“Doesn’t matter. Seems to me he’s going to get double the air time. Our show—her show.”

Warner clenched his hands at his side in his chair.

Jeremy shook his head. “Show business, man. Nothing is fair.”

They were dismissed, but Warner didn’t like the way it all went down. Already there was a wall between him and the others. But what did it matter, right? Get his music out there and make it big, then he could treat Clara to the world. She deserved the world at her feet.

“Warner,” Jeremy called him back to his desk. “Don’t let them get to you. They know what kind of talent you have and their feelings are wearing on their sleeves.”

Warner nodded. “As long as this show doesn’t need me bad mouthing Patricia Little then we’re fine. She has her demons to live with and I have a career to build.”

A crooked grin formed on Jeremy’s mouth. “High road, huh?”

“Best one, I figure.”

“She bought out one of the leading record groups that we have looking at songs.”

Warner shrugged. “I figure you knew that going in and you still wanted me here.”

“I hold out that she’s one serious pain in the ass. I don’t like what she did to my show.”

“Then don’t make this one about her either. She’ll eat it up if you do.”

Jeremy nodded. “You’re right. By the way, your new wife has quite a talent of her own. Is that going to be a problem between you two?”

“Don’t see how it could be. She’s my partner in what we do.”

“What if she breaks into the industry sooner than you do? I mean she has been performing in Nashville since she was thirteen.”

Warner tucked his thumbs into his front pockets. “How many shows does this run? Ten?” Jeremy nodded. “I figure I’ve got one helluva shot. And if she’s lucky enough to get a shot too, all the better. But I know that she’s headed back to the theater next week to do what she loves to do. None of this,” he held up his hands as if the office encompassed all of Nashville, “comes second to my marriage.”

“I like your style, Warner. Regardless of the success of this show, I think you’re going to be just fine.”

“Been on my own most my life. It’s nice to have a partner to go home to when the lights that are forced on you are turned off.”

He left the office and headed for the studio. No matter what the man said, Warner still felt as though Jeremy Smith had hoped he’d roll over on Patricia Little. But if he was going to walk with the big boys in Nashville, he wasn’t going to do it by smearing her name. She was doing a fine job all by herself.

***

Clara had quickly showered and dressed as professionally as she could. Then she headed out the door toward Music Row.

As she parked she took in the ambiance which was one of the most famous areas in the nation. So much music was recorded in this area and so many artists walked the streets. Others walked them too, hoping someday they’d be recording music. She’d never given thought to being a recording artist. Truly she’d only thought she’d sing on the stage at her aunt’s theater. But singing on stage with Warner was a different feel. She loved the feeling of performing and the audience participating. And doing that with her husband was even better.

Husband. Oh how she loved that. She was Mrs. Warner Wright. Who would have thought that would have happened when he pulled up in that beat up truck and called out to her in the middle of the street?

Tom Wheeler was an impressive looking man with the perfect hair and an expensive suit. Handsome by most standards, but Ed had been right, had Clara married a suit she’d be miserable.

He stood as she approached the table. It was then that she realized he had been one of the people at the table with Savannah and Jeremy Smith when she and Warner performed the other night.

“I’m glad you could meet me on such short notice.”

“My pleasure,” Clara said sitting down across from the man.

He was easy at making small talk. They ordered their lunches and he had two more Jack and Cokes, but she’d assumed he’d already had a few.

She was half way through her lunch before Tom said, “Well, let’s get down to why I asked you to meet me.”

Good, she thought. It was time to represent Warner Wright. She smiled again, her husband.

“Jeremy had asked us to join him the other night when you and Mr. Wright performed.”

“Warner, my husband.”

Tom nodded. “I wasn’t sure that was the truth. So you did get married, huh?”

“We sure did.”

“Congratulations.”

“Thank you.”

He rubbed his chin and leaned in over the table. “This might make my proposition a little awkward.” He sat back and sipped the last of his drink. “He’s starting production on Jeremy’s TV show, correct?”

“Yes, today was their first meeting. I haven’t heard from him yet, but I assume he is still there.”

Tom nodded as though he knew for a fact where Warner was. “Savannah was very impressed with the music you performed the other night.”

“They were all originals from Warner.”

“He certainly has a way with words, doesn’t he?”

She thought about when she’d met him, it hadn’t seemed as though he could even form a sentence then, but he was a master with words. “He most certainly is.”

“He wouldn’t have a problem letting you perform them, would he? Especially since you’re married now.”

Clara dropped her hands to the napkin in her lap and gave it a little twist. “We performed his music just fine before we were married. I’m sure now that we are married we would perform the same music.”

“No,” he let out a little laugh. “I’m specifically saying I want you to perform his music.”

Clara nodded slowly. “Me? Just me?”

“Savannah really liked your style. She thinks you would be perfect for her. She’d like to have you open for some of her shows on her current tour.”

“Me?”

“Is there a problem?”

“Well, yes. No. I mean, I’m an actress.”

“Yes, and you’re an amazing vocal talent and she saw you performing on stage singing original material and she likes you.”