Memory of a Melody

by Charli B. Rose

  “If you get sauce on you, I’ll just have to lick it off.” He waggled his brows at me. “I got water too. Got to make sure we hydrate well so we can enjoy the rest of our night.”

  I chewed the bite of chicken. “These are really good.”

  “Glad you like them. The sauce is my secret recipe.” He took a wing for himself.

  I licked my fingers when I finished my wing, then took a swallow from the water bottle closest to me.

  “So, besides wings, what other foods do you like?” Trystan asked as he snatched another wing from the plate.

  “I love comfort food. Like country-fried steak, macaroni and cheese, mashed potatoes—stuff my grandma used to make for Sunday dinners. Oh, and Italian. I’m a sucker for pasta. I could probably live off spaghetti and meatballs. What about you?” I asked before popping a grape into my mouth.

  “I’m not hard to please. I love a good steak, but I’m just as satisfied with a hot dog from my favorite street vendor.”

  “You haven’t had a hot dog until you’ve roasted one over a fire yourself,” I argued, remembering quiet country nights on my grandparents’ farm.

  “Maybe you can show me how to do that sometime.” He tipped his water bottle to his lips and took a long drink. Then he took another wing, seeming to be completely unaware that he gave whatever this was between us a future of sometime.

  Did he want more than one night too?

  “So, who’s your favorite band?” he asked, breaking me out of my thoughts.

  “I feel like you’re setting me up … like you’re going to judge me if I choose wrong,” I teased, bumping him with my shoulder and taking another wing.

  He turned and stared at me wide-eyed. “I would never judge a person based on their musical tastes.”

  I squinted my eyes, studying him for truth in his statement. “You promise?”

  “Cross my heart,” he vowed, drawing an X over his chest.

  “Backstreet Boys.”

  I had to give him credit. Only the tiniest snicker slipped out of his pursed lips. He sucked his lips in between his teeth and held his breath, but he didn’t laugh.

  When he seemed to have himself under control, I asked, “Who’s your favorite band?”

  “Aerosmith,” he said without hesitation. “Now for a less serious topic. How do you spend your days?”

  “I went into business with my best friend, Sydney, to create a fashion boutique. What about you? What do you do when you aren’t singing on stage and sweeping heartbroken girls off their feet?” I grabbed another wing. They were so good, I couldn’t help myself.

  “I’m a mechanic at a high-end auto shop.”

  When he turned his head my way, I reached up and swiped a dab of sauce from the corner of his mouth. I licked it off my thumb.

  Faster than I could comprehend, he removed the tray from our laps and set it on the floor. Then he rolled over on me, pinning me to the bed and tickling my sides. “I was saving that bit of sauce for later,” he growled in a teasing voice.

  I giggled until he dipped his head down and captured my mouth in a scorching kiss.

  He flipped us over, settling me atop his lap as he eased us back into a seated position. Sitting there, looking into his eyes, I couldn’t help but marvel at how natural everything felt between us, even the teasing and playfulness.

  “Princess, I know that having a one-night stand was on your list of nevers …” He tucked my hair behind my ears. His Adam’s apple bobbed as he swallowed. “But I’m hoping that one stays on your list because I want more than one night with you. If that’s OK.” He sounded so vulnerable.

  ♪ Start of Something Good by Daughtry

  “I’d definitely be good with many nights with you instead of just one. A single night hardly seems like enough,” I said with a wide smile. “Now kiss me like we have lots of nights.”

  “My pleasure.” He gently cradled my face in his hands and brought our faces closer together.

  When our lips finally met, he kissed me slow and with meaning. My skin heated as the kiss deepened. There was nothing between us, so he was acutely aware of my rising arousal. My nipples pebbled against his chest, and wetness began to gather between my thighs. I was surprised by my desire for him again so soon, which wasn’t normal for me.

  His length thickened beneath me, making the need in me rise higher.

  “Condom?” I whispered against his mouth.

