Chasing Dreams
Page 47

“So, what brings you here, Marcus Evergreen?” she asked, pretending the name didn’t actually ring a bell. The man seemed a little full of himself, no need to give him the satisfaction just yet.
“You don’t remember me?” he asked, a questioning look in his dark brown eyes.
“Sorry, should I?” She offered him a shrug.
With a huff, Marcus set his half empty glass on the bar and focused his smarmy grin at her. “I’m here to take the talent back where he belongs.”
“The talent?” Tessa didn’t particularly care for the way Marcus referred to Cooper. After all, he had a name. And he was so much more than just mere ‘talent’.
“Yes ma’am,” Marcus answered with a tilt of his head toward the stage. “It’s time Cooper go back where he belongs. He’s had his fun.”
“Sorry, I’m not sure I understand.” Tessa knew she was laying it on thick, but she figured she would take the opportunity to get to know what this guy’s agenda was while she had the chance.
“Marcus.” The low rumble of Cooper’s voice had Tessa turning to face him. She hadn’t even realized he wasn’t singing anymore.
“There he is,” Marcus greeted Cooper as though they were best buds who were being reunited once again.
The hard lines etched across Cooper’s forehead said he wasn’t nearly as happy to see Marcus though.
“Why are you here?” Cooper asked, nodding his head at Tessa as though dismissing her.
Nuh-uh. She wasn’t going to miss this for the world. After all, as far as she was concerned, she now had a stake in this. Cooper was managing the entertainment at The Rusty Nail. Without him, she would have to do the job herself, and there just wasn’t enough time in the day for her to do anything more than what she already had on her plate.
Sounded reasonable.
“I figured you’d be happy to see me,” Marcus added with that smirk that Tessa was beginning to realize was more devious than pleasant.
“Why would you figure that?”
Tessa felt like she was watching a volleyball match, her head bouncing back and forth as the two men spoke. Cooper was on the defensive, and Marcus was either too obtuse to realize he wasn’t welcome, or he just didn’t care. Tessa had a feeling it was the latter.
“Oh, I don’t know. I thought you’d prefer I am the one to find you rather than the press.”
Too late for that, Tessa thought to herself.
“I really didn’t care either way,” Cooper said firmly.
Tessa pretended to be busy while she poured a beer and then handed it over to Cooper.
“Perfect,” Marcus rumbled smoothly. “Have a seat. Let’s have a drink. It’s been a while. We’ve got a lot to catch up on.”
Tessa noticed the way Marcus’ eyes darted in her direction and as soon as they did, Cooper growled but managed to collapse onto one of the bar stools near the bar.
“I’m not going back.” Cooper’s voice was low and eerily calm, but Tessa felt the anger radiating off of him.
His reaction to his manager wasn’t what she was expecting. She understood that Marcus was fighting Cooper about going back to Nashville, but the response didn’t fit the situation. Clearly there was something she was missing.
“Tessa,” Cooper turned to look at her. “Do you mind?”
“Well,” she said in a huff, feeling as though Cooper had just slapped her square in the face.
Feeling like a sulking child, she stomped toward the opposite end of the bar, hating how she was acting. Forcing a fake smile, Tessa walked right up to another group and insinuated herself right in the middle. It was either that or go pout.
No matter what, she was damn sure not going to let Cooper see her pout.
 
∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞
 
Cooper ignored the way Tessa stomped off, mainly because he was more concerned with why Marcus had just shown up in Devil’s Bend. Completely unexpected.
Ok, so maybe not entirely unexpected. After all, Cooper did disappear right off the grid, and until now, he hadn’t come face to face with anyone that knew him. But for Marcus to get his arrogant ass on an airplane and fly to Texas, well, that meant he was up to something.
“You shouldn’t have come here,” Cooper told him, turning to face the bar. He gripped his beer, more worried about keeping his hands busy so that he didn’t strangle the man sitting beside him than his thirst.
“Well, I figured someone had to do it. You’ve pushed your limit this time.”
A grainy, red haze clouded Cooper’s vision as soon as the words left Marcus’ mouth. He was always hearing that, listening to Marcus act as though he were some unruly kid who needed to be reined in.
“Whoa, buddy. You need to just relax.” Marcus’ hand gripped his shoulder firmly, and that’s when Cooper realized he was growling, his anger apparently trying to escape so that his head didn’t explode.
Shrugging Marcus’ hand from his shoulder, he took a drink of his beer, hoping to clear his head before he lost it right there in Tessa’s bar. Hell, he’d already pissed her off, no need to make matters worse.
Cooper knew Marcus wouldn’t be able to hold out for long before he would start to talk, so he kept his mouth shut. He had nothing to say, so it really wasn’t a hardship. As far as he was concerned, Marcus’ trip was wasted, and if he were smart, he’d hop right back on a plane home as soon as possible.
“So, where’re you staying? We can head on over, get your things and then head on back to Nashville tonight. All of this forgotten.”
Cooper tipped an eyebrow, looking sideways at Marcus. Well, at least that confirmed his suspicion. The man didn’t listen to a single thing he told him. Ever. Not to mention he was a liar. If the paparazzi had found him, then Marcus knew exactly what was going on in Cooper’s life. So, for him to pretend he didn’t know Cooper had officially moved, seriously pissed him off.
“I’m quite content right here,” Cooper mumbled, hoping he sounded more disinterested than pissed off.
“Look, man,” Marcus began as he leaned in close. “I’ve lined up someone that you can talk to. They’ll be real discreet, and we can get you some help.”
“Some help?” Cooper asked incredulously, knocking his beer hard enough that it sloshed out of the glass mug and onto the bar top. Forcing himself to his feet, he peered down at Marcus.