“Wait—”
She waved over her shoulder as she dashed off for the Sutter/Stockton garage, where she’d parked her car. Her date really wasn’t for hours, but she needed time to prep. A long bath was in order—and a long talk with herself on why going out with Will Shaw was such a bad idea.
When Will texted to arrange to pick her up, she told him she’d meet him at the club where his friend was playing. It seemed cooler, plus it gave her time to settle her nerves. They were full-blown tonight, like the first time she’d ever performed, when she was six. Not even her extended workout had helped calm her.
She arrived at 50 Mason Social Club and showed the doorman her ID. He gave it a cursory glance and waved her in.
It was dimly lit inside, the bar was on the left and the stage at the far end to the right. It was still early, so people weren’t in full swing yet. Most were gathered around the bar, drinking and talking.
Bijou saw Will up front by the stage talking to the musicians who were setting things up. As if he sensed her, he turned around and smiled.
The butterflies in her belly took flight with a vengeance. Taking a deep breath, she slowly walked over to him.
He watched her approach, his thoughts undecipherable.
She kept his gaze, hoping her thoughts were just as inscrutable. She didn’t want him to see how out of whack she felt, meeting him. She hadn’t gone on a date since—
Well, since the first time she’d gone out with Brice, and even that hadn’t been a proper date. He hadn’t asked her—it’d been more of a hook-up. In fact, he’d just assumed she’d go back to his house with him.
She had, and she hated herself for it.
Now wasn’t the time to dwell. She looked at Will and vowed that she’d be different this time. She had value. She’d act like it.
Walking right up to him, she tipped her head and said, “Hey.”
“Hey.” A slight smile curved his lips as if he knew she was playing it cool and was willing to let her keep up the pretence. He took her hand and squeezed it.
Damn. She pouted knowing it was her own fault he didn’t kiss her. Mental note: best not to cut off her nose to spite her face.
Before she could kiss him, Will turned her to face the guys on stage. “George, Bennett, this is Bijou. Bijou, these guys don’t look it, but they’re actually decent musicians.”
She smiled genuinely as they guffawed.
George shook her free hand and said, “We knew this knucklehead when he was touring with Springsteen, before he went off the deep end and decided to become a shrink.”
“Who does that?” she asked, only partly meaning it as a joke.
“
Right?
” George shrugged incredulously. “It’s totally incongruous.”
“Don’t you guys need to finish setting up?” Will put his hand on her lower back. “You’re on in ten.”
George waved his hand. “Time is just an agreement, and tonight we’ve agreed to be loose acquaintances.”
Shaking his head, Will led her to the couch closest by the stage. “Can I get you a drink?”
“A light beer is good,” she said. She sat down and watched him go to the bar and order.
He came back with their beers almost instantly and sat next to her. He handed her drink over and touched it with his. “I like seeing you outside of my office, Bijou.”
Yes, but she felt safer there. She took a sip of the beer and tried to center herself. “How do you know George and Bennett?”
“I’ve played with George, and I’ve known Bennett a long time, but just socially.” He sipped his pint, his eyes on her. “I’m happy you joined me tonight.”
“I almost didn’t want to,” she said honestly.
“I know.” He smiled as he took her hand. “I’m not a threat, Bijou.”
“Oh, you’re a big threat and nothing you say will convince me otherwise.”
He started to say something but the band members filed onstage and picked up their instruments. Will’s attention went to the stage, wholly and eagerly. “I can’t wait to have you hear their opening and tell me what you think.”
She nodded politely, not expecting much. She knew she was jaded, but how could she
not
be? She’d grown up with the greats hanging out in her living room.
The band stood on stage, everyone ready, and then the trombone player let one long, loud note rip, and they all joined in, vibrant and enthusiastic.
Bijou sat up, alert.
“Not bad, right?” Will said in her ear.
“Pretty good actually,” she replied, her head bopping to the music.
“Let’s dance.” Before she could so much as utter a word, he tugged her to her feet and onto the empty dance floor. Whirling her into him, he began leading her expertly to the music. Closing her eyes, she let him hold her close as she moved in sync with him to the music.
