Ask Me to Stay (Honky Tonk Angels #4) (8 page)

“You mean you knew they were gossiping about you?”

“Yeah, but so what? Mama, every person in Cotton Creek with half a brain knows those women make up ninety percent of what they say. People don’t take that stuff to heart. And even if they did, I know that Hannah and I haven’t done anything to be ashamed of. Like Hannah said, you raised us better than that.”

“Yes, we did,” Billy agreed, but at a look from Stella, added, “Still, it does give us some concern to see either of you girls starting up something with Cooper Quinlan.”

“Why?” Hannah asked.

“Because he’s an outsider,” Stella answered.

“An outsider?”

“Yes, honey. He’s not from here and not likely to stay. Once he and Wes get this oil thing off the ground, he’s likely to head back to the Dakotas and none of us will ever see him again.”

“I doubt that will happen,” Cody said.

“And just what makes you say that?”

“Because he’s got nothing to go back there for. I told you and Daddy about him and Liz and about what their father did. When Cooper signed on with Wes to do this deal, he cut his ties with his father. Heck, he couldn’t go back if he wanted to. His father disowned him and Liz. Liz told me last week. She and Cooper each received a copy of their father’s new will. They’re not even in it.”

“That’s horrible.” Hannah had not heard that. “How could anyone treat their children that way?”

“Exactly.” Cody looked over at her. “You and I can’t understand it because it’s not the way we were raised. But Cooper and Liz didn’t have a dad they could count on through thick and thin and now, for all practical purposes, they don’t have a dad at all.”

“I know what you’re doing, Cody Ann,” Stella said. “You’re trying to play on my sympathy.”

“No, she’s not.” Hannah defended her sister. “She’s simply telling you the truth. And anyway, what if he doesn’t plan on staying here forever? What difference does it make? He’s a nice man.”

“So, you
are
interested in him.” Stella pinned Hannah with a look that spelled she was going to have the truth.

“I didn’t say I was—”

Hannah didn’t get to finish the lie before Cody stepped in. “Okay, it’s time for a come to Jesus moment.”

“I beg your pardon?” Stella wore an incredulous expression.

“You heard me. Mama, you know Hannah and I love you and Daddy more than anything. You’ve been the best parents anyone could ever wish for and we appreciate every single thing you’ve done for us. But we’re not kids. I’m almost thirty and Hannah is nearly twenty-eight. We’re not children. We’re grown women and we can decide who we want to spend time with. It’s not something that’s up for debate or a family choice. So, if Hannah is interested in Cooper, that’s her business and our business as her family is to hope that she enjoys his company and that he’s nice to her.”

Hannah heard the conviction in Cody’s voice when Cody looked at her. “Because God knows, if he’s not, he’s going to have hell to pay.”

Tears threatened but Hannah blinked them back and faced her mother. “She’s right, Mama. We’re not kids anymore. We’re grown women and you’ve got to start treating us that way.”

Stella looked from Hannah to Cody and then at Billy. “Well, what do you have to say?”

Billy cleared his throat, looked around at everyone, then took Stella’s hand. “I say we’ve raised two fine women and it’s time we trusted them to run their own lives.”

Stella nodded. “I’m not trying to run your lives, girls. I swear I’m not. I just—”

“I know,” Cody interrupted. “I didn’t get all my temper from Daddy. I know you get mad when someone says something like those women did and you want to protect us. But there’s nothing to protect us from, Mama.”

“Right,” Hannah agreed. “And it’s like you always said, if you have nothing to be ashamed of or guilty for, then you don’t have to pay any attention to that stuff because it’s not true and it doesn’t matter.”

“Besides,” Cody added. “We all know that they only make up that stuff because they don’t have anything else to occupy themselves with.”

“Ain’t that the truth?” Billy commented.

“It is indeed,” Stella agreed and slapped the bar with one hand. “Okay, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to come down on you that way, and I apologize. I’m not going to lie and say it doesn’t concern me that you’re interested in Cooper Quinlan, Hannah, but it is your choice to make.”

“Thank you, Mama.”

“And shots all around.” Cody grabbed three more glasses and put them on the bar.

“Oh, I can’t do another,” Stella protested.

“Sure, you can.” Cody poured the shots and then raised her glass “To our family. A bunch of people who might be a tad high-strung, quick-tempered and at times downright ornery, but people who are honest, honorable, always love each other and are always there for one another. I love you all.”

“Amen to that.” Billy raised his glass.

“Amen.” Stella raised hers.

Hannah smiled and raised her glass. She cut a look at Cody and saw the smile on her sister’s face.

What Cody said was true. Her family was always there for one another, and she counted herself lucky for that.

Callie stared at herself in the mirror for a full minute. What was she doing? When Cody and Hannah had first suggested having karaoke night, she’d thought it sounded great. Get people in the bar on stage, participating in the entertainment and having fun.

