Melody, page 8
She eyes my empty glass of water sitting on the cocktail table by the cue rack. “You’re empty.”
“I am. And I’m going to call it a night.” I replace my cue on the wall and walk to the bar to take care of my tab, leaving Sage at the pool table with Cage and Dragon.
Brendan Murphy has replaced Ava at the bar.
“Hey, Jesse.”
“Just want to close out my tab,” I say.
He heads over to the cash register. “Not a problem.” He hands me a receipt.
I sign. “I noticed that Gina isn’t here tonight with the rest of the awesome foursome,” I say. “Is she okay?”
“Thanks for asking.” Brendan shoves my signed receipt into his register. “She’s having a hard time. I mean, anyone would.”
“Ava seems to be at peace.”
“Yeah, but it was a while coming. Ava has a different way of looking at things than most people.”
I nod. “Well, give Gina my best if you see her. So long.”
“See you, Jesse.”
I head to the door, and then I look back at the table.
And there’s Brianna Steel.
Staring straight at me.
And damn.
Why am I feeling these sparks? I don’t have time to get involved with anyone, and certainly not a woman ten years my junior. I need to give my all to the band right now. To this tour. We have to kill this thing. Our family needs it.
So I leave.
I leave the bar.
And I try to leave Brianna Steel there.
But a piece of her comes with me, in my head. In my groin.
I have to make peace with her being on the tour. She’s a part of my circle now. My sister is engaged to her brother. My other sister is engaged to her cousin.
One thing’s for sure, though.
I’m going to have to keep my hands to myself.
I reach for my phone in my pocket—
“For the love—” I say out loud. I must’ve left my phone in the bar. In fact, I can see it in my mind, sitting on that cocktail table right next to where the pool cues are.
I was looking at my phone when I put my cue on the rack, and I set it down.
So back into the bar I go, jingling the bells on the door.
And as I walk in—
Brianna is walking out, and we collide, her own phone clattering to the wood floor.
My whole body reacts to her presence.
She’s so tall. Perfect for a guy my height.
She drops her jaw. “Oh, Jesse! I’m so sorry.” She reaches down to retrieve her phone.
And I take a good look at her ass. I should have picked up the phone for her. Some gentleman I am.
“Are you leaving?” I ask.
“No. I just wanted to get some air. I thought you left.”
“My phone’s still in there.”
She nods and walks past me out the door.
I head back into the bar, where Sage is now hanging on Dragon.
Dragon, who I’ve told in no uncertain terms to stay away from the awesome foursome.
But…I’m not here to enforce that rule.
Do I need to stay?
My head’s not here, though, so I find my phone, wave bye to the guys again, and leave the bar.
Brianna’s standing outside the bar, leaning on the brick building.
She looks amazing in her Levi’s and cowboy boots. A black leather jacket covers her long-sleeved tee.
She nods at me. “Hi again.”
“Hi.”
“So you’re heading out?”
“I am. I’m playing like crap tonight.”
She sighs. “I know. So am I. Maddie beat me twice.”
“Maddie isn’t bad.”
Brianna shrugs. “No, she’s not bad at all. She’s good, actually. But of all of us, including Maddie, I’m the best at pool. Apparently not tonight.”
“Yeah, I hear you.”
Then something comes out of my mouth that I’m not expecting. “You want to take a walk?”
Her cheeks go rosy. “Hmm… Yes and no.”
I step closer to her. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“It means on another night, yes, I’d love to take a walk with you. But I invited Maddie here for a drink, so I can’t just ditch her.”
“True.” I glance inside the bar. “I don’t want you ditching my sister.”
She fidgets with her phone. “I suppose I could go in there and ask if she minds if I take off for a few minutes.”
“It’s okay. Don’t bother. I’m out of here.”
“Jesse?”
I turn, look over my shoulder.
“Yeah?”
She pauses, as if she’s thinking about what to say. Then, “Nothing. See you around.”
