Chapter Two

Pierce

She’d been back to drop our drinks off but hadn’t even spared me a glance.

I knew this wouldn’t be easy. She was convinced I’d cheated on her, ‘cause I’d been dumb enough to tell her I had. She had every reason to hate me. I’d wanted her to hate me when I lied about another woman because I thought a clean break would be best. But there was no such thing as a clean break with Keira. There was nothing but jagged edges, wounds that wouldn’t stop bleeding, and scars that refused to heal.

“She looks different, huh?” Trev said, bringing the beer to his lips.

“Yeah.” She’d looked sweet and innocent before, like a preacher’s daughter, and I liked it that way. Men were less likely to look twice. Now she was putting it all out there. The curves I used to love caressing in the privacy of my bedroom were on display for the whole fucking world to see and I hated that.

Her auburn hair was in thick, full waves, which meant she was finally embracing the natural curl she used to bitch about. Her bright green eyes were wide, rimmed with makeup she’d never worn before. Her full lips were soft and pink and shiny, reminding me of how incredible they’d looked wrapped around my… I shifted in my seat, adjusting the bulge in my jeans. Yeah, this new look of hers wasn’t working for me at all, especially since I’d lost the right to touch her.

“Wonder who that guy is,” Trev said, gesturing to a guy who had Keira’s undivided attention.

Her hand was resting on his shoulder and she’d thrown her head back, laughing at something he said.

I curled my hand into a fist as I took him in. I was pretty sure I’d never seen him before, but he looked like any other country boy in this joint. Cowboy boots and hat, faded jeans, well-worn T-shirt with some graphic design on the front. He looked like he was no stranger to manual labor. Probably a rancher or farmer.

But did she really want boring and mundane? Men who drove tractors instead of motorcycles, who lived paycheck to paycheck and couldn’t afford to buy her flowers. Or did she want a guy like me… who could buy her anything she wanted? And worshiped the ground she walked on. Except she probably didn’t see it that way. I was the lying, cheating bastard who’d broke her heart, not the man who’d give everything he owned for one more shot with her.

“You think he’s her boyfriend?” Trev asked. “They look pretty tight.”

I’d eat broken glass if I heard she had a boyfriend. I came here with one mission—to convince her to take me back. Was it in her best interest? Probably not. My life hadn’t changed all that much since we broke up. She’d probably still hate it, but then… the Keira I was looking at now wasn’t the same sweet, shy girl I’d broken up with, so maybe she’d be more willing to embrace all the attention that came with my lifestyle.

She’d obviously stepped outside of her comfort zone and convinced her parents she was going to live her life as she saw fit, with or without their approval. ‘Cause I couldn’t imagine her daddy, the preacher, jumpin’ on board with his baby girl working in a dive bar dressed like that. Hell, I wasn’t even on board with her dressing like that. I wanted to run out to the truck and grab my denim jacket out of the back and throw it over her, to send a message to the men leering at her—for my eyes only.

“How you boys doin’?” Roy asked, ambling up to us. “Keira takin’ good care of you?”

It had been too long since Keira took care of me, but I’d gladly hand over every platinum record I’d earned to have that experience again. “We’re good, Roy,” I said, raising my half-empty glass. “Is that, uh, her boyfriend?” I asked, nodding toward farm boy, who was now sitting with my girl, obviously monopolizing her break.

Roy glanced in their direction. “Na, don’t think so. Those girls go out with so many fellas I can’t keep track of ‘em all.”

Trev raised an eyebrow. I knew what he was thinking. Keira had changed. She’d been with me since she turned eighteen and no one else was stupid enough to make a play for her. We’d both learned one useful skill from our old man—how to fight. And that meant none of the local boys got on the wrong side of us.

“You, uh, know his story?” I asked, trying not to stare.

“I think he’s workin’ on the Callahan farm,” Roy said, stroking his handlebar mustache.

He was a throwback to a different time, but we all loved that old Roy never changed.

“Johnny Callahan runnin’ that place for his parents now?” Johnny and I used to be tight in high school, getting into all kinds of shit together. Might be time to pay my old buddy a visit, find out what he knew about the man on his payroll.

“Yeah, his pops has got arthritis pretty bad. And you heard his older brother enlisted, right?”

“Yeah, Mama mentioned somethin’ about that.” I made it a point to play for the troops overseas every chance I got. It was always one of the highlights of my year.

“Few of the boys enlisted when they got out of high school,” Roy said, leaning heavily on his cane. “Guess I can see why. Not much in the way of work ‘round here. Getting drafted sure ain’t an easy road though.”

“Commendable though,” Trev said, tipping his hat.

