Only You

Chapter One

Summer

The crowd roared around her capturing all of her senses like water rushing over her body almost paralyzing her. She stared out into the mass of people only seeing the blinding lights as she sang the words to her latest hit, Take Me Away. She wished someone would take her away from all of this. Tonight was the last night of her tour before she had a week off in Nashville only to return touring down the East Coast until Thanksgiving. Right now, she couldn’t wait to be back home where being a country music star wasn’t such a big deal.

Summer finished her set and went back out for an encore before her security staff escorted her back to the tour bus. When she got there, Cooper, her manager, was waiting for her.

Great show, Cooper told her.

Shut up! You didn’t even leave the bus, Summer told him.

They laughed.

Well, once you’ve seen it sixty-four times the sixty-fifth time isn’t so amazing, Cooper joked.

At least we’re heading back to Nashville now and a week of nothing.

About that…

Summer groaned. What?

Carter called and wants to get started on your next album. He said there is the great up-and-coming songwriter named Lawson Bentley and he wants you to write with him. After I explained your schedule predicament, he asked that you meet up with Lawson this week.

And you told him ‘yes’?

It’s Carter Landry for crying out loud.

Damn it, Cooper. I really could’ve used this break.

Carter did make some valid points.

Like? Summer asked sarcastically as she kicked off her boots. She was going to have a serious conversation with her costume director. Her feet were killing her.

Like this album is doing great and you need to follow it up with something even better.

A vacation would be great! Summer told him as she walked back to her room and fell onto the bed.

Cooper followed her and stood in the doorway. You were the one who told him and Kadee that you wanted to try out your songwriting skills.

Yeah, but I wanted to write on my own.

Listen, this Lawson guy is supposed to be the best.

Summer rolled her eyes. If he was so good, why hadn’t she heard of him?

Cooper walked over and laid beside her. I know we’ve been working you to death. I’m going to start to back off a little more once this second leg of the tour is over. Just do this one thing for Carter and I’ll book you a vacation anywhere you like in December.

Cooper was trying to negotiate with her. She recognized his tactic and laughed. You think bribing me with a vacation is going to work? Really Cooper? We’ve been together for three years. I think I know your tricks by now.

Well, are they working? He rested his head on her shoulder.

Summer laughed and gave him her ‘that ain’t going to work on me’ look. Cooper had a body to die for but she definitely was not his type. Why were all the good looking men gay?

He sat up and frowned at her. How long has it been since you’ve gotten some? You’re awfully grouchy tonight.

She laughed again. Fine. I just want to get as far away from this tour bus as possible.

Well, you’ll be home in a couple of hours, princess. Try to get some sleep.

Cooper stood and walked toward the door. Before he closed it completely he stuck his head back in. Lawson is expecting you at noon.

Summer sat up in her bed, picked up a pillow and threw it toward the door just as Cooper shut it.

So much for some time off, Summer mumbled as she peeled off her stage attire and tossed it into a pile on the floor before climbing under her blankets. She heard the bus come to life and soon she fell asleep to the vibrations and hum of the engine.

* * * *

Lawson

You want me to what? Lawson asked.

You heard me. I want you to spend a week with Summer Arlington to get together some songs for her next album.

I thought you brought me in here to tell me that I’m writing with someone good.

Carter looked at him and offered a weak smile.

"Lawson, Summer is good. Just give her a chance. You have an uncanny ability to get our artists to open up. It’s astounding, really."

Lawson looked at the table. He wasn’t proud of the way he’d gotten the female singers to open up to him, but it had worked and now he had a nice house in the hills of Nashville to thank for it.

He ran his hand through his hair as he tried to work through what Carter was asking him.

Oh no! I don’t think so. I worked with the other ones to get my name out there, and now that it is, I don’t have to work with hare-brained country princesses anymore. I think I’m gonna pass. Lawson stood and started for the door.

Look, do this one favor for me and I’ll see what I can do about a contract. I can’t guarantee anything, but I can see that’s what it’s going to take.

Really?

No promises and you have to deliver a great album to me at the end of the week, Carter told him.

Lawson’s smile was so big he could hardly contain it as Carter reached out his hand. Lawson looked at it before pumping it hard.

One more thing.

What?

You can’t sleep with her.

Lawson looked at him, a little surprised that he was aware of his game. Done.

He saw Carter relax in his chair. I don’t know what we’re going to do with you and all these tattoos.

Hey, Gary Allan has tattoos.

Great! Another Gary Allan. Carter laughed as he walked out of the conference room.

Lawson turned to look out over Nashville. It was a good day. It was a great day. Carter Landry was going to try to get him a record deal at Compass Records. Now all he had to do was get this week with Summer over with. He was sure he would be miserable, but it was worth it if he could get a contract with Compass.

He left the large conference room and started for the elevators. As he waited, June, Carter’s assistant, approached him.

You better be nice to Summer, she warned him.

He chuckled. What do you mean? I’m always nice.

"Mmm—hmmm. I wasn’t born yesterday. I know how you operate," June told him.

Well, I’ve been successful up until this point.

Summer’s special. If you hurt her, Carter and Kadee will never forgive you and neither will I. So do yourself a favor and be careful with her.

The elevator door opened and Lawson walked in. The look on June’s face amused him. Her eyes never left his as the elevator doors shut. Once he was safe behind the closed doors, he groaned. June’s words echoed in his head. Carter and Kadee will never forgive you. That would mean no record deal and that wasn’t an option for him. He’d worked his whole life for this, so if it meant that he had to be on his best behavior, he’d do it.

