Kellen.”
“Jacob isn’t here?” Melanie asked as they crossed under a trellis supporting huge, fragrant yellow roses and stepped onto a large brick patio. Gabe knew that Owen had spent a lot of time fixing up the inside of his little cottage, but he’d done a spectacular job on the outside as well.
“I’m not surprised Jacob bailed,” Gabe said, but in truth he was disappointed. He’d hoped to ask him to be his best man today, but if Jacob couldn’t be bothered to show up for an engagement party, how could Gabe count on him to stand up for him at his wedding?
“Jerk,” Melanie muttered, but she brightened when Kellen reached out to give her a hug.
“You look gorgeous,” he said. “Must be all the happy radiating off of you.”
Gabe slicked the non-existent hair off the side of his head. “I do look good, don’t I?”
Melanie laughed, a sound that would forever bring a smile to Gabe’s face.
“I think he was complimenting me,” Melanie said.
Kellen took a step back. “Wow,” he said, his gaze traveling the length of Melanie’s figure. “You look even more radiant than he does.”
Melanie laughed again and knuckled Kellen in his shoulder—which was bare since the guy seldom wore a shirt.
“Are you and Owen talking again?” Gabe asked.
Kellen lowered his gaze, the smile disappearing from his bronze-toned face. “No. He’s been spending most of his time with his brother, which he should. I just wish he’d lean on me a little. He looks like he’s about to fall over dead.”
“Chad’s home?”
Kellen nodded. “He refused to stay in the hospital, so Owen brought him home to take care of him. I don’t think he knew what he was in for.”
Curiosity seeped through Gabe’s veins. He wanted to know everything that had happened to Chad, how severe his injuries were. Were they talking Owen changing Chad’s adult diapers and feeding him with a spoon or driving him to appointments or what? Gabe didn’t ask, though. It didn’t seem his place.
“I saw Tex harassing you,” Kellen said. “Did he ask you if you were the father of Lindsey’s baby?”
“Good guess.”
“And did you tell him?”
“Yeah. It isn’t mine, so why wouldn’t I?” Gabe shrugged, but again he was struck by curiosity. “Did you tell him your results?” That was a little less nosy than tell me, tell me, tell me, Kellen. Is the baby yours? Huh, is it?
Kellen took a draw off his beer and then brightened as a certain redhead crossed the patio in his direction. “No, I didn’t tell him. It’s none of his business.”
But was it the business of a close personal friend and former band member? Gabe and Melanie both stared at Kellen in anticipation, but he wrapped an arm around Dawn and kissed her neck. “Isn’t she stunning?” he asked no one in particular.
Dawn kissed him gently. “Owen’s in the kitchen,” she whispered. “Take that salad from Melanie and bring it inside. It’ll give you an excuse to talk to him.”
“It won’t work,” Kellen said, but he held his hands out to accept the dish Melanie was still hauling around in her free hand. “But I’ll try.”
Dawn watched Kellen walk away, a look of concern on her pretty face. Was that look because Kellen had fucked up his most treasured friendship or because he was about to become a father?
“So how have you been?” Melanie asked, reaching out to give Dawn’s wrist a friendly squeeze.
“Busy. Kellen and I just got back from Venice.”
“Venice!” Melanie glanced quickly at Gabe and then back to Dawn.
“I’m working on a musical score with some Hollywood bigshots, and I thought it might cheer Kellen up to get away for a couple of weeks. Of course, Owen is using his absence as more ammunition against him. Poor guy. I was going to take him with me to Milan as well, but maybe he should stay here and try to smooth things over with Owen instead.”
“Milan!” Melanie said, glancing at Gabe again and then back to Dawn. “How romantic. You should take Kellen for sure. Owen will get over it.”
“I’m not so sure,” Dawn said. “Owen’s pissed off and jealous at the same time. Makes for a rather unreasonable individual.”
“Have you ever been to Europe?” Gabe asked Melanie.
She shook her head. “I’ve never been farther than Texas. Well, Idaho once, for a convention, but I don’t think that counts as being a world traveler.” Both she and Dawn chuckled.
“Do you want to go?”
Melanie’s breath caught, and the sparkle in her eyes made him glad that he’d been smart enough to ask. “Oh, Gabe, that would be so wonderful.”
Gabe grinned. “I happen to have some time off. We should go. Assuming I can manage to drag you away from the business.”
“Let’s go for our honeymoon,” Melanie said.
“Congratulations, by the way. I’m not sure if I told you that,” Dawn said. “I’m sincerely happy for you both.”
“Aw, thanks,” Melanie said. The women shared a quick hug. “So tell me all about Venice and Milan, and where else have you been? Rome? Italy must be amazing. I want to see everything.”
“Do go to Prague,” Dawn said. “It’s my favorite European city.”
“Prague, really? What’s so great about Prague?”
Feeling rather third-wheelish as the ladies twittered on and on about travel destinations, Gabe excused himself to say hi to his family. He was glad that Adam’s father had wandered off to find someone else to annoy.
