Page 3 of Two Is Better Than One

"You're kidding. Who? Already? For today?"

"No, not today. It's in Miami. One of my best friends knows Lila Morgan's assistant, and Lila has a cousin in Miami who's some kind of security guard in his other job. He's going to meet us there tomorrow and fill in for two weeks."

"Two weeks?" I asked, sounding a little worried.

"Yeah, I know we're there for a month, but this will give me time to find someone else—someone more permanent."

Chapter 2

Summer

The following day

Miami, Florida

I was so looking forward to the trip to Miami. I had only been there once before, and I was excited to take a much longer trip this time. I would be acting in a film a friend was directing. I was in two scenes, so I didn't have a ton of screen time, but I would be needed on set during the first half of the month, and sometime near the end as well. I was between tours and currently working on songs for a new album. I knew I could take my work on the road, and I was happy to take a long trip to Miami.

We had just spent the holidays with our family in South Carolina. It was a great time to get away and have a change of pace—to let me be inspired musically by the atmosphere of Miami. I wanted to feel like I had the world in the palm of my hand. I worked best from a place of confidence and fun, and Miami, Florida made me feel both of those things.

The flight went well from the start. I had dressed down, and my sister and I had made it through the airport with Brooks, not having any issues with being hassled or even recognized by fans. I knew a few took photos of me on the way to our seats, but I kept my head down, and no one said anything to us.

We knew the routine. We were let off of the plane first, and we made it through the airport together, looking for our driver. He was holding a sign that said Brooks's name, and he tucked it under his arm as soon as he saw us coming his way.

I smiled as we stepped outside and the warm salty air hit me. I imagined going to the beach, into the water, and I smiled at the thought of it. I had just gotten there, and I was already loving it.

The palm trees were one of the best parts of the scenery for me. People planted them in Charleston. I had a couple of them on my own property. But they didn't flourish and thrive at home like they did here in Miami. I had been to other tropical locations in my travels, and I always had a thing for palm trees. I couldn't help but stare at them from out of the window of the car as we drove.

Our driver gave us privacy, and I talked to Allie and Brooks on our way to the hotel. It was a place I had stayed the first time I was here, and I was happy to go there again. We reserved a beautiful suite with access to a rooftop pool. The pool was on the eighteenth floor, and it was located smack dab in the middle of South Beach, Miami. It was wonderful, being right in the middle of all the action and getting a bird's eye view.

"The boxes you sent ahead of time are waiting in your suite," the lady from the hotel said as we rode up the elevator.

Brooks nodded, agreeing with her. "And our man is waiting in the room," he added.

"Yes, your guest showed up a few minutes ago, and we showed him to your suite, as you requested."

"Thank you," Brooks said.

"We're excited to have you stay with us again, Miss Stockton. I didn't get to meet you the last time you were here, but I was a big fan, am a big fan. I watched your whole season, from the first episode. I was rooting for you the whole time." She bowed regretfully after speaking as if she knew she was saying too much.

"Thank you," I said.

Brooks kept his head down, staring at the floor of the elevator. I was a weird famous person because this type of scenario bugged most people. Some didn't like the fact that they couldn't take a single elevator ride without someone talking to them or wanting to bring up what they did for a job. I, however, didn't mind. I would rather this woman tell me she liked my music and was a fan than sit there stiffly and professionally and pretend she had no idea who I was. Maybe I didn't mind because I was able to pose as my sister and get a break from it every now and then. Either way, I smiled warmly at her as we headed down the hallway toward the room.

"I really do appreciate it," I said. "I'll be here for a while, I will have to get a picture with you before I leave town."

"Oh, my goodness, it would be an honor," she said as she opened the door to let us into our room.

Brooks hated it when I made promises to fans. He didn't hide the fact that he thought I was too friendly. He had told me more than a few times that I should just be quiet around fans because I ended up making friends with them and promising too much. Allie was quieter than I was, but she was just as much of a pushover as me. She had learned the hard way what being too friendly could get you. When I first got famous, people would try to push their way through her to get to me. Now, she usually tried to keep her head down and stay quiet when we were around new people.

"The key card is your access to the pool. I'm sure you remember much of this since you have stayed with us before, but there is a brochure that explains everything. It's here on the table."

The lady parked our luggage cart and took the bags off of it.

"Here's our stuff," Brooks said.

"Yes, you can see your previously shipped containers," she added, gesturing to the boxes of personal items we had sent ahead of time.

I scanned the gorgeous room, taking in the fine furnishings and the unbelievable scenery from the windows. I wasn't looking that way, so it surprised me to hear a man's voice that didn't belong to Brooks.

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