“Sydney,” Stella reprimanded her, but Matt and Jimmy just stared at Stella. Sydney waved goodbye, and before she even made it down the hallway she heard Stella laughing then squealing, and it sounded like Matt and Jimmy were taking her to their bedroom.
She couldn’t help but laugh and think about her own men and how much she missed being with them and loving them. She hurried to her room and pulled out the outfit she wanted to wear to practice and some sexy lingerie she picked up in the boutique. Which, of course, got Diane and Melissa all giddy and ready to sell her more sexy items to please her men.
Sydney was feeling pretty excited about being with her men tonight, so she went for the open-front thongs. Boy were they going to be surprised when they reached under her skirt and found her pussy bare. Her cheeks warmed and her temperature rose. She grabbed her stuff and hurried to the bathroom to shower and prep her body. Wouldn’t they be even more surprised that she shaved her pussy bare just for their pleasure. Well, and hers. She giggled as she stepped under the hot water and smiled wide. Life was perfect, and it would only get better.
* * * *
Matt and Rusty shook hands and hugged. It had been years since he saw Rusty and the man hadn’t changed. He was tall, had dark-brown hair with some grey tones in it, and the same blue eyes his sons shared.
“Your daughter is something else, Matt. A voice like an angel.”
Matt smiled as Sydney climbed up the stairs and joined the band on stage.
“To be honest, I wouldn’t know. This will be the first time I’m hearing her sing. Heck, she’s been here a month and we only started talking, making mends the last couple of days,” Matt admitted as he watched her lower the mic.
“Well, come sit over here. You’ll have a great view,” Rusty told him then waved over to an older woman holding a clipboard in her hand. She approached and smiled at Matt.
“Matt, meet Sissy. She’s my manager and in charge of the band and performances. Sissy, this is Matt, Sydney’s father.”
Sissy smiled even wider as she shook Matt’s hand.
She took a seat next to Rusty. “Your daughter is phenomenal,” she told him, and Matt thanked her just as the band began their first practice song.
Sydney looked incredible up there. She looked happy. Her eyes were bright and she didn’t seem nervous or uncomfortable. As she started to sing the words to “Breath” by Faith Hill, he felt the goose bumps travel under his skin. The feelings of pride and excitement filled his gut. He couldn’t wait for Jimmy and Stella to see her and hear her. By the time she finished him, Rusty and Sissy were clapping loudly and he felt the tears in his eyes. He may have missed out on her childhood, but he was here now and she would always be his baby girl.
* * * *
Orsin walked into the Rusty Horn along with Juno. And Orsin was surprised to see Matt was still there.
Their father gave a nod and Matt stood up as Sydney finished another song.
Orsin shook Matt’s hand hello and then turned away from his father. He didn’t want to shake his hand. He didn’t want him thinking that just because their woman sang there that they would make up with him and forgive him.
“We thought we were supposed to pick Syd up. We have plans tonight and tomorrow,” Juno said to Matt, smiling.
“Well, I was just going to listen to one song, but damn, she’s got an amazing voice. It draws you in and you just want to hear more. I’m amazed.”
Juno reached up and squeezed Matt’s shoulder. “And I bet proud. That’s your daughter, after all.”
Matt nodded his head then glanced at Rusty then back at them.
“I could have lost this opportunity to meet her, to make up for lost time. I could have been stubborn and held onto my fear that Stella wouldn’t forgive me for leaving her alone and pregnant with Syd. That one phone call was all it took to break the ice and make amends. Life is just too short,” he told them, and Orsin couldn’t help but to think Matt was referring to them and their father.
Sydney came up behind Orsin, shocking him as she wrapped her arms around him then squeezed under his arm.
“Hey, cowboy,” she said, and Orsin chuckled then leaned down and kissed her softly. “Heard you had a great rehearsal,” he said to her as Juno tugged her hair. She smiled and nodded then turned toward Juno, who kissed her quickly then held her hand.
“You all ready to go?” Juno asked.
