Unable to Resist (5 page)

I couldn’t leave, even if I wanted to.

Her hands dance across the piano, playing every note perfectly. I only play the guitar, but I’ve heard the song she’s singing before and it’s spot on.

The emotion she puts into the lyrics makes me think maybe she’s singing the song for a specific reason. It becomes plain as day the moment she hits the chorus. She’s lost someone important in her life. She may not know it, but she’s putting all of her feelings on that stage for everyone to see.

Her passion makes me ache in ways I didn’t even know I could ache. It’s mind blowing how one simple song can bring out so many feelings. She’s a storyteller. She understands every line she sings as if she’s been through hell and back.

It’s instantaneous, I can’t explain it, but I feel like I have to know her. In my bones, I know I came to this bar to see her play, to be in her hypnotic presence.

She pounds on the keys as if they’re her lifelines. Her voice is absolutely the most magnificent sound I’ve heard in my entire life. I want to close my eyes to soak in every note, but I’m afraid if I blink, even once, I’ll miss something.

Her head goes down as she sings the final note and the lights fade to black.

The crowd screams in praise and I stand clapping.

She is phenomenal—just wow.

The stage lights come back and the crowd roars again. She laughs through a grateful expression, thanks the crowd, curtseys and steps off stage.

People swarm her, smacking her on the back and shaking her hand. She smiles and thanks them, seeming a little embarrassed.

My inner voice tells me to go up and talk to her—to quit being a pansy and go say something, but I’m not that kind of guy. I don’t normally seek women out like some douche bag. Plus, it’d seem less genuine because she just performed.

There, guess I talked myself out of that one.

Getting up, I slip money onto the table and look at Aiden and Doug. “You guys gonna be alright? I have to head home.” They nod their heads, and I look to Aiden, demanding his attention. “Here’s money for the cab. Don’t under any circumstances walk home. You hear me? I don’t want to bail you two out of jail tonight.”

Aiden picks at the crumbs on the table. “Yes, Dad.” I flinch. Dad was never a good guy.

“Alright, be safe. I’ll see you at home.” They wave and I head for my truck.

As I walk through the bar to leave, I dig to find my phone in my pocket. With my head down, perusing the countless emails that beckon me in the real world, I don’t see the person I nearly plow over.

“Oh, my God. Shit, I’m sorry—fuck. Are you alright?” I question, grabbing her arm to keep her from biting the big one and face planting.

The most stunning eyes find mine when I pull her up.

It’s her. Ann.

What are the damn odds?

She wobbles a bit and I bring my arms around her waist to keep her upright. She blushes and puts her hands on my chest to steady herself. Warmth spreads through me in their wake.

Biting her lip, she laughs, looking nervous. “I—I’m sorry, I didn’t see you there.”

I peer down at her and smile. “Darlin’, you didn’t do anything wrong. I ran into you. You okay now?”

Awkwardly, she pats my chest a few times, showing a little bit of her goofy side. “Yes, thank you.”

She’s still patting my chest, and I clear my throat. A bright crimson color spreads across her cheeks and she tucks a strand of hair behind her ear, taking a step back.

The wind picks up a bit, causing that piece of hair to move into her face. I resist the urge to take it in my fingers to feel the softness.

She giggles and looks up at me. “Well, thank you for…catching me.”

I tip my invisible hat. “Anytime, ma’am. You have a good night.”

She waves and turns on her heel to leave, and damn if I don’t want to let her go just yet. I look down at my watch. Eleven-thirty. Crap.

“Hey, Ann,” I call out, despite the fact that I should have been home at least twenty minutes ago.

If you’re going to do something, do it all the way, right?

She turns to face me with a big, maybe, hopeful smile on her face. “Yeah?”

“You were absolutely stunning in there.” I point my thumb toward the building. “Really, your voice is amazing.”

She looks down at her boots and kicks the dirt.

There’s those boots again. Dammit.

“Thank you. I could have killed Rylie for making me do that.”

You wouldn’t tell from her performance. She’s a natural.

“You should thank him. You have a magnificent voice,” I praise, taking a step toward her.

Blush appears on her face once again. “You’re too kind, but that’s very sweet of you to say.” She pauses and her eyes sparkle in the moonlight. “I didn’t catch your name.”

Taking my hand out of my pocket, I wipe the moisture on my jeans and stick it out to shake hers. “Duane. It was nice to meet you, Ann.”

She takes my hand in hers and it fits perfectly—like a puzzle piece.

“It was my pleasure, Duane.”

I smile and nod my head. “Night.”

She waves and walks toward the entrance.

Looking back one more time, I’m not ashamed to admit I openly gawk at her the entire way.

With a knowing smile, she waves once more and goes inside, leaving me alone in the parking lot.

With a bit of a spring in my step, I head toward my truck, whistling like a moron.

The night turned out to be much better than I anticipated.

As I get closer, there’s a man slumped over by the driver’s side of my truck, alone.

Drunken asshole, get off my truck.

“Uhh, sir? Are you alright?” My words are as calm as my approach. He wobbles from side to side, so I crouch next to him to look at his face.

Yep, he’s drunk. As a damn skunk.

Great.

“Sir, can I call you a cab?” I ask, not letting my voice sound too annoyed. Maybe the memory of Ann is keeping my temper mild. Either way, I’m desperately trying to keep my cool. I don’t have the time for this.

