by Elks, Carrie
“He’d never get away with it,” Becca said, joining them at the bar. “Imagine Reverend Maitland’s sermon on Sunday if he did.” She looked down at her phone. “I got a message from Cam. He and Logan are about twenty minutes away. Their flight was two hours late.”
“Nothing changes.” Tanner rolled his eyes. “Those two are always late.”
Gray shook his head, smiling at his brother and sister. Tanner had been right. It was good being able to come here with them and share a drink as adults. He’d missed out on all their birthdays after he was twenty. Never got to celebrate their graduations, their first drinks, and much more, so this was making up for lost time. And he was glad to have the opportunity.
“Two Sierra Nevadas and a dirty martini,” Sam said, sliding their drinks over. “You want me to add them to the tab?”
“Yep.” Gray slid his black Amex over the counter. “Put all the drinks on this tonight.”
“All of them?” Sam raised an eyebrow. “As in everybody who comes in and orders?”
Gray nodded.
“You can’t do that. I invited a lot of people. It will cost hundreds,” Tanner protested.
“Maybe thousands,” Sam added helpfully.
“It’s all good. Consider it payback for all the drinks I should have bought you over the last six years,” Gray reassured Tanner. “I’m your big brother, let me do this.”
“Will you throw me a birthday party, too?” Becca asked him, grinning as she took her cocktail glass.
“Of course.”
“In that case, say yes,” she told Tanner. “Never look a gift horse in the mouth.”
“Are you sure, man?” Tanner asked again. “At least let me pay half.”
“No way. I figure this way you’ll let me skip the karaoke.”
“Oh no,” Becca said. “No way. You can’t back out of that. I’ve got bets riding on it.”
“You bet on Gray winning?” Tanner asked, grinning. “What idiot would bet against you?”
“Nope. I’ve bet on me. Well, me and Maddie. We’ve won every time there’s been a Karaoke competition. I figure we’ll do it again tonight. And since Gray’s here, the odds are amazing.”
“Maddie’s coming tonight?” Gray asked. He took a sip of beer and tried to ignore the way his pulse quickened.
“Yeah. She’s my partner in crime here. And I hate to say it, but her voice is as good as yours.” Becca shrugged. “It’s game on, bro.”
Gray opened his mouth to respond but the door opened and more of Tanner’s friends walked in, followed by two familiar faces that everybody turned to look at. He grinned as he recognized them.
“Oh my god!” Becca shouted out, running to her other two brothers and hugging them. “You’re here. God, I’ve missed you idiots.”
“Of course we are,” Logan, the eldest of the two, ruffled her hair. “I told you we wouldn’t be long.” He glanced at Tanner. “Happy birthday, bro. Sorry we couldn’t be here longer. Staffing crisis at the restaurant.”
As the owner of three restaurants in Boston, Logan was constantly busy. He could only get away once in a blue moon.
Cam was an NFL player, a cornerback for the Patriots. His schedule was as rammed as his twin’s. It was rare they got to spend time together.
Gray stepped forward and hugged his brothers, grinning widely. He was just over a year older than them, and when they were small he’d been like the third twin. It was only as they grew that he became the protector, making sure they were okay, along with Tanner and Becca.
“All the Heartbreak Brothers in one place,” Becca said, laughing when they groaned at their old nickname. “Who would have thought?”
“How’s work?” Gray asked Cam. Of all his brothers, Cam was the one who knew how hard fame could be to deal with. When he was in Boston, it was almost impossible for him to go anywhere without being recognized.
“I’m keeping busy.” Cameron ran his hand over his cropped hair. “About to begin offseason training. And how about you? I hear you’ve been working on the old homestead?”
“Who’d have thought Gray Hartson would be into plumbing,” Logan said, slapping Gray on the back. “I hope you’re recording it all for posterity.”
Tanner brought their drinks over, and they all raised their glasses in a toast. A warmth washed through Gray, the kind of warm that only family gives you. It was like the other side of the coin to his relationship with his father. Strange that without the old man none of them would exist.
