Only in Time

by Kelli McCracken

  CHAPTER 4

  Jonah gripped the guitar’s neck, sliding his fingers over the fretboard. The familiar feel of steel strings pressed into his skin, causing his lips to crook at the corner. Each note poured out of the resonating chamber toward the packed dance floor, bringing more and more bodies into view.

  He’d forgotten how much he loved making a crowd move to the music. Had forgotten the amount of satisfaction he got from playing.

  His eyes drifted toward Theo as he belted out some lyrics. Guess his brother had been right in asking him to fill in for Jeff. Despite how much Jonah tried to fight it, a big part of him would always be a musician. Sound producing would never be as good as the real thing. Making the magic.

  Theo gave him a knowing wink before grabbing the mic to sing the chorus. Switching chords, Jonah’s focus shifted to the dance floor. He spotted two girls, maybe his age, grinding their hips in a rhythm that had every man in the bar staring. A twinge of sympathy filled him for the men who hadn’t come alone. Most of them were getting death stares from their girlfriends, wives, whatever. Some even deflected slaps.

  One poor guy suffered the worst. His significant other slapped him so hard he fell off his barstool. Of course, the way he stumbled when getting up said it hadn’t taken much to knock him on his butt. He had definitely passed his limit.

  Gazing back at the centers of attention, he played some riffs, hoping to gain a glance. Mainly from the brunette. Might as well have some fun while he was here. God knows Theo would get a kick out of it.

  Jonah couldn’t quit staring at the two beauties. He remembered two other girls who could dance like that. How they used to tease all the guys at their school dances, capturing their undivided attention. Including his.

  But these girls…they couldn’t be one and the same. Not after the one left him years ago, broken hearted, taking with her his last chance of happiness. His last chance to tell her how he felt. Yet the more he watched these girls shake their hips, the more he wondered about the possibility.

  No. It couldn’t be. It was this town. All the memories it contained. Granted, there had been good ones, but the last few months that he lived here…those memories outweighed the good.

  Pushing the thoughts from his mind, he stared at the women, wondering if they were the type to approach the band after the show. While he hadn’t planned on sampling any of the local flavors, the more the dark haired honey shook her hips, the more he reconsidered.

  She hadn’t paid anyone a worthwhile amount of attention, but one of the fellow onlookers had a gleam in his eye. Like he stood a chance. Jonah didn’t like it. He couldn’t explain why he felt a pull toward the woman below, but he knew that whatever the man had on his mind wasn’t good. Not if Jonah wanted a chance to talk to her. He couldn’t compete with a guy whose biceps doubled his.

  Why did any of this matter? He wasn’t interested in—

  A set of dark eyes fell on the stage. Beautiful eyes that caused something in his chest to snap. When he noticed her looking at Theo, a twinge of jealousy filled him. Of course his little brother would get her attention. Not many women could resist his ice blue eyes or his jet-black locks. It didn’t matter if Jonah’s hair was identical. Theo had the looks and the charisma. This woman probably came to see him in the first place.

  Her eyes shifted again, to Jesse and his bass. They lingered a moment before moving to Allen, who had zoned into his drums so much, he didn’t know anyone existed.

  Then her eyes were on him.

  His next breath caught in his chest. It burned with all the intensity the fire in her eyes held. The look she gave him pulled at his mind, nagging it with some instance of recognition. Until she glanced away.

  Hiding behind the rim of her glass, she took a sip, averting her gaze. The sip turned into a gulp. And then another. Every time he thought she’d meet his eyes, the cocktail glass prevented it. He didn’t understand why he needed her to look at him, or why a surge of happiness washed over him when the glass emptied.

  Her eyes still hadn’t met his. He had to change that. The need for her to stare at him overcame him. As did the urge to jump off stage and rush to her side. And just when he thought he couldn’t wait a second longer, he had her attention again.

  He slid his fingers over the fretboard, taking the rhythm to a funkier beat. She seemed to like it. The way her lips hinted at a smile was all the proof he needed. She pressed her back against her friend’s, dipping lower.