The man waves me off. “Go on, son. Leave me here.”

I shake my head no. I can’t leave him out here, I may be late, and tired, but I can’t bring myself to be an asshole. It’s obvious the man is in need of help. “No, sir. Let me help you. Do you know where you live?”

“Yes, dammit, I know where I live. I may be drunker than a whore at a strip club, but I ain’t stupid.”

His reaction makes me laugh. Dad was a nasty drunk—mean and violent. Seeing a man have a sense of humor, makes the situation slightly comical.

“Alright, sir. Let me take you home.”

He grumbles something I don’t understand, but agrees. Throwing his heavy arm over my shoulder, I pick him up and put him in the truck as gracefully as I can, which isn’t very graceful. The man has to weigh at least two hundred pounds.

We pull out of the lot and head down the only main road out of the bar.

With his head in his hands, I go as slow as possible. I’m worried to hit any bumps, making his obvious pounding headache that much worse.

The night has cooled, so I roll the windows down. The vodka smell is overbearing, and I’m having a hard time not hurling my dinner out of the window.

“Turn here, son.” He instructs me.

We’re far outside the city now, and the trailer park I’ve turned into is run down. It’s definitely seen better days.

“This is it,” he states when we pull up to a rundown mobile home. Putting my truck in park, I turn toward him.

“Do you need help inside?” I offer.

He lifts his head from his hands, where it’s been supported during our entire trip, and shakes it sloppily. “No, I’m fine. Thank you.” He stops, sliding his eyes in my direction. “You’re a good man.”

It’s been a long time since anyone has said anything like that to me. My self-worth was measured by my mean, bastard of a father, and he never said anything encouraging. Quite the opposite actually.

Putting my hand on his frail shoulder, I stammer. “Thank you, sir.”

“Don’t let anyone tell you different. Not many would help an old man like me. You’ve got a good heart. Have a good night, now.” Seeming more sober, he steps out of my truck and closes the door.

I watch him walk up the rickety stairs to his home and open the door. The light flicks on as he disappears inside.

My work done, I start the engine and head home.

The house still seems empty when I arrive, which means Aiden isn’t back, so I head to bed. Tonight has been such a cluster fuck of emotions.

I try not to think about Dad. I took most of the pictures of him down after he died because I can’t stand to see his face. Aiden was young when he and Mom died, so it makes sense to let him keep a few around. I avoid those places of the house like the plague, though.

Who would have thought an old drunk man would step into my life, making me feel a little more worthy than before? Not me, that’s for damn sure.

Then there’s Ann. Sweet, beautiful, mesmerizing Ann. Her face, her radiant red hair, those fuck-me cowboy boots, the song, her emotions and her melodic voice drift into my mind like changing channels on a TV.

To say the least, last night was crazy. Insane—even. Duane barreled into my life like a freight train, and I wanted to hop aboard and never get off.

Liv talked me into going to the opening of a new honky tonk down the street. I didn’t want to go out, but I figured what the hell, might try and have a little bit of fun.

I threw on my favorite dress and cowboy boots, and we ventured out to drink, let loose and blend in for a while.

I hadn’t been sitting at my table for longer than a few minutes when a pair of bright, hazel eyes had stared in my direction. I don’t even think he really saw me, but God, I saw him.

He was sitting a few tables away, but I could see the color of his eyes perfectly. They were nothing like I’d ever seen before. Hazel.

Beautiful, perfect hazel.

When the light had hit his face just right, they would change. The different hues in them transformed by the minute. One minute green, then the next, they were almost golden.

I found myself counting the changes, and then realized the rest of him mesmerized me, too.

He would turn to talk with the two younger guys sitting at the table and his smile would light up his face. The parts of his skin that I could see were golden tan and he’d twirl his drink in his hands, which made the muscles in his hand ripple.

He tapped his boots to the beat and sang along to the music. He was entertaining and endearing, all at the same time.

At first glance, he appeared to be this hardcore cowboy, one that would let nothing faze him, but each time a new song played, he broke out that breathtaking smile of his and belted lyrics like no one was watching.

He was enthralling, I couldn’t look away.

I’d lost track of time but he stood up out of his seat, and my God. If I hadn’t already been salivating over him, I would’ve been after I saw his tall, lean body hiding under those sexy clothes. Lifting his hands above his head, he had stretched just enough to show about two inches of his stomach right above his jeans. His body was out-of-this-world amazing. Tall and muscled. And, not too much muscle either. You know what I mean—he wasn’t some beefcake that you find at the gym, overdosing on steroids and protein shakes. He had enough muscle to show he does some sort of labor. And it was hot. The veins in his arms peeked out from his rolled up shirt, and flexed as he reached into his jeans.

My mouth instantly went dry when he turned and faced me full on.

In that moment, something snapped in my brain, I couldn’t talk myself into stopping even if I tried. I had to get up and see him from a closer distance.

I left my table and called to Liv while already on the move. I gave her some lame excuse about going to the bathroom. She saw right through it, of course, throwing her head back in laughter while pointing in mystery man’s direction. As if she was trying to be obvious to everyone around us, she’d called him a ‘delicious piece of man meat,’ inducing an expression of plea from me. But, I denied nothing.