Chapter 6
Raleigh needed to make and excuse and leave.
Being here at the main house with Mom Firebrand, Prudence and her baby, and Brax felt a little too good. Once the threat was over, she’d be back on the road, on the tour, and what? Heartsick for home?
No thanks. She needed to nip this situation in the bud before it had time to blossom. She looked at Mom Firebrand. So many happy memories flooded Raleigh. Before she left, she needed to say one thing.
“I wrote a tribute song for you,” she said, fiddling with her coffee cup. For one, she felt bad about never circling back before and telling Mom Firebrand. Secondly, what if she didn’t like it?
“Me?” So much warmth exuded from the older woman’s eyes. They might be the window to the soul but they were also good at radiating someone’s mood. “I’m honored.”
“If Only,” Raleigh said. She hummed a few bars and then started in on the lyrics. She stopped after the first refrain. “Do you know that one?”
Mom Firebrand’s eyes welled up. “Know it? It’s one of my all-time favorites, even if I had no idea it was about me.”
“Good damn song,” Brax said low and under his breath.
“You listen to my music?” Raleigh didn’t bother to hide her shock.
“Adam dragged me to a concert or two in Austin over the years.” He took a sip of coffee, blocking his face.
She couldn’t read his expression and a piece of her really needed to see if he liked her music or not.
It shouldn’t mean so much to her, except this was home.
Random people could hate her but the people she cared most about mattered. Their opinions mattered.
When he put the mug down, his expression was unreadable.
“It was good,” he said, like he was sitting in front of a firing squad.
Of course, there were three sets of eyes staring at him expectantly.
“Pay no attention, sweetie,” Mom said. “He loves your music.”
He grinned and she wanted to reach over and give him a friendly tap on the arm like they’d done as kids when he’d been a pest.
She didn’t figure reaching across his mother to slap his forearm would be appreciated, so she contained the urge. Her cell buzzed in her pocket, so she fished it out and checked the screen. “Excuse me.”
Conversation was a low hum as she stood up and walked to the opposite side of the granite island anchoring the room.
“Hey, Hardy. What’s up?” she immediately asked.
“The house is clear. I’m working with local authorities on getting a deputy parked out front while we’re in town. Should I come pick you up now?” Hardy’s questions shouldn’t cause a lead fireball to land in the pit of her stomach.
“No. Not yet,” she said quickly. Five more minutes. “I’m still visiting. Okay if I text you with a plan?”
“Okay,” he said but he sounded anything but.
Her security detail deserved an explanation.
“I need to have a conversation with Wade and I’d rather be away from the guys when I make the call. Nothing too big,” she added. “Just personal stuff he’s supposed to be handling for me that seems to be slipping through the cracks lately. Nothing to do with the band.”
“We’re here whenever you’re ready to come back,” Hardy said. “Or I can come stay with you wherever you are.”
“No, thanks. That’s not necessary here.” The truth was that she wanted to step away from her life for a little while longer.
Hardy was a reminder that she needed protection because someone was targeting her.
The same icy chill from earlier raced down her spine thinking about it. “I gotta go. I’ll text. I promise.”
He barely got the word, Okay, out before she ended the call. The room suddenly felt stuffy and she needed air, recognizing the panic attack as it reared its ugly head. They were easier to conquer when she recognized them right away.
Back in the early days when she first started playing to crowds, she developed a bad case of stage fright. It had gotten bad enough for Sharon to bring a therapist on tour who’d taught Raleigh a few tricks.
This blip was nothing compared to the doozies she’d gone through.
All this one took was a couple of slow breaths and a reminder she was fine.
Everything was fine. She grounded herself by planting her palms on the cool granite either side of the farmhouse sink.
She stared out the window onto the amazing land.
The twin barns in the distance reminded her that everyone had two sides to them.
Before she could calm her racing heart, Brax stepped up behind her.
“Everything okay?” His voice traveled over her like fine silk. She could feel his strong male presence behind her without turning around. He was a foot behind her and she could hear his steady breathing.
“Give me a minute,” she managed to say without her voice shaking. She didn’t want him to know the effect he was having on her. “Hey, Brat.”
Her attempt to bring levity to the moment failed miserably the minute her arms goosebumped. Electricity jolted through her when he touched her shoulder.
“Let me know if you need me,” he said low and under his breath.
Boy, did that sentence cover so much more than he probably bargained for.
“Will do,” was all she could manage to say through the haze that was Brax. A haze that had her wanting to turn around and press her lips to his. A haze that had her wishing she could reach out to him, lean into him. A haze that had her needing to feel his mouth moving against hers.
He stepped away and the room got cold. No one had had that kind of effect on her since…ever when she really thought about it.
No. No. No.
She couldn’t afford to get attached to anyone or anything when she would just head out on the road again the minute this whole situation blew over. Between touring and making new music there was no time for anything or anyone else.
Crazy how the plan to work like mad to build her career to a national level so she didn’t have to be on the road most of the year hadn’t worked out so well.
If someone told her at thirty-two she’d still be grinding the tour or in the studio, she would have laughed at them.
She was supposed to be able to slow down by this point.
Being on the road might be losing some of its shine but being with her fans never would. Her shows were everything. Or had they become everything?
It was probably the back-to-back concerts that were starting to wear thin because she couldn’t allow herself to consider the fact her priorities might be changing.
She’d wanted national stardom far too long to let go of the dream now.
No one got to take that away from her, especially not some coward who’d rigged a bomb because he was too chicken to face her.
Where did all that come from?
She gripped the bullnose edge of the counter and took in a few deep breaths. This jerk didn’t get to win.
