When Sparks Fly (42 page)

Blake ran his hands through his hair then held his head between his hands. He sighed, leaned back in his office chair, and looked up toward the ceiling.

It’s amazing how spoken words can be taken out of context when you don’t hear the whole fucking conversation.

Blake took a sip of the scotch in front of him. So far as he knew, he’d done nothing wrong. Renee was just in the right place at the wrong time.

Secrets? Sure, there were a couple of secrets Blake was keeping from everyone, not just Frankie, more importantly he was keeping things from Renee. He didn’t feel good about it, but he wanted more than anything to surprise her at the concert.

The door slammed and the sound of keys hitting the dish on the table just inside the door startled Blake.

Tropical storm Renee has arrived.

Tropical storm indeed. The energy as Renee entered the room signaled she meant business. She was not happy.

“What the hell are you doing, Blake? What? What are you keeping from Frankie, from me? What’s so important that you’re willing to risk everything we have, huh?”

Renee’s anger permeated her being from head to toe. She was angry…angrier than she’d been in a very long time. She hated secrets. Someone always got hurt when there were secrets.

“Whoa, there, Missy.”

“Don’t you dare call me Missy, you jerk. I want some answers. I want the truth.”

Renee stood defiantly at the corner of Blake’s desk with her arms folded across her chest. Her dagger-like glare pierced his soul.

“I trusted you.”

Blake took another sip, no, more like a gulp, from his drink and set the glass back on his desk. He stood up and walked the two steps to Renee, grabbed her by the shoulders, and seared a kiss on her lips.

“If you think…”

Before Renee could speak another word, Blake kissed her again. He continued kissing her every time she tried to speak until she finally melted against him in a heap of sobs.

Blake stood still, his arms wrapped tightly around Renee. Her body trembled against him as her tears stained his shirt.

“Let it out, honey…all of it. You’ve held too much frustration in the past few months. You were close to breaking down a few weeks ago. I’ve pushed you way too hard. That’s my fault, but Renee, I’m hiding nothing…nothing that’s a mistake, nothing that will hurt you or your career that we’ve been building. Do you hear me? Nothing.”

Renee heard the words Blake spoke. She had no reason not to believe him, yet flashes of Frankie’s face flew through her mind.

Frankie got angry quite often, but Renee had never seen her as upset as she was earlier. Something Blake said had to have set her off.

Renee lifted her head and looked up at Blake. She knew this man well. They’d spent every moment together for the past six months. She scanned his face through tear filled eyes. He was solemn, yet there was a gentleness that spoke truth.

“Blake, I…”

“Let’s sit down, okay?”

Blake led them to the couch.

“What did you say that made Frankie so upset? I heard you tell her you’d never work for her again. Am I that much of a problem for you?”

“Honey, wherever did you come up with that one? No, you aren’t a problem for me.”

Blake reassured Renee and moved the hair that had caught in her wet eyelashes.

“Frankie’s sure I’m hiding something from her. She can’t stand not having complete control. You were there the day I told her that we would do this my way or I wasn’t signing on for this project.”

“So now I’m a project?”

Blake stood up, shoved his hands in his pockets and walked back over to his desk.

“Jesus, Renee, stop. Stop twisting my words.”

Renee fiddled with the hem on her shirt, her head down.

“Renee, look at me. There’s nothing going on. Tomorrow will be great. I promise.”

Renee got up from the couch, walked quickly to the door of Blake’s apartment, and grabbed her keys.

“I’m going home.”

*

Renee was still awake as the early sun of daybreak streaked across the couch where she lay.

When Renee got into her apartment, she’d kicked off her shoes, tossed her keys on the coffee table, and landed on the couch.

Random sheets of paper surrounded her. Several days ago she’d finished this song, this tribute to the man she loved. There were still things that needed tweaking. She wanted When Sparks Fly perfect for her performance, but she would probably ad lib some of it anyway.

Am I being unreasonable? It’s not wrong to want to know the truth, after all it is my life. Everyone keeps playing Russian roulette and I keep hoping the gun doesn’t go off. It’s not fair.

Renee sprang from the couch and headed toward the kitchen. Coffee. Coffee was what she needed. The dark, aromatic fragrance and silk-like flavor would make everything better. It always did.

How am I going to face Blake? What am I going to do about this situation? I was a bitch, there’s no other word for my actions.

Renee continued talking to herself as she poured water into the coffeemaker.

“What am I going to do? What? God, Manelli, if I was Blake I’d walk. I’d just walk away and tell you to do things yourself. No, I’d say fuck you, Manelli, I’m done.”

Renee’s words bounced off the hallway walls as she strode quickly to her bedroom and undressed.

For the first time in six months Renee felt lost. Blake wasn’t by her side when she woke up. It didn’t feel right to be upset, angry, and empty…all because of her stupid conclusion jumping.

The water ran over Renee’s skin. She stood under the pelting spray longer than she’d intended.