I nodded, wondering how many of the guys I used to know had enlisted. No one talked about shit like that back in high school. We were all too busy raisin’ hell and gettin’ laid. Maybe now that I was back for a bit I could see about doing something for the folks that put up with my shit for so long. A charity concert, maybe, to raise money for the families who had loved ones stationed in the Middle East. I was sure my mama could help set up something like that. She’d always been pretty involved in the church—the church where Keira’s daddy was the preacher. Ugh. Might have to come up with another plan to help out, since he hated my guts.

“I see you got live music in here now,” I said, gesturing toward the empty stage. “How come you didn’t have that when I lived here? Might’ve been fun.”

“You’re welcome to that stage anytime you want it, boy,” he slapped my back, roaring with a hearty chuckle. “But I guess you’re too big to play in a place like this now, ain’t ya?”

My gaze strayed to Keira and I had an idea. “Not at all. I’d love to play. In fact, I’ve been working on a new album. Hasn’t been released yet. This might give me a chance to try it out, if you don’t think your customers would mind?”

“Mind?” he asked, raising bushy gray eyebrows as he tipped his cowboy hat back. “Hell, they’d be honored, same as I would. Most of us probably couldn’t afford decent tickets to your show, so if you’re sure you wouldn’t mind, that’d be a real treat for us to get a private show.”

“How ‘bout your band?” I asked, nodding to the three musicians who were sitting at a corner table watching me. “You sure they wouldn’t mind? I don’t wanna step on anybody’s toes.”

“I can damn well guarantee they won’t care. Most people don’t pay them no mind, anyhow. They’re just background noise, unless folks feel like dancin’ a little.”

I remembered when I was the background noise in places like this. Seemed like only yesterday, but it had been at least seven years since I’d stepped on a stage this small. It’d feel good to get back to my roots… and let Keira hear the songs I’d been working on.

***

Keira

“I can’t believe Pierce Eason is here,” Paul said, grinning from ear-to-ear as he tapped his boot on the floor and mouthed the words to every song. Ugh. I should have known this guy was too good to be true. He had a fucking man crush on my ex.

“He’s from these parts,” I said, trying to downplay our connection. “Went to high school right here in Albany.”

“Is that right?” he asked, lighting up at the news. “I’ve been a fan of his for a long time. Don’t think I’ve ever heard him talk about where he was from in any interviews though.”

“Probably trying to forget.” At least that’s what I choose to believe. Aside from his mama, I’d been his last tie to his roots. No doubt he wanted to forget the modest little home he’d grown up in and the shit box he drove all the way out to Nashville the summer he turned twenty-one.

“I don’t know about that,” he said, tipping back his beer. “If that were true, why would he be back?”

He was watching me while he sang. As hard as I tried to ignore him, I could feel his eyes on me, probably questioning who I was with. I thought about putting an arm around Paul, maybe even dropping a little kiss on his cheek to send my ex a message, but that wouldn’t be fair. Paul was a nice guy. He didn’t deserve to be used that way.

“His mama still lives here,” I explained, draining my water. “He and his younger brother are back to visit for a bit.”

“That’s cool. So, you know him? Think you could introduce me?”

Fuck that! “Uh, no, I don’t think so. He and I had a little falling out a while back. We don’t talk much anymore.”

“Oh yeah? What about?”

He couldn’t keep his dick in his pants. “That’s a long story, and I gotta get back to work.”

“Before you go, can I take you out tomorrow night?” he asked, sounding way too eager. “Maybe dinner and a movie? How about the drive-in? Wouldn’t that be cool? I haven’t been to one of those in years.”

Last time I went to a drive-in had been with Pierce. We’d steamed up the windows and rocked his old truck so hard they were talkin’ about it in church the next day. “Can I get back to you on that?” I asked, smiling. “I may have to work. We’ve got a girl out sick.”

“Sure, just text me when you know.”

“Thanks for comin’ in,” I said, trying not to tense up when he grabbed my hand.

Don’t kiss me. Even though he had last night and it had been… nice. Things were different now. We had an audience, namely my ex. Rage surged through me when I realized I was holding back because of him. He sure as hell hadn’t held back because of me, even though I’d been wearing his ring.

I curled my arm around Paul’s neck and pressed my lips to his, willing myself to feel something. I waited an extra beat just to be sure. Nothing. Ugh! I hated Pierce Eason. Just seeing him again had ruined me for all other men.

I made my way back to the bar to catch up on orders. Carolyn filled me in before she asked, “You ever heard this song before?”

“Nope. You know I don’t listen to his stuff anymore.” Which wasn’t easy. I loved his sound. Every time I heard one of his songs on the radio, I had to will myself to change the station.

“This must be new,” Carolyn said, oblivious to my annoyance. “Listen to it.”

