“Give me five minutes. I swear I just might have the ultimate surprise for you.”
“Oh, goddamn it, Fallon. You know I can’t resist a surprise.”
“You’re going to love this one!” She pulled on Liv’s hand, practically dragging her down the hallway toward the still-closed lounge. She punched in a code on the keypad alongside the doors and the locks released.
Over her shoulder, she told Liv, “Everything is done in here and ready for our weekend grand reopening.”
They stepped inside. Liv gasped.
“Holy hell. This is incredible!”
Liv took in the massive space. Stylish low-backed, tufted booths in a medium-gray, luxe suede upholstery. The walls were covered with square, textured, cultured stone in varying gray and blue hues and trimmed with gleaming wood at waist height and along the massive columns.
Fallon slid on the glowing uplighting in fiery colors that accented the decor. It was all very modern and chic, yet extremely intimate, despite the spaciousness. Booths were strategically clustered in the center and lined the nearest wall. Tables were scattered against the far wall of windows and doors overlooking the patio and the marina beyond. A gorgeous bar ran the length of one wall, glass shelves and fancy wine racks behind it.
Fallon clasped Liv’s shoulders and turned her to the opposite end of the facility. “What do you think of that?” she asked.
Liv’s jaw dropped.
Fallon grinned. “Pretty spectacular, right?”
“Jesus Christ,” Liv muttered. “That is one hell of a stage.”
It was L-shaped and filled the entire space on that side of the room. And sprawled before it was a huge dance floor. All perfectly polished and gleaming, as was the stage.
Fallon said, “My original plans called for half of that size for the stage and the dance floor. I wanted to put a second, smaller bar with some sofas around there. But the sofas and matching chairs will go outside to accompany the fire pits. I realized this whole area needed to be dedicated to live entertainment. Liv . . . this whole area could be dedicated to you.”
Liv’s gaze flashed to her. “What?”
“You can perform here whenever you’d like and we’ll pay you. A lot.” Her eyes widened for emphasis. “You can build your singing career here. In Bayfront, where you love being. Where Nate and Tristan are. Where your biggest fans are.”
“I’m—I—”
“You are the most talented person I know,” Fallon said with conviction and awe. “And the way you sparkled the other night . . . My God, Liv. It was so amazing to see you perform like that. I can’t remember the last time I saw you so happy—so electrifying! And you had everyone entranced, under your spell. It was so fucking fantastic to experience. So now I’m thinking . . . you really ought to be doing this every night.”
Tears suddenly sprang to Liv’s eyes. “Damn, Fallon . . . This is incredible.”
“I was streaming Ally McBeal when the idea of an in-house performer hit me—you know, like Vonda Shepherd’s character. Had I known you were giving up movies to join a band, I would have shared my vision with you sooner.”
“Unbelievable,” Liv muttered. “But . . . I don’t know, Fallon. My management team has laid so much groundwork on the east coast and I have to make a decision on a band by next Monday. I’ve been gearing up for this for some time. I can’t afford a break in momentum to—”
“Why don’t you just give it a try on Friday night? The rehearsal dinner is here. You can invite and Ev and Defiant to perform with you. Get a feel for the stage and the crowd so you can take into consideration what you might be leaving behind.”
Fallon’s imploring look tightened Liv’s throat.
Fallon wasn’t just urging her to think of her Bayfront fans, but also her friends and how her absence always affected them.
Most importantly, she knew Fallon was beseeching her not to walk away from Nate and Tristan . . .
Chapter Eleven
The Ariana was missing from the cove when Liv threw her drapes back on Tuesday morning. In just a little over a week, she’d grown accustomed to seeing the ship. Had gotten a jolt of excitement over knowing Nate and Tristan were as close as a quick boat ride across the harbor.
Now, a distinct sadness—loneliness—crept in on her that they weren’t in Bayfront. They were out of her reach once again.
That prompted her to give Fallon’s request a shot. She contacted Ev, and while the band had a weekend festival gig confirmed, they were available Friday night.
Liv chose to take that as a sign. She was in desperate need of some positive ones these days.