“Absolutely positive. I don’t even have a condom on me. I have to check with you on something.”
“Like what?”
He took her by the shoulders and his gaze searched hers. “How would you feel if I played your song for Mandy and Zane’s first dance at the reception?”
Joy bubbled up inside her. “Bryce, that would be awesome.”
“You wouldn’t be upset because I wrote it for you and I’m playing it for them?”
“What kind of person thinks that way? Oh, wait. I know this one. Charity.”
“She would, but I had a feeling you would be okay with my doing it.”
“I’m ecstatic! Zane and Mandy will be so happy, but especially Zane because I’ve gathered how much he wants you to do this. Have you told them?”
“Not yet. I’m hoping to go over to Zane’s tomorrow and talk to him about it. I have to make sure I’m not mucking up any plans by throwing this into the mix at the last minute.”
“Doesn’t leave you much practice time, though.”
“I’ve been practicing every day. I didn’t know I would end up making this decision, but I love that song.”
Her throat tightened. “I love it, too.”
Someone knocked on the office door. “Bryce, you in there?”
“Be right out, Ryker!”
“Excellent, because we have a tortilla chip crisis going. You gotta have more but I can’t find any in the storeroom.”
“Hang on. I’ll be right out.” He gazed at her and lowered his voice. “If this works, I have you to thank, and I—”
Ryker pounded on the door. “The natives are restless, bro! They need their chips!”
Nicole grinned. “If it’s not Jimi, it’s Ryker.”
“You’ve got that right. Look, there’s very little chance I’ll make it over tonight.”
“But tomorrow night?”
“You’ve got it.”
“I’ll see you then. You’d better go out there before Ryker breaks down the door. And unlike Jimi, he could do it.”
Bryce waited until mid-morning to text Zane. The groom had consumed a lot of beer at his party. All the guys had except Ryker and Bryce, the designated drivers who’d taken them home. The vehicles would be sorted out sometime today.
Zane, stalwart fellow that he was, texted right back. He was in the flight cage exercising a female golden eagle and promised to wait for Bryce to show up. He gulped some more coffee and headed out.
Raptors Rise, Zane’s rehabilitation facility for birds of prey, had grown from the small operation it had been when Bryce had left for Texas to a sizable enterprise in just a few months, partly because the Whine and Cheese Club had adopted it as their official charity. Besides being experts at the old video games, those women knew how to raise money.
Thanks to their efforts, Zane had a new enclosure with twice the room for birds, basic medical equipment and a visitor center. He’d had the compound built in a clearing within walking distance of the house where he and Mandy lived. When he wasn’t working at the ranch, he was here caring for the birds. The guy didn’t have much downtime, but then, that was Zane—completely dedicated to Mandy, the ranch and his birds.
Bryce parked at the visitor center and set off down a wide dirt path to the flight cage. Having a chance to talk to Zane in private was a bonus he hadn’t counted on. He didn’t have a problem broaching the subject with Mandy there, but she’d been living in New York when Charity jilted him. She might not fully understand the issue the way Zane did.
Zane had been the one who’d gotten him roaring drunk on what was supposed to have been his wedding night. Without Zane, no telling how he would have made it through those ghastly hours. He’d spent them either howling at the moon or blubbering like a baby.
Bryce owed his big brother. Zane wouldn’t see it that way, but it was one more reason to man up and play at the guy’s wedding. It was only three days away, though, which was damned late to be altering the plans.
He reached the large structure Zane had built a couple of years ago with help from the Eagles Nest Co-op, their local utility company. They’d donated the poles to support the structure and Zane had bought the wire mesh. Getting the mesh up there had required a crane and a bucket, also provided by the Co-op. Every so often they loaned Zane the equipment so he could repair any holes.
A moveable perch sat midway between the two ends of the cage and a good-sized golden sat on it facing another perch at the far end. Zane stood just inside the screen door and watched. Bryce paused, too. The bird gathered herself and left the perch. Flapping wildly, she lost altitude, regained it, and sailed to the end of the cage for a safe landing.
