“I don’t remember a time in my life that Jules and her family weren’t in it. You have shared everything that has ever mattered with me, even the birth of my baby. When Jules and Nate got together,” Natalie turns to the audience and smiles. Will takes my hand in his and kisses my knuckles. “I was astonished to watch the change in her. Jules is a kick-ass girl. She’s not big on public displays of affection, which she reminds me of almost daily.”
“Seriously, you guys are gross,” Jules rolls her eyes, but I can see the tears threatening to spill over.
“But Nate brought out that soft side of her. He makes her better. And I think she does the same for him. I just couldn’t have found anyone more suited to you, my friend, if I tried.” Nat raises her glass and we all follow suit.
“So, to my new brother-in-law Nate, and my sister of the heart, his Julianne. May your love continue to grow every day.”
“To Jules and Nate!”
Even I wipe a little tear away from the corner of my eye and laugh when Will smirks at me. Gosh, I love those girls. I understand what it is to have a sibling of the heart. Mine is in the next room.
Holy shit.
“Are you nervous?” He asks me, sensing my tension.
“To sing?”
“Yeah, are you okay?” He wraps his arm around me, resting it on the back of my chair. I grin up at his handsome face.
“I’m fine. I don’t usually get stage fright. And I’ve been practicing a lot.”
“I love the arrangement you’ve done with the song,” he murmurs and kisses my cheek. “You’re going to knock them dead.”
I smile and lean into him. “Thank you. I hope so.”
“Are you okay with Leo being here?” he whispers down at me.
The mention of Leo makes my heart stop. God, I’m going to have to talk to him. I don’t think he even knows I’m here.
What will he say? How will he react?
“I don’t know,” I whisper back.
“Hey,” he pulls my face up with his fingers so he can look into my eyes. “It’s going to be okay. I’ll kick his ass if you want me to.”
I laugh and cup his cheek in my hand. “That’s okay. The time for that was about three years ago.” God, I love this man. He’s always so ready to protect me.
“I love you, sweetheart.”
I smile softly and kiss his lips, tenderly. “I know.”
“And now, ladies and gentlemen,” Jules’ dad, Steven, announces, “I am proud and pleased to introduce you to a very good friend of Jules, and the woman who seems to have snagged my son, Will’s, heart. Megan McBride is going to sing the song for the first dance. Meg? Where are you, honey?”
“Here goes nothing,” I murmur at Will and he smiles widely and follows me, along with everyone else, into the ballroom.
And there by the stage is Leo, his mouth gaping open, watching me cross the dance floor to him.
“Can I please borrow your guitar?” I ask, cutting to the chase.
“Meg-pie,” he murmurs, shocked to see me. The old knick-name almost brings me to my knees.
I lock them.
“Leo, I just need your guitar, please.”
He can’t move. He’s just staring at me. God, he looks good. He’s tall, about six feet. His light brown hair is cut short on the sides, and a bit longer on top, styled into a faux-hawk. He has a small guage in one ear with a hoop through it. His lip and eyebrow are pierced. He’s covered in tattoos.
And his sweet, soft dark-gray eyes are pinned to mine.
“Leo,” I say again, a bit stronger, and he blinks.
“Meg,” he clears his throat. “I didn’t know you’d be here.”
“Same here,” I reply with a grin. “I need to borrow your guitar, please.”
“Oh, sure.” He holds it out to me, and offers me a half-smile. “You’ve played it often over the years.”
I learned to play on this guitar.
I bite my lip as I loop the strap around my shoulder and back, and look up at him. “Thank you.”
I climb the stage and move the stool that’s been set in front of the mic for me. “I don’t think I can gracefully sit on that thing in this dress,” I say to the audience with a smile, earning laughter and applause.
“So,” I begin, “Jules and Natalie and I have been friends since college, so they knew me back when I used to play with a local band here in Seattle.” I smile out at them. All the guests have gathered in a semi-circle around the stage, Jules and Nate and the rest of the family and bridal party up front. Will is gazing at me with warm blue eyes.
I look to my left to see Leo standing by the stage with his arms crossed over his chest, watching me intently. I swallow hard and focus on the task at hand.
Just get through this one song, Meg.
“I was a bit surprised when she asked me to sing tonight because I haven’t sung in front of an audience in quite some time, but I’m honored to sing for Jules and Nate’s first dance together as a married couple.” I smile again and strum the guitar, making sure it’s in tune.
It is, of course.
“The song they’ve chosen is I Won’t Give Up.”
I begin to play the intro as Jules and Nate take the dance floor. Nate pulls Jules into a firm embrace and moves her effortlessly across the floor.
‘Cause even the stars, they burn
Some even fall to the Earth
We’ve got a lot to learn
God knows we’re worth it
No I won’t give up….
I’m taken away by the song and watching my beautiful friends dance so gracefully, gazing into each other’s eyes. Nate is singing along with me, to his girl, and the romantic in me melts at the sight. He leans down to murmur something in her ear, then kisses her naked neck, below her ear, and sweeps her around the floor again, much to the crowd’s delight.
