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Melody rose, wanting to check on the tables in the dining tent and see if anything needed to be restocked. “Can I get anything for you, Pam, before I leave?”
“Oh, please don’t go. None of the other wives came, and I’ll be all by myself.”
She hesitated. The caterers did seem to be pretty capable so far, and it wouldn’t be long before DJ and Colt returned. “Oh, well...I guess I can do that, until the boys get back.”
She smiled. “Good. I’d like to get to know you.”
Mel’s palms began to sweat. “Uhh, well...there’s not much to know.”
“Oh,” Pam patted the chair next to her. “I doubt that. Do you like Colt’s music?”
Melody took her seat. Although she was uncomfortable with the situation, she sensed she and Pam would get along well. “Love it. But don’t tell him that.”
Pam lifted a corner of her lips. “I hear that. I love watching DJ play, but I’d never let him know it. He’d be impossible to deal with.” She stared over Mel’s shoulder, and her eyes narrowed.
Melody twisted to see who she was glaring at. Gabriella Justani. She seemed to have a death-grip on Colt’s arm—the red of her fingernails set off by the black of his tux—but he was leaning away from her.
“Who is that woman?” Pam asked without hiding her disgust.
Melody had no love for her, either. As far as she was concerned, Gabriella was a bit of a whack job. Mel guzzled the rest of her drink before answering. “Her name is Gabriella Justani.” She turned to examine her again. “She and Colt dated a couple of years ago.” She swung back. “It didn’t end well. How the hell did she get in here?”
“I don’t like her.”
Mel blinked. “You know her?”
“No,” Pam said, still staring in Gabriella’s direction. “But I can tell by the way she moves, I wouldn’t like her.”
It struck Melody as funny, and she laughed. “Boy. I hope I don’t walk like that.”
“Don’t worry. You don’t.” She leaned forward. “So, what do you think of Colt?”
Melody was caught off guard by her frankness, but she appreciated someone who could put it out there straight. “What do I think of him? Honestly?”
Pam nodded.
“I think...” She called to mind scenes from their recent past. Colt flying paper airplanes when she thought he was an arrogant prick. Then in Texas, not taking advantage of her being drunk. Picking up the phone to fire Jimmy Matthews. That would have been satisfying in so many ways. Eating pizza with him on the floor of the office... “...he’s sweet. And goofy. Loyal, and fun. I think he’s great.”
Pam tapped a finger on the table. “I’d have to agree with your assessment.”
The huge screens scattered throughout the tent began a countdown, flashing album covers in between numbers, and pictures of the band members. The noise and adrenaline rose in equal measure.
“Have you ever seen our boys in action?” Pam yelled over the sound system.
“Never. Ty—Colt’s dad—offered to take me several times, but I always felt like I was too busy. Stupid, I guess.”
“Oh, you’re in for a treat.”
And she wasn’t wrong. Minutes later, they took the stage, and Melody’s pulse skyrocketed. Glowing smoke rolled, creating a backdrop for the action. Colt stood with one hand on the mic stand, his head lowered. With a hip cocked, he bent and straightened his knee to the pounding drumbeat.
Even his freakin’ silhouette is hot.
She didn’t expect this visceral reaction to the music. She recognized the start of “Hell, Yeah” and, without even thinking, grabbed Pam’s hand.
“It’s ‘Hell, Yeah!’ It’s ‘Hell, Yeah!’”
Pam laughed. “Yeah. I know.” She got to her feet. “Come on.”
“What are we doing?”
Pam dragged her through the crowd. She realized everyone was on their feet. Colt’s voice came through the speakers. His sexy growl made her come unglued. Pam found a hole on the floor in front of the stage and was dancing. She lifted her hair in the back and shook her hips. The lights were up. DJ was watching his wife with a huge grin on his face as he played. Melody switched her focus from him to Colt and brought a hand to her heart. He wore a rust red, silky shirt, open far enough to reveal much of his muscular chest. Tight, black leather pants laced up the front and the way he moved was foreplay all by itself.
“Oh, my God,” she whispered.
She’d never had an appreciation of the magnitude of his stardom, until she saw the way he commanded the stage. He worked the audience to a fever pitch. The passion and sweat he put into his music was phenomenal. She didn’t think she could ever look at him the same way again. And dancing with Pam, she never felt so free. She gave herself to the music, to the moment, and her heart was full of life in a way she hadn’t experienced before. He caught her eye several times and smiled, and she melted.
“Whoo!” Colt screamed. “Who knew shareholders could be so much fun?”
The crowd roared in response.
“Okay, friends. Okay. We’re taking it down for a minute. So catch your breath, and get a drink, and we’ll kick things up again after this one. But this is a very special song, for a very special person, and you guys will be the first to hear it. Besides my bandmates, of course.” Again, the audience’s cheer was deafening.
Colt stepped back and switched guitars. DJ slid over to a keyboard.
“I thought DJ only played bass,” Melody shouted over the crowd.
“What?”
She raised her voice and cupped her hands around her mouth to funnel it. “I thought DJ only played the guitar. I didn’t know he played the keyboard.”
Pam nodded. “Oh. Yeah. Every once in a while he does.”
He started a complicated lead-in while Colt wiped his brow.
“Do you know what they’re doing? I had no idea they were singing something new.”
Pam shook her head. “Me neither.”
“Is it something he wrote for his dad?”
She shrugged. “Maybe.”
Colt stepped to the mic. “This is called ‘Melody’s Song.’ I hope you like it.”
Mel looked at Pam, her mouth hanging open. Pam shrugged with a grin.
Colt watched his hands on the strings as he played.
I followed the notes away
Found myself in the music
It gave me a pulse
Now I don’t want to lose it.
But the beat, it grows cold
The tune’s flat, I’m empty
Tired of the solo
The keys, they can’t tempt me.
