Leena’s Dream (5 page)

T
he day stretched
on and on until Leena thought she’d scream. Every minute felt like hours, and if she had to hear her assistant Trina go on one more time about the plans for after the concert, she would fire her. Trina had been heaven-sent when it came to keeping Leena on track with everything, but if her assistant had one downfall it was charity events. She didn’t see the point in them, especially not when it meant visiting sick people.

“If you could finish up the rounds at the hospital within an hour we could be on the road when the band leaves.”

“Enough, Trina,” Leena snapped. “We’re here through the following week. The band is getting a few days off before we hit the studio to start recording again.”

“I suggest revising our travel arrangements. We could all do with a few days off. Maybe I could book you into your favorite spa? Or we could take a trip to the mountains? You always enjoy a few days in the mountains.”

“No. We’ve gone over this.” She set her glass of tea aside and lifted her gaze to Trina. “I’m going to stay here for a few days, and if you plan to keep your job you will too.”

“Maybe a trip to see your parents. You haven’t been home in so long.”

“Enough.” She pushed off the sofa and headed for the door, thankful they’d held the meeting in Trina’s suite instead of on the bus. “I’m going to the bus for a bit. When I get back, if you say another word about leaving here…you’re fired. Don’t push me on this, Trina. I’m serious.”

She stepped into the hall and Kendrick fell into stride next to her. “Where’s Matt?”

“Down by the bus. Chelsea stopped by with something for you. It’s on the bus.”

“I know that tone.” She let out a deep sigh. “Kendrick, please don’t start. I’ve had enough of this shit from Trina.”

“I didn’t think she cared about your stalker.” He stepped into the stairwell and checked it before giving her the okay.

“Not the stalker, she wants to leave Cedar Grove as soon as the concert is complete. I’m getting tired of everyone trying to control everything. When we left Nashville, everyone knew the plan and now everyone wants to change it. Well, I’m tired and I’m in no mood to fight with anyone.” She jogged down the steps and for a moment she wished she was back at her house so she could burn off some of her pent-up energy in the pool.

“You can stay in town as long as you want. I only wish you’d move into the hotel or let us find you a house to rent in town for the week. Staying out in that bus is just asking for problems. Everyone knows it’s your bus. Your damn name is on the side of it.”

They stepped out into the sunlight and she could see Matt standing next to the bus. He seemed uneasy, like there was something going on that he wasn’t sure how she’d react to. As she came closer, she squinted at him. “Everything okay?”

“Fine.” He pushed open the door to the bus without meeting her gaze.

Not having the energy to work out whatever was bothering him, she stepped inside. Soft music drifted toward her as she climbed the steps.
What the hell?
Turner stood there, holding roses and grinning at her.

“I’m sorry.”

“If you’ve come to fight, you’d best leave. I’m in no mood—”

He stepped in front of her, his free hand cupping the side of her face. “You’re beautiful when you’re angry.”

Before she could respond, he brought his head closer and claimed her mouth. His lips brushed against hers softly at first before pressing down harder. His tongue slipped between her lips, devouring her as if he was dying of thirst and she was the last drink of water. She wrapped her arms around him, drawing him closer as her own need rose within her.

Breathless, she leaned back in his embrace to look up at him. “That was unexpected.”

“Not that unexpected. I’ve wanted to do that since you ran straight into my arms.” He dropped the roses on the sofa and wrapped his arms around her. “You’re beautiful, Leena.”

“If this is a way around me…”
It’s somewhat working.

“Always the cynic.” He teased his hands in her hair. “If it was, then I’d be doing this outside where one of the media circuit could catch a glimpse of us. Instead, I snuck into your bus hoping we could talk.”

“About what?” She let her head rest against his chest and enjoyed the feeling of his embrace. It had grown better over the years or maybe she’d just missed it that much.

“You’re right. I do want that bastard to come after me but not just for the reason you believe.” He held onto her as she tried to pull back from him. “I want it over with. I want him in police custody so that you’ll be safe but also because I…fuck, Leena, I want you. I can list reasons why I should step away and let you get on with your life but I can’t stop myself from wanting you.”

“The timing is wrong.”

“And when is there ever a right time?” He brought his finger under her chin and lifted her head up so she had to look at him. “You came into my life when I thought I was dying and you were my saving grace. You gave me a reason to fight and even when you left, I continued to fight, hoping that one day I’d see you again. You were beautiful then and you’re even more so now.”

