Page 76 of Indescribable Love

“Probably figured there would be a good shock value there.” She shuddered. “From a publicity standpoint, he could have garnered a lot of interest in the film with the promise of a scandal or something from Simon’s past. It’s a crappy thing to do, but that’s the shadier part of the business and I personally don’t want any part of it. I’m just glad he’s gone.”

“Good riddance, for sure.” They walked down toward the floor seats and back by the soundboard. “I wanted us to stay out of the way. The film guys are trying to get the lay of the land and grab some footage of this rehearsal, so I figured we’d hang back and watch. Is that okay?”

“Sure!” And maybe she sounded confident, but she was extremely nervous about seeing Simon again.

Even from a distance.

“Oh my goodness! You’re here!” Celia came jogging over excitedly before hugging Juliette—hard. “You have no idea how worried we both were about you!” Pulling back, she was smiling from ear to ear. “When Nikki said Mick hired you and you were going to work with this new film crew, I cried! Like I seriously cried happy tears!”

It seemed a bit of an overreaction, but it was nice that she was missed.

“Mick’s very persuasive,” she told them. “I’m not gonna lie; it wasn’t an easy decision to do this. I mean…”

But Celia grabbed her hands to stop her. “No, you need to be here. Simon hasn’t been the same since you left. In all the years I’ve known him, I’ve never seen him like this. So it’s so good that you’re back.”

Shaking her head, Juliette needed to make it known that she was here as a publicist and that her relationship with Simon wasn’t…well…it just wasn’t. There was no relationship other than a professional one. She was here to do a job and that’s it. Too much had happened for her to just come back, take one look at him, and have everything be okay. Things like that didn’t happen.

At least…not to her.

Mick Tyler was giving her a chance, and she wasn’t going to let him down.

Glancing around, she asked, “Is Alex with you? I didn’t think he traveled on the tour with you, Nik.”

“My mom lives down in Pittsburgh and we figured it might be nice for her to come and hang out and get some time with Alex for a few days,” Nikki explained. “She’s on babysitting duty because it’s a lot to ask of Alex to hang out here all day.”

“That’s so sweet that she was willing to do that!”

“The drive was just a little over three hours, so she was thrilled to have the opportunity. Plus, when she comes to visit us in Greensboro, she has to share her time with Celia’s parents.”

“And my parents can be a lot,” Celia said with a laugh.

“She’s not lying,” Nikki murmured.

“Ooh…ooh…they’re starting,” Celia said as the band started coming out onto the stage. “Sit! I always love this part. It’s like getting your own private concert!”

They sat and Nikki turned to Juliette and laughed softly. “In case it wasn’t obvious, she’s still a huge fan.”

It made her smile. “Nothing wrong with that!”

Closing her eyes briefly, she let out a long breath and silently willed herself to be okay, but when Simon walked out on the stage, her heart literally ached. In a pair of faded blue jeans and a white t-shirt, his standard attire, he looked perfect. His hair desperately needed a trim and was in total disarray, but it made her want to run her hands through it. The stubbled jaw, the sexy swagger…he was far too attractive for his own good. It didn’t matter what happened and it didn’t matter that she was hurt; the truth was that she was still in love with him.

Oh God, how can this possibly work? How can I work beside him and not make a fool out of myself?

She was pulled from her reverie when the opening chords of Bon Jovi’s “Wanted Dead or Alive” started.

“Why do they do this?” she asked Nikki.

“It’s a game the guys play. They try to stump Simon, who claims he knows every song ever made.” She snorted with amusement. “Sometimes they don’t try very hard. I mean…come on. Even Alex would know this one!”

“That’s what I was thinking!” Celia said.

But as soon as Simon sang out, “It’s all the same…only the names will change…” Juliette was lost.

“I swear, you guys, I think I should be the one challenging you!” Simon said with a hearty laugh. “We’ve been at this for months and you haven’t gotten me yet!”

“Maybe we’re going easy on you,” his bass player, Raj, called out. “You know…being nice to the guy who signs our paychecks.”

With a mock frown, he shook his head. “As much as I appreciate that, you don’t have to handle me with kid gloves. I’ll gladly admit when I don’t know a song and won’t go into diva mode. I swear!”