Say You Won't Let Go Google
Corinne Michaels
“I wish I could turn back the clock. I'd find you sooner and love you longer.” — (Unknown)
Chapter One
“Thank y’all for comin’ out tonight!” I step back from the microphone and smile. I love ending a show. It’s exhilarating, and as the clapping continues, I wave, basking in the thrill of entertaining.
I was meant to do this.
“Great show, Emily,” Matt, the guitarist for Luke, says as I step into the shadows.
“Thanks.” I grin. Coming from him, that’s a high compliment. “I’m really glad to be on this tour.”
Matt touches my arm and squeezes. “We’re happy you joined on.”
It’s been four months of traveling with Luke and his band. His last song went number one on the country music billboards. The fact that he asked me to be on his tour is baffling. I was so lucky he happened to be in the bar that night and heard me sing.
“And she’s much prettier to look at than the last guy we had.” Luke emerges and hands me a beer.
“Well, thank you.” I smile.
“Don’t play shy, Emily. You know all the guys around here are happy to have a pretty blonde around.”
I roll my eyes and chuckle. As if that matters to me. I’m not stupid enough to ever get involved with anyone from the tour. They call them horror stories for a reason. “Maybe I should dye my hair and get fat.”
“Don’t you dare.” Matt nudges me. “You’ll sell more records lookin’ like sex on a stick.”
I’m not sure if I should laugh or punch someone. “Good to know.”
“Don’t listen to him.” Luke slaps him on the back. “They’ll buy your records because of your voice.”
I’ll believe anything he tells me. My newest song “Don’t Call Me Darlin’” is starting to gain traction, which I owe all to Luke. He knows this business, and I couldn’t have asked for a better mentor.
Matt laughs. “Comin’ from Country Music’s Sexiest Man Alive.”
“Fuck off, Matt.” Luke turns his back to him. “You’ll sing the duet tonight?”
“Of course.” I smile and try to calm my fluttering nerves and rein in my inner fangirl, which is hard. Sure, he’s electric on stage, there is no denying that, but he’s also a good guy and never balks at helping his opening acts gain more exposure.
“Good. I’ll see you out there in a bit.”
The lights shift, and the stage is now set for the main event. Luke drains his beer and grabs his microphone. One day, that’ll be me.
I’ll be a headliner.
Shortly after I sing the duet and exit the stage, I hear my name being called. Can a woman get two seconds to decompress before the wolves descend?
“Emily?” my manager Ginny calls. “There’s a guy who says he knows you and wants to be let back here.”
“I don’t know anyone from Texas.”
She puts the phone up to her ear and grumbles. “He said he’s from Bell Buckle and his sister, Priestly, will kick your ass.”
“You mean Presley! Cooper is here? Let him back!”
I walk toward the side of the stage where the bouncers are keeping the crowd back. “Emily! Emily!” Two girls yell with their arms raised. I wave and walk over so I can sign the poster they’re holding out to me. “You were amazing!”
“Thanks, y’all.”
“I agree,” Cooper’s deep voice says as he comes closer.
“Cooper Townsend, you sly man, showin’ up here without callin’ me.” I wrap my arms around him and hold tight. I have to lift up on my tippy toes just to reach him. He has to be at least six-foot-two where I’m barely five-foot-five. His strong arms close around me, and he squeezes, pulling my feet off the ground for just a second.
He puts me down, and I take a second to look him over. My hands rest on thick muscular arms, his tall frame blocks out the sun that’s setting behind him, and I could melt right here. He’s always been sexy, but right now, he has that whole tall, dark, and handsome thing going on. The five o’clock shadow only adds to his appeal. The way his hair falls over the dark green eyes that are staring into mine makes it impossible to look away.
“You look great, Em. Really great.”
I feel the heat rush to my cheeks, and I duck my head. I’m blushing like a teenager. “Thanks, Coop. What are you doin’ all the way down here in Dallas?”
I loop my arm in his, leading him away from prying eyes. “I’m here for a cattle rancher event.”
“Ohhh, sounds like a ton of fun.” There is a grin on my lips as I tease him.
“They’re revealing a few new products and I thought I should be here.”
I nod and open the door to the tour bus. “Bein’ the sensible rancher you are.”
“Of course.”
“So, tell me what’s new?” We sit on the couch, and I rest my hand on his knee.
Cooper fills me in on all the gossip from back home. He tells me about Grace’s little girl, Hannah, and Wyatt and Angie’s baby, Felicity. Then he takes out his phone to show me pictures of the girls. Wyatt’s little girl is getting so big, and I hate that I haven’t met either of those precious babies yet. When he shows me a photo of Trent, Grace, and Hannah, I have to fight back tears. I didn’t realize how hard it would be to miss everything since I’m on tour.