Perfect.”
Cat inhaled a deep breath and nodded. “I’m not disagreeing with you, but I had a conversation with Jeff about how we’re both taking control of our careers. I just don’t see him agreeing to do something with me.”
“Well, would
you
do it?”
Cat swallowed hard. “You mean one song, right?”
Maria nodded. “Yes,” she said, but in reality she could already hear their voices blending in her head. They were both such talented artists but Maria thought they could be amazing together. And country music was hungry for duos. And judging from the reaction Cat had from meeting Jeff, Maria had a pretty good vibe that there was some chemistry there. She smiled. “So let me get this straight. You’re willing, right?”
“Sure, why not?” Cat said with a slight lift of her chin. “Bring it on.”
5
We Can Work It Out
F EELING A BIT OF APPREHENSION AT BEING SUMMONED to Rick Ruleman’s office at My Way Records, Jeff rolled his shoulders to get the kinks out. His new single, “Second Chances,” refused to budge on the
Billboard
charts, and after the success of “Outta My Mind with Lovin’ You,” the sluggish sales felt like a huge letdown. He suspected that Rick and Maria felt the same way. After inhaling deeply, Jeff raised his fist and rapped on the door.
“Come on in,” Rick called out in his raspy voice.
Jeff opened the door and stepped inside the spacious office, which smelled pleasantly of leather and furniture polish.
“Hey, Jeff, have a seat.” Rick pointed to the chair from his red leather chair behind a huge mahogany desk.
“Hello, Mr. Ruleman.” Jeff nodded at Maria Sully, who sat in a smaller chair bedside the desk. “Ms. Sully.”
“I keep telling you not to be so formal. I think we both feel old enough as it is,” Rick protested with a grin. “Right, Maria?”
“Rick, it’s part of his Southern upbringing. My son, Clint, is the same way. But that being said, I do prefer Maria—and whatever you do, don’t call me ma’am. Now
that
does make me feel ancient.”
“’Nuf said. Just don’t tell my mama.” Jeff raised both hands in surrender. They were both smiling so he felt his tense muscles relax. “Let me start again. Hey, Rick and Maria.”
“Ah, now that’s more like it.” Once a hard-core rocker with long spiked hair and a beard, Rick Ruleman now sported a short haircut and clean-shaven face. The only thing giving away his past were the tattoos peeking out from his rolled-up sleeves.
Jeff sat down, crossed his ankle over his knee, and waited.
“You’re probably wondering what this is all about.” Rick looked across his desk at him.
Jeff nodded.
“Well, we have an idea,” Rick announced and then glanced over at Maria. “Why don’t you elaborate?”
Jeff felt another twinge of nerves and had trouble not fidgeting in his chair.
“Sure.” Maria shot Jeff a friendly but businesslike smile that reminded him of when his mother would
ask
him to do something but really meant he
had
to do it. “We think that it would be an excellent idea for you and Cat Carson to sing a duet. With your slow Southern style and Cat’s sultry voice, your voices will blend well together.”
Jeff glanced at Rick, who added, “And from a business standpoint her popularity will boost record sales.”
“But Cat’s fan base and mine aren’t the same,” Jeff pointed out.
“Exactly.” Rick nodded. “This would benefit you both. Kind of like Taylor Swift and Tim McGraw, but you two have the added benefit of being around the same age so you could include some chemistry onstage and maybe in a music video.”
A music video? Jeff felt unease wash over him and this time he did shift in his chair. “Look, I get where you’re going with this and I really appreciate the effort you’re putting into marketing my music, but I just don’t feel like this is right for me . . . or my band. Cat just won’t fit in.” He swallowed and added, “And I have to tell you that
Cat inhaled a deep breath and nodded. “I’m not disagreeing with you, but I had a conversation with Jeff about how we’re both taking control of our careers. I just don’t see him agreeing to do something with me.”
“Well, would
you
do it?”
Cat swallowed hard. “You mean one song, right?”
Maria nodded. “Yes,” she said, but in reality she could already hear their voices blending in her head. They were both such talented artists but Maria thought they could be amazing together. And country music was hungry for duos. And judging from the reaction Cat had from meeting Jeff, Maria had a pretty good vibe that there was some chemistry there. She smiled. “So let me get this straight. You’re willing, right?”
“Sure, why not?” Cat said with a slight lift of her chin. “Bring it on.”
5
We Can Work It Out
F EELING A BIT OF APPREHENSION AT BEING SUMMONED to Rick Ruleman’s office at My Way Records, Jeff rolled his shoulders to get the kinks out. His new single, “Second Chances,” refused to budge on the
Billboard
charts, and after the success of “Outta My Mind with Lovin’ You,” the sluggish sales felt like a huge letdown. He suspected that Rick and Maria felt the same way. After inhaling deeply, Jeff raised his fist and rapped on the door.
“Come on in,” Rick called out in his raspy voice.
Jeff opened the door and stepped inside the spacious office, which smelled pleasantly of leather and furniture polish.
“Hey, Jeff, have a seat.” Rick pointed to the chair from his red leather chair behind a huge mahogany desk.
“Hello, Mr. Ruleman.” Jeff nodded at Maria Sully, who sat in a smaller chair bedside the desk. “Ms. Sully.”
“I keep telling you not to be so formal. I think we both feel old enough as it is,” Rick protested with a grin. “Right, Maria?”
“Rick, it’s part of his Southern upbringing. My son, Clint, is the same way. But that being said, I do prefer Maria—and whatever you do, don’t call me ma’am. Now
that
does make me feel ancient.”
“’Nuf said. Just don’t tell my mama.” Jeff raised both hands in surrender. They were both smiling so he felt his tense muscles relax. “Let me start again. Hey, Rick and Maria.”
“Ah, now that’s more like it.” Once a hard-core rocker with long spiked hair and a beard, Rick Ruleman now sported a short haircut and clean-shaven face. The only thing giving away his past were the tattoos peeking out from his rolled-up sleeves.
Jeff sat down, crossed his ankle over his knee, and waited.
“You’re probably wondering what this is all about.” Rick looked across his desk at him.
Jeff nodded.
“Well, we have an idea,” Rick announced and then glanced over at Maria. “Why don’t you elaborate?”
Jeff felt another twinge of nerves and had trouble not fidgeting in his chair.
“Sure.” Maria shot Jeff a friendly but businesslike smile that reminded him of when his mother would
ask
him to do something but really meant he
had
to do it. “We think that it would be an excellent idea for you and Cat Carson to sing a duet. With your slow Southern style and Cat’s sultry voice, your voices will blend well together.”
Jeff glanced at Rick, who added, “And from a business standpoint her popularity will boost record sales.”
“But Cat’s fan base and mine aren’t the same,” Jeff pointed out.
“Exactly.” Rick nodded. “This would benefit you both. Kind of like Taylor Swift and Tim McGraw, but you two have the added benefit of being around the same age so you could include some chemistry onstage and maybe in a music video.”
A music video? Jeff felt unease wash over him and this time he did shift in his chair. “Look, I get where you’re going with this and I really appreciate the effort you’re putting into marketing my music, but I just don’t feel like this is right for me . . . or my band. Cat just won’t fit in.” He swallowed and added, “And I have to tell you that
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