This Old Wind (Leanin' N Book 5)

by BA Tortuga

  “Let’s go sit on the big porch, huh? Haley can come too.”

  “I’ll be right back!” Mickey ran off, leaving the pup with her sister.

  “Can you help me with Haley?” She turned big eyes on Simon, and he had a feeling Chloe wanted to fly and dance rather than hold the leash.

  “You got it, kiddo.” He waved to Dad, who headed off to get changed, always excited by the idea of riding.

  Chloe laughed, spinning around, her happy giggles filling the air.

  Haley barked, dancing too, and Simon had to chuckle along, the joy completely infectious. God, it felt good to just be.

  “I got my guitar!” Mickey came running, her dark pigtails bouncing.

  “Good deal.” He looped Haley’s leash around a porch post. She could nap in the sun or shade. “Come sit with me, ladies.”

  The girls sat, and Mickey began to tune up, little fingers surprisingly adept. He watched her for a long moment.

  “Why don’t you start with something you two know?” Simon asked.

  The girls put their heads together, whispering a few syllables, then they started with “I Never Promised You a Rose Garden.” That song was from his dad’s childhood. Mickey wasn’t quite up to it on the guitar, but their voices were sweet together, just like at breakfast, and he clapped when they were finished. “That was well done.”

  “It wasn’t great, but it was okay.” This one—she was practical, straightforward.

  “I think you have so much potential.” He pondered a moment. “Did your dad ever teach you about harmony?”

  “Little stair steps that sound good together, right, Mickey?”

  “Exactly. So, Mickey, can you give me some chords? E D A E.” “Seven Bridges Road” was G-rated and the first harmony song a lot of them started on.

  Mickey bit her lip, but did it, then looked to him for reassurance.

  “That’s good. Run them one more time?” She did it with more confidence this time. “Okay, now when I point at you. One chord per point, okay?” When she nodded, he pointed, and started out with the first line of the song.

  “Oh! Mickey, you played while he sang!” Chloe trilled. “Okay, show me the words and the melody.”

  These girls were musical and had never been told to be shy about it. So when he got Chloe singing lead, he taught Mickey to fall in with him in harmony, and they had an amazing three part going in no time.

  Then a deep baritone joined them, rounding things out, serving to bolster his voice and balance the girls.

  He glanced up, and yeah, that was Michael. Simon’s voice almost broke. God, he was beautiful.

  The song ended, and Chloe ran for her dad. “Daddy! Did you hear?”

  “I did. Y’all were on point. I love it.”

  “They’re glorious, man. Both of you are.” He grinned at Mickey, who was clutching her guitar and looking amazed.

  “They are. My princesses.” Michael beamed at them. “Wanna do it again?”

  “Yes!” Chloe danced her dad around, then came back, expression serious. “Okay.”

  “Mickey?” Simon raised an eyebrow at her.

  “I can do it. I’ll be even better this time.”

  “You were great. But it’s always easier after you practice it.” He winked at her, getting a grateful smile.

  “Practice. We both practice. I do guitar. Chloe plays piano. We both sing.”

  “I think you’re amazing.”

  Michael cleared his throat, and they all laughed.

  Simon nodded at Mickey. “One, two, three.”

  Michael let him lead, let the girls follow him, and he just was there to stabilize things. They blended so damn well together, and he was so proud when they all came down on that last long note, the sound pure and sweet as only real harmony could be.

  There was a tiny smattering of applause, and he glanced up to see his mom, Stoney, and Quartz there watching them.

  “That was amazing, y’all! So pretty!” Stoney beamed at them. “I do love that song. Thank you for sharing.”

  Simon grinned back. “They’re something, huh?”

  “They are.” Mom’s gaze was sharp. “Hello, girls. I’m Helen. I’m Simon’s mom.”

  Chloe beamed and waved, while her sister just muttered, “Pleased.”

  Michael laughed. “They’re pretty good, huh?”

  “They’re amazing,” Mom said. “Genuinely. They must come from a musical family.”

  Michael nodded. “Their mother was a singer. We had a little duo, back in the day.”

