03
sides. She liked Damien’s brothers, really liked that they’d come
04
to watch him play.
05
Several songs in and they fi nally took a break. Adrian gulped
06
down some water as he handed off one guitar for another.
07
“Hey, folks, so I know this young musician and I convinced
08
him to play a song or two with us tonight.”
09
“Oh my god! They’re calling Miles out!”
10
Miles took a deep breath, handed the big headphones off to
11
his mother and put in an earbud- type thing in one ear as he
12
headed out.
13
She took Gillian’s hand, squeezing.
14
And Miles walked on stage like he’d always been there. That
15
shy, sweet toddler was something far more as the lights hit him.
16
He blushed though, when the tech handed him his bass. Erin
17
leaned in to kiss his cheek as he got plugged in.
18
Adrian hugged him, one armed. “This is my son, Miles. You
19
can hear him a little on the new record. He helped out in the
20
studio. We’re going to do a cover. One of his favorites.”
21
The chords sounded for Radiohead’s “Creep.”
22
Mary moved to Gillian’s side, Jules on the other. Gillian
23
cried, but they were good tears. Mary had her own, as did Jules.
24
“Creep” had been the fi rst song Miles had learned the bass
25
line for right after Adrian had come into his life. It was a special 26
song between the two of them. And for Gillian as well.
27
Miles had been part of Mary’s life since he’d been an infant.
28S
To see him out there on stage, acting very much like his father,
29N
totally blew her away. Tears came and she made no move to stop
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them. This was her Miles. She’d changed his diapers. Had
01
cooked French toast for him when he’d slept over at her house.
02
He’d ridden his bike in her long driveway. Had cleaned out her
03
pantry on more than one occasion. He was like a son and she
04
really couldn’t be prouder of him.
05
“That’s our boy.” Jules gave a whistle as the song ended and
06
everyone applauded. Miles nodded his head, tipping his chin in
07
a way she’d seen Adrian do dozens of times. In fact, the way
08
Erin did. Those Browns.
09
Gillian had found her special someone. Miles had the father
10
he’d always deserved. What a beautiful time in Mary’s life to
11
see her friends so happy.
12
13
14
Until this tour, Damien and his brothers had tended toward some
15
hard- ass partying after a show ended. But with Adrian, things
16
had changed, and Damien hadn’t minded. If he wanted to party,
17
there was always one to be had if they wished it.
18
There was power in that. Seductive to have so many people
19
at your beck and call willing and able to make your every desire
20
a reality. But he’d done plenty of shots. Had banged plenty of
21
women whose names he couldn’t recall. He’d done more things
22
than he’d ever dreamed of back home on the ranch.
23
And yet, he thought as he watched Mary hug Miles and com-
24
pliment him about his performance that night, the simple things
25
still made him happiest. And that was a powerful lesson.
26
“Kinda fast, isn’t it?” Vaughan sidled up next to him.
27
“Hm?”
S28
Vaughan laughed. “Her. You. You and her. It’s clear just by
N29
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watching the way you are with Mary that she’s different. You’re
02
different. But you don’t really know her.”
03
“I know her. But I want to know more. Over the last few
04
months I’ve shared more with her on the phone or via text than
05
I think I have with any woman ever.”
06
“I like her.” His brother shrugged.
07
“Me too. A lot.”
08
“Yeah, kind of obvious, that.”
09
He grinned. “I know. I can’t help it. It seems silly to pretend
10
I don’t dig her.”
11
“She digs you too. But this life . . .”
12
Damien nodded. “I know.” It was hard to have a relationship
13
in the industry. So much temptation. And he knew without a
14
doubt that Mary Whaley would not tolerate any nonsense with
15
other women or with wild partying.
16
“Dude, can you give her that?”
17
“You think I’m so weak I can’t?” Damien paused. “I’m not
18
asking her to marry me or anything. I like her. I want to like
19
her more. I want to know her. I want a real relationship with
20
her. I know it’ll be hard. But I’m not an idiot.”
21
“I don’t think you’re weak. I think you love women. A lot.
22
But I can see this one is different and that’s good. At the same
23
time I want you to be careful with her. She’s a . . . well, she’s
24
not what we’re used to seeing out here.”
25
“All I can do is take it slow and step by step.” He could actu-
26
ally stop seeing her now. End it nicely. It would probably save
27
heartbreak. Maybe. But he wanted her. Wanted more.
28S
A year ago he’d have been so freaked out by the very idea
29N
he’d have never even looked her way again. But he’d already
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begun to get tired of that life. Of fast women— though not fast
01
cars.
