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“I’ll be right back.”
She watched as he headed to the stage.The band was setting up.The same band that had been there the night of the bar fight.Decker spoke to the pretty brunette lead singer with the great voice before he handed her something.When he got back to the table, she couldn’t help teasing him.
“What was that all about?You making arrangements with another woman in case I get kicked out?”
“I just requested a special song.And you’re not going to get kicked out.”
She glanced around.They had become the main focus of the bar.People didn’t even try to look away as they leaned in and whispered behind their hands.“You sure about that, Deckster?There are an awful lot of mean looks being directed our way.They probably think I’m trying to get a little kissing cousin action.”
“You don’t have to try very hard.”He leaned in and kissed her.Once his lips touched hers, she forgot all about people watching.When he drew back and spoke, she felt even more dazed.
“I love you.”He held up a hand as if to stop her from talking, but with her heart in her throat, she couldn’t say a word.“I didn’t say it to make you stay.I just wanted you to know.”
He didn’t say it to make her stay?Didn’t he want her to stay?
While she was mulling the question over, the waitress arrived to take their orders.When she left, Decker took her hand and continued.
“I’m not trying to make you feel cornered, Sweetie.Just because I love you doesn’t mean I want to control you.Or force you to stay if you don’t want to.”
At one time, his words would have been music to her ears.She had thought she wanted a man who gave her freedom.She did, but she also wanted a man who didn’t want to let her go.She knew it was stupid.How could she want to be free and held at the same time?But that’s exactly what she wanted.
Their food arrived.Her emotions were in such turmoil she didn’t think she could eat.But when the piles of spicy baby back ribs, tender chicken, thick brisket, baked beans, potato salad, coleslaw, and macaroni and cheese were sitting in front of her, she couldn’t help but dig in.
After they were finished eating, she started to tell Decker how she felt, but then the brunette band member stepped up to the microphone.
“Hope y’all are enjoying the night so far.We’ve got some great songs picked out for you tonight.But before we start our set, your local sheriff has a special surprise for you.”
Sweetie had a bad feeling.That bad feeling grew when Decker got up and headed to the stage.He thanked the singer as he took the microphone.
“Hey, y’all.No, I’m not going to give you a lecture on drunk driving.Y’all already know how I feel about that.Tonight, I get the pleasure of introducing a special guest.You might know her.She grew up in this town.Y’all are her people.Which is why she wrote a song about you.She’d like to sing it for you now.So let’s give a warm welcome to our very own Sweetie Mae Holiday!”
ChapterTwenty-Two
Decker figured this could very easily make Sweetie walk out the door and never talk to him again.She had told him she had stage fright when she tried to sing her own songs.He also knew she didn’t like to feel manipulated.But this was the only way he could think of to make Sweetie realize her songs were worth sharing.
So were her feelings.
He held his breath as she got to her feet.She hesitated as if she was thinking about making a run for it.Instead, she lifted her chin and walked to the stage.When she got there, he held out a hand and helped her up.
“I’m going to kill you, Decker Carson,” she whispered under her breath.
“You’re going to kill them,” he whispered back.“Knock ’em dead, Sweets.”He brushed a soft kiss over her cheek before he stepped down from the stage.He didn’t go back to his seat.He stood in front of the stage like the Sweetie Mae Holiday groupie he was—and always would be.
Her hair was curled and fell in golden waves around the shoulders of the jean jacket she wore.The same jean jacket he had loaned her when she’d forgotten to bring a coat with her to his house.Beneath it, she wore a pretty flowered dress that hugged her breasts, waist, and hips and flared out around the tops of her thighs.The sexy red boots finished off her outfit ...and the last of the moisture in his mouth.
Even though he’d told her not to, he still felt a little hurt she hadn’t reciprocated with words of love.And maybe she didn’t love him.Maybe “The Right Boy” wasn’t about him at all.If that were true, he’d have to accept it.Just like he had to accept she was leaving.
And he would survive.
For the last sixteen years of his life, he’d lived in fear of people he loved leaving him.The fear had started when his mother and daddy died and grown worse when Sweetie left.Not wanting to feel the same pain, he’d steered clear of serious relationships.Now, he saw how foolish that had been.Love was meant to be shared.No matter the pain and loss.While you had it in your grasp, you needed to enjoy every moment.
He intended to enjoy this one.
Although Sweetie didn’t seem to be enjoying it.
As she pulled the strap of the guitar someone had handed her over her head, she looked like she was about to throw up.Decker regretted ordering barbecue.He should have ordered saltine crackers and ginger ale.As he watched her step up to the microphone, his own stomach threatened to revolt.The townsfolk were unpredictable.Anything could go wrong.
The guy on the keyboard started playing a soft tune.Decker hoped it was “Small Town Regrets.”He had copied the song when he’d gotten to work that morning and brought it with him tonight to give to the band.