“Yeah. See you around.”
But my pulse goes into overdrive, and my already hard dick takes the lead. I take a step and then another. One more, and then I turn around, stalk back toward Brianna, and glare at her.
“Why are you doing this to me?”
“Doing what?”
“Making me…” I shake my head, rake my fingers through my long hair. “Making me want you, for God’s sake.”
“Jesse, I—”
I grab her then, stare into her eyes. They’re wide, but not in fright or anger. It’s been a while for me, but I still know how to read a woman. Anticipation builds from my pounding heart to my throbbing groin through every inch of my body. Excitement. Nerves. Curiosity.
And again her dark and smoldering eyes.
They’re wide in want.
“Jesus Christ.”
She says nothing, but her lips are slightly parted, and they’re glistening.
God, yes. Those full red lips…
“No.” I let her go. “I apologize.”
“You don’t have to apologize, Jesse.”
“Yeah, I do.” I brush my arms off, as if I’m dusting her off me. “I’m a rocker, but I’m not that kind of rocker. I don’t take advantage of young women.”
She closes the short distance between us. “I know you don’t. Please. If you want to kiss me, just do it.”
Fuck. She knows. How can she not? I all but said it. “No.”
“Please.”
God, her lips are still parted, so sexy and shining, so I grab her again, and I crush my mouth to hers.
I slide my tongue between her lips, and she meets it with her own.
She tastes like smoky bourbon mingled with the sweetness of fresh strawberries.
How long has it been since I’ve kissed a woman?
Too damned long, and even longer since I’ve taken one into my bed.
But what the hell am I doing?
I break the kiss, let her go. Then I walk away.
Chapter Fifteen
Brianna
My lips… Stinging, tingling, and I can’t catch my breath.
I want to yell to Jesse, tell him to come back, but my vocal cords are paralyzed—paralyzed by the arousal and need that has taken me over.
I lean against the brick wall of the bar, steady myself.
The kiss…
It was better than I’ve ever imagined—and I’ve imagined a lot. So many times in dreams and in waking hours.
I always wondered what those full Jesse Pike lips would feel like against my own.
It was so much more than a kiss. It was a moment filled with possibility and vulnerability, where the outside world dissolved away and gave rise to pure sensation.
Absently, I bring my fingers to my bottom lip, touch it lightly.
God, the prickles, the tingles, the sizzles.
This from a kiss.
I’ve been kissed before. Many times, in fact.
And I’ve done…a lot.
But never the actual deed.
Not because I didn’t have the chance. Not because I didn’t want to.
But something always held me back.
It was a gift I could only give once, and I’ve dreamed so long about giving it to Jesse.
Could my dream actually come true?
I inhale, exhale, inhale, exhale, and when I finally think I can walk, I make my way back into the bar.
Maddie and Angie are still sitting at our small table, and Sage is still flirting relentlessly with Cage and Dragon.
I sit back down.
“Are you okay?” Maddie asks. “You were gone quite a while.”
I put on my best smile. “I’m fine. Just needed some air.”
Angie raises an eyebrow at me. “You look…”
“I look what?” I ask as innocently as I can muster.
She cocks her head. “Nothing. Just a little frazzled.”
I pause a moment to gather my thoughts into something coherent. “Well, who wouldn’t be? I’m about to embark on an amazing adventure. With this girl here.” I squeeze Maddie’s arm.
“I have to say, now that you’ve talked me into the whole thing, I’m really looking forward to it.” Maddie beams. “I mean, seriously, when else would I be able to see Europe? Both my brother and sister will be there. And Callie, for part of it. It’ll be like a Pike sibling adventure.”
“Yeah. It’ll be great.” I grin, my lips still reeling from Jesse’s kiss.
“I suppose a Steel cousin adventure for you,” Angie says. “With Donny and Brock there.”
“Yeah, Brock has offered to hang out with us.” I roll my eyes.
