Page 2 of Rocking the Trucker

“You’re going to fulfill a special contract I signed last month. The client asked for you and only you. It’s a six-week, nationwide run, and he’s willing to pay double our going rate.”

“Who’s the client?” Sam asked as the spot between his shoulder blades began to itch like a motherfucker.

Even before Brogan spoke, Sam knew who the client was.

“Gabriel Park.”

The man who had caused him to hang up his trucker hat more than two years ago and settle in here to run the office and book the trucking loads for his brothers.

“No,” Sam said sharply. He pushed out of his chair and began pacing around his desk as he always did when things were not going the way they should.

“Sam, yes. He asked for you specifically. I’ll take over here and you’ll take my truck. You’ll be back in time for Shepherd’s graduation and then he and I will start driving as a team. We won’t be out any time or money with me off the road for six weeks. And his agent is willing to pay double.” Brogan repeated the last as if it were an incentive.

Sam wiped a hand down his face as he tried to keep from throwing himself at his brother with the dark intent of killing the man who was making deals involving his life behind his back.

“I can’t,” Sam admitted. “I can’t drive again for him.”

Brogan stepped in front of him, forcing him to stop moving. His brother dropped his hands on Sam’s shoulders and held tight when he tried to pull away.

“You can. You will. It’s just what you need to break the bonds the past has on you. Youhaveto do this.”

“Why? Why would he ask for me? He’s the one who forced me to quit driving.”

“And he paid his dues for that night. He spent two years in jail. Maybe he wants to make amends for the shit he put you through back then. Once upon a time you loved him, and you’ve been a broken man ever since you came home from that run.”

“I’m not broken,” Sam growled, even though he was. Gabriel had broken his heart and his ability to trust when he made him feel he could no longer drive an eighteen-wheeler.

And in the twenty-six months since he’d walked out of the courtroom after listening to Gabriel plead guilty, Sam had not heard a word from the man. After the first few months it became obvious that the rock star had not been as committed to him, to their relationship, as Sam had been.

Could he spend six weeks driving the man around the country?

Taking a deep breath, Sam sighed. He would do it for the money. Not because he wanted to see Gabriel again. He would pack his heart on ice and not let the musician see that the separation had affected him in any way.

“All right. I’ll go. But if I kill the man, you’d better bail my ass out of jail.”

“Of course we will. Now, go get packed.”

As Sam started out of his office, he turned back with a question. If he was but one of a crowd of roadies, assistants and other crew that had always traveled with Gabriel and his band, it would be easier to avoid spending time with the man. “What about the rest of the band?”

This time Shepherd answered. “He’s doing a solo tour with just him and his guitars. Smaller venues, mostly churches and family-friendly festivals, if you can believe it. No bars or big stadium shows. He’s supposedly written new music, and rewritten some of his older stuff. The tour, and his new album, are calledRedeemed.”

“Uh-huh,” Sam grunted as he turned and walked out of his office.

After two years in prison, the former hard-rocking, hard-living Gabriel Park was hoping for a new beginning at churches and festivals. Other celebrities had done it, maybe he could as well.

But why did he want Sam there with him?

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