by S. J. McCoy
He watched her take a seat next to Renée. He knew the two of them worked together at the bakery. Emma and Jack came in and joined the little group at the bar. As he and Chase launched into the chorus, he saw Smoke and Laura making their way over there too. At least April had lots of company and didn’t have to sit at the bar by herself. Though he knew Kenzie would take good care of her.
He watched as the group made their way to one of the big picnic tables out on the deck. April waited for all the others to be seated before she perched on the end of the bench. He wouldn’t be surprised if she were gone by the time they finished the first set. She was smiling, but she looked uncomfortable, and he thought he knew why. He felt the same way when he tagged along with the gang. They were great people; he enjoyed their company—a lot—but he always felt like a spare part. All the others were coupled up. Except him. And April.
Chase launched into the next song, and a group of girls made their way out onto the dance floor. He exchanged a grin with Eddie as two of them started to dance with each other very suggestively. The taller one raised her eyebrows before turning to shake her ass at Eddie. She was making it plain that it was on offer if he wanted it. Her friend was doing the same at Chase. Not so long ago the two of them would have played it up, knowing they’d have a great party later, but that’d all changed. Chase had met Kenzie and hadn’t looked at another woman since. Hell, they were married now. In some ways Eddie still found that hard to believe; he never would have had his friend down as the marrying kind. But then he’d never met a woman like Kenzie before. As Chase liked to say, she was very much one of a kind and the two of them were perfectly suited. Eddie himself had kept playing the game for a while. It had been easy while the other band members had still been here. Once they’d gone off to work the cruise ships, Eddie had led a much quieter life. He was no monk, not by a long shot, but it was different by himself. That was all it was. He did wonder sometimes whether it was because he was changing—getting older. Was he tired of the parties and the groupies and the easy, meaningless sex? Usually, when he got to thinking like that, he told himself that it was just because he didn’t have any wingmen anymore.
Tonight, as his attention kept returning to April, he had to wonder again. Was it really that he was getting older, getting tired of the same old games, or was it that he was starting to want something else? Something more?
By the time they finished the first set, he was ready for a drink. He wished that the gang had stayed at the bar. That way it would have been easy for him to go say hi to April. But just because it wasn’t easy didn’t mean he wasn’t going to do it anyway. When he and Chase managed to push their way to the bar, Kenzie had their drinks ready for them.
“Thanks, Kenz.” He took a swig of his beer and turned to check out the table where the gang was sitting.
Chase grinned at him. “You look like a man on a mission.”
“I am. I’m going to go say hi to the guys.”
Chase nodded. “See you back on stage then.”
~ ~ ~
April’s heart began to hammer again as she watched Eddie make his way out to their table. She’d enjoyed watching him on stage. He was hugely talented. He played guitar, drums, and sometimes even the saxophone. And his voice was so sexy when he sang! Chase was the lead singer. Eddie usually just backed him up, but there were a few songs that Eddie sang lead on, and he was amazing! She’d watched him go to the bar when they finished their set and had thought about getting up and going to get a drink. She couldn’t make herself do it, and it didn’t matter. She wasn’t brave enough to make herself go over to where he was, but now he was coming over to where she was. She had to stop being so silly. He was just coming over to say hi to everyone; it wasn’t like he was coming to see her.
She met his gaze as he got closer. He smiled again—oh, the things that smile did to her! The way he looked at her made her want to believe that he was coming just to see her. That would be amazing, to have such a good-looking guy want to talk to her, want to be around her. But she knew better than that. She may as well be wallpaper. There were so many beautiful, sexy, young women in here tonight. Why would Eddie even notice her?
It sure felt like he did when he reached the table. He grinned around at everyone and raised his bottle. “Hey, guys! How’s everyone doing?”
“Doing great, thanks,” said Jack. “How about you?”
Eddie nodded. “Yeah, great. I’ll have to get back up there in a minute; I just wanted to come say hi.” He turned to look April in the eye.
