by Katie Ashley
“I want a favor.”
“What kind of favor?”
“You see, my mom has this thing about musicians.”
I snorted. “Yeah, I kinda got that.”
“I’ve begged her for a guitar, but she keeps telling me no.” Jerking his chin at me, he said, “That’s where you come in.”
“You want me to get you a guitar?” Of all the things the kid could have asked me for—concert tickets, money, expensive gadgets—I couldn’t help being slightly surprised that he’d asked for a guitar.
Linc nodded. “It doesn’t have to be one of yours or one that costs a lot of money. I just need one to learn on. You see, my friend’s older brother has been teaching me chords and stuff, but I don’t have a guitar to practice on at home.”
“Let me get this straight: you want me to go against your mother’s wishes and give you a guitar so you can smooth things over for me to hang out with her?”
“Exactly.”
“Damn, kid. That sounds a little devious to me.”
Linc’s expression saddened. “Didn’t you ever want something so bad you were willing to do anything to get it?”
“Well, yeah, of course I have.”
“Then can’t you see my point?”
“Yeah, but it’s—”
“I make all As at school, even in math which I’m no good at. I always clean my room and make my bed. I never get into any trouble at school or at home.”
“That’s quite a sell job you’re doing there. I had no idea I was in the presence of such perfection,” I mused.
He grimaced. “Okay, sometimes I get in trouble because I forget things, like when my homework is due.”
“Ah, so you aren’t perfect.”
“You see, my mom’s afraid if I start playing guitar and get in a band, I’m going to turn into a shit like my dad.”
Bingo. I was about to get some insight on Rae’s ex-files. “Your dad’s a musician?
Linc nodded. “At least he was when he and my mom were together.” He shrugged. “I don’t know what he is now ’cause I’ve never met him.”
No wonder Rae hated rockers—she’d been knocked up and abandoned by one when she was just a kid. That would certainly be enough to turn you off to them, as well as leading you to reject any offers to be one’s muse.
“Please, Mr. Renard.”
“Give me a minute to think.” When it came down to it, getting the kid a guitar wasn’t the issue—I had three back at my apartment in Atlanta. It was the problem of going behind his mom’s back. If Rae hated me now, she would be out for my blood when she found out I’d given her son a guitar. There would be no way in hell she would want to be anywhere near me, which would totally screw up my songwriting.
Maybe it would be possible to blow town before she knew what I’d done. I could stay in Bumblefuck for the next week or two, get enough songs for the album, and then get the hell out of dodge. Once Rae realized what I’d done, I’d be safely back in Atlanta.
“Okay, here are my conditions: you get me the hookup with your mom, then after a week or so when I’m done writing songs, I’ll get you a guitar.”
Linc mulled over my words. “How do I know I can trust you to deliver on the guitar? No offense, but I just don’t think your word is enough.”
Jesus, the kid drove a hard bargain. “Would you like me to sign something?”
“Like a contract?”
“Yes.”
“I think that would be in both our best interests.” His brows crinkled. “I’d like to have it notarized, but I’m afraid Candy would want to know what it was.”
“My signature and my word are my bond. I won’t back out.”
“Okay, until I can write up the contract, why don’t we shake on it?”
With a roll of my eyes, I replied, “Fine.” I threw my hand out, and Linc shook it.
“So how we do this?” I asked.
“I think a sneak attack is the best way to start.”
“Okay. I’m listening.”
“On Mondays we always eat dinner at The Hitching Post on Main Street, so you could just happen to be there when we get there. Then I could ask you to sit with us because I recognized you from Jacob’s Ladder.” Just when I started to agree with him, Linc frowned. “Wait, I don’t know if it’s a good idea that we play up your rocker status. What do you think?”
I blinked at him. I was starting to think Linc was nine going on thirty. “Hmm, you’re probably right.”
“We don’t get a lot of strangers around here. Maybe I could ask you to sit with us because you’re sitting by yourself and look lonely?”
“Oh yeah, let’s ditch the rocker angle and go for me looking sad and pathetic,” I muttered.
