Mason worked through the month’s sales figures from the office of the river house while Victoria was gone for the morning. She’d offered to go with her to get more clothes from her apartment, as she was tired of wearing the basics she’d brought when they’d arrived here a few months ago, but Victoria wanted her to finish work so they’d have the night free. They were planning to spend the night enjoying the band on Josette’s last day behind the bar, so she did her best to clear her paperwork.
“Hello.” The number on her phone was from the main house.
“Hey,” Belle said. “I hate to bother you, but Sophie would like to meet with you. It’s all she’s talked about all morning. You aren’t exactly part of her recovery, so it’s okay to say no.”
“Is it okay to say I’ve had an ass full of Sophie and wish she’d drop off the face of the planet?”
Belle laughed, but she wasn’t exactly kidding. “Perfectly okay, but what do you want me to tell her?” She could be wrong, but Belle sounded uncertain, which was unusual in itself. “She really does seem to want to talk to you.”
“Can I come up now? Vic ran home to get some stuff, so she should be a few hours. Every time she wanders up there, she’s in the dumps for the rest of the night, so I don’t want to add to her load.” Her stacks of paper lost their appeal as her curiosity took over.
“We’ll be waiting.”
She had to walk, having let Victoria take the Gator up to her car, but the morning air gave her the opportunity to calm down. Sophie Roddy’s music had been something she’d enjoyed through the years, but she’d never really had to deal with Sophie. That had been her father’s domain.
Authenticity in the music business only came behind closed doors, and only a precious few got to see the transformation. Up until her dad sent her to deal with the cluster Sophie had gotten herself into, Mason had thought her nice enough. From the little Victoria had told her about their talks, and the bits of Sophie she’d had to deal with in that time, that was no longer the case. In truth, if it were her choice, she’d cut Sophie loose, and she’d be someone else’s problem. The only roadblock to that fantasy was that Sophie was Victoria’s mother, and despite her being an asshole, Victoria loved her. Familial complexities could make for shitty companions.
Sophie was waiting outside alone, and her aggravation spilled over to Belle. If this was some sort of setup she’d head right back down the hill. “Good morning.”
“Depends on how you look at it.” Sophie didn’t get up and she only glanced at her briefly as she made her way to sit across from her. “This is some place you have here. Makes me wonder where your manners are.”
“My manners?” A morning of mind games with an angry woman who thought she was the center of the universe wasn’t her idea of a hot time. “What exactly have I failed to do?”
“It’s people like me who built this place, so the least you can do is say thank you.”
Sophie pointed at her but the table between them kept her finger from poking her in the chest. Had she done that, Mason was sure she’d have snapped it off and poked her in the eye with it.
“Instead you stripped me of everything.”
“What exactly have I taken from you that you haven’t willingly given away? And you have nothing to do with my life. My father pays me for the bands I represent, and you’re not on that list.” She took a breath before she got loud, not wanting to get in the mud with Sophie. “If you had any manners, you’d send my father a thank-you note for not dropping you. He’s well within his rights to do so because of everything you’ve put Banu through.”
“You cut my tour short, and you’ve turned Victoria against me. You’re fucking crazy if you think she’s going to pick you over me. It’s never going to happen.” Sophie snapped her fingers, then laughed. “She’ll come running when I get home, and that should be in about an hour. Weston’s coming to pick me up, and I’ll call the cops if you try to stop me.”
“You’re going back to that asshole, and you think I turned Victoria against you?” She rubbed her face with both hands. How did you help someone who didn’t want it, or reason with total insanity? “At least have the decency to wait until Victoria gets back, and tell her yourself. If you expect her to keep saving you, go ahead and tell her all this was a fucking waste of time.”
“Mason, you don’t have as much experience as your father, so let me explain an important fact.” Sophie snapped her fingers again, and it was starting to aggravate her. “Victoria’s going back to work starting tomorrow, and I’m going to make sure she has nothing to do with you or your family. I won’t have her, or my career, tarnished over a relationship with you. This ain’t that kind of town.”
