Lovely (18 page)

She prods me with her arm. “Sing something. After all, I’ve only heard the parking lot serenade.”

“Okay,” I say, my voice hesitant, “but I don’t have my guitar.”

Delilah looks up on stage. “John’s got his guitar up there. I’m sure you can use that.”

I kick my chair back with my foot and stand up. Cara kisses my cheek. “For luck,” she says.

Okay, she must be drunk
.

There’s a ton of hooting and hollering, most of it coming from our table, as I make my way to the stage. I grab John’s guitar and take a seat in front of the mic.

Rona’s voice comes through the speakers. “Let’s welcome back one of our favorites—give a warm welcome to Ashton Taylor.”

The lights dim and the bar comes to life with slurred screams and hollers, various glasses raised in cheer, and drinks sloshing around. Our table is in clear view and Cara’s eyes are locked on the stage. After giving her a quick wink, I clear my throat, close my eyes, and begin strumming a guitar riff, my fingers caressing the melody as I let the music and the feeling roll over me, the words of “Angels Don’t Always Have Wings” by Tall Moon pour from my mouth.

“Hmmm … mmm … mmm …

I once saw a girl

She came to me in a dream

She stepped in front of me

And I was blinded by her light

By her smile

By her heart

She was beautiful

I didn’t know it

But she was an angel

Guiding me with her light

I didn’t know it

There were no wings in sight

But she was an angel

She was my angel

She took my hand and we took flight

She was my angel

Hmmm … mmm … mmm …

She was my angel

Hmmm … mmm … mmm …”

When the music leaves me and my eyes open again, I’m blinded by the lights now surrounding me. The sounds of applause are deafening, but yet I can barely hear them. My sole focus is on Cara. It’s hard to tell if she’s looking my way as I’m overwhelmed by the sudden onslaught of light. I wonder if she knows I was singing to her. I hope so.

I set the guitar down carefully in the corner and walk down the steps and off the stage. I feel my feet quickening in time with my heartbeat as I attempt to get to Cara. The path of women pawing at me as I walk by seems a mile long, but they can’t get my attention. My focus is on one woman and one woman only. Keeping my eyes glued to Cara, I find my way back to the table, a bunch of “congrats” shouted out to me and both Charlie and Jason slapping me on the back when I arrive.

Jason gives me a high five. “That was awesome, dude. I wish I had your voice.”

I sit back down next to Cara and Delilah walks over and whispers, “that was amazing, Ash.” She warmly taps my shoulder before taking her seat again.

Cara leans over, pressing her lips to my cheek in a lingering kiss.

My whole body reacts, a shudder running straight through me.

“That was … beautiful, Ash. You’re really talented.”

I let myself roam the intensity of her beauty. The eyes that with one look brighten my world, the way her lips curve up soft and pink like the petals of a rose, her skin just like silk, the angle of her cheekbone, and finally back to where I started. “Thank you.”

We all continue to drink while a couple more daring participants take the stage. I can’t help wishing I was back on the dance floor with Cara, her in my arms, bewitching me.

After a few more beers, we’ve all just about had it for the night. There were a couple of designated drivers including Julie, who’s now driving us home in my car. Delilah’s in the front with Julie and Cara and I are in the back. Cara’s humming lazily to the music and giggling softly. Our thighs are brushing and her head is resting on my shoulder, her scent intoxicating me.

When we arrive at Cara’s house, I get out of the car and reach my hand in to lead her out. I grab her and she stumbles forward, falling right into the hard muscles of my chest. I wrap my arms around her and hear her breathe deeply and slowly through her nose. She looks up at me, hysterical giggles causing her body to shake.

“What’s so funny?”

“You … sm-smell … g-good …,” she slurs, her body practically going limp against me.

“You’re drunk,” I retort, relishing in the feel of her warm body pushed up against mine. I can feel the steady beat of her heart blending with my own.

