Songbird (8 page)

My hands itched to run quick scales over it
to see if it sang true, but as far as I was aware Nicholas and the
guys didn’t play. There was no reason for me to touch it. A longing
I hadn’t felt since I stopped playing rose and was crushed just as
swiftly. I didn’t play anymore, I reminded myself. I didn’t
want
to play anymore.

The lie was sour but I swallowed it. I needed
to believe it. Believing it kept me from false hopes.

I left the room and walked to the equipment
entrance where there was still stuff being pulled off the truck.
Narrowly avoiding someone carrying what looked like heavy ass
lighting, I managed to get out of the way without accident and out
to Roadster where it was parked.

The contents of the VIP bags varied between
Gold VIP and Fan Club VIP. Fan Club got an entry to watch sound
check and autographed merchandize including a tee shirt specific to
the city and the unreleased single specifically recorded for this
Tour. Fan Club VIP cost a pretty penny and there weren’t many at
any of the concerts. Thank God.

I was looking for a Gold bag. They got Skip
the Line passes with an early entrance to the concert stage. There
was only an autographed poster and nifty wrist band but it was the
best deal if the price of Fan Club was too steep.

“Well.” I smiled at Henry as he held an
umbrella over my head when I returned to him in front. “Let’s get
this over with.”

I walked down the line slowly. With the
dreariness of the weather, the sharp golds and silvers of blonde
hair stood out easily. I ignored the curious eyes. They apparently
knew I was someone important though Henry holding the umbrella over
my head was probably a good tip in to my importance.

There were more brunettes than blondes, which
was a pity, because several of them met the standard but for hair
color. I stopped—almost completely done with this block—at the
blonde holding an umbrella three times her size and crouching close
to the ground with a backpack on. I couldn’t tell height, but she
was worth pursuing considering her shirt barely restrained her
girls.

“Hi.” I waited for her to stand. She was
definitely taller than me and she was wearing modest heels.

“Hi.”

“I’m the Tour Director for Nicholas Walker.
Are you a fan?” I watched her eyes go wide.

“I’m the biggest fan.” She spoke with her
hands and I stepped back from a flying appendage. “I even have a
tattoo of his lyrics.” She tapped her hip.

Well, Nicholas hadn’t specified about ink. He
was going to get what I collected. And he better be damn grateful
for it.

“How old are you?”

“Twenty two.”

“Single?”

The girl rolled her eyes. “I don’t want
that
kind of drama.”

“Well I think today’s your lucky day then.
Come with me.”

She chewed on a thumbnail. “I’ve been waiting
in line for almost two days.”

General admission ticket, probably. With any
of the upgrades or VIP tickets she’d have guaranteed seating. This
may work out better than I originally planned.

“You don’t think I’ll make it worth stepping
out?” I cocked my head. “I can guarantee I am, but I won’t discuss
it on the street.”

“If she doesn’t want whatever you’re offering
I’ll take it,” a redhead jumped up.

“Sorry, you don’t meet today’s requirements.”
I sent her a sad smile. “I have very specific instructions for this
surprise prize.”

“Oh.” The blonde stepped forward. “I’ll go
with you.”

“Good.” I turned and walked back up the block
to the front of the theater where Henry had parked.

I gestured her into the SUV ahead of me and
after Henry took her umbrella slid beside her. “So, the terms of
this contest.” I pulled out my phone.

“A moment please, Henry.” I told him when he
slid into the driver’s seat.

I wanted the privacy of the SUV. I didn’t
need hundreds of crazed fans hearing what I was about to propose.
Just this one was risky enough. My words would need to be chosen
with extreme care.

“Just let me know when, ma’am.”

“So, Mr. Walker asked me to pick a fan to
spend the evening with him, privately in his suite.”

The girl squealed so loud my eardrums bled.
Or at least I thought they did.

“This also comes with a VIP Gold upgrade to
your general admission ticket as a thank you for spending time with
him.”

“Are you kidding? This is a dream come
true.”

“There are…stipulations.” I sent her my
sternest mom face. “You’ll need to sign some contracts. One is a
non-disclosure. It means that anything that happens with Mr. Walker
cannot be discussed outside of the hotel suite. You can’t tell
anyone what you talked about, what he said, or how he acted.” I
held out the phone and she took the stylus and signed without
questioning it. The second contract I modified was a little
trickier to explain.

“This second contract is a Sexual Conduct
Agreement.” I watched her eyes widen. “Let me explain. This means
that if, and I do only mean if, Mr. Walker asks you to have sex and
you do that it’s completely consensual. You can’t come back later
and say he raped you or anything like that. This also guarantees
that if the act happens, protective methods will be used. There are
no exceptions. It also says that should you chose to have sex with
Mr. Walker, the morning after, you will be required to take a plan
B pill, for any just in case scenarios.” I cleared my throat. “This
also protects you. You have the right to tell him no. You’re under
no requirement to have sex with him. What you do privately is your
decision. You won’t lose your thank you gift if you tell him no.” I
secretly hoped she would but by the look on her face I doubted
it.

“So the other contact. If we have sex, I
can’t talk about it can I?”

Smart girl. I smiled. “That’s right. What
happens in Seattle stays in Seattle.”

She worried her thumb again. “All right.” She
signed the conduct contract and internally I sighed in relief.

“Henry, the hotel please.”

“Yes, Ms. Sheridan.”

After a few seconds of silence, the girl
turned to me. “Have you worked for him long? Nick, I mean.”

“Long enough that it feels like forever.” I
tilted my head at her. “Do you work?”

“College. I’m Darys, by the way. I know I
printed it on the contracts but…”

“Yes. It’s nice to meet you, Darys. Before I
forget.” I pulled the VIP bag I had over my shoulder and handed it
to her. “Your VIP bag. You’ll need to wear the bracelet to jump the
line tomorrow.”