Chapter Two

Summer

Wake up sleepy head!

Summer opened her eyes to a bright room and Cooper standing over her with a cup of coffee.

I hate you.

Summer rolled over and pulled the blanket over her head.

The bus hadn’t gotten back to Nashville until a little after four. Cooper drove her home and dumped her in her bed around five.

You have to get up or you’re going to be late for your appointment with Lawson.

Leave me alone! I just want a little more sleep.

I brought you coffee and a donut, Cooper added as he wafted the donut in front of her.

She pulled the blanket back enough to reveal just her head.

Is it from Dunkin?

Would I get it from anywhere else? Cooper smiled smugly at her.

She threw back the covers and grabbed at the donut, but Cooper had managed to evade her.

Hey!

Nope! You have to be completely out of your bed.

But I’m only wearing a cami and some boy shorts.

I’m gay! Besides, that hasn’t stopped you in the past.

She looked at him as she piled her long auburn hair on top of her head and tied it.

All right, you asked for it, she said as she threw back the covers and climbed out of her king-size bed.

Cooper handed her the donut and she immediately went to work on it. It was delicious, melting in her mouth with each bite. She took a drink of the hot coffee and immediately perked up. Her two favorite things together. All she needed was a bar of chocolate and it would almost be better than an orgasm—almost.

Now that you’re up, maybe we can talk about this meeting with Lawson.

What about it? I’m going to write some songs with him. No big deal.

Oh, hunny! You have no idea what you’re walking into, do you?

How bad could it be? I’ve been living on a tour bus with you for the last three months.

Ha ha, but Lawson Bentley is the hottest, new, up and coming songwriter here in Nashville. The word is that he’s trying to get into Carter’s good graces for something.

What do you think that is?

I don’t know? From what I understand, he’s sitting pretty. He’s written with Lily Evans, Lilah Pope, Kelly Edwards, and the list goes on and on.

Hmmm, Summer said as she focused on the donut in her hand.

"Summer!"

What?

Focus!

She tore her eyes from the donut.

Fine!

You’re meeting with him is at noon. It’s ten-thirty now so you better rush off and clean that donut off your face.

I can’t help it. It’s so good.

How could you be so blessed with an amazing voice, but the worst manners?

Not everyone was made as perfect as you, Coop! Summer called over her shoulder as she started for her bathroom.

Damn right!

Forty-five minutes later, Summer emerged from her bedroom wearing a pair of skin-tight jeans and a peasant top that had magically been laying on her bed when she got out of the shower, along with a pair of knee-high brown leather boots. Her wavy auburn hair now flowed brilliantly over her shoulders and down her back. It happened to be a good hair day for her and by the way Cooper was looking at her, she’d done well.

Damn girl, I might be straight by the looks of you.

She smiled. Anything else I need to know about Lawson?

"Nope! I want a full report when you get back though. I looked up pictures on Google and he’s man candy for sure."

Really?

Summer laughed as she shook her head.

Go get ’em, girl, he said as he pushed her toward the door, putting her leather book bag and keys in her hand. "Bye!" Cooper called to her slamming the door in her face when she tried to walk back inside.

No, he didn’t just push me out my own front door, did he?

Summer shook her head as she climbed into her brand new Ford Explorer. She started it and punched in the address that Cooper had given her. Once it was in, she put the SUV in drive and followed the British lady’s voice from the GPS toward Lawson’s. As she drove, she remembered the day that she got her SUV. Cooper had insisted that she use the British lady’s voice as her navigator. He was nothing short of a miracle to her. He came into her life shortly after she signed with Compass. Kadee, Carter’s wife, had insisted she have a manager and recommended him. They had lunch and the rest was history. They hit it off immediately and now there wasn’t one day that she didn’t spend with him.

Summer remembered what her family had said the first time they met Cooper. Everyone mistook them as a couple at first because they fed off of one another so well, and maybe they were a little touchy feely for just a manager and artist, but that was just them. They were close.

There would be nights when she was on tour that Cooper would sleep with her. Being on the road was lonely. It didn’t matter that she was surrounded by so many people, Cooper was the only person who actually interacted with her. When you’re alone with someone for that long, you just become close. He knew most of her secrets and she knew his. He was easily her best friend and if something happened, she’d never be able to replace him.

Turn left and your destination will be at the end of the road.

Summer did as she was told and followed the road until it ended. Sure enough there was a driveway. She checked the address on the mailbox to make sure that it was right before pulling down. She pulled up to an ultramodern, ultra-expensive, ultra-large house with floor-to-ceiling windows and a perfectly manicured yard. Not really sure what she expected, she climbed out to get a better look. There was an old blue pickup in the driveway that looked so out of place it was like someone cut it from a magazine and pasted it there. How could someone live here and drive that? It was such a contradiction.

Summer grabbed her bag from the SUV and started for the front door. As she walked up the sidewalk, she couldn’t help but notice how modern and how large the house was. Why did one person need so much space? It was impractical. She marched up to the frosted glass door and rang the doorbell, hearing the bells chime from where she stood. She waited for a few minutes before ringing the doorbell once more. This time she thought she heard cussing and could see movement through the glass. The door opened and she gazed up into the moss green eyes of a Greek god. The man was gorgeous and it took her a moment to realize that he stared icily at her as he stood in the doorway with just a small white towel barely clinging to his hips. Her eyes moved up his tattooed chest and down his arms. His right arm was covered in tribal ink while his left arm had only one.

Lawson Bentley?