Whatever You Say_A Highland Springs Romance

by Leigh Fleming

  “You asked him?” Liza grabbed the door, wrenching it out of her grasp. “You asked him to come with you?”

  “Yes, actually I did.”

  “And he said no? That dumbass.” Liza kicked a chip of gravel with her boot and stomped away, muttering under breath. “He’s moped around here ever since you left.”

  “How was I supposed to know that? He hasn’t called in a long while. And he never said anything when he did.”

  “But have you called him?”

  “Well, no, but—”

  “Uh huh, I thought so. I thought you were different. Boy, did I read you wrong.”

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  “If you really wanted him to move to Washington, you could’ve made a bigger effort.”

  “This is ridiculous.” Kate climbed in the SUV, slammed the door closed, and reached for the seat belt. She wasn’t going to listen to this garbage. She knew the truth. Brody made it perfectly clear his life was here and nowhere else. It wouldn’t have made a difference if she’d begged him. And why should she? The reality was he was content to send her back to Washington so he could swim with the big fish in Nashville.

  “Ridiculous?” Liza’s words were muffled against the frosted window. Kate pressed the button to lower the window, knowing Liza wasn’t quite finished. “You two should be together. Did you ever consider staying in Highland Springs?”

  “Don’t put this on me. He didn’t ask me to stay.” Kate thumped her hand on the open window and then drew back inside, turning the ignition key. “Besides I guess I’m a little old-fashioned. I always thought the man was supposed to make the grand gesture.”

  “What? Like ride in on his charger and carry you away? Storm into your office and carry you out of there like…like…that old movie?”

  “An Officer and a Gentleman?”

  “That one.”

  “Absolutely. Why the hell not?” She dropped her head against the steering wheel and let out a heavy sigh. Yes, that’s exactly what she wanted. She wanted Brody to storm into her office, tell her he couldn’t live without her, and take her back to Highland Springs. She wouldn’t put up a fight. Crazy fairytale endings like that had always been just that to her—crazy. But since falling in love with Brody and missing him so badly, she’d often found herself daydreaming he’d walk into her office and tell her he loved her.

  “I guess living down here in this small town has made you soft. I always thought you were the type to take what she wants,” Liza said.

  Kate’s eyes welled, but damned if she’d let Liza gloat over her tears. “I’ve got to go.”

  Throwing the SUV in drive, Kate spun gravel as she pulled away, determined to keep her tears at bay until she was out of Liza’s sight. She didn’t need Liza reporting to Brody that she had melted into a puddle of tears over him. He had moved on and there was no way she’d give him the satisfaction of knowing she’d made the wrong decision.

  As soon as she crested the knoll and passed Liza’s house, she let go the dam of tears she’d been holding back. She stopped the truck at the end of the lane and sobbed against the steering wheel. All hopes of rekindling their relationship and moving back to Highland Springs washed away as she cried sad, angry tears. What should she do now?

  TWENTY-EIGHT

  “It’s about time you got here.” Derek pecked a customary kiss on Kate’s cheek and then resumed his seat in their usual booth at the Old Towne Tavern. Trivia Night and once again it looked as though they were the only two coming. “Where’s Annie?”

  “She texted me as I was leaving the office. There was no way she’d make it.” Kate raised her hand to get the server’s attention and then shrugged her coat off her shoulders.

  “Why do we even bother anymore? She’s working in Annapolis, you’re leaving DC as soon as you can, and—”

  “Stop, we can’t end it tonight. We’ve been coming here every Thursday for over two years.” She reached across the table and gathered his hands in hers. “Annie promised she’d be here next week. Enough changes are coming as it is. Can’t we just keep this one little thing going until Annie and I move out of our apartment?”

  “Don’t start crying again, for Christ’s sake. I can’t take it.” He lifted her hands to his lips, giving reassurance he’d only been teasing. It was true Derek had taken the brunt of her tears over the past two weeks. Since Annie was spending most of her time across the Chesapeake Bay at Kip’s cabin while starting her new job in Annapolis, it had been Derek who spent every evening with Kate, helping her decide on her future.

  “I’m not crying. I’m done crying. Time to move on.” She picked up her menu and pretended to study the choices as if she had never read them before. Lately, she’d had little appetite, but tonight she would force herself to eat. Her dramatic weight loss wasn’t good for her and she was determined to take better care of herself.

  “Hi, guys.” Their usual waitress stepped up to the table carrying a tray of double shot glasses filled with amber liquid. “We’re giving out samples of a new beer we’ve started carrying. It’s called Cupid’s Cherry Ale.” She extended her tray toward Kate, who shook her head, and then the server handed a glass to Derek. “Cute name, huh, since it’s almost Valentine’s Day.”

  “Great.” Derek took a sip and raised his brows as he nodded his head and took another. “Really good. What company makes this?”

  “Um, I think it’s called Misty Mountain Brewery.” Kate’s head popped up from the menu and she shot a look at Derek, who had nearly spit out the beer.

  “I’ll be back in a minute to get your order.”

  “No way. What are the chances?” He pushed the glass aside and pinned her with his crystal blue eyes.