“Oh, Turner.” Her eyes burned with unshed tears.

“I fell in love with you then and I’m still in love with you.” He let his hands fall away from her and stepped back. “When you stormed out of my office I called Chelsea and asked for her help. She met me here and told your guards that I had something to discuss with you that was important, that they shouldn’t tell you I was here and just bring you down instead.”

“Why did you need Chelsea’s help?”

“Because I planned on getting caught with you by the media,” he admitted.

“What?” She glanced down at the roses. “This was all a set-up?”

“No.” He spun back to her. “When I hung up with her, I knew as much as I wanted to use myself as bait to get this asshole to come after me, I realized it wasn’t the only reason. I was jealous. I wanted this bastard out of the picture so I could make my desire known.”

“Turner, I’ve always cared about you and I won’t see you put yourself in danger because of me.”

“But we have another problem.” He dropped down on the sofa next to the discarded roses.

“What?” Not knowing what else to do, she shoved her hands into the front pockets of her jeans.

“It’s best to be upfront about everything.” He ran a hand over his face but continued to avoid her gaze. “I should step aside and let you live your life.”

“What are you talking about?”

“You deserve so much better than me.”

She didn’t know what he was getting at, but she squatted down next to him and took his hands into hers. “I remember you telling me something like that once before.
Leena, don’t waste yourself on a cancer ridden patient. I’m dying.
But you’re alive and I wasn’t wrong or wasting my time back then.”

“But you want something I can’t give you.” He tried to slide his hand from hers, but she held on. “Children…I can’t give you children.”

“What?” She wasn’t sure how children came into the mix.

“You said you wanted a spouse and children. I can’t give you children. The treatments left…they left me sterile.”

She pushed the roses aside and sat down next to him. “There’s adoption. So many children out there who need a home.” Images of Brandy sitting alone in her hospital bed filled her thoughts. That sweet little girl with the big blue eyes needed a home. “But we’re getting ahead of ourselves.”

“I don’t think so.” He ran his hands down the legs of his jeans. “I learned long ago that you have to think long-term in order to keep moving ahead. If we’re going to get rid of your stalker and I’m going to prove that I deserve another chance with you, then you need to know what you’re getting yourself into.”

“Well, I know of one little girl who needs a good family and I’m sure there are dozens more. Besides adoption, there are other ways. It doesn’t stop whatever could happen between us.”

“On to the next obstacle.”

“And that would be?” She was scared to ask, but wanted to know the answer.

“Your mother.”

She leaned back against the sofa. Her eyes fell shut, and she twirled the ring on her finger again. “Now, that might be a fight none of us are prepared for.”

“We’re not teenagers who need her approval.” He twisted toward her and took her hand in his. “There might have been a time when she could keep us apart but that time is over and we have to trust in each other. We’re not going to let her or anyone else drive us apart.”

“I’ll have to deal with her, but not today.” She tugged her hand free of his, not because she didn’t want his touch but because she needed to twirl her ring. Round and round, she twisted it in circles.

“Why do you keep twirling the ring on your finger?” He didn’t lay his hand over hers again. Instead, he placed it on her leg.

“It reminds me of my sister.” She glanced down at the ring. “Mom had similar ones made for all of us. Dad and my brother, Lee, don’t wear jewelry but they wear this. It has all of our birthstones in it, with Meredith’s being the center and biggest. Inside, it says:
Always in our hearts.
”

“A symbol that connects the family and one that gives you a piece of your sister to carry with you always.”

“A symbol of my family, of love.” She dropped her hands into her lap. “It’s more of a habit that I twirl it.”

She sat there in silence, staring down at her ring before she let out a deep sigh and tipped her head to the side to look at him. “Since we’re being honest, there’s something you should know.”

“What’s that?” he pressed when she quieted.

“After I left the hospital this morning I couldn’t stop thinking of that little girl, Brandy. She broke something inside of me. So young and she reminds me of everything you and Meredith went through. She’s all alone and…” She let her words trail off for the moment and tried to keep herself from getting emotional. “I put in a call to her social worker.”

“Why?”