I won’t give up on us
Even if the skies get rough
I’ve given you all my love
I’m still looking up
I find Will’s eyes across the dance floor. He’s smiling at me, watching me intently. God, I love him.
I’ve got to tell him.
The song ends, and the room erupts into applause and whistles. I smile and back away from the mic to offer a little curtsy, and then walk to the end of the stage, ready to hand Leo back his guitar.
“We have to do a song together,” he says, his face serious.
“No, thank you.”
He takes his guitar and hands it to someone else, then grabs my arm and pulls me back to him and whispers in my ear.
“Megan, please. I’ve missed you. Let’s do the song we used to do at weddings back in the day.”
I sigh and tears threaten.
“Leo…”
“Please. You sound great. We’ll blow them away.”
“You don’t need me to do that, remember?” I ask, my voice cold. He scowls.
“I never said that.” He sighs. “Come on, people are watching.”
I don’t have a choice. I do not want to make a scene at Jules’ wedding. So, I follow Leo up the stairs and stand at his side as he speaks to the audience.
“Hey, everyone, are you having a good night?” He asks, and the audience applauds and whistles. “Good! I’m honored to be here tonight with my band to entertain you all and celebrate with Jules and Nate. I knew Jules, back in her college days, and I’m happy to see she found a dude worthy of her.” He winks down at Jules. “We just came off a big tour, so being here with you guys is a nice and welcome change.”
He offers the audience that killer smile of his, and I swear half the women in the audience, including Samantha, look about ready to throw their panties at him.
I can’t help but roll my eyes.
“I kept Meg up here because Nash is that little local band she told you about earlier. She and I go way back.” He smiles over at me. “And she’s agreed to sing one more song with me before she joins you guys to get drunk and be stupid while I work
my ass off up here.”
The audience laughs and I join them. I find Will in the audience, and he’s watching, standing still. I can’t read his face.
Someone hands me a mic, and Leo takes his mic off the stand and sets the stand aside.
“Don’t we need a guitar?” I ask into the mic.
“Nope, we have backup.” He winks and nods at one of the guys to join us on stage with a guitar. He leans in and whispers the song in the guy’s ear. I don’t know him; he must have joined the band after they got to L.A.
“This song,” Leo says into the mic and looks up at me, his dark gray eyes happy. “is called Marry Me and was originally done by a band who is also from Seattle, Train.”
The audience applauds again, and I can’t look away from Leo. We always nailed this song. It wasn’t originally written as a duet, but we alternate the verses and join together for the chorus.
I start, while Leo watches, lip singing along with me, his eyes bright and happy and encouraging, and I offer him a sassy smile as I start the song.
Forever can never be long enough for me
Feel like I've had long enough with you
Forget the world now we won't let them see
But there's one thing left to do
Now that the weight has lifted
Love has surely shifted my way
He joins me for the chorus. This tall, tattooed rock star, singing a sweet love song. It looks all wrong, but God, his voice is amazing. As his voice joins mine in perfect harmony, goose bumps break out on my skin and I smile widely at him.
Marry Me
Today and every day
Marry Me
If I ever get the nerve to say
Hello in this cafe
Say you will
Mm-hmm
Say you will
Mm-hmm
I lower my mic to my side and watch Leo take over the next verse. I’ve always loved to watch him sing, even when I was very young, in the first foster home with him. He would sing to me all the time, and then let me play his guitar, showing me so patiently where to put my fingers and make the sounds perfect. He taught me how to control my voice.
He taught me everything I know about music.
As he sings these lyrics, I can’t help but wonder if he has a special woman in his life now. I hope so. He deserves one, although I know his trust issues go deeper than mine.
Together can never be close enough for me
Feel like I am close enough to you
You wear white and I'll wear out the words I love you
And you're beautiful
Now that the wait is over
And love and has finally shown her my way
For the last half of the song, we sing it all in harmony. I hear Jack, our original pianist, join the guitar and I’m just completely swept up in the moment. We step closer together, passionately singing about this sweet love, just inches apart.
Marry me
Today and every day
Marry me
If I ever get the nerve to say hello in this cafe
Say you will
Mm-hmm
Say you will
Mm-hmm
Promise me
You'll always be
Happy by my side
I promise to
Sing to you
When all the music dies
We smile at each other after that last line, and then finish the song.
And marry me
Today and everyday
Marry me
If I ever get the nerve to say hello in this cafe
Say you will
Mm-hmm
Say you will
Marry me
Mm-hmm
The music fades and Leo smiles at me, offering me that secret smile he used to give me when we were kids and we knew we might get into trouble for something we planned to do.
But he never got me into trouble. He always protected me.
He pulls me into a tender hug, then pulls back and gazes down at me. I don’t hear the applause around us, or the audience asking for more.
Leo leans in and whispers in my ear, “I’ve really missed you, Meg-pie. I love you.”
He kisses my cheek, right next to my lips, and backs away, and I grin at him. “I love you too.”
Chapter Twenty-Five
~Will~
I stand transfixed and watch the woman I adore sing my favorite love song with another man. And even though I know she loves Leo as a brother, I want to punch him.
Hard.
