by LuAnn McLane
“What?” Jeff said, wishing he’d quit saying that. “I mean, she barely touched me.”
“She sure as hell did.” Colin chuckled. “I started to know when it was going to happen. She would kind of hesitate just before she dropped the pick or touched your arm like she was nervous. It was pretty cute, actually. I was getting such a charge out of watching your reaction.”
“I don’t think you’re quite as smart as you think you are.”
Colin shrugged. “Believe what you want, but years of cocktail lounges and playing bars has me pretty damned astute when it comes to this shit. I could write a book.” He rubbed the dark stubble shadowing his chin. “Maybe I will.”
Jeff looked at Colin to try to figure out whether he was joking or not. “Are you kidding?”
“No, I truly think I have enough material to write a book. Each chapter would start with a cheesy pickup line.”
“I mean about Cat. Do you really think she was trying to get to me?”
“Hell yeah.”
“Then what do I do?” Jeff glanced at the hallway, thinking she’d be back soon.
“What do you want to do? Be honest. Do you really want to be her so-called friend?”
“Well … no. It’s just that—”
“Shut the hell up with all those lame-ass excuses. Look, for the record, Snake and I aren’t as opposed to the possibility of working with Cat as Jax and Sam.”
“So you’ve talked about it?” Jeff shoved his hands into his jeans pockets and tried not to feel as if they were talking about him behind his back. When Colin hesitated, Jeff shook his head. “Meaning, you argued about it. Am I right?”
“Kinda.” Colin inhaled a deep breath. “Look, other than you, I’m the only one who stayed as connected to music. I might not have gone to Nashville, but I’m making a living singing and I know that even in a small market it’s competitive. I’m not opposed to trying new things and not stubbornly digging my heels in about song choices. I won’t ever suggest that we do something just to get a hit record, but I’m not opposed to doing something that doesn’t sound like classic country. As far as I’m concerned it’s okay to mix it up a bit. Look, if this song is a hit, and Rick and Maria think that marketing you and Cat as a duo is the smart thing to do, then why the hell not? We would still be your band and still be South Street Riot. I don’t get what the big deal is, Jeff. I really don’t.”
“But the rest of the guys do think it’s a big deal. I can’t break up the band because of something I decide to do. This is a group effort. We are a team and decide things together. Don’t you see? It’s already an issue. We’re already divided and it will only get worse.”
“Jeff, she’s not like Yoko Ono. I think it could be fun to have her around and see how she fits in.”
Jeff shook his head. “No. No way. I agreed to do this song and that’s it. Period.”
Colin looked ready to argue but then shrugged. “I think at this point just see where this song goes. But don’t be so closed-minded.”
“Colin, our dream is to open for a big name, specifically Shane McCray. That’s the path we are on. We have a manager now and Christy told me just this morning that she’s getting some interest from Shane’s people. Colin, the man is my idol. For us to open for him would be a dream come true. And he is totally old school. He likes our classic sound. Christy said so and that’s one of the reasons we’re high on the list to open for him. This duet is something that’s crossover. I just don’t want to get stuck there permanently or screw this up. It’s our dream on the line here.”
“Shane McCray is an icon. But he’s going to retire after this tour.”
“Even more reason to open for him now. But we need another hit record to be fully considered.” Jeff tapped his chest. “Us … not a duet with Cat Carson.” He sighed. “I’m just afraid that we are going to go in a direction we don’t want and then lose ourselves in the process. It’s the very last thing I want to do.”
“Just chill, Jeff. First of all, this is just one song. Plenty of artists are doing this nowadays. Big stars. Have some fun with this and don’t worry about the future, okay? I swear, sometimes you take overthinking to a whole new level.”
“I guess.”
“But I have to throw this one last thing out there.”
“Am I gonna want to hear this?” Jeff gave Colin a level look. “Lay it on me.”
Colin laughed while he checked the chords a final time. “Like I said, Cat was using everything she could pull out of her arsenal to get your attention. And it worked. That last time she bent over, you about slid off your stool.”