“Almost. Hey, Rusty, I was thinking that maybe Saturday you could reserve your table for Matt, Ella, Jimmy, and my mom and maybe the table next to it for the guys?”
“For you? Sure thing, beautiful. I’ll clear it with Sissy and she’ll reserve both tables Saturday night.”
“Excellent. Thank you,” she said then gave Rusty a hug and a kiss on the cheek. Then she turned toward her dad and Orsin was a bit upset. He didn’t want her liking their father. He didn’t want anything to do with the man or to sit at his table. He would talk to Sydney about it on the way home.
“Bye, Matt, thanks for staying. I’ll see you tomorrow,” she told Matt then gave him a hug and a kiss.
Orsin took her hand and saw the concerned expression on Matt’s face. He definitely fell into the fatherly role quickly. He was happy for Matt and for Jimmy, too.
As they headed to the truck, Sydney handed Juno her overnight bag.
“So where are we going for dinner?” she asked.
“Well, Atlas called and said he made reservations for dinner at the Main Street Inn. We can head that way now and walk around town for an hour and try to find those cowgirl boots you mentioned,” Juno told her as he helped her into the truck.
“Great,” she said and leaned back in the seat.
The scent of her perfume, the flair beige floral skirt she wore, and the cream-colored blouse were all appealing to Orsin. He turned in his seat, leaned over, and tilted her chin up toward him.
“I missed you.”
He stared into her eyes a moment and could see the seriousness, the depth of her emotions, and it validated that she might be feeling the same way, too. Orsin pressed his lips to hers then drew her closer, letting his hand slide along her cheek to her neck and under her hair. That kiss grew deeper and hotter until Juno spoke.
“You’re drawing quite the amount of attention to the truck, Orsin. I think we need to take this elsewhere,” Juno teased.
Orsin slowly released her lips then kissed her on the tip of her nose and winked.
“Let’s get going, baby, it’s going to be a hell of a night.” He brought her hand to his lips and kissed the top before starting the truck and then placing the truck in drive. He smiled when he released her hand to maneuver the truck, and she slid her hand onto his thigh and kept it there.
“Where’s my sweet kiss hello?” Juno asked her, and then his brother pulled Sydney closer to him and kissed her deeply as they headed out of Fisher and back toward Pearl. Orsin smiled to himself. This was everything they ever hoped for and wanted. That sweet, sexy scent and feel of a woman in the cab of their truck, the companionship, the shared depth of emotions, and the love and desire not forced or faked, just completely real and natural. He was in love with Sydney and he would make sure he told her tonight.
* * * *
Sydney leaned against Juno but kept her hand on Orsin’s leg as he drove into Pearl. She wanted to talk to them about their father and find out what he did to make them hate him so. But she felt a little scared. It was really none of her business, but they did know about her father and the things that had separated them all these years. She figured that Juno was the safer one to ask since Orsin always seemed so angry when it came to discussing their dad. Same with Hart and Atlas. She wouldn’t dare ask them about their father first.
“Juno, can I ask you and Orsin something without you getting angry?”
“What? Of course you can. What’s up?” Juno asked her. She pulled her bottom lip between her teeth and stared up into his blue eyes. Eyes she felt he and his brothers shared with their father. Each of the
m was a lot like Rusty. She could tell immediately.
“Can you tell what happened between you, your brothers, and Rusty to make you hate him so much?”
His expression changed immediately and he looked past her toward Orsin, who gripped the steering wheel a little tighter and scrunched his eyes and firmed his lips. His immediate body language told her it was a sore subject. But she already asked the question, and she needed to see how they answered her.
“It’s not that we hate him.”
“We hate him,” Orsin chimed in. She glanced at him and saw how rigid and angry he was. Maybe she shouldn’t have asked, but she couldn’t help it. Rusty seemed so hurt that they hated him and refused conversation. They couldn’t even exchange normal pleasantries that regular strangers did. Not even hello or goodbye. It didn’t seem right.