  “Oh. I can see how lovely that would be.” Mom looked like she might reach out to touch Mickey’s hair but stopped short when he raised an eyebrow at her. “Sorry. You both are so lovely. Is this your puppy?”

  “That’s Haley. Wanna meet her?” Chloe went right to Mom, cheery as a little sparrow.

  “I do!”

  Now he really stared at his very allergic mom. What the heck?

  She took Chloe’s hand and allowed herself to be tugged over to the hound, eyes on Chloe. And she just ignored him.

  Michael was watching him, not his mom, and he grinned, shrugging.

  “Moms.” That was the only explanation. She’d come here to spend time with her little girl, and the only little girls here were the twins.

  “Yeah.” Michael’s grin faded a little. “She’s great.”

  “Daddy?” Mickey searched her father’s face. “We should go get Haley some water. She’s probably thirsty.”

  “Should we?” Michael grabbed her and pulled her into his lap facing out. Then they started playing her guitar together, and she started laughing, the sound merry and warm.

  Chloe hooted, the sound like a baby owl’s, and Simon had to chuckle.

  “I’ll get Haley some water, huh?” Stoney headed back into the house, which was really nice of him.

  Chloe danced around as they played, and Simon beat out a rhythm on the porch. At some point, Quartz joined them, and the kid was pretty good. It was a regular jam session.

  It wasn’t a wedding, but it was a good little party, and soon lemonade and goodies appeared on the big porch like magic.

  The cook, Geoff, came to sit, and before long, his dad was back too. Yeah. It was good.

  Michael had taken the guitar from Mickey and was doodling, the girls drawing a hopscotch court with chalk. It felt like family in the best way, and he soaked it in, singing along with Michael every chance he got.

  He swore he felt younger already, and he remembered this—loving music. Nothing but the music. Not the performing, which could be a weird symbiotic thing. Just the ebb and flow of melody and harmony, rhythm and meter.

  Every so often someone would come or go, food was had, and laughter filled the air. Eventually, the girls were resting with Mom—one in her lap, one leaning against her arm.

  The sight almost made him teary. She was going to be so damn happy when Stevie had kids.

  “Are they bothering you, ma’am? I can move them,” Michael whispered.

  Mom shook her head. “They’re fine,” she mouthed.

  Simon chuckled. Such good granny material.

  Michael nodded and grabbed a plate, made himself a sandwich. “You want anything, Simon?”

  “Is there some juice?” Once he got a little juice in him, he could think of food.

  “Uh…lemonade?”

  “That would be great, thank you.” When Michael poured him a glass, he motioned for Michael to sit by him. “This has been fun.”

  “It has. The girls were over the moon. I appreciate it a lot.”

  “No problem. Mom is in love.” He jerked his chin to where the girls were asleep on her.

  Michael smiled over. “She’s a neat lady.”

  “She is. I feel bad that she missed out on the wedding. Your kids are talented, Michael. Really.”

  “They get that from their momma.” Michael winked at him.

  “Stop it. You’re amazing. I could just close my eyes and make you sing to me for hours.�
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  “Flattery will get you nowhere, but thank you. It’s real nice to hear.”

  “Bummer.” He flirted a little, since he could.

  Michael’s laughter hadn’t changed a bit—it was still sweet and rich, musical and magical. It made things deep down in Simon’s gut stir. And some things farther down.

  He thought it was incredibly unfair to have a chance to get to know Michael again, and he had kids. Like, kids in the next room kids. There was no way to get down without feeling guilty there, he guessed. But he would let Michael in his bed in a heartbeat.

  Maybe he could visit Michael’s place…

  Would that be weird? Maybe that would be too weird. He really was thinking of hanging out in the Roaring Fork Valley for a writing retreat, though.

  “Hey, Stoney, how booked are you guys?”

  “Uh.” Stoney chuckled. “I’d have to check, but I’m pretty sure we’re fixing to slow down some.”

  “Cool. We’ll have to put our heads together, but I’m thinking about a retreat.”

  “For how many?” Stoney asked easily.

  “Maybe just me.” He chuckled. “Can I talk to you in the morning?”