  The riffs he gave her had her body grooving that much faster. God, she had some moves. Each shimmy and shake increased his need to play faster. And he did.

  Telling himself to close his mouth, he took a step in front of the amp. His body heated at the thought of seeing her dance in private. Just how low could she go? He’d love to find out. No girl had affected him like this since…

  Shit!

  It couldn’t be her. No way possible. She was somewhere up north, living out her dreams the last he’d heard. This woman in front of him—she had to be a look-alike.

  He shut his eyes, losing himself in the music, wishing like hell he could forget about her and focus on the beauty in front of him. But his mind refused to cooperate. All thoughts went to the woman who’d left his heart in a mess. Ally Jacobs.

  Stealing a glance below, he wondered if her look-alike could help him forget. He raked her body with his eyes, not doubting for a second that she’d consume his every thought as he lay beneath her. He imagined his hands pressed to her hips, just like hers were at the moment. Could almost feel the way those hips would roll against his.

  Every step brought him closer to the edge of the stage. He stared at the woman as she faced her friend. He had to get a closer look. Had to know for sure if his mind was playing tricks on him, because every passing second confirmed what he wanted to deny. That the ghost of his past had returned.

  Switching chords, he waited until her eyes returned to him. Then he smiled.

  Her lips curled upward, making every cell in his body explode. He wouldn’t believe it until he talked to her, but he couldn’t deny the ache in his gut. His tormenter was back, dressed in a tight pair of jeans and a snug shirt. Everything he needed to remind him of the misery she’d left him in. He should have recognized her body. God knows he’d stared at it for many years.

  Of all the people to run into tonight, it had to be her. He’d find out for sure after the show. Maybe even get lucky enough to do the things he’d always wanted. But he wouldn’t stick around. Not to get his heart trampled on again. She’d moved past him. He’d show her that he had moved on, too.

  There was no point in stressing. Even if this were Ally, he’d never get the chance to make love to her. But he still wanted to know why she was back in Savannah, flirting with him. Hadn’t she recognized him?

  He closed his eyes, trying to steady his heart. Another smile from her and he’d be jumping off the stage. God, he was about to make an ass out of himself, even if he waited until after the show. Screw it. It wouldn’t be the first time.

  Returning the same lip curl she’d given him earlier, he couldn’t help but notice the way her eyes fixed on him. Or the way her body slowed.

  The longer she stared at him, the more her brows pinched. Her eyes moved down his body, doing a quick scan before returning. Those lips he was dying to taste parted. Then he realized the truth of the matter. Ally hadn’t recognized him. Not until this moment.

  He wondered if her heart was beating as fast as his. Or if she wanted to talk to him as bad as he did her. The set couldn’t end fast enough.

  Definitely not fast enough.

  Ally turned and pushed through the crowd, disappearing from his sight.

  * * *

  The bathroom door smacked against the wall of the ladies’ room. As loud as the sound echoed, it must have busted through the drywall. Not that Ally cared at the moment. Fighting the urge to hold her dinner down became priority.

  This couldn’t be happening. Running into Jonah. She swore Cas
sie had told her that he moved. But six feet of toned muscle stood on stage, proving otherwise. And all seventy-two inches made her body warm in ways it hadn’t in far too long. Not even with her last relationship.

  Even worse, she’d danced for him, playing some sort of twisted game of seduction. How long had he known it was her? Each time their eyes met, his burned her to the core. Maybe he’d meant to have that affect on her. All of this was a game to him, still. That’s why he flirted the way he did. He hadn’t finished screwing with her head.

  Fire rose in her cheeks. She made for the stall, shutting the door behind her before hovering over the toilet. How could six years change a person so much? Had she recognized him from the get go, she wouldn’t be in this position.

  Pressing her hands to either side of the walls, she drew in a few breaths, noting the minty scent of the bathroom deodorizer. If her stomach would stop rolling, she’d go to the sink, splash some water on her face. But the more she thought about what lay ahead of her when she left this room, the more the room shifted.

  The cool metal of the door met her back as she leaned into it. At least it brought some relief to her overheated body. She’d feel even better if she could kick off her heels and plant her feet on solid ground.

