Lori nodded, “I finished them off last week. They were smaller scale projects. One’s actually the new stage backdrop for Molton.”
“Do we get one of those?” Jake asked hopefully.
With an impish grin, Lori replied, “If you commission one.”
“Touché, li’l lady,” he laughed. “I’ll speak to Maddison about it at tomorrow’s meeting.”
“Come on, rock star,” she suggested, getting up from the lounger. “You’ve an early start tomorrow. Time for bed.”
With the candles all blown out, they headed indoors, hand in hand.
As they lay side by side, Jake rolled over to face her, propping himself up on one elbow.
“I’m not sleepy,” he whispered.
“Neither am I,” she replied softly, reaching out to trace the outline of his dragon tattoo. “You could always make mad passionate love to me.”
“Well the witch doctor didn’t list that as one of my banned activities,” he teased, reaching across to run his finger over the swell of her breast through her nightshirt.
Allowing herself to relax under his gentle touch, Lori let Jake slide the nightshirt over her head. He reached down to remove her underwear, then raised one eyebrow, “No panties, li’l lady?”
Lori giggled, then reached out to remove his boxer shorts, “No shorts, rock star?”
With a playful push, Jake shoved her over onto her back then pinned both her hands down with one of his. He kissed her hard on the mouth, then traced gentle kisses down her throat, down between her breasts, then down to the soft folds of her femininity. Teasingly, he licked small patterns along her hip bones, causing her to moan pleasurably. His long, loose hair tickled her stomach.
“Jake, please,” she pleaded, her voice husky with need.
“Patience, li’l lady,” he breathed, as he released her hands, then continued to deliver soft feathery kisses down the velvety smooth insides of her thighs, down her calves, along the arches of her small slender feet before gently nibbling each of her toes in turn. Ignoring the painful protest of his right knee, Jake knelt across her, slipped on a condom, before cupping her buttocks in his hands then entered her in one swift hard thrust. Their lovemaking was short and intense. The instant she felt him hard inside her, Lori felt the first waves of her orgasm wash over her. Forcefully, Jake thrust deep inside her, bringing them to a mutual climax, sending waves of ecstasy flooding through them both. Still entwined, they lay together for a few moments, both breathing heavily.
“I’m glad the witch doctor didn’t forbid that,” sighed Lori. Her sigh of contentment reminded him of a cat’s purr.
“Likewise,” agreed Jake, as he slid away from her and rolled onto his back.
Sleep evaded him and, as he lay awake in the small hours, Jake watched the sleeping beauty by his side. Her hair was spread all over the pillow and she had curled up in an almost foetal position. The soft cotton sheet was barely covering her. Carefully, he pulled it up and covered her bare shoulder. She stirred slightly in her sleep, nestling deeper into her soft feather pillow. In the first light of dawn, Jake knew that she was the person he wanted to spend the rest of his life with. This beautiful creature, who had literally fallen at his feet, was truly his soul mate.
Silver Lake’s management meeting had started by the time Jake entered the conference room at Maddy’s hotel. He saw that a video link had been set up and that Jason’s face was filling the large screen at the end of the room. Helping himself to a juice, Jake apologised for being a few minutes late.
“Twenty bucks in the pot,” said Grey bluntly.
With a resigned smile, Jake nodded, then took his seat at the table.
“Ah, the late Mr Power,” joked Jason from the screen. “How’s the voice? And the knee?”
“Hi, Jason. The knee’s ok. I can’t test the voice until I’ve seen the doctor on Monday.”
“Keep me posted on that, Maddy,” instructed the Englishman. “Now, back to the business of the artwork. Have you all discussed your preferences?”
This question prompted a thirty minute debate on the various designs before they all reached an agreement on the Celtic dragon knot design. In the midst of the debate, Jake enquired if they could add a stage backdrop to reflect the album artwork and, after a brief discussion, it was agreed that there was budget to fund this. Maddy was instructed to take an action point to email Lori confirming what designs had been selected and to request a further design for the backdrop. Deciding to push his luck, Paul asked if he could have a couple of drumheads designed to match the album art and that too was swiftly agreed and added to the list.
