RYDER
On my way to pick up G’Anna, I thought back over the last few months. We made a few trips over to watch some of the concerts Assured Distraction played after Steel returned to the states. Peri did a fine job of booking them in the best cities all over Europe but in smaller venues than we played.
If it were possible, their success made me even prouder of my daughter. She adapted to the craziness of their band in no time. Assured Distraction skyrocketed to fame on foreign lands like Steel had done years before.
G’Anna and I caught the last show and brought the band home with us on the jet. They deserved a treat. Those crazy kids took advantage of all it had to offer, too. The attendants would be restocking for the next trip because of what little was left in our liquor cabinet.
The band came home to a fine mess with Ryan, Krissy, and Peri, though. Babies and bands co-existing rarely work, but that’s another story. They’ll probably all end up in court straightening the problems out.
As the SUV pulled up to G’Anna’s office, I saw Trudy talking to G’Anna, who held an overnight bag in her hands. I stepped from the vehicle, and she turned and greeted me with a huge smile I never tire of seeing.
“Hey, sugar.” I pulled her in for a soft kiss.
“Hey yourself, Mr. Rockstar.” She knew I hated being called that but enjoyed teasing me.
I took her bag from her hand and held the door open. “You know, G’Anna, this living out of a suitcase is getting old to me.”
She looked at the bag in my hand and climbed into the back seat without speaking. She slid closer when I moved in next to her.
“Yeah, I thought the same thing, but I have no suggestions.”
“Well, I sure as hell do. Move in with me.”
“Ryder, I live in a house. You live in a hotel. That’s not living to me. It’s a place to stop over between visits.”
“Your house is too small. I mean, it’s in a great location in Austin, but it’s way too small for us.”
Her eyebrows moved up her forehead. “You’d consider moving into my house?”
“If it meant we could stop this insanity, then yes. I want to be with you, wherever you are, G’Anna. Don’t you know by now how much I love you?”
“Hmmm… interesting way to profess your love to me for the first time.”
“Sugar, I profess my love to your every time we fuck.” I leaned in and kissed her. Talking about fucking made my dick twitch.
“That’s not the same thing.”
“The hell it’s not.” Women had strange ideas about telling them you loved them. “Stop the car,” I called to the driver in front. The car pulled to a stop on the side of South Congress.
“Right here, sir? Is everything okay?”
I threw open the door to a sidewalk full of people usually milling around the SoCo area. Stepping out, I dragged G’Anna with me. In the middle of the sidewalk, I dipped her back in a grand gesture and kissed her with a kiss hot enough to set us both on fire. When I stood her back on her own two feet, I kneeled. I knew how it looked, but I wanted this to be as important and memorable for us both. A crowd clapped and whooped as we looked at each other.
“Ryder?” she questioned me. Fuck, she probably questioned my sanity.
“G’Anna, I love you with all my heart. Do you understand how much that is? I love you like a man should love a woman, and I hope you love me back the same. I plan to love you until the end of our time on this earth.”
I looked around at the people watching this. I knew they took pictures of us, and we’d end up blowing up social media, and someone would bank some cash off the video, but I didn’t care. “Okay, guys. This isn’t a proposal so get this right. This is one happy man telling one beautiful woman how much he loves her. When I propose, it won’t be on a sidewalk on South Congress, and it certainly won’t be with a bunch of strangers around us.”
I turned back to G’Anna. “Sugar, I love you.” I looked around at the crowd. “Did y’all get that? I love her.” They clapped again, and then we all waited to see how she would react. I didn’t expect her to say the words if she didn’t feel them.
She ran her eyes around the circle of people of all ages.
“How can I deny in front of all these people what I feel in my heart? I love you, too. I’ve loved you for such a long time. I just didn’t know how to say it first. Now, I’m ready to shout it to the masses.” She turned to the circle and shouted, “I love Ryder Steel.”
I knew when she said my name out loud, things would escalate quickly. Most already knew, but her announcement confirmed it.
I stood and kissed her again picking her up off the ground and stepping toward the SUV. By the time we broke apart, the crowd had grown and started getting out of hand. I climbed in and slammed the door.
I yelled at the driver, “Take off, dude, before there’s a problem, and I’m charged with inciting a riot.”
“I hope our love always causes a riot.”
COMING SOON
Beck and Call
Prologue
The scorching heat burned my back. I glanced over my shoulder to watch flames shooting skyward, but it didn’t cause my steps to falter. This day had been coming for years, but I never dreamed it would end in fire.
Sirens blared in the distance. My body rattled as they grew closer. When the sound blistered my ears, I stopped to watch them barreling down the road in my direction. The truck’s red blur sped by, and I knew the men and women holding on grew anxious as their adrenaline rose with each mile passing in the direction of the fire.
I feared for them as I always did when I heard the distressing call of a public service vehicle. Those people put their lives on the line each time they drove away from the station. I admired them for the servants they were. Their bravery amazed me because I knew I didn’t have what it took to sacrifice myself the way they chose to daily.
Walking backward down the side of the road leading to Main Street, I watched the driver turn the corner for the last time before slamming his foot down to stop at their destination. I knew what they would find. I knew what they would believe. I knew how it would look.
My legs moved faster, and my heartbeat increased, carrying my guitar case and a backpack. Escaping the scene was my only option until the truth could be proven. My life held change I hadn’t planned on so soon. Now, I had no choice.