Playing with my heart st.., p.28
Playing With My Heart Strings, page 28
I listen to the rest of Valerie’s performance and Baylor’s. The band must have worked with her on another song, because at the end of her set, she plays an original that has the crowd on their feet.
Then I go out, and I perform the concert of my life.
Valerie exits the stage, her dress flowing behind her as she waves to the audience and blows them kisses.
Our performance blew the fans away. Even Rob praised me in my earpiece.
But now it’s Baylor’s turn. She lifts her head high when she walks out, but I can see her hands shaking, even if the audience can’t.
When she stands next to me, I take her hand, giving it an encouraging squeeze. A little reminder that says, I’m here with you.
The band starts to play the first song. I take the first verse, singing the lyrics with my entire heart and every ounce of emotion in my body. Baylor looks at me with adoration in her eyes as we sing the chorus together, her harmonies mixing perfectly with my melodies.
But then the unthinkable happens—Baylor freezes, the words of the second verse catching in her throat.
Whispers float around in the crowd, none of them understanding what’s going on. The band wraps up the song, and she runs off the stage, a look of devastation painted across her features. I want to run after her, but I can’t. Not on live television.
I finish the show alone.
the confessionals
Dusty: I know what I have to do. It’s not going to be an easy choice, and I know that. I’m going to break peoples’ hearts tonight. And I don’t know how to feel about that.
Valerie: I’m nervous, I can’t deny that. But I’m confident in what we have.
Rob Acerra: If Dusty doesn’t choose Valerie tonight after that performance, we’re going to have an issue.
Baylor: As much as I want it to be me, I know it’s not going to be. It can’t be. From a career standpoint, it has to be Valerie. Tonight’s performance was proof of that. I know it, the viewers know it, his label knows it, Dusty knows it.
42
dusty
You and I, Together
“You need to choose Valerie. The musical connection you have with her is undeniable, Dusty. This is the best decision for you and for the label,” Rob barks at me backstage in the dressing room as I pace the floor.
It seems like that’s what everyone wants me to do. Even the producers are telling me that Valerie is the one.
“I trust you’ll make the right decision here, Dusty. That other girl completely froze on stage. What happens if she does that on tour? It’s unacceptable,” he chides, shaking his head while cracking his knuckles.
Mistakes happen. We all know that in this industry. There was a lot of pressure riding on tonight.
But I don’t say any of that.
“Don’t worry, Rob. I’ve got it all under control. I know the decision that I have to make,” I reply with finality in hopes that he’ll let it go and let me do what I need.
From the corner, Craig just dips his chin, a look in his eyes that says, Remember what we talked about.
We file out of the dressing room, down the hallway to the stage where my future awaits.
I close my eyes, taking a deep breath, before stepping out into the spotlights.
Baylor and Valerie wait on the left side of the stage, and Jarrod stands on the right.
“Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome back to the stage, your lead this season of Heart Strings, Dusty Wilder!”
Cheers echo off the walls, and fans hold various signs ranging from We Love Dusty to photos of my face.
“Well, my friend, this has been a wild ride of a season, hasn’t it?” Jarrod pats my shoulder.
I nod, clamping my lips together thinking about the drama that unfolded in the past ten weeks. “Sure has, Jarrod.”
“We’ve reached the end of the journey. You have two incredible women, two outstanding performers in front of you tonight. One of them will get to record an album and go on tour with you as a new country music duo. Not to mention, you’ll also perform on the legendary Grand Ole Opry stage.”
He pauses for dramatic effect, the audience clinging to every word. I look over to Valerie and Baylor. Valerie looks confident, as she should. Her performance tonight was electric and well deserving of a spot at Ace High Entertainment. I can tell Baylor is trying to hold in her emotions.
“The time has come, Dusty. Take a moment, because this is about to be the biggest decision of your career.”
Images of the last ten weeks flicker through my mind like a film reel. The first time I heard Valerie’s voice during the auditions. Our date at the farmers market and cooking together. Performing with her and realizing our musical capabilities complement each other perfectly. Introducing her to the label.
But then Baylor walking down the steps and matching my attitude during our first conversation flashes in my brain. The record store. Kissing her, exploring every inch of her body, learning how to make her fall apart under my fingertips. Aspen revealing her identity to the world, and Baylor making it up to me by writing a song with my band.
I know what I have to do.
“I’ve made my decision, Jarrod.” I take a deep breath, knowing what the label expects of me. What the production company expects of me. Hell, even what America expects of me.
“Who do you want to make music with, Dusty? Which of these ladies are you going to take on tour with you? Who did you form a connection with over the past couple months?” Jarrod asks, no doubt to raise tension and anticipation in the audience and anyone who is watching on TV, but what he doesn’t realize, is at the end of the day, it is about me.
Everyone expects me to do the right thing. To choose the girl that production has set up as a winner the past few weeks. The expectation has been made crystal clear.
The thing is, what Craig said is right. And I’ve hardly ever been one to follow other peoples’ expectations.
“I’m choosing…” I trail off to look at Valerie and Baylor.