“Twenty minutes until Karaoke,” Sam called out from behind the bar. More of Tanner’s friends spilled in, along with some younger women he didn’t recognize, who headed straight for Becca.
He scanned every face that came in, but none of them were Maddie.
“You guys are going to sing, right?” one of Becca’s friends asked Logan and Cameron.
“Of course.” Logan grinned. “We can’t let Gray steal all the limelight.”
“I’m not singing,” Gray told them.
“Ah, yeah you are.”
“How about you, Tanner?” Cam asked.
“Yep. I’ve already put my song request in.” He grinned. “And since it’s my party, I get to go first.”
Becca glanced at her watch. “Maybe I should call Maddie. It’s not like her to be late.”
The air inside the bar was getting warm, the noise levels rising as Tanner’s friends and family laughed and talked with each other. Gray glanced at the door as it opened, and Maddie walked in. She stood in the doorway for a moment, looking around until she spotted Becca and smiled.
God, she looked good in her tight jeans and white strappy top, her dark hair cascading down her back. He took another mouthful of beer and pulled his eyes away, not wanting anybody to notice him looking.
“Who’s that?” Logan asked Becca, his eyes wide.
“Maddie Clark.”
“No way.” His brother looked at Gray. “You hear that? That’s Maddie Clark. Jesus, she’s changed.”
“Ashleigh’s sister?” Cam asked, turning to watch her walk across the bar. “They sure know how to make gorgeous girls in that family.”
“Hey, you seen Ashleigh since you’ve been back?” Logan asked him.
“No.”
“Probably for the best.” Cameron laughed. “She hated your guts after you left.”
Gray swallowed hard, and looked over at Maddie again. Couldn’t help himself. Her eyes met his and it felt like a punch in the gut. A pleasurable, yet painful punch. Then Logan stepped between them and cut off the connection. Gray took a deep, calming breath.
What was it with her? Every time they were together he felt a visceral connection. It was crazy and stupid, and so damn good.
He took another mouthful of beer and glanced at his watch. It was almost nine o’clock.
“Okay, Tanner,” Sam called out, walking from behind the bar. “It’s Karaoke time and you’re first up.” He led Gray’s younger brother to the makeshift stage in the corner, handing him the microphone and pointing at the screen. “Ladies and gentlemen,” he called out. “Welcome to the Moonlight Bar Karaoke Competition. First contestant is our very own Tanner Hartson. And tonight he’ll be singing Along the River, a song made famous by his brother, Gray Hartson.”
* * *
Maddie bit down a grin at the way Gray’s mouth dropped when Sam called out Tanner’s choice of song. His brows pulled together and she had the biggest urge to reach out and trace the furrows that formed at the top of his strong, straight nose.
“You chose my song?” Gray asked, perplexed.
Tanner grinned and leaned into the microphone. “Think of it as a homage, bro.”
“That’s Tanner-speak for massacre,” Becca mock-whispered while Logan and Cameron laughed. But then the familiar notes of Along the River began, and Maddie’s heart clenched like it always did. It was such a slow, heartbreaking melody. Every local radio station seemed to play it constantly when it first came out. It reminded her of school dances an
d Homecoming and evenings at Chairs.
Her eyes slid to Gray’s again, and her breath caught in her throat when she realized he was looking at her.
“Hi.” She smiled at him.
“Hey.” He walked over to her, stopping a few feet away. “I’m glad you came.”
Yeah, so was she. Now. She had an almost-panic attack about an hour ago when she realized she’d be singing in front of Gray Hartson. Which was stupid because she never cared about singing in front of people. Not here in Hartson’s Creek, anyway. Karaoke in the Moonlight Bar was only a bit of fun, unless you were Becca who took it very seriously.
The instrumental intro ended and Tanner sang the first words.
“Remember when we were kids? And everything we did? The days we spent at school right by the river.”
“Ouch.” Logan covered his ears. “Could he hit any more bum notes?”
“The day that love died. And everybody cried. We held each other tight by the river.”
