Crazy For You (43 page)

Frank downed the champagne and set the glass on the
edge of the tub. “Come over here, woman!” Laughing, he pulled her
to him. He cupped her face in his hands and kissed her sweetly.

“Make love to me, Frankie…” her whispering trailed
off.

“You don’t know how long I’ve waited to hear you say
that.” He kissed her again.

Even though she didn’t remember it, Roxanne
straddled his lap just as she had done so many years ago. The waves
rocked with them. Gently at first, then quickly intensified as they
hung onto each other for dear life. Their passions exploded
concurrently with satisfaction.

Roxanne lay lifelessly against Frank’s chest. His
arms were wrapped loosely around her waist.

“I love you,” she whispered. As far as she knew,
that was first time she’d ever said those words to him.

“Yes!” he exclaimed triumphantly. “I love you,
too.”

How lucky could one man get? The love of his life
had fallen for him not once, but twice.

***

Chapter 36

I
n January, Roxanne decided
she was going to have to resort to drastic measures if she was ever
going to see Frank in a live performance. She knew she loved Frank,
she’d admitted as much. She also knew something was missing. She
had to get Frank back up on that stage again. She knew he’d never
be truly happy without his music. And surely the musician in him
had been a part of the man she’d fallen in love with the first
go-around. In a way, she felt cheated because she didn’t know that
part of him.

She felt strongly about it, but getting him on stage
wasn’t going to be easy. Realistically, putting him on the spot was
the only way to do it. That notion would take careful consideration
and planning.

The Grammys were coming up in February, and Roxanne
decided to use the event to her advantage since Garrett-Hollander’s
last and apparently final album had been nominated for several
awards, including
Album of the Year
. If she could find a way
to present the award herself, she could put him on the spot whether
he won or not. But it was going to take some detailed planning to
pull it off, but Roxanne was unwavering. Where there was a will,
there was a way. And she definitely had the will, so there must be
a way.

Initially, she’d employed the help of her agent,
Walt.

“But, Roxanne,” he’d objected. “The Grammy’s are
usually presented by people in the music business.”

“I know that,” she said. “But there are exceptions
to every rule. So fix it. Get me that spot. I don’t care what it
takes…just do it.”

“I’ll do what I can.”

“Do more than that.”

N
ext, she called on
Garrett-Hollander’s ex-manager. Even though she’d never met Bruce
Carter, she counted on the fact that he would see her once he found
out who she was.

She was right.

His secretary had explained that Frank Garrett’s
wife was there and he quickly appeared in the outer office to greet
her. “Ms. Simon...” They shook hands. “It’s a pleasure to make your
acquaintance. How’s Frank?”

“He’s fine. In fact, he’s why I’m here.”

“Let’s just step into my office,” he suggested and
led her inside.

“I think it’s time to reassemble the band,” she
said. “Unfortunately, Frank refuses to accept that.”

“What can I do?”

“I’ve got a plan.” She sat down in one of the two
empty chairs in front of Bruce’s desk. “If I put him on the spot,
then he’ll have no other choice but to do the show.”

“And just how are you going to do that?” Bruce
hurried around his desk and dropped into his chair.

“I’ve got my agent working on getting me a spot as a
presenter at the Grammys. If I can get your help, that’s where I
can announce the reunion concert for Garrett-Hollander.”

“I missed something,” he said, shaking his head. “I
thought you said Frank wasn’t onboard?”

“He’s not. That’s why I need you to book the
Bayfront Center in St. Pete...for sometime in late March.” She
looked at him to make sure he stayed on the same page with her. His
confused expression said he wasn’t. “If I announce the concert...I
know Frank...he’ll play it.”

“Do you understand the price involved to book the
Bayfront Center?”

“I’m willing to foot the bill,” she said. “I know my
plan will work.”

“Well, if you’re willing to take that chance...then
who am I to deny you?” He was onboard. Good.

“By the way,” she said. “The band you’re booking
this for is a secret.”

“A mystery guest...I like it.” He paused, as if deep
in thought. “What about the band itself? A couple of them are in
Europe, playing with other bands.”

