Authors: Cheryl Douglas
She avoided his gaze, looking up at his father instead. “What could I say? I wouldn’t want to disappoint your father on his birthday.”
His father squeezed her shoulders. “That’s my girl. I can’t wait to hear you two sing together again.” He cast a glance at the crystal glass Trey held. “That better be Sprite, son.”
Trey chuckled; his father could never be accused of subtlety. “Club soda, sir.”
He nodded. “See that you stick with that.”
“Yes, sir.”
Jared Turner took his daughter’s hand. “Come, your mother and I have to mingle and you have to get back to that date of yours.”
Marisa rolled her eyes. “Yes, Daddy.”
Trey turned toward Sierra, pinning her with his gaze. “I thought you were leaving, running back to your fiancé.” He knew he sounded angry, bitter, but he couldn’t help it. He was tired of sounding desperate. At least holding on to his bitterness meant he could maintain some modicum of pride.
She twisted her handbag between clenched fists. “I didn’t want to disappoint your parents. Is that a problem?”
He gripped his glass until he was sure the lead crystal would shatter. “No problem.” He took a step closer, brushing a strand of hair off her cheek. “So, how do you want to play this?”
She looked up into his eyes, her eyes darting to his mouth. “What do you mean?”
“You want me to pretend we’re just friends?” He took another step closer, the fabric of his suit brushing the silk of her dress. He leaned down to whisper in her ear. “Am I supposed to pretend that I’m not getting hard just looking at you right now, Sierra?”
She closed her eyes. “I, we...”
Her voice trailed off when he brushed his lips against her ear. “Ssh, don’t say it. Don’t even think it.” If Trey had to hear that man’s name on her lips one more time tonight, he would not be able to hold his temper. She may be hell bent on spending the rest of her life with another man, but tonight was his and he intended to make the most of it.
Sierra smiled as she saw Val cross the dance floor, a handsome man on her arm. Based on their phone conversations and emails, she knew the man was Terrance Walker, the man Val intended to marry. She hadn’t told Trey yet because marrying Terrance meant executing their plan to retire and move to Florida. Given Trey’s emotional state over the past year, Val couldn’t bring herself to leave him. She promised she would break the news to him soon.
Trey stepped forward and drew Val into his arms, kissing her on the cheek. “I’m so glad you could make it, Val.” He extended his hand to the other man. “Good to see you again, Terrance.”
Val hugged Sierra. The familiar scent of lavender tickled her nose, sparking memories of a time when Val insisted on tucking little lavender sachets into the drawers in the baby’s nursery.
That had been the happiest time of her life, preparing for the birth of her first baby. But in the heat of the moment, desperate to escape his demands, she’d told him she would marry Eric as planned. She’d picked the date and the place to hurt him. But if she went through with it, she feared she may be hurting herself and Eric even more. One thing was clear, she needed to go home and make some definite decisions about her future.
Trey sat at a large round table in the center of the decked-out ballroom watching Sierra making her rounds, greeting his parents’ friends and family. It was obvious she was comfortable working a crowd, unlike the early days when his career had required endless public appearances at all the hot spots. She had begged off, claiming she didn’t feel at ease in that environment. She was definitely not the same shy, insecure girl he’d met all those years ago in college. That girl that had been forced to deal with the trials of poverty, an alcoholic father, and terminally-ill mother.
Yet she had taken on the responsibility of raising a younger sister when she was barely more than a child herself. She had finally evolved into the woman he always knew she would become: strong, confident, outgoing, and tenacious.
He watched her, thinking how proud he was of her, though he hated to admit that she had become that woman in spite of him, not because of him. Jimmy and Edna claimed the seats beside him. He stood to greet them, kissing Edna’s cheek and shaking Jimmy’s hand. “Glad you could make it.”
Jimmy laughed. “Are you kiddin’ me, boy? Your pops and I were raisin’ hell before you were even thought of. I wouldn’t have missed his 70
th
birthday bash for anything.”
Trey smiled, recalling some of the stories Jimmy and his father had told of him of their escapades over the years. The two men were more than friends. They were like brothers.
He would have said the same of his relationship with Luc before today. Now, he had to wonder if his best friend really had his back. He thought back to the conversations he’d had with Luc before and during his divorce. He wouldn’t have thought to question his friend’s motives then, but now he had to wonder.
Luc had always been so focused on building Trey’s career that everything else, including his marriage, was nothing more than an obstacle on the path to success. Luc and Sierra had been at odds since the first day they met. At that time, Luc was already managing some of Nashville’s hottest stars, and he promised Trey he could put him on the fast track to the top. Trey knew he was ruthless, but he trusted him to manage his career.
Sierra often argued that Luc didn’t want to manage his career; he wanted to manage his life. He approved or vetoed everything from songs, interviews, public appearances, record deals, and tour dates. Trey may not have agreed with tactics, but Luc was responsible for building the brand, the corporation, that was Trey Turner.
Trey realized too late that he should have objected more strenuously to Luc’s interference in his marriage. Luc kept pushing harder when Trey wanted to pull back and spend more time at home. Trey wanted Sierra to tour with him, but Luc insisted it would be a distraction. He should have fought harder, insisted his marriage was more important than his career. He had believed then that topping the charts and making millions were the most important things in life. He could not have been more wrong.
Now he knew what mattered: having someone in your life to share that success with at the end of the day. He had so many regrets, but he couldn’t blame Luc or anyone else for his mistakes. It was time for him to man up and take the blame for his own failings.
