“I know it sounds ridiculous, now, but the bartender said it was your last night performing there, and he didn’t know where you were going next or if you were even going to stay in Nashville. I just didn’t want to take the chance that I couldn’t find you again. My job depends on finding great artists, and I haven’t been having a lot of luck lately, so I decided to take a chance this once.
“Looking back, it was a pretty foolish thing to do, but I was desperate, because I just knew if I didn’t bring you in, someone else would find you and take all the credit. I couldn’t take that chance. I’m skating on pretty thin ice with my boss as it is these days, because I haven’t found anyone worthy of her notice as yet. If I don’t find something soon, she’ll probably fire me, and I won’t be able to pay next month’s rent.”
“Your boss sounds like a real piece of work,” Bart said, “expectin’ a young gal like you to take chances like that.”
Mel shook her head then wished she hadn’t. “It’s just the way things are in the business. It’s really cutthroat. And there aren’t that many jobs available these days. I can’t afford to lose this one.”
Bart sighed. “Okay.”
They were all quiet for a moment, thinking—she assumed—about her foolishness.
“Well, no real harm done,” Matt said. “Why don’t I put you to bed, Mel. We can talk about this in the mornin’.”
“What?”
“You’re beat, and I’ll bet your head feels like it’s about to fall right off. Let me get you into bed, so you can get some sleep. The others can go back to our hotel for the night then come back in the morning, and we’ll figure out what to do about your boss.”
“But you can’t stay here,” Mel said.
“Either one of us stays, or you’re goin’ to a hospital,” Bart said, standing up. “No arguments, young lady. We don’t take any chances with head injuries.”
“But…”
“Don’t worry,” Matt said, getting up, too. “I can sleep on the couch. Won’t be the first time.”
Mel wasn’t certain of when she had lost control, but the next thing she knew, Matt’s brothers and uncle were stomping down the back stairs, and Matt was leading her into her bedroom.
5
“I really am perfectly capable of taking care of myself,” she said testily then gave herself away when she had to grab for the foot of the bed to keep from falling on her face.
“Of course you are, darlin’,” Matt said cheerfully. “Don’t mind me. I’m just here in case you need a hand with somethin’. Now, why don’t you tell me where you keep your nightgowns?”
Mel looked up sharply. “What makes you think I don’t sleep in pajamas?”
Matt narrowed his eyes and seemed to study her closely.
“Nope. I got five sisters, and you’re definitely a nightie kind of gal.”
Mel sighed and gave up. “The top drawer, on the left.”
Matt headed for her dresser. Mel was relieved when he simply took the long sleep shirt that was on top.
He was grinning when he returned to her, though.
“You got good taste, darlin’.”
He had picked up her denim-colored, full-length, Winnie-the-Pooh night shirt, and she could tell he was pleased with her bear connection. When she reached for it, he set it beside her on the bed.
“Let me help you with those buttons,” he said, reaching for the front of his shirt.
“No!”
“You still nervous around me?” he asked, looking perplexed.
She swallowed hard and dropped her eyes. “Look, I know you’ve already seen me naked once tonight, but I…”
He reached his hand out to her cheek and raised her eyes to his.
“This time I won’t look. I promise.”
“But…”
“Look, I know you’re still scared of me, but if you’re wonderin’ if I’m gonna jump you, don’t even think it. I’m not the kind of guy who’s gonna try to take advantage of a gal whose hurtin’ and scared. Like I said, we have five sisters, and we all lived in a three-bedroom, one-bath house growin’ up, so I’m real good at dealin’ with women on a lot of levels.”
He grinned then. “I promise I won’t try to compromise you—at least not until your feelin’ a lot better than you do right now.”
Her head reeling from the now throbbing pain, Mel conceded defeat and dropped her hands. His were both gentle and impersonal as he helped her out of his flannel shirt and dropped the night shirt over her head then pulled what was left of her dress away. Then he helped her to the bathroom and shut the door behind her for privacy. Mel stood clinging to the counter and stared at herself in the mirror.
Not any reason at all to worry about Matt’s intentions tonight, she thought. Not when you look like this.
Her night shirt revealed bruises on her arms and neck where her attacker had man-handled her, and her cheek was turning a sickly yellow color where he had punched her. One eye was a little puffy, too, and she wondered if she would end up with a black eye by morning.