She twisted the ring again before forcing herself to look at him. “To express my interest in adopting her.” She stretched her legs out and rose from the sofa but there was nowhere to go. Never before had her tour bus seemed as small as it did then. “It’s stupid and I’ll never get approved, not with the career I have, but I couldn’t sit back and do nothing. She wiggled her way into my heart and I can’t see them keeping her locked up in the hospital because they can’t find a home that will keep her. She’s sick and maybe even dying, which is all the more reason she deserves a home and a family.”

“It’s a heartbreaking situation.”

“I’m not sure
heartbreaking
covers it. She doesn’t even know how old she is. She remembers her mother dropping her off at the police station with a note. Since then, she’s been tossed around from foster home to foster home and when she wasn’t there, she’s been here.”

“I know.” He stood and closed the distance between them. “But she already has someone interested in adopting her.”

“Then where are they?” she snapped, no longer able to control her temper. “She’s alone in that hospital bed and this adoptive family is where?”

“Right here.” He laid his hand on her shoulder. “I put in the request to adopt her. I’ve gone through the steps, and I’m waiting on the final decision. I’m a single man, a lawyer for the hospital who works crazy hours, but they’re considering it. I’ve answered their questions reasonably and while I don’t have a wife or family I do have a strong support system within the hospital, so they are considering it.”

“You?” She spun back toward him, her hip hitting against the small built in table. “You didn’t mention it when I said anything about her.”

“What was I supposed to say? Oh, you were visiting the girl I hope to adopt? Or maybe, how’s my hopefully adoptive daughter doing?” He raised an eyebrow at her. “I’ve been visiting with her for the last few months but she doesn’t know.”

“Why not?”

“Why get her hopes up when I didn’t think they’d approve me? There was no need to disappoint her again. Like you said, she’s been through enough already.” He slid his hand down her arm until he reached her hip and tugged her close to him. “You were willing to give up your career to rescue her.”

“I didn’t realize until I came here just how much I was missing in my life. I knew I wanted a life outside of music, but I didn’t realize how much I needed it. The way my heart broke for her, I knew I had to do something.”

He leaned in until his breath caressed her face. “My sweet Leena, you’ve always had a big heart. It’s the reason I fell in love with you and I’m so glad that the brutal music industry didn’t steal it from you.” He lowered his head until his mouth covered hers and kissed her deeply.

A knock from the door behind them interrupted them as she met his desire with her own.
Damn it.
She wanted to see where this was going but every time they got close something interrupted them.

“Trina’s out here.” Kendrick opened the door a crack, letting a stream of sunlight in.

“I’m busy.” She didn’t step back from Turner. Instead, she looped her fingers through the front belt loops of his jeans, keeping him close. She’d get rid of Trina and they could pick up where they left off.

“She says it’s important,” Kendrick said.

“It’s always important.” She wasn’t convinced, and she’d had enough of her assistant’s distain for what they were doing here.

“There’s been another letter.” Trina’s voice was low enough that Leena could hear it but not so low that the wind carried it away.

“Fuck.” Defeated, she sighed. “Let her in.”

“It’s going to be okay.” Turner kept his arms tight around her.

“I hope so.” Even as she said it, she wasn’t sure. This stalker was starting to work his way under her skin, unnerving her. Too much of this and she’d lose her balance. She needed to keep a cool head and get through tomorrow’s concert without any problems. Once that was done, she’d take on this bastard herself if she had to. This needed to end.

L
eena stood
near the French glass doors that led out onto the patio, watching the sun sink in the distance. Her stalker was somewhere out there. He might not have followed them to Turner’s log home, but there was no longer any doubt that he was in Cedar Grove. The last message her manager received had been traced back to the hospital’s café. He was there and he’d soon make himself known. It remained unclear how far he would go to claim what he thought belonged to him.

Detective Mason Hazelwood had gone over the communications that her manager had forwarded and he felt strongly that her attacker only posed a threat if he felt rejected by her. If he caught wind of the connection between her and Turner, he could become violent, yet instead of putting more distance between them she found herself seeking Turner’s comfort more.

She’d had a stalker before, crazy fan letters, anonymous phone calls, and packages. But never before had it gone to this extent. With each communication, the unease rose and even that had been nothing compared to knowing that he was in the same town as her, ready to fulfill his promise to make her his.

