Sheet Music - A Rock 'n' Roll Love Story (36 page)

The two girls dug quickly into their pocketbooks and pulled out pens and paper.  They were young, Michael noticed, probably in their early twenties.  He took the paper from the blonde with the deep cleavage first.

“Who do you want me to make this out to?” he asked, pulling the cap off the pen with his teeth.

“Ronnie,” she instructed, sliding two additional chairs toward Michael’s table.  “Well, my name is Rhonda, but everyone calls me Ronnie.”

Michael nodded again, pretending to care.  “How about you?” he asked the redhead.  “What’s your name?”

“Alex,” she answered with an expression of total disbelief that she was actually standing in the presence of him.

Michael signed their papers and glanced toward Annie on stage.  To his disappointment, neither girl had made an attempt to vacate their chairs.  “So, you’re both Thrust fans?” he asked, reading a look of concern on  Annie’s beautiful face.

“Oh yes, all our lives,” Ronnie answered.

“All your lives, huh,” he mumbled, thinking how absurd that comment sounded to him, considering their assumed ages.

“Are you on the island for business or fun?” Ronnie asked, emphasizing the last word of her question.

“A little of both,” he said evasively, his eyes still focused on Annie.

Then he felt the soft squeeze of a hand on his knee.  “Well if you're looking for
fun
,” Ronnie stated, slowly inching her hand up the inside of Michael's thigh.  “Alex and I could show you a whole lot of fun.”  She leaned closer to her intended target and, in the process, revealed several more inches of her ample bosom.  “Are you game for a little fun, Michael?”

He reached beneath the table and stopped the progression of Ronnie’s hand, mere inches from his groin.  Then he set it back up on top of the table and held it there in place.  With both eyes firmly locked on to Ronnie, he pointed toward Annie.  “See that woman up on stage playing guitar and singing her pretty little ass off?” he asked.

Ronnie tossed her eyes toward the stage.  “Yeah, what about her?” she replied with indifference.

“That’s my wife, and I’m sure she would be less than thrilled to see me leave with you two.”

Ronnie glanced back at Annie.  “Then bring her along if you like,” she shrugged.

Michael smiled and shook his head.  “Thanks, but no thanks, ladies.”

“Suit yourself, but you’ll be missing one hell of a party,” Ronnie said, licking her lips as she stood to leave.

He nodded his head and grinned knowingly.  As if he hadn’t heard that line before, he thought, his eyes drifting back to Annie - beautiful Annie.  Her voice was as smooth and silky as her suntanned skin.  He started at her toes and scanned the length of her tapered legs, over her narrow hips, past her perfect breasts, inched up her throat and settled on her mouth.  He studied the movement of her lips intently as she sang.

The music ebbed from her instrument like the waves of the incoming tide.  Several couples swayed together on the dance floor in tight embraces.  Listening to her sing felt almost as good as making love to her, the thought of which made his groin tighten.  He smiled to himself.

“Great job, babe,” he congratulated, kissing her on the mouth when she exited the stage.

Annie smiled weakly and began collecting her things from around the stage area.  The image of Michael sitting at the table with the two girls remained in her brain.  The vision of the blonde’s hand creeping up Michael’s leg made her stomach churn.  She had witnessed the entire scene and it had sickened her.

“Do you want to hang around town for a while or head home?” he asked, taking her guitar case in his hand.

“Do you mind if we go home?  I’m kind of tired.”

Michael loaded gear into the back of the jeep.  The melody of Annie’s last song still echoed in his head as he turned the key in the ignition.

“What’s the name of that last song you sang tonight?” he asked.

“Music Man,” she replied, staring blankly at her hands.

“Real nice.  I’ve heard you playing the chords to that one at home but never heard you sing the lyrics.  Dare I ask who your music man is?” he grinned, already knowing the answer but still wanting to hear her say it.

Annie rolled her eyes, not wanting to smile, but the urge outweighed her resistance to stop it.  “You.”

His smile grew wider.  “That will be your first single,” he stated, matter-of-factly.

She turned to face him.  “What do you mean?”

“When you go solo, that will be your first hit,” he explained, pulling out onto New York Avenue and heading toward Vineyard Haven.

“When I go solo?”

