When Sparks Fly (38 page)

“Remember the night we met? I was working on Worlds Apart. Then you wanted to hear me sing. The song I sang to you was Allison’s song…” Renee paused.

“The night we met, it wasn’t your abruptness that caused me to cry, it was the call about Allison.”

Blake kissed Renee and held her tight. He was so in love with this woman. He’d been planning a surprise for her, but still had to wait for a few days. He decided to surprise her at intermission of her performance on 4
^th
of July with part of the secret he’d been keeping. The remainder would be announced at the concert end.

The 4
^th
of July celebration was only a week away…three performances until Renee would be the headliner for the evening at the city’s biggest event of the year.

Blake smiled down at Renee.

“I love your smile, Blake, but I know you’re up to something.”

“Moi?”

“Uh huh.”

Renee knew better than to pursue it. She kissed Blake and moved away from his embrace.

“I need to freshen up, Blake. While I do that, would you please grab me something to nibble and a glass of Provocation, please?”

Provocation was the most delicious, sweet, fruity red wine she’d tasted. It paired well with sharp cheddar and toasted garlic buttered baguette. Renee hoped that’s what Blake would bring.

Several of the crowd approached Renee and asked if she’d mind having a photo with them. Others just shook her hand and voiced their thanks for her being there. Some even expressed interest in her charity work.

Renee graciously excused herself and continued inside to make sure her hair and make-up were intact. Looking in the mirror, she saw that the mascara had caked in the corner of one eye. She took care of it and applied a new coat of gloss to her lips and made her way back outside.

Just after shutting the door to the patio, Renee saw Blake holding a plate in one hand and two glasses and a bottle of wine in the other.

Renee led them to the shelter of the arbor where they sat on one of the benches and enjoyed the snack. It was just what Renee wanted…sharp cheddar and garlic buttered toasted baguette.

“Feel better?”

Blake held her hand and looked lovingly at her.

Renee nodded as she took a sip of the wine, savoring the honey-like taste.

“Well, I better get outta here before you make me sing with you.”

Blake took their remains but left Renee’s wine glass after filling it again. He headed toward the trash barrel.

“Whoa, wait a minute. You sing?”

Blake stopped dead in his tracks.

Well, moron, that was the wrong thing to say at the right time. You’ll never learn, will ya?

“It’s about time for you to start.”

Blake smiled and continued walking. Renee assured him this topic would be revisited when they got home.

Renee strapped her guitar around her and began the last set of the night.

“Alright. Now that we’ve all had some wine and something to eat…let’s party!”

‡
Chapter Eleven

“Blake, stop avoiding me, you snot.”

Renee tossed a pillow across the room at Blake. His delightful chuckle played her heart strings.

“What? What do you mean?”

“You know damn well what I mean. You eluded to the fact you may sing. I just wanna know if you do or if you don’t.”

Renee walked over to the divan where Blake was sprawled and sat down beside him. Soon her feet were up and Blake’s arms encircled her.

“I didn’t say I sang, honey. All I said was I’d better get moving or you’d expect me to sing.”

“You’re still avoiding me.”

Blake’s light-hearted ways made Renee love him all the more. She buried her head in the crook of his arm and relaxed. If he wasn’t going to tell her, she wouldn’t pursue it any more.

“Alright,” Blake sighed. “I used to sing with a band, a long time ago. It was in college.”

“Back-up? Did you play an instrument?”

“I played piano and drums…and flute…and fiddle…and guitar.”

Renee’s head sprang from his chest, her eyebrow raised and her liquid amber eyes playfully pierced the midnight blue ones staring back at her.

“You jerk! When were you going to tell me this?”

Renee smiled and punched Blake’s arm.

“Eventually. It isn’t important in the grand scheme of things. Our grand scheme at the moment is to make sure the world knows about you, my darling.”

“Would you consider doing a song with me? I mean sometime, not right away. I’d love to sing with you.”

Blake kissed her forehead.

It had been years since Blake had sung. Being lead singer/front man for Frostbite was not one of the jewels in his crown. Sure, he’d fed off the adrenaline rush from the crowd…but that was a light year behind him. He’d shoved that part of his life into a box in that dark closet of his brain and wasn’t sure he ever wanted to open it again. Besides screaming metal music was not Renee’s forte.

“Maybe someday in the future, I’ll sing. Just not now.”

Renee nodded.

Blake’s voice and body language suggested he really didn’t want to discuss it further, so Renee dropped the subject completely. She had a lot of questions she wanted answers to, especially about this new found love of her life, but she’d wait. There’d be a perfect time down the road.

Blake shifted his weight and pulled Renee closer to him.

“You know, it’s nearly 2 am. We have a lot to do in a few hours. Let’s get you to bed.”

Blake gently pushed Renee from his side and stood up. He held his hands out and helped her up. Draping an arm around her shoulders, he led her down the hall to the bedroom.

It wouldn’t take long for either of them to fall asleep. With all of the fresh air, the energy expended, and the consumed wine Blake figured fifteen minutes max.