“You just book the hall and leave the band to me.”
She stood, offering her hand, as if the meeting were over.

“I’ll be in touch.” He was about to push himself up,
but she waved him off. He stayed put.

She moved leisurely toward the door and before
opening it, she glanced over her shoulder. “And remember...not a
word to Frank.”

N
ext on Roxanne’s list was
a visit to Rich. If anybody could get the other guys back, it was
him.

The door opened and Rich took one look at Roxanne
and instantly knew she was up to something. “You look like a girl
on a mission.”

“You know me pretty well, huh?” She laughed
softly.

“Better than most. What’s up?”

“I want you to get the band back here…to perform a
concert sometime in March. I’m not sure of the exact date yet, but
I’m working on it.”

Rich’s mouth dropped open and his brow crinkled.
Clearly, he thought she was nuts.

“Garrett-Hollander will perform a reunion concert in
March.” Her tone had a finality to it.

“Does Frank know about this?” he asked.

“You just leave Frank to me.”

“He’ll never do it.” Rich shook his head. “Not in a
million years.”

“Would you care to make a wager on that?”

“How exactly are you going to manage this?” Now he
was more curious more so than skeptical.

“I have a plan.”

His head bobbed into a slow, knowing nod. “That
you’re not going to share.”

“The less you know right now, the better.” She stuck
a warning finger in his face. “But you can’t say anything to Frank
until I tell him first. And that won’t be for a while.”

“How will I know you’ve told him?”

“Oh...you’ll know.”

“It’s never going to work,” he said, shaking his
head again. “He won’t do it.”

“Oh...he’ll do it all right.”

“R
oxanne…” Walt’s voice
poured over the line. “It wasn’t easy but I got you the spot. You
and Candy will be presenting the album of the year award.”

“That’s perfect.” Roxanne said as a smile tipped the
corners of her mouth.

T
hings really fell into
place when she heard from Bruce Carter in late February with the
news that the Bayfront Center was booked for a mystery guest on
March 28th. That gave her a month to get the band ready once she’d
made the announcement.

A
s time drew near for the
presentation of the Grammys, Frank had to wonder how Roxanne and
Candy had been chosen as presenters—for Album of the Year, no
less.

He didn’t press her about it. Instead, he let it eat
at him until they arrived in L.A. for the awards show. In their
hotel room, Frank watched Roxanne dress for the show, still trying
to figure out why and how she’d been selected as a presenter. He
also knew Kirk Bronson was his competition. Once again. Maybe she
knew something he didn’t. Did she already know that Bronson had won
the award and she wanted to present it to him?

He blew off that scenario quickly, chalking it up to
his overactive imagination. Maybe, just maybe, he’d underestimated
his worth as a rock star. Maybe they wanted the wives of the
winners to present the award to them. Yeah. That was it.

The Grammys were nearly over. There was but one
award left to be presented.
Album of the Year
.
Garrett-Hollander had received three nods so far, and now Frank
watched aimlessly as Roxanne and Candy approached the podium.

“And the winner is…” Roxanne’s words trailed off
while Candy tore into the envelope.

Candy’s expression gave the results away before she
ever said a word. “Garrett-Hollander Four,” she nearly squealed.
“By Garrett-Hollander!”

Frank and Rich shook hands with those around them
and then made their way up to the stage. As Frank ascended the
steps, it hit him—he’d won instead of Kirk.

Frank and Rich embraced and kissed their respective
wives and then Rich took his turn with the
thank yous
first.
Afterward, Frank gave a brief speech about what winning the award
meant to him. When he was done, he reached for Roxanne’s hand.

She tangled her fingers with his, but instead of
exiting the stage she stepped back toward the podium. “Excuse me,”
she said into the microphone. “There is one more thing I’d like to
say…March 28th of this year Garrett-Hollander will perform in
concert at the Bayfront Center in St. Petersburg, Florida for one
appearance only.”

Having said what she had to say, Roxanne headed
offstage with her stunned husband at her side.

He held his tongue backstage, in the limo, and even
in the hotel lobby as they stepped into the elevator. It was filled
with people, so Roxanne knew the odds that he’d speak up in there
were doubtful.