As much a musician as Brice had been, he couldn’t dance. She used to endure it, hating the way he hauled her around but hopeful that he’d become more in tune to her over time. He hadn’t.
Will had it from the beginning. He found the rhythm of the music and invited her to join it. Dancing in his arms was freeing—heaven. She let her head fall back and let go for the first time in a long time. Joy welled in her chest, and she laughed to let it out when she couldn’t contain it any longer.
Will dipped her at the end of the song, their eyes meeting, both of them breathing hard. He lowered his head, his gaze on her lips. Their mouths brushed lightly, their breaths mingling.
He lifted her upright, holding her against him. She felt the beat of his heart against hers, and she pressed against him, wanting—
“We’ve got a good friend in the audience tonight,” George’s voice boomed, breaking their spell. “Maybe with a little encouragement he’ll come up to play a song with us.”
The crowd cheered for him.
But Will’s eyes were on her. “I better just get this over with.”
“Do it.” She patted his chest and went to sit back down.
He hopped on stage and accepted the guitar he was handed.
Bijou watched him sling it over his shoulder, her heart sinking. This was where he got all elemental and forgot about her in everyone else’s adulation.
He mumbled something to the band as he tuned the guitar. Then he leaned in his mic, looked at her, and said, “Bijou, come up and show these boys how it’s done.”
She froze from shock. He wanted her on stage with him. Smiling wide and bright, she hopped up to join them.
“What are we doing?” she asked, rubbing her hands on her jeans.
The band members looked at her with trepidation, but Will’s gaze only held confidence. “Let’s do ‘You Shook Me All Night Long.’“
She laughed. “Okay. Kick it off, boys. I’ll join in.”
The band looked at each other, but George shrugged and cued the song. They began a rocking version that had her tapping her toes in time.
She felt Will’s unwavering gaze on her face, and she winked at him as she launched into the song. She kept it simple but strong, letting the other band members strut their stuff at the appropriate moments. It came together so cohesively, as if they’d rehearsed it hundreds of times.
They ended as abruptly as they began. The last echoes died, and the audience was utterly still.
Just when Bijou started to wonder if she’d bombed, they burst into deafening applause. She applauded back at them before turning to give the band their due.
The band members stared at her like they were seeing her for the first time. She winked at them and then turned to Will. “One more?”
He grinned at her. “We’re in your thrall.”
She liked that, but he knew she would. If only she had more of her song written than just a couple lines—she’d test it out tonight.
Another time. This wasn’t about her. “‘Sweet Home Alabama?’“
Will and the band began, and she waited for her cue. She owned the stage as she belted out the words. She strutted, knowing she held the audience in the palm of her hand.
It felt
good
.
On the last note, she blew a kiss to the crowd and hopped off stage to thunderous applause. She gave the guys a thumbs up and walked back to her seat. Picking up her beer, she tried to keep her elation to herself.
The glow of performing carried through the next few songs until they began to play
her
song—the one Brice stole. She stiffened at the first words. Not able to bear hearing any of it, she went outside to get air.
She was standing against a lamppost, trying to calm herself when Will came out.
“They took a break,” he explained at her questioning look. Taking her hand, he faced her. “What happened?”
“
That
was the song. The one Brice stole from me.” She shrugged with nonchalance she didn’t feel.
Understanding lit his expression. “Want to tell me how it went down?”
“Not really.” She gave him a small smile. “We were dating, and I wrote the song for us to perform, but he thought he could do it better on his own. It is what it is. I was too trusting, and I learned a lesson.”
Will traced a line on her cheek. “You’re supposed to trust those you love.”
“You should have better sense about who you love though.”
“You can’t help who you fall in love with.” He moved up against her.
She swallowed, not sure what he meant, not sure she wanted to know. So she lifted her head defiantly. “He may have stolen my song, but I’m getting my game back. The concert is going to cinch things.”
“It will,” he agreed. “You’re too good not to stick the ending.”
She tried to smile confidently but failed. She had one refrain and a vague melody to show for the last year. That was pathetic, not good. “I wish I were that sure,” she said in a small voice that wasn’t like her at all.