“Years ago, when we were growing up, our father focused solely on the big win, the ultimate business deal, the success and fame of public attention and adoration. All while our mom took care of us, raised us, and sometimes had to beg and borrow to get food on the table and shoes on our feet. I can remember when Hart and Atlas were old enough, they went out to find jobs after school and before school so they could help our mother out. Our dad disappeared for months at a time, always o some adventure of fortune. He would promise her money, clothes, and things to make up for him leaving her and us alone and poor. Once we were old enough we all took on jobs working before school and after school and basically took over caring for our mom and ourselves.”
“That must have been so hard on all of you and even your mom. To know her sons were forced to work at such young ages and then go to school, too. I can’t believe your dad did that.”
“Well he did,” Orsin snapped at her. She clasped her hands on her lap and stared at her fingers, wringing them together until she heard the long release of breath and then felt Orsin’s large, warm hand cover hers.
“I’m sorry. The memories hurt still.”
She looked at him. “I understand. When did your dad return?” she asked him.
“Like we said, he would disappear months at a time then show up with some money, or some fancy clothes Mom would never wear because she was working so hard. She made homemade jellies and jams to sell in town at the fairs and markets. We would bring things we made, including restored furniture and antiques and stuff. Anything that we could sell to help make some more cash,” Orsin explained.
“Then dad showed up and said he bought a bar, a small hole in the wall place in Fisher, in town. Told our mom he wasn’t going to have to leave anymore to make money, that he came into some funds and, of course, the bar,” Juno told her.
“He won it in a card game basically,” Orsin said in a low voice. She squeezed his hand in support.
“The Rusty Horn?” she asked.
“Yup. He worked there and so did our mom. She helped him build it up and turn it into a decent place. But she was so overworked, overtired from it all,” Orsin told her then released her hand and gripped the steering wheel, rotating his hands on the round wheel and gripping it tightly.
“She was exhausted all the time, complained about what little rest she had and how funds were tight and the business might fail. It was too much,” Juno said.
“Dad stayed out late and ran that place and finally Mom could rest at home. But dad never stayed home long. Just slept there, left her, and went to the Rusty Horn. It was his life, his everything. Mom was a trooper and supported her husband and supported all of us. Told us we needed to live our lives and start preparing to be husbands one day, and in doing so we needed to establish our own lives and our own careers and fulfill our own dreams,” Juno explained.
“We couldn’t afford to pay for college and wanted to continue our educations, so we joined the service. One at a time we left her. We left Fisher and ultimately we left our mom alone to die,” Orsin said.
“No, no, Orsin, that’s not right. That’s not fair to blame yourselves. Your mom wanted all of you to move on with your lives to make futures for yourselves so you could be happy,” She told them.
“Do you know what she was doing when she died? She was picking berries to make more jams and jellies to sell in town. She died in the fucking fields all alone,” Orsin said, his teeth clenched.
Sydney felt the tears reach her eyes. Orsin and his brothers really suffered knowing their mom was alone when that happened.
“I’m so sorry, Orsin. Are you certain she was alone?” she asked.
“Yes. Rusty found her. She died trying to still sell the damn jams and jellies. She died working like a mule because our father was never around to help her, provide for her, and take care of her the way a man is supposed to care for a woman,” Orin said, raising his voice.
She ran her hand along his thigh, caressing it.
“Were you all away serving when it happened?” she asked.
“Yes, and Atlas and Hart couldn’t be contacted. They were working some secretive mission and it was three months later when they were finally back on US soil that we were able to inform them about Mom,” Juno told her.
“They must have been devastated. I couldn’t’ even imagine.”
“They were pissed off. They felt so guilty for not even being there right after their mom died. They didn’t make the funeral, the services, nothing. Juno and I had to stand there while our father wept in his sorrow when meanwhile he was the one that caused Mom’s death. He caused the heart attack. He killed her,” Orsin said.
She hugged his arm and felt the tears roll down her cheeks.
“Did you ever talk to your father about what happened?”
Orsin chuckled low and mean like.