“Does it matter to you that I love her?” She gripped the arms of the chair, and she could hear Fred barking close by. It was a shame she’d never taught him to attack on command. “Because I do love her, and it’s my goal to share my life with her if I can get her to agree.”
“Get new goals in life, because my daughter is off-limits. I won’t have her labeled some kind of pervert.”
“Your daughter can make her own decisions.”
Mason turned around, surprised to see Victoria standing by the kitchen door, her chin lifted in defiance.
“We both agreed I wasn’t going to work for you, and Mason is nonnegotiable.” She walked over and put her hands on Mason’s shoulders. “Why are you even talking about this?”
“Your mom called Weston, and he’s coming to get her.”
Sophie’s face twisted into a classic snarl at her announcement, but she also looked away like she was caught doing something naughty. From the look of it, the alcohol and pills weren’t the only things Sophie was addicted to. That Weston was on his way meant he’d been waiting for Sophie to come to her senses. She wasn’t trying to work on her problems—she was running as fast as she could back to them. Or maybe she’d seen things in her therapy she simply couldn’t face, and going back to self-destruction was easier. Either way, it was a fucking waste.
“Are you kidding? Haven’t you figured out how dangerous that is?” Victoria’s voice rose, and she sounded disgusted. “You’re going to sit here and disapprove of Mason, but you’re going with Weston?”
“Weston is a man. A man who wants to take care of me and won’t make people whisper behind my back. That’s what you need in your life—not this.”
“Then make sure you’re okay with your decision. I think you need more time with Belle and her team, but you don’t care what I think, do you? All that talk about wanting to try again with me, about being sorry…what was that about? Just lies.”
Victoria dug her fingers into her shoulders to the point of pain, but Mason didn’t move. Hearing Victoria stand up for herself this way was intoxicating.
“You think I’m some pathetic little girl, and that’s fine. I’m not going to change your mind about that, but I found something special in Mason and I’m not giving it up.”
“Sophie, you have a guest,” Belle said, her professional mask firmly in place, though there was no mistaking her tense body language.
A young guy with scraggly hair and bad skin pushed Belle out of the way and walked quickly to Sophie. He hugged her so hard he lifted her off the ground and twirled her in a circle.
“Let’s go, babe. We got so much to catch up on.” Weston held Sophie’s hand tightly but studied the area around him like he was casing the joint. Mason was glad Sophie could afford to keep this moron in drugs. If not, he’d be back to break in the first chance he got.
“Mama, please reconsider,” Victoria said, and Weston stared at her with open hatred. Mason got up and placed her hand on the small of Victoria’s back. “Don’t do this.”
“This is your last chance to come with me.” Sophie didn’t wait long after giving Victoria her ultimatum. She never looked back, and Weston seemed thrilled as he followed her out.
“She said her next call was to the police if we didn’t let her leave.” Mason put her arms around Victoria. “She wasn’t thrilled you’re with me, as you heard.”
“Was there anything else we could’ve done?” Victoria asked Belle, seeming to ignore an important part of what Sophie had said.
Belle shook her head, looking both tired and defeated. “After this kind of therapy, your mom is going to need meetings to help her cope. She didn’t finish, and she fought it all the way, so if she slips, it’s on her. You, though, did all you could. Whatever Sophie is either trying to mask or run from, she never told me. I thought we were making progress here and there, but then she’d shut down. Maybe it’s getting older or not having a career—we’ll probably never know.”
“So we wait for her to overdose again?” Victoria wrapped her arms around herself and Mason pulled her tighter.
“We wait for her to ask for help.” Belle shrugged but looked compassionate. “My best advice to you is to let go of your guilt, and don’t step in and play the role of enabler. That’ll be the quickest way to get her to backslide all the way, and you’ll lose the ground you’ve gained by having this time away from her.”
“Don’t worry—I’m not going back to work for my mom.” Victoria rested her head on Mason’s shoulder. “Thank you for giving up all your time to do this. I appreciate all you did, no matter what the outcome will be.”