Baylor is looking at the ground as if she knows it’s not her. Valerie’s looking at me. She’s classy. Kind. Confident.
A powerhouse of a performer. The perfect choice.
“Baylor.”
Gasps spread across the auditorium. I turn my head to the right wing of the stage, where Rob Acerra throws down his clipboard before stomping on it and snapping it in two.
But the world around me freezes when Baylor opens her mouth.
“What are you doing?” She rushes over to me as the producers lead Valerie off the stage. “Valerie, she was right there. You need—”
I lift a finger up to her lips. “As much as I tried last week, I can’t stop thinking about you. I haven’t stopped thinking about you since that first day of interviews when I couldn’t get my shit together and you were watching the whole thing. You’ve completely captured my attention, and there’s no one else, Baylor. You’re it for me.”
“But…why? Why would you choose me when the girl your label wants for you is right there?”
I grab her hands and look into her eyes. “Someone once told me she’s only ever done what others expected of her. What she thought other people wanted. She thought she had to prove herself to be worthy. Until she realized what she actually wanted and she went for it. Head first, no fear.
“You helped me see the light, Baylor. Hell, I came on this show because the label wanted me to, you know that. But coming here, to Heart Strings, led me to you. And now I’m taking matters into my own hands, and I’m doing what I want. Not what Rob Acerra or Ace High Entertainment or America wants. What I want. And what I want—who I want—is you.
“I never thought I’d find someone on this show who matches me so perfectly. You see me for who I am. Not the persona that I put on. Not the famous country singer. You don’t see Dusty Wilder, you just see Dusty. And I’ve fallen head over heels for you because of it. None of this matters if you’re not here by my side. They could take this all away tomorrow, and I wouldn’t care. Because it’s you. It’s always been you.”
“Dusty…”
“Let’s make this official, Baylor. You and I, together.”
Before I can say another word, she wraps her hands around my neck and crashes her lips to mine. I don’t care about the cameras, or Jarrod Stone, or anyone else at this moment. It’s just me and the girl I’ve somehow managed to fall madly in love with in ten weeks on a reality dating show.
When we finally break apart, she whispers, “I love you, Dusty Wilder.”
“I love you, too, Baylor. Let’s take on the world.”
On one of the biggest stages in country music, with the woman I know I’m meant to create music and start a life with, I can say with confidence that I’ve made it.
epilogue
Forever After All
baylor
one year later
“Nashville, you look gorgeous tonight!” Dusty greets the crowd when we walk on stage. “Thank you so much for coming out for the final night of the Playing With My Heart Strings tour. We couldn’t be more thankful to be ending our first tour in the city where it all began.” He looks at me with stars in his eyes.
It took us about four months to record our first album, by the same name as our tour. The first month with Ace High Entertainment was challenging, to say the least. Eventually, I won over many of the executives, even if Rob Acerra and I are still working on things. But I get the impression that he’s working on things with many of his artists, Dusty included. We’ve talked about leaving Ace High to start our own label with Craig, but that won’t happen until the tour ends.
Valerie was extended a record deal by both Ace High Entertainment and Six-String Entertainment after the show concluded. She ended up accepting the deal from the latter and is preparing to release her first album after her EP took the world by storm. We still get coffee sometimes when it matches up with our schedules.
Katherine went back home and is still a pediatric nurse, and Sage is in law school here in Nashville. Her goal is to break into music entertainment law so she can represent artists like Dusty who are mistreated by their labels. I’m not sure where Aspen is these days. They say that if someone isn’t meant to be in your life, you won’t see them around, and that’s proven to be true.
Colette was let go from her position as executive producer for Sparks Studio Productions—something about blackmail—and Alex got promoted. The first thing he did, of no shock to anyone, was abolish the no fraternization policy so he could officially announce his relationship with Daniella.
After the release of our album, Dusty and I took a trip to Denver. I sat down with my parents, and we had a long conversation about my feelings toward them and how I believed I was being treated. My mom cried. She didn’t realize I felt that way, and they reassured me they’re proud of whatever I choose to do in life. We’ve worked on repairing our relationship, and they’ve come to several of our shows. I can confidently say they’re my biggest fans.
The band begins to play our next song, breaking me out of my thoughts. It’s one that Dusty and I wrote together shortly after the finale aired, and I may be biased, but it’s one of my favorites on the new album.
He struts over to me, strumming his guitar in between verses, and when the second verse starts, he’s right there next to me, singing into the same microphone, our mouths mere breaths away from each other.
We feed off each other’s energy, working the stage with the band and getting the crowd invested. But during the last song of the night, our most upbeat song, Dusty falls to the ground, his back turned to me.
The band stops playing and I rush over to him as the crowd goes silent.
“Dusty, Dusty, are you okay?” I grab his shoulder.
“Mhm. Give me one second, okay?” he mumbles.
I back up to give him some space, but none of the other band members seem to be concerned. Dusty stirs, but instead of standing, he turns around on one knee, a blue velvet box in his hand.
“What are you—” I step toward him.
