by A. C. Wilson
“Dad?” One word could halt an entire cosmic event! Colt pulled back as if he were being held at gun point. Megan didn’t dare breathe as she fought her way to the surface, her vision still glazed over.
“Yeah, Drew?” Colt turned to the little boy in the doorway of the kitchen. Megan felt like she might just burst into flames from embarrassment.
“I’m thirsty. Can I have some water?” Drew walked into the kitchen in his pajamas and his hair slightly ruffled.
Colt nodded and indicated the fridge. “There’s a bottle of water in there. You can take it up to your room, okay, buddy?”
Drew did as his father said. Megan was just about to breathe deeply when Drew looked back at the two of them standing so close to one another. His face screwed up as if he were trying to figure out a really hard math problem. “What are you doing?”
Megan nearly choked. Colt groaned and then chuckled. “We were just talking, son.”
“No, you weren’t. You were kissing.” Drew grinned as if he had figured out the secret. Megan wanted to melt into the floorboard. She couldn’t help but notice that Drew had Colt’s grin.
“Does that bother you?” Colt asked tentatively. Megan wondered what a seven year old would say to that. Drew continued to grin and shook his head.
“Nope. I can’t wait for our concert.” Drew walked by them to the kitchen door that would lead him down the hall to his room.
“Me either, buddy. Night.” Colt watched his son’s retreating back and then started to laugh. Megan didn’t have quite the same sense of humor. She knew her cheeks were scarlet by now. “Well that was unexpected.” Colt leaned in and pressed a kiss to the shell of her ear.
Megan tilted her head away. “To say the least.” Putting her shirt back into place and making a show of smoothing out the wrinkles, Megan fought to gather her thoughts. They were running riot on her.
“What’s wrong?” Colt asked, confusion written clearly on his handsome face. His eyes had darkened in concern and she wouldn’t be a woman, if she didn’t want to put the desire back into them.
“You’ve decided to go back on tour.” Megan shook her head. “I told you that I can’t do that. My life’s here.” She swept her arm around the room, but meaning Montana, instead of the house. Colt looked rather surprised by her words.
“I haven’t decided, if I am going back on tour yet. I want to talk to you about that when we have clearer heads.” He took a deep breath and looked down at his boots. Megan could still feel the evidence of their passion only moments ago.
“What concert is Drew talking about then?”
She had to know. The cards were going to have to be played out to see who would win. She prayed that it would be both of them, but sacrifices had to be made at some point.
“I have decided to put on a benefit concert for the Knob Hill Ranch. I’d like to help raise money to replace what they lost in the fire.” Colt’s earnest sincerity made Megan lower the shield she had been trying hard to erect. There was no doubt in her mind that he was a sweet man. This kind gesture was testament to it.
“That’s a wonderful idea.” She didn’t know what else to do. Part of her felt like a jerk for thinking the worst and the other part of her was on sensual overload. It was probably time for bed. She moved away from the counter and towards the kitchen door. Colt’s fingers reached out to brush against her fingers at her side. The delicate move halted her progress.
“I meant every word I said this morning, Meg.” Colt’s hoarse whisper was rough with emotion. She met his gaze. “Every word.”
It was time to get up the guts to say what she had wanted to ask since he’d whispered it in her ear. “With me?” She raised her shoulders and then let them fall. His eyes searched hers as he turned her squarely to him.
“The future has never been clearer than right now. I want to be here.” He caressed her cheek softly. “With you.”
Her throat was starting to close up with the violent emotions she felt. “How could you know so soon?” Tears welled up in her eyes and she tried to blink them away.
Colt smiled at her with a strange, beautiful look his face. “You’re the other half of me that I was missing. You’re the magic that made my world suddenly have purpose.”
A soft gasp escaped her. Colt pressed their foreheads together as he took a deep breath. Megan clung to the sleeves of his shirt as her world spun around.
“You still have to prove yourself.” Megan’s breathless whisper caused Colt to chuckle as he guided their lips together.
“I promise.” He vowed against her mouth.
