Noah (The Mitchell/Healy Family #1)(47)
Author: Jennifer Foor

I smiled to acknowledge that I was following him.

“It’s going to take about a week for the final paperwork to get drawn up. Take that time to gather the items you will need from your home to bring here. We own a few apartments that we provide for our musicians to live out of while they are starting out. You’ll have your own space, as long as you follow the rules. These apartments are for our new artists during their probationary period the first six months. You’ll have daily voice classes, a personal trainer, and also a dietician. All of these are required as stated on the contract. Tour weeks are normally five to seven days. During that time you’ll be on the road. Are you able to do that?”

I nodded. “I have nothing to go home to.” It was pathetic and not meant to make them feel sorry for me.

“That’s very unfortunate, but I can tell you from experience that you’ve just gained yourself a very large family, my dear.”

“I will work hard. I promise. It’s all I’ve ever wanted to do.”

He nodded. “If you sign these papers we can go ahead and do the background check, and have you sent off for the physical. We need the people we represent to be healthy and not in any kind of trouble.”

I held my smile, knowing that if there were charges against me, all of this would have been for nothing. “I understand.”

“This is a long process and you’re going to have to be willing to work for it.”

“I will take whatever I can get. I’ll start at the very bottom.” I was rambling and they knew it. I must have sounded like every other desperate musician that walked in their door.

I suppose I should have paid for a lawyer, or someone to read over the contract, but I knew no one with that kind of background that I could trust. Besides, having nothing to start with meant I had nothing to lose.

I signed on the dotted line, on the line that was going to change my life forever.

Riding back to the hotel in the cab to get my things was empowering. My dreams were coming true and I had one person to thank. My only problem was finding all of the words that I wanted to say to him and bringing myself to actually do it.

All I knew was that, at some point, I was going to find a way to see him again.

Noah

My cousin Isabella didn’t like to be told what to do. A lot like her mother, my aunt, she thought she knew everything, and also what was best for everyone. Sometimes I valued her opinions, because I knew she’d tell it to me straight. This, however, was not one of those times.

My cousin was beaten badly, and it was taking every ounce of self-control to not find the bastard that did this to her and make him pay for what he’d done. Surely anyone in their right mind would want justice after seeing her in the condition she was in.

I slept for only a little while, having too much on my mind to be able to relax completely. Not only was I worried about my family, but there was a little woman out there in a big city, all alone because of me. I hated knowing that.

It occurred to me when I left New York that I should have retrieved her number off of my phone, to ensure that I could talk to her again.

Since I knew she was singing with the band again, I gathered that I could reach her at the restaurant later in the evening.

Bells woke up in pain, not that I was surprised. Her face looked even worse, if that was even possible. “Hey. How long was I asleep?”

“A few hours. You need your rest.” I ran the back of my hand over her cheek. “We need to talk, Bells.”

She got up and walked into the bathroom. “Yeah, I know. Just let me pee in peace first.”

I heard the toilet flush and her come back into the room. She sat at the little round table near the window and brought her knees to her chest. “What were you doin’ in New York. You don’t even like that city.”

“It was the last place they’d look, so I thought.”

She laughed. “Who found you?”

“Gram. Well, she didn’t call me. I called her to check in and she told me she knew where I was. That’s the shit that pisses me off the most. This family has their f**kin’ hands in everything. We get no privacy.”

“Bitch much. Jesus, Noah, you act like you were trying to wine and dine a woman and got cock-blocked.”

I lowered my head and wiped my face with my hands. The mere mention of Shalan and I was becoming unhinged.

Bells sat up. “Who was she? You better tell me. I tell you everything, so start talkin’.”

I fell back onto the bed and laughed. “It’s nothin’.”

Bells jumped off the chair and collided into me on the bed. She cuddled her head up next to my arm and gave me a sad face. “Please tell me. I need to hear about something hot and fun.”

I laughed, knowing Shalan was both of those things. “We met the night I left Kentucky. She was workin’ at some bar off of the beaten path a bit. She was my waitress, and I guess bartender too, since she was the only one there at the end. Anyway, first she took my keys, because I’d had too many shots. Then her car wouldn’t start, so we were stuck ridin’ together. Actually, let me rephrase that. She found my keys that she’d thrown into a field and proceeded to drive my truck. We’re halfway to where she needs to get dropped off and she sees her f**kin’ boyfriend and her best girlfriend gettin’ it on in a parking lot. This crazy cat jumps out of my truck and proceeds to steal his car, while he’s indisposed. Then she drives it into a pond and runs from the scene.”

Bells started to laugh. “I’m sure you’re leavin’ out details, but can I ask what this has to do with New York, or that smile you got on your face the moment I mentioned a woman.” She nestled herself up next to me and waited for my reply. I had to admit, knowing she was safe made me happy.

“Bells, she’s beautiful. I knew it even when she had a ball cap on when I first laid eyes on her. She’s got real dark hair, that’s almost down to her ass. It curls up at the ends when it starts to dry.” I had to close my eyes for a second, because my mind went straight to being naked with her in the shower. Since I was hanging out with my cousin, I certainly didn’t want to get aroused. That would be disgusting and very weird.

“Anyway, she’s got these bright blue eyes that you can’t stop lookin’ at. Did I mention her body? She’s just a petite little thing, with curves in all the right places.”

Bells rolled over and stretched her arms above her head. “You’re describing your perfect woman, Noah. She sounds too good to be true, if you ask me. Are you sure the liquor wasn’t makin’ you see somethin’ that wasn’t there?”