Linc laughed. “I’m just trying to come up with the best plan.”
“I say we stay with rocker. Moms are usually pretty weird about their kids talking to or hanging out with strangers.”
“Oh yeah, she’s always telling me that. Plus, it makes more sense that I want you to sit with us as a musician since she knows how much I want to play guitar.”
“Works for me. What time should I be there?”
“Mom usually closes up the shop at six then we head on over there.”
Nodding, I replied, “I’ll be there.”
“Hey Mom, aren’t you ready to go?” Linc asked.
I glanced from my computer over to him. “I’m sorry, sweets, but I’m running behind today. I might have to stay until seven to catch up. You want to call Papa to come get you?”
The devastated look on Linc’s face made me feel like Mother of the Year. The reason I was running behind on paperwork was because I’d spent over an hour at Harts and Flowers, hashing and rehashing Gabe’s visit with Kennedy and Ellie. By the time I had gotten back to the shop, I was needed out on the floor to oversee some insurance adjusters, and I’d even eaten lunch sitting at my desk with my head buried in my computer.
“But we always go to dinner together on Monday nights,” Linc protested.
Not only did he have the most pitiful tone in the world, he also somehow managed to stick his bottom lip out. “You really want to go out to eat with me instead of seeing what goodies Stella cooked?”
“Yessss.”
My gaze trailed back over to the computer screen. It wouldn’t kill anybody if I did cut out early; the paperwork would still be there in there morning. I hit save on the file I had open and turned off the computer then held up my hands in defeat. “Fine. You know I can never say no when you pick me over Papa.”
A guilty look flashed in Linc’s eyes before he quickly replaced it with pure happiness and rushed over to tug on my sleeve. “Come on, Mom. I’m starving.”
“Okay, okay, keep your stomach at bay. I have to close up.” I grabbed my purse out of the desk drawer and then rose out of my chair. Usually when I got ready to leave, Linc would be running around the shop or outside playing with Demo. Today, though, he never left my side. I had a shadow as I checked to ensure all the equipment was off and the doors were locked. I started to think he was going to come in the bathroom with me, but thankfully, he waited outside the door.
Once Hart and Daughter was thoroughly closed up, Linc and I headed over to the car. As I pulled out onto Main Street, I noticed a clanging noise. Just when I started to think I had a mechanical issue, I realized it was the zipper on Linc’s backpack hitting the underside of the dashboard as he bounced his knees. It was something he did when he was anxious—a little nervous habit. I wondered if something had happened at school. Maybe Mrs. Lockhart had hated his solar system project. Inwardly, I groaned when I thought maybe he was upset about Donuts with Dad. Was he really okay with my dad going with him, or was he starting to wish he had a father? Even though I was dying to press him about what he might be nervous about, I decided I would wait until we sat down to eat.
I eased the SUV up to the curb outside of The Hitching Post. It was one of the three restaurants in town, and since it was on Main Street a
nd close to the house, we usually ate there at least twice a week. I’d barely put the car in park when Linc bounded out of the door. “Linc, be careful! Watch for cars!” I shouted.
Ignoring me, he was already around the front of the vehicle, and he managed to open my door for me before I had the chance.
“Wow, what’s brought on the chivalry tonight?”
“Nothing. I’m just hungry.”
“Whatever, buddy,” I replied as I reached out to ruffle his hair.
After I hopped out, my gaze caught a dark-haired figure standing inside the restaurant. Whipping my sunglasses off, I squinted at the man. At the realization of who it was, I gasped.
Oh no. It wasn’t possible that Gabe Renard was waiting to be seated at the very restaurant we were going to eat at. The last thing on earth I wanted was to see him again, especially not with Linc since I didn’t know how Gabe would react.
When Linc’s hand reached for the door, I swatted it away. “What would you say if we skipped out on The Hitching Post and drove over to Preston for some Chinese?”
“But we always eat here on Monday nights.”
I shrugged. “So? We can mix things up and get your favorite Chinese.”