  He leaned over to get one out of the nightstand drawer. I took the foil square from him and made quick work of rolling it down his shaft. My body hovered over his. He fisted his length and guided it to my entrance.

  Slowly, I sank down, making us groan in unison. I lifted my hips, paused, then reversed directions, rocking against him when I hit the bottom. Then I repeated the whole process.

  Trystan let me set the pace this time. I was determined to savor every second of whatever this was between us for this round. And I did, staring into his eyes the whole time. We were connected in a way that went beyond the physical.

  Later, I stretched my arm out in front of me and encountered only an empty mattress and cool sheets. The room was still bathed in shadows, so it wasn’t time to wake up yet. So where was Trystan?

  Soft music floated on the air currents. I swung my feet over the side of the bed and wrapped the bedsheet around my body. I quietly padded to the living room in search of the source of the beautiful melody. Trystan sat on the couch, his eyes closed and his guitar across his lap.

  6

  Trystan

  ♪ My Person by Spencer Crandall

  A little while ago, music in my mind woke me from sleep. I’d tried to ignore it but couldn’t. So I eased out of bed and made my way to the living room. With my guitar in my lap, lyrics and notes were flowing in a way they never had before. My fingers could barely keep up with what was running through my mind. My heart.

  Movement to my left caught my eye. Willa stood in the doorway, wrapped in the sheet from my bed. I filed the sight away for future inspiration. My fingers stilled on the strings, and I motioned her over.

  Slowly, she shuffled over to me, one fist gripping the sheet above her breasts. She ducked her head down shyly. When she got close enough, I set aside my guitar and yanked her onto my naked lap.

  I brushed her tangled hair away from her face. “Sorry if I woke you.”

  “It’s not a big deal. Waking up to beautiful music is almost as good as waking up next to a sexy hunk of man meat.” She winked at me.

  I squeezed her sides gently.

  “Was that an original?” she asked.

  “Yes. It’s brand-new. I woke up with it in my mind. It wouldn’t let me go back to sleep.” I shrugged helplessly. “Sometimes I can’t control the muse.”

  “Can I hear it?”

  She curled up next to me so I could settle my guitar back on my lap. I strummed a few cords. Closing my eyes, I started to play the song’s intro. When I got in my groove, I began to sing my heart. My soul bled into the lyrics. Somehow this woman, who I’d only known a handful of hours, had managed to access the innermost trappings of my heart. She’d unraveled them and turned them into lyrics.

  When the final notes faded, I opened my eyes to find hers glistening with tears.

  “That was so beautiful,” she whispered, almost as if she was afraid to break the spell.

  I shifted my guitar aside once more. Peering at her with all the sincerity in my heart, I said, “Not as beautiful as the person who inspired it.”

  Cupping her face with my hands, I guided her mouth to mine and began writing a new song. A melody of lost hearts being found; a stanza of the start of something amazing.

  ♪ Beautiful Like You by Heath Sanders

  Something woke me. The room was still dark, so it wasn’t time to get up yet. Lifting my head slightly, I peered at the glowing numerals on my nightstand. Not even six yet. I dropped my head back onto my pillow.

  Cuddled up next to me was a goddess who could’ve walked right out of
my fantasies. In slumber, she looked so peaceful. Her hand was tucked beneath her cheek. I allowed myself a few moments to admire her. My cheeks ached from smiling so widely. I stretched leisurely, being careful not to wake Willa. Then I drew her into my embrace.

  Unable to resist, I stroked a finger along her bare shoulder. The sheet was tucked around her torso, but I felt her bare skin pressed against mine beneath it. My heart was so full, it felt like it was going to burst out of my chest. I had no explanation or real understanding of what I was feeling, but I knew this woman had already worked her way inside my head, my heart, my music. And surprisingly, I liked her there and wanted more of her.

  ♪ Deep Inside of You by Third Eye Blind

  I drifted back to sleep, excited about what morning would bring.

