some bad contracts. And wait until you hear this . . . his manager was Ben.”

“What?” Her voice rose.

“Just wait a second. There’s a good explanation. I talked with Ben. He admitted to signing Luke and handing him over to his assistant, that’s why he didn’t remember the details. Said the issue with Luke’s contract was a fluke. Something about using an old template. I believe him.”

“Have you looked at your own contracts to verify his statement?” She didn’t want to disillusion Josh, but he had to take this to its logical conclusion. Couldn’t he see what was going on here?

“All my contracts are solid. I made sure from the beginning.” Color flushed up his neck and onto his high cheekbones. Even under the olive complexion, she could see his anger rising. “I trust Ben.” His words were clipped and short. “He’s like family to me.”

“You can’t trust your gut when it comes to your business, Josh. I’m telling you from experience. Family or not. Trust, but verify.” There was a steely edge to her voice that had been honed by the sharp point of self-experience.

“Okay. Yes, I checked an older contract I’d saved on my computer. It looked good. I don’t have the others with me.” Josh rubbed his neck and looked out through the screen to the ocean beyond. He remained silent a long moment. “Ben has been family to me—the only family I’ve had in L.A. And the only male figure in my life since my grandfather walked away from me. He would never do something like this to me . . .” He shook his head, his voice confident. “There has to be some simple explanation. Ben wouldn’t do anything like this, not in a million years.”

“Famous last words. Believe me, dude, I’ve been there.”

“Like I said, I trust him. But if he did do this intentionally, I’ll deal with it. No one screws me or those I care about.”

He looked stern and just a little sad. She just wanted to comfort him. “Good.” Jordan stood and walked to him.

He finally turned to her. She knelt before him, resting her hands on his knees. The denim fabric felt course under her fingertips as she brushed her hands up and down his thighs to offer some comfort. “I know. It’s hard. But it’s going to be okay. You’ll find out the truth and you’ll make it right.”

He leaned forward, placing his hands over hers. “I have no idea how you did this at sixteen.” He shook his head again. “I barely feel like I have the strength to see my way through this thing with Luke and Ben, and I’m thirty six. Twenty years older than you were then and I’m not even firing anyone, I’m just making inquiries. How the hell did you find the balls to fire your parents as your managers at such a young age?”

She shrugged. Her mouth trembled. Someone got it.

Really understood how hard it had been to stand alone—the sole voice against her own parents.

“You are an amazing woman.”

“You do what you have to when you have to do it.”

“Yeah, but that took tremendous courage.”

“Yes, it did.” She stared into his blue eyes, feeling like she was drowning in a tranquil sea. She couldn’t resist this man. He was sucking her in. He wasn’t just a pretty face, he had a heart of gold, and he cared. “I knew that my parents’ management of my career was killing me. They’d taken almost everything I’d earned at that point and I had nothing to show for it. It flowed in and out like water. No reservoir. No planning for the eventuality that I wouldn’t have the same career.”

“How did you not let the betrayal crush you?”

“I’d grown a tough skin against my mom and dad at that point.”

He shook his head, lips drawn in a tight line. “No. I’ve seen you with your mom. Her comments still penetrate your skin.”

A tear leaked down her cheek. She swiped it away. “Yeah, her comments still bite. I try really hard to keep them from taking root. But her voice lives in my head.”

“I’d hope that you’ve begun to hear your own voice above hers. Especially now that you’re beginning to pursue what you love—the theater again. With your work with the Serenity Misfits and the kids at PIC-U. You’ve begun exploring what
you
wanted again.”

She smiled, lifting her hand to his cheek, rubbing it over the stubble on his jaw. “Yes, I have begun to experiment and explore a little tentatively, in a limited way. But you’ve pushed me further and faster than I’d been comfortable with.”

He pulled her up and onto his lap and lifted her face to his with a finger under her chin. “If you’re not ready for the café opening, you don’t have to come. Hide for the night, I understand. If you want to hold on to your anonymity here on the island.”

Her heart broke. Everything Josh had worked for in his career was on the line tomorrow night.

She couldn’t let him face that alone.

No matter how afraid she was to face the media and expose herself to the world again. She needed to be there to support him. He’d be debuting the lead single for his album. His new voice and new direction for this project. He’d need moral support.

“No. I wouldn’t miss it for anything. I want to be there to support you.” Her fingers trembled as she removed them from his face.

He captured her hand, pressed it to his lips, then held it to his heart. She felt the strong, steady rhythm of him thrumming under her palm. His heat warmed her and his pulse beat in tandem with her own. “That makes me supremely happy.” He touched his lips to hers.

She melted.

His mouth moved against hers, silky and warm.

He tasted so damned yummy. She moaned as he tunneled his fingers into her loose hair.

Jordan tried to remind herself why she’d been resisting Josh . . . why it was so important to not give into this combustible sexual energy between them. She came up empty. They’d all dissolved somewhere over the past few weeks. Not one thought or reason pushed its way through the sexual fog that clouded her brain.

She straddled him and wound her arms around his neck to deepen the kiss. Her nipples tingled as she brushed them against his chest. She moaned again as she arched into him, scratching an itch that had been there ever since he’d stepped into her café that first day almost a month ago.

His hands caressed down her back and tunneled under her T-shirt to find bare skin. He lifted her top. She let him pull it over her head. She was done resisting this bad-boy rock star. She’d been his since the first day he’d arrived, whether she’d been willing to admit it or not. And she wanted . . . what? What did she want?

She wanted to give and receive pleasure. That’s what she wanted. But only with this sexy man. She didn’t know what the future held. And she didn’t care.

Josh would go back to his world.

Serenity was just a short diversion, one temporary stop, on the stage that was Josh’s life—a life on performance steroids, where he lived from one high to the next. A high that had nothing to do with drugs, but had everything to do with moving from one performance to the next.

She got it.

Jordan, better than anyone, understood Josh’s lifestyle.

And none of that mattered right now. What mattered was what she was feeling, what he was feeling. This quiet moment on the back porch of her house, surrounded by sea salt and the cry of gulls, where connection with this man was the most important thing in her existence.

Josh gripped her hips and rocked her back and forth against him. She felt the movement at her core as her clit rubbed against her panties and the rough material of her shorts and the granite-like resistance of his erection. She gasped.

He palmed her breast, stroking his thumb over her hard nipple. He kissed her through the lace of her bra. Moist heat lanced from her nipple and arced through her, making her arch against him. Her head fell back, her hair brushing her bare back. He released the front clasp of her bra. Air rushed to caress her damp flesh.