Linc stared at me like I’d grown horns. “But I want a burger tonight, not Chinese.”
Inwardly, I groaned. “Okay. I just thought I’d suggest it.”
Without another word, Linc pushed on inside. When the bell tinkled over our heads, Gabe turned around, and my breath hitched as I waited to see his reaction. Surprise flooded me when he gave me a genuine smile—the kind of smile you reserve for people you like, not ones who had turned you down for both a date and to be your musical muse.
“Oh wow! It’s Gabe Renard!” Linc shouted before pointing at Gabe.
Jerking Linc’s hand down, I said, “It’s not polite to point.”
Linc stared up at me, wide-eyed. “But he’s famous! Papa said some famous rocker named Gabe was in town, but I had no idea it was Gabe Renard.”
“It’s nice to meet you,” Gabe said, throwing out his hand.
Linc stared at it in awe for a moment before shaking Gabe’s hand. “I can’t believe I just touched Gabe Renard’s hand. None of my friends are going to believe this.”
“Why don’t we take a selfie together? Then you have photographic evidence.”
Linc’s eyes bulged. “You’d really do that?”
“Sure. I’d be happy to.”
Thrusting his phone at me, Linc said, “Will you take it, Mom?”
“Uh, sure,” I replied. As I brought the phone up, Gabe threw his arm around Linc. I tried to hide my utter shock at Gabe’s behavior as I snapped a few pictures of the two. “Okay, there’s your photographic evidence.”
“It would be rude of me not to say thank you again for getting my Jeep unstuck yesterday,” Gabe said.
Waving my hand, I countered, “It was nothing.”
“Oh, but it wasn’t. It meant a lot to me.” I knew Gabe was no longer talking about the tow.
“Are you here by yourself?” Linc asked.
“Yep.”
My son turned to me. “Can Mr. Renard eat dinner with us?”
“I’m sure Mr. Renard doesn’t want to eat with us, sweetie.” I narrowed my eyes at Gabe. “Do you?”
“As a matter of fact, I would love the company. Besides, I never like to let my fans down.” He winked at me. “Where are we sitting?”
I fought the urge to reach over and smack the smug look right off of Gabe’s face. Instead, I took a few deep breaths and tried to keep my temper at bay. “Linc, why don’t you go wash your hands while Mr. Renard and I get a table?” I suggested.
“Okay. I’ll be right back.”
As soon as Linc was out of sight, I turned back to Gabe. “What are you doing here?” I hissed.
With a shrug, Gabe replied, “The same thing you are—grabbing some dinner.”
“I mean, what are you doing still in town?”
“I booked a room at the Grandview for a few days. I thought I might stick around and see if I could rekindle the writing vibes, even without you.”
Slowly, I shook my head. “You’re going to stay in Hayesville?”
“Yep. Mrs. Paulson was kind enough to rent out the entire third floor to me so I wouldn’t be disturbed.”
Of course Mrs. Paulson had. As Aunt Sadie would say, Rejune Paulson had come out of the womb man-crazy. She might’ve been in her fifties, but she would have been more than happy to make Gabe one of her cougar cubs. I wrinkled my nose at the thought.
“But you’re a big city boy…there’s nothing for someone like you to do here.”
“If you mean the town doesn’t have distractions, you’re correct, and that is exactly what I need.”
I stared at Gabe for a few moments before huffing in frustration. “You’re impossible.”
“Right now, I’m hungry, so what do you say we get a table?”
“Fine,” I grumbled.
The owner of The Hitching Post, Kenneth Maxwell, sat propped up on a stool at the register. He doubled as both the cashier and host. “How many?”
“Three.”
“Follow me.”
I couldn’t hide my surprise when Gabe motioned for me to go ahead of him. “And here I thought you didn’t have a remotely chivalrous bone in your body,” I remarked.
“I’m full of surprises.”
“I’d say it was more you were full of shit.”
Gabe threw back his head and laughed. Just as Kenneth pointed out our table, Linc arrived back from the bathroom. When I started to pull out my chair, Gabe once again shocked the hell out of me by stepping in front of me to do it himself. “I believe that makes me two and oh when it comes to chivalry points,” he mused.
