*****
Chris should have, but didn't anticipate that response from Taryn. Did she really get treated so badly that she had to question why someone would be interested in her? Sure, he'd been a little shocked and curious when he first found out she was in a wheelchair. Maybe because of his past goal of going into physical therapy, he easily saw past it and other people couldn't. Who knows?
“Let's see, why do I want to impress the intriguing Taryn McAllister... I'll write you a whole long list why, if you have to ask. And then I'll show you, one by one.” Chris gestured to the living room.
Taryn put her hands on the sides of her chair, poised to go. “To answer your question, yes. I can sit on the couch or other places. It's not a big deal, and it doesn't bother me, as long as it's a fairly easy transfer.”
“Cool.” He played coy. So when he blurted out his next sentence, it surprised him. “I might have to kiss you again.”
Taryn stopped moving. “Oh really? Who said kissing came into play?” Her tone was light and teasing. Maybe she did feel something the night of their first kiss. Maybe this wasn't one sided and she felt a connection, too. She swiveled her gaze toward the couch. “This might not be an easy transfer,” she said quietly. And maybe Chris wasn't imagining the sad note in her tone. Did that mean what he hoped it did?
“Maybe, just maybe, you'll let me help you then,” Chris said softly, staring at her. “I'll leave the kissing option up to you.”
“I just might. It wasn't half bad,” she teased as she locked the brakes on her chair.
Chris stood before her, ready to pick her up. “Not half bad?” he gasped in mock horror. “Ouch. I guess since I'm helping you practice Baby Stetson's songs, you might need to help me practice getting better than a 'not half bad' rating. Let me know when you're ready.”
Her eyes met his, and he noted the warmth and amusement in them. “Ready.”
He carefully picked her up and set her on the couch. “You're a sandals kind of girl,” he commented, noticing her feet for the first time.
“I loved sandals. They were comfortable. I wore them all the time, even in the winter.”
Chris moved Taryn's chair over and marveled at her. She did that twirling of her hair again. A nervous habit? Then he settled next to her, reaching for her hand to hold. Electricity zipped through him.
“I have a question for you now.” Taryn peered at him, her eyelids lowering briefly. Long eyelashes swept down, then up again. Eyelashes. Seriously. He was so wrapped up in her, he noticed her damn eyelashes. Yeah, this was wildly crazy.
“Go for it.”
“What made you lose your interest in drums so much? You play good, so I'm thinking at one time you enjoyed it.”
Ahh, a question he didn't really want to get into, but Taryn had been open with him when he asked her things, some of them pretty personal and close to her heart.
Someone knocked on the door. Argh! “Hold on,” he told Taryn before jumping up to answer. An official looking person stood on the other side. “Yes?” he asked cautiously.
“I have a delivery for a Christopher Roland. It needs to be signed for.” The man held up a large flat envelope.
He stepped back, hesitant. It could be official business from Colorado, something to do with the house, his father's death, or even Anthony, Melody's ex and his old friend. The one he'd introduced her to, who turned out to be a psychotic killer. “That's me.” No point in lying. Chris tried to recall if there'd be a reason someone would serve him, but he came up blank. If he wasn't being served, then why send something he needed to sign for?
The man held out an electronic device. Chris signed it and accepted the envelope. “Thank you. Have a good day.”
The man nodded, replied with a “You too”, then took off. Chris closed the door and stared at the package. The address caught him off guard. Kansas.
His mother.
He blew out a breath and tore open the envelope, revealing a typed letter and two airplane tickets. What the hell? His palms were sweaty as he held up the paper to read it.
Chris,
I'd really like it if you and Melody would come out for a few days and see me. I know after twenty years, you don't owe me a thing, especially after the way I left, but life is short. At least hear me out before you decide to keep me out of your life completely.
Bridgette
“She can't even fucking sign Mom!” Infuriated, Chris dropped the letter and tickets on the ground.
“Everything ok?” Taryn watched him with curiosity.