“Penny for your thoughts,” Edna whispered, patting his arm. Her eyes followed Trey’s directly to the object of his distraction, Sierra. “She looks wonderful, doesn’t she?”
“Gorgeous,” he said, thinking that didn’t begin to describe her accurately. He glanced at Edna, thinking this may be the time to start uncovering the truth. “Jim tells me you guys have kept in touch with Sierra?”
An uncharacteristic blush crept up her neck, staining her pale cheeks. “We have; does that bother you, Trey?”
He grabbed her hand and held it. “Not at all. I’m glad you were there for her.”
“We love Sierra, you know.” She looked him in the eye. “We love you, too. We only wish the two of you could find your way back to each other, before it’s too late.”
He shifted his chair until he was facing her. “You’re talking about her engagement?”
Edna nodded, her thin lips pulled tight. “He’s not the man for her, Trey.”
Trey felt his heart soar. Finally, someone agreed with him. “You’ve met him?”
She frowned, folding and refolding her linen napkin. “We’ve met him.”
Trey considered his options carefully. He knew Edna too well to think she would betray Sierra.
“What did you think of him?”
She stole a peek at Sierra. “Like I said, he’s not right for her.”
Trey bit the inside of his lip to thwart the smile. “Why do you say that?”
“He’s arrogant, opinionated, and bossy. That man doesn’t need a wife; he needs a dog he can train to obey his commands.”
Jimmy took his wife’s hand, kissing it. “Now, sugar, you know we shouldn’t say that about Sierra’s intended. It’s her life, her choice. We have to respect that.”
Edna glared at Trey. She was a tiny woman, but after raising four boys of her own, she knew how to command respect. She shook a bony finger at Trey. “I blame you for this mess, Trey Turner. If you had treated that woman the way she deserved to be treated, you two would still be together.”
Trey grinned. He was lucky to have so many strong, opinionated women in his life. “I’m not arguing with you, Edna. I was a jackass.”
She tapped her fingers against the table. “Now that we’re in agreement, how are you going to get your woman back?”
Trey sighed, sneaking another peek at Sierra. She was tucked away in a corner with Josh and Marisa, talking and laughing like she was having the time of her life. This is where she belonged, here with him and his family, the people who loved her. “I don’t know, Edna. She told me she’s going back to Oklahoma tonight.”
“The hell she is,” Edna said, raising her voice.
Trey threw his head back and laughed, drawing the attention of other guests, including Sierra. She smiled and waved at Jimmy and Edna. He sobered, remembering her threat. “She set a wedding date. Looks like I only have a couple of months to change her mind.”
Jimmy whistled under his breath. “Last I heard, she wasn’t ready to set a date. What the hell did you do to piss her off, son?”
Trey couldn’t very well tell them the whole, sordid story, so he opted for a partial truth. “Let’s just say she doesn’t approve of the way I’ve been living my life.” He glanced at Megan, who was passing time flirting with the bartender.
Edna didn’t miss the fleeting look. “Lord have mercy. When will you learn?” She rolled her eyes. “Sometimes, I think you’re as thick as a brick.”
Trey would have been insulted had anyone else had the nerve to insult his intelligence, but this was Edna, and he knew she had his best interest at heart. “You’re right, Edna. I’ve made some stupid mistakes, but I sure as hell would like to make up for them. Have you got any ideas?”
“Well, we’ve got to think of a way to keep her in town.” She slapped her leg. “I’ve got it.” She looked at her husband. “Have you found anyone to fill in for Jules yet?”
He snorted. “No, I was going to start auditions tomorrow.”
Trey knew Jules was their weeknight entertainment at Jimmy’s. “What happened to Jules?”
Jimmy slapped his forehead. “Would you believe she’s run off to some crazy cult with a convict she’s known for three weeks?”
Trey chuckled. “That sounds like something Jules would do. In fact, I’m amazed she’s stayed with you as long as she has. You know she’s a free spirit, Jimmy.”
Jimmy guffawed. “Is that what they’re calling it these days?”
Edna picked up Trey’s glass and raised it to her nose.
Jimmy frowned at his wife. “What are you doing, woman?”
She set the glass down beside Trey. “I’m just making sure this one’s still off the sauce, Jimmy.” Trey loosened his tie and undid the top bottom of his custom dress shirt, suddenly needing more oxygen. If only she knew what the past year had been like for him.
“Lay off, Edna,” Jimmy warned.
“He’s already put her through hell. I’ll be damned if I’m going to help him do it again.”
Trey cleared his throat. “Excuse me. I’m still sitting here. Remember?”
“I know. I know.” She regarded Trey carefully. “You sure you’ve got your act together, boy?”
He took his suit jacket off and put it on the back of his chair.
Man, it’s getting hot in here
, he thought. “I’m takin’ it one day at a time, Edna. You know what they say in AA.”
She nodded. “Okay, as long as you’re on the right track, I think I have a plan.”
Jimmy cleared his throat. “Edna, I’m not sure we should be gettin’ involved in this. It’s up to Trey and Sierra to work this out.”
She chuckled. “Right, and they’ve done a bang-up job of it so far, haven’t they, Jim?” She pointed a finger in Sierra’s direction. “Just look at her. She’s barely taken her eyes off him since we sat down.”
Trey spun around in his chair, hoping to catch her in the act, but Edna’s gesture must have tipped her off. “Really? She’s been checkin’ me out?”
“Oh, shut up,” Edna said, slapping the back of his hand. “You’re not in junior high anymore. This is serious business.”