Authors: Cynthia Hampton
Silver hesitated then took the offering.
The door opened and Justin tentatively stuck his head into the room. “Since there were no screams, I assumed it was safe to come in.” He stepped in, hat in hand, and his mother motioned for him to sit in a chair.
“We’re fine, son, so let’s talk.” Connie picked up a cordless phone on the desk and punched in two numbers. “Sharon, could you please send a cold pitcher of sweet tea and three glasses to the office? Thanks.” She sat down on the sofa next to Silver and waited.
“Mrs. Rivers…” Silver began but stopped when Connie shook her head. “Connie. If my mother did something to hurt you or your family, I’m truly sorry.” She wiped another wave of tears from her face but kept her eyes on the other woman. “She seems to have that effect on people.”
“Hon, the only person who should be apologizing right now is me,” Connie said.
There was a soft knock at the door and Justin opened it, reached for the tray, and closed the door with his foot. He poured everyone a glass of tea and sat back down on the edge of the chair.
After handing Silver a glass, he tucked a strand of hair behind her hear. “Are you OK?”
She took a drink and felt better. “I am, thank you. But I don’t understand what’s happening.”
“That’s my fault.” Connie set her glass on a nearby table. “Here’s the thing. When I heard who Justin was with tonight, I came ready for battle, that’s true. Your mother and I have run in the same circles for years, but we’ve never been what you’d call friends. Old feelings of anger came roaring back to the surface in an instant.” She paused with a soft smile. “Sorry, but it’s true. I was determined to give you a loud piece of my mind. But I wasn’t prepared to see a young woman willing to pay penance without knowing exactly what had gone on. That tells me you have a very sensitive heart.” Connie paused as she studied the young woman’s face. “You look so much like your father.”
Silver’s set her glass on the floor. “You know him?”
“Oh my, yes,” Connie responded. “Stewart’s a wonderful man. You remind me of him.”
Patting Silver’s knee, she smiled. “But that’s a story for another time. What’s most important is that you know how mortified I am at the way I treated you. I do sincerely apologize, Silver Madison, and to you, son. Now I’ll let you get back to your date.”
“It’s not a date,” Silver said. “I just tagged along while my friend Becky interviewed Justin for
Tulsa People
. She had to get back to the magazine to meet her deadline, and she took my car. Justin offered to take me home. My home, I mean, not his. And just me. He’s not coming home with me. I mean, he’s driving me home, but…”
Silver stopped when she saw Justin’s grin.
“At least finish dinner before you go,” Connie said as she stood. “But this time, without the Triple Threat sauce.” Leaning down, she gave Silver a hug. “Are we good?”
Silver nodded. “Yes, we are.”
Justin kissed his mother’s cheek then turned to Silver. “Are you feeling better?” he asked.
“Yes, the dizziness is gone. But so much has happened tonight. I’m surprised you haven’t tipped your hat and bid me farewell.”
He stood, pulling her up by her hand. “Absolutely not. I promised to get you home and I’m a man of my word. All I need is for you to point me in the right direction, darlin’. Uh, I mean…”
When he started to correct himself, she laughed. “You get a temporary pass tonight on the ‘darlin’ part. But don’t get any ideas. That cowboy hat is already too big.”
“Hey, don’t hate the hat.” His phone chirped and he pulled it out of his pocket. “Hold on, let me check this text.” As he read the message, his face paled and his mouth dropped open as he leaned against the wall. “Oh my God.”
His mother reached for him. “What’s wrong? Is it one of your brothers?”
He shook his head and grinned at them. “No.”
Silver let out the breath she’d been holding. “Then why did you act like that?”
Picking her up, he spun around as he yelled, “I’ve been nominated for Best New Artist!”
Connie gasped then laughed. “Justin! I’m so proud of you!”
Silver squealed and hugged him. Without thinking, she quickly kissed him. “Congratulations!”
“You call that a kiss?” He set her down and took her face in his hands. “Let’s try that again.”
Silver held onto him as his mouth covered hers with no pretense of being tentative. He plundered her mouth and explored with his tongue, pulling her closer as one of his hands slid around her waist. Her hands slipped into his hair as passion roared inside of her.
Until his mother cleared her throat.