“Hi.” Well, that sounded pathetic! She cleared her throat and tried again. “Hi.”
Why did he have to keep smiling at her like that? He shouldn’t be allowed! It made her feel as though he liked her. As though he was interested in her. And she knew that wasn’t true. He was just being friendly; that was all.
She had to wonder if he didn’t feel sorry for her as he came and sat on the end of the bench opposite her. “How’ve you been? I haven’t seen you around much since Vegas.”
She looked at him then back at the others. All heads were turned toward them, but to their credit, they turned away and started talking again. She looked back at Eddie and nodded. “We’re doing fine, thanks.”
“Good. I’ve been hoping to run into you. I wondered if Marcus is still interested in guitar lessons?”
April nodded again; she must look so silly! But she needed a second to figure out what to say. She could hardly tell him that Marcus had asked every day for weeks after they came home from Vegas whether they could call Eddie about teaching him to play guitar. April had felt so bad for the boy, but she didn’t have Eddie’s number, and she hated to admit it, but her little crush on him had kept her from doing anything about getting in touch with him. “He’d love it.” Was all she managed to squeak out.
“Great.”
He really shouldn’t be allowed to smile at her like that. It did look like he was pleased, excited even, at the thought of teaching her son to play guitar. How could he be? He wasn’t interested in her, and he didn’t even really know Marcus.
“Eddie!” He turned around as a striking brunette appeared behind him. “Did you miss me, sweetie?” The girl cupped his face between her hands and planted a kiss on his lips. “I missed you! And I plan on showing you just how much when you get done here!”
April turned to look away; she didn’t want to see this! He had bright red lipstick next to his mouth, and the girl was tugging at his arm. He got up to go with her and April’s heart sank. See, she was so stupid! She should know better.
Eddie came around to her side of the table. He put a hand on her shoulder. “Sorry, April.”
She shook her head and gave him a bright, fake, smile. So was she! She watched as the girl led him by the hand over to a table where a bunch of other girls were sitting. They were all smiles and giggles as they fawned over him. She sighed. What could she expect? He was a very handsome guy. A very sexy guy! And that girl and her friends were very sexy too. They were his kind of people, with their short skirts and low cut tops. She looked down at her jeans and t-shirt and shrugged. She wasn’t. They had huge boobs to wave in his face and rounded backsides to shake at him as they danced. She’d done well to put some weight on since she’d been here, but she didn’t feel sexy at all. Especially when she compared herself to them.
Renée touched her arm. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine.” She gave her friend a smile she hoped was convincing. “I’m a bit tired. I think I might go home.”
“Oh, don’t do that!” cried Emma. “I want you to come dance with me once the band starts back up. You know how much I love to dance. I’ve got no Miss and no Holly tonight and I have to dance every chance I get. I’ll be waddling soon enough.”
April had to smile at that. Emma’s baby bump was getting pretty big already.
“And you can’t go yet anyway,” chimed in Laura. “Smoke’s just gone for more drinks.”
She nodded. She’d stay awh
ile then. She did like hanging out with all of them. She shouldn’t spoil the fun she could have tonight, by being upset over the fun she couldn’t have. Eddie was a nice fantasy, but that was all he’d ever be.
~ ~ ~
Once Eddie had managed to extricate himself from the clutches of Tammy and her friends, he climbed back onto the stage.
Chase raised an eyebrow at him. “Did you decide to stick with the party girls instead?”
“Hell no! I’d just gotten the balls to go and talk to April when Tammy came over. I figured it was easier to talk to her with her friends than have her start spouting about how much fun we had last year in front of April. You remember her, right?”
Chase chuckled. “How could I forget? She didn’t stop telling everyone who’d listen how great you were in the sack for the whole week she was here. I don’t mind telling you the rest of us had an inferiority complex by the time she left, listening to her constantly bleating on about all the mind-blowing orgasms you were giving her!”