Zane’s shoulders relaxed.
“Hey, bro.”
Turning, Zane smiled. “Hey, there.” He checked the eagle’s position before slipping out the door and latching it. “Thanks for bringing me home last night.”
“Happy to. How’re you feeling?”
“Mandy had some vitamins she made me take this morning and I ate a little, so I’m okay.” He scratched his bristly chin. “Decided to skip shaving until I feel steadier.”
“Good idea. Listen, I know you’re busy, so I’ll get right to it. I’ve written a new song, and I—”
“Get outta here!” Zane clapped him on the shoulder. “Congratulations, bro! I didn’t know you’d started back into it, but that’s great news. Really great. Can’t wait to hear it.”
“It’s a waltz.”
“Cool. I like waltzes. Mandy and I decided to use that old song Could I Have This Dance for our first dance as a married couple.”
Bryce’s chest tightened. His next words would obligate him. No going back after that. He took a breath. “Would you want to consider using my waltz, instead? The lyrics would fit.”
Zane stared at him. “You mean if you recorded it? Yeah, I’d love to, but do you have time to—”
“I meant me playing it live at the reception.”
“You’d do that?”
“Absolutely. You might want to hear it first, though. In case it’s not—”
“I don’t have to hear a single note of that song. If you wrote it, then it’ll be awesome and I…I can’t tell you what this means.” His voice grew husky. “I always pictured…”
“I know. I don’t—” He stopped to clear his throat. “I don’t trust myself to do it for the ceremony, but the reception is—”
“Perfect. Completely perfect. Let me get this bird back in her carrier and we can go tell Mandy. She’ll love it.”
“I hope so.”
“I have no doubt. The woman’s making her own wedding dress. She’s all about unique and meaningful. Having an original song by you for our first dance will thrill her to pieces.”
“Good. That’s good.” Anticipation fizzed in his veins. This was the right move and he had Nicole to thank for it.
Zane started toward the flight cage. Then he turned back. “I don’t know much about playing guitar but I’ve been around you enough to notice that there’s nothing instantaneous about it. When did you start working on this project?”
“About two and a half weeks ago.”
“That would put it right about the time Nicole started playing at the GG.”
“Correct.”
“And the picture clicks into focus.” He smiled. “It’s good to have you back, bro.”
Chapter Twenty-One
For the next two nights, Nicole was an audience of one while Bryce practiced Whenever I Waltz with You and then he’d listen while she performed Annie’s Song. By the wedding rehearsal on Friday afternoon, she was solid on her number and Bryce appeared confident about his.
The venue was courtesy of Jo. The condo she’d bought last spring had several amenities, including a spacious garden specifically designed for weddings and other celebratory events, and a lovely indoor space for the reception. Kendra had considered hosting everything at the ranch, but half the town was coming and she wasn’t set up for that man
y people.
Bryce’s relaxed behavior during the run-through warmed Nicole’s heart. When he walked her to her truck afterward, she told him so.
He smiled. “I wondered if any of it would bother me, but it didn’t.” He let out a breath. “What a relief that was. The way I’m feeling now, I probably could have played at the wedding.”
“Do you want to do Annie’s Song instead of me? I’m sure that would—”
“No, let’s not screw around with the plan at this stage. That’s not fair to Zane and Mandy. Besides, I love your version. And this was only the rehearsal. Maybe my old demons will pop up when it’s the real deal and I’m not taking that chance. The reception is the right place for me.”
“It’ll be awesome. I can’t wait. I wish it was tomorrow already.”
He laughed. “Not me. I have a party to go to at the GG and a terrific dance partner.”
“You’ll have time to dance with me?”
“You bet.” He opened her door. “In case you couldn’t tell, I’m having the time of my life.”
Happiness flooded through her. “Me, too.” She slid behind the wheel.
Leaning in through the open door, he gave her a quick kiss. “See you over there.”