“Don’t give up on Sophie just yet. She might surprise us all by what she learned in her time here. The fact that she stayed all this time, that she kept talking even when she knew she could leave, means something. I’m not sure what, but something.” Belle placed her hand on Victoria’s cheek. “And you’re welcome. If Sophie changes her mind, I’ll be happy to come out of retirement again.” She turned to Mason. “I’m going to pack up and head home.”
Mason nodded and gave her a hug. “Thank you, Belle. I can’t say that enough.”
Belle nodded, still looking tired. Mason couldn’t imagine how tough it had been to live with Sophie for so long, especially in a therapeutic sense. She owed her big-time. Together, she and Victoria walked back down to the river house.
“I love you,” Victoria said when they were alone. “I’m so sorry about what my mom said, but that’s not how I feel.”
“I love you too, and all that matters to me is what you have to say to me. Sophie’s a big part of your life, though, so I want you to be sure.” She kissed Victoria’s temple and ran her hand up and down her back. “It’ll kill me if you regret not having her in your life because you chose me instead.”
Victoria gave her a sad smile. “I’m not the one cutting my mother out of my life, honey. She either accepts me for me, and that you’re in my life, or she won’t. Giving you up isn’t an option.” She cupped Mason’s face and kissed her softly. “You’ve helped me let go of the person she wanted me to be so that I can be myself.”
Mason wasn’t sure what to say to that, and she glanced at the clock. “We can stay in if you want. Talk through this some more.”
“You promised me dancing, and Josette will be disappointed if we don’t go.”
There’d be a crash and burn over all this later, but for now there’d be dancing and whatever else it took to make Victoria forget about the afternoon. “I’ll give you whatever you want.”
“All I want is you.”
“Then start thinking of something else to wish for.” She held Victoria and felt her inhale deeply a few times. “Me you have.”
* * *
Sophie disappeared for the next week, but she was still alive. That Victoria knew from the men Mason hired to watch her, if only for Victoria’s piece of mind. Her mom’s situation was always niggling at her, but recording had started for the five songs on her new album, and that’s what had kept her sane.
“Are you and Josette set for today?”
Mason walked out of the bathroom with a towel wrapped around her waist. They’d moved up to the main house, and while she loved the river house, this place was amazing.
“Do you really think it’s necessary?” Everything she was doing was starting to become real. Josette was now her full-time assistant, and they had an appointment with a stylist and a publicist that morning. Mason was building the anticipation, and she gave Victoria final say at every step. Having some control was helping her not freak out, but the reality of her dreams coming true was sometimes overwhelming. Completely out of her mother’s shadow, she felt like she could fly.
“I think you’re the most incredibly beautiful woman I’ve ever laid eyes on, but why worry about what to wear?” Mason smiled when she pulled her towel off. “Besides, stuff like today is part of the package, so enjoy it.”
“Has anyone ever told you how good you are at compliments?” She kissed the spot over Mason’s heart. They’d existed in this blissful bubble that was easy to maintain at Blue Heaven. They worked, took afternoon walks, cooked together, and made love. And woven into all that was the music so important to both of them. “And did you know you’re the sexiest person alive?”
“Wow, the sexiest, huh?” Mason lifted Victoria’s nightgown off and tossed it behind her.
“Definitely.” She wrapped her legs around Mason and kissed her. “Are you super busy today?”
“I cleared my morning.”
She inhaled when Mason squeezed her ass. For the first time in her life she felt not only desirable and beautiful, but wanted. Mason didn’t act like she kept her around because of what she could do for her, but because she simply loved her.
“I’m looking forward to helping you try on clothes. And then taking them off you.”
“You are the love of my life,” she said as Mason laid her down. She kept her legs around Mason’s waist when she landed on her. “Are you sure we have time?” There was no way she wanted to stop once they started. Living with Mason had taught her a few things about herself, like the fact that she not only loved, but craved sex.
“The most important thing to remember is, from now on, you’re the boss.” Mason rocked her hips into hers, and it made her so wet she didn’t care about anything else. Maybe this was how divas were born, when they didn’t care who they kept waiting.