Eddie shook his head ruefully. “Yeah, well, I’m not denying it, but I didn’t want April hearing it.”
Chase laughed again. “You never know, it might spark her interest. Make her want to find out for herself.”
“Nah, I think she’d be more likely to dismiss me as a manwhore. I don’t want her to think of me like that, you know?”
Chase nodded. “Is it that you don’t want her to think of you like that or more that you don’t want to think of yourself like that anymore?”
Eddie stared at him. “A bit of both, I suppose.”
“Well, I don’t like your chances of getting to talk to her again tonight.”
Eddie nodded. He hated to agree, but he had to. He couldn’t risk going to chat with April while there was a chance that Tammy would come drape herself all over him and ask him whether he was coming to her bed or taking her to his.
Chase jerked his head toward the table where the gang were sitting. As Eddie followed his gaze, his heart sank. Nate had joined them and was sitting on the end of the bench, squeezed up next to April with his arm around her shoulders. She looked a little embarrassed as she smiled up at him, but she started to laugh at something he said. That pissed him off. He didn’t want her thinking of him as a manwhore, yet there she was playing right up to the biggest womanizer Summer Lake had ever known.
Chase was watching him. “Don’t look like that. It’s Nate. He’s like that with everyone.”
Eddie blew out a sigh. He liked Nate. He was a good guy. He let out a rueful chuckle. “I know. Maybe I should introduce him to Tammy. I’m sure the two of them could keep each other occupied for a while.”
“I’m sure they could, but for now, we’d better get back to it. I want to see if we can get done a bit early tonight. Kenzie’s going to need some help behind the bar by the looks of it.”
Eddie slung his guitar strap over his head and made his way to his mic. He envied Chase. They used to be in very much the same boat, but now Chase had Kenzie. And Eddie had never seen him happier.
~ ~ ~
“Can we give you a ride?” asked Smoke.
April shook her head. “Thanks, but I’d like to walk.”
Laura frowned.
“Come on; it’s Summer Lake, not some big city. It’s not far, and I need to start doing things by myself, you know?” April was surprised that she’d admitted that to them, but it was true. Since she and Marcus had come to live here, she either did things with him or didn’t do them at all. All those years she’d been married to Guy had left their mark on her, and she was starting to feel that it was about time to make some changes. She wanted to start stepping up and taking control of her life. The thought of walking home alone scared her silly, but it shouldn’t, and it was time she started getting over herself.
Smoke nodded. It seemed he understood. “Okay, but do me a favor, and give us a quick call when you get home?”
She smiled. She’d never had friends like this before. Well, she hadn’t really had any friends at all since she married Guy. He hadn’t allowed it. “Okay.” She made her way around the table saying goodbye to the others. She hadn’t expected to stay out this late, but she’d had fun. The band had finished for the night, and she wanted to get home.
Ben caught up with her as she made her way to the door. “Do you want me to call you a taxi?”
“No, thanks. I’m practicing being brave.” She smiled. “And I have to check in with Smoke and Laura when I get home, so there’s no need to worry, okay?”
He grinned. “Good for you. Goodnight, April.”
“Goodnight, Ben.”
She smiled to herself as she made her way across the square. It was only a few blocks back to the little house where she and Marcus were living, and it was a beautiful evening. The moonlight sparkled on the lake, and even here in town, the smell of pines was strong. She was growing to love this place.
“April!”
She turned to look back at the sound of someone calling her name. Her heart was hammering in her chest. It sounded like…it was, Eddie! She stood frozen to the spot as he jogged across the square to catch up with her. He stopped when he reached her and smiled.
“They said you’re walking home by yourself.”
She nodded. She needed to stop doing that around him. “Yes.”
“Can I walk with you?”
She’d turned down every other offer to see that she got home safely. She stared at him for a moment. Then nodded. Again! She started walking, and he fell in step beside her. What was it about this place that everyone wanted to make sure she got home safely? It was like that in Montana, too, she supposed. It was just that there she’d been a married woman and had rarely been out by herself. She didn’t know what to say to Eddie. He made her feel self-conscious. She was pretty sure that he’d rather be back in the bar with the party girls. Maybe Ben had sent him? “You don’t have to come with me, you know. I’m safe.”
