by Cora Brent
Since The Hole was a country bar, Creed then launched into some Tim McGraw and Garth Brooks songs. As I listened to him and noticed the appreciative silence of the crowd, I began to relax. His set only lasted twenty minutes, but as he ended the last note the audience erupted in wild applause. Cord pumped his fist jubilantly and Chase hooted so loudly he hurt my ears.
Men and women alike patted Creed on the back as he made his way over to us. His eyes were focused only on me though. He absently handed Chase his guitar and picked me up, kissing me urgently before doing anything else.
“Because of you,” he whispered as he set me back down. I couldn’t ask him right away what he’d meant by that because Cord and Chase were grabbing him in brotherly bear hugs.
“I knew you’d be wonderful!” Saylor squealed as she took a turn hugging him.
Brayden and Millie offered their congratulations and we all moved to the back so we could hear one another a little better. Creedence held my hand and I watched him as he talked to his brothers and our friends. I’d never seen him smile so much.
Soon Saylor started yawning and leaned against Cord’s shoulder.
“You tired, honey?” he asked, brushing a lock of brown hair from her forehead.
She yawned again. “Afraid I’ve got no stamina these days.” She patted her belly. “It’s hard work growing a human.”
Cord nodded to Chase. “Are you staying out tonight?”
Chase looked around. A few pretty college girls looked back at him. “Nah,” he shook his head. “Think I’ll head home with you guys.”
Millie wanted Brayden to take her out dancing.
He grimaced, looking very much like his cousin. “I hate dancing.”
Millie batted her eyelashes. “But you love me.”
Brayden grumbled but relented. He shook Creed’s hand one more time and escorted his girlfriend out.
Saylor yawned some more and Cord nudged Chase to tell him they needed to get going. Creed kept his arm around me as we walked out with the boys and Saylor.
“How about you?” he murmured in my ear as we waved goodbye to the others. “What does Miss Truly Lee want to do?”
I leaned into the warmth of his hard chest. Being close to him never failed to thrill me. Almost immediately I felt how he responded my touch.
“A private concert?” I asked, touching the guitar in his hand.
We ended up driving to Tempe Town Lake again. A slight autumn chill was in the air as Creed led me over to a bench.
“You know The Beatles?” he asked, strumming his guitar lightly.
“Not personally.”
Creed flashed me a look and I laughed. “I know The Beatles.”
“All right. I’m gonna start and I want you to join in when you know what song it is.”
“You want me to sing with you?”
“Yes. I know damn well you know how so don’t try to tell me otherwise.”
Creed began singing and I immediately realized the name of the song. He raised his eyebrows at me when I hesitated joining. Finally at the end of the first stanza I began singing along to the poignant lyrics of ‘Let It Be’.
When the last note faded he gave me a heartbreaking Creedence Gentry grin.
“It is, you know,” he said. I must have looked confused. He seemed a little embarrassed as he explained. “It’s because of you.”
I took his hand. “What, honey?”
He held me close. “I never let anyone in before. I always had the boys but that was it. I didn’t think I had it in me to really be with a woman. And I sure as hell wasn’t making any plans on getting up on a stage no matter how much the rest of them begged. You changed my mind about all of it, Truly.”
I smiled. “You make it sound like I was doing you a favor.” He was staring at me intently. I put my hand on his knee, just needing to touch him more. “Creedence, I couldn’t admit to myself how much I’d given up until you came along. One too many times I’d been a gaping wound and I wasn’t planning on risking that misery again.” I took a deep breath. “I love you, Creed. No, don’t say anything,” I begged, brushing my fingers across his lips when he started to talk.
He grabbed my hand, slightly irritated. “You can’t stop me.” Then he took my other hand, holding me in such a way that I couldn’t retreat from him. His voice was thick with emotion. “You damn well better listen when I tell you this; I love you.”
I breathed a sigh of pure bliss. Whoever claimed that words were nothing next to actions never heard the ones ‘I love you’ spoken to them. Creed loosened his grip on me and I moved closer to him.
“Then take me home, Creedence. Take me home and dance with me.”
He was already pulling me off the bench, eager to oblige. “All night long, baby. All night long.”
Thank you for reading!
I hope you enjoyed Book 2 in the Gentry Boys series. I dearly love to hear from readers so please feel free to contact me:
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BOOKS BY CORA BRENT
GENTRY BOYS
DRAW
RISK
GAME (Fall 2014)
DEFIANT MC
Know Me: A Novella
Promise Me
Remember Me
Reckless Point
‘RISK’ Playlist
“Bad Moon Rising” – Creedence Clearwater Revival
“Behind Blue Eyes” – The Who
“Friends in Low Places” – Garth Brooks
“Long As I Can See the Light” – Creedence Clearwater Revival
“Stay With Me” – Sam Smith
“Fortunate Son” – Creedence Clearwater Revival
“The Boxer” – Simon and Garfunkel
“Have You Ever Seen the Rain?” – Creedence Clearwater Revival
“Down to the River” – Alison Krauss
“Don’t Fear the Reaper” – Blue Oyster Cult
“The Air That I Breathe” – The Hollies
“Let It Be” – The Beatles