“Talk to him? I wanted to fucking kill him, Sydney. Juno and I had to deal with his excuses and him trying to tell us that things had been good between Mom and him. We wouldn’t listen. They were lies. All lies because he finally felt guilty for how badly he had treated her. Juno and I cleared out her stuff. We kept things we thought Atlas and Hart would want as memories of Mom and everything else we sold or gave away to families in the town who were needy and would appreciate them. We even kept the jars she made the strawberry, blackberry, and raspberry jams in. As if one day one of us would make them,” Juno said and then shook his head and looked out the window. The truck slowed down and Orsin pulled into a parking spot in town.
“I’m sorry about how things happened. I didn’t mean to upset you. It’ just that every time you guys come to get me or drop me off at work, I see the way Rusty looks at you. It’s like he’s so sad, yet so proud of each of you. I guess I thought maybe if you talked that you could possible forgive and forget and move on without carrying around such hatred and anger.”
Orsin shook his head then looked at her. He stared at her and she felt almost uneasy, like he was analyzing her. Orsin reached out and ran his finger along her jaw then clutched it gently.
“Not everyone has such a big heart as you, Syd. You put everyone first in your life and never worry about you. You remind me a lot of my mom. That determined, hardworking go-getter she was. Her smile lit up a room, and so does yours. You touch people with your voice. Sometimes, when you’re not with us I think about your voice and the emotions it stirs inside of me. It makes me smile. Makes me feel happy. It makes me want to have you all to myself and ask you to sing me a song. You know, just one for me, for my brothers and you, that’s ours, all ours. It probably sounds corny, huh,” he said and started to release her chin and turn away.
Sydney felt the tear roll down her cheek, and Orsin immediately looked concerned. She cupped his cheeks between her hands and held his gaze.
“Not corny, but honest, beautiful, and touching. I was going to wait until later. Until I was with all four of you,” she said then looked at Juno, reached out and took his hand into hers. She kept one hand against Orsin’s cheek.
She smiled.
“I love you. You, Juno, Hart, and Atlas. I’ve never been in love before, and maybe you might think it’s too soo
n, or maybe my inexperience, but I’ve never felt like this. I’ve never cared for someone so much that it hurts to feel you hurting. That all I think about is the four of you and miss you so much when we’re apart. I want to be everything and more than you’ve ever wanted in a girlfriend, a lover, and I trust you with all my heart. I know you would never hurt me, or push me aside to pursue your own dreams. I’ll always be here for you, no matter what.” She pressed her lips to Orsin’s and he pulled her into his arms and hugged her tight.
“I love you, too, sweetness. Love you more than anything in this world.”
“I’m thinking maybe I should have driven the truck,” Juno teased and she chuckled then caressed Orsin’s cheek before she turned and pulled Juno close and kissed him. He released her lips and smiled as he caressed her hair and held her shoulders. “I love you, too. You’re everything and more.”
The sound of a siren made them jump, and looking out of Juno’s window they saw the sheriff’s patrol car. There was Atlas in the car smirking. Juno rolled down the window.
“Ma’am, are those two cowboys holding you hostage in that truck?”
She smiled as she leaned over Juno and giggled.
“They might be, deputy Aubrey.”
He licked his lower lip.
“Would you be needing assistance ma’am?” he asked.
She glanced at Juno and Orsin.
“Perhaps just use of your handcuffs later, if you’re up for it,” she said then gasped as Orsin smacked her ass.
“Orsin.”
“I get off in thirty minutes. I’ll be sure to assist with that later. Behave,” he reprimanded then drove down the road and through town.
She eased back into her seat and Juno caressed up her thigh. She pushed his hand away and he squinted at her. “Excuse me? Maybe I would like a little feel.”
“Maybe you need to wait until later. Besides, people are looking at us now,” she pointed out and Orsin opened his door.
“You’re really lucky, Sydney, but just so you know that handcuff comment will definitely be brought up later on at our place.”
Sing Me a Song Page 19