I rolled my eyes before allowing him to push me up to the table. When I reached out to take a menu from Kenneth, he was staring open-mouthed at Gabe. “Yes, he’s a famous country rocker. I’m sure he’ll sign something for you after dinner.”
Kenneth head jerked back at my response. “I didn’t realize that. I was just surprised to see anyone under sixty pulling a chair out for a woman.” He then turned his interested gaze over to Gabe. “Are you really famous, or is she just pulling my leg?”
Gabe laughed. “She’s telling the truth. I’m the drummer for the band Jacob’s Ladder.”
“Well, I’ll be damned. I think the last time we had anyone famous in town was years ago when they were filming that movie about the circus with the guy who played the sparkly vampire.”
“Sparkly vampire?” Gabe questioned.
“Robert Pattinson. They filmed some scenes for Water for Elephants at a farm not too far from here.”
With a grin, Gabe replied, “I see. He did play a sparkly vampire in the Twilight series. He’s a pretty cool guy though.”
I sucked in a breath. “You know Robert Pattinson?”
“I met him at a party a few years ago right after the last Twilight movie came out—Breaking…whatever it was.”
“Breaking Dawn,” I replied breathlessly.
“Yeah, that’s the one.”
Linc snickered. “Mom thinks he’s hot.”
“I do not,” I protested as I felt warmth flooding my cheeks.
“Yes, you do. You and Aunt Ellie are always talking about how you’d have his babies when there’s a Twilight weekend on Freeform.”
Refusing to look at Gabe, I turned to Kenneth. “Linc and I will have sweet tea.”
After bobbing his head, Kenneth looked over at Gabe. “And you?”
“I’ll have the same.”
“Three sweet teas it is. I’ll let May know. She’ll be your waitress tonight.”
“Thanks, Kenneth.”
After staring down at my menu for a few seconds, I could feel Gabe’s eyes on me. Finally, I dared myself to look up at him. “What?”
“Robert Pattinson?” he asked with a smirk.
“Shut up. I should be able to have my celebrity cr
ushes without any judgement.”
Gabe held up his hands. “No judgment, just surprise. It makes sense now why you turned me down.” With a wink, he added, “I must not be your type.”
“Trust me, whether or not you’re my type had nothing to do with me turning you down.”
May returned with our drinks. “Rae, can I get you and Linc your usual?”
I looked at Linc for confirmation before replying, “Sure.”
“What about you?” she asked Gabe. At that moment, she got a good look at him then proceeded to freak out. “Oh my God, you’re Gabe Renard. You’re in Jacob’s Ladder.” Her usually porcelain face flushed to a tomato red.
Gabe flashed her a genuine smile. “I am. It’s nice to meet you.”
“I’ve listened to you guys for years. I even have some of your CDs from when Micah was still in the band.”
“That is a long time.”
With her free hand, May fanned her face. “Whatever you want to eat is on the house—my treat.”
“I can’t let you do that.”
She giggled. “I insist. Then I can tell everyone I bought Gabe Renard dinner!”
“While I’m still not agreeing, I’ll take the chicken and dumplings, macaroni and cheese, and the fried okra.”
With a trembling hand, May wrote down Gabe’s selections. “I’ll be right back.”
“Looks like if you play your cards just right, May might take you home with her tonight,” I mused.
He grinned. “She’s not my type.”
“Because she’s old?” Linc questioned while wrinkling his nose.
Shaking his head, Gabe replied, “Because she’s tall and blonde.” His gaze came to me. “I like petite brunettes.”
I rolled my eyes in reply to his come-on. “Linc, do you have any homework you could be working on?”
“Nope. I got it all done at the shop.”
“You’re absolutely sure? We’re not going to get home and you realize you were supposed to do another project like the solar system one?”
Linc laughed. “No, Mom. I promise.”
“Good.”
Gabe broke apart one of the cornbread muffins in his hand. “Tell me, Linc, do you play any sports?”