Her sweet voice fills the air, and I am even more in love with her in this moment than I was before she walked up on that stage, and I didn’t know that was possible.
She’s so fucking talented.
And sexy as hell in that dress, with her hair up, showing off her slender back and soft neck, and the diamond earrings I bought her a few weeks ago. I can’t wait to get her out of it and make love to her. I just never get enough of her.
Forever can never be long enough for me.
Damn if that isn’t the truth.
The song comes to an end, and Leo pulls Meg in for a hug, whispers something to her, and because I’m standing straight ahead, I can’t tell if he kisses her on the cheek or the edge of her lips.
My hands tighten into fists.
Then he pulls away from her and she mouths the words, “I love you too.”
Fuck me.
Chapter Twenty-Six
~Meg~
I wave at the crowd and carefully walk down the stairs in my heels. That felt fantastic. I didn’t realize how much I missed playing in front of an audience, especially with Leo. I hope I get to see him again while he’s in town.
I cross the dance floor, and Jules and Nate meet me in the middle to hug me.
“Thank you so much. That was so beautiful,” Jules murmurs in my ear as she hugs me.
“You’re welcome.”
“Thank you, beautiful girl,” Nate hugs me close too. Wow, holy muscles on this one. I smile up at him shyly.
“My pleasure. Congratulations, you guys.”
The family all hugs me and tells me that they loved the songs, but my eyes are searching for Will.
“You didn’t tell me you knew Leo Nash, girl,” Samantha mutters with a grin. “I’m going to want to hear this story.”
I laugh. “We’ll get together soon and I’ll tell you all about it.”
Finally, I find Will, standing back from the crowd. His face is sober, hands in his pockets, and the light has gone out of his eyes, and my stomach falls into my feet.
Something is very wrong.
“Hey,” I say as I approach him.
“Hey,” he responds.
“What’s wrong?” I ask, but he just shakes his head.
“Meg, that was amazing,” Natalie and Luke are suddenly at our side.
“Seriously, Meg, I know people,” Luke’s smiling, but his voice is all business mode. “I could make some calls on Monday. You should be singing for a living, my friend.”
I’m shaking my head and holding my hands up for them to stop. “No, thank you.”
Will’s eyes narrow on me, but he stays silent.
“But, why? Meg, music has been your life for as long as I’ve known you,” Natalie responds.
“It’s not my life now.” I shake my head again and sigh. “I love music. I always will, but I love my kids at the hospital.” I shrug. “I’m happy here. I don’t need to be the center of attention.”
“If you change your mind, just say the word.” Luke leans in and kisses my cheek. “I could help make you a very rich woman.”
“I’m already rich,” I respond with a smile. “I don’t need the money.”
Luke tilts his head and a slow smile spreads across his incredibly gorgeous face. “Fair enough.”
Nat winks at me and they walk away, off to mingle with other guests.
“Talk to me,” I whisper up to Will when he still says nothing, just gazes down at me
with sober eyes.
He shakes his head. “Not here. We’ll enjoy the reception. But we will talk later.”
My mouth gapes open and I just stare up at him. What the hell did I do?
“Okay,” I murmur. He nods once, sharply, and leads me back into the crowd to mingle and chat. He smiles and plays the perfect brother for the rest of the evening, but never puts a hand on me. Never looks at me. If I rest my hand on him, he steps away from my touch.
It’s fucking killing me.
“Will…” I begin when we have a moment alone, but I see Leo approach from the corner of my eye and I sigh as Will stiffens next to me.
This is the issue.
“Hey, Meg, we’re taking a break. Is this Will?” he asks and I raise a brow in question. “Jules’ dad mentioned you’d snagged Will’s heart,” Leo answers my unspoken questions and I grin.
“Yes, this is Will. Will, this is Leo.”
Will offers his hand to shake, but his face is anything but friendly. “Hello.”
“Hey, I’m a big Seattle football fan,” Leo tells him with a smile.
“Cool,” is all Will says, and Leo steps back, narrows his eyes and looks between Will and I skeptically. Finally, his dark gaze finds mine.
“Problem?”
I shake my head and force a smile. “No problem.”
I search the room with my eyes, trying to find someone to come save me. As much as I want to catch up with Leo, I need to talk to Will. His silence is killing me.
Samantha catches my gaze from a few feet away, and immediately steps into action, God love her.
“Leo, have you met Samantha?” I ask him as Sam joins us.
“Uh, no.” He doesn’t look down at her, not really caring who she is.
“She’s Luke’s sister,” I explain further, and he smiles in recognition. Sam is drop-dead beautiful, and Leo grins down at her, nods, but then looks back at me, in full protective brother mode, sensing the tension between Will and I. I don’t need him to start something.
“Sam,” I grin at her, “Leo hasn’t seen Jules in a long time. Would you take him over to see her and meet Nate?”
Leo continues to scowl at me, but then sighs and smiles down at Sam. “Hi, Samantha.”
“It’s just Sam,” she responds and tucks her arm in his. “Let’s do the obligatory walk away thing where we don’t sense the tension over there and find somewhere else to be.”
Play With Me (With Me In Seattle) Page 23