Jerking back, she stepped away from him. “I can’t believe I did that.”
He looked at her strangely, as if he were confused. “You didn’t do anything wrong. In fact, it was very right.”
Connie chuckled and opened the door. “Chalk it up to a congratulatory kiss. Now, Justin, what’s next?”
Lips tingling and knees trembling from the force of his kiss, Silver wondered the same thing.
Chapter Four
“I’ve always wanted this kind of ride.”
Silver grinned at the excitement Justin showed about driving the 1966 Mustang. After helping her into the passenger side, he put the top down on Buddy’s white convertible and awkwardly stuffed his tall, muscular body into the small car. It reminded her of clowns at the circus, cramming a dozen bodies into a car the size of a large shoe. Silver snickered and turned away, trying to stop her shoulders from shaking with giggles.
“Fine. Laugh at the tall guy,” he mumbled. “I’m not the short one who has the seat shoved up next to the engine.” He scooted the driver’s seat all the way back to make room for his long legs and settled his cowboy hat on Silver’s lap.
“This hat is really beat up, Justin. Shouldn’t you get a new one?” The old felt smelled of stale sweat and dirt.
“The hat is special to me.”
“If I were you, I’d build new memories.” She fanned her hand in front of her nose.
“Not gonna happen anytime soon. It was my dad’s.”
“I can see why he didn’t want it anymore.”
When he didn’t answer, she turned and saw his head bow. “He died a little over a year ago.”
Oh no, she’d done it again. Would this day of Foot in Mouth Disease ever end?
“Justin, I—”
“You didn’t know. It’s OK.” His fingers caressed the pseudo-wood grain steering wheel. “This car is incredible.”
Buddy’s pristine condition testified to decades of loving care. The dark blue and chrome interior gleamed majestically. No high tech gadgets, no CD player, no guidance system, no digital panels. Just easy to use, down to earth controls for a car that had withstood the test of time. At nearly 50 years old, Buddy appeared amazingly well preserved.
She gave Justin directions to her small house, which was about thirty minutes from the restaurant. As he drove, they talked more about her job and his family. He told her about the restaurant business and how it had started with his great-grandfather Ernest Rivers.
“He set out to prove his idea of a barbecue restaurant could work. Even during the Depression, he made sure his employees had food and shelter, and that his children never knew the meaning of hunger. I admire the man for sticking to his dream, despite everyone telling him to throw it away and get a real job.”
Judging from the hard tone in his voice, Silver guessed he wasn’t just talking about Ernest Rivers.
“What about your dreams?” she asked.
“I want to share my music with the world. Nothing excites me more than being in front of people, singing songs that touch their lives. Whether it’s a broken heart lyric or love poetry set to music, something happens when I step onto a stage.” He shrugged. “My grandfather thinks I’m crazy, but since I won the nomination tonight, maybe he’ll change his mind. Especially after I tell him a top Nashville talent agency wants to talk with me.”
“Oh, wow, that’s fantastic! What about Connie? Is she supportive?”
“Mom stands behind most everything I do, when it’s the right thing.” Several moments went by as he stared straight ahead. When he finally spoke again, she had to lean closer to hear his softened voice. “More than anything, I want Mom to be proud of me.”
Silver reached over and covered his hand resting on the gearshift. “How could she not be? I am and we just…” Her words trailed off as she remembered the kiss.
“Yeah, I know. I should make a few calls, starting with Sam.”
He spent the next few minutes calling people to tell them about the nomination. When they arrived at her house, she found herself wishing they had more time. He pulled Buddy into the driveway and shut off the engine, handing the keys to Silver. When their hands touched, she peered into those gorgeous dark blue eyes that seemed almost black in the moonlight. He reached up and ran his fingers softly across her cheek.
“‘How sweetly the moonlight sleeps upon this bank,’” he said. “‘Here we will sit and let the sounds of music creep in our ears; soft stillness and the night become sweet touches of harmony.’”
Silver sat mesmerized, his sexy voice capturing her spirit and soul. “
Merchant of Venice
by Shakespeare. I’m impressed.”
“So am I,” he replied, seemingly in no hurry to drop his hand from her face.
Leaning back a fraction to break the contact, she dipped her head slightly. “Justin, I’m sorry the evening has been so
bissy
.”