“Good. Progress. I like it,” stated Jason firmly. “Now that that has all been agreed, let’s talk about your schedules until the end of the year.”
The four band members exchanged glances.
“Maddy, correct me if I’m wrong. Dragon Song is out on 1st September followed by the album three weeks later. Provisionally. Both need promoting. I’ve emailed a list of radio station promo events. I’ve tried to keep them local – well within two hundred miles of Delaware and to evening and weekend slots for those further afield. I appreciate you all have day jobs to consider for now. That is a situation you will need to give some thought to around December time.”
“Why?” asked Rich. “Are you confident that we can afford to resign by then?”
“Mildly optimistic, Rich,” commented Jason with a smile, “But I recognise your concerns. Would you each be able to get a leave of absence for, say, three, maybe four weeks late November into mid-December?”
“We can ask,” replied Grey. “What do you have lined up for us?”
“A support tour of the UK with Weigh Station.”
Four stunned faces stared at Jason’s image on the screen.
“How many shows?” Jake asked, ironically being the first member of the band capable of speech.
“Six so far, but it may extend to eight or even ten depending on ticket sales. I’m hoping we can add an extra night in London and perhaps Birmingham too. If the schedule works, we may take in Dublin in Ireland. That would take it to ten shows. I’ll email through the proposals and you can check with your employers and legal people. I need an answer by the end of next week,” Jason explained. In the background they could hear his phone ringing. “I need to take this. Talk soon.”
The screen went blank.
“Is he serious?” asked Rich, in stunned disbelief. “Support act for Weigh Station on their home tour?”
Maddy nodded, “As far as I can fathom out, they liked what they overheard when they were in New York at the same time as you. Their team contacted us. There’s still a lot to work out. All the legal side, but there is a deal there waiting to be done. The tour is on sale already with no named support act. Ticket sales are looking good. The venues are smaller than the big stadiums you played with Molton but I’ve been to most of them.”
“More fucking planes,” muttered Paul, staring nervously at the band’s manager. “You know I hate flying.”
“Paul, it’s not much further to London than it was to Seattle,” said Rich bluntly.
“We’ve a few days to chew this over,” said Jake quietly. “I’m not committing to anything until I’ve seen the doctor on Monday.”
“Sounds fair,” nodded Grey. “I need to think about Becky too. I’ll need to have a talk with my mom.”
“Right, here’s the plan,” stated Maddy, her tone leaving no room for further debate. “I need to go back to New York until Tuesday. Let’s meet here on Wednesday, same time as today, and we can make a decision then.”
Silently, the four musicians nodded their agreement, all scarcely daring to believe the deal on the table.
♪
Sunday dawned grey and misty over the Delaware shore. Temperatures were soaring, setting records for the month of August, and, as Lori made breakfast, the TV weather forecasted over a hundred degrees for the next two days. She was glad they had agreed to take her car to Annapolis si
nce its air conditioning was better than that in Jake’s beloved truck. Sitting at the table with her coffee, Lori wondered what the day was going to bring. Since Jake had come back from the band meeting on Friday, he had been quiet. She knew he was still trying to rest his voice as much as possible, but she could tell he was pre-occupied, partly with the Weigh Station tour options but more so with Sunday lunch. They had agreed to leave at eleven to give themselves plenty of time to get to Annapolis. The route map online had indicated it should take them two hours and ten minutes, but neither of them wanted to get lunch off on the wrong foot by being late. She was just finishing her breakfast when Jake wandered in.
“Morning, li’l lady,” he said with a smile. “Are you ready for this?”
“As I’ll ever be,” she joked. “Did you tell your dad who you were bringing?”
“I just said a friend. He’s probably decided I’m gay and assumed it’s a guy I’m bringing,” muttered Jake sourly, as he poured himself a coffee.
“Jake,” cautioned Lori softly. “Don’t assume. Go to lunch with an open mind.”
