The Closer You Get by Kristi Gold Read Free Book Online Page A

stickler for detail.”
    “No kidding.”
    She glanced his way to catch his grin. “What’s so funny?”
    “Nothing. It’s kind of weird having you here instead of Bud. No
offense.”
    “None taken,” she said.
    “By the way, where is Bud?”
    “In the other bus on his way to the airport.”
    “I thought he was going to Oklahoma before he headed back
home.”
    “That was the plan before Bud’s baby girl got impatient and
Jeanie went into labor about thirty minutes ago.” She sighed. “You know, it’s
hard for me to imagine Bud raising a daughter. Actually, it’s hard to imagine
him being a dad, although he’ll probably be a good one.”
    “I’m sure he will.”
    Cammie took another quick look to see his smile had faded as he
stared out the windshield. After a sudden span of silence, she welcomed the
passing car full of coeds hanging out the windows and waving madly. “Looks like
you’ve been spotted by some fans,” she said.
    “It happens now and then. It’s like they think I’m going to
pull over or something. If they saw me now they’d probably have a change of
heart.”
    True, he hadn’t shaved and his hair was mussed, but Cammie
found something appealing in Brett’s disheveled state. “You could probably come
out wearing rags and not shave for a week and it wouldn’t matter.”
    “You think so?”
    Cammie laughed. Surely he was kidding. “I know so.”
    He looked at her with a sideways glance. “You could always tell
when Bud didn’t get enough sleep. His eyes got real bloodshot and he grumbled a
lot. But not you. You look like you’ve had eight hours and just stepped out of
the beauty parlor.”
    She fidgeted with the radio, more out of self-consciousness
than necessity. “Thank you, I guess, but I wouldn’t go quite that far. I’m used
to crazy hours. I don’t require much sleep. Never have.”
    Cammie felt a little twinge of disappointment when Brett slid
out of the seat and started to the back of the bus. So much for a decent
conversation.
    Then, without turning around, he asked, “Can I get you
something to drink?”
    She looked back at him from the overhead mirror. “Yeah, I’d
like that,” she said, almost too enthusiastically. “Orange juice would be
good.”
    After a time, Brett brought back a large white tumbler and set
it into the drink caddy mounted on the dash. “Thanks,” Cammie said, looking into
his crystal-blue eyes that seemed full of amusement.
    Brett reclaimed his seat. “Bud told me you used to sing backup
in a band.”
    She didn’t have the energy or the want-to to travel down memory
lane. “Yes, I sang backup in a couple of bands on the Nashville club circuit.
The money helped put me through college.”
    “That wouldn’t be the real reason you took this job, would
it?”
    Cammie’s face flushed from anger. Brett Taylor had basically
accused her of hidden motives. The thought never crossed her mind to latch on to
some superstar to establish a career. “That is an absolute untruth,” she said
through clenched teeth.
    “Sorry. I didn’t mean to tread on your feelings—”
    “Let’s just get this straight, shall we? If you think I have
any other reason for sitting temporarily in this
seat aside from doing a favor for a friend, you’re wrong.”
    Brett came to his feet and raised both hands, palms forward.
“Beg your pardon. I won’t bring it up again.” He quickly turned on his heels and
walked away.
    Cammie’s shoulders slumped forward, her neck throbbed with
tension. She was tired, but that was no excuse for her abrasive attitude. She’d
truly wanted to know him better, and now she’d insulted him.
    But singing was a subject she didn’t often broach. Music only
reminded her of Mark Jensen and their debacle of a relationship. Recollections
of having to leave college, dashed hopes of becoming a teacher and passing on to
children the only love in her life she could still count on. Regardless of the
harsh memories, the biting resentment,