resonate with me.”
Marvin laughed.
Kingston pursed his scrawny lips. “I know more about the music business—”
“I doubt that, considering how many brain cells you’ve killed doing drugs. I bet you couldn’t strum one chord on that famous guitar of yours, Bethany .”
“All you young people know is sound machines and making everything louder so you can’t decipher that it’s a piece of crap you produced. The average singer can’t play the triangle, let alone a complicated instrument like a guitar.” He swirled his scotch in his glass and sipped it with a satisfied smirk.
“I play the piano, acoustic guitar, drums, bass guitar, violin, cello, and the triangle. And I expect nothing less from the people I sign.”
“Kate is the real McCoy, King. You should let her produce that album you’ve been talking about for twenty years.”
“Who knows?” Kate nodded her head toward the front of the house. “You may even earn enough money to get your Bentley detailed.”
Kingston gave a slight huff and a smile.
Chris stepped behind Kate and put his arm around her waist.
Kingston cocked his head toward Chris. “Don’t worry, man. I’m not trying to steal your girl.” He looked back to Kate. “She is beautiful, but I learned a long time ago that the beautiful, smart ones only end up taking your money and your pride when they leave.”
“She could keep up with you.”
“Please, Marvin, those dainty corporate hands, playing the drums? Give me a break.” He laughed.
“I learned to play the drums from my godfather. He was pretty good. He’s—”
“Whoever he is, sweetheart, he can’t compare with the big boys.”
Marvin tapped Kingston’s thin bicep with the back of his hand. “OK, you’re performing at the Eighties Rocks benefit next month, aren’t you?”
“Yeah.”
“Let Kate play the drums.”
“Are you mad?”
A crowd had formed, craning their necks waiting for Kingston’s answer.
“I’ll bet good money she’s the best.”
“What’s the wager?” Kingston studied Kate’s figure.
She looked up for a moment, contemplating, and then faced Kingston again. “If I don’t live up to your expectations, I’ll buy you a new Bentley.”
“And if you win?”
“I get Bethany .”
“You’re on, sweetheart.”
* * *
Billie enjoyed the view of Los Angeles from Andre’s penthouse. He didn’t seem surprised when she appeared at his door—almost as if he had been expecting her.
“You didn’t have to come all the way out here. I could have had a chat with Pierce.”
Billie motioned toward a sliding glass door. “I was afraid you would dangle him off your balcony.”
“So how’s your pretty-boy husband?”
“Dominic is fine. Thanks for asking.”
“Don’t mention it. Really.”
“Very funny. Did you enjoy your trip?”
“Had a good time.”
“You look well rested.”
“Thanks.”
“Did your friend in the bedroom enjoy her trip?”
Andre chuckled. “What makes you think I have someone in my bedroom?”
“You always have someone in your bedroom.”
“Gabrielle had a good time in Paris.”
“I bet she did.” She took a deep breath. “Sorry to interrupt the evening.”
“No you’re not.”
Billie looked at Andre and indeed he was well rested for a man who’d just flown in from France. At six foot one, he had a muscular build and penetrating brown eyes. He was that rugged kind of handsome that she liked to see in men. Despite his jab at her husband, he had that same rugged quality to him as well.
“Want to grab some dinner?”
“Have to get back to New York.”
“Right.” He laughed. “Sometimes I think you sent me here as a punishment.”
“I asked you to move here to watch over someone very precious to me. It wasn’t punishment. I knew you would always keep her safe.”
“Except this shit with Pierce.”
“Kate’s a grown woman. Sometimes we just pick the wrong person to love.”
“And sometimes we pick the right person
Marvin laughed.
Kingston pursed his scrawny lips. “I know more about the music business—”
“I doubt that, considering how many brain cells you’ve killed doing drugs. I bet you couldn’t strum one chord on that famous guitar of yours, Bethany .”
“All you young people know is sound machines and making everything louder so you can’t decipher that it’s a piece of crap you produced. The average singer can’t play the triangle, let alone a complicated instrument like a guitar.” He swirled his scotch in his glass and sipped it with a satisfied smirk.
“I play the piano, acoustic guitar, drums, bass guitar, violin, cello, and the triangle. And I expect nothing less from the people I sign.”
“Kate is the real McCoy, King. You should let her produce that album you’ve been talking about for twenty years.”
“Who knows?” Kate nodded her head toward the front of the house. “You may even earn enough money to get your Bentley detailed.”
Kingston gave a slight huff and a smile.
Chris stepped behind Kate and put his arm around her waist.
Kingston cocked his head toward Chris. “Don’t worry, man. I’m not trying to steal your girl.” He looked back to Kate. “She is beautiful, but I learned a long time ago that the beautiful, smart ones only end up taking your money and your pride when they leave.”
“She could keep up with you.”
“Please, Marvin, those dainty corporate hands, playing the drums? Give me a break.” He laughed.
“I learned to play the drums from my godfather. He was pretty good. He’s—”
“Whoever he is, sweetheart, he can’t compare with the big boys.”
Marvin tapped Kingston’s thin bicep with the back of his hand. “OK, you’re performing at the Eighties Rocks benefit next month, aren’t you?”
“Yeah.”
“Let Kate play the drums.”
“Are you mad?”
A crowd had formed, craning their necks waiting for Kingston’s answer.
“I’ll bet good money she’s the best.”
“What’s the wager?” Kingston studied Kate’s figure.
She looked up for a moment, contemplating, and then faced Kingston again. “If I don’t live up to your expectations, I’ll buy you a new Bentley.”
“And if you win?”
“I get Bethany .”
“You’re on, sweetheart.”
* * *
Billie enjoyed the view of Los Angeles from Andre’s penthouse. He didn’t seem surprised when she appeared at his door—almost as if he had been expecting her.
“You didn’t have to come all the way out here. I could have had a chat with Pierce.”
Billie motioned toward a sliding glass door. “I was afraid you would dangle him off your balcony.”
“So how’s your pretty-boy husband?”
“Dominic is fine. Thanks for asking.”
“Don’t mention it. Really.”
“Very funny. Did you enjoy your trip?”
“Had a good time.”
“You look well rested.”
“Thanks.”
“Did your friend in the bedroom enjoy her trip?”
Andre chuckled. “What makes you think I have someone in my bedroom?”
“You always have someone in your bedroom.”
“Gabrielle had a good time in Paris.”
“I bet she did.” She took a deep breath. “Sorry to interrupt the evening.”
“No you’re not.”
Billie looked at Andre and indeed he was well rested for a man who’d just flown in from France. At six foot one, he had a muscular build and penetrating brown eyes. He was that rugged kind of handsome that she liked to see in men. Despite his jab at her husband, he had that same rugged quality to him as well.
“Want to grab some dinner?”
“Have to get back to New York.”
“Right.” He laughed. “Sometimes I think you sent me here as a punishment.”
“I asked you to move here to watch over someone very precious to me. It wasn’t punishment. I knew you would always keep her safe.”
“Except this shit with Pierce.”
“Kate’s a grown woman. Sometimes we just pick the wrong person to love.”
“And sometimes we pick the right person
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