“May … be … j-just a l-little,” she chuckles, “but you still … smell … mmm … and … you’re s-so … s-strong …” She hiccups as she starts to squeeze and knead the biceps of my arms.

Holy Shit
. “Come on, Cara. Let me get you inside.” I scoop her up under her knees and she lets out a tiny squeal, then relaxes and buries her head in my neck. I take her keys with one hand while my other one grips her firmly, trying not to let her drop while keeping as far away from her ass as possible. When we’re inside, I throw the keys on the table beside the door and carry her up the stairs. Mid-way, I feel her wet lips against my neck and I’m halted … and now hard as a freaking rock. My heart races and a bead of sweat forms on my brow.

“Cara,” I whisper, “what are you doing?”

I swear a tiny moan leaves her throat. The sound is incredible. “I wanted to see if … if you … t-taste as g-good … as … you … s-smell …”

Jesus
.

Carrying her the rest of the way without exploding in my pants, is a barely-attainable feat. When I make it to her room, I set her down on her feet. She’s wobbly and her eyes are drifting closed, so I walk her backwards and sit her down on the bed, removing her heels. She instantly tips over, her legs parting and her arms going above her head. I see the edge of her black lace panties and realize I’ve got to get out of here … like, now.

For a second, I consider undressing her so she can be more comfortable, but think better of it because that might be my undoing. I roll back the covers and place my hands under her arms, easing her beneath them. Her curls are a tousled mess, happy sighs are leaving her mouth, and her lips are turned up in a euphoric smile. She looks freaking adorable and ridiculously sexy. Bringing the covers up and over her body, I press a gentle kiss to her forehead. “Goodnight, beauty.”

I limp back to the car. Delilah instantly flings her arm over the leather and turns around to face me. “What the heck took you so long?”

My head hits the back of the seat, thoughts of staying with Cara while she slept it off invading my mind. “She had a bit too much to drink.”

Delilah looks to Julie and they both snicker at the same time. “We thought you two were getting it on up there.”

I wish
.

I cross my arms over my chest. “Nice, Delilah, and you say that’s all
I
ever think about. You girls are just as bad.”

Julie puckers her lips and mouths something to Delilah I can’t make out, like they’re privy to some secret.

“What are you two witches cackling about?” Something tells me it might have something to do with Jason, but I’m not interested in getting into that with her right now.

“So, Ash,” Delilah says.

“So, Delilah,” I reply.

She raises her perfectly plucked brow. “Well … It was fun hanging out with Cara tonight. I feel a bit bad because I totally misjudged her. She’s actually really cool. I mean, I like her.”

A smile touches my lips. “Yeah, I like her, too.”

Julie chimes in. “Well, I’m pretty sure the feeling is mutual.”

“Julie, what does that mean?” I ask, like a guy who’s stuck on a deserted island and will do anything to find that one coconut. “If you’ve got some inside scoop, I want it. I’m willing to pay dearly for it, too.”

“Hmmm,” she responds, “like maybe setting me up with Charlie?”

“Charlie?” I say, surprised. “I never would have guessed. But hey, whatever it takes, now spill.”

We come to a red light and Julie shifts in her seat. “Okay, so the whole time you were singing, she couldn’t take her eyes off of you. And … I just happened to notice the way she was checking you out the rest of the night. Women have a sixth sense about these things. Trust me.”

“God, yes, Ash!” Delilah bursts with enthusiasm. “You should’ve seen her face when you were on stage. She was completely lost in your words.”

“Really?” I respond, a twinge of hope rising in my chest.

“Uh, yeah, sweet brother … really.”

Maybe that’s why she was smiling. Now I’m smiling, too.

I can hardly sleep because Delilah and Julie’s words are swirling around in my head. I wake up with a stupid grin plastered on my face. But what if they’re wrong?

I walk in the kitchen ready to start the day. The smell of bacon, eggs, and blueberry pancakes are passing through the air, landing under my nose and making me extremely hungry. “Morning, Mom.”