  “Tucker told me after he turned down that big offer they were going to connect with a new distributor. They must now distribute in the DC area.” Just hearing the name Misty Mountain made Kate’s eyes go misty, but she was happy they were doing so well. Having their beer sold in Washington was sure to double their sales. She’d grown so fond of Tucker and was pleased the company was becoming an even bigger success.

  “Okay, so what are you having?” Derek slid his menu toward the edge of the table and settled back against the booth.

  “Grilled chicken on a bed of mixed greens.” She smiled and dropped her menu on top of his. “Just what the doctor ordered.” She winked at him while leaning her elbows on the table.

  At exactly six o’clock, the theme song announcing the beginning of trivia started, but it wasn’t what she had expected. Two weeks ago, she had asked if they’d play a different song than Trivial to start out the game, and the manager agreed. But tonight, they had reverted to the same old song.

  “Are they playing Trivial?” Derek sat up straight and cocked his head to the side. “It sounds different than the regular version.”

  “It sounds…live.”

  “You’re right.” He stood up and looked over the high back of their booth. He rested his folded arms on the wood railing and let out a slow whistle. “Well, I’ll be damned.”

  “Who is it? Someone famous?”

  “You could say that.” He dropped back in his seat with a crooked grin on his face. “You definitely know this singer.”

  “Ooh, this is exciting. Someone famous singing at the tavern.” Kate popped up, her eyes bright with anticipation as she glanced over the top of the booth. As soon as she focused on the performer, she felt the blood drain from her face. Like a flower wilting in the hot summer sun, she withered back into her seat and dropped her head in her hands. “Oh my god.”

  “How the hell did he find this place?”

  “I don’t know. I don’t think I ever told him where we played trivia.” Her heart was pounding in her ears, making it nearly impossible to hear Brody’s sweet, soft voice. How was it possible he was singing in this bar on this particular night? She squeezed her head in her hands, hoping the applied pressure would somehow reduce the panic she was starting to feel.
Was this a coincidence or had he sought her out, knowing she’d be here? She did her best to believe it was only a coincidence, even though she desperately hoped it was the latter.

  “Are you going to go talk to him?” Derek asked, pulling her hands away from her face.

  “I don’t know.” She stared at him while her heart continued to thump. “I don’t know what to do.”

  The song came to an end and the regular crowd exploded with applause.

  “How’d you like that surprise, folks?” The manager’s voice boomed over the speaker system. “Give another big round of applause to Brody Fisk, award-winning writer of our theme song.” The tavern erupted in even louder applause, drowning out the confusion in her mind.

  “Thanks, everybody,” Brody said.

  She drew in a sudden breath as his silky, sexy voice came through the speakers. How long had it been since she’d last heard his voice? It felt like an eternity.

  “I hope you’ve enjoyed the sample of Misty Mountain beer, proudly made in Paula’s Creek, West Virginia.” Wild applause rang out in the bar once again. “Sounds like it was a hit. That’s great.”

  “So, he’s just here singing to promote the beer?” Derek asked.

  “Sounds like it,” Kate said.

  “I wonder if you’d indulge me again.” Brody continued with a light strum of his guitar strings. “There’s a song I’ve recently written I’d like to try out. Maybe you can critique it and let me know what you think.” The crowd encouraged him to sing again, not seeming to mind he was delaying the start of the weekly trivia contest. “Okay, here it goes. It’s called First Love Song.”

  Kate sat up straight, squaring her shoulders, as her eyes locked on Derek’s. Brody had told her he’d never written a love song and yet here he was about to sing one. Her heart resumed its thumping and she slowly rose to her feet to watch him sing.

  You know how it goes,

  I was in trouble from the start.

  I knew it right away,

  When you gone and stole my heart.

  Tried to keep you at arm’s length,

  Thought I was too smart for your games.

  That sexy walk, your tempting talks,

  The way you said my name.

  I never wrote a love song,

  But said the words to one or two.

  Thought I’d been in love before,

  But now I know the truth.

  This is my very first love song

  Because I found you.

  Brody had been in this bar for over fifteen minutes and had yet to see Kate. Her grandmother had told him the name of the place she played trivia every Thursday and in his mind, he thought he’d walk in and instantly find her. He hadn’t been prepared for high-walled booths lining the perimeter as well as filling the center of the room. If he wanted to find her, he’d have to walk around and check every table. He hoped singing First Love Song would draw her out of the cocoon of her booth.

  Toward the end of the first verse, he saw her. Across the bar, he saw her face above the wall surrounding her booth and noticed she was gripping the ledge as if she’d fall without its support. She was still as beautiful as he’d pictured in his dreams every night.

  He did his best not to rush the song, even though he wanted to drop his guitar and run to her. He locked his gaze on her, so there would be no mistaking who the song was about.

  Kept my guard up, the gates locked tight,

  Afraid I’d lose myself in you.

  Setting you free, only seemed right.

  But now I’m drowning in your memory.

  I’d take it back if I had the chance,

  Tell you I love you so.

  Ask to join me in life’s dance.

  I never wrote a love song,

  But said the words to one or two.

  Thought I’d been in love before,

  But now I know the truth.