“I’m trying,” he replied. “I just don’t know what to expect. Five years is a long time.”
“Plenty of time for you both to have mellowed,” she observed. “Now I’m going to get dressed. Try to relax.”
“Wear something pretty.”
“Don’t I always?”
Lori was putting the finishing touches to her makeup when Jake came through to get ready. She had decided to wear the same sea green maxi dress that she had worn for her birthday dinner.
“You look stunning,” complimented Jake with a smile.
“Thank you,” she replied, as she began to brush her hair.
“Don’t tie it up, Lori,” he said softly. “Leave it down.”
“Your wish is my command, rock star.”
She sat and watched Jake dress in a pair of smart black chinos and a black shirt.
“It’s a heatwave out there and you’re going dressed as Johnny Cash?” she questioned.
Jake nodded, then proceeded to tie his own sun bleached hair back into a ponytail securing it with a leather cord.
“Will I do?” he asked, as he pulled on his black leather boots.
“You look great. Every inch the rock star,” she teased, with an approving smile.
“Let’s get this show on the road.”
After an easy drive across the state and into Maryland, they arrived in Annapolis just after one o’clock. Despite the assistance from the car’s sat nav system, it took them another half an hour to locate the correct marina. During the drive, Jake had been quieter than usual and fidgety. He had channel hopped up and down the radio stations before settling on a local rock station. Both of them had been surprised when the DJ announced that his special studio guests on next Sunday’s show would be Silver Lake. With a mutter, Jake declared that he had maybe better study the schedule for the promotional events that Maddy had emailed out. The DJ then played one of the tracks from their original CD and, as the song came to an end, they pulled into a parking space at the marina.
“I hope I still sound like that when I’m cleared to sing again,” he commented as he climbed out of the car.
Stiff after sitting in the car for so long, Lori struggled a little getting out from the passenger side. Noticing, Jake rushed round to give her a hand.
“You ok, li’l lady?” he asked, as she steadied herself on her feet,
“Just stiff. I’m fine,” she reassured him, then noticing a tall silver haired man striding towards them, asked, “Is that your dad coming?”
Jake nodded, then, forcing a smile, waved.
“You made it then!” called Jake’s father, as he approached them. “Nice car, son.”
“Hi, Dad,” said Jake warmly, wrapping a protective arm around Lori’s waist.
“Good to see you, son,” replied the older man, before asking. “Are you going to introduce me to this beautiful young lady?”
“Dad, this is Lori Hyde, owner of said car,” began Jake nervously. “Lori, this is Colonel Ben Power.”
Lori reached out to shake the colonel’s hand, “Pleasure to meet you, sir.”
“The pleasure’s all mine, Miss Hyde,” he said, kissing the back of her hand flamboyantly.
Now that she was up close to the older man, she could see a strong resemblance between him and Jake. They had the same twinkling hazel eyes and, apparently, similar wit and charm.
“Let’s head over to the restaurant and in out of this heat,” suggested the colonel.
As they started to walk across the gravel car park, Lori was careful not to trip. She was aware her limp was more pronounced than usual and, until her leg muscles eased after sitting in the car, she felt as though she was leaning heavily on her cane.
“So, Miss Hyde,” began the colonel. “How did you meet my wayward son?”
“We met on the beach,” replied Lori. “I had taken a tumble and Jake very kindly helped me home.”
“A gallant start to the relationship,” he declared, causing Jake to groan in embarrassment. “I noticed your cane. I take it you are still recovering from that tumble?”
“Not exactly,” replied Lori, with a glance at Jake for reassurance. “I was involved in an accident last Christmas. It’s that I’m recovering from.”
“Ah, I see,” said Ben, having the good manners not to pry any further. Instead, he turned to Jake. “I heard that you got wounded in action recently, son.”
“How did you hear about that?” quizzed Jake, genuinely surprised.
“One of the crew from the yacht was at the show,” explained his father, as they reached the restaurant door.
