Page 120 of Heartbreaker

I rub my hands down my skirt and roll my neck, hoping to relax a little. I’m not nervous, but I’m tense. It’s all in my head, from the emotion and heartbreak I’ve dealt with this week, but I’ll be fine once I get on stage.

I open my dressing room door, and my two new security guards—thank you, Dash—are waiting to walk me down the hall that leads to the stage.

“Nashville, are you ready for Jade Cantrell?” The announcement over the public address system gets the crowd roaring.

The venue is sold out, and I take a moment to send a little prayer up into the ether to Grandma Louise, Mama, and Daddy. I do it before every show. It’s not a religious thing so much as a habit. Something I’ve done since my very first performance in high school.

The lights go down and I walk out on stage.

“Nashville! I’m home!”

The crowd goes wild as a single spotlight focuses on me.

“Did y’all miss me?” I ask, wrapping my hand around the microphone.

Another round of shouting and cheers.

The band breaks into one of my earliest hits, a song called “Happy Tuesday.” The audience sings along and for a little while, I forget everything.

This is my happy place.

This is where I’m not alone.

Thisis everything.

We play three songs without a break and then I pause to guzzle some water.

“Oooh, it’s hot in here tonight,” I say. “Are we ready to slow things down?”

I wait for the familiar piano intro but it doesn’t come. The crowd is hooting and whistling, and I glance over my shoulder to see what Eli, my keyboard player, is doing.

And he’s not there.

What the hell?

I gaze into the wings just as a familiar—but very unplanned—melody starts up.

Goose bumps crawl over my skin and my heart skips a beat.

How is this happening?

Whatis happening?

I whirl to find out what’s going on.

“Hey, Nashville—how are we doing tonight?”

My mind is racing, unable to comprehend what’s happening..

“My name is Royal Ewing, and I’m here to ask you for a special favor…”

Royal?

Royal!

What on earth…

I gape as the most beautiful man I’ve ever seen strides out on stage, my acoustic guitar in his left hand.

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