With new resolve, she strode back to the table and reclaimed her seat. She looked at Prudence and then Mom Firebrand. “What did I miss?”
“Not much. We were just talking about inviting you to stay for lunch.” Mom Firebrand broke out into a wide smile.
How could Raleigh let the woman who’d been a second mom to her down?
She glanced at Brax. “Are you sticking around?”
“A guy has to eat,” he said with a smirk.
It was infuriating how much that look caused her heart to pound her ribcage from the inside out.
“Does that mean you’re considering staying?” Mom Firebrand asked.
She knew better than to accept the invitation. It would be a mistake to get comfortable here. Leaving would be that much more difficult. She should cut bait now and save herself the heartache later.
“I’d hate to be the one to break up the band before a good meal,” she said. “Please tell me you’re making your famous meatballs.”
So much for sticking to a plan.
Brax needed to bring in the sheriff. He’d meant to call before now.
He also needed to talk to Raleigh about mentioning the incident to his family and ranch hands.
Bronc Harris, ranch foremen, needed to be informed as well.
The ATV jerk seemed willing to trespass on anyone’s land and he could come back armed or with friends.
“Can I steal you for a sec?” he asked Raleigh.
“Yeah, sure.” She glanced at Prudence and then his mother. “I’ll be right back.”
He led her into the former living room now playroom to get out of earshot.
“I’ve been thinking we should alert the sheriff to what happened earlier,” he started.
She put up a hand to stop him from continuing.
“It’s crazy enough as it is and everyone is on alert. What good would it do?” Her body stiffened and her words came out strained.
“We don’t know how dangerous this guy is or if he plans to come back. I have to alert my family and I wouldn’t be doing my job very well if I let our ranch hands or foreman walk into danger,” he explained.
Raleigh issued a sharp sigh.
“You’re right. That was pure selfishness on my part at not wanting to rile up my security detail more than I already have.” Her shoulders deflated. “Of course, I want everyone here and in town to be safe.”
“I’ll send out a text,” he said.
Her eyes widened and he could almost see the wheels churning. She shifted her weight from foot to foot.
“Actually, I know I said I’d stay for lunch, but I should probably head back home and tell Hardy we need to move on.” It seemed to hit home that her presence might place everyone in danger.
“Don’t do that,” he said.
“What?” she asked.
“Retreat.” His one word seemed to strike a chord.
“Hey, don’t be a brat,” she defended, fire in her emerald eyes.
“I’m not trying to upset you and I’m definitely not trying to run you off.
” His temper was rising and he had no idea why.
He shouldn’t care one way or the other if she stuck around.
He shouldn’t need to keep her safe more than he needed air.
And he definitely shouldn’t close the distance between them and kiss her.
“You guys would be better off without me here,” she admitted and the flash of vulnerability in those green eyes hit him at the core.
He took a step toward her and locked gazes, searching for encouragement or rejection. When her tongue slicked across her bottom lip, leaving a silky trail in its wake, he decided encouragement. An urgency was building inside him that he knew better than to let run wild.
So, Brax closed the gap, bent down, and pressed his lips to hers. Electricity jolted as she brought her hands up to his shoulders. He half expected her to push him away. She dug her fingernails into his muscles instead. He interpreted the move as more encouragement.
A second later, he brought his hands up to cup her cheeks, tilting her head back for better access.
He kissed the freckle above her lip. Then, the one on her cheek before his lips found hers again.
Suddenly, catching a breath was difficult as his chest squeezed and a dozen campfires lit inside him.
She smelled like a mix of spring flowers after a morning rain and a field of peppermint.
She tasted like dark roast. He liked coffee a whole lot better on her tongue.
Raleigh parted her lips more and he delved his tongue deeper in her mouth, tasting the sweet honey there.
His mind focused on one thing…more.
He wanted more of Raleigh. More of her taste. More of the way she touched him. More of the way she responded to him.
A clearing the throat noise from behind interrupted the moment.
“Hey, sorry, I was asked to get a special blanket and it’s in here.” Adam eased in, arm still in a sling. He seemed to make a special effort not to look directly at Brax or Raleigh.
“Great,” Raleigh whispered.
“No problem, Adam. It’s your home. Take what you need.” Brax tried to play the moment off like it was nothing.
Adam grabbed a pink blanket with silk material wrapped around the edges. “Here it is. Got what I came for.”
Awkward was a pretty good word to describe what was happening. Brax just wished he could shield Raleigh from the embarrassment of being caught during their first kiss. The first of many, he hoped.
“Yeah, no more kidding around, Brax,” she said, taking a few steps toward the hallway, and tripping over her own two feet. She caught herself, hands on the wall, in time to avoid the embarrassment of face-planting. “We have to get back in there.”
He was thrown for a loop with her comment.
“After you,” he said, stuffing down the hit to his ego. “But, hey, Adam. Can you stick around for a second?”
“Yes, and Red Devil has been located and is tucked away in the equipment building for safe keeping, just like you asked,” Adam reported.
“Thank you for seeing to it the minibike was taken care of,” Brax said as Raleigh smiled her approval.
“I know the way.” Raleigh pointed toward the kitchen. Her dramatic movements weren’t helping draw less attention to the fact they’d been kissing a few seconds ago. And those had been some of the hottest, sexiest kisses he’d had in a long time. Maybe ever.
They’d been caught red-handed. Time to fess up.
“I’ll be right in,” he said to her before walking over and taking her hand in his. He lifted hers to his mouth and pressed a tender kiss there.
Locking gazes, he saw an emotion flicker behind her eyes that stirred an unfamiliar feeling in his chest.
And then she withdrew her hand like it had been burned, turned away from him, and couldn’t get away from him fast enough.