  “I’ll carve out the time.” Stoney waggled his eyebrows, and he felt in on the joke.

  He already could breathe easier than he had in years. Maybe it was the fresh air. Maybe it was Michael. The man seemed a little magical.

  “So you’re going to hang around a few days?” Michael asked. “That’s cool.”

  “I am. Mom talked me into it. I think I need a break.” He grinned, rubbing his ribs. “And not the ‘I crashed my car’ kind.”

  “That I understand. My Tuesday will be either getting a rental or buying a new truck. The girls will be at summer camp for three weeks starting right after.”

  “I’m still sorry.” He hated that he’d whacked that truck.

  “It was an accident. That’s why they call them accidents.” Someone had said that a thousand times, Simon could tell.

  He heard his mom chuckle. Yeah, she said that a lot too. “Want to take a walk?” he asked Michael.

  Michael glanced at Mom, who nodded.

  “They’re fine. Go on.”

  Michael smiled at him. “I’d love to.”

  Woo. His heart kicked up a notch in rhythm, and he stood, barely stopping himself from taking Michael’s hand.

  They wandered down between the cabins, not saying anything, just walking. It felt right. Good. Easy. And when Michael took his hand, it felt even better.

  They ended up leaning their shoulders together, the scent of Michael clean and a little horsey.

  “How you feeling, man? Your folks are amazing.”

  “Better. In fact, better than I’ve been in a long while. Mom and Dad are great, huh? They’re sad about Stevie, but they get it.”

  “I bet they have a big to do later. She sort of seems the type to fly off the handle and then settle back down.”

  “She is.” He chuckled. “She’ll do a vow renewal in six months or something.”

  “Excellent. Where is she living?”

  “Nashville.”

  “Oh wow. Neat. What about you?”

  “I have a place in LA. I never see it.” He shook his head. Hell, he couldn’t remember the color of the walls.

  “I’m sure it’s gold and platinum, Simon.”

  “Shut up.” He squeezed Michael’s hand. “Maybe.”

  Michael snorted softly. “That’s what I thought. You ought to be proud. You’re living the dream.”

  “I am.” He paused. “If I sound like a whiny butt, I don’t mean to. I am proud.” He was lucky and he knew it. And he’d worked hard. “I’m just a little burnt. My manager is pushing for the next album, and I can’t pick a direction.”

  “That’s fair. Seriously. Take some time off, recharge your batteries. Remember why you play.”

  Like it was that easy.

  Simon took a deep breath, blowing out his frustration. “Yeah. Yeah, that gets a little lost sometimes. It gets to be a cycle. You make an album so you can tour. You tour so you can make the next album.”

  “Sounds like one hell of a machine.” Michael offered him a smile. “It’s like mine, but on a big scale.”

  “Yeah? You got a grind, honey?” He stroked Michael’s fingers, loving the feel of the man’s skin against his.

  “Just normal life—I have a little hobby ranch, a business, girls—and with that comes Girl Scouts and camp, dance and piano and voice and guitar, gymnastics and robotics.”

  “Robotics?” He raised his eyebrows. “No shit?” He would bet that was Mickey.

  “Robotics. Mickey made the team at school. She was tickled to give up dance class. I think she hated it.”

  “Chloe clearly loves to dance,” Simon murmured.

  “She does. She’ll end up on one of those weird talent shows at some point in her life. The reality ones.” Michael’s lips twisted into something part-smirk, part-grin. “They are so different, yet they’re not.”

  “They’re amazing.” Simon hadn’t spent much time around kids, but he already adored those two. “Mom says they look just like me at that age.”

  Michael’s hand tightened for a second, then it relaxed. “Yeah? I think they look like Rhi.”

  “That’s what I said, though I’m ashamed to admit, I don’t remember her eye color. Her smile, yes.”

  “They were dark, dark brown. Deep, rich.”

  “She was lovely.” He rubbed Michael’s hand again with his thumb, feeling so awkward. “I’m so sorry.”

  “Me too. It’s crazy. You met her in May, and she was gone by January.”

  They stood there a good bit, holding hands, the sounds of birds and horses and such soothing around them. He liked it a lot.