Renee’s skin tingled when she stepped out of the shower. She stood in front of the mirrors and noticed the rosy glow. Taking the towel and wiping the steam from the mirror, she moved closer. It was going to take an act of the Almighty to get rid of the dark circles under her eyes.

Renee wrapped a towel around her hair, put on her sweats, and headed for the kitchen to her already brewed coffee. She stopped dead in her tracks when she noticed Blake sitting on a stool at the kitchen island.

“You look like hell,” Blake remarked.

“Gee, thanks. You don’t look all that charming either.”

“Can we please talk, Renee? Please?”

“What? What are you going to tell me that I don’t already know?”

Renee grabbed the creamer and poured it and coffee into her cup at the same time.

“Please. Hear me out. I don’t know what you think you heard, but whatever it was isn’t true. You need to believe me, Renee. I’m asking you, please, just trust me.”

Renee put a plate of already buttered toast on the counter between them and shoved a cup of coffee in Blake’s direction. She slathered cherry preserves on a slice and took a generous bite.

“I don’t want to argue, Blake. It didn’t feel right with you not by me this morning. I’ve gotten used to waking up with you.”

“I didn’t sleep at all. I don’t want to hurt you, honey, not ever.”

Blake slid his hand down Renee’s arm.

“Let’s just call a truce until tonight is over. I’m on my last nerve as it is, Blake. After the concert, we’ll sit down and figure all this out. I don’t want to feel empty like I’m feeling right now. I need all the energy I can muster for this performance.”

“Honey, I promise, we will sit down and talk about this and fix whatever is wrong. You’re right, there’s still a lot to do and with neither of us sleeping last night…well, it’s gonna make for a very long day.”

Blake took a sip of his coffee.

“Can I at least give you a hug, Renee?”

Renee nodded as Blake’s arms enfolded her, drawing her close.

It was the most incredible feeling Renee had ever experienced: the security, the safety that only Blake offered, and it was right here, in his arms. Right where she should be.

‡
Chapter Sixteen

Renee chose a smart little outfit she’d be comfortable in for both the afternoon and her performance: a mid-thigh denim skort with pockets and a black sequin tank top. She’d take her hot pink fringe shawl, just in case. She’d pulled her hair into a tightly wrapped pony tail, slid her bare feet into her Birkenstocks, and headed to Blake’s apartment.

Blake met her in the hallway.

“Hi, honey. You look marvelous!”

Blake embraced her and kissed her cheek. He wasn’t too sure how his affection would be received with all the negative crap between them.

Renee returned his embrace and gently kissed his lips. Her arms lingered around him. She missed the physical contact with Blake, but until all of this was settled, her guard was up.

Blake smiled and gave her a sweet little kiss on her lips.

“Are you ready for the afternoon and evening?”

“As ready as I’ll ever be, I guess.”

“I packed all of the equipment in my vehicle. I have the lawn chairs and blankets. I packed a cooler of water as well. All you need is your music and your 12-string.”

“You have the others?”

“Yes, the 6-string, and the special acoustic as well as the tambourine. Remember, no sleep.”

Renee half smiled. She was well aware of no sleep and most thankful for make-up.

“Then I guess we’re ready to go.”

“C’mere, Renee.”

Blake opened his arms and Renee went to him. He surrounded her with himself, drinking in her heady fragrance. He sighed.

“God, I love you, Renee. Today’s going to be fabulous. Fabulous. I promise.”

Blake kissed the top of her head, once again inhaling deeply the scent he’d come to love.

Renee went back into her apartment and appeared with her guitar and folder of music in one hand and her purse slung over the opposite shoulder.

“Do we have a plan, Blake, or are we just mingling until the concert?”

“Mom said she had food taken care of. I guess she and your mom have been talking. I don’t have a clue if Frankie and Don will show up.”

“Oh, trust me, they’ll both be there. Remember, Frankie doesn’t trust you, you shady character.”

Renee’s tongue-in-cheek accusation lightened the mood. She couldn’t help but smile when the sound of Blake’s chuckle filled the hallway.

Blake put an arm around Renee. She wrapped her arm around Blake’s waist and crooked a finger in his back belt loop. This was how they usually walked anywhere.

How? How can I stay mad at this guy?

The holiday festivities were in full swing when Blake and Renee arrived. A boy scout leader was directing his troop how to park cars. The main attendant recognized Blake immediately and waved them on with instructions to park near the stage.

Blake braked to allow several elementary age children cross in front of them. He pulled the vehicle behind where the stage was set. Even though the stage was a flatbed truck, a professional lighting crew had been hired.

There was no way Blake was going to miss one moment of tonight’s performance. He’d also hired one of the best sound companies in the area to do what he normally did at Renee’s concerts.

Blake unloaded the equipment, barked instructions to the assigned helpers, and greeted the sound man.

“Glad you could be here, Doug. Tonight’s gonna be so damn special. Everything has to go off without a hitch. I’m counting on you to make my girl sound the best she’s ever sounded.”