Page 33 of Forever Country (Forever Bluegrass #24)

H olt’s arm hurt as he slid it into the special bulletproof nanotech tux jacket Piper Davies Creed had developed before putting it back into the sling.

Ironic that Annaleigh had one last week and now he was in one.

Morgan had been working overtime with the media.

She was playing up his love for Annaleigh with every statement.

The media wanted to talk to him about the people he helped after the shooting—too bad.

Morgan responded that Holt would love to in the future, but he’s currently spending all of his time with the love of his life, Annaleigh Astore, as he recuperates. But yes, he will be at the awards show.

“Here, let me help you.” Holt turned to see Annaleigh glide from the bedroom.

Instead of the lingerie under the dress, Piper had sent a beige bodysuit that was also bulletproof, yet somehow made her breasts look even more unbelievable.

And he should know. His mouth and hands were on them just twelve hours ago as they made love very carefully the night before.

“Annaleigh, you’re breathtaking.”

Holt loved the blush that graced her cheeks as she thanked him.

Suddenly there was pounding on the door and Aiden, who had been sitting by the window in case one of the make-up artists was an assassin, stood and strode to the door with his hand on the gun hidden under the tux his wife had also sent him.

“Are you expecting a frazzled-looking woman with weird undereye patches on and what looks like wax on her lips?”

“Stuff it, bodyguard!” Holt heard Maddie yell from the hall, and Aiden smiled as he opened the door.

Maddie burst through the door, her eyes slightly wild as she carried bags, luggage, and a dress.

“Holt, sorry you were shot. You somehow made it look sexy. But where is the team? I have forty-two minutes.” The team poured from the bedroom of the suite, and swarmed Maddie.

“Get your gorgeous ass in here. We have business to discuss,” Maddie directed at Annaleigh.

Annaleigh chuckled as she finished tying Holt’s bowtie. “You know we’re a package deal. Are you up to it?”

The soft knock at the door had Aiden up and checking it out before opening it. Morgan Davies stood looking elegant and Cody Grey in a tux was damn near devastating. The sheriff’s deputy somehow looked like a model from the pages of a magazine and not someone who wore jeans and a polo most days.

“It appears I’ll have some help looking after you two,” Holt said with a nod to Cody.

“Annaleigh!” Maddie yelled from the depths of a makeup crew scrum.

“Coming!”

“Just not as hard or as many times as last night,” Holt whispered. There was that sweet blush he loved so much. Annaleigh rolled her eyes and hurried into the depths of makeup and hair hell.

“Thanks for letting me crash,” Cody said, taking a seat on the couch as Morgan moved to the little desk and set her purse down.

“You know that’s my girlfriend’s best friend, right?” Holt asked Cody.

“Yes,” Cody said slowly.

“If you’re messing around and hurt her, my girlfriend will get upset, which results in me getting upset. Maddie is on the cusp of something big. She doesn’t need you screwing around with her.”

“There’s no one more surprised than me that I’m here.

” Cody glanced at the now closed doors where their women were being transformed.

“But I can’t stop thinking about her. We talked all week while she was gone.

I didn’t go to the clubs in Lexington. I have no desire to talk with other women.

Jasmine and the Belles even had that bikini car wash—nothing.

” Cody ran a hand over his face. “Honestly, she’s all I can think about. ”

Holt caught Aiden’s eye and the two shared a look that happily-coupled men had. It was obvious that Cody had fallen for Maddie, just as hard and as fast as Holt had for Annaleigh and Aiden had for Piper.

Holt’s phone pinged and so did everyone else’s. “Morgan!” Cody snapped, looking up at where Morgan was pulling out some papers from her clutch. “Did you just place a bet on me and Maddie getting married? This is guy talk. This is sacred shit.”

“Guy talk is sacred, but not nearly as sacred as betting. This grandma wants to take the family to Florida to see the princesses. Do you know how expensive that is?” Morgan turned to Holt and handed him the papers.

