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  “Would be a waitress without you?”

  He loved to throw it in her face occasionally. No one had taken any notice until Adam had walked into the chicken dinner place one afternoon and heard her singing as she wiped down tables.

  At first, she’d thought his offer to represent her was a come on. There were lots of men in town who took advantage of wide-eyed singers, saying they were music executives. He’d given her his card, and she’d looked him up on the internet, doing her research, before she’d arranged an audition.

  “Yeah, and our partnership worked out well, didn’t it?” He raised a brow, a lazy smile on his lips.

  And she couldn’t help but smile back. “I guess so.”

  “Why don’t we do some press then, darlin’. Prop those album sales up?” Adam kissed her cheek, and Savvy stepped back. “While you talk about your ordeal?”

  Savvy absolutely hated it when he called her darling, as though they were still together, instead of colleagues.

  Yeah, but you’re the one who blurred the lines in the first place.

  She’d slept with him two months into her first tour. Savvy had been exhausted and lonely, and he was handsome and kind. He’d worn her down over a period of weeks, bringing her a cold beer after a grueling workout on the stage, offering her a sympathetic ear. Had it been any wonder she’d tumbled into bed with him? Although, it sounded like she was making excuses for her behavior.

  It hadn’t lasted long, and they never brought it up again, after an awkward talk. Things had been purely professional since and Savvy wanted to keep it that way.

  Adam ducked his head. “Savvy, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to upset you.”

  “Yeah, I know.” She cleared her throat. “But I don’t feel like talkin’ about this on national television.” She wouldn’t be able to get through it without breaking down. Savvy didn’t want to tarnish Gloria’s memory either, by engaging in a self-serving interview.

  “What about a show? The public is concerned about you, and we should let them know you’re okay. Let me book something small and intimate in a downtown club.”

  “She ain’t gonna do a damn thing.” King walked into the room, and he didn’t look happy.

  ***

  King glared at Adam, who took a hasty step back.

  Hmph. The man ain’t as dumb as he looks. Who knew?

  “Who the hell, do you…” Adam sputtered, trying to work up his courage as King loomed over him.

  As the day had worn on, King had become more and more alarmed about Savvy’s safety. He’d been busy for the last few hours, familiarizing himself with both the house and the surrounding property, checking all the entrances and exits, as well as the windows. He’d also put himself in charge of the bodyguards.

  In his opinion, she still needed to be moved to a safer location, and he was waiting for the right time to bring it up. And if this fool, thought King would allow him to offer her up on a plate for the killer, he was crazy.

  Adam placed his hands on his hips. “Look, I know you think your high and mighty, because you’re a Navy SEAL, but you don’t have a say in this decision.”

  “Don’t I?”

  Savvy said nothing, letting the situation play out. From her body language, King doubted she wanted to do the show anyhow.

  “You don’t know the first thing about what Savvy needs.”

  “I know she needs to be alive. The threat she’s facin’ is genuine, so we’re not temptin’ fate for a concert.”

  “We’ve taken all the precautions.”

  “No, you’ve taken some of them, but it’s not nearly enough.”

  King wondered if Savvy’s manager cared about her at all, or did he see her as a cash cow?

  “She’ll be fine. We’ve got to harness this intense interest in Savvy while we can.”

  Savvy gaped at Adam, evidently appalled.

  Was the man hoping for another incident, so he could drive the news cycle for the next few days?

  It scared the shit out of King, to think the man wanted to dangle Savvy in front of the gunman. It was a lot like waving a red flag in front of a bull. And the consequences would be just as predictable.

  “She’s not performing. End of discussion.”

  “You’re not in charge here.”

  “Yes, I am.” They needed to clear this up, right now.

  “I’m not tryin’ to be an asshole because we all want the same thing, but you will do what I say, when it comes to Savvy’s protection.”

  “Or…?” Adam challenged.

  “I’ll make you see the error of your ways.” King sneered.

  Adam opened his mouth, shut it, and stalked off scowling.