Nope. He still hadn’t said a word by the time he’d
closed the door of their suite. He stood there scrutinizing her for
what seemed like forever. But finally he opened his mouth to speak,
and started yelling. “What the hell is wrong with you? Didn’t I
make it clear to you on Christmas morning? It’s over!” He crossed
his arms defiantly over his chest. “I’m not playing that show.”

“I’ll make a deal with you.” She sat down on the
foot of the bed while Frank continued to tower above her. “You play
this show. And then, if you can tell me you still don’t want to
play...I won’t ask you to do it again.”

“No.”

“Why? Give me one good reason why not.”

“If I told you once, I’ve told you a thousand
times...” Furiously, he sat down beside her on the bed. “I can’t
run the risk of hurting you again.”

“Frankie…I just know that if you’d get back up there
on that stage—” She pleaded with him. “—then you’d see it’s not
really over.”

“I’m not doing it.”

“Make no mistake...if you don’t agree to do this one
show, you’ll leave me no other choice. As soon as we return to
Florida, I’ll file for a divorce.”

Frank shook his head, stalling.

“And while you’re trying to figure out how to get
out of this...” She got up and moved to the dresser. “You can
ponder on this for a little while.” She turned around to face him,
leaning against the dresser. “
Mr. I’ll-do-the-right-thing
—”
She mocked him. “—I’m due in September.”

“You’re due in September?” He didn’t hide his
confusion. “What does that mean?”

“Well…I’m kind of hoping for a girl this time.”

“A girl?” And the clouds began to clear. “You’re
pregnant?” He was on his feet and had her in his arms before she
could move.

“I take it you’re happy about this news?” she asked,
enjoying the feel of him.

“Happy?” He laughed. “Baby, I couldn’t be more
thrilled.”

“Then you see why you have to do the show?”

“Are you okay?” he asked anxiously, ignoring her bid
for control. “Are you sure it was all right to make this trip?”

“Frank...” She laughed ridiculously. “I said I was
due in September...not next week.”

T
he next day, ticket
outlets all over the country received tens of thousands of requests
for Garrett-Hollander’s show. In the end, there were more requests
than tickets to go around. And as the concert’s producer and
promoter, Roxanne would reap the rewards.

Once again, Roxanne Simon had struck gold.

Reluctantly Frank went into rehearsal with the rest
of the band. He didn’t want to do it, but he felt he had no choice.
His wife was threatening to divorce him if he didn’t do the show.
But still, he couldn’t help feeling that this was only going to
lead to disaster.

Oddly enough though, the closer he got to the day of
the concert, the more Frank realized how much he missed playing.
But it was a notion he intended to fight off and conquer.

F
inally the day came. The
day of the show.

“Roxanne,” he yelled up the stairs. “The limo’s
here. Let’s go.”

On the drive to St. Pete, Roxanne watched Frank
become more and more preoccupied. She ran her fingers through his
hair. “You okay?”

“I just want to get this damned concert out of the
way,” he said with a shrug. “Then we can get on with our lives.
You, me, Frankie and the new baby.” He let her know where his
priorities lay.

“Frankie…I want to say something.”

“Go ahead.”

“I’ve learned enough about the past to know...” She
paused, searching for the right words. “I’ve decided…I think
that…before…I had this idea that music was more important to you
than me. But I know better than that now. And I just want to say,
I’m not threatened by your music anymore.”

“You know you mean more to me than anything in this
world.” He caressed her cheek. “Including music.”

“I know.” She smiled. “I think I was jealous of the
music before, but I’m not anymore. I just want you to be
happy.”

“I’ll be happy as long as I have you and our
children.”
Children
. He liked the sound of that. “Music
could never take your place. It was only a means of expressing my
feelings.”

“You have to do this show,” she said. “And I hope
you won’t hate me for forcing you.”

“Don’t you know by now?” He laughed softly. “I could
never hate you.”

A
fter the concert, Frank
and Roxanne returned home. She was still riveted with the
excitement of seeing him on stage for the first time—that she could
recall anyway.