“I’d rather not.” When I paused long enough to listen to the lyrics, I realized it was about lies. Mistakes. Regrets. I hoped he regretted the way he’d treated me. The pain he’d caused me. The heartless bastard.

“I can’t imagine how it must feel,” Carolyn said, clucking her tongue as she placed her hand over mine. “Do ya just feel sick, seein’ him again, hon?”

“I’m not gonna give him the satisfaction of affecting me.”

“Is that why you were playin’ it up with blondie?”

Paul had dark blond hair and baby blues—an all-American guy. And the antithesis of my ex… so exactly what I needed.

“I wasn’t playin’ anything up. He’s a nice guy. I like him.”

She rolled her eyes. “You know you’re a terrible liar, right? I don’t even know why you bother tryin’.”

I blamed my father for that. When most teens were perfecting that skill—sneaking out of their bedroom windows at night—I was too scared to pull a stunt like that. I walked the line. I was a good girl… until I got corrupted by a very bad boy.

“Be right back,” I said, filling my tray after she told me where to deliver all the drinks.

It took forever to make my rounds ‘cause I had to listen to everyone tell me how nice it was to see Pierce back in town. Yeah, real fuckin’ nice. I’d be counting the minutes ‘til he hauled ass outta town. With any luck, maybe he’d buy his mama a sweet house in Tennessee so she could be closer to him and he’d have no reason to visit these parts again.

But I couldn’t see that happening. He was a Kentucky boy at heart, and it was clear he still loved all these people as much as they loved him. He was the only one from around here who’d ever made it big, and he went from being a juvenile delinquent to the favorite son, seemingly overnight. Guess money and fame had that effect on people. Made ‘em forget a man’s sins.

“God,” I said, slamming the tray down on the bar while Carolyn drew beers. “I wish he’d just get the hell outta here. I can’t stand the sight of him anymore.”

“I get the feeling he’s not in a hurry to go anywhere. You know he hasn’t taken his eyes off you all night, right?”

“Why do you think I want him to leave?” I couldn’t stand it anymore. My skin felt all hot and prickly… damn it, and my panties were wet. Just listening to his voice and hearing him strum that old guitar had that effect on me.

“Remember when you guys used to drive down to the lake and sit out on an old blanket while he wrote songs?” She smiled, completely oblivious to my warning glare. “He used to say you were his muse.”

“He used to say a lot of things. All BS, I’m sure.”

“Honey,” she said, looking concerned. “You don’t really believe that, do you? I know he was an asshole for cheatin’ on you, but that doesn’t mean he didn’t love you.”

“You don’t cheat on someone you love, Car.” That had always been a hard line for me. I knew some women could forgive their man for cheating, but I’d never be counted among them.

“You know what’s weird,” she said, wiping the bar down with a damp rag. “The fact he didn’t beg forgiveness at first. I mean, I get that he felt he had to tell you about it ‘cause he was feelin’ guilty, but why did he just let you leave like that?”

“He was probably happy to be rid of me,” I said, trying to ignore the pang of sadness that accompanied that statement. “Meant he could fuck anyone he wanted.”

“If that were true, why was he tryin’ so hard to get a hold of you once he left for Nashville? He even came back and had it out with your brother, right?”

“So?”

“A man wouldn’t go to those lengths unless he really wanted you back, Ke.”

I didn’t even know why we were still talking about him. We hadn’t in eleven months because I told my best friend his name was strictly off limits. “I don’t really care. It’s done and over with, as far as I’m concerned. Let’s just hope he’ll stay the hell away from me for the rest of his visit now that he knows I am definitely not interested.”

“So that’s a hard no then?” Carolyn asked, letting her eyes wander to the stage. “‘Cause I gotta tell you, he’s lookin’ hotter than ever.”

I know, and that only makes me hate him more. “You know what they say, girl. Beauty is only skin deep.” And in his case, that was certainly true. Sure, he might be the sexiest man I’d ever laid eyes on. I could even admit that he still made all my girly bits stand at attention, but that didn’t mean I’d be won over by that crooked smile and those soulful eyes again. Never. Again.

After a sigh of resignation, Carolyn asked, “Would you mind closin’ up tonight? My uncle’s car’s in the shop and I promised to give him a ride home. You know he’s always dead on his feet by midnight.”

“Sure, that’s no problem.” I was in no hurry to get home anyhow. My mama had probably already gotten word that Pierce was back in town and she’d want to keep me up half the night talking about my feelings, making sure that I wasn’t stupid or desperate enough to forgive that sinner. That was Daddy’s favorite word to describe Pierce—he was an unholy sinner.

Ah, if only they knew all the ways their baby girl had sinned with that man. They’d lock me in my room and never let me out.