02
He couldn’t help but think Mary Whaley was meant to cross
03
his path exactly when she did. He was ready for her.
04
05
06
He caught up with her once things had calmed down and they’d
07
gotten back to the hotel. Adrian, Miles and Gillian had gone to
08
bed, as had Erin and her family.
09
He tapped on her door and she opened with a smile.
10
“Wanna come take a walk with me. See New York this late?”
11
She smiled. “All right.”
12
He liked that she wasn’t afraid. New York City was, in his
13
opinion, the most exciting city on the planet. He loved it there and 14
he dug that she didn’t hesitate to jump in and enjoy it with him.
15
Though it was late, the path down by the river wasn’t deserted
16
at all. Couples walked, people jogged, dogs walked their own-
17
ers. He and Mary strolled, hand-in-hand, and he relaxed a little
18
bit more as each minute passed.
19
“I like being with you.” He sighed happily.
20
“Thank you. I like being with you too.”
21
“How’d you like the show tonight? Is this your fi rst time
22
backstage?”
23
“It was. I have to say it’s pretty amazing. I fi gured it’d be cool 24
and all. I love live music so much. I’ve seen many, many shows
25
from out front. But so close, with all the activity that goes on
26
behind the scenes? Amazing. I have so much more appreciation
27
and respect for what you all do now. Plus, no tall guys blocking
S28
my view or spilling beer on my feet. That’s a win too.”
N29
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01
He laughed. “Ah yes. Or the narrowly avoided puke incident
02
that leaves you twitchy and nervous any time anyone else leans
03
forward.”
04
“Scars you forever.”
05
“I’m thinking of buying a place here.”
06
“Really? To live in New York full time? I mean, around tour-
07
ing and all?”
08
“No. I have a place in Oregon and that’s my home. But to
09
retreat. Like after a tour when I want to stab my brothers in the
10
face because I’ve been on a bus with them for months at a time.”
11
“I totally get that. I mean, not that I’ve been on a bus with
12
my brothers for months. I’d be in prison right now if I had. But
13
sometimes you need a place to escape to for a while.”
14
“Will you come out to our last show? I’ll send you tickets.”
15
He hadn’t planned on asking, but now that he had, he was glad.
16
“When is it?”
17
“Little over two weeks from now. At the Gorge.”
18
“I’ll have to look at my schedule. The end of summer has
19
turned out to be pretty busy for me so I might have a job. But
20
if I don’t, yeah, I’d love to. But you don’t need to fl y me any-
21
where. I can drive to that. It’s only three hours. And, if you like 22
and you have the time, you can stay at my house for a night or
23
two after. Or whatever. I know you have other things to do.”
24
She fl ustered him. On one hand she’d invited him to stay with
25
her. On the other she seemed so casual about his invitation. He
26
didn’t know what he expected. But being off balance wasn’t
27
something he was used to. Or confi dent about.
28S
He’d have to let it play out the way it was supposed to, he
29N
guessed.
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He squeezed the hand he’d been holding. “No. I’d like that.
01
You can make me that soup. You did promise.”
02
She laughed. “I did. And I will. For now, I’m so hungry.”
03
“Do you like tacos? I know this place that’s open late.”
04
“Who doesn’t like tacos?’
05
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S28
N29
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H
16
oney, I promise I will not break your business.” Jules
17
patted her shoulder. “It’s one day. You’re fi nishing up
18
the job before you leave, for goodness’ sake.”
19
Mary knew all this. But leaving to go to the Gorge to see
20
Damien had come so fast, and she worried.
21
“If anyone calls, I’ll have my cell.”
22
“No one is going to call because Daisy is handling everything
23
should there be an emergency. Which there won’t be because,
24
hello, one night. You’ll be back and everything will be fi ne. Go
25
on and have a good time.”
26
“
You’re
not going.” This was the fi rst time she’d ever put
27
someone before her business when they weren’t sick or in dire
S28
straits. It made her nervous.
N29
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01
“No. But my boyfriend isn’t in the band. And my business
02
is different than yours anyway.”
03
“He’s not my boyfriend.”
04
Jules rolled her eyes. “Puh. Leeze. You turned away a job for
05
tonight to do this instead. You never do that. He’s obviously
06
someone to you. Plus, he’s sending a fucking helicopter to pick
07
you up to fl y you to the Gorge. Guys like him don’t do that for
08
casual fl ings.”
09
The helicopter thing was pretty freaking awesome, she had