Cody, being the one to always mix things up, had refined the idea. They’d make it a contest. People had signed up and there would be a winner at the end of the night with a hundred-dollar cash prize. The catch was that no one knew what they would sing. The songs would be picked from a hat, so to speak. Hannah had liked the idea as well, so for three weeks they had promoted it, posting flyers all over town and talking it up at the bar.

What Callie hadn’t counted on was being signed up to participate, but Cody said more people would take part once they saw others do it. Callie didn’t have a problem with taking part – in fact she’d always liked karaoke and did a pretty fair imitation of a lot of female country western singers. She supposed Cody volunteered her to participate because she’d mentioned once that she had tried to make it in Nashville as a singer before Lily had been born.

So here she was, all signed up. Cody and Hannah were doing a duet, and then one of the cooks, Sammy Ray, would sing. Then it was Callie’s turn.

Callie wasn’t a shy person by nature. Since she’d performed in front of people before, she wouldn’t have normally given it a second thought. But she didn’t want to draw a lot of attention to herself. She didn’t know why she worried and told herself to stop.

Nashville was her past. It was over. Done. Deke was in prison and couldn’t hurt her. That chapter in her life was closed. She was in Cotton Creek now and she and Lily were doing really well.

Just stop fretting and enjoy this time.

“Enjoy it, dumbass,” she said to her reflection.

Her reflection didn’t look entirely convinced. With a snort of annoyance, she left the bathroom and nearly collided with Jayce.

“Well, hey there beautiful.”

Her entire body suffused with warmth and relief at his smile. She’d not seen him since her “episode” in his truck and was starting to think he was avoiding her.

“Hey yourself.”

“Big crowd tonight.”

“Yeah. Cody and Hannah are hoping this karaoke thing will take off.”

“Well, you get enough beer in some of these folks and they’re likely to put on a show. Now whether it will make your ears bleed is a whole other story.”

Callie laughed. “So, are you going to get on stage?”

“Nope.”

“Aww, come on.”

“No, no and oh hell no. I can carry a bucket a whole lot better than a tune. You gonna do it?”

“Yeah. According to the boss, I’m up after Jimmy Ray.”

“Who is crucifying Waylon Jennings?”

She grimaced. “He’s not exactly hitting all the notes, is he?”

“Oh, he’s hittin’ ‘em all right – with a sledge hammer. So what you singing?”

“I don’t know. The songs are picked at random. I won’t know till I get up there.”

“Nervous?”

“I wasn’t. Until I ran into you.”

“Me? I make you nervous?”

“You make me a whole lot of things, Jayce. Including nervous.”

“Well, sugar.” He reached out to take her hand and pulled her to him. “Me and you need to explore some of those things.”

His face was only inches away, so close she could feel his breath on her skin. She longed to close the gap, to press her lips against his. Breathe him in. Taste him. Feel his body against hers.

Just then, Jimmy Ray finished and to cheers, boos and laughter he left the stage.

Cody stepped up to the microphone. “Okay then, next up is our own Callie Williams. Callie? Where are you, girl?”

Callie threw up her hand, then cut Jayce a quick look. “Wish me luck?”

“You got it, beautiful.” He kissed her cheek.

Callie’s gaze connected with his and for a moment, she could not even breathe. Was it possible to fall in love with someone you’d only known for seven weeks? Someone you’d never dated or kissed or spent more than an hour with at a time?

“Callie!” Cody’s yell had her jerking back to attention.

“I’m coming.” She made her way to the stage.

Cody dipped her hand into a box on the table and withdrew a piece of paper. “Oh girl, we’ve got one for you. This song was originally written and performed by Dolly Parton, but we’re gonna let you jump on the version made famous the world over by Whitney Houston. Ladies and gents, I give you Callie Williams singing ‘I Will Always Love You.’”

Callie hung her head for a moment. Of all the luck. No one could ever do that song justice after Whitney had performed it. Had it been the original background music, it would have been much easier.

Well, damn, here we go girl. Sink or swim.

Jayce thought he saw panic in Callie’s eyes and he tensed. He’d sure as hell hate to have to try and sing that song. Two of the best singers in the world had recorded it and that was no easy act to follow, even if it was just in a small bar with a couple hundred people.

He felt bad for Callie. Until she opened her mouth. Then all pity fled and amazement blossomed. His reaction must have been shared because the entire bar went silent by the time the first line of the song passed her lips.

He looked around the room, noting the rapt expression on the people’s faces, then moved to her. Their gazes locked and for the life of him, it felt like there was no one else in the room. It was just him and her.

And she was singing only for him.

A jolt of realization had his body tensing. This wasn’t possible. He’d seen her around town. Had lunch with her, talked with her at the bar and played on the playground a couple of times with her and Lily. The only time he’d been alone with her was the day she’d had the episode and told him about her mother. But they’d never really been alone, never held hands or hugged or shared a kiss. He couldn’t be falling for her. Not this fast.

