We were good. Really good. I knew that. But the solicitous way Tom was acting was about me. I'd already felt like I'd been slimed when he came over to say hello to me tonight. The difference between Jake and Tom was stark. The two men who were courting me were as different as night and day.
Jake could be annoyingly persistent but he never made me feel like I owed him anything. And he gave me goosebumps and butterflies. Tom just made me want to run and hide.
This was not good.
Thankfully I knew the guys would look out for me. I'd already told them not to leave me alone with Tom. That way I wouldn't have to get into it with the guy and potentially make an enemy.
That would be the end of my music career in Nashville. Not just mine either. Ours.
I had to avoid alienating him at all costs. Well, almost all costs. There was one thing I would not give him.
Myself.
Tom was on now, standing towards the edge of the stage in a tight spotlight. He was talking to the crowd, pumping them up for the next act. He wore a thousand dollar suit with cowboy boots peeking out. And sunglasses. Who the hell wore sunglasses at night anyway?
"Give it up for Black Diamond!"
He pumped his fist and ran off the stage. The lights came up and I stepped forward and gripped the mic in my hand.
The next hour went by in a haze. The crowd responded to us as if we were world famous. For that hour at least, it felt like we were.
I let everything else go as the music moved through me. I felt an electric current passing between myself and the audience. Back and forth the energy zapped us all with its power, gathering force until I could almost see it.
I had never felt so alive in my life.
By the time we finished our second encore the crowd was going wild. I released my grip on the mic and realized my hand had cramped into place from holding it so tightly. The band ran off the stage to the green room. Immediately we were hugging each other and laughing with the euphoria of it all.
There as no question about it.
We were a hit.
I chugged a bottle of water as everyone kept jumping around. I felt limp, like a wet noodle. But it was more than that.
In that last moment, as the house lights came up, I'd seen him.
Jake Delancey.
He was here. He'd seen the whole show too, I could tell. Something about the fact that he'd seen me like this made me feel exposed, vulnerable in a way I'd never felt before.
Naked.
"I have to get out of here."
"Wait-Elle where are you going? We need to celebrate!"
"I just-need some air. I'll be back."
I brushed past Tom and ran out into the alley behind the club.
I was bent over, trying to catch my breath when I heard footsteps behind me.
"You were great tonight."
Oh fantastic, now Tom was standing behind me in a dark alleyway. Why the hell had I come out here again? My whole body tensed up, ready to fight or flight. I didn't think he'd get too aggressive with me but I couldn't be sure. And I was really, really not in the mood for this right now.
I turned and gave him a half hearted smile.
"Thanks."
"I'm serious Elle. With the right help, you are going to be a big star. You've got 'it.' In spades."
I took a deep breath.
"Yeah, well you were a big help. Thanks for packing the house."
He stepped closer, running his hand over my shoulder. I knew rationally that his hand was warm but it felt like ice. Cold, slimy ice.
"All I had to do was put a picture of you on the flyer. You're so beautiful."
I swallowed and stepped back a little.
"Thanks Tom. I think I need to get out of here. I just want to go home."
His eyes narrowed and he grabbed me. He moved so quickly I barely had time to react.
"I don't think so babe. You still have to pay the piper. I was going to take you someplace nice to celebrate but a brick wall will do just as well."
"That's not funny Tom."
He smiled at me coldly.
"I'm not joking."
I started to scream as he pushed me up against the wall. I felt his breath against my ear as he pressed against me, his hands on my ass and my tits.
"Get off me!"
I was trying to kick him, to fight, but he was too strong. He laughed as I hit his shoulder in vain.
"Relax sweetheart, I just want a taste."
That's when I heard the voice. The low, deep, angry and blissfully familiar voice.
"I don't fucking think so."
The next thing I knew I was leaning against the wall and Tom was lying unconscious on the ground.
Jake Delancey had just laid him out with one punch. It was that fast. One, two. You're out.
"Are you alright?"
I stared into the bluest eyes this side of the Atlantic. Had I noticed how blue they were before? They practically glowed in the dark alleyway.
"Elle? Come on Honey you are scaring me."
"I'm alright. Thanks."
He smiled and took my hand.
"Let's get the hell out of here."
"Yes."
His bike was parked at the mouth of the alley. I climbed on behind him without a word. I noticed that he'd brought two helmets this time.
Confident bastard, wasn't he?