Tanner was looking right at his brother, serenading him. Gray shook his head and Maddie grinned because it was so damn sweet watching them.
“Come on, bro,” Tanner called out. “Come and sing with me.”
Gray lifted his hands up and shook his head. “No,” he mouthed.
“Go on,” Logan urged.
“It’s his party,” Becca said, grabbing Gray’s arm. “Go and join him.”
Tanner launched into the chorus and pointed at Gray. He turned his hand over and beckoned him with a curled finger. Maddie laughed again and Gray looked at her with raised eyebrows.
“What?” she asked.
Gray grinned sheepishly at her and walked to the stage, and damn if watching his long-legged easy stride didn’t make her heart beat a little faster. He walked onto the platform and Tanner hugged him, his grin so wide it was infectious. Tanner held the microphone up to Gray’s mouth as the chorus repeated, and the crowd in the bar cheered loudly as he began to sing.
“The day I walked along the river was the day we said goodbye.” Gray’s voice was low and achingly soulful. A shiver wracked its way down Maddie’s spine.
“The day we walked along the river was the day I made you cry.” His eyes scanned the crowd as he leaned in, landing on her. Maddie’s breath caught in her throat.
“Now I sit here all alone and all I think about is then.”
Everybody was clustered around the stage, their arms up, their voices loud as they joined in the song.
“Why can’t we walk along the river again?”
“Shit,” Becca whisper-shouted in Maddie’s ear. “Do you think we can top that?”
“Sure,” Maddie lied. “Piece of cake.”
Becca muttered something about their A-game before she wandered over to where Sam was standing by the stage, and whispered something in his ear. Maddie stayed exactly where she was. She couldn’t have moved if she’d wanted to. It was as though she was glued to the spot, her pulse thumping in time to the music.
“You’re so fucking hot,” one of Becca’s friends shouted at Gray over the music. Almost everybody laughed.
Maddie wanted to join in, she really did. But there were too many emotions rushing through her, and not a single one of them was amusement. There was confusion and desire and a wistfulness that she could taste on the tip of her tongue.
But not humor. Not at all.
As the song came to a close, and Gray sang the final note, another roar went up, along with whistles and claps. Gray ruffled Tanner’s hair and Tanner slapped his back, then they both climbed down from the stage.
For a moment they disappeared into the crowd, and all she could see were the tips of their heads as Tanner’s friends congratulated and hugged them. Then Gray emerged, walking toward her, and Maddie had to curl her fingers into fists and dig her nails into her palms in an attempt not to throw herself at him.
The need to touch him was overwhelming. His t-shirt was clinging to him, his skin glowing, his eyes sparkling. She swallowed hard and tried to remind herself who he was. Her sister’s ex.
But her heart didn’t want to listen. It was too busy pounding at her ribcage.
“How was I?” he asked her, his eyes heavy-lidded as he looked down at her.
“You were okay.” She somehow managed to keep her voice steady. “Not as good as the original, but who is?”
He grinned, and it about broke her. “Damned with faint praise.”
“Okay, next up is Becca and Maddie,” Sam shouted into the microphone. The feedback crackled through the speakers, making her wince.
“Good luck,” Gray said, still smiling at her.
“And as a treat, Maddie will be playing the piano while they sing.”
“You will?” Gray asked her.
It was news to her. So that was what Becca had been whispering to Sam about. She looked over at the old piano at the end of the stage. She knew from experience it was out of tune, and covered with about two inches of dust.
“Come on, Maddie,” Becca called out over Sam’s shoulder, almost bouncing with excitement.
Gray slipped his warm palm under her elbow and led her over to the piano, stepping back so she could slide onto the stool. She traced her finger along the lid, and sure enough it came back grey. Sighing, she lifted it up and turned to Becca. “What am I playing?”
“Lady Antebellum. I Need You Now.” Becca spoke into the microphone. The people in front of the stage whooped.
Maddie shook her head and looked at the keys. It would have been better with a guitar, but she could make it work with the piano. As she put her fingers on the ivory, Becca walked over, carrying the microphone, and sat down next to her.