  Good riddance.

  He turned to Savvy. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to interrupt, but you have to be very careful until we catch this guy.”

  “I get it, and for the record, I didn’t want to perform.”

  “Gotcha. Speaking of your protection, we should’ve had this talk earlier, but you were out of it.”

  “I know. Sorry.”

  “Don’t be. You’re going through a difficult time. Are you ready to talk?”

  “Yeah, I can handle it.” Savvy nodded. “I’m feelin’ a bit better, or at the very least, I’ve adjusted to my new reality. What’s up?”

  “We need to go over the rules.”

  She sighed. “I’m not a fan of those.”

  “Too bad. This is my show.” King didn’t want to get into a pissing contest with her either, but he had to make her understand the seriousness of the situation.

  “And if I don’t…?

  “Then you’ll get hurt. And neither one of us wants that.”

  She swallowed. “Excellent point. So, what are your rules?”

  “I’ve only got one, but I reserve the right to make more. And I apologize in advance for the lack of privacy, but I go where you go.”

  Her face fell. “Everywhere?”

  “Everywhere.” King licked his lips, hoping he didn’t look like a beagle eying a juicy bone.

  “Look, I hired you and—”

  “Yes, you did, but it doesn’t mean you’re in control.”

  Fire sparked in her eyes, but she didn’t comment.

  King was used to dealing with other military members, men who were accustomed to obeying without question. Having someone argue with him was a new experience. Strangely enough, he didn’t mind it so much. Then again, he preferred feisty women who dished it right back.

  “Let me guess, you’re sick of doin’ what other people tell you to?”

  “Big-time.”

  “I know the feelin’, but you gotta roll with it.”

  “Startin’ now, there will never be more than six feet between us at any time.”

  She blinked but didn’t respond.

  “Keepin’ you alive is my full-time job, and nothin’ will get between us.”

  You didn’t protect Nicole, did you? What makes you think this will be any different?

  King shut the inner voice down before it could undermine his confidence. Now wasn’t the time to second-guess himself. He’d save the introspection for later.

  “I’ll be over here if you need me.” And then King took the chair on the opposite side of the room and kept an eye on her.

  Chapter 4

  “What are you two doin’?”

  In the evening, Savvy found King at the dining room table with her mother. They were having coffee and dessert after supper. Everyone else had scattered around the house, so it was just the three of them.

  She’d left Zane behind in the living room. Savvy was having trouble adjusting to such tight supervision. She knew it was for her own protection, but Savvy felt trapped.

  “Satisfyin’ our sweet tooths. Want some, honey?” Momma asked, nodding to the pie plate on the dinner table.

  Barbara Summers was in her late fifties with blonde hair streaked with silver highlights. She had bright blue eyes, a cheerful smile, and she was roughly the same height an
d weight as Savvy. Evidently, she’d gotten a healthy dose of her mother’s genes.

  “Sure.”

  Momma beamed. “Have a seat, and I’ll fix you a plate.” She served Savvy a slice. Her mother loved entertaining, and she prided herself on her hostess skills.

  “This is the best pecan pie I’ve ever had, ma’am,” King said, around a mouthful. “But don’t tell my momma I said so.”

  “It’s my favorite, too,” Savvy said.

  “Is that right?”

  “Although I’m a pie connoisseur.” She’d eaten all kinds in hundreds of diners across the country. “My second favorite’s peanut butter.”

  “You want some homemade whipped cream on top of it?” Barbara asked.

  “I surely do.” He held up his plate in anticipation.

  Her mother made whipping cream from scratch and added a little bit of cinnamon to the mixture. It was her secret weapon and gave it an extra something. Because it was hand whipped, the final product was much softer than the canned version, and ten times better.

  Her stomach rumbled, and Savvy took a bite. At dinner, she’d moved the food around on her plate, but hadn’t eaten much of it.

  King tasted the whipped cream and then closed his eyes. “Ma’am, you are spoilin’ me.” He winked at Savvy when her mother blushed.

