“Having you in his life would be his good fortune,” her friend said loyally.
“I’d be lucky to have him. He’s incredible, but enough about me. Where’s John? Have you told him about Meg yet?”
Chelsea raised her hands to her cheeks and stared at Kate with worried eyes. “My darling daughter crashed the banquet last night. It’s a long story, but let’s just say John was pissed I’d kept Meg from him all these years.”
“Has he forgiven you?”
“I don’t know. He’s been sort of nervous all evening, and I’m not sure why.”
Kate glanced across the room, following her friend’s gaze. Master Sergeant John Lucas, wearing his dark blue dress uniform, stood with a few of their former classmates. A big, handsome man with a buzz cut and a mustache. Chelsea’s lips curved in a secret smile as she looked at him, but the worry in her eyes didn’t ease.
Kate gave her shoulders a squeeze. “We’re quite a pair, aren’t we?”
“Grown women acting like wimpy little school girls.” Chelsea turned and made a face. “It’s pathetic.”
“You’re right. I’m going to suck it up and ask Tyler where we stand. I was an idiot not to have done it sooner.”
“Well you can’t do it now. Check it out,” she said, nodding toward the corner of the room where the band was set up to play.
Kate stared. Harbor Lights was taking a break, and Tyler and Michael were talking to the keyboard player. “Isn’t that Mr. Sloane, our old band teacher?”
“Yeah, it is. I actually dated his son, Jerry, the backup singer.”
Her eyebrows shot up. “Seriously?”
Chelsea grimaced. “I’m trying to avoid him.”
“Well Mr. Sloane looks exactly the same, just a little grayer. He always was a hippie at heart with that earring of his and the tie-dyed shirts.” Her pulse picked up speed, and she pressed her hand to her chest. “I think Tyler is going to sing. Look, the lead singer is handing him her guitar.”
“That’s Alexis Sloane, the old choir teacher,” Chelsea said. “In fact, the whole band is made up of ex-teachers, except for Jerry. Harbor Lights is just a part-time gig for him when he’s not playing pro hockey.”
They stood quietly while Cliff Sloane picked up the microphone. “Hey folks, we have a special treat tonight. Our very own Tyler North is going to sing us a song. And you all remember Michael Stephenson; he’ll be joining in on drums.”
There was applause from the crowd, and someone shouted, “Sing Her Sweet Smile.”
Tyler grinned. His smile made Kate’s stomach drop, and she was pretty certain she wasn’t the only woman in the room who felt that way. “I can’t believe he’s singing,” she whispered. “It’s been a long time since he’s performed.”
Chelsea gripped her hand.
He adjusted the microphone, his stance relaxed and easy. “Mike talked me into playing a song together for old time’s sake. Back in the day we jammed in his garage.” His quick grin lit his face. “We even got arrested once for disturbing the peace—among other things.”
There was a smattering of laughter, and Tyler nodded to Michael. The band took up the opening chords of a song Kate had heard a million times on the radio. Listening to him sing Her Sweet Smile tightened her chest. When he finished, she let out her breath. She hadn’t realized she’d been holding it.
Tyler spoke again, and his gaze met hers across the dimly lit room. “If you all don’t mind, I’d like to sing one more song I wrote for a very special lady on the way back to Summerville. It's called Lonely Road to You.”
He picked out the familiar, haunting tune on the strings of his guitar. This was the music he’d been working on in the park their first day together, the song he’d played on the balcony the night before. When he began to sing, her heart swelled until she felt like it would burst. Tears welled in her eyes and slid down her cheeks. Chelsea gave her hand a hard squeeze.
“The road stretched empty and long. It was all a meaningless song. Until I found you. Until I found you.”
His voice caressed her, wrapping her in love.
“Through all the endless miles, I was searching for your smile on this lonely road to you. This lonely road to you.”
The last note hung in the room before applause shattered the stillness.
“Oh, Kate.” Chelsea’s voice shook. “Go to him.”
Kate nodded. Wiping at her cheeks, she watched Tyler hand Alexis her guitar, shake hands with Cliff Sloane, and give Michael a brief, hard hug. He walked away from the band and came straight across the room to her.
Her throat was so full of tears she couldn’t speak. He wrapped his arm around her waist and led her to a rear door. It opened onto a stone patio with a lush green lawn beyond it. A full moon rode high in the sky, shedding its brilliance over the manicured grounds.
Kate’s voice shook. “That was the most beautiful thing anyone has ever done for me.”
“I meant every word.” He held her hands and looked into her eyes. “I know we’ve only been together a week, but I don’t want to lose you. I can’t lose you. I love you, Kate.”
She caught her trembling lip between her teeth and pulled one hand away to wipe the tears from her eyes. “I was so afraid this was the end. I’ve been dreading it.” She stepped forward, and he crushed her against his chest. “I love you, too, Tyler,” she whispered. “You’ve given me an excitement for life I thought I’d lost. With you, I can’t wait to see what tomorrow will bring.”
“Good things I hope. Will you and Josh come stay with me on the ranch? I want to meet your son. I want you to meet Sophie.”
“I’d love to.” She looked up at him and saw the love in his eyes, felt the warmth of it surround her. “Do you think we can make this work?”
“I do.”
He cupped her face in his hands and kissed her, his lips moving over hers, stirring her emotions, filling her heart with longing. She sighed as he released her.
“I think we can, too. After all, fate threw us together on that lonely road in Montana.”
He laughed. “Kismet. Karma. You’re my destiny, Kate.”
“And you’re mine. The universe is on our side.”
Standing in the light of the silvery moon, they sealed the words with a kiss.
A word about the author...
Write about what you know. I’ve taken this advice to heart, creating characters from small towns and plots that unfold in the great outdoors.
I grew up in a tiny town in Northern California, where as children we ran wild in the woods. Now I live in beautiful Lake Tahoe with my husband and two daughters. When I’m not busy writing or being a full-time mom, I find great enjoyment in taking our dog, Ginger, for hikes in the woods around our home.
Whether I’m writing contemporary romance, romantic suspense, or historical romance, I try to bring the beauty of nature to my stories.
I graduated from U. C. Davis with a double major in history and creative writing. Though I’ve worked in both the restaurant and ski industries, I never wanted to be anything but a writer. After many years of pursuing my passion, I’ve finally achieved success with the publication of Victim of Desire and Lonely Road to You, proof positive that dreams do come true!
Visit me at www.JannineGallant.com
Thank you for purchasing
this Wild Rose Press publication.
For other wonderful stories of romance,
please visit our on-line bookstore at
www.thewildrosepress.com.
For questions or more information
contact us at
[email protected].
The Wild Rose Press
www.TheWildRosePress.com
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Lonely Road to You (Class of '85) Page 11