“You do Hillary’s vocals and I’ll do Charles’,” Becca whispered, as Maddie pressed her fingers on the first four notes, then repeated the melody, silently counting herself in.
As Becca held the microphone in front of her, Maddie opened her lips to sing, and forgot everything around her.
Everything except the gorgeous man leaning on the top of the piano, watching her intently.
Chapter Thirteen
The entire room was silent as Maddie sang the first line. Her voice was pure, perfectly in tune, and it cut right to his core. Beneath the keyboard he could see her knee moving up and down to the beat, her fingers speeding up as the verse segued into the chorus.
Becca leaned in and the two of them sang about being drunk and needy, and he believed every word. Maddie’s expression was animated, her lips soft as she lived the words she was singing.
She was a natural performer. That much was clear. It wasn’t just that she could play piano – he’d met a lot of people who could do that, some of them better than her. It wasn’t the sound of her voice, either, though it sent shivers down his spine every time she opened her mouth. No, it was in the way she moved, her head turning to capture the audience who stood swaying in front of the stage, their expressions rapt. She didn’t need to strut her stuff or belt out the tune, because she’d already made them hers.
It was intoxicating.
Becca took over the next verse, stumbling over a note, and Maddie caught her eye and grinned. Then the chorus began again and the crowd joined in, their bodies swaying, their arms raised up.
Gray found himself mouthing the words along with them. Maddie glanced up at him, her lips curling as she caught his eye. God, he wanted her. Wanted to kiss those words right out of her mouth. Wanted to show her how damn sexy her talent was. His fingers ached with the need to touch her soft lips, to push his way inside and watch her reaction.
“Maddie’s good, huh?” Tanner asked, passing Gray a fresh bottle of beer. He leaned on the piano next to him and made a face at Becca, who stuck her tongue out at him.
“She’s more than good. She’s better than half the professional singers I know.”
“That’s why nobody likes singing Karaoke after them. She and Becca always win the competitions.” Tanner grinned at him. “Until we came along.”
The son
g was coming to an end. Becca and Maddie were leaning in close, singing about how much they needed their baby, their voices breathy and low. As Maddie played the final note, the crowd cheered loudly, stamping their feet and calling for more. Becca grabbed her hand and pulled her up, the two of them bowing to their audience. Somebody whistled appreciatively, and Gray frowned. That was his sister and his…
Friend?
Why did that word make him feel so disappointed? He looked back at Maddie. Watched the way her chest rose and fell rapidly as she took shallow breaths. Then someone put a glass in her hand, and another person pulled her away, and all Gray could do was watch her.
His friend.
“Next up we have some fresh Karaoke meat. Twins Logan and Cameron. Give a big Moonlight welcome to them both,” Sam shouted into the microphone. “And don’t forget, at the end you’ll have the chance to vote for your favorite. Whoever gets the loudest applause wins the coveted Moonlight Karaoke Trophy.”
“He doesn’t have one,” Tanner told Gray. “Someone stole it last year. But he’s hoping by the end of the night everybody will be too drunk to notice.”
Gray chuckled as he scanned the room, looking for her. “I’m just gonna…” he inclined his head at the bar.
“Good plan. Logan and Cam sing about as well as I do.”
Gray walked across the room, smiling and shaking hands as people told him how great it was that he came here tonight. But his attention was elsewhere, looking for her.
She wasn’t at the bar, nor in the crowd of people staring at the stage as Logan and Cam ruined a perfectly good song. He looked at the bathroom for a while, but gave up when he started to worry what people might think.
Becca was talking to a couple of girls by the bar. Gray walked over to her and hugged her, congratulating her on her performance.
“Have you seen Maddie?” he asked her.
“No.” Becca looked around. “But she must be here somewhere.”
“No worries. I’ll catch her later.”
She’d gone home. He was sure of it, though he had no idea why. He put his beer down on the counter and grabbed his jacket, heading out through the peeling green door. The night air surrounded him, cooler than he’d expected.