He gave her a puzzled look. “I know.” It looked like he was about to say something else, but he didn’t. They walked on in silence.
April was glad when they reached the corner of her street. “This is me,” she said. “Thank you.”
Eddie stopped and frowned at her. “Can I walk you to your door?”
Apparently, he took his duties seriously. She nodded—again. She really had to stop doing that!
“I’m not as bad as you think, you know.”
What did that mean? She looked up at him.
He shrugged. “I’m not saying I’m a saint or anything, but all the band stuff, that’s more the women than it is me.”
She had no clue why he was telling her this. Did he feel bad about the way he lived? “It’s none of my business.” She smiled at him. “I don’t think there’s anything wrong with it.”
He brought his hand up and rubbed the side of his head, then shrugged. “Good.”
She stopped when she reached her front gate. “Well, here we are.”
He stopped too and stood there smiling at her. What was he playing at? He was nice to look at, but she didn’t want to stand here looking at him all night! Was he going to go or not? And then it dawned on her. Was he expecting her to invite him in? She felt her cheeks flush at the thought.
His smile was fading. “Okay, well, goodnight then. It was good to see you.” He turned around and walked away.
April shook her head as she opened the front gate and walked up the path. How could she be so stupid? Of course he didn’t want her to invite him in! What could she offer him that wasn’t waiting for him in who knew how many cabins around the resort? She opened the front door and let herself inside. She must be stupid! She dug her phone out of her purse and dialed Laura’s number.
“Hey!”
“Hi. I made it home safe.”
“Good. Have fun.” Laura chuckled.
“Thanks. See you soon. Bye.” April hung up. That was an odd thing to say. Have fun? What, sleeping? That was the only thing she was going to be doing. She
made her way up the stairs. It wasn’t as though she was going to lie there and think about what she might be doing if Eddie had come in with her!
Chapter Three
Eddie sat on his front deck sipping his coffee. He was glad he didn’t live at the resort anymore. He loved this house; it was nothing fancy, but it was quiet. It sat right on the lakeshore just outside of town. It suited him. Sharing a cabin with all the guys had been fun for a little while, but it had gotten old pretty fast. After Robin and the others had left and Chase had moved in with Kenzie, he’d stayed on for a little while, but he didn’t enjoy it much. If nothing else, the groupies knew where to find him! That wasn’t his idea of fun at all. He knew where to find them if he wanted to, but these days, he rarely did.
He’d managed to shake Tammy and her friends last night. He’d been disappointed to find that April had already left when he got done packing up the gear for the night. Ben had told him that she’d only just gone, and Laura had said that she was walking home alone! He hadn’t liked that idea one bit, so he’d gone after her. She hadn’t seemed too pleased to see him, though. And she’d gotten rid of him as fast as she could when they got to her place. He didn’t know what he’d been hoping for, but whatever it might have been, she wasn’t interested. She’d shooed him off just as fast as she could. He sighed. And why wouldn’t she? He’d been tongue-tied as they walked. He hadn’t managed to come up with anything to say to her at all. He hadn’t even asked her about Marcus and his guitar lessons.
He took another sip of his coffee. It wasn’t that he was using the guitar lessons as an excuse to spend some time with her. Well, it wasn’t just that. The kid had seemed to like the idea when he’d suggested it in Vegas. It was more than that even. He’d gotten the feeling that kid knew in advance that Eddie was going to let him down. Not that he knew Eddie, just that that was all he’d been used to in life. Being let down. Eddie hated that for him. He remembered it all too well for himself. He’d love to prove to the kid that some people did keep their word. That sometimes you did get what you wanted. It had taken him way too many years before he’d learned that not everyone would let you down. He’d love to help Marcus.