“As for you, it’s official. Your next record will be completely owned by you.

The physical copies can follow with a two-week lead period upon receipt of the files at the distributor.

Here are the filings for Everett Entertainment and also the signed release from your former label. ”

“Whoa, that’s huge. Congrats, Holt,” Cody said with big eyes.

Holt took the papers along with a deep breath. This was going to shock the country world for sure. He could imagine his label’s reaction. “Am I crazy for doing this?”

“You’ll love being in charge of your own image and music. That starts right now. I have a press release set, just tell me when to submit it.”

“I’ll think about it. Can you do it remotely?” Holt asked as some ideas began to form.

“Yup. Just have to press a button on my phone.”

Holt nodded as he continued to think. “Not now. You’ll know the right time.”

The doors swung open and Maddie ran out with a woman chasing after her spraying hairspray.

“Wow,” Cody whispered as he quickly stood up. “You look... damn. I’m a lucky man.”

“Well, duh. I’m a freaking catch.” Maddie turned her phone around to see a text chat.

“And do you know what this is?” Holt shook his head as a beaming Annaleigh joined her best friend.

“It’s our first client for A&M Agency! Dallas said he talked to Paisley and he wants in.

He’s been wanting more creative freedom and his agent is pushing back on him for not doing exactly what his label wants. ”

“And since Morgan has been keeping me up to date on what she’s doing with you,” Annaleigh said with a grin, “we now have a big negotiating chip to toss on the table. We will be the only agency with both traditional and indie contacts.”

“Brilliant and beautiful,” Cody said proudly as he kissed Maddie’s temple.

Holt and Aiden shared another look, but this one was amusement at seeing the premier bachelor of Keeneston falling at the feet of a woman who could eat him for breakfast. Maddie was going to keep Cody on his toes, that was for sure. And Cody looked thrilled to be there.

“We’re announcing our agency tonight on the blue carpet,” Annaleigh told them. “If we can get a reporter to interview us.”

“I can help with that.” Holt held his good arm out to Annaleigh as Cody held his arms out to Maddie and Morgan. “Shall we go turn the country world upside down?”

Annaleigh and Holt rode in the same SUV as Maddie and Cody. She was lost in Maddie’s chatter about New York, the clients they’re going to reach out to first, and furniture orders for the new offices. Maddie was able to fit in a lot during the short drive.

“Do you know what you’re going to say?” Holt whispered to her once Maddie took a breath.

“Yes, I do. It’ll be short since I know I won’t have time to say much. And everything is in place for our plan?”

Cody piped up at that. “Yeah, I’m good. Aiden will have the front. I’ll take the back as we walk in. I’ve got one of Piper’s science suits, too. Aiden will be Holt’s main cover, and I’ll get you two. So, if anything happens, turn back to me.”

“What are we talking about? I thought you were here for me?” Maddie asked as they pulled up to the blue carpet.

Annaleigh gave a ten-second summary and Maddie frowned. “I’m the only one without bulletproof panties? I finally find a push-up bra that looks natural instead of my tits being plopped on a shelf and I swear, if someone shoots me and messes up my boobs, I’m going to be so pissed.”

“Your boobs look great no matter what you wear. I’m in a constant state of awe.”

“Aw, thanks, babe.” Maddie gave Cody a quick kiss right before the door was opened. Aiden and Morgan stood waiting for them as Holt stepped out first, and slid his black cowboy hat on. He turned and reached his hand inside for Annaleigh.

She closed her hand over his and took one final deep breath. Tonight was going to change their lives, she just hoped they lived through it.

Flashes went off and blinded her, but Holt tucked her hand in the crook of his elbow and led her onto the blue carpet.

Reporters were screaming at Holt, cameras were flashing, fans were watching from a distance and cheering for them.

It was something Annaleigh had never experienced.

The less famous people came to these events first and were already inside when the “talent” arrived.

