But there was no mistake. Eva was most definitely the woman I’d seen on that stage so many years ago.
She finally lifted her gaze. “Jace, come in.”
“Hey,” I greeted, delighted that she’d called me Jace and not Mr. Logan. My delight faded, however, when I saw how tired and stressed she looked. “You okay?”
“Yes, of course.” She smiled, but it didn’t reach her eyes. “What’s up? Is the recording going okay?”
My gut told me it wasn’t the best time to take an impromptu stroll down memory lane, so I changed course accordingly.
“Yeah, everything’s going great. We’re just taking a break. I’d like to buy you lunch since you unwittingly fed us last night. It was outstanding, by the way. Best meal I’ve had in ages.”
“I’m glad you liked it. And thanks for the lunch offer, but I have to pass. I’m swamped today.”
“You need to eat, don’t you?”
“I’ll order something,” she said, waving her hand. Even that small gesture looked sluggish. “But hey, the boys had such a great time last night. Thanks for that. I’m sure you’re really busy, but they wanted me to let you know that if you and Kurt want to hang out again sometime—like tonight, for example—they wouldn’t say no.”
“And what would you say?” I asked, extremely interested in her answer. Showing up uninvited once was one thing. Doing so repeatedly, quite another.
Eva appeared to think about it. “I’d be okay with it, I guess.”
There it was, that spark of sass that had been missing.
I brightened considerably. “Maybe you could join us this time.”
Her face flushed, but she laughed. “Believe me when I tell you, I’m much more suited to this side of the stage.”
Not from what I remembered, but I’d save that big reveal for another time. She’d invited me back to her place tonight. That was a W in my book even if she’d included Kurt and implied it was her sons’ idea. It was a start. Anything that put me in close proximity to her was a good thing.
Opting not to push my luck—or give her a chance to change her mind—I left her office. Yes, I was disappointed that she’d turned down my lunch invite, but I was looking at the bigger picture. I’d be spending another evening with her on her home turf, away from the office and the stress of her high-pressure job.
On my way out, I stopped at the admin’s desk. Within minutes, I’d learned Eva’s favorite lunch and arranged for it to be delivered to her office along with some flowers.
I was whistling when I reentered the recording studio a short while later, feeling inspired. There was no doubt Eva was the woman I’d been seeing in my dreams since I was eighteen. She didn’t know it, but she was the reason I had gone into music in the first place. The muse for every one of my songs. The face I looked for in every crowd.
I’d lost her for twenty years. I wasn’t about to lose her again.
Chapter 5
Dear Ida,
My sons recently turned eighteen and will be leaving the nest soon, but in my heart, they’ll always be my little boys. Why is it so hard to let go? – Concerned Mom in Cali
* * *
Dear Concerned,
Because you love them! Letting go is never easy, but have faith in them—and yourself.
~ * ~
Eva
“Eva. Got a sec?” Ross’s tone, as always, was cool and composed, though the words sent a shiver of foreboding down my spine.
I knew without a doubt that I wasn’t going to like what he had to say.
“Ross. I didn’t know you were back.”
“Just got in.”
He stood in the doorway of our adjoining offices and waited expectantly. I sighed. There was never a good time for bad news, but the lingering, dull ache in my head made it even less appealing.
I rose slowly and followed him into his office without bothering to slip on my shoes. Ross and I were as comfortable around each other as two people not romantically involved could be. We were more like siblings than business partners, really. That made sense since, as Ian’s older brother, he was kind of like my brother too.
“Are you all right?” he asked, concern etching across his features. “You look a bit worn around the edges, babe.”
I gave him a sincere, if weary, smile. Ross had nearly a decade on me and a tendency to tuck me under his protective wing when he felt I needed it most. He’d been there to pick up the pieces Ian had left behind all those years ago, giving me a job and a place for me and the boys to stay.
It had been a gamble on his part, but that kindness had been rewarded a hundred times over since then, which made for a far more equitable partnership. I had a real knack for the business, a sixth sense for who would make it and who wouldn’t. Those instincts had made the company millions, but he would have kept me on regardless. Beneath that ruthless CEO persona was a genuinely nice man, though he’d sworn me to secrecy about that. He didn’t want to tarnish his image.
“I’m fine,” I said on an exhale, sinking into his super-plush couch with a moan of pleasure. I had a matching one in my office, but his always felt comfier.
Ross was the only other living soul in the world privy to the truth about my less than shiny past.
“Another headache?” he asked knowingly, softening his voice.
“Just a little one,” I said, waving him off.
OTCs and copious amounts of caffeine were keeping it at bay, but I reconciled myself to breaking down and taking my prescription-strength meds as soon as I got home. The really bad migraines could last up to three days, and I wasn’t going to let that happen if I could help it.
“You’re not getting enough rest,” he scolded, sitting on the cozy armchair adjacent to me and peering closer.
“Says the man who looks like he hasn’t slept in days. Ian?” I guessed.
Ross was personally handling Black Raven’s comeback tour now that Ian had supposedly cleaned up his act. That was the only reason I had agreed to allow Brian and Tommy to spend a big chunk of their summer vacation on the road with their father.
“Yes.” Ross rose and poured himself a drink. “How long since you took something for your headache?”
Uh-oh. Ross rarely broke out the Lagavulin unless it was serious.
I looked at the clock, surprised to see how much time had passed. “More than six hours. I’m good.” I had a feeling that I was going to need that drink.
Ross splashed a finger into a second glass, and then, almost as an afterthought, added in several ice cubes before handing it to me. He waited until I took a sip before saying, “Ian’s not happy with some of the venues. Doesn’t think they’re big enough. He doesn’t understand that Black Raven doesn’t have the pull they used to.”
“He should. It was his antics that drew the bad press.”
“Yes, well, you and I both know that my brother has issues with taking responsibility for his own actions.”
“You said he was doing better.”
“He is,” Ross confirmed, though his voice didn’t hold the conviction I’d hoped. “Brian and Tommy will be fine, Eva,” he added as if reading my mind. “I wouldn’t let them go if I didn’t believe that. I would, however, like to get them involved sooner rather than later, while the band’s still on relatively good behavior.”