He lifted her chin and gazed into her eyes with calm certainty. “You nailed it out there tonight. You’re a pro, and you have talent, Bijou. It’s normal to feel fear, but don’t let it get in your way. You have a destiny, and it’s on the stage. You’re a rock star, deep down. You just need to claim it.”
His words bolstered her in a way no one’s had, not even her daddy’s. She smiled at him. “You’re being a therapist now.”
“No.” He touched her face. “I’m being a friend.”
Chapter Twenty
KT stumbled through her parent’s house. Coffee. It was all she asked for. She knew it was late in the day but hopefully there would still be a little left in the main kitchen from morning.
She sighed in relief when she saw Bijou was the only one sitting in the kitchen. Her sister had sheet music she was staring at and a glass of something murky and green.
Then she remembered how Bijou had thrown her under the bus, and she stiffened.
Bijou looked up. “Are you just getting up?” she asked carefully.
KT shot her a glare and went to the cabinet to pull out a cup. She reached for the carafe on the counter.
Her sister sighed. “Just let me know how long you’re going to harbor this grudge so I can prepare myself.”
Part of her wanted to throw her arms around Bijou, but the bigger part of her said, “How does the end of time sound?”
“Like what I’d expect.” Her sister pushed her glass of gook toward her. “Have some juice. It’ll perk you up better than the coffee.”
“Gee, that looks appetizing.” KT frowned at her. “Are you just getting up too?”
Bijou’s cheeks flushed, and she ducked her head. “Don’t be crazy. I always wake up earlier than you.”
“Yeah, but today that’s relative.” KT studied her sister. “You’re blushing. You
never
blush, not even when you were five and you came out of the bathroom with your dress tucked in your My Little Pony underwear.”
“It’s a hot flash.”
“You’re twenty-seven. You’re too young for hot flashes.” KT stared at her over the rim of her coffee cup. “I suspect you’ve been up to no good. Betray any other sisters lately?”
“Let it go. Besides”—Bijou pointed at her—”you’re the one who’s been up to all sorts of shenanigans.”
“Shenanigans?” KT arched her brow.
“You’re the one who got engaged out of the blue, to a man you barely know.” Bijou returned her gaze steadily. “If that doesn’t reek of shenanigans I don’t know what does.”
“You sound upset.”
Her sister shrugged. “Because I’m your best friend and you didn’t even hint that things were that serious between you and Chance? Why would I be upset?”
Before she could say anything, her mother breezed in with an armful of packets and brochures. “There you are, Karma. I was just about to try the cottage.”
She and her sister exchanged a look. Bijou was the one who said, “What’s all that, Mom?”
“Thoughts.” Lara smiled wide as she set it all on the breakfast table. “Lots of wonderful thoughts for the wedding.”
KT’s stomach clenched. “You should be focusing on the concert, Mom. The wedding isn’t a big deal.”
“Of course it’s a big deal.” Her mother looked at her like she’d lost her mind. “It’s not every day my firstborn gets married.”
“You never know with KT,” Bijou said.
She stuck her tongue out at her sister.
Bijou crossed her eyes back at her.
“Girls, do I need to remind you you’re adults now?” Lara shook her head as she spread out the brochures.
Bijou leaned over to look. “I get to pick my own maid of honor dress. KT’s likely to pick camouflage.”
“Who said you’re my maid of honor?”
“Scott’s on his honeymoon, so I’m your only choice. Besides, I look better in ruffles.”
KT turned to her mom. “No ruffles.”
“Of course not, sweeting.” Lara flipped the pages of bridal dress book. “I was thinking lace. A lovely cascade of lace.”
“Lace?” KT shuddered.
“At the risk of muddying the waters,” Bijou started, “Rosalind said she’d make KT’s dress.”
Their mom closed the book, her face beaming. “That’s perfect. Rosalind is so talented. Do you think she can see us today?”
Today? KT felt panic well in her throat, cutting off her air. This was going too far.
“Is that your ring?” Her mother gasped as she reached for KT’s hand and held it up to inspect it closer. “This is absolutely perfect, sweeting. He knows you so well.”
“He does, doesn’t he?” The irony wasn’t lost on her.