Oh hell, how had he forgotten even for a minute, that Taryn was here? Now he had to explain. He picked up the papers and carried them to the couch. “Have you ever had someone want to come back into your life after a long time?” He sat down again.
“Umm yeah. Try Kyra, although it wasn't her directly who reached out. Matt did it.” She pressed her lips together.
“Duh, that's right,” he muttered. “My mom contacted me out of the blue recently after twenty years. She walked out on us when I was thirteen. No word. Nothing. Now, all of a sudden, she calls. She wants to see us, but doesn't explain why. Now she sent plane tickets.”
“Wow,” Taryn shook her head. “No clues as to what she wants at all?”
“Not really. She's vague. I wonder if she thinks she can bum money. It's not a secret that Melody's in a band and gaining success. Maybe Bridgette thinks she's entitled. I don't know, but something is fishy about the whole thing.” Chris sighed. This wouldn't be a fun conversation to have with Melody later. “She doesn't even refer to herself as Mom.”
“What are you going to do?”
“I should go. Maybe I can say what I need to get off my chest and leave it at that. I just have this feeling she wants something.” He sighed again. “There's a lot to say to her. There's a lot to ask.”
“You know what we both need?” Taryn asked in a quiet tone.
“What's that?”
“A distraction. I've got a good idea.” Her grin spread.
“Oh yeah? Does this involve arcades or drumming?”
“Neither. It involves kissing practice. You want a better rating, don't you?”
Oh hell yes he did. And he wanted that better rating from Taryn. His pulse quickened. “Is this a tactic to make me feel better? If so, it's working.” He inched closer and cupped the back of Taryn's head, bringing her face toward him. Her lips parted, ready and waiting for him. He claimed her lips, eager for more of her. Hot, searing desire coursed through him. He gently pushed her back against the couch, tasting, teasing, and nipping at her lips gently before taking the plunge and kissing her full on. Taryn's arms slid around him. She didn't hold back. Her kisses were much more confident than they were at the arcade. His were too, for that matter.
She tasted exceptional. As he slipped his tongue inside her mouth, Chris moved his hand lowered and gently cupped a breast.
Damn it, he shouldn't have done that. Too fast of a move. Not unusual for him, but it must have bothered Taryn. “Don't,” she squeaked out in a tiny, uncertain voice. “I-I-”
Hell. He was thinking with his dick again, instead of respecting Taryn's space. “Sorry. Damn, Taryn, I'm sorry.” He moved his hand and pulled away. Her lips were turned down in a worried frown. The look of concern and fear in her eyes tore at him.
“I know you do this kind of thing a lot, but … shoot, I sound like a virginal teenager, and I'm sorry-”
The awkwardness they'd just gotten rid of returned, and Chris hated it. They were getting somewhere until he pulled that move. He hadn't thought about it. He'd just acted without realizing Taryn might have different ideas.
*****
“Ready for your first day on the job?”
Taryn gasped when she heard Matt's voice. She wheeled around to face him. “You scared me! And yes, I'm ready. I think.”
“You'll do great. Hey, Kyra has a couple of phone conferences to handle, so I hope you don't mind if I drive you.”
“I don't mind.
I do have a question for you. Am I in the way here? I mean, you both are driving me everywhere, I'm living here...You and Kyra are supposed to be enjoying time together.” Taryn tried to keep the doubts to herself, but this one slipped from her mouth before she could stop herself. Ever since Saturday and the way she panicked over Chris taking their kiss to the next level, she'd been clouded with worry again.
Matt leaned against the door frame. “Having you here makes Kyra happy, which makes me happy. I'm not sure you realize how grateful she is to have you back in her life again. I won't lie, I wish we had at least a week to ourselves, but there's work, family, and tons of obligations. I'm not going to complain about any time I have with her. Music has been around a lot longer than I have for Kyra.”
“She was born singing.” Taryn laughed. “I wasn't at first, but I'm glad you decided to get involved by contacting me. I'm not sure I would have made the move myself.” Who knows how things would have turned out?
He ran a hand through his hair and shifted weight from one foot to the other. “I'm glad it worked out.”