CHAPTER TEN
Colt walked out the front door to find Megan and Drew elbow deep in paint. He chuckled when Megan turned to look at him and had blue paint swiped across her nose. It was funnier yet when Drew turned with a matching yellow swipe. Both of them looked at Colt as if he had grown two heads right there in front of them.
“What’s so funny?” Drew asked, looking very serious. Colt shook his head and wiped his eyes.
“How much paint did you get on the signs?”
Megan’s lips turned up in a grin and she swung her hand to indicate their handiwork. Large rolls of butcher paper were unfurled to show the colorful words.
Turn up the heat! Knob Hill Benefit Concert
It was sweet of them to take such an active role in his attempt to help and become part of this community.
“It looks great! Will they be dry by tomorrow to hang up at the show?” Colt asked, playfully ruffling Drew’s hair. His son smiled up at him and it stole even more of Colt’s heart, if it were possible. This is what he wanted. He wanted a family and he was willing to step back from the busy music scene to have it.
“Should be as long as Drew stops adding decorations.” Megan winked at the boy and Drew shrugged. She looked back at Colt. “Are you ready for tomorrow night?”
He took a deep breath and raised his brows. There was no way to be sure if he was absolutely ready to take the path he had decided on. It had been almost two weeks since he had tried to convince Megan that he could be content here. It had been nearly that long since he had tried to tell his ex-manager, Rod that the record label would have to wait for their answer. He had scheduled a conference call with Adam Shockley to discuss what was going to happen.
“As ready as I’ll ever be.” Colt touched Megan’s face, smudging the blue swipe.
“Colt, it’s great to speak with you.” Adam Shockley’s voice was unfamiliar to Colt, but he was the head of On The Fly Records.
“Thank you for making time for me.” Colt sat on the porch in one of the wooden rockers. The sound of crickets chirping introduced the springtime season coming.
“Well, Colt, let’s get to the meat of this conversation. The label needs a greatest hits record from you in order to keep you fresh in our listeners’ minds.”
Colt nodded, knowing very well what the label wanted. “I’m sure Rod told you that I wasn’t interested in making a hits album so early in my career.”
“Yes, he made me aware of your position on the subject.” Adam Shockley cleared his throat. “The fact of the matter is that your hot streak is cooling and there are other acts that are bringing every bit as much of the fire as you. We have to stay relevant in this business, because there is always someone who can take your place.”
Colt’s lips twitched at the thinly veiled threat. A few weeks ago that might have mattered to him, but tonight it didn’t.
“Mr. Shockley, I am willing to reconsider my position on putting together a hits album, if this will be the last record we produce together.”
A charged silence greeted Colt’s request. It was more of a demand really. He had had his lawyer draw up the papers.
“That seems a bit extreme, doesn’t it?”
“As you said, the tour is cooling and there’s more talent than ever. I’m not interested in making any more songs and I’m going to be settling down in Montana.”
Colt thought he’d heard a creak behin
d him, but the porch was dark as was the house. He turned his attention back to the phone call.
“You have a year yet on your contract, Colt. I don’t think it would be in our mutual best interests to let you go so soon.”
“With all due respect, I can turn the next year into a circus for you. There will be no more music for the next year and I won’t be touring.” Colt took a deep breath. “I have already had my lawyer draw up the papers and I will agree to allow you to produce a greatest hits album. The revenue from that should offset any troubles you might have with me leaving early. I think this would be in our best interest.”
It was hard to tell by all the silence as to how he was doing. It was true that On The Fly Records could throw out a lawsuit and it could happen that Colt may have to pay a crazy amount of fines for breach of contract. On the other hand, such publicity didn’t look good for new talent, who might be gullible in signing a long contract. Colt hoped that Adam Shockley would let him go without too much fuss.
“I’ll have a look at the contracts and get back to you tomorrow. You’ll have an answer then.”
The call was disconnected with little fanfare. Colt set his phone into his lap and leaned his head against the back of the chair. Closing his eyes, he felt reasonably sure that this would conclude his relationship with his current record label. It was a big move, but it was the right move in a much desired direction. He felt certain this is what he wanted.
“Ladies and gentlemen, would you please welcome Mr. Colt Cavanaugh and the Fleet Street Band to the stage!”
