Being a Star (Isn't Easy)
Chapter Four
"Nathan," hissed Chris, angrily. Nathan was going to lose them the job before
they'd ever really started it!
"It's alright, Chris. Nathan has the right to be called what he wants. So,
Mister Jackson it is." Ezra saw Nathan's eyes narrow at the emphasis that he
had put on the man's name.
A noise had them all turning toward the open door. Nathan's heart stopped for a
moment as he saw the most beautiful woman he had ever seen. She was milky-coffee
colored, with beautiful brown eyes, and dark hair that hung in curls to the
middle of her back.
"Sorry. Y'all having a meeting?" she asked as she stepped into the studio.
Ezra gave her a wide smile. "No. How was your trip?"
Rain hugged him, then gave J.D. and Josiah hugs, also. "It was great! I wish you
could've come, though. Mom and dad were disappointed, they'd love to see you."
"Sorry. I was busy, but I'll make sure to give them a call. Now, let me
introduce you to my new bodyguards."
Pointing to each in turn, he started. "Chris Larabee, Buck Wilmington, Vin
Tanner, and Nathan Jackson. This is Rain Richards." Ezra saw Nathan's eyes
narrow and a scowl appear on his face. He didn't have any idea what the man's
problem was, but it looked like Rain had noticed it also. She held Nathan's
eyes, not smiling, then looked away from him.
"I take it Casey and Inez aren't here yet," Rain stated.
"They're on their way, they called a little bit ago," J.D. piped up.
"What do you have on the agenda today, Ezra?," Chris asked, taking charge.
Ezra shrugged, "Not much really, I don't think. I'm going to be rehearsing for
my concert for a while. We'll probably just do that here, unless something
changes. Then, the rest of the day is free, right J.D.?"
"Yep," J.D. replied as looked at an open book. Chris assumed it was a planner.
"Alright, you need to give us your schedule, every week. That way we can plan
accordingly." Ezra just nodded. Chris faced Josiah and said, "Before I forget,
how exactly did you hear about us?"
"Oh, I know one of your past clients. Neil Roberts?"
Chris smiled, "Oh, I remember him. He had the blackmailer. He and his wife were
quite the characters." Neil Roberts had asked for their help in New York, he had
a blackmailer that had some pretty... racy... photos of him stripping at a club.
The thing was, Neil was a very prominent and influential man in the city. He
couldn't have his reputation ruined. But, even though the man had hired them, he
thought that he was a detective.
The man had kept getting involved in the case, frustrating all of them to no
end. Until his wife, knowing about everything that was going on, had sat Neil
down. She told him that he was either going to stay out of the investigation, or
she would hit him with a frying pan for every dollar that the blackmailer
wanted. Needless to say, he had let them do their job and the blackmailer had
been caught two days later.
Josiah laughed, "That they are!"
"I don't think I've ever seen a man shut up and do what he was told so fast!,"
laughed Buck.
"Well, that fryin' pan was mighty heavy," Vin said in his Texas drawl.
Ezra felt like sighing. He could listen to Vin's voice all day. And, he could
look at the man's body... those long legs... the lean frame... Ezra slightly
shook his head, not wanting anyone to figure out what he was thinking about.
'Get those thoughts out of your head right now, Ezra Standish!' he silently
scolded himself.