“I know,” Maddie says, “but maybe it’s a good idea. Is he familiar with Europe?”
“Not really, but he feels a sense of duty. I’m sure my mom and dad have already told him to keep an eye on me.”
“We’re grown women,” Maddie says. “But Jesse feels the same way.”
“Yes, I know. To all of them, we’re still babies.”
“I don’t mind Brock joining us,” she says. “Since he and Rory have been together, I’ve grown to like him quite a lot.”
“Yeah. Brock is a lot of fun.”
He is. I love my cousin. I love all my cousins. But with him watching over me, I won’t be able to get near Jesse.
And now? After that kiss?
I might have a shot.
But I can’t get ahead of myself. I can’t throw myself at him. My God, I actually begged him to kiss me tonight.
And he did.
Then he left.
Maybe the kiss wasn’t good for him. But how could it not have been? It was an amazing kiss, and I’ve done a fair amount of kissing.
Of course…he’s probably done much more kissing than I have. He’s a rocker. He probably has groupies in the other towns where the band plays.
I can’t even think about it.
All the Emerald Phoenix fans are going to see him up there and fall madly in love with him when they hear him sing.
How am I going to deal with this?
Maybe going on this tour wasn’t such a good idea.
No.
I will not second-guess myself.
This is my chance. My chance to try to get close to Jesse. After all, he won’t be rehearsing and performing the whole time. He’ll have a chance to do some sightseeing himself, and somehow, I will finagle a way to go with him.
Without Brock, and without Rory, and without Maddie.
Jesse and me.
I will find a way.
The next day, I drive into Grand Junction alone for some shopping. I want to find the perfect holiday gift for Jesse.
I’ll give it to him anonymously—figure out a way to sneak it under the Pikes’ tree. Probably during a visit to Maddie.
If only I could give him money. It’s what he needs, but he wouldn’t take it.
I’ll find something. Something that will have meaning to him. Meaning to both of us.
I stop at a mall, wander around. I don’t have any idea what I’m looking for, until I see it in the window of a small shop called Yesterday’s Treasures.
It’s a brass belt buckle with a dragon etched on it.
A dragon for Dragonlock.
I walk into the shop, and I feel like I’ve stepped out of a time machine. The decor is an intriguing blend of history and charm, and I inhale the scent of lavender and parchment.
The walls are lined with wooden shelves, showcasing an eclectic assortment of iconic items. Each shelf is a visual feast—vintage vinyl records, classic movie posters, porcelain figurines, leather-bound books, and myriad vintage jewelry.
I’m drawn to the rack of retro sunglasses. I can’t help myself. I choose a pair of round frames, put them on, and view myself in the mirror.
Yeah, I could have lived in the sixties. I rock these frames.
But I’m not here to buy for me.
At the center of the store, a young man sits behind the counter. “May I help you?” he asks when I approach him.
“I’d like to buy that dragon belt buckle in the window,” I say.
He smiles. “You got here just in time. That’s our last one.”
I frown. “It’s not vintage?”
“Not that piece. Most of our figurines and a lot of our jewelry are new.”
Bummer. It’s not one of a kind. But on Jesse it will be.
“I’ll take it.”
“Would you like to have it engraved?”
Hmm. I tilt my head. That way I can make it one of a kind for a one-of-a-kind man. “Yeah. Maybe.”
“It’s an extra twenty-five dollars.”
“Sounds great. Let’s engrave it.”
The clerk steps out from behind his counter, walks to the window, grabs the belt buckle, and brings it back.
“What would you like it to say?”
“On the front, I want it to say Jesse. J-E-S-S-E.”
He makes some notes. “And anything on the back?”
“I don’t know…”
“Is it a gift?”
“It is. Let’s see…” I tap my fingers on the counter. “Engrave it to say With lots of love on the back.”
“Perfect. What’s your name?”
“Brianna.”
