Chapter 82

"You look great," Casey said, looking me over in admiration.
I smiled, appreciating the compliment. "Thanks, Casey," I said as I patted her shoulder. "You look like a princess."
She laughed as she smoothed her hands over her dress. "I feel like one."
Suddenly, there was a knock on the door. I opened it and a man in a black tuxedo and tie with a long trench coat overtop was standing on the other side. "We're ready, Miss Collins."
I nodded, and then turned to Casey. "It's time. Are you ready?"
She laughed as she picked up her guitar. "As ready as I'll ever be."
The bodyguard took her guitar case from her and he and two more men, dressed exactly like the first, escorted us down the hallway to the elevator, but only the first stepped inside. The other two guards took the other elevator.
A moment later, the doors opened to the lobby, where the other two bodyguards were already waiting.
"Right this way," one of them said as he gestured toward the sliding glass doors. Outside, a limo waited along with the driver and another bodyguard.
"Good evening, ladies," he said as he held the door open for us.
"Good evening," I said, nodding as Casey and I slid into the back. Once we were safely inside, he shut the door behind us.
"Wow!" Casey said as the limo pulled away from the curb. "Is it always like this?"
I smiled. "Sometimes, but not always." I found myself caught up in the excitement of being in the limelight again, in spite of myself. After being away from it for so long, it felt good to have a taste of it again.
A few minutes later, we pulled up in front of the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center. The limo came to a stop and a bodyguard opened the door for us, extending his hand first to me and then to Casey. I let her walk ahead of me, wanting to showcase her. The mayor of New York was standing in the doorway with his wife, shaking hands, greeting his guests as they came in.
"Good evening, Ms. Case and Ms. Rogers," Mayor Townsend said as he shook our hands. Then, he said to Casey, "Miss Rogers, I look forward to your performance tonight."
"Thank you, sir," Casey replied graciously, and then shook his wife's hand.
As we mingled, our bodyguards stayed close but discreetly stepped away when guests approached. They were allowing us our space, but stayed close in case they were needed.
The room was beautifully decorated with crystal chandeliers hanging high at the ceiling and round tables with white tablecloths draped over them. Candlelit centerpieces surrounded in white flowers set in the center of every table. Soon, we were escorted to tables. The men stood until we sat down. The gentleman next to me was just a few years older than me and had light brown hair and blue eyes, very attractive, but I turned my attention to Casey, pretending not to notice.
"My name is Curt Davis," the attractive man said in an effort to gain my attention.
I gave him a slight smile. "Alyssa Collins. Nice to meet you."
He smiled. "I assure you, the pleasure is mine."
I forced a smile as waiters served us Lobster Creole with stuffing and steamed vegetables. Casey was talking animatedly to an attractive man sitting on the other side of her, twice her age, and looking at her with interest.
"Hurry up and eat," I said to her discreetly. "You'll be up in a bit."
She nodded, and then looked at her lobster, not quite sure how to handle it.
I smiled and showed her how to crack it with mine. It was delicious; a rare delicacy that I didn't have often.
"So, do you live here?" Curt asked, undeterred.
I swallowed the bit of lobster that I had been chewing. "In New York?"
He nodded.
I shook my head. "No. I'm from Nashville."
He chuckled. "You don't sound like it."
I forced a smile. "I'm originally from West Palm Beach, Florida." Really, I didn't owe him an explanation, but I thought there was no harm in being friendly.
After we finished our meals and they started clearing away the plates, the mayor stepped up to the microphone. "Thank you all for coming tonight." He went on with a political speech, and soon, all of the dishes were cleared away and the waiters passed out champagne glasses, sparkling with the bubbling beige liquid. Curt handed one to me as a corner of his lips curled into a heartbreaking smile that reminded me too much of Logan. I forced a smile and quickly turned my attention back to Casey.
"It's time. Let's go," I said as I dabbed my lips with my napkin and then laid it on the table. "If you'll excuse us."
All of the men stood as we rose from the table-perfect gentlemen.
Curt caught my hand before I walked away. "May I have the first dance tonight?"
His eyes were so hopeful that I couldn't flat out refuse him. "Maybe not the first, but I'll save a dance for you."
He smiled as he released my hand. "That's good enough for me."
"Come on. Let's go," I said to Casey, and then led the way to the wings.
On the side of the stage, a bodyguard was already waiting for her, holding her guitar. "Good luck tonight," he said as he handed it to her.
She smiled as she took her guitar. "Thank you."
"We have a special treat for you tonight," the mayor continued. "This little lady came all the way from Nashville to sing a few songs for us tonight. She is an up-and-coming star. So, remember her name because you're going to be hearing a lot from her."
"Are you ready?" I asked her, feeling almost like a mother bird sending my little baby off by herself.
She nodded as she handled her guitar expertly, checking to make sure it was turned and preparing to perform.
"Without further ado " the mayor continued, " let's give a warm welcome to Casey Rogers!"
"Knock 'em dead!" I said as adrenaline coursed through my body, excited for her.
She grinned and headed onto the stage and approached the mic. "Thank you so much, New York! It's good to be here!" A backup band took their places behind her on the stage. "Tonight, we're going to bring a little bit of Nashville to you! Feel free to dance, if you feel so inclined."
Everyone laughed as excitement coursed through the crowd.
Casey turned to the band. "Ready, boys?"
"Lead the way, little lady. We've got your back," the drummer said.
Casey nodded once, and then said, "Key of G." The drummer nodded, and she turned back to the microphone. "Here's a little down-home country for you!"
Immediately, her fingers flew down the neck of her guitar and then back up again. A second later, she found a rhythm and began to sing her original, Down-home Country. The crowd responded and began clapping along and enjoying the music. She had complete control of the stage and the attention of the audience. No one danced; they were just enjoying her performance. Soon, Casey hit a final cord, bringing the song to an end and the crowd applauded.
"Thank you, everyone!" She fiddled with her guitar for a bit as she spoke. "Here's another that I think you might like, Caught in the Crossfire!"
The crowd applauded as her fingers flew over the neck of her guitar and then she started singing. She had a beautiful voice, but she added a sexy growl to it occasionally. Her voice was very unique. Frank did a good job picking her out. But, then again, Frank always did have a knack for finding great talent.
I looked out over the crowd, and the people were swaying to the music back and forth in their seats, but no one was dancing yet. She had their attention, but one thing about being a musician is being able to read the crowd. I hoped she would be able to do just that, knowing that this crowd would respond better to slower music.
A few minutes later, the song came to an end and then she approached the mic. "Well, I'm going to slow it down a little bit now. Give me time to catch my breath." Everyone laughed. "This one is an original, titled Once in a Lifetime. I hope you like it."
Casey slid her guitar off her shoulders and handed it to a bodyguard, who took it and rushed off to the wings beside me. She then took the mic off the stand and stepped up to the edge of the stage, controlling the crowd. Soon, men extended their hands to ladies and they all stepped onto the dance floor. I watched Casey in admiration. She was definitely a star in the making-fearless with control over her voice and the audience, the likes of which I hadn't seen in a while. It wouldn't be long until she was a full-blown star. It was just a matter of time.