Page 104 of Tate
And then Kelsey was on her feet, launching into Knox’s arms, and Dixie and Elijah Blue high-fived. Sloan pulled Glo up to embrace her.
Or at least Tate thought so, until Sloan grabbed Glo’s face and popped her a kiss, right there in front of the entire crowd. Phone lights flashed, and Tate fought to keep his face impassionate.
Get your hands off her, Slick.
He’d nearly delivered that exact threat tonight when Sloan showed up at the house, dressed to the nines in a tuxedo and bow tie. He wore a little scruff on his face, like he might be trying too hard.
And of course Glo needed a date tonight. But why she’d picked Slick?—
Tate blew out a breath as she and the Belles took the stage, along with Elijah Blue and Carter. The senator gave her a hug, an air-kiss, and stood back, beaming.
Tate kept his eye on the audience, watching. But no one jumped up with a semi-automatic. No rumblings of the floor underneath them suggested a bombing. Just the thunder of his heartbeat as he watched Sloan smirk.
He’d set it up—Tate knew it in his gut. This little stunt to make sure Reba got the limelight. And maybe it wasn’t a big deal.
But it burned inside Tate for the rest of the night. Watching Sloan settle his arm over Glo, his proprietary behavior extending to the way he settled his hand on the small of her back as they exited.
Tate stood by just in the wings, as the press took pictures of the Belles, with their entourage and without. Sloan added a few with Glo and her mother. Reba looked like she’d won her own award, for the grin on her face.
They finally extricated themselves, moved out of the building, back down the red carpet still thronged with fans, and into the limousines pulled up at the curb. Carter, Dixie, and Elijah Blue climbed into their limo. Sloan stood at the door and turned to Glo. “Where to first, darlin’? The Sony party? The Big Machine Label Group?”
For the first time, Glo shot a look Tate’s direction, her expression stricken. “My feet are tired?—”
“Take off your shoes. You’ll be fine.” Sloan all but pushed her into the limo.
Kelsey glanced at Tate also, as she climbed in. “Don’t give up on her now,” she said, and he frowned.
Knox clamped him on the shoulder as he followed her in.
Tate climbed into the front, next to Rags. “Did you know about this?”
“The after-parties? No. But whatever the boss wants.”
Tate wasn’t quite sure who the boss might be tonight.
They ended up at the Sony gig, held in an old church just a few blocks from the arena in downtown. The entourage got out, and Tate followed them into the packed venue. Paper chandeliers hung from the beamed rafters, and at the front of the expansive room, Kenny Chesney got up and took the mic, singing one of his newest hits.
Sloan had hold of Glo’s hand and pulled her onto the dance floor. She wore one of her fake smiles but obliged as other celebrities danced around her. Tate spotted Benjamin King, a singer who had filled in a couple months ago when the Belles were recuperating from the traumatic bombing.
Benjamin was with his wife, a tall redhead, and their daughter, Audrey, talking to Brad Paisley. Ben must have seen Tate, because he nodded, catching his eye.
Wow, he so didn’t belong here. But as long as Glo was here, so was he.
“We’re a far distance from the ranch,” said Knox, coming up to him. He handed him a can of Coke. Tate drank it and crumpled the can in his fist.
“She only went out with Sloan because she needed a date.”
“I know.”
But maybe Sloan didn’t, the way he hung onto Glo. For her part, she seemed stiff, and almost annoyed, even as she played the role of belle of the ball.
Glo mingled, talked with Sony executives, took a selfie with Miranda Lambert, and Tate caught her laughing at something Brad Paisley said. Carter, their manager, was glad-handing and introducing them to producers.
The entire thing had Tate edgy and raw. He just wanted to get her home and…and congratulate her.
Break a couple rules, maybe.
But only after he knew she was safe. Because sure, there hadn’t been a hint of a threat recently, but it didn’t mean some other crazy wouldn’t try something, especially after the senator’s announcement tonight.