“All right, Brianna. I’ll have this ready in about an hour if you want to pick it up today.” He rings up my purchase.
I slide my credit card through the reader. “Good enough. I’ll be back in an hour. Thank you so much.”
I grab a light lunch and then peruse a few more shops. Most of my holiday shopping is already done, but I can’t resist grabbing a little something for Maddie—a guidebook for the UK and continental Europe. I purchase one for myself as well.
The clerk at Yesterday’s Treasures smiles when he sees me. “I’ve got it ready for you.”
“Thanks so much. Can I take a look?”
“I took the liberty of giftwrapping it for you, but I’m happy to unwrap it and then rewrap it.” He hands me a small box.
It’s beautifully wrapped in shiny red paper with gold dragons and holly. “This is so perfect. I don’t want to disturb it. Thanks for the wrapping.”
“You’re very welcome. Happy holidays to you.” He places the wrapped box into a black gift bag.
“You as well.” I take the bag and leave the mall to drive back to Snow Creek.
Once home, I print Jesse on the tag that’s tied to the gift.
Then I change my mind. I remove the tag from the gift. This way, if they find it, they won’t know who it’s for. When someone opens it, they’ll find out it’s for Jesse. That way, if someone catches me with a gift before I have a chance to slide it under the tree, no one will know who it’s for.
Good thinking, Bree.
Now…to figure out how to slide it under the Pikes’ Christmas tree without anyone knowing.
I’ll go over to the house under the pretense of visiting Maddie. I’ve even got the guidebook to give her as an early Christmas gift.
Perfect.
I slide the small gift into my purse, grab both guidebooks, and return to my car to drive to the Pikes’.
“Brianna,” Maureen Pike says when she opens the door. “How nice to see you.”
“Nice to see you too, Mrs. Pike. Is Maddie home?” I glance over Maureen’s shoulder to regard their tree.
“I think she’s up in her room. I’ll go see.”
The Pikes’ Christmas tree is in the living room, next to the foyer where I’m standing.
I look around, making sure there’s no one here. I hear some clanking in the kitchen, but if I act quickly…
A moment later, the gift is under the tree, hidden in the back.
Perfect.
Maddie comes out from the hallway. “Hey, Bree. What’s up?”
“I was out shopping, and I picked up European guidebooks for us. I wanted to drop yours by.” I hold up the books.
“Sure. That sounds like fun. Come up to my room.”
Maddie fires up her laptop, I grab one of the guidebooks, and we both sit on her bed, our backs against the headboard, the laptop sitting between us so we can both see.
“So we’ll be in London for the first six days,” Maddie says. “I want to see Buckingham Palace, of course. Westminster Abbey. And Rory says we have to go to Fleet Street and have a meat pie.”
I wrinkle my nose. “What?”
“It’s a reference to the urban legend of Sweeney Todd. You know, the demon barber of Fleet Street?”
“You mean the musical?”
“Yeah, Sweeney Todd by Sondheim. But it started as an urban legend. Rory says Brock took her to this amazing pie place on Fleet Street.”
“Meat pies?”
Maddie taps on her keyboard, and a photo of a giant pie emerges. “You know, like potpies. Don’t you like potpies?”
“Sure I do. I guess I just thought that we’d be eating something more…elaborate.”
Maddie laughs. “British food is anything but elaborate,” she says. “I’ve been doing some research. Lots of meat and potatoes. Sausages.”
I’m used to a lot of meat. But I was hoping to eat some gourmet cuisine. I guess we’ll save that for Paris. “Okay. If it’s important to you, Mads, we’ll have a meat pie. Let’s see a show too. In the West End.”
“Brianna…”
“My treat. We’ll get Brock to go with us. And Callie and Donny. And Rory.”
“Rory may not have a lot of time.”
“But it’s a West End show! Rory of all people will want to do that.”
“That’s a good point.” Maddie scratches her head. “Let’s see what’s playing.”
