Chapter Twenty-Two
Maddie made her way into Mount Pleasant’s country club, checked her coat at the registration table with a gal whose lipstick was far too pink for anyone with half a grain of dignity to wear, and angled for the main room. All of Stephanie’s planning had paid off—the place looked amazing. Brightly colored balloons were tethered in clusters around the room, each with the FITS logo. Banners displaying happy children running across soccer fields and tennis courts adorned every wall, save for the far one which was blocked by a makeshift stage and the musical instruments set upon it in waiting.
“Maddie! Over here!”
She turned to spy Brent and Kayla seated with Ruby and Old Tom. The youngsters and the oldsters, all paired up and happy, happy, happy. Yay.
No, Maddie told herself as she crossed the room—slowly, so she didn’t kill herself in the high heels Steph and Kayla had picked out for her—she was not going to be that way. This event was to support underprivileged kids, downers need not apply. Besides, Brent had hinted at an announcement of some sort. If she were placing bets, it was that Miles was going to pop the question tonight to Stephanie. Then again, neither of them seemed in as big a hurry to tie the knot as Brent and Kayla.
“Hey, guys. Did I miss anything?” she asked, lowering into an open seat beside Ruby.
“Nope,” said Kayla. “Just Miles making his big announcement.”
“Aw, man. Seriously? That’s the whole reason I came!”
Brent gave her a wary look. “To hear him rattle off the menu selections?”
“Wait, what?” She looked to Kayla, who burst out laughing.
“Sorry, I can’t help it,” Kayla said. “He was so nervous about it, paced the hall all afternoon while doing voice warm ups.”
“Man, he can be such a girl sometimes,” said Maddie.
Brent reached over and gave her a fist bump.
“Oh, you two just stop it.” Ruby swatted at them both. “Miles did a wonderful job. And doesn’t Stephanie look radiant tonight?”
They all looked to Steph, who did indeed look amazing as ever. Tonight, she was in a deep burgundy gown, tight on top, long and flowy on the bottom. Maddie sighed. Oh, to have a figure like that.
“So, when is the real big announcement coming?” she asked, reaching for the nearest untouched glass of ice water.
“Soon, I think.”
Maddie looked up in time to see Brent and Kayla exchange a knowing grin.
“Please tell me you two aren’t up to something.”
“No, they aren’t,” said Ruby, patting her hand. “Though, do make sure you see Miles before the night is over, dear. I believe he has someone from the board he’d like you to meet.”
Maddie withdrew her hand, trying to keep her smile polite. Already? Cole had been gone just over a week and the Mastersons were already scoping out her next target? Well, that was just too darned bad. Yes, Brent had helped get her out of her mental rut, but that didn’t mean she was gunning to get back on the dating bandwagon. Not yet; her heart needed time to heal.
“Thanks, Ruby, but I’m sure I’m not interested.”
…
“Is she out there?” Cole asked as Gavin reentered the back hall.
“Just walked in.” He winked at Cole. “And looks absolutely stunning. Great call on the deep blue dress.”
“Thank you, Kayla,” he mumbled.
His gratitude toward her extended far beyond helping Maddie select the perfect dress, of course. She and Brent had helped plant the seeds to get Maddie here, to the gala. Kayla had also spent a few days last week working up a website for him and Gavin’s new shop, M ‘n’ G Music. Already they’d had dozens of calls, and their lesson slots were slowly filling up.
The dream business was becoming a reality. Now it was time to get the girl and, hopefully, live happily ever after.
“You ready, lover boy?” asked Miles, walking in to give Cole a hearty clap on the back.
“Ready as I’ll ever be. But remember—you promised to stay close to her table. If she goes for the dinner knives, call 911.”
Miles laughed. “Will do. Of course, it’ll be from my cell phone, down the street. I’ve seen Maddie’s aim, buddy. She doesn’t miss, especially with knives.”
He pushed through a door and disappeared back into the main room.
“Your girl part carnie, Granville, or what?”
Cole grinned at Gavin, shaking his head. “Nah, but lethal all the same. And I wouldn’t ask her to change a thing.”
“Then let’s do this. Come on, boys.”