  Sometime later, soft sounds and sunlight streaming through a crack in the curtains roused me. I didn’t have to open my eyes to know that Willa was no longer lying next to me. I cracked one eye open and found her at the foot of the bed, slipping her dress over her head.

  “You planning to sneak out on me, princess?” I asked, my voice thick with sleep.

  She shrugged her shoulders.

  I rolled over and sat up, causing the sheet to pool low in my lap. “Well, I’m glad I woke up just in time then,” I teased, not wanting to spook her if she was having second thoughts about us.

  “I wasn’t trying to sneak away … I don’t think. I have a meeting in a little while that I can’t miss. With a potential investor for my family’s struggling business. I … uh, need to go home and change first. Finding them an investor is the best thing I can do since they won’t let me use my trust fund money. So, I’m trying to secure funds a different way. And after everything with Cade, I need to find several investors. Pretty sure Cade’s parents will pull out when I tell them I’m cancelling the wedding. I can’t believe I’m telling you all this crap,” she rambled.

  I laughed. “I quite enjoy hearing you talk about anything. And I completely understand that you need to go. I was hoping to spend more time with you today. Unless you changed your mind about us not being a one-night stand?” My voice held a hint of insecurity.

  She sank down on the bed next to me. “I haven’t changed my mind. My meeting should be done before lunch. I’m going to go to Cade’s and get my stuff while he’s at work. Then I have to call some wedding vendors to start canceling things. But I have no plans for this evening or tonight.”

  “Are you asking me out?” I teased.

  Nodding, she stared down at where her fingers wound around the sheet.

  I tipped her chin up, forcing her gaze to mine. “Yes, princess, I’d love to go out with you.” I eased my body closer to hers, her breath caressing my lips. “How about I pick you up at six? We’ll go have a fancy dinner. We’ll laugh and get to know each other better. You can tell me some more things you want to cross off your never list. And then we can get lost in each other. How’s that sound?”

  “I think that sounds wonderful.” Leaning forward, she erased the tiny amount of space between our lips.

  My tongue ran along her lower lip. She opened her mouth, granting me admittance. For the space of a few heartbeats, I allowed myself to get lost in the kiss.

  She eased back before it could get too deep. Reluctantly, she got to her feet. She slipped her feet into her high-heeled shoes.

  “Give me a second, and I’ll walk down with you and help you get a cab. It’ll be faster than the subway,” I said, slipping out from under the sheet.

  “Don’t be silly. It’s crazy early. Stay naked in bed … thinking of me for a while,” she said, stepping over to me.

  She dragged her fingertips down my abdomen, stopping just below my belly button. My cock twitched as she pressed her mouth to mine in a deep kiss. I couldn’t help but grin. My brave princess still wanted me.

  Before things could get too heated, she stepped back. “I’ve got to go. I’ll see you tonight,” she said, slightly breathless.

  “I’ll be counting the hours.”

  She stepped around me and sashayed down the hall. I quickly fell in step with her. My hand drifted to the small of her back, unable to resist touching her. After I unlocked the door and pulled it open, she moved into the opening. I made sure to keep my naked body behind the door, leaning around it to bid her goodbye.

  “I’ll watch you from my bedroom window to make sure you get in the cab safely,” I told her before stealing one last kiss to hold me over.

  “Such a gentleman.” She wiggled her fingers then moved to the elevator.

  Once she got inside it, I shut my door and dashed back to my room to stand as sentinel over the street. When she emerged onto the sidewalk, she peered up at my window and waved.

  Like a lovestruck teenager, I excitedly waved back at her. Her gaze was focused on me as she stepped closer to the curb. She turned her head to look down the street for a taxi. One was approaching from a few blocks down. Willa lifted her arm.

  Her attention turned back to me in the window. In horror, I watched as two men ran up behind her and tried to grab her purse. Willa’s arm was tangled in the strap. Helplessly, I saw them knock her to the ground, her head bouncing off the sidewalk. One guy kicked at her abdomen, trying to dislodge her purse from her grasp.