Politely he held the door open for his son and Lori, who both thanked him, as they entered the cool restaurant. A young waitress swept straight over, “Colonel Power, lovely to see you. We have your usual table ready.”
“Thanks, Mandy,” he said, flashing her a dazzling and very Jake-like smile.
Once they were seated at a window table, over-looking the marina, and had placed their drinks order, Ben commented, “First Power male to get wounded in the line of duty.”
Lori giggled before adding, “And hopefully the last!”
“Have you fully recovered, Jacob?” asked his father, the paternal concern evident in his voice.
“Don’t call me that,” muttered Jake, scowling at his father then, taking a deep breath, added, “I’m fine. It was only a flesh wound. Chipped the bone a little. Not a big deal.”
“Sorry, son,” apologised his father awkwardly. “As I hear it, you kept on playing?”
Jake nodded, “Yes, sir. For a few more songs at least.”
“Maybe you’ve more guts than I’ve given you credit for,” he observed calmly.
Turning to Lori, Jake said, “Dad’s never got over the fact that I didn’t want to join the air force.”
“That’s a bit harsh, Jake,” she said softly.
“No, he’s right,” interrupted his father. “To an extent anyway. So how is the music business?”
“It’s a tough gig,” answered Jake. “But we’ve had a turn of luck, thanks to Lori.”
“Are you in the music business too, Miss Hyde?” asked Ben curiously.
“Not exactly. I’m an artist. I do the artwork for album covers, merchandising. That sort of thing,” she replied.
“Must pay better than making the music judging by your car parked outside.”
“Art’s not my only line of work,” continued Lori calmly, her tone almost business-like. “I own Hyde Properties of Manhattan.”
“Property?”
“Yes. I have a portfolio of apartment blocks and office space,” she replied, as though that were the most natural thing in the world. Out of the corner of her eye, she could see Jake begin to smirk. Nothing impressed his father more than money.
“So art’s more of a hobby?”
“No, the property side is the hobby, Colonel Power. I take my artwork very seriously
.”
Before the conversation reached dangerous territory, the waitress returned with their drinks and asked if they were ready to order.
“Yes, thanks, Mandy. I’ll have my usual,” said Ben, flashing her another flirtatious smile.
“I’ll have the flounder, please,” said Lori, closing the menu.
“Crab cakes for me,” said Jake, as he passed his menu back to the waitress.
“Will I bring a salad bowl to start?”
“Please, Mandy.”
Taking a sip from his glass of juice, Jake decided to cut to the chase, “Dad, why did you invite us here? It’s been over five years. Why now?”
“Well, to be honest, I got a scare when I heard you’d been shot,” admitted the older man. “If anything were to happen to your brothers, the air force would tell me. If it was Lucy, her husband would call. I realised if it was you, no one would know to call. I guess, I want to build some bridges.”
“Dad, it’s been a long time,” began Jake. “I’m almost thirty five years old, and you want to establish a father/son thing now?”
“I’m prepared to try if you are.”
“And you won’t try to judge me?”
“Jake, you’re a grown man. I’m just asking for a second chance to get to know you.”
Looking his father straight in the eye and not daring to glance at Lori, Jake nodded slowly, “Ok, I’m prepared to give this a go if you are but I’m not Peter or Simon. Don’t expect me to be like them.”
“Jacob, you’ve never been like them.”
This time, Jake let the use of his full name slip.
To ease the tension, Lori raised her glass, “A toast to new beginnings then.”
“A fresh start,” agreed Ben, grateful that she had intervened.
“New beginnings,” added Jake forcing a smile. He took a sip from his glass, then asked, “So, where are my older brothers these days?”
“Both still in the air force. Pete’s out at Fairfield air base. Simon just transferred to Langley last year. Both doing well.”
“Are they still married?”
“Pete’s divorced from Beth. They have two girls. I guess the girls must be about four and eight by now. Simon’s just divorced wife number three. No children that I’m aware of.”
Stronger Within (The Silver Lake Series Book 1) Page 33