  “Feeling better?” Michael asked.

  “I am, thanks. You okay?” He hoped Michael was there because he wanted to be with Simon for a bit, and not just because he was a nice guy.

  “I am. It’s good to see you. I hope that I… I don’t know… Maybe I can call?”

  “God yes.” Relief poured through him. “Heck, I was hoping you were staying on a few days. Did I hear you say that?”

  “I’m here until Tuesday morning, and then I have to take the girls to camp for three weeks. Then we’ll probably come back up for another visit.” Michael shrugged. “The guys always make room for us.”

  “I really do want to stay on, maybe for a few weeks. I would love to see more of you.” A lot of him. In fact, he wanted to see all of Michael again in a private situation, but Simon wasn’t sure that was possible.

  “Well, I’m around here a lot, or you’re welcome to come to the house. It’s not far. We’re in Carbondale.”

  “Yeah?” That perked him right up. “I would love to see.”

  “Sure. Sure, I’d be happy to show you around. I—” Michael’s cheeks went pink. “I have Wednesday night without the girls.”

  “You do?” His heart started to thud. “That’s good, right?”

  “It could be.” Michael squeezed his hand.

  “I think it could be really, really good.” He was panting. God, was he that easy? The answer was no. Michael was his ultimate memory.

  “I haven’t had, uh, serious adult time since the girls were born.”

  Simon blinked. Shit. Shit, how old were the kids? Eight? That was fucking forever, and Michael was young.

  “None?” He knew his voice had gone up with surprise, but wow. “Honey, you need some. Stat.”

  “I never… I don’t know. I was depressed for a while there. Couple years I did the basics—babies and school, living with my mom, working nights. Then I had a business and all the shit you do as a single parent.”

  “I get it.” He actually did. The first few years of his career, he’d been a little nuts, but these days, he crashed after shows and hid from people.

  “Yeah, but I have a great life now. Good clients, great friends.” Michael beamed at him. “My girls
, my horses, my baby ranch.”

  “You’re kind of amazing, Michael.” He meant it. Simon half turned, sliding his hand up Michael’s arm.

  “Are you intending to kiss me again, sir?” That was definitely flirting.

  “I am.” Simon went up on tiptoes, pressing his mouth to Michael’s. No time like the present.

  For a big man, Michael was painfully gentle, and sweet as honey.

  They kissed for long moments, slow and easy, the burn building, but they both knew it had nowhere to go, so they didn’t push it.

  “You still taste good.”

  “Was I your first?” he asked, and Michael chuckled.

  “Kiss from a man? Yeah. I usually watched. I was scared.”

  “You were. I could tell.” He grinned. “But you were amazing.”

  “I wasn’t your first.” Michael winked at him. “I could tell.”

  “Yeah, no. But I think about you a lot. I can’t say that about the others.” That much was one hundred percent true.

  “Thank you. Seriously.” That blush made him feel like a million bucks.

  “Mmm. Kiss me again. Before we get interrupted?” He wanted all sorts of things. Adult things, as Michael said.

  “I can do that.” This kiss was harder, more determined, tinged with wildness. They had a feel for each other now, and Michael knew he was still in all the way.

  Simon wanted. Badly.

  “You want to spend the night again?”

  “I do.” He shivered. Of course he did.

  “Me too. My door has a lock.”

  “That is the most romantic thing I’ve ever heard.” A family man offering to keep watch over his kids but carve out time for Simon? Not something he’d ever experienced.

  Michael chuckled softly, the smile so pleased, so shy.

  “I guess right now we ought to get back, huh?” He was a little worried his mom would kidnap those girls.

  “Yeah, I don’t want the girls wondering where I took off to.”

  “No. No, of course not.” He grinned. “Watch out, though. Mom will be having them over for a sleepover.”

  “They sure do seem to like her.” Michael chuckled softly. “They spend time with my mom a lot, and they go to Florida to hang with Rhi’s sister on spring break.”

  “Are her parents…”

  Michael shook his head. “Sarah got breast cancer, and Will just stopped functioning. Alcohol took him not a year later.”