  The cab rolled to a stop, making the two guys dart down the street, her purse in one guy’s hand. I tried to memorize their features, repeating them in my mind as I yanked on a pair of jeans. Then I grabbed a T-shirt without bothering to even look at it. I shoved my feet into my sneakers without taking the time to find socks. I scooped up my keys, phone and wallet on my way out the front door.

  There was no time to wait for the elevator, so I burst through the door of the stairwell and stormed down six flights. My brain raced with the images of Willa’s attack.

  When I stumbled out of the building, a couple of bystanders stood over Willa. One had a cell phone pressed to her ear.

  “Willa,” I shouted as I made my way to her and dropped to the concrete. The cold hard surface bit into my knees.

  Her eyes fluttered open when I whispered her name again.

  “A hero too?” she teased in a wispy voice.

  “For you, I’d move Heaven and Earth to try.”

  “Ambulance is on its way,” the woman with the phone said.

  The man handed me Willa’s cell phone. Surprisingly, it wasn’t even cracked. I slipped it into my pocket then eased her head onto my lap.

  She smiled up at me. “Are we still on for dinner tonight? I might be a little late.” Her eyelids fluttered closed.

  “No way I’m letting you back out on me,” I teased back, trying to force brevity into my voice. The sticky wetness slicking my palm concerned me, as did the faraway look in her eyes when she opened them again.

  The paramedics arrived after what felt like forever. I forced myself to step back and let them do their job. One of them asked me questions, though I barely comprehended the words enough to explain that some guys had mugged her and knocked her to the ground.

  The other two medics rolled a dazed Willa onto a backboard. A collar was fastened around her neck to keep her immobilized.

  “Trystan,” she called out weakly.

  I grabbed her fingers with mine. “I’m right here.”

  “Don’t leave me,” she pleaded as they loaded her into the back of the ambulance.

  I climbed in behind, not bothering to answer the guy who asked if I was family.

  7

  Willa

  I groaned and tried to rub my head while keeping my eyes closed, but my arm was tangled in something. Dreading the pain I knew would come with the light, I opened my eyes. The stark whiteness of the room and the bright light made me squint.

  Where was I? My gaze darted around, taking in the machines beeping at my side, noting the tube running to a needle taped to my hand, and finally to the concerned looking face sitting by my bed.

  “Willa, thank God. I was so worried,” he said, gripping my ha
nd that didn’t have an IV in it.

  A frown wrinkled my brow, making my head throb. Who was the man holding my hand, and how did he know my name?

  “Who are you? What happened?” I croaked out.

  A wounded expression flashed on his face, but before he could answer, Sydney gasped from over by the door.

  “You’re awake,” Sydney cried out and rushed to my other side. With tears in her eyes, she pushed the call button by the bed.

  A female voice spoke through the speaker, “Can I help you?”

  “Yes. Willa Larkin is awake,” Sydney said in an excited voice.

  “I’ll send the doctor right in,” the voice answered.

  Sydney smiled down at me, a tear streaking down her cheek. “Just hang on tight. You’re going to be just fine.”

  A dark-skinned man with a bright smile strolled into the room. The white coat and stethoscope indicated he was my doctor.

  Sydney moved aside so the doctor could examine the screens on the machines by my head.

  “Hello, Willa. I’m Dr. Askew. Do you know why you’re here?”

  “I told my mom those shoes would be the death of me. I knew I needed the shorter heels,” I said with an embarrassed laugh.

  The stranger holding my hand stared at me.

  Understanding dawned on me. “I remember you now. You were on the street after I fell. You saved me.”

  Before anyone else could say anything, Cade rushed in, breathless. “Willa, I got here as soon as I could.”

  Sydney moved next to the doctor, preventing Cade from getting closer to me. “Willa, don’t you remember last night?” she whispered.

  “You mean after we found my wedding dress? I can’t remember what we did after that. I only remember wanting to show Mom that I’d never be able to walk in those damn shoes.” Had we gone out for drinks after shopping?