*

Sun streamed through the sheer curtains of the bedroom. Renee shot up to a sitting position. Blake wasn’t there. She looked at the clock.

“Ten o’clock!” Renee screamed.

Blake opened the bedroom door and saw Renee frantically rushing around, grabbing clothes and heading for the bathroom to shower. He intercepted her mid-way in her jaunt.

“Whoa! What’s your hurry?”

“Blake! We have to be at the…”

Renee paused, trying to remember just where she was supposed to be this morning. She wasn’t really good with schedules. That was Blake’s job.

“Honey, it’s okay. Frankie phoned early this morning. The meeting has been pushed back a few hours. We don’t have to be there until two.”

Renee sighed and looked quizzically at Blake.

“Just where is it I’m supposed to be today?”

Blake noticed Renee’s voice tremble.

“Honey, look at me.”

Renee looked up at Blake, trying to hide her frustration of this brutal schedule. She was tired. No, she was dog ass tired.

There were two more concerts before the big 4
^th
of July Celebration. Renee didn’t know how she was going to muster the energy needed for them. One appearance was at a fundraiser later, the other a private dinner party tomorrow night. Two days between functions to practice for the big event. She shook her head.

Blake wiped away the tear that had welled in the corner of Renee’s eye with his thumb and kissed her.

“Sweetheart, it’s all going to be fine.”

“Blake, I honestly don’t know if I can keep going at this pace. You keep saying it’s going to be fine, but I’m falling apart.”

“You don’t have a choice, honey. These next two are important…”

“Blake, they’re all important…”

“No, these are very important. The fundraiser is one that you booked yourself, so you can’t get out of that one. The dinner party you will do because it’s for one of the most well-known people I know.”

“I’m not trying to get out of them, Blake,” Renee raised her voice. “I’m just saying that I can’t keep up this pace. I’m tired. I haven’t written in weeks.”

That last statement was an exaggeration on Renee’s part because she’d been putting the finishing touches on When Sparks Fly so she could perform it as the closing song on the 4
^th
.

“After this weekend, we’ll take a vacation…just the two of us. We’ll go wherever you want, do whatever you want. These gigs are crucial to your career moving forward.”

Renee continued walking toward the bathroom.

“Let me shower and get ready. I need some time to think.”

Renee closed the door behind her.

Blake heard the water pelting the glass doors. He felt sorry for Renee, but he was tired, too. There was too much at stake to give up on her career. He couldn’t do that. He had to keep pushing her.

The new ratings magazine rested on the kitchen counter next to the coffee pot. Blake poured a cup of coffee, eyeing the magazine cover. He smiled. This is what he’d been working so hard for.

Renee walked into the kitchen just as Blake turned the magazine cover side down and handed her a cup of coffee.

“What’s that?”

“Oh, that?” Blake nodded toward the magazine. He couldn’t contain the smile.

“Blake?”

Blake turned the ratings magazine over. The cover was a beautiful photo of Renee, thoughtfully picking a tune on her guitar.

“Renee Manelli, fastest rising star…but will her fame continue?”

“Oh my God!” Renee squealed. “C’mon, open it up and read the article. No. Wait. Here, give it here. Let me read it. No, go ahead, you read it.”

“The hauntingly beautiful lyrics of Allison’s song touched the crowd. Not a dry eye was seen when the music ended. Renee Manelli has a sure hit on her hands with this tender, heart wrenching tune written for a courageous little girl who lost her battle with cancer.

“Manelli doesn’t disappoint. She gives her all and then some at every concert. The crowds are on their feet for most of her performance. Will her fame last? This reporter thinks Renee Manelli will be around for a very long time.”

Renee was jumping up and down squealing, twirling in circles, crying. This review meant the world to her. She couldn’t believe the kind words that were written about something she’d created let alone about her performances.

“Blake? It’s real, isn’t it? All of this is real…it isn’t a dream.”

Blake’s chest was heavy as inwardly he burst with pride. His eyes misted for a moment as he took in Renee’s excitement.

“Honey, it’s real. It isn’t a dream.”

Blake opened the magazine to the ratings. He stood in shock, his mouth gaping.
Crayon Butterflies
had moved up fifty places in the past two weeks.

The song was now at the #63 spot on the chart. Not bad for a living room produced recording. Handing the tune to Tom Milligan proved very worthwhile.

“Renee…you better look at this.”

Moving over to the other side of the counter, Renee looked down at Blake’s finger.

“Seriously? Seriously? Oh my God, Blake!”

Blake picked her up, spun her around, planted a kiss squarely on her lips, and set her down.

“You did it, baby.”

“Blake, we did it. You put just as much effort into all this. I have you to thank, because without you, there’s no way it would have happened.”

“I love you, Renee. Of course, I want to see you succeed. I’m doing everything I can to make sure that happens. One day soon, you will read ‘Renee Manelli’ in the number one spot on this very ratings chart.”