“I am, too. Now I hope the rest of my life falls into place.” She hadn't meant to put that one out there, not to Matt.
He finally entered the room, still hesitant. “Kyra's really hoping things work out with you and Baby Stetson. How do you feel about it?”
“I want it. I'd love to play with a band. But there's so many things to think about. One day, I had a dream and followed it, never thinking of a back up plan. I hate day jobs.” Taryn finished gathering her stuff, threw it in her backpack, and slung it on the back of her chair along with her purse.
“Yeah, I'm not always fond of day jobs either.” Matt cracked a smile.
She covered her face. “That's so insensitive. I'm sorry.” Not everyone got to live the life she did. Day jobs were part of Matt's everyday life.
Matt laughed and waved it off. “Don't be sorry. We all get to live different lives. Yours included being on the road with a band. I just wanted to know if it's something you really want to do. Kyra's been spending a lot of time looking up accessibility for tour buses, venues, and hotels, in both small towns and cities. I think she's been making a lot of phone calls that don't always have to do with her own career.”
“Sounds like Kyra. All this time and effort she's putting into what is only a possibility. I don't know if I have it in me any more, but I want to try. And Matt? Sorry for laying all this on you. I never meant to spill all of this, but it shows you're easy to talk to.”
“Remind my son on the days we have our arguments, would you?” He chuckled.
“Oh good! I caught you before it was too late.” Kyra burst into the room. “I've had a few things come up. I'm so sorry I'm not taking you.”
“That's all right. Matt's not a bad substitute,” Taryn teased.
“If it weren't true, I'd be offended. I can't compare to the one and only Kyra.” For effect, Matt knelt in front of Kyra, bowing his head. “Am I worthy?”
Taryn and Kyra burst into laughter. “Get up, crazy man! What is with you today?”
Matt climbed to his feet. “It's the Kyra effect,” he whispered loudly. “The more I'm around you, the stranger I get.”
Taryn groaned. “Okay, you two, that's enough.” She covered her face again. In all honesty, she loved the way Matt and Kyra were together, but she wouldn't admit it just yet. Not while she still had to live around it.
“How about I come up for lunch? I'll bring you and Mom something,” Kyra suggested.
“Sounds like a good plan.”
“Awesome. Have a great first day of work. You can uncover your face now. We're not kissing.” Kyra laughed.
Taryn moved her hands and prepared for her first day at the clinic.
*****
“Plane tickets.” Melody stared down at the papers in Chris' hand.
“Yeah. I had to sign for them, so she really means business.”
“Twenty years, and she pulls this? Do you think she's sick? Dying?” Melody paced the room, twirling a strand of blonde hair around her finger. She had the same nervous habit Taryn did, and he'd never noticed the gesture until seeing Taryn do it. “I know I yelled at you for that comment before, but I kinda wonder now.”
“I don't know. I guess the best thing we can do is go see what she wants and get some kind of closure. Demand an explanation.” He heaved a sigh, Her anxious state only added to his own. “I'm angry, but I'm curious.”
“Ugh.” Melody stopped pacing and moved to sit next to him on the couch. “I am, too.”
“We don't have to make it a long trip. We go for a day, two maybe, and then come home.”
Melody agreed. “The sooner, the better.”
“Yep, that's what I'm thinking. Problem is, our schedules are nuts.”
“I know. I'm sure with Taryn filling in, we could miss a show. Maybe Kyra can fill in for me on back ups.”
“Not a bad idea, but not the first concert. I want Taryn to be comfortable, so I shouldn't leave.”
Blue eyes met his, wide and intrigued. “Are you and Taryn a thing?”
“No, we're two human beings,” he shot back sarcastically, purposely ignoring her question.
“Ha ha ha.” She drew out the words. “Are my brother's playboy ways finally over?”
“Playboy ways?” He had a lot of sex, but it didn't make him a damn playboy!
