Free Nashville by Heart: A Novel by Tina Ann Forkner

to catch up with her, but
when they did, it was amazing, and she had to admit, she really felt happy in
the moment.
    When
she finally exited the stage, Will reached for her, and the intimacy of it
caused musical notes to waltz around in her stomach.
    “I’m
so proud of you.” He enveloped her in his arms. She couldn’t find it in herself
to resist him as he gently pulled her against the solidness of his chest, nor
could she rid herself of the thought that maybe holding women in his arms was
something he did often. Now that was a ridiculous thought, she realized. She
had no reason to think of—or care about—his dating or how many women he’d held.
He was simply her manager.
    And
yet, in her heart she knew he wasn’t. One thing was for sure though, he was
certainly good at holding a girl in a way that made her want to throw her arms
around his neck. The singer part of her didn’t give a hoot who else he’d held,
but she realized with a start that the woman side of her did.
    “Do
you do this to Audrey when she comes off stage?”
    “She’d
slap my face.”
    Gillian
chuckled. “I was nervous out there.”
    “You
crushed it.” Suddenly he was crushing her to his chest in a bear hug. She
laughed, gently extricating herself, even though she didn’t mind being pressed
up against him. Not one little bit.
    “Thank
you,” she said. “For tonight, for getting me here, for signing me, for…
everything.”
    Before
she could think about what she was doing, she stretched up on the tiptoes of
her boots, plunged one hand through that thick mop of his hair, and planted a
kiss on his cheek. She ached to kiss him firmly on the mouth, but truth be
known, she wished he’d kiss her first, even if he was her music manager. He
seemed to be about to, until a sharp voice penetrated the spell.
    “Will
Adams.” The Steel Spur’smanager was headed their way with his hand
stretched out. Will shook it enthusiastically, and then it was Gillian’s turn.
    “What
have I done to deserve an act like you, sugar?”
    Gillian
shrugged, deciding to dismiss the fact that even though she was a grown woman
whom he didn’t even know, he’d just referred to her as something used in cakes,
cookies and to sweeten one’s coffee. Deciding he was being sincere, she smiled
primly.
    “You
must have been a very good boy?”
    Will
smiled approvingly as the man exploded into laughter. “I want you to come back.
We’d like to have more of what we saw tonight.”
    “Any
time,” Will answered for her. “Call me, and we’ll set it up.”
    The
two men shook on it, then Will took her hand and placed it in the crook of his
arm, walking her to the stage exit and past the dance floor.
    “I
can handle everything from here on out. Any time anyone asks you something like
that, just defer to me.”
    She
shook her head in disbelief. “I don’t know if I’m ever going to get used to
having an agent.”
    “You
probably won’t, but you’ll learn to deal with it.”
    “Gillian!”
Tasha and as many of her friends who could get off work grabbed her arms and
ushered her back to a table they’d reserved. They toasted her with clinks and
chugs, making Gillian an emotional wreck. How did she get so lucky?
    “You
have a lot of good friends.” Will scanned the group of supporters. Gillian
noted that they were all overly polite to Will. They were no doubt nervous
about who he was, but they warmed up to him. Soon several of them broke off to
hit the dance floor.
    She
liked hanging out with Will like this, seeing him relaxed and jovial, not working.
“Are you having fun?”
    “Me?
Oh yeah. But this night is about you. Are you having fun?”
    “I’d
be having more fun if I were out there.”
    “Then
how about a dance, darlin’?” Will held out the crook of his arm. Gillian took
it, casting good-natured warning looks to her friends as they whispered and
giggled like teenagers.
    Out
on the dance floor, Will held her at arm’s length, even though she wished