The members of Radar Love made their way through the same door Miles had stepped through a moment ago, and arrived to hear him announce the band. Polite applause followed, and Gavin chuckled.
“Sounds like we’ve got our work cut out for us.”
Cole held back, letting his other bandmates step around the stage’s rear black curtain. He picked up his guitar, flicked the wireless amp on, slid his earpiece into place, then looked to the ceiling and whispered, “Could use a little help tonight, Pops. This one’s a bit higher than what I’m used to covering.”
On the other side of the curtain, Gavin was getting the crowd warmed up. Cheers sounded, more applause. “And this first one is going out to a special someone.”
The lights dimmed, and someone in the crowd hooted. Gavin chuckled. “That’s right, she’ll know who she is.”
That was his cue. Cole took a deep breath, counted off for the keyboardist, then started in with the guitar lick from Journey’s “Lights.”
He stepped from around the curtain, squinting past the canned lights pointed at the stage. It only took a moment to spot her, sitting beside Ruby and his grandfather, both of whose white-haired heads nearly glowed in the dimmed lighting. Her mouth was drawn into a surprised O, and—thank the good lord—no cutlery was in her grip.
She raised a hand to her mouth, shaking her head and exchanging words with Kayla. And though he didn’t have a clue what was being said, he didn’t care. All that mattered was she hadn’t walked out, which meant he still had a chance.
Cole did the best he could to cover the tune, hitting the high notes and nailing the guitar riffs, all while singing about missing his girl while on the road. And everything he did on stage—the notes, the lyrics, the pleading his case—he directed to Maddie. He sang his heart out, and the song ended to an eruption of applause.
But applause wasn’t what he wanted. Maddie was.
Cole set his guitar down, hopped from the stage, and headed toward her table. Gavin and the boys kicked into another song, allowing him time to make things right. She rose from her seat and…proceeded toward the exit.
Of course she wasn’t going to make this easy. It was Maddie, after all.
He burst through the doors a second after her, but found himself alone in the lobby. Cole raked a hand through his hair, trying to keep calm. She couldn’t have gone far, not in those heels.
“So. You’re back.”
He spun to the right, and realized he wasn’t alone after all. A large ficus had concealed Maddie from his initial glance. He moved tortoise slow in her direction, praying she would stay put and hear him out.
“For you.”
“Uh-huh.” Maddie paused. “A phone call would have been nice. Maybe a hug good-bye.”
Okay, she was talking. That was a good sign, right?
“Phone died. And you were busy with Tyson when I came to deliver…”
“Your letter?” She stepped forward, red-rimmed eyes narrowed. “Probably best for all of us I didn’t find that on my windshield.”
He knew he’d hurt her, but seeing her this way made him feel that much worse. She’d been happy, so happy. And then he’d gotten all stupid and stolen that happiness away.
Never again.
“I was afraid.” He came to stand before her.
“Smart man.”
“And an idiot.”
She smirked. “Getting warmer.”
He took her hands in his. “And if you can ever learn to forgive me, I promise to never leave you again.”
“Never?”
The fury faded from her eyes, replaced by a wary hopefulness. Cole pulled her into his arms and pressed a kiss to the top of her head.
“Wouldn’t be much of a scarecrow if I kept wandering off, now would I?”
Maddie laughed softly. “Don’t even think you’re out of the doghouse just yet, buddy. There’s gonna be a whole lot more groveling ahead from you than this. And making up back in my apartment.”
“I’ll grovel the rest of the day if it’ll lead me back to your place tonight.”
A door behind them swished opened and both turned to see who it was.
“Uh, Cole?” said Miles. “They need you back up on stage.”
“Yeah, I’ll be right there.” He looked back to Maddie as Miles disappeared from view. “That is, if you don’t mind.”
She chuckled. “Go, Mr. Celebrity. Your public awaits.”
“You sure? I mean, I just got back. The guys could do a few more without me if—”
Maddie tugged his shirt and pulled his face before hers. “Cole? Just kiss me already so you can get back to the band.”
So demanding, so understanding, so…Maddie.
Cole tipped her chin toward his and whispered, “Yes, ma’am.”