Page 90 of Double or Nothing

The door to the suite flies open with enough force, it hits the wall behind it. Val charges through it with Mac hot on her heels.

“Sutton, will you call your guard dog off,” Val shouts.

“I wouldn’t have to play guard dog if you would just do your job and leave him the hell alone,” Mac retorts.

The sound of their bickering messes up my chord. I stop strumming the guitar and face them. I’m still pissed at her and don’t want to even hear her voice, but one thing I’ve learned with Val is it’s easier to just go along with it.

“What is it, Val?”

“I have an offer you won’t refuse.” Her bright lips spread into a huge smile. “And this buffoon is trying to stop me from telling you about it.”

Mac looks frustrated standing behind her. “I told her you were taking the residency. That you are happy here. That no deal was going to change that.”

The two of them are always going at it, both thinking they know what’s in my best interest. While Mac is right--I’m happy here and have every intention of taking the residency—it’s easier just to placate Val.

“What kind of offer?”

“The kind you don’t turn down.”

The more she gloats, the more irritated Mac becomes. I can see his eyes twitching and the tension in his shoulders.

“So, spit it out already.”

“A world tour with the top bands in the industry. It’s going to be huge. We’re talking crazy numbers of fans, crazy record sales. This is what you’ve been wanting.”

She’s right. It’s the very thing I had been looking for before coming to Vegas. A boost in my career, traveling the world sounded amazing. It was the something I needed, if for no other reason than to keep me from missing my old life. A busy tour to help me forget all the things that were missing.

The thing is, nothing is missing anymore. I’m back in Vegas. I not only got Kat to forgive me but to also admit she still loves me. Why in the hell would I want to jeopardize that again?

“No thanks.” Not looking in her direction, I move my fingers over the strings.

“What do you mean, no? Do you have any idea how much work I put into getting this for you? This is what you wanted. What we wanted.” When she throws we in there, I get what this is about, why she wants me to do this so badly.

“There is no we. Not anymore.”

“You’ve got to be kidding me. Because of that—”

“Watch it.”

“She’s not right for you, Sut, and she sure as hell isn’t worth giving up this opportunity.”

It’s a great opportunity, I’ll give her that. I’ll even agree it’s going to sting to pass it up, but she’s wrong. Kat is one hundred percent worth giving it up for. The happiness I’ve felt these past few days, the calm she brings my soul, things just feel right with her. They always have.

“Well, I think she is. I’m staying in Vegas, Val.” She goes to speak again. “The more you talk, the more you make me want to.”

Standing in front of me, her hands on her hips, her short dress shows nearly everything.

“Are you sure about this, Sutton? All of it?”

“Am I interrupting something?” Kat asks, walking into the room at the most inopportune time.

Thanks to my stupid admission, as long as she’s a part of my team, Val is always going to be a point of contention between us. As much as I would like to boot her, the record company wouldn’t let me. If nothing else, Val is great at her job. The offer she just brought me is proof of that.

“Apparently, an offer I can refuse,” I say with the hint of a laugh. “I mean it, Val. I appreciate the work you put into getting me the deal, but this is where I want to be.” I glance at Kat, the concern on her face easing, though I can still see the anger that Val is even here.

“This isn’t over yet,” Val informs me.

“I’m signing with the Sapphire right after the concert, so I would say it is.”

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