The rehearsal dinner was about as crazy as Nicole had expected. Deidre talked the country band into playing Thriller, which turned into a funky mashup that everyone loved, especially Faith. Faith was turning into a dance-floor diva and Cody spent most of the night with his mouth hanging open in amazement.
As the manager of the establishment, Bryce had plenty to do, but he’d enlisted his troops—Mike, Jenny and Ellen. That left him time to dance—with her, his mother and his Aunt Jo. He wasn’t the only one who partnered with Kendra and Jo, either. All five McGavin brothers made sure those two spent plenty of time on the floor.
The evening went by quickly and before Nicole knew it, nearly everyone had said their goodbyes and headed out the door.
Bryce came over, truck keys in hand. “I’ve asked Mike to lock up, so whenever you’re ready, we can go.”
“You know what?” She stood and picked up her purse. “Let’s not take two vehicles. I’ll drive us over and bring you back here in the morning on my way to the condo complex. Would that work?”
“Sure.” He pocketed his keys.
Moments later they were on the road. “I have this idea,” she said. “I’ve been thinking about it all night.”
“I hope it’s the same idea I’ve been thinking about all night.” He reached over and squeezed her thigh.
She grinned. “I’ve been thinking about that all night, too, but this is about the Fender Strat.”
“Yeah?”
“How would you like a chance to play it now that your fingers are in better shape?”
“I’d love it, but first we’d have to buy amps, good ones, too. And even then, your house might not have the acoustics to do it justice.”
“No, but the GG does. And the band leaves its amps on stage, so if we took the Fender to the GG, we could hook it up to—”
“I thought you didn’t want to take it out of the house?”
“I’d take it out if that meant I could hear you play it.”
“Really?”
“Absolutely. It would be a thrill.”
“Wow. It would be way more than a thrill for me. To have the privilege of playing that instrument…what an incredible opportunity. I won’t sound like Hendrix, but I’d have a hell of time trying.”
“Excellent! Then we’ll do it. And afterward we could have rock star sex.”
He laughed as he opened his door. “We already have that. And I don’t know about you, but I’m in the mood for more of it.”
Suddenly, she was, too. Dropping the subject of the Fender, she hurried with him into the house, quickly fed Jimi and abandoned herself to lovemaking, Bryce McGavin style. Rock star sex couldn’t possibly be any better.
The next morning, they shared a light breakfast and he helped her load all her hairdressing supplies, a change of clothes and her guitar. She’d frozen a portion of Jimi’s food in one of his bowls and she took it out before they left.
Bryce glanced at the bowl. “Ingenious. I hadn’t thought about how you’d get him fed since we won’t be back until late.”
She liked the way he said we. “It’s a tip I found online. And it’s not like I could get anyone to just pop in and feed him.”
“True. Are we ready to go?”
“Almost.” She’d left off her lipstick on purpose. Cupping the back of his head, she pulled him down for a long, soulful kiss. She filled it with all the things left unsaid. Maybe, once the wedding was behind them, she’d tell him what was in her heart. Now was not the time.
Slowly she drew back.
His eyes were still closed. “Mm.” When he opened them his gaze held heat but something more, something deeper. “What was that for?”
“For luck.”
“I don’t need luck. I have you.” He gave her a soft smile. “Let’s go.”
Once they were on their way, she glanced over at him. “What are you and your brothers doing to get ready today? I mean, besides putting on your outfits.”
“Ryker and Zane are meeting with the photographer to finalize the timing of the group shots. While they’re doing that, the rest of us will inspect the venue and make sure everything’s set up and working.”
“Will you be the one checking the sound system?”
“Yes, ma’am. It’ll be perfect when you get up there. Everything will be. Ryker’s on top of the details, so for the most part we’ll spend the day keeping Zane calm.”
She laughed. “How will you do that?
“Oh, we’ll play some poker and tell some jokes. Really it’s just all being together that’ll do the trick.”
“Sounds nice.” She turned into the parking lot of the Guzzling Grizzly. It was empty except for Bryce’s truck and another one she didn’t recognize parked nearby. Why would someone be here? The GG was closed until tomorrow.