“Yeah, after you tour with Lace.”

“I never said I was going solo.”

Sensing her agitation, he slowed the jeep and glanced at her face.  “What’s the matter, babe?” he asked, placing his hand against the warmth of her inner thigh.

She turned away and looked out her window.  “What did those girls want from you tonight?”

“I signed a couple of autographs for them,” he replied with a shrug.

“They sat with you for quite a while, Michael.  And the blonde had her hand on your balls.  I’m not blind.  I saw the whole thing.”

“Her hand was no where near my balls, babe,” he replied in protest.

“Oh please!”

The smile melted from his face.  Downshifting quickly, he pulled the jeep over to the side of the road.  “You really want to go there, Annie?  Do you really want to know what they wanted?”

“That’s why I asked the question!”

“Fine.  They wanted to fuck my brains out,” he said crudely, resenting the fact he had to explain it.  “Hell, they even said I could bring you along to the party.  Is that what you want to hear?”

Annie’s breath caught sharply in her dry throat.  Tears immediately began to pool in her eyes.  Silence filled the cab of the jeep.

“So, now you’re not going to say anything?” he asked, rage beginning to creep into his body.

She sniffed and wiped at her eyes.

“Annie, shit like that happens all the time with me,” he replied, trying to keep his anger in control.  “Unfortunately, it’s unavoidable.  I don’t entice it and I’m not tempted to accept the favors that come with it either.  I’ve already been there and then some.  Any thrill that may have been associated with it no longer exists for me.”

He gazed out his window and shook his head.  “We discussed all of this before and I thought you understood.  I can’t prevent it from happening and I won’t always be able to conceal it from you when it does.  But it will happen again: that much I can assure you of.  So, I guess the real question is, can you handle it when it does happen the next time?  Do you trust me enough to know I will never act on the offers these fans make?”

Annie sighed heavily.  “It’s disrespectful,” she said quietly.  “They don’t know their boundaries.”

“I know.  I would agree with that.  But what can I do, walk around wearing a suit of armor?”

She shook her head.

“You say you love me, Annie.  Well, loving someone like me comes with a price tag and a lot of ugly baggage.  When we’re at home you have me all to yourself.  I’m yours, body, mind and soul.  But as soon as I step out that door, part of me becomes public property.  Most people will respect my space but there will always be those who insist on getting too close.  It’s the price I pay for being who I am and doing the job that I love to do.  Do you understand what I’m saying?”

She dropped her head to her lap.  “Yes, I understand.  I’m sorry I overreacted - again.  I know you’ve explained this before but it doesn’t make it any easier for me to deal with.  I mean, you’ve had twenty years to get used to this.  I’ve only had a couple of months.  I guess it’s going to take some time for me to really come to terms with who I’m living with.”

His fingers disappeared into her long hair.  “I think part of the problem is, I’ve gone out of my way to protect you from seeing the dark side of this business.  I’m realizing now, how wrong I was to do that.”

“What do you mean?”

“I guess what I'm trying to say is, I think we need to be seen more in public.  I
want
to be seen with you and I want people to see
you
with me as a couple.  As much as I'd like to, we can't hide forever at the beach.”

Annie hung her head.  “It sounds like you’re ready to head back to Boston, Michael.  Is that what you’re trying to say?”

He exhaled loudly.  “Please don’t put words in my mouth.  I love being here with you and I think that is more than obvious.  This is the best vacation I’ve ever had and God knows how much I needed it.  But, that’s exactly what it is for me - a vacation from reality.  Reality for me is back in Boston, New York or Los Angeles.  And sooner or later, I have to go back.”

“Can we at least stay here for the summer?”

He smiled and kissed her forehead.  “Does that mean that you still want to be a part of my life and everything that comes with it – the good
and
the bad?”

Annie nodded.

“Then let’s go home.”

Neither spoke until they reached the cottage.  Michael shut off the engine and caught Annie by the hand before she slipped out the door.

“I’m sorry I raised my voice back there,” he said.

Annie sniffed quietly.

“Are you still upset?” he asked, tenderly stroking her cheek.

She shook her head.  “I’ll get over it.”

He kissed her hand.  “You do know how much I love you right?”

“Yes, and I love you too.”