He dropped his arm across the back of her seat. “Bissy?”
“It’s a
portmanteau
word. Two crass words put together to make an acceptable one.”
He thought a moment then laughed. “Not sure I’d use it, but I like it.”
“My mother has always said a lady must remain a lady.”
“Do you always do what your mother says?” he asked with a raised eyebrow.
“Not if I can help it,” she muttered as she reached for the door, but his hand on her arm stopped her.
“Tonight was kind of fun, wasn’t it, Miss Madison?”
Silver grinned at him. “All things considered, yes, it was.”
She stepped out and closed the door behind her. The car shifted as Justin got out on the driver’s side, carrying his hat. Silver helped him put up the convertible top, then met him at the front of the car.
“Will there be any fallout with the press because of Chase?”
He looked up and down the street. “Apparently not. I guess my hero act earned me some privacy.”
“You handled yourself quite well, Mr. Rivers. And I have to admit you changed my mind about country music when I heard you sing.”
“See? Cowboys
are
good,” he teased while wiggling his eyebrows. “‘I desire you in friendship, and I will one way or other make amends.’”
“
The Merry Wives of Windsor
. I’m even more impressed that you used it correctly.”
“Are we friends?” he asked as he extended his hand to her.
“Friends…” She grinned as she shook his hand. “…with a country singer, no less.” So much for wanting to explore those feelings he’d stirred up. He followed her to the front door. She slipped the key into the lock and turned to Justin. “Goodnight, cowboy. Thanks for seeing me home.”
He stood there, hat in hand, with a confused expression. “Silver, I have a confession to make,” he said as he took a step toward her.
Her heart sped up. Oh Lord, she thought. He’s going to kiss me again. We’re going exploring!
Silvery moonlight danced on his dark hair and he stared at her with hunger.
“A confession?” she asked softly. Before tonight, she hadn’t kissed anyone since Chase, but she wasn’t going to admit it to him.
He put a hand beside her head on the door frame, and his eyes locked on her mouth. He moved forward another step and touched her bottom lip with his thumb. She licked her lips before she realized what she was doing, tasting the faint saltiness of his skin with her tongue. He drew in a quick breath. A frisson of panic went through her. Rats, why hadn’t she grabbed one of those mints at the restaurant?
She felt lightheaded again, but it wasn’t dizziness. Being this close to the night’s possibilities made her tremble with need. Her neighbors might be getting an eyeful, but she didn’t care.
Unless they told her mother. Taking a step back, she found herself against the door.
She tilted her head up, her heart pounding. She wanted…no, she needed him to kiss her even as she realized that he hadn’t answered. She held her breath as he leaned forward.
His warm breath whispered on her neck as his teeth gently tugged her earlobe, causing her knees to weaken. She turned slightly. The waiting was delicious, and it was killing her.
“What’s your confession, cowboy?”
“Becky’s not here yet,” he said as he nuzzled her ear. “I don’t have a ride.”
Silver leaned her head to the side as his mouth moved down her neck. “No ride?” His lips glided against her skin, eliciting a soft moan before she could stop it.
Wait… What did he say? No ride? Pushing against his chest, she glared at him as the warm romantic moment dissolved.
Sighing roughly, he straightened and backed away. “Becky has my truck, remember? And I don’t feel right about leaving you alone since you fainted. Maybe I should bunk on your couch until she gets here.”
She crossed her arms on her chest. “So you slobbered all over my neck because you hoped to get lucky?”
She saw his jaw tighten and his eyes turned to dark blue ice in the moonlight. “First of all, I don’t slobber, especially when I’m with a beautiful woman. Second, I could bunk in Buddy tonight if it bothers you. Or third, you can drive me home and take the chance of getting dizzy again. Your choice.”
“It seems I haven’t made good choices about anything tonight,” she bit out as she unlocked the door. With a grand sweeping gesture, she gave him a tight smile. “Please, do come in, sir, and rest your weary dead animal shoes.”
His mouth dropped open. “These are custom made alligator boots.”
“Yippee,” she replied dryly.
Justin shook his head as he walked inside. She slammed the door behind him then tossed her purse onto a chair. Rats! Once again she’d let her defenses kick in, this time out of frustration and disappointment.