They only got their official photo, no paparazzi shots or television interviews for them.

Holt led her to a backdrop and stopped. “This is where we show off.” He smiled as he posed before he looked adoringly at her. Annaleigh smiled and moved her leg the way Sydney had taught her to best show off her body and the dress.

“Holt, who is your date?”

“Annaleigh Astore,” Holt answered. “And she’s wearing Syd Inc. Isn’t she stunning?”

He was completely at ease with the same paparazzi that had probably chased them to Keeneston.

However, here, at a business function, he was everyone’s favorite.

Annaleigh took his lead as they left the photo op area and moved to the video cameras.

“Get ready,” he whispered to her and before Annaleigh knew what he meant, they were stopped by an assistant with a headband consisting of an earpiece and microphone.

“Mr. Everett, do you have a moment for Julie at Country Entertainment?”

“Of course.” Holt gave the young assistant a smile that left her giggling. Maddie rolled her eyes and Annaleigh almost burst out laughing. Although, one look at Cody and Aiden scanning the area for someone looking to kill them stopped the laughter in her throat. “Maddie, make sure to join us too.”

Maddie reached and took Annaleigh’s hand as they walked toward the cameras. For all of Maddie’s confidence, Annaleigh was surprised to find a tremor running through Maddie’s hand.

Cody stopped short of the camera as Holt easily joined the person interviewing the big stars of the night.

“Holt Everett, tonight’s brightest star has just joined us,” perky Julie said with excitement as Annaleigh tried to make her own smile look natural. “How does it feel to be nominated tonight for four awards? That’s the most of any artist tonight.”

“I’m so honored to be up for those awards tonight,” Holt said, looking at the camera and smiling. “I imagine I feel just as excited as my girlfriend does tonight. Annaleigh Astore and Maddie Underwood just started A&M Agency and have already signed a big name before they even officially launched.”

Julie was caught off guard, but she recognized the scoop she was getting. “And isn’t your girlfriend beautiful! Who are you wearing tonight?”

Holt bent his head and whispered, “You’ll be wearing me later tonight, darlin’.”

Annaleigh felt her face blush, but her smile was real when she turned to flash it at Holt and a very confused Julie.

“Maddie and I are both wearing Syd Inc. to celebrate the opening of our own entertainment agency. It’s a great night for country music and our A&M Agency.

We have partnered with Sebastian Abel, to offer our clients a new recording technology that no one has but us.

” Annaleigh let her eyes go wide. “But I’m not sure if Mr. Abel meant for you all to know that. Too late now!”

“Tech billionaire Sebastian Abel is part of your agency?” Julie almost sputtered.

“He is and we’ve already signed our first client who can’t wait to get into the recording studio to put out some new music.” Annaleigh needed the interview to end now. She didn’t want to get spun off onto Holt and if he was said client. She squeezed Holt’s hand and he took the hint.

“Thanks for chatting with us, Julie, but we’re being called away. Have a great night, y’all!” Holt simply walked off and Annaleigh went with him.

Morgan stood with Aiden just feet away. She fell behind Aiden until she was next to Annaleigh. “Great job, Annaleigh. Dallas is waiting up ahead at the next photo call and wants you and Maddie to join him to officially announce your new partnership.”

This time Holt and Cody stood back as Dallas posed with Annaleigh and Maddie on each side of him. He announced to the press that these were his new agents and A&M would be the hottest agency in Nashville.

“Do I need to worry about that?” Annaleigh heard Cody ask Holt.

“Nope. Maddie hasn’t taken her eyes off you and she just winked at you.”

Annaleigh and her group were moved on as Cody and Aiden closed in.

They’d made it through the press line. Now it seemed even more dangerous because they were walking into the auditorium to join their friends—friends they thought they could trust. Annaleigh tried to keep her breathing steady, but every person they passed made her wonder if that was the person who wanted to hurt them.