Jeff stood up and stretched his arms over his head. “No, you don’t get it. She drops things and does stuff like that all the time. I think you’re wrong.”
“Bullshit. She was trying to turn you inside out and it worked like a charm.”
“Your point?”
“My point is that both of you want the same thing but the other one doesn’t know it. It’s pretty comical actually but also damned stupid on both your parts.”
“I think the radar that you believe you possess is way the hell off.”
Colin shook his head. “Granted, I gotta admit that I’m wrong about a lot of things, but this isn’t one of ’em.”
Jeff adjusted the mic and then looked at Colin. “For the sake of argument, let’s assume you’re right. What do you suggest I do about the situation?”
“It’s pretty simple,” Colin advised with a grin. “Give it right back and then some.”
Before Jeff could ask Colin exactly what he was supposed to do, Pete Sully came walking his way and handed him a couple of bottles of water. “Thanks, Pete.” Jeff unscrewed one bottle and took a healthy swig.
“If you want anything else or something stronger, just let me know and I’ll get it.” He slapped Jeff on the back. “You ready for this?”
“What do you mean?” Jeff asked.
“There’s a huge crowd waiting to get in and this was by word of mouth. Lucky for me I just hired a new kick-ass bartender and another shot girl. I’m gonna have to turn a lot of people away. I probably should have moved this outside to the big stage, but Maria wanted it to be a more intimate setting where she could gauge the reaction of listeners.”
“I’ll set up speakers so people can at least hear you outside,” Colin offered. “And it would be pretty easy to get the performance up on the big-screen television.”
“Great idea,” Pete said and smiled when Maria and Cat headed up to the stage.
“The parking lot is packed,” Maria said. “Luckily, Rick and Maggie have already arrived.”
“I’ll make sure your family gets in and gets a seat, Jeff. I’ve got a table reserved for them,” Pete promised.
“Thanks. This is a big night for them. My mom would have a meltdown if she couldn’t get in.”
“No worries. I’m gonna open the doors in a couple of minutes. Y’all ready?”
Jeff looked at Cat and she nodded. “Bring it on!”
15
In My Life
“SORRY. WE’RE AT CAPACITY,” PETE CALLED TO THE CROWD waiting outside of Sully’s. When a huge collective groan erupted, he held up both hands. “We’re going to pipe the music out here, so if y’all head over to the lawn near the outdoor stage we’ll bring out tubs of beer and we’re trying to get the big television screen up and running,” he said and was rewarded with a cheer. “Do you think we can get Cat and Jeff to come back by popular demand?” he asked and then cupped his hand to his ear and waited for the wild cheering to begin. He pointed to the outdoor arena. “Next time we’ll do it up right and use the stage.” When the applause and whistles died down, he gave a wave and then headed back inside.
Pete paused to greet patrons as he weaved his way through the beehive of activity. He saw Clint hurrying back and forth getting tubs of beer on ice to sell outside. Colin had managed to get a camera set up so the giant screen would broadcast the show. Knowing they would have a rambunctio
us crowd, Pete had all of his employees working, but they were still having a tough time keeping up with the demand.
Pete peeked inside the kitchen to see the cooks working at lightning speed. But in spite of the barely controlled chaos, laughter rose above the clanking of dishes and shouting of orders. Just the week before Pete had to post job openings in the want ads; after the lean years during the recession, it did his heart good to see his bar thriving and people working. But most of all he enjoyed seeing so many friends out there having a good time. Residents of Cricket Creek worked hard and played hard.
“How you doin’, Angie?” Pete asked the cute head bartender he’d recently hired. Angie Wiseman could make a lemon drop martini with perfect precision and her Long Islands were even better than he could mix. And she did it all with a confident flourish.
“I’ve got everything under control, boss man,” Angie said with a quick grin. “Jodi and Kristin are working their tails off getting the beer tubs filled.”
“The new girls, right?” Pete was trying to let go of having to be everywhere and let his able-bodied employees do their jobs. “Are they gonna work out, you think?”