“Thank you.” She swung off her pack and
carefully finagled the VIP bag inside of it.

Arc and Max were in the chairs in the hall
playing checkers when I entered with Darys. They both frowned and I
held up a finger.

“Give me a minute.” I told them as I
passed.

“Wow. I didn’t think I’d see his band too,”
Darys whispered. “This is awesome.”

I knocked twice on Nicholas’s door before
using my key card to open it. “Follow me.” I stepped inside with
Darys only a few steps behind me.

The bed was still neatly made and Nicholas’s
hotel bag was still packed and gracing the desk. The man in
question sat in the wingback chair with a drink in hand. His brows
shot up when his eyes fell over my shoulder at Darys.

“Mr. Walker, this is Darys. She has agreed to
spend the evening with you.” I stepped back.

“Wow. It’s so great to meet you.” Darys
stumbled forward and nearly pitched into Nicholas’s lap. I was
forced to press my lips together to keep from laughing.

“Mr. Walker if you need anything else, I’m
next door.” I pointed to the wall the bed sat on. “Have a good
evening.”

“Good evening,” Nicholas murmured but his
eyes were raking over Darys and he looked ready to pounce.

I let myself out without another word. The
anger rising was unfounded. I knew what was going to happen when I
delivered the girl. I knew there was no way Nicholas would ever
look at me with the hunger he’d scanned over Darys with. No man
ever did. So why was I angry?

I had articulated clearly what I would and
wouldn’t do, I chided myself. I wasn’t a whore. I wouldn’t be the
one to scratch his itch.

I walked down to where Max and Arc sat. “Why
are you in the hall?”

Arc shrugged. “Who’s the blonde?”

“Tonight’s entertainment.” I grumbled and
looked back up the hall.

Max grinned. “You delivered a whore?”

I shrugged. “Keeps him in his room and out of
trouble.”

“And when she goes to the media?” Arc reset
the board but didn’t move a piece.

“Non-disclosure. I’ve got the bases covered.
Don’t worry about it. So, what are you doing in the hall?”

“Relax.” Max leaned back in his chair. “The
hotel manager came by and said for added security this wing of this
floor has been closed for just us.”

“All right.” I rolled my shoulders. “I’m
going to go get some work done, and then I think soak in the tub.
You know where I am if you need me.”

“How do you soak in the tub?” Arc tilted his
head and his eyes ran form my heels to the top of my head.

I stiffened. “What?”

He must have seen his mistake on my face
because he flushed. “No. No. Not like that. You’re not William
Howard Taft.”

“Or that chick at the counter. Did you see
her? Mac truck tires have less roundness to them.” Max plumped out
his cheeks and held his hands out as if circling a giant gut.

“What I meant.” Arc shot him a dirty look.
“Is that you’re so tall. Isn’t that awkward?”

Duh. I had to take a moment to calm down. Arc
had flirted with every woman regardless of size every time we
stopped the bus. There was no reason to believe he even saw size as
part of the equation.

“I manage.” Since it didn’t look like I was
getting back to my room within the next few minutes I lifted a
foot, removed a heel and did the same to the other. My feet wept in
pleasure.

“Well, if you need someone to wash your
back…” he trailed off when I scanned him from head to foot and
lifted a brow.

“We’ll pantsy you eventually.” Arc crossed
his arms and his lower lip puckered. The pout wasn’t bad but I was
immune.

“It’s an eventuality I’d like to forgo as
long as possible.”

“You’ve seen all our asses.” Max turned his
attention back to the checkers board.

“Unfortunately true. You should have Arc help
you with hair management.” As last words went, it wasn’t bad.

I sat under the window on the sofa with the
laptop, fully intending to get some emails sent and confirm part of
the schedule. A few minutes into my work I glanced at the door. I
had been focused but I thought I heard someone knock.

Wondering who needed what, I crossed over to
the door and opened it. “Yes?” Empty air greeted me. Frowning I
stuck my head out but the hall was void of life.

Weird.

I stepped back into my room and stopped when
the knocking came again. However, now that I was standing it was
obvious where the noise was coming from. Weren’t hotel bed boards
attached to the wall?

When Darys’s voice drifted through the wall,
I sighed. Time to plug in my noise canceling headphones. As I dug
through the bag that I brought in from the bus I couldn’t stop the
little tinge of jealousy as her voice grew even louder.

By the sound of it, Nicholas was doing a fine
job and I wondered briefly what that would feel like. Not
necessarily by him—though hey, it was my fantasy—but to have the
momentary connection of bliss. Not for the first time, I wondered
again, what an orgasm might feel like. Reading about it only
provided so much insight.

The men in my life hadn’t been interested in
my pleasure, only theirs. Shame welled in me a little as I
remembered how I had been instructed to act, to sound, hell, I’d
even been instructed on what position was tolerated and where my
hands belonged. In the end, I had only been a stick to scratch an
itch, but not in the way Darys was for Nicholas. At least he was
considerate of her desire as well.

I did have a chance once, I reminded myself.
The memory hurt as much as it comforted. He had been willing to
wait. He had died waiting for me. I pushed the depressing thought
away and went back to business.

After a heartbeat focused on work with the
headphones humming in my ears another thought crossed my mind. What
if someone actually knocked on my door? How would I be able to hear
if anyone needed something from me with the headphones on?

However, listening to them wasn’t an option.
I certainly didn’t want to be cross because I would never
experience euphoria. Well, hell. I was stuck between a rock and the
hard place.

I went back to my bag hoping it held the
solution. My lime green cross country shoes were at the bottom and
could be the distraction I needed. I would have my phone on my belt
so I could still be contacted but I’d be out of this room. I would
definitely not have to wallow in the misery of my sad and pathetic
sexual ventures.