Songbird Read Online Free PDF Page B

Which was
why he was always a day or two ahead of the tour.
    “Hello?”
    “Is this Obadiah Small?”
    “Yes. You must be Bianca, the Tour Manager.”
His voice was deep and missing the drawl of southern that was so
common in Tennessee. He obviously wasn’t from around here.
    “How’s Seattle?”
    “Wet. Prep’s done here. The girls are settled
into their rooms. Just waiting for y’all to show. Then I’ll head to
Portland.”
    “Wonderful. Keep me posted if any issues come
up.”
    “Sure thing.”
    Satisfied, I stuffed the phone away.
    Since I was here and the bus was here I
scoped out the living arrangements. I didn’t look forward to living
on a tour bus for the next three months no matter how great the
company. The luxury bus was complete with a full bathroom and
kitchenette. Deciding I wanted the bunk farthest from the
bathroom—because I had no doubt the private bedroom was
Nicholas’s—I went out to my car and got my two bags.
    Most of my thousand dollar signing bonus went
towards get the materials I needed for this trip, primarily
business suits and luggage. I bought very pink towels and
washcloths as well because I knew no self-respecting guy would use
them. I wasn’t taking chances on cleanliness on a tour bus with six
men.
    Thanks to my brother, knew how items went
missing with guys present. And this wasn’t only one. I was trapped
with four of them not counting the drivers. Dear God. I was about
to spend three months on the road with six men.
    I hung my wardrobe bag in the communal closet
and then settled my stuff into the lower bunk that happened to be
closest to the private bedroom as well. The lower bunk had drawers
for storage underneath and a little cupboard thing that my suitcase
fit into just right. I noticed the upper bunks had overhead storage
like airplanes.
    Just to make my claim on the bunk definite, I
tucked the stuffed bunny rabbit my great grandmother had made my
mother against the pillows. I was a little old for stuffed animals
but this one was older than I was. In a way, it was my good luck
charm.
    At quarter after seven I began to pace. None
of the band had shown up yet. I stepped off the bus and found Doug
and Charlie doing the bus check.
    “Do they always do this?” I asked and glared
at the garage entrance willing them to appear.
    “They have forty five minutes yet.” Doug
replied and looked up from his check list. “It’s Nicholas you
should worry about. He continuously misses departure time. Even for
planes.”
    An Escalade rolled in as I was about to go
back for my phone and fire off text messages. I stood and waited as
three guys piled out and grabbed a single suitcase each from the
back.
    “Thanks, Doris.” One of the guys bent in
through the driver window and kissed the woman behind the wheel
like he was going to war and may not come back, not on tour for
three months.
    One of the guys walked directly over to me,
dropped his bag and executed a crisp salute ruffling his honey
toned hair. “Reporting for duty, ma’am.”
    I couldn’t hold in the laughter as I saluted
back. “Which one are you?”
    His beautiful smile made his dark eyes
twinkle. “Arc.”
    “Archibald.” The guy not kissing the woman
stupid approached, scanning me over with guarded blue eyes.
    “You know I hate that, Maximilian .”
Arc picked up his bag. “Permission to come aboard.”
    “Granted,” I shook my head still laughing.
“Go.”
    “It’s Max.” He ran his hand through hair as
dark as mine before sticking it out to shake. “You must be Bianca.
It’s nice to officially meet you.”
    “Officially?” Arc turned from where he stood
with a foot in the first step of the bus. His eyes narrowed as he
looked over me.
    Max rolled his eyes. “Yes. Officially. Get
moving.” He swung his suitcase at Arc’s backside.
    “Hey, don’t damage the goods.”
    “Wrong side, idiot.”
    “My ass is my best asset.” Arc wriggled it
once and lurched forward in haste as the suitcase swung