“You know I love you, right? I love the way you touch me, but sometimes I look at you, and all I want is for you to fuck me.” She said the words slowly and softly so that Mason completely understood.
The way Mason grunted and brought her hips down made her smile. Mason lifted back up to be able to push her hand between them. “Are you ready for me, baby?” Mason grunted again when she ran her fingers through the wet heat. “Fuck.”
“Exactly, go inside. Fuck me.” From the first time they’d been intimate, Mason had unshackled her desires and rid her of her inhibitions. There was nothing she couldn’t ask Mason for, and the freedom made her want to be naked as often as possible. The biggest turn-on was how much Mason wanted her, wanted to touch her, make her completely insane, and lived to make her come. “Jesus,” she said as Mason sucked her in as her fingers slammed in as well.
This time it was fast, firm, and so fucking hot that she couldn’t help but scream. “Yes…yes, fuck, baby, yes.” The orgasm came as hard as Mason’s strokes, and she raked her nails up Mason’s back. “Like that, just like that. Fuck me. Oh. My. God.” Her body tensed and finally relaxed.
She dropped her feet to the bed and ran her fingers through Mason’s hair.
“I didn’t hurt you, did I?” Mason lifted herself off her but stayed next to her. “I didn’t mean to be so rough.”
“You just told me I’m the boss, and you gave me exactly what I asked for.” She moved to lie on Mason and kissed her. “That makes you employee of the month.”
Mason laughed. “I’d better be the only employee on this list. I’m the jealous type, boss lady.”
“You’re the only one.” She made the easy promise and moved down Mason’s body. “Are you ready to come in my mouth?” Mason grunted when she ran her fingers from her clit to her sex. “Does that mean yes?”
“Fuck yes.”
It was rather empowering making Mason this nuts, and she loved getting her off. She ran her hard nipple along Mason’s sex, liking the outline of Mason’s thigh muscles as she gazed down at her. “You want me?”
“More than anything.”
She sucked and stroked as Mason kept up those grunting noises. The end, as always, came too soon, but one of the best parts was how Mason held her when she crawled back up. They didn’t need words, and Mason felt solid and strong, which Victoria would need to help her navigate what was coming. There was no way she would follow in her mother’s footsteps with Mason to depend on.
“You make me want to spend my days writing love songs,” Mason said. Sappy wasn’t her usual state of being.
“You do write beautifully, but right now you have to help me pick clothes.” It was wonderful to find someone you could laugh with no matter what you were doing.
Mason slapped her ass before picking her up again for another shower. As they dried off, she went into professional mode. “Do you need anything from me before we really introduce you to the public?”
“The two main things I need are for you to love me and to keep me from becoming an idiot by being honest.”
“You’re too nice to ever be an idiot, but I’ll be happy to love you and keep you grounded.”
They dressed and found Josette in the kitchen with a stack of industry news. She spoke without looking up, though her eyebrows were raised. “That sounded like quite the prayer session. Who knew you were so religious?”
“Shut up,” she said as Mason laughed. “There’s no way you heard any prayer session down here. We were just getting dressed.”
“Keep believing that, sweetie. You’ve officially been linked because of the stud you’re doing all your praying with.” Josette spread the papers out and pointed to the lifestyle section of The Tennessee Tribune. “Who knew you’re powerful enough to tame Liner? Your ass must be magic.”
“God, I hope not, and my ass is in no way magic.” The big color photo was from their night at Josette’s bar, and the short article was about Mason. “I’m fond of her wild side, and this is a good picture of us.”
“Do I get a vote on that magic ass thing?” Mason asked.
“No, and you’ll notice that my name isn’t mentioned anywhere in this article.”
“In a few weeks people will be asking, Liner who?” Mason laughed and poured her a cup of coffee. “Aside from Woody, your publicist Jerri is the best in the business, so if this kind of thing bothers you, go over it with her. She should be able to keep it to a minimum.”