  This is my very first love song

  Because I found you.

  He kept all his focus on Kate. The ting of barware, the murmur of the crowd, his own voice blurred into white noise as he watched her face go from pained shock to a pleasant half-smile. Was she hearing the words? Understanding he’d been a fool not to share his feelings back in December?

  When I started writing this love song,

  The words came out so fast.

  Yes, this is my first love song,

  and because of you, won’t be my last.

  He finished the song by running his fingers across the fret board, creating a flurry of notes, keeping his eyes on the strings. When he strummed one last chord, he looked up and she was gone. His chest tightened and his palms immediately started sweating. Several patrons rushed toward him, blocking any view he had of the bar. He shook some hands and accepted several pats on his back, and did his best to get away quickly while not appearing rude.

  A sense of panic rippled through his body. If she had rushed out, he’d never be able to find her. Finally, pushing through the crowd, his eyes locked on her, leaning against a high-top table near the entrance. Immediately, his panic subsided, but a new fear coursed through his veins. What if Liza had been wrong?

  He tucked his hands in his front pockets and walked slowly toward Kate, trying his best to remain calm. His future hinged on the next few minutes.

  “That was a pretty clever marketing strategy, Brody.” Doing her best to appear relaxed by leaning against the high-top, Kate prayed he didn’t notice the quiver in her voice. “Free beer and a live performance. Should definitely boost sales.” She forced herself to smile brightly, appearing cool while camouflaging the fact that her insides were doing somersaults.

  “You liked that, huh?”

  He stepped within inches of her and she felt dizzy. His spicy smell, his dark eyes, and his soft lips curled in a smile were knocking her off-kilter. Her fingers were itching to reach up and touch his soft beard, run through his longish hair. He looked exactly like he had the first day she’d met him in her grandmother’s backyard.

  “How’ve you been?” he asked, dragging her away from her reverie.

  “Okay. You?”

  He replied with a nod and pointed to the tall bar stools alongside the table. He pulled out her chair and held her arm as she climbed on. When he dropped into his chair he gave her a pressed-lip smile and sighed, resting his elbows on the table.

  “I’m sorry I didn’t get a chance to taste the beer, but Derek said it was really good. Was that recipe Tucker’s idea? I like the name. Very apropos to the season. I’ll have to order it next week.” Kate was rambling, couldn’t slow down, and was unable to stop herself. He was staring at her with those dark, arresting eyes. So why couldn’t she stop? “I was surprised when I heard you singing—well, I didn’t know it was you at first. They’d promised me they’d pick a new theme song and did play something different last week. Then, when Derek looked over—”

  “Why?” Brody croaked. It was the first word he had uttered since sitting down.

  “Why what?”

  “Why did they—” he cleared his throat “—promise to play a different song?”

  “Well.” How could she tell him it was too painful to hear any of his songs—too painful to be reminded of what she’d lost? “I just couldn’t…it was too…I thought it was time for a new theme song.”

  “Oh. So.”

  “So, you’ve grown your beard back. Still hunting season?” She tried to lighten the heavy cloud of trepidation hovering between them. She flashed a quick smile at him, but he didn’t return the gesture.

  “Nah, I’m done hunting.” He looked down at his folded hands resting on the table and murmured, “I found what I’ve been hunting for.” He raised his dark eyes and she was momentarily paralyzed, unable to form a thought. She snapped her gaze from his and cleared her throat.

  “Did Liza tell you I stopped by a couple of weeks ago when I was visiting Gram?”

  “Yeah. I’m sorry I missed you.” He unclasped his hands and reached across the table
toward her. “I was in Nashville.”

  “She told me.” She pressed her back against the chair and looked down at her hands, resting in her lap. “She said it’s been going well for you there. You’ve been spending a lot of time with Callie Starr.”

  “In the studio. We recorded a duet.”

  She drew her gaze back to Brody and found him leaning toward her, his hand outstretched on the table. “Just in the studio?”

  “Yeah, I’ve known Callie since I first got to Nashville. She heard I was in town and asked me to sing with her on her new album. It’s a song Kyle and I wrote a few years ago.”

  “So, you’re not—” Placing her hands on the table, within grabbing distance of his, she leaned forward and looked closely at him. “You’re not seeing her.”

  “No. Did Liza tell you that?”

  She watched his tentative expression turn quickly to anger. “Sort of. Maybe I misunderstood. It’s just that you stopped calling.”

  “You always seemed distracted.”

  “I’m sorry.”

  “Katherine.” Eyes welling with emotion, she fought back a smile at the sound of him saying her formal name. “Did you listen to the words to my song? It was about you.”

  “I listened.” Her fingers crept towards his and he smothered her hand under his.

  “I really screwed up before you left. There was so much I wanted to tell you, but couldn’t,” he said.

  “Why didn’t you?”

  “Because I saw how happy you were when you got the promotion. I knew how much it meant to you. It was your chance to shine. How could I ask you to give that up?”

  “But, I—”

  “And I was a coward. The last time I pushed someone to do what I wanted…well, you know what happened.” He picked up her hand and threaded his fingers with hers. “Watching you drive away…I didn’t know I could feel that bad.”