He lifted his gaze and found her in the crowd.
Till I ran into you
And my heart jarred awake
I never knew this before
Never knew this sweet ache
You came and set the lyrics on fire
You soothed my soul, you fed my desire
Our bodies meshed, our need drove the tempo
It charged our flesh, the heat, the crescendo
We caught our breath,
Our hearts beat as one,
You pulsed through my veins
Brought back warmth like the sun.
Now you’re the refrain and I am the singer
You are the Melody, sent here to linger
You are the chord for which I so longed
You are the harmony, you are the song.
Surrounded by dark with you in my bed,
Something’s changed, oh, yes, my heart and my head
You were the key, my hope beyond measure
A rhythm so true, a love I could treasure
Now you’re the refrain and I am the singer
You are the Melody, sent here to linger
You are the chord for which I so longed
You are the harmony, you are the song.
Your notes found their way
Wrapped round my heart
Just like they did for me
Right from the start
Your music is life,
It makes me feel whole
It reaches deep within me,
Captures my soul
Now you are the verse flowing through my mind
You are the love I never could find.
Melody couldn’t keep the tears back. He genuinely cared for her. Colt handed his guitar to someone, took the microphone from the stand, and hopped off the stage next to her. Brushing the back of his hand down her cheek, he finished the song.
You’re the refrain and I am the singer
You are the Melody, sent here to linger
You are the chord for which I so longed
You are the harmony, you are MY song.
The crowd went nuts, and Colt took her into his arms.
“Kiss her, you numbskull,” DJ ordered, and others shouted their approval.
Colt drew back. His hands on either side of her face, he wiped away tears with his thumbs. “I love you, Mel. Please say you’ll stay and give us a go.”
Speech wasn’t even a possibility, so she nodded vigorously, and he covered her lips with his own. Cheers and whistles filled the air. It took some time before he could pull himself away.
“I’ve got one more song to wrap this up,” he told her. “Can we talk afterwards?”
She agreed, and he gave her one more quick kiss before climbing back on stage.
“That was awesome!” Pam shouted over the noise.
“Yeah. It kind of was.”
Pam elbowed her. “Kind of? Like you have rock stars write songs about you every day.”
Someone tapped her on the shoulder, and she turned to find Edward behind her.
He said something, but she couldn’t make it out.
She leaned closer. “What?”
“There’s a problem with the caterer.”
“Seriously? What’s wrong?”
“We can’t talk here. Come with me.” He took her arm.
Can’t anyone else handle...whatever it is?
She raised a hand. “I’ll be back in a sec—”
Edward was practically dragging her out of the tent. It had to be a major snafu.
When they were beyond the noise of the mini-concert, she asked, “So what is it?”
“Not here.” He continued taking brisk strides across the courtyard.
“Mr. Remkus.”
Edward pulled up, and a uniformed employee approached. He took the man’s elbow and leaned in to listen to him. Mel impatiently waited, trying to catch the conversation half-heartedly, and looking back at the stage to determine what song the band was playing. Meanwhile, Edward carried on a conversation with the man and gave him some instructions. Next thing she knew, Edward was off again, hauling her with him. He opened the door to the stables and stood aside so she could enter.
“So, what’s the deal?”
Edward put a hand to his chin. “Hmm?”
She stared at him. “What did the caterer say to you?”
“The caterer? Oh. Everything is fine. I just needed to talk to you.”
“You needed...” She huffed. “Edward, a party with about twelve-hundred people is going on out there, so—”
He stepped forward and took her hands. “I know you think you’re into Colt...”
She stared at him. “I...” Her brain stalled.
I THINK I’m into Colt? Why did he bring me in here? There’s not a problem with the caterer?
“But remember how good things were with us? How we got along and never fought?”
Us? It was a couple of dates. “Yes, but there’s more to a relationship than finding someone you don’t fight with.”
“You’re right. That’s why Colt isn’t a good match for you. He’s a rocker.” He gestured between them. “You and I are cut from the same cloth. We understand business, appreciate the nuances.”
“Edward, I don’t think you understand. You’re a great guy and all, but—”
He prevented further conversation by pulling her in and mashing his mouth to hers. What the hell was he doing? Where did this come from all of a sudden? Was it seeing her and Colt together? She pulled away as the stable door rolled open. Colt stood framed in the outdoor lights.
Oh, shit.
She moved toward him. “Colt.”
“Unbelievable.”
“Wait. You’re misreading things. This isn’t what it looks like.”
“I’m such an idiot.” He half turned.
“Colt, no. Wait.”
He spun back, bitterness dripping from his words. “I guess my mom was right about you after all.” He left, walking quickly away and fading into the dark.
She froze. His words sliced through her, and she struggled to breathe. “No,” she whispered. She covered her face with her hands.
It wasn’t fair. Five minutes ago, it was the best night of her life. Now it was the worst.
Hands gripped her shoulders. It was like flipping a switch. The heartache breaking her seconds before morphed into a white-hot rage. She shook Edward off then whirled to face him. “Don’t touch me. Don’t you ever touch me!” She stumbled backward a few feet. She stabbed the air with a finger. “I don’t want any man from the Remkus family to ever touch me again. Ever!” Her voice was ice and fire at the same time.
She had done nothing to deserve Colt’s anger.
I’m tired of carrying around someone else’s shame.
A shame her mother never felt.
She left from the opposite side of the barn, stomping across a field, her heels getting stuck in the dirt. After several minutes, she got to the drive leading to the back entrance to the estate.
I’m done. I’m done. I’m so done.
By the time she hit the valet station, she had pulled herself together. At least on the outside. She collected her car and sped off into the night. Maybe she should have felt bad about leaving in the middle of an R&J gala, but she was past caring.