“Baylor, there are a lot of things in my life that I’ve been unsure about, but the one thing I’ve never had doubts about is you. Even when my brain was telling me to let you go, my heart was tugging me toward you. You make me a better man in every sense of the word. You push me, remind me who I am when I lose sight of myself, and you love me for me. You’re my greatest inspiration, my muse, and the love of my life. Will you, Baylor Leigh Sommerfeld, do me the greatest honor and marry me?”
Tears flood my eyes as he opens the box, revealing a diamond ring. I nod, kneeling on the ground with him as the word, “Yes,” falls from my lips. I cup his face in my hands and kiss him, even as the crowd starts cheering.
We stand, and he places the ring on my finger.
“She said yes, everybody!” he cries out, a laugh on the tip of his tongue.
After the concert, we stumble through the front door of our home, Dusty’s mouth on mine and our hands roaming each other’s bodies.
He pulls back for a moment dragging his gaze up and down my body. “Hi, fiancée.”
“Hey, fiancé.” I smile. “Baylor Wilder has a nice ring to it.”
“It does, doesn’t it?” He kisses my neck, walking us further into the house. “You were incredible tonight, but the only thing I want to hear you sing now is my name.”
A soft sigh escapes my lips, and my stomach flutters. “Make me yours, Dusty.”
His hands snake through my hair, tugging me closer to him as his tongue darts out, swiping across my lip. When I open my mouth to take a breath he deepens the kiss, our tongues tangling with one another.
“Where do you want to go, darlin’?”
“Anywhere. I’ll go anywhere with you.” I know it’s not the answer he wants, but it’s not a lie either.
Deciding for me, he lifts me up and my legs straddle his waist. He walks us up the stairs to our bedroom and gently sets me on the edge of the bed.
Dusty wastes no time removing my clothes, stripping me down to my bra and underwear. He touches my cheek with the back of his hand and drags it down. “I love you.”
“I love you, too,” I whisper.
He leans in to brush his lips over mine before slowly moving them down my body—down the front of my throat, across my collarbone, the top of my breasts. He unclasps my bra, letting it fall to the floor with the soft thud.
My head falls back when he swipes his tongue over my nipple before gently pinching it between his teeth, and heat pools between my legs.
“I need you,” I start to whimper, but I suck in a sharp breath when his fingers slip into my waistband and tease my clit. When he drags a finger down my center, he hums in approval then inserts one, curling it inside me. Pressure immediately builds in my core, and my breaths come out ragged and raw.
“I’ve hardly touched you, baby.” He grins.
“Yes, and I need you to fix that,” I huff.
In response, he pulls my underwear down to my ankles then lowers himself to his knees. Wetting his lips with his tongue, he adds a second finger, using his thumb to rub circles on my clit.
My hips buck up, flames licking at my toes, and I try to squeeze my legs together. Using his free hand, he spreads my legs and then latches his mouth to me. Dusty swirls his tongue over my clit then in one broad stroke, glides his tongue over my entrance. His fingers spread my pussy as he devours me.
My skin prickles at his touch, and my eyes roll back until I’m seeing stars.
After I come down from my high, I sit up.
“My turn. Get on the bed,” I order but then quickly stop him when he stands. “Wait. Clothes off first. This isn’t fair.”
“As you wish.” He laughs, tugging his shirt off in a fluid motion then dropping his jeans and briefs.
I push him onto the bed, crawling up to him. His cock is rock hard, and I reach for it, tugging on it a few times before lowering my mouth over the tip. My tongue flits over his head, over the salty drops of pre-cum. I sink down further, hollowing out my cheeks to take more of him.
He brushes my hair out of my face, holding it behind my ear as he watches me, soft groans escaping his lips every time his cock hits the back of my throat.
“Baylor, baby, I’m not going to last if you keep going,” he rasps, and for some reason, it only makes me want to do this more, to have his cum shoot down my throat.
I bob my head up and down faster, using my hands to pump his length in tandem with my mouth. When I look up, his eyes are shut, one hand clutching the bedsheets, the other on the back of my head to control the pace and push my head down further.
His dick pulses in my mouth, and I can tell he’s close so I keep going, letting him fuck my throat. Dusty’s breathing quickens and his body shudders as he comes. Swallowing his release, I sit up on my knees.
“How was that?” I ask.
“Amazing. Incredible. I can’t believe I get to have you for the rest of my life.” He grips his dick, stroking it to keep it hard. “I want to see you ride it, baby.”
I straddle his hips and, using my hand to guide him toward my entrance, sink down on him. We both inhale a breath as I adjust to his size, but then I start rocking my hips, creating friction between us. His hands find my waist and his hips buck up as I start to move up and down on him, skin slapping against skin in a steady rhythm.
Each time our bodies connect, it’s like I’m giving him a piece of my soul and gaining a part of his.
“Come for me, Bay,” he moans.
After a few more thrusts, an orgasm washes over me, my vision fading to black as I splinter around him, my pussy throbbing and his cock pulsing.
When we finish, he pulls me close to him, planting a kiss on my forehead as I lay my head on his chest.
Heart Strings brought me so many things. It gave me the confidence to go after what I’ve always wanted, some of the best friends in the world, and it gave me Dusty.
