Chapter Two

Jude finished recording and stepped back from the microphone. He liked the take and would need to add more layers to the song before it was finished, but the progress pleased him. He nodded to the control room. “Well?”

The mixer held up his hand. “Good,” he said. “Take a break. You’ve got a call from Bob Casey. Rachel’s got it.”

“Bob?” He didn’t know what his old friend and promoter might want, but he enjoyed working with him. “Sure. I’ll be right there.” He rested his headphones on the mic stand, then left the studio and ventured through the building to the offices. The cell signals in the studio stunk and everyone got better reception out in the open.

“Here you go.” Rachel handed him the phone.

“Hi.” Jude sat on the edge of one of the empty desks. “Thanks.” He pressed the phone to his ear. “Hello? Bob?”

“Right here. Have you been paying attention to the charts? You’re on fire,” Bob said.

“I am?” He hated to admit that he hadn’t checked the numbers. “I’m in the studio working on an album. Standards from the fifties. I haven’t looked at the charts or much of anything else that’s not sheet music. Did swing make a comeback?”

“No.” Bob laughed. “Remember Summer Song?”

“Sure.” The tune was a departure from his regular work, but it had been fun. “It’s old.” In the recording industry, the song was ancient.

“It might be, but it’s hit the charts and has been declared the song of the summer by all those who make those statements.”

“It’s only May twenty-eighth. Summer hasn’t started yet,” Jude said. “We just celebrated Memorial Day. Are you sure the song is big? It’s early and it made a minor splash three years ago.”

“I’m not arguing with bloggers, influencers and the veejays. They know the temperature of the music business. They get downloads,” Bob said. “Besides, you’re hot. Don’t knock it.”

“I’m hot.” It was rather nice to have a decent-selling record, rather than being a constant cult favorite. “I’m used to being on the fringe.”

“I know,” Bob said. “So the reason I called, I’ve got an idea for capitalizing on the song’s popularity.”

“You do?” Jude asked “How? I can’t buy a tour. I’m a small club act now.”

“People want to see you and hear that song. What if you went out on a short tour with Blake? You’d be able to use the attention for your other music and get paid.”

“Wait.” He paused. “Did you say Blake?” Crap. He hadn’t thought about Blake in ages—at least a couple of days. He’d never gotten over Blake or the way he’d behaved with him. He couldn’t blame Blake for not coming out, but he refused to live his life in secret.

“Blake Payton.” Bob didn’t speak for a few moments. “What do you think?”

“About?”

“Blake, a tour, the song…you’re in the driver’s seat. I can and have lined up dates for you. Stadium venues with a sand, fun and sun theme. Palm trees, beach balls, people in shorts and flip flops. It’ll be like the beach is the stage. You’ll play weekends and it’s over in September.”

“With Blake?” He wasn’t sure he could handle being on tour with him and having to keep his hands to himself. He and Blake were electric together, but they’d burned out way too fast. He doubted his heart could handle a second split. Maybe Blake was with someone and getting back together wouldn’t be an issue.

“It’s only a summer tour. Do it quick and make the song really last in the minds of the public and get paid. You deserve it,” Bob said. “What do you have to lose?”

“My credibility with my fans. That song isn’t my usual genre.” He was lying to himself. The fans loved his music and the influx of pop songs into his set of standards was a crowd pleaser, but he’d have to work with Blake. Didn’t Bob remember the messiness when Jude and Blake had split?

“Liar. I’ve seen your concerts. Remember, I got turned on to you through Blake and saw lots of your shows. Your crowds really get into everything you sing.”

“I guess.” Bob had nailed it. “So?”

“Don’t you want to see if you can catch lightning in a bottle again? Don’t you want to see Blake again? You really have chemistry,” Bob said. “Like crazy, off-the-charts chemistry.”

“That doesn’t matter.”

“What do I have to do to get you to sign on?” Bob asked. “I remember seeing you with Blake. You’re great together. This could be a chance to iron out your differences, you know.”

Jude signed. He didn’t want to agree to the tour without a few moments to think about it. He had options to consider. True, he and Blake were good together, but so were chocolate and peanut butter—that didn’t mean they should always be mixed.

Still, he and Blake were good as a couple and as collaborators. Blake listened to him, loved to go on walks with him, blend in with the crowds and and make fantastic music with him, but Blake was in the closet. Jude hadn’t been sure Blake would ever come out. The media didn’t need to know everything happening in his life, but he wouldn’t lie about being guy friends just to protect Blake’s ‘Payday’ image.

“Well?” Bob asked.

“Who’s organizing the tour, and have you talked to my agent? Rachel usually handles this stuff.” He trusted her and she’d been his rock after the split with Blake. She’d most likely talk him out of this. “Does she know?”

“She knows. She seemed to think this was up to you to decide,” Bob said. “I’m the one organizing the tour and I’m the one on the hook to get you paid. I’ve got suites set up for you here in Cleveland to live in for two weeks to rehearse and I’ve booked my own studios for said rehearsing.”