The crowd went wild as Colt walked out onto the stage with a hand toward his band mates. The lights zipped around the stage as dusk was falling. His heart sped up just as it always did when he was about to perform, but tonight it meant so much more. He glanced at the side of the stage and smiled at Drew standing with Megan’s arm on his shoulder. They looked perfect. Colt looked back out at the fans, who had come to support the benefit concert for Knob Hill Ranch. The local rodeo arena was loud with applause and whistles.
“Thank you for coming out tonight to support the Knob Hill Ranch. Their tragic experience with a fire is the reason we are all here tonight and we thank you for your generosity.” Colt smiled at the crowd and cast a quick glance behind him. Megan was clapping right along with everyone else. Drew was beaming a wide grin.
“Before we get started on this spectacular evening, I would like to introduce a wonderful woman to you all. She’s the reason I’ve been making some changes in my life and the reason I have written a new song.”
Colt turned back with the mic at his side and a hopeful look on his face. Megan looked as if she wanted to run or kick his butt, but was unsure, which to do first. He waved at her and then silently pleaded with her to come out on stage in front of hundreds of screaming fans. Slowly she moved in his direction and Colt felt as nervous as his first time on stage. Megan looked amazing though in her fitted green dress and brown boots. Her red hair was pulled off her neck and draped fashionably over her shoulder.
“You might pay for this.” Megan murmured as she took his outstretched hand. He chuckled.
“I’m still proving myself, remember?” His grin caused her to bite her bottom lip. Colt nodded to his buddy, Beat, who had flown in just for this performance. The song started. He felt a surge of power as he listened to the beautiful melody he had only written a few days ago. Beat had come in to hash out the final touches. Walking with Megan out into the middle of the stage, Colt lifted up the mic to sing.
Random roads have taken me on a thousand different journeys. It took just one unlocked door for me to see the shore. No greater gift was ever found. No better treasure unearthed from the ground than the love I see in your eyes, void of all secrets and lies.
Colt let the music play for a moment as he stared meaningfully into Megan’s eyes. Tears brimmed there as she let his words envelope her. He twined their fingers, bringing her hand to his lips and pressing a kiss to it. He raised his mic as the music slowed as if gently fading out.
I am standing here for you to take my hand. Promise me forever that forever you’ll be mine.
The crowd went crazy and the sounds of clapping and shouting might have deafened them if he had been listening. He had found the love of his life when he least expected. Tears slid down Megan’s lovely face and he couldn’t wait any longer to pull her into him. She embraced him with a fierce strength that drowned out any noise beyond them. When she pulled back to look at him, Colt slid his thumbs along her cheeks to wipe away the tears.
“Are you sure you want to give up everything?” Megan tipped her head to the side. He knew it was the one question that was bothering her.
“I’m gaining everything, Meg. There’s something akin to magic here and I don’t ever want to live without it again.” Colt slowly kissed her lips making every promise he could think to make, if God would make her his.
“What will you do now that you don’t have a label?” Megan sniffed. Colt was almost sure she had been listening to his conversation last night and Adam Shockley had taken the deal.
“Maybe I’ll be a rancher, although I might not be good at it.” He chuckled and threw his arm around her neck. Megan circled his waist with her arms and they looked out at the crowd.
“Maybe you should continue to do this.” Megan swept her gaze along the fans that cheered for them. “You’re making a difference with this benefit, Colt. There’s magic in this too. Your magic.”
He considered what she said and he liked it. There was a future in helping people after they had experienced some tragedy. It could be their future together.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
A.C. Wilson was born and raised on the family farm in western Nebraska. She now lives in historic Abilene, Kansas with her husband and two boys. She is fond of being outdoors, fishing with her family, and reading when she is able as well as writing as often as possible.
Her books are filled with the love of family, loyalty, pride, and a fierce determination to hold onto what matters. Check out her contemporary western romance series featuring the Black Hills of South Dakota. The Black Hills Series is very near and dear to her heart.
Watch for more books! Remember to review and recommend any story that you love! It keeps those books alive in the literary world.