“I’d love to sing, but I don’t want to go solo. What if we do a song together?” Cheyenne asked.
“Great idea,” McKenna said.
On the stage as McKenna and Cheyenne searched for a song they laughed and elbowed each other. Zane turned to Coop. “Maybe this wasn’t a good idea. They look like they’re plotting something.”
When McKenna started singing “Somethin’ Bad” by Carrie Underwood and Miranda Lambert, conversation in the room stopped. McKenna’s presence and her honey gravel voice commanded everyone’s attention. Sultry and provocative, her strength shined through. “I hope they’re not trying to tell us something with their song choice.”
“That’s not why we should worry. We should do that simply because they’re two strong-willed women. But I wouldn’t have it any other way. If Cheyenne weren’t tough, I’d probably have lost her.”
“How did you do it? Go through Cheyenne’s surgery after what you went through with Olivia?” Zane asked, his gaze still locked on McKenna.
“It scared me worse than I’ve ever been but losing a moment I could have with Cheyenne scared me worse.” Coop nodded toward the stage. “Looks like you figured out a way to get along.”
“You could say that.”
“Not too long before you head back to California, huh?” Cooper said.
Instead of feeling relief, when Zane thought of leaving Texas and McKenna a heaviness settled on his chest.
What did he have in California? A whole lot of nothin’. Smog, traffic, anonymity, and casual acquaintances. Here he had friends he could count on no matter what life threw at him, Ginny, and McKenna. He picked at the label on his beer bottle. What did he feel for McKenna? He knew it wasn’t like anything he’d experienced before, but should he explore it more?
“At her appointment next week, Ginny expects she’ll be cleared to return to work.”
“Why don’t you sound more excited?”
I can’t bear the thought of leaving McKenna. Of not seeing her every day.
On stage, McKenna moved with a grace and sexiness that fueled his imagination. But there was so much more he admired about her. Like tonight. He’d thought her courage amazing when she sang at the wedding, but now after discovering what her father and sister told her all her life, the depth of her character and resiliency astounded him.
But what did he want to say to Coop? “I’ve done a lot of thinking lately.”
“About what?”
“You name it.” Zane tilted his head right, then left trying to stretch out his tight neck muscles. “One thing I’ve discovered is I hate owning a business.”
“It’s definitely different,” Coop replied.
“I’m selling my share of the company. I’m tired of owner responsibilities taking me away from what I love doing, designing games.”
“Hire a CFO.”
Zane took a long drink. “That would help, but Cody and I have different visions. He keeps talking about growing the company, but I was happier when it was him and me. I’ve already told him I want out.”
“You gonna find a new job in California?”
Zane shook his head. He explained about his zombie bride game concept. “If I can broaden the appeal to males, the idea could work. Though McKenna insists I don’t need to because as is it serves the highly overlooked female market. Other than that, I don’t have a plan.”
Cooper nodded toward the stage. “Speaking of McKenna, any of this have to do with her?”
Absolutely.“I’ve never met anyone like her. If I could take a chance, it would be with McKenna.”
Lately, he’d envied his friends having what he never would. Family, permanence, maybe kids. He admitted they looked happier than he’d seen them with the changes in their lives. They’d moved on to a new stage, while his life would stay pretty much as it was, and he’d settle for being Uncle Zane.
Since he’d emailed Cody the wildest idea kept floating through his head. What if he stayed in Wishing, sorted out his career, and saw how it went with McKenna? Maybe they could try living together. If that worked, maybe long-term wasn’t such a long shot.
But would she take a chance on him? When he’d given his standard don’t expect commitment speech, she said marriage wasn’t in her plans either. Then there was his father. He owed McKenna the truth, and once she discovered his old man kept a secret second family, why would she hitch her wagon to him? He sure as hell wouldn’t.
“Coop, the thing is, I’ve got two chances of a relationship working long-term, slim and none.”