“It is nice. The older we get the more we appreciate—hang on. No, it can’t be.” There was a note of panic in his voice.
“What? What’s wrong?”
“That truck. Damned if it doesn’t look like…” He sucked in a breath. “It is. Shit.”
“Bryce?”
“Charity’s truck.”
Her heart slammed against her ribs. “Are you sure? Maybe it only looks—”
“That’s hers.” He swallowed. “Bumper sticker and all.”
Nicole glanced at the faded sticker. Save a horse. Ride a cowboy. Her stomach rolled. “What are you going to do?”
“Deal with it.” His chest heaved.
“Do you want me to…” She trailed off, not sure what to offer.
“No. My circus. My monkeys.”
“What?”
He opened his door. “You need to get going.”
“I won’t just leave you.”
He glanced at her. He looked dazed, as if someone had flashed a bright light in his face. “Go.” He climbed out.
“But—”
“Go.” And he closed the door.
A woman emerged from the truck. Shorter than Nicole. Boots, jeans, t-shirt. Good figure. Straight brown hair that hung to the middle of her back. Straw cowboy hat.
Bryce walked toward Charity, his body taut, as if braced for a blow. Nicole gripped the door handle. She couldn’t just leave. He needed backup.
If she stepped in, she’d be late. She’d cause stress for Mandy, who’d trusted her to be there.
Bryce stopped a few feet from Charity. She said something to him. He hesitated, and then with a stiff nod, he gestured toward the entrance to the GG.
Stomach tight, Nicole stayed in the truck as he unlocked the door and held it for Charity. So wrong. Like he’d invited a rattlesnake inside. On the worst of all possible days.
Charity couldn’t have known. Or maybe she did. She must have had some inside info or she wouldn’t
have parked her truck at the GG. Bryce hadn’t lived there a year ago.
Nicole gulped down panic. She wasn’t the right person to be his backup, but there was someone who would know what to do. She stepped on the gas.
Jo’s condo was a chaotic whirl of laughter and pop music. Dresses hung from the tops of open doors and bowls of snacks and cans of soda sat on every surface. Members of the bridal party were dressed in bathrobes, while the three Whine and Cheese ladies who weren’t in the ceremony bustled about with fresh drinks and makeup suggestions. Everyone greeted Nicole with enthusiasm and offers of food.
Where the hell was Kendra? Nicole managed a cheerful response as she scanned the room. “So Kendra’s not around?” She parked her small roller bag next to the couch.
“She’ll be here any minute,” Jo said. “She wanted to spend a little mother-son time with Zane. She just texted that she’s on her way.”
“Ah. Hey, I left something in my car. Be right back.” Jogging to the parking lot, she paced the area.
Charity had ambushed Bryce. There was no other word for it. And he’d looked like a deer in the headlights.
Did Charity still have power over him? Would he consider going back to her? Surely not. And yet…he’d loved Charity. Had planned to marry her. What if her reappearance brought those feelings back to the surface? Would he give her a second chance?
And what about his music? He’d worked so hard to rebuild his confidence, to reconnect with the joy of creating. Would Charity’s presence open the old wounds and destroy all that he’d accomplished?
When Kendra pulled in, Nicole hurried over to meet her.
“Hey, Nicole!” Kendra was all smiles as she climbed out of her truck. Then her expression changed. “What’s wrong?”
“Charity’s back.”
“What?”
She sucked in a breath. “When I dropped Bryce off at the GG, she was there.”
“What the hell?”
“I thought you should know.”
“Thank God you saw her there or neither of us would know!”
“He told me to leave. I didn’t want to, but he was insistent. I stayed long enough to see him invite her inside.”
“Of course he did. He’s not one to back away from a confrontation. And that woman is an expert at manipulating him. Damn. I hate this.” She gazed at Nicole. “He needs support. And I know the best person to give it.” She pulled out her phone.
A Cowboy's Heart (The McGavin Brothers Book 4) Page 17