Page 84 of Steal My Breath Away

“We grew up together,” I offered. “I was friends with her brother and we served in the air force together. He died on active duty a few years ago.”

Sympathy creased her face. “I’m so sorry, Ace. I didn’t mean to bring up bad memories. It’s just, when you talk about her, and when we watched that video of her gig, and now when you listened to her music, your face changes. It makes me think she’s more than a friend.”

I opened my mouth to protest, and she held up her hand. “I know it’s none of my business and you’ve been very careful to maintain that professional boundary, but I’m attracted to you, and you’re the only man that I’ve been attracted to who hasn’t been interested. I’m not counting the ones who were married or in a serious relationship, and for some of them even that wasn’t an issue.”

“I’m flattered, Jessica, but I don’t want to cross that professional line.”

“I’m not buying it,” she said. “I’ve had many bodyguards and other professionals working for me, and that line is not etched in stone. But you’re different, and I couldn’t figure out the reason until you showed me the video of that gig. And now, after watching you listen to her sing, I know.”

I shifted in my seat. “What do you know?”

“You’re in love with her.”

Pushing to stand, I crossed the room to the bar. I didn’t usually drink on the job, but I needed something to settle my nerves. “I don’t really think this is an appropriate conversation to have.”

“Come on, Ace.” She twisted on the couch so she could see me. “You’ve worked for me longer than any of my other bodyguards. You know things about me that no one else does, and although you’ve always kept your cards close to your chest, I’ve always considered us friends. Your feelings are written all over your face. If I had to guess, I think your trip to Virginia also had to do with her, and your grumpiness since you came back has to do with her as well.”

I poured myself a shot of whiskey and downed it in one gulp. “I haven’t been grumpy.”

“Okay, how about brooding? Reflective? Unhappy? Take your pick.”

The whiskey bottle was looking pretty good, so I poured myself another shot. “I’d better go and do a security check.”

“I’ll come with you.” She jumped off the couch. “You can tell me what you’re doing in LA when the woman you love is in Chicago.”

I finished the second shot and seriously thought about having a third. “It’s complicated.”

“Love is not complicated,” she said. “It’s a gift. It’s precious and rare, and I’m not going to let you throw it away. I spend my life pretending to be in love and wishing it would really happen to me. And here you are literally in love and pining away—”

Third shot going down. “I don’t pine.”

“Yes, you do,” she said. “And it’s sweet and it’s beautiful and I wish you were pining for me, but she’s got your heart and the only reason you’re here is because you’ve clearly messed things up, so you need to go back to Chicago and make it right.”

The whiskey loosened my tongue and I spoke my fear out loud. “I’m not—”

“Good enough?” she interjected. “Worthy? You think she could do better? I know those feelings, Ace. I’ve struggled with them all my life, and I recognize the signs in you. Fifteen years of therapy and I still have to fight them. But if you weren’t good enough, she wouldn’t love you, and that’s what she’s saying in her song, isn’t it? That song is about you.” Her eyes welled up with tears. “God, I wish someone would write me a song like that. I sure as hell wouldn’t be on the other side of the country. I’d be on the first plane to Chicago and I’d never look back.”

Something niggled at the back of my mind. “Aren’t those the closing lines from your last movie?”

“I never said I was original.” Jessica pulled out her phone. “I’ll call my assistant and get her to book some flights. I feel like going to Chicago. There’s a show I want to see.”

Find your heart’s desire.

“Actually, Jessica… I already have a ticket.”

CHAPTER 37Haley

“Oh my God. Why are there so many people?” I peeked out from the back hallway of the Bluebird Café. I’d approached the manager of the popular West Side bar because it was small and intimate. I’d never imagined it could hold such a big crowd.

“I might have told a few people about your gig.” Paige shrugged. “All our friends are here. And everyone from the station, of course. And then there are people who heard your song on the radio. Dante may have told some people in the industry. Skye might have put up some flyers around the coffee shop and in the buildings where she has classes. Ben saw them and asked for copies to take to the athletic center…”

“It was supposed to be a small, intimate setting so I could get some feedback on my original songs,” I moaned. “I got lots of positive responses about ‘Echoes of the Heart’ after I played it on my show, but I don’t know if the rest of my music is any good. I’ve made a second set list of covers in case I don’t get a good reception.”

“You’re not going to need it,” she said. “I’ve been listening to you practice around the house. I’m no music expert, but I know you’re going to kick ass tonight.”

“I’m so nervous I can’t breathe.” I swallowed hard. “I don’t usually get this nervous before I go on stage.”

“This is a whole new you,” she said. “And new you does get this nervous, because you’re baring your soul with these new songs. They’re real and they’re raw and they’re coming from the heart. You’re incredibly brave.”

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