Mom flips around, handfuls of blueberries falling from her fingers and onto the pancakes. “Morning, sweetie. Did you and Delilah have a good time last night?”

Delilah prances into the kitchen as if she’s floating on a cloud. “We sure did, didn’t we, Ash?” she chirps with an exaggerated wink in my direction.

Mom grins. “Hmph … what might that be all about?”

Delilah plucks a blueberry pancake from the stove and pours a pool of maple syrup over it. “Tell her, Ash.”

I take a plate from the island and put a couple of pancakes and some bacon on it. “There’s nothing to tell. We hung out, I sang, and we came home.”

Delilah pops some blueberries in her mouth. “You’re forgetting about the part where I think you were singing to Cara and you danced with her? Aren’t you?”

Mom shakes more blueberries into the pan, smiling widely. “It certainly seems like someone else had a good time last night, too,” she comments, observing Delilah while she skips around the kitchen, practically singing.

I grab some extra blueberries from the container and take a seat at the table. “Yeah, Delilah,” I say, grinning, “what’s that all about? Do tell.”

Delilah throws a blueberry up in the air, smiling mischievously, and it lands in her mouth. “I plead the fifth.”

Colt finally makes his way down for breakfast, a scowl registering on his lips. “How come you guys didn’t wait for me last night? I wanted to go to Rona’s, too.”

I push a chair out with my foot so he can sit down. “I thought you were hanging out with Stacy last night, so I figured you wouldn’t want to come.”

He fills his plate with bacon and his glass with orange juice. “We both would’ve come. I heard you kicked fucking ass up there on stage.”

Mom clears her throat and glares at him. Colt swears like a banshee. Mom frowns upon it so he does his best to keep it in check when she’s around … but, well … sometimes shit just slips out.

“Sorry, Mom,” he says with a lack of sincerity.

I finish breakfast and get up from the table. “Alright, I’m heading out. Who needs a ride?”

Delilah pushes her chair back. “I’ll take one. Let me just grab my stuff.”

“See you later, Mom,” I say, giving her a quick hug.

Colt takes a bite of bacon with one hand and gives me a fist bump with the other. “Later, bro.”

No sooner are we in the car when Delilah starts in on me. “So …,” she says with a glare.

I catch a glimpse of her from the corner of my eye, her mischievous smile growing by the minute. “So what?”

She heaves an exasperated sigh, like she’s missing out on valuable information. “Don’t ‘so what’ me, Ash. What’s going on with you and Cara?”

“Delilah, nothing’s going on … we’re friends. I mean … I’d like it to be more and I was thinking about asking her out. I just don’t know if she’ll say yes.”

She squeals like this is the best news ever. “That’s awesome! I don’t know, Ash. There’s something about her.”

Yeah, I know
.

“Plus, we got to chatting a bit last night and she really is sweet. Your name seemed to come up a lot in our conversation and I have a pretty strong feeling that she’ll say yes.”

I steer my car into the lot and find a space, giving Delilah a quick peck. “I really hope so, Delilah, more than anything.”

She yells out, “good luck!” and I watch as her auburn hair disappears among a sea of students.

“Thanks,” I shout back, walking toward the library, anxiety shredding the lining of my stomach with each step. It’s that feeling of wanting something so badly, but at the same time completely terrified that you can’t have it, and what’s worse, it’s out of your control.

I draw in one last inhale of breath and push the doors open, taking a moment to bathe in her beauty before approaching her. She’s wearing a pale blue sleeveless dress that accentuates the curve of her shoulders and her hair is tied back in a ponytail, showcasing her neck, making me want to trail slow kisses down to her collarbone.

I garner some confidence and trek to the counter. “Morning.”

She immediately stops typing and lifts her head, a smile moving from her lips and settling in the richness of her eyes. “Morning to you.”

I lean my elbows on the desk, my head sitting between my hands, my stupid grin fully intact. “So, how are you feeling this morning?”