Angie nodded. “Jodi is a little bit shy but a hard worker. And Kristin has some experience, so she’s good to go. I trained them earlier and they are both going to work out fine. But hey, if you can round anybody else up, even for just tonight, I’ll put them to work. It’s going to get crazy in here, but I’ll keep it under control.”
“I’ll try to round some extras up,” he promised Angie.
“Thanks, boss.” Angie gave him a wink and went back to work.
“Hey there, baby face,” shouted Noah Falcon, founder of the Cricket Cougars baseball team and the pride of Cricket Creek. He clamped a hand on Pete’s shoulder. “Sully’s is hopping tonight.”
“This is how we roll,” Pete said with a grin and then reached up to rub the beard that no longer graced his cheeks.
“I love it!” Noah said. “Hey, if you need help behind the bar, just let me know and I’ll jump right in.”
“Actually, I’ll take you up on that,” Pete said. “At least until the show starts. Angie will tell you what needs to be done.”
“Hey there, baby face, quit your chatter and get your tail over here,” called Mia, who had stepped in to help out as long as she could have a tip jar set up for Heels for Meals, and of course Pete gladly obliged. “Can’t you see we’re busy?” she asked with a grin. He watched her open beer bottles with agility and then tucked the opener in the back pocket of her jeans like a pro.
“I’m comin’!” Pete hurried behind the bar and started sliding cold longnecks into outstretched hands. “You sure are getting good at this,” he told Mia, and she nodded firmly.
“Much better than my days as a server at Wine and Diner,” Mia said.
Pete laughed. “You mean your day as a server? When Cam had to come to your rescue and ended up getting in a fight, nearly getting him kicked off the baseball team?”
“Details, details,” Mia said and laughed. She rang the bell when she received a big tip. “I just love doing that.”
“Hopefully you’ll be doing that all night long,” Noah commented.
“Well, then work some of your charm, Noah. I want that tip jar filled to the brim.”
“I’ll try,” Noah promised with a grin.
Pete shook his head when he spotted Ava, Clint’s fiancée, tying on an apron. “Ava, sweetie, you’ve worked at the toy store all day long. Have a seat and enjoy the show,” Pete said, knowing full well that Ava would have none of it. Having grown up on a farm, she was no stranger to long days and hard work.
“I can watch while I help out,” Ava insisted with an easy smile. She pulled her long chestnut hair up into a bun. “My bartending skills are somewhat lacking, but I can pitch in and bus tables,” she offered.
Knowing it was pointless to argue Pete went over and gave Ava a kiss on the cheek. The fact that she and Clint rekindled their high school romance made his heart sing. “Thank you, sweetie.”
“No problem,” Ava answered and went to work.
Pete looked over to where Maria was sitting with Rick and Maggie and he felt a stab of longing. Maria laughed at something Maggie said, causing her rich brown hair to fall forward and caress her cheeks.
How in the hell had he ever been stupid enough to let her go?
As if feeling his gaze upon her, Maria turned her head and their eyes met. She smiled and then stood up and walked his way. Pete stood there and watched Maria weave through the crowd until Mia nudged his arm to give a customer the forgotten beer Pete held in his hand. “Oh … right.”
Mia winked, letting Pete know she was aware of the reason for his distraction.
When Maria got close to the bar, she crooked her finger for him to come over to her. “I’ll be right back.” He wondered whether Maria knew that was all it took for him to follow her anywhere. Pete pointed to the hallway leading to the offices, where it would be less rowdy and he could hear her talk. A moment later he met her there.
“Everything all right?” Pete asked and wondered what Maria would do if he pushed her up against the exposed brick wall and kissed her. He looked at her lips, glossed with something rosy, and nearly groaned. He wanted to taste her mouth, feel her body crushed to his.
“Yes, everything is okay. I wanted you to know that we’re delaying for a few minutes until the crowd gets settled and to also create some additional buzz before Jeff and Cat make their entrance.”