“”Yeah. You're always with a different woman. Don't you realize Alice talks? More like gloats, actually. Oh, and Serena? She's Blaine's dance studio partner. Bad move there. She asks me how you're doing every time I go to the studio. Alice is bad news. Serena's a nice woman, but still...”
“Not everybody gets a happy ending like you did, Mel,” Chris retorted, immediately regretting it.
“A happy ending? Sure, I might have found the man I'm going to marry, but it took a lot of hell to get there. What's with the attitude? All I did was ask about you and Taryn!” A dark shadow crossed her face as she jumped to her feet.
“And then decided to bring up my sex life, which is none of your business!” Damn, he needed to chill.
“You're right, it's not. I was hoping maybe for once, you found someone to spend more time with. The same someone who's contemplating joining the band I happen to be part of. So while you're my first concern, which means it would be cool to see you two together, I do also hope you aren't planning to hurt Taryn.” Melody's face reddened, and she started toward the door.
“Melody, wait. I'm sorry,” Chris called. “I don't know what Taryn and I are, but she's much more than a one night kind of girl. I hate to admit it, but yes, I've been having casual, meaningless sex. I don't want that with Taryn, okay? For the first time in forever, I've been having a good time with a woman outside of sex. I don't plan to hurt her.” Which meant he needed to let Taryn know, because he'd made a move that pushed her comfort limits.
“That's all I needed to know. Oh, and that she won't hurt you, either.” Melody rested her back against his door, still staring at him warily.
He thought of Taryn from the other day, with her hair wild and crazy, lips full and puffy after a lot of kissing. The way her eyes were so full of feeling when they looked up into his. He'd wanted so much more, but her hesitance stopped it. He'd taken a cold shower after dropping her off at home, and tried hard to keep her out of his mind. Not an easy feat, because Taryn was on his mind more than he ever imagined a woman would be.
Attempting to change the subject, Chris pointed to the tickets. “Should I call her and suggest two weekends from now?”
She agreed. “Let's get this over with.”
Chapter Twelve
“I'm glad almost everyone had a chance to come by tonight. I have some news to bring up,” Kyra stood in the middle of Blaine's studio Friday evening. “My team wants to make an official announcement about my opening acts this summer. I didn't want to do anything without consulting you all first, because it means it's going to get crazy. I thought I'd warn you. We'll need some photo
shoots for posters and advertisements, and that's just the beginning.”
Taryn slightly dreaded this part, because she didn't know how it would go. Why it bothered her so much, she wasn't 100% sure. She'd accepted the invite to tour with the band this summer and was committed, but she'd forgotten the things that would go with it.
Back in the spotlight. Well, even more back in the spotlight, because people were still writing stupid articles about her attempt to return to the music scene after the horrible accident that scarred her. Ugh, did they have to make it out to be such a twisted fate? Was it wrong that she wanted to return to something she enjoyed doing? Flippin' journalists and their need to create such wild hype. So far, Kyra had fought hard on her behalf with some of these places, which Taryn appreciated. Eventually they'd leave her alone, or she'd tell Kyra not to worry about it and do her best to ignore it all.
“I can't believe this is finally happening.” Avery was practically bouncing.
Kyra grinned. “I'm excited, but there's a lot of work to do on everyone's end. I think to start off with, I just need some straight forward information. Names, positions, and a short bio from each of you for me to forward on to them. This will all be for the press. If we can get a good shot of the band together,that'd be great.” Kyra held up a finger as she listed things. “Usually with an unsigned band, there's a lot of things you'd have to put out up front, but I'm going to help the best I can.”
“Belinda's helping, too. She's letting us use a few tour buses,” Avery noted. “She's also got plenty of advice.”
“I know you had a demo made. If there's an easy way to make a good production of those to sell, it would be helpful. If you don't already, get on social media with the band name as a whole- Facebook, Twitter, a website, and maybe Instagram. Get someone to record a few live shows, even if it's just different short segments. Photos, too. I know this is a lot to think about. Trust me, it gets a little mind boggling for me too, but I've got a great team. If you have questions, day or night, call me.”
Offbeat (Love and Music In Texas Book 5) Page 11