  “It’s my pleasure since you’re protectin’ my only daughter. Just you wait, in the morning, I’ll whip us up a fresh batch of homemade buttermilk biscuits.”

  “Sounds like heaven.”

  Her mother patted his shoulder. “I’m iffy on the rest of them, but I like this one Savannah, he can stay as long as he likes.”

  Momma had never approved of the company Savvy had kept in Nashville. Savvy had even brought a couple of men home for Sunday supper, and Barbara hadn’t been impressed. Yet, somehow King had passed inspection.

  King grinned at her like a possum eating sweet taters and Savvy smothered a laugh.

  Momma wiped her hands on a dishcloth. “If you’ll excuse me, I’ve gotta get these weary old bones to bed.”

  “Night, Momma.”

  “Sweet dreams, honey.” She kissed Savvy on the cheek.

  Savvy inhaled deeply. Her mother smelled like gardenia perfume and home. If Savvy could wrap the scent around her like a blanket, she would. She craved comfort, familiarity.

  When she finally pulled away, her mother wore a cat who ate the cream expression, and her eyes danced with mischief.

  Lord help me, she wants to fix us up. I’ll never hear the end of it.

  Her mother went upstairs. And then it was just the two of them, alone in the dining room.

  “I like her. She don’t put on airs.”

  “No, she doesn’t. Momma gives it to me straight, and I love her for it.” Savvy had vowed early on to never forget her roots. She remembered exactly where she’d come from and she was proud of it.

  When Savvy had been nominated for her first award, she’d taken her mother with her as her date. She’d looked gorgeous. Barbara had gotten a home perm and wore a purple dress paired with matching accessories. Savvy had offered to pay to get Barbara’s hair done and buy her dress, but her mother wouldn’t hear of it.

  Of course, the snobby rich ladies walking past them did a double take when they saw her simple wardrobe. Savvy had felt like slapping them across the face, but her mother wouldn’t have approved of such behavior, so she’d held her tongue.

  Savvy had settled for lifting her chin and staring them down, putting every ounce of loathing she felt for their privileged hides. You’d think a lifetime of getting everything you wanted would make someone grateful, but no. They felt entitled to pass judgment on other people.

  King helped himself to another piece of pie.

  “You’ve got a real sweet tooth, huh?”

  He winked. “Can’t help it—it’s one of my weaknesses.”

  “Yeah, well, I think Momma’s sweet on you.”

  “I might just marry her if her biscuits are as tasty as this pie. I’ve been livin’ on eggs, bacon, and beef jerky for years.”

  For the first time, Savvy noticed how handsome he was. Since the shooting, she’d been in a fog, and she hadn’t paid much attention to the world around her.

  King had a thick layer of stubble on his square jaw, and she idly wondered what it would feel like against her fingertips. He wore a pair of battered blue jeans, work boots, and a flannel shirt.

  Savvy thought he looked like the men she’d grown up around, coal miners, steel mill workers—blue-collar types. Every night, she’d watched the men pull into their driveways, dressed in ragged coveralls, weary from a hard day’s work. With their callused hands and battered lunch buckets, they were different from the slick, packaged “cowboys” a girl sees in music videos. Most of the men she spent time with wore expensive clothes. They had all the latest toys—tech gadgets, fancy cars, and liked to advertise their wealth.

  King was a different breed.

  “Well, I guarantee you’ll love her biscuits because she uses bacon grease instead of butter.” Savvy ate another bite.

  The fat had been rendered down, so it didn’t taste like bacon. As a kid, she’d been embarrassed by the grease jar on the counter when her friends had come over, but it was an old-time practice, and her mother wasn’t about to stop because someone made fun of her.

  “So, do you cook, too?” There was a crafty look in his eyes.

  “Yes, Momma taught me how. We used to make supper together on Sundays. Before my dad died, he grilled the meat, while my mother made the side dishes and I helped her. I haven’t cooked in a while because I never have the time.”

