Page 5 of Love Deep
I finally pull my gaze from Juniper and grin at Rosey. “I thought she might be more demanding than she seems to be. At the moment. Yes.”
“Does she like the recording studio?” Byron asks, always focused on the Club and what people like and don’t like about it.
“What’s not to like?” I ask. “It’s state of the art. You put in everything I’d asked.”
I sneak another glance across the bar. Juniper’s making faces as she’s talking, completely unselfconscious and relaxed. I have to press my lips together to stop myself from smiling at her obvious joy.
“I just wrote the checks,” Byron says. “I don’t know if what you suggested is any good.”
“It will pay for itself eventually,” I say. “You’re going to get loads of people coming out here to record. It’s so fucking peaceful. Vivian loves that it’s so private as well. She’s excited that she’s going to be able to take a hike without worrying she’s going to get recognized.”
I glance across to see Juniper again, but she’s gone from where she was sitting. My gaze flits across the bar to try to find her. Did she leave?
“What does she think about her lodge?”Rosey asks. “It’s one of my favorites of the ones that aren’t already taken.”
“She loves it. Plenty of space but cozy, is what she said. Everything’s good.”
Rosey wrinkles up her nose. “Okay, so she’s all settled, and her producer is staying at the Snowdrop Inn. So, why are you still here?”
I raise my eyebrows in mock horror.
“It’s lovely having you here, but I just don’t get it. You’re the CEO of the label. Are all stars like this? They need babysitting?”
I laugh. “A lot of them. But their managers do that, mostly. But she doesn’t want her manager on-site because she wants to focus on her family when she’s not in the studio. He only agreed to stay away if I was around. I’m here just to make sure she’s happy. If anything comes up, I’m not at the end of the phone. I’m here, ready to sprint into action.”
“But you’re the head of the record label. You can’t do that for all your artists,” Rosey says.
“Right, but Vivian Cross is the biggest recording star in the world. And the biggest signing Right Records has ever had. I don’t want to fuck that up. Whether her manager wants me here or not, I’m here. But the fact that he does want me here means I’m not going anywhere.”
I also can’t be hovering around Vivian like some overprotective guard dog. I’ve just got to make sure she’s happy. And leave her alone to create her next album. Signing someone like Vivian, when every label would have cut off their right arm to have her, is a big fucking deal. If I fuck up, everyone will be waiting to pounce. Vivian has only signed for this one album. I need to make sure it goes smoothly.
Right Records might be the biggest independent recordlabel in the business, but it’s a small fry compared to the big players. If Vivian’s signing goes well and she’s happy, I expect others will want to come aboard. It could be completely transformational for my business.
“You’re not going to fuck anything up. You’re in Star Falls,” Rosey says. “It’s all going to be great.” She’s looking behind me, and then she starts to wave. “Oh, Juniper!” Rosey calls out and beckons her over.
I turn, and Juniper and a couple of friends are heading toward the pool table in the back. Juniper says something to them and then leaves them and heads to our table.
“Have you met Fisher?” she asks.
Juniper’s gaze turns to me, and her eyelashes flutter, and her lips part. I swallow, like she’s unexpected royalty or something. Her cheeks are dusted in pink, and her skin glows under the dim lights of the bar. Her eyes sparkle as she smiles.
“Hey, Fisher.”
“He’s the friend from New York Byron’s been telling you about.” Rosey turns to me. “I’m sure you can help Juniper out with her art career. You know so many artistic people in New York.”
Juniper laughs, and the scent of orange blossom and jasmine fills my nose. “I don’t have an art career. I’m a teaching assistant.”
“You’re so talented,” Rosey says. “I’m sure if more people knew about you, you’d be a wild success.”
Juniper smiles like she’s half indulging Rosey and half pleased to receive her praise. But it’s a real smile. A smile that I can tell she means to her core. It fills me with lightness and energy.
“Fisher’s staying in one of the lodges that has one of your paintings in it.”
“It’s beautiful,” I say, even though I can’t even remember it. But everything about the lodge is beautiful, so I can’t be lying.
She lays her palm flat on her chest. “Thank you. That means a lot.”
“What is it you’re looking for?” I ask. “An agent? A gallery to exhibit you?”
