“Cool. Are they good?”
“Pretty good, yeah. They do mostly covers, but they throw in some original stuff too.”
“Does he know you’re coming?”
“Yeah, I called him the other day.” Leo frowns and glances at me.
“What?”
“I’ll probably be recognized tonight.”
“I figured. You’re not in your usual disguise.” I snicker and kiss his hand.
“You’re okay?”
I love that he’s worried about me.
“I’m fine.”
“Really?” He looks surprised.
“I don’t trust the fame,” I remind him. “You know this. But it’s part of who you are.
I’m excited to go listen to the band with you. I’ll be fine.”
“Okay, thank you.”
He parks, pulls his beanie low so it covers his eyebrow and exhales deeply. “Here
goes nothing, sweetheart. Let’s go get your bar food.”
“Don’t touch my nachos.”
Chapter Twelve
“I’ll open your door,” Leo pins me with a firm look. “Wait for me.”
I frown and watch him pull himself out of the car and walk around the front end to
my door. He pulls it open and grasps my hand firmly, pulling me close to his side.
Two tall, bulky men are standing stoically on the sidewalk, waiting for us.
“This is Stan and Henry. They’re security for tonight,” Leo murmurs and turns to the
men. “You don’t let her out of your sight, ever. Got it?”
“Got it, sir,” Stan replies and they both nod.
“Uh, Leo…” I look up at him with a frown. “Is this necessary?”
“Yes,” he replies and cups my cheek in his hand. “It’s a packed house, and I won’t
take any chances with your safety.”
Jesus, it’s then it occurs to me that I’m out with Leo Nash. Lead singer and founder
of the worldwide sensation
Nash.
I’m not out with Leo, my boyfriend.
Oh boy.
“Okay.” I smile at him reassuringly and pat his chest with my free hand. “Lead the
way.”
He nods at his security guys, and one leads us in and the other walks in behind us.
The band has just begun playing a cover of a Nirvana song. It’s still early in the
set. The music hits us like a wall as we walk into the large club. The stage is big
and in the far back. Most of the patrons are gathered around the stage, drinks in
the air, dancing and enjoying the music.
Leo leads me to a booth in the main bar area with a full view of the stage, motions
for me to slide in and then joins me, sitting beside me rather than across from me.
The security guys sit at an empty table right next to us.
“What can I get you?” A waitress yells above the music.
Leo raises an eyebrow at me. “I’ll take a dirty martini.”
He smirks and gives the waitress my order, along with a beer for himself and all of
the bar food I want. He grips my hand in his and kisses my knuckles and smiles down
at me. “Do you like Nirvana?”
“Do I live in Seattle?” I respond and wrinkle my nose at him. “Duh.”
He laughs and we settle in and watch the band, the people milling about. No one is
paying us any attention, and I can’t help but think that hiring security was a bit
over the top.
No one even cares that we’re here.
Our drinks and food arrive and Leo leans in to yell into the waitress’s ear. She smiles
and nods and turns away.
“What did you say to her?” I ask loudly and shove a delicious potato skin piled with
sour cream into my mouth.
“You’re so classy.” He laughs and wipes a glob of sour cream from my lip.
“I know.” I shrug and keep eating.
“I told her to let the band’s people know I’m here.”
“Oh, cool.” We eat and listen, people watch. Glancing at Leo, I see a trail of sweat
drip down his neck.
“You’re sweating.” I frown. “Take your beanie off, babe.”
He shakes his head and looks around the room. “Not yet.”
He’s completely over-reacting. “No one here has even looked at you twice,” I remind
him.
“Not yet,” he says again and reaches for a cheese stick.
“We should offer Thing One and Thing Two some food.” There is still a ton of food
that we’ll never be able to finish.
He smiles down at me and wraps an arm around my shoulders. “They’re about to earn
their paychecks.”
Just then the band ends a song and starts talking to the audience. “Hey, Seattle,
are you having a fuckin’ good time yet?”
The crowd goes crazy, screaming and whooping, and I grin. I love live shows.
“What would you say if I told you I have a surprise for you?” The lead singer asks
and takes a long swig of water. More cheers.
“An old friend of mine is here.”
“That’s our cue,” Leo murmurs to me and nods to security. “Come on.”
“I’m not going on stage,” I protest, and he laughs.
“No, you’re going to be in the wings. I don’t want you in this crowd.” We join our
burly security. “I want you guys to escort her to the wings. They’re expecting you
and will show you where to go.”
They nod and off we go through the crowd.
“Have you guys heard of a little band called
Nash?”
The crowd explodes in applause and cheers. “How about the ugly front guy they have,
Leo?”
We are led to the right side of the stage and through a door and to an immediate left,
and I’m told to stay right here, behind a black curtain. I’m looking onto the stage,
and can see the whole band.
“Well,” the singer continues, “I knew Leo back in the day when he was just singing
around Seattle, and it just so happens that he’s in town and has dropped by to see
us!”
He has to stop speaking because the cheers are deafening. I can’t help but bounce
on the balls of my feet in excitement, my throat clenches in joy and I grasp my hands
together, holding them against my chest.
Suddenly, from the other side of the stage, Leo hops up and joins the singer, giving
him a real hug and whispering in his ear. He’s pulled his beanie off, showing his
messy light brown hair and piercings. He’s still in his blazer, but he takes it off
and throws it off stage to someone in the wings.