“You mean deny my relationship with you?” She put her cup down and put her hands on the sides of Mason’s face to get her full attention. “That isn’t going to happen, and if I only sell a few albums because of it, so be it.”
“Are you sure? Your mom’s prejudice is shared by a lot of people. Country music isn’t known for its forward thinking.” Mason was gazing at her with the same lovesick expression in the picture. It was like winning the lesbian lottery.
She could no more deny her than she could stop breathing. “Did you already forget the song you wrote?” Mason smiled and shook her head as she caressed her cheek. “Then Nashville will have to accept that you’re mine, and I love you. I won’t hide.”
“The first accusation will be that you got signed because I’m yours.”
“As your assistant, I give you permission to tell those people to fuck off,” Josette said before she could answer. “Now get moving. If there’s a chance I can score free new clothes, I don’t want to be late.”
“I’m sure there’s more than a chance,” Mason said. “And I can’t wait to take this journey with you.”
The boutique Mason drove them to was divided into two sections. One was open to the public with a large selection of boots, jewelry, and clothes, and the other side was for private shoppers, with more upscale choices. A pretty brunette hugged Mason before introducing herself as Selena, her stylist, and the redhead who kissed Mason next was Jerri, her new publicist.
“It’s great to meet you, Everly. Or would you prefer Victoria when you’re not working?” Selena asked.
“I might as well start getting used to it, so let’s go with Everly. Otherwise I might forget to answer to it.”
“Great. We need to start with measurements and sizes,” Selena said. “Once I have all that on file, I can shop for you and save you the trip.” Selena definitely caught Josette’s frown at that news. “Or if you love to shop, it’ll be fun to do together.”
“This is Josette, guys, and she’s Everly’s assistant,” Mason said. “She’s going to have to look like she fits in for the stuff that’s coming up, so set her up as well.”
“I’ll need your measurements as well, Josette, and a list of upcoming dates. Once I know what you need and where you’ll be, we’ll get to it.” Selena waved to a worker to roll in a full rack of clothes. “I’ve got a few more boutiques in mind if we don’t find everything here.”
“You have to launch two singles,” Mason said, her attention squarely on her, “so you should go big. Colt’s back in town to launch the duet, and Everly has a single to launch. The best venue to do that in is the Opry, and you’ve got a date on Saturday night. Think casual chic.”
“What?” The word barely got out. “Are you kidding?”
“It’s good to be Sonny Liner’s kid all the time, but sometimes it’s downright awesome. You and Colt will sing together, followed by guest appearances at the Ryman Auditorium. That’s his tour stop in Nashville.” Mason stopped talking when she jumped on her and kissed her, not caring who was in the room. “Then you have a couple of road trips with him before we start setting up some stuff for you alone.”
“This is unbelievable. The last time I was at the Opry was such a disaster.”
“Forget about that.” Mason cupped her cheek and spoke softly to her. “This is your time.”
“And it’s time to get dressed,” Josette said, tapping on her watch.
The memory of the night she met Mason and how utterly deep her despair had been seemed like some distant horrible nightmare. She was awake now and looking into the eyes that haunted even her daydreams, and they held the answers to questions she hadn’t even thought to ask yet.
The night her mother had fallen off that stage and started them on this journey had been the beginning of her salvation. Her return to the Opry would be the start of something that Mason had made possible, and she’d spend a lifetime trying to show her how much that meant to her. In the months they’d known each other, she’d learned that love wasn’t blind, stupid, or foolish. Instead, it was the way to see clear into her future with this woman who loved her, and all she saw were happier times.
The one doubt she had left had nothing to do with her talent or performing before the biggest audience she’d probably ever stand in front of, but what her mother would do once she realized what she was doing. She was just beginning, and Sophie Roddy’s star was starting to fade. How would she retaliate against her and Mason? Because surely her mother wouldn’t just let her have her moment and find her way to happiness. She didn’t work that way.
“You ready, darlin’?” Mason asked.
She shoved the maudlin thoughts aside. There was a career to get to, but her first priority would be to protect Mason from her mother’s cruelty no matter the cost to her. “For everything, love. For everything.”