know, I feel the same way. You deserve to
be happy. I wish I could’ve been the guy to make you happy, but since I’m not,
I hope you find what you’re lookin’ for, baby.” He inclined his head toward the
restaurant at the top of the hill. “Just make sure it’s not with that loser.”
She smiled through
her tears. “Don’t worry. I know Jeff’s not the man of my dreams.”
“He’s out there,
you know,” he said, brushing her hair off her face. “And you just might be
closer to findin’ him than you think.”
***
Walking Erika back
to her room and kissing her on the forehead when he wanted to plunge his tongue
deep inside her mouth and initiate the kiss his body craved was the hardest
thing Evan had ever done, but he knew it was necessary.
His time on the
airplane had helped him to come to some important realizations. He didn’t want
her to acknowledge she was still in love with the guy he used to be. He wanted
her to fall in love with the man he hoped to become.
He meant it when
he told her he was ready to change. When they got home, he intended to
restructure the business and hopefully bring Trey on board, so he would have
more free time. He would buy the house in the family-friendly neighborhood,
adopt the dog he’d always wanted… and he knew just the place to take him while
he worked all day. Erika’s veterinary clinic had an excellent doggie daycare
facility and if she happened to see him coming in to pick his dog up at
promptly six o’clock every day, she would have to realize he wasn’t the same
workaholic he’d been when they were together.
Climbing the hill
to the bars and restaurants lining the path, Evan spotted his Uncle Trey on a
lounger. “Hey there,” he said, nudging his leg. “I thought all the old folks
had turned in by now.” He laughed when Trey opened one eye and gave him the
finger.
“Sierra headed up
a little while ago, but I needed to wind down for a bit before I turned in.”
Evan claimed the
spot next to him and looked out at the vast ocean. “It’s a beautiful spot,
isn’t it?”
“It sure is.”
“Erika and I
always talked about gettin’ married somewhere like this.” He sighed. “I gotta
let go of the past if I expect to move forward, but sometimes that’s easier
said than done.”
“I hear ya.” Trey
opened his eyes and turned his head to look at his nephew. “It’s gotta be
tough, seein’ her here with someone else.”
“She’s just
passin’ time with that guy. I know it’s nothin’ serious.”
“Still, it’s gotta
sting.”
“I guess.” It felt
like the right time to pitch his idea, and he knew his brother wouldn’t mind if
he talked to Trey without him, so he said, “Listen, Ryan and I were talkin’
about you the other day.”
“Oh yeah? What
about?”
“Just wonderin’
how you’re enjoyin’ your retirement.”
“There are things
I love about it, but I can’t deny I miss some things about the music biz. I’m
still writin’ songs, but it’s not the same.”
“We had an idea.”
He held his hand up. “Just hear me out before you say anything. You know I’m
swamped, and I could really use some help.”
“I hear Ryan’s
really been steppin’ up lately. That true?”
“Yeah, he’s been
great, but I need more help.”
“I’m listenin’.”
“We’re lookin’ for
someone with experience to work with the new artists. You know, listen to
demos, schedule preliminary meetings to see if they sound as good live, advise
us, and work with the artists once we’ve signed them.”
“You have record
execs who do a lot of that stuff already, Ev.”
“Yeah, but a lot
of the artist development falls on my shoulders, and let’s face it, our execs
are just a bunch of suits interested in churnin’ out number one hits. I want
someone who knows the music biz inside and out. Someone who understands what
these artists are goin’ through, what the fans want, how to make people fall in
love with them. I want
be happy. I wish I could’ve been the guy to make you happy, but since I’m not,
I hope you find what you’re lookin’ for, baby.” He inclined his head toward the
restaurant at the top of the hill. “Just make sure it’s not with that loser.”
She smiled through
her tears. “Don’t worry. I know Jeff’s not the man of my dreams.”
“He’s out there,
you know,” he said, brushing her hair off her face. “And you just might be
closer to findin’ him than you think.”
***
Walking Erika back
to her room and kissing her on the forehead when he wanted to plunge his tongue
deep inside her mouth and initiate the kiss his body craved was the hardest
thing Evan had ever done, but he knew it was necessary.
His time on the
airplane had helped him to come to some important realizations. He didn’t want
her to acknowledge she was still in love with the guy he used to be. He wanted
her to fall in love with the man he hoped to become.
He meant it when
he told her he was ready to change. When they got home, he intended to
restructure the business and hopefully bring Trey on board, so he would have
more free time. He would buy the house in the family-friendly neighborhood,
adopt the dog he’d always wanted… and he knew just the place to take him while
he worked all day. Erika’s veterinary clinic had an excellent doggie daycare
facility and if she happened to see him coming in to pick his dog up at
promptly six o’clock every day, she would have to realize he wasn’t the same
workaholic he’d been when they were together.
Climbing the hill
to the bars and restaurants lining the path, Evan spotted his Uncle Trey on a
lounger. “Hey there,” he said, nudging his leg. “I thought all the old folks
had turned in by now.” He laughed when Trey opened one eye and gave him the
finger.
“Sierra headed up
a little while ago, but I needed to wind down for a bit before I turned in.”
Evan claimed the
spot next to him and looked out at the vast ocean. “It’s a beautiful spot,
isn’t it?”
“It sure is.”
“Erika and I
always talked about gettin’ married somewhere like this.” He sighed. “I gotta
let go of the past if I expect to move forward, but sometimes that’s easier
said than done.”
“I hear ya.” Trey
opened his eyes and turned his head to look at his nephew. “It’s gotta be
tough, seein’ her here with someone else.”
“She’s just
passin’ time with that guy. I know it’s nothin’ serious.”
“Still, it’s gotta
sting.”
“I guess.” It felt
like the right time to pitch his idea, and he knew his brother wouldn’t mind if
he talked to Trey without him, so he said, “Listen, Ryan and I were talkin’
about you the other day.”
“Oh yeah? What
about?”
“Just wonderin’
how you’re enjoyin’ your retirement.”
“There are things
I love about it, but I can’t deny I miss some things about the music biz. I’m
still writin’ songs, but it’s not the same.”
“We had an idea.”
He held his hand up. “Just hear me out before you say anything. You know I’m
swamped, and I could really use some help.”
“I hear Ryan’s
really been steppin’ up lately. That true?”
“Yeah, he’s been
great, but I need more help.”
“I’m listenin’.”
“We’re lookin’ for
someone with experience to work with the new artists. You know, listen to
demos, schedule preliminary meetings to see if they sound as good live, advise
us, and work with the artists once we’ve signed them.”
“You have record
execs who do a lot of that stuff already, Ev.”
“Yeah, but a lot
of the artist development falls on my shoulders, and let’s face it, our execs
are just a bunch of suits interested in churnin’ out number one hits. I want
someone who knows the music biz inside and out. Someone who understands what
these artists are goin’ through, what the fans want, how to make people fall in
love with them. I want
Similar Books
