Wicked Force (Wicked Horse Vegas #4.5)(17)

“Madeline,” Ian says as he looks at me. I find it weird he’s addressing my mother without his eyes leaving my face. “Would you give me and Joslyn a minute alone?”

My nerves fire and my stomach flips. My mom just beams him a smile and says, “Of course.”

Before I can say anything—which would be my first words of this meeting—my mom is gone and the door is shut.

I turn my attention back to Ian, who is still smiling at me genially with his hands clasped before him. I swallow hard, trying to think of something witty to say, but nothing comes.

Ian takes a step toward me. “Your vocals are perfection and you have incredible dance skills.”

Wow... Ian McMichaels thinks I have real talent.

He takes another step, then another, veering around me. He walks around the back of me and I force myself not to turn with him so that I can see what he’s doing. I imagine he’s checking me out from the back side, which makes me feel a little icky, but I don’t dwell on it.

It’s Ian McMichaels.

When he comes around my other side, he stops so that I have to turn to face him. I feel incredibly intimidated. His eyes bore into mine and the smile is gone. “But you lack confidence and it shows through like a bright spotlight. I think you have enough talent we could develop you into something worthy of the entertainment industry, but the key word here is ‘develop.’ You’re going to have to work harder than ever before, and you’re going to have to do exactly as I say. If you want to make it big, you’re going to have to let go of this two-bit act you’ve got going here and totally change the way you comport yourself or you’ll get eaten alive. Am I clear?”

I can feel myself shrinking, what confidence I did have slowly ebbing away with each word. He sees it too and looks disappointed. I manage to straighten and lift my chin, and that delights him. His eyes sparkle and a corner of his mouth lifts. “Good,” he praises me. “I see you understand what I mean. The question is, are you ready to work for it?”

I swallow again, and finally manage to find my voice. “I’m sorry... work for what?”

“The opportunities I will bring your way as your agent,” he replies smoothly.

“My agent?” I say with surprise. Ian McMichaels wants to represent me?

His smile breaks wide and he chuckles. “I’ll handle the details with your mother.”

Taking my hand in his, he brings it up to his mouth and brushes his lips over my knuckles. My urge is to pull my hand away and I think he knows it, because he holds on tight and lets his mouth linger there while his eyes hold mine in challenge.

Finally, he lets go and pivots away from me. Without another word, he walks out the door. I’m left standing there, stunned over what just happened and having conflicted feelings about it. Before I can process them, though, the door opens up and my mom slips back inside.

She clasps her hands tight over her chest, trying to hold in a smile that she just can’t contain. It breaks, washes over her face and she squeals in excitement.

Then she lunges forward and has her arms around me, hugging me tight. “He wants to sign you, Jos. All our dreams are going to come true.”

I try to embrace her back, but I’m too slow witted and she’s releasing me anyway. She starts backing toward the door and blows me a kiss. “I’m going to go get a late meal with Ian so we can talk details. I’ll tell you all about it later.”

I just stare at her and I’m not sure what my expression holds, but it causes her smile to slide. “Aren’t you excited?”

I get no opportunity to assure her I am because she’s advancing back on me. Her eyes heat and her lips press into a flat line. She puts her hands on my shoulders, squeezes, and puts her face in mine. “You do realize he only represents A-list stars, right? I’m sure you can only imagine what I’ve gone through to get him here to see you, right? You need to sign with him, Joslyn, and you can’t hesitate on this.”

“I will,” I assure her, bringing my hands up to wrap around her wrists. I give her an affectionate squeeze. “I’ll do what you think is best. I’m just overwhelmed.”

Her face softens and she smiles at me again. “Good. Because you know that I only want what’s best for you. Right?”

I nod, smiling back at her with reassurance.

She stares at me, her eyes roaming over my face for perhaps any evidence of a lie within my promise. Satisfied, she kisses me on my cheek before turning gracefully to the door.

“Mom,” I say to get her attention.

She turns back to face me. “Yes, sweetheart?”

“Why don’t you come with us to Cunningham Falls?” I ask her with hope blooming in my chest. I want her with me when we celebrate Dad and what he meant to his community.

“Honey,” she replies with her eyebrows drawing inward as if she doesn’t understand my question. “You know I’m going to New York.”

Yes, a shopping trip that she had planned and booked the day I told her I was doing the concert. I thought she was doing it to punish me for agreeing to the concert and supposedly ruining a meeting she was trying to set up with Ian. But that’s all water under the bridge now.

“It’s a charity benefit,” I remind her. “They’re going to open a new wing of the hospital named after him.”