She had come to Cedar Grove to do something good, to give back to a hospital and a charity that did so much for others. Instead she had brought danger to them and anyone who was around her. If this bastard went after someone close to her as revenge, she’d never forgive herself.

“Stressing won’t help.” Turner stepped up behind her, caressing the small of her back.

“What will, then?”

“Come on.” He wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her away from the doors. “We’ve got some of the best people working on this. We’re going to catch him.”

She didn’t say anything; her confidence had diminished. He had been sending her letters for months and the police had yet to determine his identity. In her mind, that meant it was all too likely he could sneak in under the radar and steal her away before anyone would notice. She needed to pull herself together and make sure her guard stayed up.

“We’ve got a plan for the concert tomorrow afternoon. Mason and his men will keep their eyes open. There will be a strong security presence and you’re not going anywhere without Kendrick and Matt.” He reminded her of what they had put into action only a short time ago. “This is going to be over soon and you can give up the fear that you’ve been carrying around.”

“Then what?” She let out a deep breath and stared down at her hands. “I got wrapped up in my emotions. Seeing you again…it threw me for a loop and had everything rushing back. But I’m leaving in a few days.”

“We can make it work.”

“You have no idea what you’re getting yourself into.” She gave a lighthearted chuckle. “I work insane hours and when I’m on the road I’m gone for months at a time.”

“Then our time together will be more special.” He took her hand into his and held it tightly. “I’m not letting you give up on us just because your career is demanding. We’ll make it work. When you’re not on the road, you can come here and when you are I’ll travel to wherever you are.”

“What about Brandy? That much travel won’t look good for your proposal to adopt her.” She tried to run through all the possibilities, to prepare them for the likely outcome of this relationship.

“If the adoption is approved we will still make this work. We deserve this chance. Can you honestly tell me that you don’t want it?”

“No.” She leaned into his body and let her head rest against his shoulder. “I wonder what would have happened if we could have stayed in touch. Would I have still pursued music? Would we be married? Maybe we’d have ended up divorced and hating each other.”

“I doubt that.” He leaned back against the sofa, taking her with him, and wrapped his arm around her shoulder to keep her close. “I’d like to think we’d be happily married. Maybe instead of being a hospital attorney, I’d have studied law more closely related to the music industry and we could have had similar careers.”

“This career is hard on relationships, especially marriages.” She had witnessed many relationships not only fall apart but get very bitter because of the constant demands on entertainers. Was she willing to risk things ending terribly?

“Stay with me tonight.” He brought his lips to the curve of her neck.

“I can’t…oh, how I wish…” Her words died off as he kissed along the curve of her neck.

“You know you want to.”

His breath was hot against her skin, sending goosebumps rising along her neck. “If he’s watching my bus…” She shook her head. “No, I can’t. I won’t put you at risk by doing that. Once this is all over, if you still want me to stay, then I will.”
I’ll stay forever if you only ask.

She knew in that moment that he had been what she was waiting for. She didn’t just want a family, she wanted him. Ever since they were teenagers it had always been him in her thoughts and her fantasies. She had always compared every man in her life to him and none of them ever stood up to the standard he’d set.

Her music career meant everything to her, at least she thought it did, and now she was considering giving it up. If she closed her eyes she could see herself as his wife and always by his side.
For him, it’s all worth it.

Her cell phone rang, pulling her from her thoughts, and she snatched it off the coffee table where she had dropped it earlier.
Mom.
She slid her finger over the button to deny the call and send it to voicemail. “I’m not ready to deal with that just yet.”

“I doubt she’s going to give up that easy.”

She put the phone back where it had been. “No, but for tonight she’ll think I’m getting ready for the concert. When this is over, I’m going to take a trip to see her.”

“Fighting with her won’t change the past,” he reminded her.

“She has to know how I feel. Maybe it’s more about me getting it off my chest. Either way, it has to come out. She was there while I grieved for my first love. She comforted me, baked me chocolate chip cookies, and all the while she was responsible.”

“It’s the past.”

“Our past, our lives, and she had no right to interfere.” She leaned back into his embrace and tried to get past what her mother had done even as it continued to eat at her. “I can give her a little room. She had just lost her daughter, but there’s not much to give there. I lost my sister and you at the same time, and the second one was her fault.”

“We found each other again. That’s what matters.” He brushed a kiss along her temple. “I’m not planning on letting you go this time.”