“I see your tattoos are showing again,” Mom said before she placed a hand on his cheek and kissed him.
Gabe rolled his eyes at his sister, who sniggered. Leslie was back to being the best daughter ever since she’d listened to their mom and accepted the position in Houston—a far better opportunity—instead of the one in Austin. Gabe had a feeling, however, that it wouldn’t be long before Leslie ended up as his mother’s colleague at Seton.
“Where’s your lovely bride?” Dad asked, leaning heavily on his cane as he glanced around Gabe’s body only to find emptiness behind him.
“Talking with Little Miss Worldly Dawn O’Reilly about where to go on our honeymoon.”
“Please say you’re going to Bali and that you’re taking your favorite sister,” Leslie said.
“Not a chance,” Gabe said, kissing her smooth cheek. “Jennifer is too busy to go on vacation with us.”
Leslie pinched his arm. Hard.
“Besides,” Gabe said, “she wants to go to Europe, not to Bali.”
“Can you afford that, son?” Dad asked, a worried crease in his brow. “With the tour being canceled and all those lawsuits against the band springing up, I wouldn’t want you to short yourself trying to impress your lady.”
Gabe had tried not to think about the lawsuits. His band’s business affairs had been structured separately from his individual money, so no one could touch his personal funds. He hoped. He’d still take a hit—a huge one—on future royalties, but the money he had already banked should be safe.
“I’m okay financially,” he said. He hadn’t told his parents about his new business venture. Wasn’t sure how to broach the subject, actually. What would he say? Yo, Mom and Dad, I’m making millions inventing and selling Bangin’ Toys, high-end sexual aids. Don’t worry about me. At least not financially. Morally? Well, that was a different matter entirely.
A few minutes later, Melanie joined them. She hugged his parents and Leslie. Stars were dancing in her eyes, her head no doubt full of all the sights they’d see in Europe.
“My parents should be here soon,” she said. “They got hung up in some road construction in Oklahoma this morning and are running late. I can’t wait for them to meet you all. They’ll be excited to find you don’t all have Mohawks and tattoos on your scalps.”
His family members stared at her with wide eyes. His dad blinked first and turned his gaze to Gabe.
“Are your future in-laws having a difficult time accept
ing your poor sense of style?” he asked.
Gabe snorted and wrapped an arm around Melanie’s waist to draw her against his side. Even though the July heat was sweltering hot, he wanted her close.
“If Leslie or Jennifer brought home a guy who looked like me, wouldn’t you be reluctant to accept him as the future father of your grandchildren?” When Dad opened his mouth to protest, Gabe lifted a finger at him. “Be honest.”
“It might take me a while to get used to the idea,” Dad said.
“They’ve already come around,” Melanie said. “I didn’t give them a choice. I love Gabe. I choose to love him and at the same time have no choice in the matter. So they both know love me, love my rock star.”
His mom and sister practically melted on the spot, and Gabe doubted it had much to do with the brutal midsummer heat.
“You see why I have to marry her?” Gabe said, turning his head to brush his lips against her hair. “You just don’t pass up a love like hers.”
“So when’s the big day?” Mom asked, her smile lighting up her eyes. “We keep hearing you’re making plans, but haven’t heard any concrete date.”
“The last Saturday in August,” Melanie said.
Mom’s bottom lip quivered. “That’s less than six weeks away.”
“I couldn’t stand to wait any longer than that,” Melanie said, glancing up at Gabe and gifting him with her most dazzling smile. “We have an important reason to get married as soon as possible.”
Because he was impatient. That was a very important reason.
A sudden hush fell over the mingling partygoers. Gabe turned, looking for the source of everyone’s sudden attention. Owen was wheeling his older brother down the makeshift plywood ramp that had been built over the back steps of the house.
“I can do it,” Chad grumbled testily, and Owen lifted his hands from the wheelchair grips. The chair zoomed down the ramp until Chad caught the wheels with both bandaged hands. In fact, there wasn’t much of him that wasn’t bandaged. Half of his dark blond hair had been shaved, and a large white bandage covered one side of his head all the way to the corner of his eye and the top of his ear. He had another bandage on his neck and probably more beneath his loose baby-blue T-shirt and gray running shorts. The most gut-wrenching bandage was the one that encased the stump of his right leg that now ended just above the knee.
Gabe swallowed the sudden knot in his throat, trying to process what this damaged war hero had gone through over the past few weeks and what he’d continue to go through for the rest of his life. Gabe was so utterly shocked that he couldn’t help but stare, awash with sympathy.
Chad looked from one solemn face to the next. “I told Owen this was a mistake. Sorry to ruin your fun.” He spun his chair around, but his path was blocked by Lindsey, who did indeed look like she was about to pop that baby out right there on the patio. Gabe knew she still had a good two months before she was due; what kind of giant newborn was she incubating? Lindsey leaned forward and touched Chad’s cheek, whispering into his ear. He shook his head slightly, his gaze trained downward.