The girls scream some more as he stands there in just his Levi’s tee, the sleeves
hugging his muscular, tattooed arms. Dear Lord, he’s beautiful.
And completely in his element.
He’s grinning widely, waving and nodding at the crowd, and he takes a mic when it’s
offered to him.
“Hey, Seattle!”
More screams, and I clap along with the crowd. Leo turns his head and finds me behind
the black curtain and winks.
“So bro, what do you want to do?” His friend asks him.
“Well… I don’t know.” He frowns and looks out at the fans. “Do you guys want to hear
something?”
Well, that’s a stupid question. The girls go mad, and Leo laughs.
“You’re welcome to borrow my guitar, man.”
“Nah.” Leo shakes his head and motions to the piano. “Can I jack your piano?”
“Anything you want.”
The pianist stands and bows to Leo and the whole band exits the stage, saying hi to
me as they pass, and Leo is alone on stage. Whoever is running the lights points a
spotlight on him, dimming the rest of the stage.
I can’t look away. I can’t blink.
“So, this is a new song,” he begins, adjusting the mic on the stand and settling behind
the piano. “Would you like to hear it?”
“I love you Leo!” a girl screams drunkenly from the front row.
“Thank you, sugar,” he winks at her, chuckles and begins to noodle the keys, warming
his hands. “I’m gonna slow things down a bit. This song is called
Sunshine
.”
He plays the lead in. It’s soft and sweet and glaringly familiar to me.
And then he starts to sing.
I don’t wanna be your friend
‘Cause I’ve already let you in
Every time I see your sweet blue eyes
I know I need to make you mine
My walls crumble… And crumble
So all you see is the real me
I’m stunned. It’s me. He’s singing about me. And the music is the music he wrote when
I was sick, when we were at the piano together.
He hits the hook, and my heart swells to almost bursting.
I wrote that music.
I had no idea he was writing a song about me. Or that it would turn into a song at
all. I thought he was just playing around while he was bored and taking care of me.
He wrote a fucking song for me.
When you smile
Your sunshine hits me
And the shadows in my soul
They are gone
Oh how many times
Have I stared at your lips
Wishing I could feel them on me
When you’re so close
Baby, I forget how to breathe
He looks up at me and pins me with those deep gray eyes, his look is fierce and possessive,
and then one side of his mouth tips up as he leads back into the chorus.
When you smile
Your sunshine hits me
And the shadows in my soul
They are gone
When I run my hand
Over your perfect skin
I know you see me
And not what I’m covered in
My walls crumble… And crumble
So all you see is the me I need you to see
I feel the tears tumble over onto my cheeks, but can’t move to brush them away. His
voice is surrounding me, cocooning me in its warmth, in the tenderness of the words,
in the sweet music from the piano.
Can’t play well my ass. I bet he does everything well.
Finally the song comes to an end and he takes a deep breath and grins at the audience.
He stands and waves, gives a small bow, and runs off the stage to me, scooping me
up into his arms.
“Oh my God!” I exclaim and wrap my arms around his neck.
“Did you like it?” He asks and leans back to look into my eyes.
“It’s fantastic,” I respond and kiss him soundly.
“It’s yours.”
“I hope so, or I’d have to cut a bitch.” I immediately respond and he lets out a belly
laugh, holding me tightly against him. “It’s the best gift I’ve ever been given, thank
you.” I murmur in his ear and he grins widely. Proudly.
“Let’s go back stage.” He pulls me behind him as the band resumes their place on stage
to finish out their set. I didn’t even notice that the security twins had been standing
behind me the whole time, and they follow us now. One of them hands Leo his jacket.
There is a decent-sized group of people back stage waiting for the band. Some in business
attire, who I assume are industry people. Some look like family members or friends
of the band.
And there are more than a few groupies.
Leo leads me in, my hand gripped firmly in his, and begins introducing me to people
he knows. I’ll never remember their names or even their faces, but the fact that he
keeps me next to him and includes me in every conversation says a lot about this man.
He cares about me.
The band comes barreling in the room, reaching for beers and high-fiving each other,
obviously happy with their show.
The room is electric with energy.
“Dude!” The lead singer charges for us and tackles Leo in a hug. “Nice song, bro.”
He winks at Leo and smiles down at me. “I’m Lance.”
“Sam,” I respond and shake his hand.
“How long are you in town?” He asks Leo.
“A while. We’re recording the next album here,” Leo responds. “I’d like you to come
in and help out on a few tracks.”
Lance’s eyes spark with interest and he grins. “Done.”
“Cool.”
“Great show, babe.” A pretty redhead hugs Lance from behind and he turns to pull her
in his arms.
“Thanks, my love. Tash, this is Leo and Sam. Leo, you remember my wife.”
“Of course, hey Tash.” Leo leans in and kisses her cheek.
“Hey, so great to see you!” I immediately like her. She’s someone I would hang out
with, down to earth and nice and not fawning all over
the
Leo Nash.
The happy couple turns to mingle with the other after-show guests and Leo grins down
at me. “Having fun?”
“I am.” I nod and glance around the room. “It’s more laid back than I expected.”