Jayce tried to shove those thoughts aside, but damn if he wasn’t lost in her eyes and the song that poured from her. There came a break in the music, a space where only instrumentals came from the speakers. Callie stood there, swaying to the music, her eyes half closed.

Without thinking, Jayce rose and stepped onto the stage, taking Callie in his arms. She tensed at first, then relaxed. God, she fit. She fit against him as if she’d been made for him.

When she pulled back, she held onto his hand as she stepped up to take the microphone from its stand. He held her hand as she looked at him and sang. Damn, if he couldn’t feel it – every single word, he felt it. And he saw it. In her eyes. There was something happening between them and she was as scared as he.

Impossible as it might be, love was catching him and he didn’t know if he could run fast enough to escape. Or if he wanted to.

And he wasn’t going to have the chance to explore that now. The crowd exploded when the last note of the song fell from her lips. People cheered, yelled, clapped and whistled.

Callie waved and smiled, then hurried from the stage, pulling Jayce with her.

“That was…” Jayce shook his head. “Incredible.”

“You’re just being kind.”

“No, I’m not. You’re amazing. You do know that, right?”

She shook her head. “I’m just a good mimic.”

“If that means you sounded more Whitney than Whitney, then hell yeah.”

Callie laughed. “Flattery will get you everywhere.”

Jayce couldn’t stop himself. He’d waited too long and needed to do this too much. He pulled her into his arms. “Callie.”

Callie heard her name fall from his lips and dear god, but it had that sound – the sound of a man speaking the name of his beloved. It undid her, obliterated all her defenses. She was stripped bare and vulnerable, his for the taking.

When he kissed her, it was like falling. Falling into fantasy, into the depths of the most powerful dream or yearning of your life. She could no more resist it than she could stop the planets in their trek around the sun. Nor did she want to. She wanted it to last forever.

Forever lasted only moments, however. Callie was shocked to hear the people in the bar chanting and shouting her name.

Then Cody’s voice came over the speakers. “Callie! Get up here, girl. These folks want an encore.”

Callie looked up at Jayce and he smiled. “Knock ’em dead, beautiful.”

She gave him a smile and walked back up onto the stage to thundering applause. How many nights had she dreamed of this very thing? How many rundown bars had she performed in, hoping to experience such a moment? It was close to a dream come true, even if it was just in a small-town bar.

Callie walked up beside Cody.

“So”—Cody drew another song title from the hat—“well, this one is a duet, so we’re gonna need…” She looked out over the crowd. “Riley Morgan. Get on up here Riley.”

She felt fain when Riley Morgan walked up on stage. Sure, she knew that was his real name, and she’d seen him around, but she’d never actually spoken to him. All she could see was the film star Nate Bridges standing beside her. She’d seen every movie he’d ever starred in and never dreamed she would meet him in person, much less sing a duet with him.

“So, Riley, how about teaming up with Callie in this song made popular by the great Dolly Parton and Kenny Rogers. ‘Islands in the Stream.’”

Riley looked at Callie. “You game, Ms. Callie?”

“I’ll give it my best shot.”

“Then let’s do it.”

Cody exited the stage and started the music. Callie was surprised when Riley started to sing. He was really good. She had no trouble with the words, or harmonizing with him. In fact, to her ears, it sounded pretty good. And goodness knows, it was no hardship looking at him and singing.

When they finished, the crowd cheered as loudly as the first time. Riley put his arm around her shoulder, gave the crowd a final wave and escorted her offstage. “You have an amazing voice, Miss Callie.”

“Callie, please, and the same goes to you. That was…surreal.”

“Surreal?”

“Yeah, for me. Thank you so much.”

“Actually, thank you. You know we have a little band that plays here now and then. I’d be purely pleased if you’d consider singing with us.”

“Really?”

“Absolutely. We’re getting together Sunday afternoon while the bar is closed to try out a few new tunes. I’d like to add some duets to the line-up. If you’re free, join in.”

“I’d love to.”

“Well, good. Two o’clock work for you?”

“Yes, sir.”

“None of that,” Riley said and extended his hand. “Nice to have you on board, Callie.”

“Thank you. Thank you so much.”

“My pleasure. Now I better get on back to my lady.”

“Thank you again, Mister—”

“Riley.”

“Riley.” She gave him a smile and watched him walk away.

That was when she noticed Jayce, watching from where he sat. She motioned toward the bar and he nodded. By the time she reached the bar, he had two beers waiting.

“Girl, you’re something.” He handed her a beer and raised his own to tap it against hers.

“I can’t believe that just happened. Nate Bridges. I mean Riley Morgan to all of you, but Nate freaking Bridges.”

Jayce chuckled. “You really are amazing.”

“And you’re really sweet.”

“You working till closing?”

“No, just until eleven. I have to pick Lily up from the Sweets’. KC is baby-sitting.”

“Need a ride?”

“I don’t need one, but I’d sure like it.”

“Then I’ll hang around.” He reached out to take her hand.

Callie smiled and gave his hand a squeeze.

Tonight was quickly becoming one of the best of her life.