  One quick scan of the floor proved that need would have to wait until she made it home. Where she should head as soon as possible.

  Maybe if she left now, she wouldn’t have to risk running into Jonah. He was still on stage, performing. Had started another song when she arrived at the bathroom door. The chance of escaping unnoticed gave her a small dose of hope.

  She needed to find Cassie.

  Digging her cell from her back pocket, she tapped the screen, pulling up the last text from her friend. Four words into the text, music filtered into the bathroom. Followed by the creak of a hinge.

  “Ally? You in here?”

  “Yeah.” The words sounded shakier than Ally wanted. Keeping her back against the door, the lock shimmied against her arm.

  “Hey,” Cassie’s voice cooed to her from the other side of the stall. “Are you okay?”

  “Having the time of my life,” Ally snorted. Wasn’t it every girl’s dream to run into the guy who stole her heart? Not only running into him, but giving him the sexiest dance she’d ever given anyone in her life.

  “I saw what happened. Actually, Mike noticed something was going on first. By the time I tuned in, you’d stopped dancing.” Cassie jiggled the knob again, waiting for Ally to open the door. When she finally did, brown eyes stared back at her. “Ally, I’m so sorry. I had no idea Jonah would be here. I didn’t know he was still around these parts. I heard he’d left for L.A.”

  Ally waved away her apology as she moved toward the sink. “It’s okay, Cass. I know you wouldn’t do this to me on purpose. I’m sorry I’m ruining our night.”

  “You’re not ruining my night. I’ve had a blast, but if it has to end, then so be it. There will be plenty more.”

  Twisting the sink handles, Ally cupped some water in her hand, splashing the cool liquid onto her face. It helped extinguish the fire in her cheeks. But the flame inside her heart raged on.

  Cassie joined her, patting her back as both looked at their reflections. “Listen. Take a few minutes to compose yourself. I’ll go pay for our drinks and call a cab. Neither of us should drive. Mike’s Manhattans are extra potent. Meet me at the bar in five minutes and we’ll get out of here.”

  “Sounds good,” Ally nodded, turning the faucet off. “But at least let me pay for the drinks.”

  Coppery hair brushed against creamy shoulders with each shake of Cassie’s head. “No way. It’s my treat. Welcome home, Ally.”

  Yeah. Welcome back to where it all began. All the heartache she’d carried with her for the last six years. Moving back here was a mistake. She should have known there would be a chance she’d run into Jonah. This was his home, whether he lived here or not. But if he really lived in L.A., why in the hell had he shown up in town at the same time she moved back?

  Slumping her shoulders, she trailed her hand against the edge of the counter, wishing she could crawl under a rock. Anger pulsed within her heart. She shouldn’t allow him to affect her like this. After all these years of telling herself she’d moved on. What a lie. Seeing him again brought back every single second of their time together. How much she adored him as a friend for many years. How those feeling changed after he’d played for her one night. The same night that the tug toward Jonah began.

  Releasing a sigh, she focused on Cassie, tucking the thoughts away. “I shouldn’t be this upset.”

  “Yeah, you should. I know what Jonah meant to you, Ally. You should have told him the truth before you left.”

  “I tried.” She ground out. “He didn’t want to hear it. Not when he had plans to leave.”

  Cassie turned to face her, gripping her shoulders as she gave her a tiny shake. “He wouldn’t have left had he known how—”

  “Don’t go there, Cassie.” Ally broke free from her grasp, refocusing on their reflections.

  “Oh I’m going there. And then back again.” Cassie tapped her shoulder until she returned her gaze. “If he had known, you wouldn’t be hiding out in the women’s bathroom right now. You and Jonah would be happily married, raising a family, and enjoying life.”

  “Whatever, Cass. Jonah would have grown restless with me. Music meant that much to him. His brother would have called with promises of fame and fortune. He would have left.”

  “You didn’t see the way he looked at you over the years.”

  Blowing out a deep breath, Ally pushed away from the counter. She loved that Cassie wanted to make her feel better, but reliving the past wasn’t helping. “Your theory is flawed. If he’d cared about me in the least, he wouldn’t have avoided my kiss.”