“Then let’s go inside and finish making-up,” he teased, his face relaxing into a perfect smile.

She burst out laughing.  “You know, you are positively wicked, Mr. Wade.”

He stepped out of the jeep and slammed the door.  “Mrs. Wade, I’ve been called much worse.”

After making love to Annie, Michael remembered a long-standing invitation he had for an annual celebrity charity event that Carly Simon held every summer at her Vineyard estate.  She hosted the party on the same weekend every year and invited dozens of the Vineyard’s most infamous residents.  It was to benefit a camp for kids with cancer and the event raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for the cause each and every year.  Although he had never attended the event, he always sent along a large donation.  This might be the perfect event to expose Annie to the limelight, he thought, rolling over to face her.

“Which night are you playing out next weekend?” he asked nuzzling contentedly against her back.

“Friday night, why?”

“How would you like to go to a charity event on Saturday night hosted by Carly Simon?” he asked with a seductive smile.

Annie studied his face for a few minutes, trying to judge whether or not he was teasing her.  “You actually know Carly Simon?”

“Afraid so.  Carly and I go way back to when she was still married to James Taylor.”

“You’re kidding?”

“No.  I’m not.  Every time Beth and I were in New York we always made a stop at their place to party with them.  Sometimes we’d go out clubbing or just hang out at their apartment.”

“Wow.”

“She does this annual charity event to help kids with cancer.  I’ve never been, but we could go to this one together, if you want.”

Annie sighed with reluctance and scrunched her face.

“They’d be lots of stars and photographers too.  It might be the perfect time for us to be seen together.”

“I thought you hated crowds like that?”

He laughed.  “Well, it’s not my favorite way to spend a Saturday night, but I’ll know most of the people.  It might be fun to see them on the island for a change instead of at an awards ceremony.  Plus, I haven’t seen Carly in years.”

“You don’t think I’d be too out of place?” she asked, cuddling up against his chest.

“No more than I will be,” he replied, stifling a snicker.

Annie went into town the next day and bought a body-fitting silver dress with spaghetti straps and scoop neck collar.  It hung half way down her thigh and sparkled when the light hit it.  Against her dark skin, the dress positively made her glow.  When she got back to the beach house, she tried it on for Michael’s approval.

“The invitation says, dressy casual, right?” she asked, shimmying into the garment.

“I believe it did,” he sighed, taking in her beautiful curves.  “You look amazing,” he added, shaking his head, as if he was at a loss for words.

A few days later she firmly attached herself to Michael’s arm as they entered the ballroom-sized yard tent that had been set up in the backyard of Carly Simon’s Vineyard estate.  White-gloved waiters greeted them at the door and offered them drinks.  Michael politely waved them off.

Annie’s eyes quickly scanned the crowded makeshift room.  The tent was so meticulously decorated, once inside, you’d never know you were beneath fabric.  A small jazz band played at one end, and two bars anchored the sides.  Cocktail tables were scattered about with twinkling votive candles and potted trees lined the perimeter with miniature white lights which cast a romantic luminance over the entire enclosed pavilion.

Annie stood in awe of it, unable to move forward.  Then, one by one, she slowly began to recognize the attendees.  Everyone from Walter Cronkite to Michael J. Fox filled the room.

Suddenly Michael heard Carly call out his name.

“I knew if I kept sending you the invitations, you might eventually manage to fit my party into your busy schedule,” Carly Simon said, while kissing Michael on the lips, making a loud smacking sound when she did.  Then she wiped the evidence of her lipstick off his lips with her thumb.

“Hey Carly, it’s great to see you again,” Michael smiled, as he loosely embraced her.

“And I see you brought someone with you, too,” she replied, reaching out to shake Annie’s hand.

“Yes, this is my wife, Annie Logan.”

“Hi, I’m Carly Simon,” she stated, as if Annie might not know who she was.  “It’s very nice to meet you.”

“She’s a stunner, Michael,” Carly said, her eyes darting back to him.  “I can see we have a lot of catching up to do.  I hope you’ll stay for the evening so we can do just that.”

“Of course,” Michael answered with a generous smile.

“Great.  Make yourself at home and mingle,” she instructed, drifting off to her arriving guests.  “And for God sakes, eat something!”