Bob did seem to have a lot of the details worked out. “Rachel is okay with this?”

“She is.”

“And Blake agreed to this?” He didn’t believe Blake would want the temptation.

“You’d be surprised.”

“Bob, don’t play games with me. I’m not ignorant. Blake and I fizzled out.” In a gigantic ball of flames.

“Don’t you miss him?” Bob asked.

What a loaded question. Part of him never wanted to see Blake again. The hurt was still fresh, even three years on, and he wasn’t in the mood to be emotionally wounded another time. But the rest of him did miss Blake. Blake knew how to play chess and enjoyed singing in the moonlight. They harmonized so well together—like they’d been made to sing together. No one else liked talking until the wee hours of the morning with him. Blake knew how to hold him and what to do to make him come apart. The passion from their song had been palpable.

“Jude?”

“When do I have to decide by? I need a few hours to think.” Every cell in his body screamed to just go with it, despite his better judgment telling him to find any way possible to get out of it.

“You have two days, but I’d appreciate it if you’d get back to me faster,” Bob said. “I’d like to get going with the promotion.”

“I’ll call you tonight.”

“I’ll be here.”

Jude hung up and massaged his forehead. Holy crap. A tour with Blake. A whole summer with the man who tempted him, but still, it was work making music. Money. Shows. He didn’t know what to think. He wanted to agree, but he remembered the way he and Blake had split.

Blake had refused to come out. He wanted to live in the closet because he feared he’d lose fans. Jude couldn’t argue. Blake had to do what he felt was best and they were going in different directions. Going on tour with him might enhance their differences, but it could pull them together, too. For all he knew, it could be the reason to work out their problems—as Bob would say. What if it didn’t work? What if everything went to crap again?

Rachel strolled through the office. “Well, you’ve spoken to Bob.”

“I did.” He placed the phone on the desk.

“Thanks. I almost forgot I gave that to you.” Rachel tucked the device into her back pocket. “What do you think?”

“About?”

“All of it,” she said. “Talk to me.”

He had no choice. She’d pester him until he unburdened himself. “I’m torn. You saw the condition I was in at the end of the relationship. He broke my heart,” Jude said. “Why would I want to go through that again?”

“I remember.”

“How do I get back into that situation without getting hurt? He’ll destroy me.” Jude shook his head. “I can’t do it.”

She sat beside him. “Here’s the thing. I remember how he hurt you and I’m still ready to bop him on the head for his actions. It wasn’t cool.” She bowed her head. “But the song is super-hot right now. It’s blowing up the charts and this could be good for you. Strictly money-wise, Bob has ensured you’ll be paid well for this tour. He’s taking care of you.”

“But?” There had to be more to this than good money and steady work.

“He’s also got Blake signed on. He’s on his way to Cleveland to get started.” She stared at him. “He’s willing to cash in on this popularity. It’s a good fiscal decision if you go on tour.”

He debated his choices. “What do you think I should do?” He wasn’t in the mindset to get his heart broken again.

“Me? I’d go. I’d suck it up and do it because you benefit from the promotion,” she said.

“And being with Blake?”

“No one says you have to jump into bed with him. Keep a distance except on stage,” she said. “Or you could patch things up with him.”

“You said you’d toss him in the middle of a fire ant hill.” He crooked his eyebrow. “Did you change your mind?”

“Maybe. You’re three years down the road and a whole lot smarter. You know what you want from him. You know what you can handle and you’re strong enough to get through this situation. Have the summer you deserve and play music—it’s what you do best. Do it.”

She was right. He loved playing live. The energy from the crowd and enthusiasm from the band spurred him on.

“That’s my opinion,” she said. “You do what you want.”

The problem was, doing what he wanted risked his heart. Blake was his kryptonite. One day around Blake and he’d fall for him all over again.

“Jude?” Rachel folded her arms. “You don’t have to do it.”

“No, I don’t have to, but it’s the smart choice.” He nodded. “I need to finish my takes tonight and want to get ready to go on tour. Why don’t you make the arrangements with Bob? I said I’d let him know tonight.”

“I’m on it.” She pulled her phone from her pocket and her ponytail bobbed as she walked away. When she finally found her Mr. Right, he’d have his hands full.

Jude sighed again. He might be making the biggest mistake of his life or the biggest leap of faith. Just thinking about Blake warmed him all over. He loved looking into Blake’s dark eyes when he and Blake danced, loved the smell of Blake on his sheets and watching Blake don his eyeliner and mascara. Being with Blake was the only time he enjoyed lazing away the hours in the tub. Blake looked sexy in his makeup and just as handsome without it. The man was masculine and beautiful. He was the kind of man not to be forgotten—hard in all the right places and with a kind heart.

He left the desk and made his way back to the studio. The summer might not have started yet, but Jude couldn’t deny the oncoming heat.