  Cassie chewed on her lip, as though she wanted to keep arguing the point, but the door swung open again. Two girls came walking in, giggling about something Ally could care less about. Her eyes moved back to Cassie.

  With a tight-lipped smile, she gave Ally a nod and turned toward the door. “We can argue the point another time. I’m going to pay for our drinks and get our cab. See you in a few.”

  Once Cassie disappeared behind the door, Ally gazed down at her watch, ready to time her wait. The longer she stayed in the bathroom, the less chance she had of running into Jonah.

  No matter how much she swore she’d never talk to him again, deep down she knew she couldn’t refuse him. Not if he approached her. Then she’d be a sitting target. One for him to shoot down once the moment arrived. God knows he did before.

  Another round of giggles came from the stall she’d exited. She’d almost forgotten about the girls walking in, but she couldn’t ignore their insistent chuckles. Or the words flowing from their mouths as they chatted back and forth.

  “The singer is definitely a total babe. I saw him looking at you.”

  “Mmm, Theo McCabe. I’m hooking up with his fine ass tonight. I’m sure we can get his brother to tag along.”

  “That’s his brother playing guitar?”

  More words drifted from the stalls, but Ally couldn’t hear them. Could only hear the way her heart began to pound again. Guess she wasn’t the only person who’d caught Jonah’s eyes, tonight.

  She couldn’t stand around and listen to this.

  Gazing down at her watch, she noticed she had another minute until she met with Cassie. She’d surprise her friend and arrive a little early. Maybe the cab would, too.

  As the sound of rushing water came from the stalls, Ally turned for the door, pulling it open as she stepped through the threshold. A short journey down the hall brought her back to the edge of the bar. And just a few feet away from Jonah.

  Her heart had never raced as fast as it did the moment their eyes met. Or when she ran toward the red exit sign at the back of the bar.

  CHAPTER 5

  A warm breeze lifted Ally’s hair from her shoulders as she stepped outside
the bar. Gazing around at the nearby buildings, she fought to steady her breath. She had to find a way out of here before Jonah came looking for her.

  Then again, maybe he wouldn’t.

  Eyeing the left side of the alley, she noticed a group of people standing near the dumpsters. Huddled close together, the mixture of men and women gave her a long stare down before finally turning back to each other. She noticed them exchanging something between them. Then the tangy scent of marijuana filled her nose.

  Stoners. The way she came busting out the door must have scared them. What a paranoid bunch.

  Her eyes moved past the group, further down the tiny road parallel to the building she just exited. A few more joining buildings would make for a long walk around to the front. Maybe she’d have better luck going to her right.

  The door creaked behind her, sending her heart into another tizzy. Silent prayers passed over her lips. Hopefully it was Cassie coming to tell her the cab had arrived. Or maybe someone else from the bar wanted to hit the stogie being passed between the group.

  A low, husky voice finally filled her ears. “Ally?”

  Damn… Just the person she hoped it wouldn’t be.

  A cautious turn had her facing Jonah. She feigned a smile for him, all the while dying inside. Juniper lingered in the air. The familiar scent teased her nose, reminding her of all the times she cried on his shoulder when she thought about her dad.

  “Jonah. Wow! What a surprise it is to see you. It’s been—”

  “Six years.” How nice of him to remember. “I almost didn’t recognize you. You look great, Ally.”

  Laughter exploded from the group behind, drawing his attention toward them, but Ally couldn’t think about anything other than the words she’d just heard. Maybe he hadn’t recognized her like she thought. Then again, maybe this was part of his game. Pretend like he hadn’t known it was her. That he hadn’t tried seducing her with his eyes.

  “What brings you back home?” He asked, his eyes still focused on the group near the dumpsters.

  She sucked in a deep breath, not ready to give him every detail of her life. “I just moved back this week.” Pressing her lips together, she stopped herself from revealing how close she lived to his old house. If he still lived in the area, he’d find out soon enough. “What about you? Is Savannah still home?”