“I think you’ve got that in spades,” Pete observed. He looked down and was startled to see that she wore a pair of red cowboy boots like the ones he’d bought her for her birthday many years earlier. “Are those”—he swallowed emotion and had to clear his throat—“the boots I gave you?”
“I have dozens, and these are still my favorite,” Maria admitted with a soft smile, but then seemed a little bit rattled and glanced away.
“Your thirtieth and you were having such a hard time of it. I wanted you to know you looked so damned sexy in those ruby red boots.” He paused, then said, “You still do.”
“Why thank you, Pete,” Maria said, and Pete could swear she was blushing. He didn’t think that she fully understood how truly gorgeous she was—especially to him. In his eyes no other woman held a candle to her … and never would.
After a deep breath she said, “By the way, setting up the speakers and television screen was genius. It gives me the atmosphere I wanted in here but we are reaching a much bigger audience.” She reached over and put a hand lightly on his arm. “Perfect.”
Maria’s touch, however slight, was more than Pete could take. He reached forward and drew her into his arms. Pete steeled himself for rejection, prepared for a shove at his chest, but when she wound her arms around his neck and tilted her face up, Pete was floored at her silent invitation… .
And he gladly accepted it.
Lowering his head, Pete pressed his mouth to her soft lips and it was like coming home after a long time away. He coaxed her mouth open and kissed her deeply with all the pent-up longing he’d felt since she’d walked into the bar. Hell, make that since she’d walked back into his life. He drank her in, molded her body to his, and kissed her like there was no tomorrow.
But there was tomorrow and he intended to have this amazing woman back in his life for good, come hell or high water.
Pete finally pulled back and looked down at her. “You don’t know how long I’ve wanted to do that, Maria.”
“About as long as I’ve wanted you to do it, I imagine.”
Pete’s heart pounded. The noise in the bar seemed to fade away because he could focus only on the only woman in the world he’d ever loved. He gently tucked a lock of her hair behind her ear, pausing to rub the silky strands between his fingers. “Come back into my life.”
She closed her eyes and pressed her lips together.
“I love you, Maria. I’ve never stopped loving you.” He cupped her chin and tilted her
face up so he could look into her eyes. “Or missing you. I was a fool to let you go. I should have followed—”
Maria reached up and put a fingertip to his lips. “We can’t go back, Pete.” She tilted her head toward the bar. “It’s hopping out there. Just listen to the laughter and soon the air will be filled with sweet music. Sully’s Tavern is part of this town. It’s been the place where people come to forget about their problems, the stress of everyday life. Had you shut this bar down and moved with me to Nashville, Cricket Creek residents would have missed this place.”
Pete shrugged. “Someone would have bought it.”
“It wouldn’t have been the same,” she insisted with a shake of her head. “You make people feel welcome. Anyone else owning this place … well, it would just somehow be … wrong. I know that now. I guess I knew it then, but I didn’t want to admit it.”
“It’s just a bar.”
“No, Pete, it’s much more than that.” She put her palms on his chest and rubbed back and forth. “I didn’t need to dig in my heels. We were both so stubborn, wanting our way.”
“No, I should have supported your dream. I was dead-ass wrong and totally selfish.”
“I won’t argue that point,” Maria said with a small smile.
“Looking back, I think I was so afraid that your success at songwriting would change us … maybe change you and that you’d leave me for someone better. Funny that what I feared most happened anyway.”
“I never really wanted fame or to get rich.” Maria fisted her hands in his shirt. “I only wanted to help. And, Pete, music is in my blood. Part of who I am. I should have made it clear, talked to you instead of getting angry. You simply didn’t understand. Ah, we broke each other’s hearts, Pete. You weren’t the only one at fault. Stubborn, foolish pride tore us apart.”
“Can we pick up the pieces?” He ran a fingertip down her cheek and held his breath, waiting for her answer. She hadn’t said she loved him still, but he could wait until she was ready.
“No,” she replied, and disappointment slammed him in the gut like a sledge hammer. But when he started to pull his hand away, she reached up and held her hand to her cheek. “We need to sweep away the pieces of our broken hearts.”