“Hey, Chad,” Gabe shouted, not sure what had come over him. “Nice haircut. You don’t mind if I steal that style as my own, do you?”
Half the crowd gasped. The other half gaped at Gabe as if he’d just challenged Chad to a one-legged ass-kicking contest. Chad’s head whipped around, and Chad leveled Gabe with a challenging stare.
“Banner, you aren’t cool enough to pull this off.”
Gabe’s feet were moving forward on their own, and he was tugging a reluctant Melanie along behind him. “That’s a fact. Chad Mitchell has always been the coolest guy on this block.”
“That’s because only old ladies live on this block,” Kellen quipped. “Oh, and Owen here.” He clapped Owen on the back, and Owen immediately drew away, as if Kellen were wearing a leprosy-infected glove.
A few nervous laughs twittered through the crowd.
“I’m glad you made it home,” Gabe said when he stopped in front of Chad’s chair.
He hated that Chad had to crane his neck to look up at him, so he crouched down and took Chad’s hand for a punishing handshake. Chad gripped Gabe’s fingers so hard, Gabe would probably never play drums again, but he got it. Chad needed to feel strong, to feel whole. Gabe held his grip and urged Melanie forward with his free hand.
“This is Melanie. My fiancée.”
Chad smiled up at her guardedly. “So this is the girl who stole Gabe Banner’s heart.”
“It’s nice to meet you,” Melanie said. “I now see why Owen sent you off to fight the bad guys overseas. There’s no way he’d ever get laid in the shadow of a hot-looking brother like you.”
“Don’t I know it,” Owen said, and he actually grinned. His gaze shifted to his brother and his smile vanished before he ducked his head and glanced away.
“Eh, he might have a chance now,” Chad said.
Melanie’s smile faltered, but then she shook her head. “I doubt that. And thank you for fighting to keep us safe.” She leaned in and kissed his cheek. “I know those words don’t mean much—”
Chad released Gabe’s hand and took Melanie’s. “They mean more than you realize.” He then released her hand to push his chair back several inches and said, “What does a guy have to do around here to get himself a cold beer?”
Owen practically tripped over his own feet trying to get to the nearest tub of ice.
“Thanks for coming, Chad,” Gabe said. He left the I know it wasn’t easy part unsaid.
“Thanks for having me. And congratulations. I’m glad you found someone who loves you.”
The sadness in Chad’s eyes stole Gabe’s breath, but the display of his grief was gone in an instant as he claimed his beer from his brother and wheeled off to mingle.
Lindsey appeared at Gabe’s elbow and squeezed his arm with both hands. “Thanks for making him feel normal.”
How else should he make him feel?
But before Gabe could even open his mouth to comment, Lindsey hurried after Chad, barely acknowledging young Jordan, who was all smiles as he made his move to talk to her.
“I think Lindsey likes him,” Melanie said quietly.
“Who? Jordan?” Gabe asked, watching Lindsey walk away from the young, blond-haired roadie without so much as a glance in his direction.
“Not in the slightest. I think she likes Chad.”
“What’s not to like?” Gabe shrugged.
Melanie suddenly squeaked with excitement and darted off toward the grassy area of the yard. She hugged her mom first and then her dad, who both looked road weary. Gabe headed in that direction, his thoughts turning to Jacob for some reason. Probably because Melanie’s parents could drive ten hours to make it to the party, but Jacob couldn’t even be bothered to drive across town.
“Thanks for coming,” Gabe said. “How was the drive?”
“Summer road construction is utter hell,” Melanie’s dad grumbled.
“Oh, Mark. Just think of how nice the roads will be when they’re finished,” Linda said.
“The problem is they’re never finished,” Gabe said. “They just move to a different section.”
“Truth!” Mark said. He shook Gabe’s hand. “I hope you’ve been taking good care of my little girl.”
“She does an excellent job taking care of herself,” Gabe said, earning a bright smile from Melanie. “I just try to stay out of her way.”
Mark chuckled. “She gets that from her mother.”
Gabe glanced around for his parents and found them walking toward their small group. Dad was limping along slower than usual, which surprised Gabe. The warm weather was usually good for his joints. Sometimes it struck him that his parents were aging. There was no getting around that fact.
After introductions were made, Gabe attempted to break the ice. “So Melanie’s got an appointment tomorrow to get her first tattoo. I do think my name in bold letters across her forehead will look amazing. So glad she thought
of it.”
Without missing a beat, Melanie said, “I just can’t decide on a color. Do I go with fuchsia or neon green?” She tilted her head and tapped her cheek reflectively.
“Oh, honey,” Mom said, a hand over her mouth.
“Over my dead body,” Mark bellowed.
Dad and Linda exchanged eye rolls before trying to calm their respective mates.
“It’s a joke, dear,” Linda said, patting Mark consolingly.
“I don’t think she’s the type to get any tattoo,” Dad said,
Trust Me Page 25