  She had at least a thousand recipes saved on Pinterest but never had the opportunity to make any of them. Savvy told herself, one day she’d take a vacation and just rest. She’d putter around in the kitchen, watch television, turn her phone off, and relax.

  He considered what she said for a moment.

  “Seems to me you’ve gotta schedule the important things. I guess it all depends on what makes you happy.”

  Savvy hadn’t been happy for quite a while, even before the shooting.

  Somehow, clawing her way to the top had been more fun. Savvy had to defend her position now. What if it all went away?

  “I got a busy calendar these days.”

  “Maybe your manager should give you a rest.” King scowled.

  “You really don’t like him, do you?”

  King blinked. “You do?”

  She laughed. “Adam’s not so bad.”

  “Don’t take this the wrong way, but does he have to be around?”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Well, your tour has been canceled and you aren’t workin’ on a new album, maybe he could find somewhere else to go.”

  “I think he’s worried about me, in his own way.”

  “Why are you so loyal to him?”

  “He got my ass out of a dead-end job. If it weren’t for him, I’d still be walkin’ around with plates of hot chicken in my hands, instead of a guitar.”

  “Eventually, someone would’ve discovered you. You’re so talented.”

  Savvy snapped her fingers. “That’s right. You’re a fan.”

  He glanced away, and Savvy could tell he was embarrassed, which was even more charming. It was hard to see in the dim light, and his face was partially obscured by the facial hair, but she strongly suspected the man was blushing.

  “Yeah, I enjoy your music.”

  “Thank you, I’m glad you like my songs. Although, you aren’t my average fan. Most of them are girls and women, ages 13-25.”

  According to the analytics anyway. The public relations firm she’d hired had done a deep dive into her fan base, figuring out their demographics, along with their likes and dislikes.

  “I bet there are plenty of men, too, even if they don’t admit it.” King winked. “I hope you don’t mind me sayin’, but you're easy on the eyes.”

  It was her turn to be nervous. Her
mouth went dry. Savvy was used to idle flirtation, but this man meant it. And Savvy found him equally attractive. Unfortunately, things were much too complicated for romance.

  She scooted right past the compliment. “There are plenty of talented people waitin’ tables and makin’ venti lattes.”

  It wasn’t only about musical ability. Some of it was timing, being in the right place at the right time, and some of her success had been due to luck.

  “You’re bein’ humble.”

  “Nope. It’s not like I’m the next Dolly Parton or Reba McEntire.”

  “Maybe not now, but in the next twenty years or so. One day you’ll be the reigning Queen of Country Music. Mark my words.”

  Sometimes, when she closed her eyes at night, Savvy envisioned how her career would go. She imagined all the CMA awards she’d win over the course of her career. And eventually, if she was blessed, a lifetime achievement award.

  But more than anything, she wanted to perform at the Grand Ole Opry. A musician had to be invited to sing and it was the biggest honor in country music.

  So far, they hadn’t extended an invitation.

  And then she noticed something interesting.

  While he was talking to her, and eating his food, he also kept glancing out the windows, always vigilant.

  No wonder her appetite had returned, and the fog had lifted so Savvy could think again. If King was watching out for her, she didn’t have to be so hyper-vigilant.

  “How are you holdin’ up?”

  To hell with putting on a brave face and thanking people for their thoughts and prayers.

  She sighed. “I’m scared spitless, but I’m no longer a zombie.”

  “Fear is healthy.”

  “Why?” She’d always thought it was a bad thing. Everybody told people to face their fears.

  “It makes you alert and cautious, if you can control it. When I was trainin’ to be a SEAL, we learned how to harness ours and make the adrenaline our bitch.” King squeezed her hand. “You’re strong, you’ll pull through this.”

  He sounded so confident, she didn’t want to contradict him, and Savvy prayed he was right. She’d always been a fighter. Savvy wouldn’t have gotten to the top of her industry without having nerves of steel. It was time to get a hold of herself and fight back.