Bounty (Page 152)

So Dana, who they all knew had no business being with Johnny when he belonged to Joss but the man died with her as his widow, calling either Rembrandt or Joss was news.

Surprising news.

“Dana called?” Jussy asked.

Rembrandt nodded. “She had an idea, darlin’.”

“You don’t have to do it,” Joss put in quickly.

“You don’t,” Rod confirmed. “And you decide that way, girl, that’s the way it’s gonna be and it’s all cool.”

“What are you talking about?” Jussy asked.

Rod looked to Joss, she looked back, and Rod got more respect from Deke when he took the reins.

He turned his attention again to Jussy and said quietly, “She wants to do a tribute concert. For your dad. To benefit his music program. She’s asked Terrence, Lace, Perry, Jimmy, Tammy, me. We’ve all agreed to do it. Back in Kentucky. Big thing. Jiggy and my manager, Ricky, are gonna sort everything. Thurston’s also involved. But Dana, well, all of them wanted your mom and me to ask you.”

“You don’t have to do it, baby girl,” Joss said gently. “But we’d love to have you there, if not onstage, just there. For your dad.”

More respect from Deke, when Joss said “your dad” in a way her grief clung to those two words openly and Rod pulled her tighter into his hold.

Jussy said nothing for so long, Deke looked down at her.

She was staring in a fixed way at the cold fireplace.

“Gypsy,” he called.

Her eyes instantly flicked up to him.

Even though they did, they were still blank.

“You okay?” he asked.

“Did I tell you about Dad’s music program?”

She had. She talked about Johnny all the time. She did this because he prompted it as smooth as he could. And Deke did that because she needed to talk about him. She needed him to be a part of her life in the new way he was. She needed to get used to that way, celebrate him, keep him close in mind and memory.

So he knew Johnny Lonesome had started a charity where they raised money to give to schools, rec centers with kids’ programs, boys clubs, girls clubs, anyone who had music programs so they could pay for instructors, equipment, rental blocks for space.

“You told me,” he confirmed.

“It’ll die without him,” she said, a tremor of sorrow in her voice it fucked him to hear. “I hadn’t thought about it.”

“It won’t.”

At Rembrandt’s declaration, both Deke and Justice looked to him again.

“Dana talked to us about that too,” he shared. “All of us. She asked us to take places on the board. All of us.” He gave Joss a shake and Deke felt Jussy take a deep breath at this additional surprise, Dana offering Joss the opportunity to work together on something that was Johnny’s, Rod along for that ride. “We gotta sign contracts as members of the board that we’ll raise or donate a certain amount of cash every year, do shit to keep the profile high, recruit donors that’ll keep the accounts rockin’. We all agreed.”

“She wanted us to talk to you about that too,” Joss said softly.

Her mother spoke but Deke knew Jussy didn’t hear her because she said in a choked voice, “Rod.”

Rod straightened uncomfortably on the couch, cleared his throat, but still only muttered, “Fuckin’ fine musician. And the man made one of my girls happy for a spell. That bein’ only a spell means I get the privilege of doin’ the same. And just plain played a part in makin’ my other girl. And that program does good work. So…” he shrugged with forced detachment, “I’m in.”

It took a few long beats before Jussy replied.

“You’re the shit, dude.”

Her words made a shit-eating grin spread on Rod’s face. “Know that, sister.”

Deke looked down at Jussy and saw she was grinning back.

“Take your time,” Joss cut in and got both Deke and Jussy’s attention. “You don’t have to answer now.”

“I’m totally on for the board and I’m totally on to perform. You tell me when, I’ll be there,” Justice declared.

That had Deke grinning.

But it was clear both Joss and Rod were surprised.

Joss looked from her daughter to Deke, assessed his grin, her face blanked and she looked to her girl.

“I’m pleased, Jussy.”

“Me too, darlin’. A shit-hot lineup just busted out,” Rod stated.

“Will you be there?”

Even if he wasn’t looking at her when she asked it, Deke knew Joss’s question was for him.

“Yes,” he answered.

“We’re thinking April, Johnny’s birthday,” she told him like it was a warning.

“Great idea,” Jussy muttered.

Deke didn’t respond to the warning.

He had Jussy’s love so he had nothing to prove.

Her mother still thought he did but there wasn’t shit he could do about that except giving it time.

He’d have that time.

And she’d see.

But straight up, he wouldn’t have it any other way. Not for Jussy. Just for her but also for all she was, all she had, the best of it being family that would show to look a man over who was becoming a part of her life, sleeping in her bed, all but living in her home.

He could easily be some jacktard player, getting in there for the sole purpose of all she could give, that being all he could take, none of this all she really had to give. All that was Jussy.

So yeah. Deke didn’t give a fuck. They felt he had something to prove, he’d take his time.