Fletcher
It was one hell of a love song.
“I’ve lived in Sirena Beach my whole life and I didn’t know this even existed,” Micah said as she hopped out of his truck. smiled as he came around the front to take in the building in front of them. Except for a large hand-painted sign that read Shepley Cellars Tasting Room , there was no sign of what the place could be. Big windows were framed by weathered walls with vines clinging to them for life.
“In your defense, I think they just opened this one.”
She hummed, drawing his gaze to her face. He was still pinching himself about being on a date with ‘the one that got away’. Ever since Thanksgiving, his friends had been referring to her that way. He had assigned that term to Micah when they were recording “Mermaid”, but he’d never held onto the hope that he’d see her again. If he was being honest, he knew that even though he wished they had another shot, he’d accepted that it was a one time thing. He met Alice, they got married and he effectively pushed Micah into the back of his mind.
Until now.
He had replayed Micah’s flirty words on a loop. He had been so good at trying not to think of their night together, but the minute she brought up begging and being naked, that was all his brain could focus on. And it wasn’t even Micah of sixteen years ago that lay naked and spread out in his bed, it was the Micah of now with those curves and short curls and tattoos that took his breath away.
“How did you find this place?” she asked, interrupting the inappropriate thoughts of her brown skin against his white sheets.
He mentally kicked himself and pulled open the glass double doors. “The owner is an old friend.”
“Of course they are,” she mumbled and brushed past him, a small smile tugging at her lips. Chuckling, he stepped into the reception area and let his eyes adjust to the darker room, while she wandered out of sight.
When he’d insisted they go on a date, he had no idea where he was taking her. He’d never gone out of his way to plan things with Alice when they were married, because his ex-wife didn’t enjoy the luxury that his name and fame brought them. She preferred quiet nights at home, avoiding the band as much as possible and any time he was recognized in public, she walked in the opposite direction.
He didn’t consider himself the most romantic person, but liked the idea of doing something more than the standard dinner and a movie that everyone suggested.
On his way home after dinner at the George house, he made a few calls and tried to find something that would appeal to Micah. Thing was, he didn’t know all that much about her to begin with. He knew that she liked food—evidenced by the way she inhaled room service years ago and how easily she finished the pasta earlier that week—and she had good taste in wine too. Based off that, got in touch with an old friend.
When The Rescuers had been at the height of their career, they were lucky enough to make friends with some pretty famous people. Kevin Shepley had been one of them. He came from a large family of vintners who owned one of San Diego’s biggest vineyards—Shepley Cellars. Kevin had hosted a listening party for one of The Rescuers’ albums and he and had become instant friends. While he had no intention of driving them to the vineyard itself, hoped that his friend would have a recommendation or two.
Not only did Kevin tell him about the Tasting Room, he told that someone would be there to take care of them during their visit. Even though Kevin insisted their afternoon was on the house, was going to make sure he paid for the experience. Outside of spending money on the store, feeding and clothing himself, the fortune he’d amassed as a drummer for one of the most popular bands of the 21 st century was sitting in his bank account and growing moldy. Treating the woman of his dreams to a delicious day at a winery was a good way to spend his money.
If she knew exactly how many people he’d met along the way who owned businesses like this, she would either stick around forever or run a mile. This was one of the reasons why he didn’t date, because it was hard to decipher if the women he was going out with wanted him because he was Kelley , or because he was Fletch. With Micah, he didn’t have to worry. She didn’t treat him like Drummer of the Year, six years running. Even with their history, she behaved like he was just another dude.
As he looked around the space trying to figure out where Micah had gone, a woman in a pantsuit and a severe hairstyle that stretched her face approached him.
“Mr. Kelley?” At ’s nod, she smiled and continued, “I’m Marguerite, welcome to Shepley Cellars. Mr. Shepley asked me to let you know that everything on the menu is available to you. We have a small group wine tasting starting in fifteen minutes, if you’d like to join that or you can order the wine flights instead and make yourself comfortable anywhere in the courtyard.”
“Nice to meet you, Marguerite. Did Mr. Shepley also tell you to refuse my card if I handed it to you?” asked, pulling his credit card out of his wallet.
The woman blushed, but laughed. “He did warn me that you would attempt to make a payment, but please don’t. Mr. Shepley said that you’re an old friend and he’s honored that you’re here.”
“I’ll have to find other ways to make my payment.”
“We have a donation box, if that would be suitable. A large percentage of our daily earnings go to helping families all over the state. I won’t tell Mr. Shepley if that’s what you choose to do.”
“Thank you.” He chuckled and slid his wallet back into his pocket.
“You’re most welcome. If you need any assistance, ask for me. I hope you enjoy your visit.”
“I appreciate it, Marguerite, thank you.” Marguerite smiled and pulled open another set of glass doors, letting loud music and chatter engulf him.
He nodded at her and stepped through the doors, his eyes adjusting to the brightness outside. The courtyard was larger than he expected, with long strings of lights hanging from large trees. A heavily decorated Christmas tree filled one corner of the space, with tables of different sizes and heights dotted the rest of the area. Three counters were dressed up as bars in different sections, with a relatively big stage set up as well. There were already lots of people milling about, glasses in every hand. Waitstaff moved through the crowds with trays laden with more wine glasses. He had to admit that bringing Micah here had been a good idea, even if he had no idea where she’d gone.
It took him a few seconds to spot her, the bright orange of her dress a beacon in the sea of darker clothes. She was standing in front of a wall covered in an intricate and colorful mural. Even with her back to him, he could imagine the wide eyed look on her face as she admired the art. When he picked her up earlier in the day, hadn’t allowed himself to check her out, because he knew that once he cataloged what she was wearing, it’s all he would be thinking about. Now, as he wove through the crowd, he drank her in. The sleeveless orange dress had ruffles over the shoulders, was cinched beneath her breasts and fell above her knees. Her well toned legs were bare and ended with her feet tucked into a pair of well-worn white sneakers. Her curly hair fluttered in the wind, drawing his attention to the tattoo in the middle of her back exposed by the wide neck of her dress. He’d already documented the smattering of tattoos along both arms, but this one shocked him—a purple mermaid tail bursting out of the waves.
There’s no way she knows the song is about her, right?
He intended to tell her, but hadn’t decided when. Besides, she was from Sirena Beach, so the tattoo could be in honor of her hometown as well. Coming up beside her, he gently nudged her and saw her lips curve into a smile.
“I met this artist a few years ago at a Pride Parade and they were talking about how their art is inspired by the thoughts in their mind,” she told him. “Can you imagine having such colorful and vivid thoughts that you have to create something out of it?”
“Yeah, I can.” And I did.
“Well, you are a creative soul, so that doesn’t surprise me.” She turned halfway to look at him and he smiled.
“This is beautiful, though. I don’t know if my creations would have this kind of effect.”
“You clearly don’t understand the impact your music has on people, Fletch.”
“You wanna tell me about it, Mick?”
She grinned and turned back to the wall as she moved down a few feet. He dragged his eyes up and down her body before forcing himself to look away. His mind had already started playing a melody and his fingers itched to write down the words; because Micah George was inspiring another song.
“So, what’s the plan?” she asked, adjusting her bag over her shoulder as she examined another piece of the mural.
He moved with her, staying a few steps behind. “There’s a group tasting, if you want to do that. Or we can enjoy the courtyard, the wine flights, eat all the food and relax.”
“I love that wine flights are a thing now.” She stopped in front of a painting of a curvy woman that was naked, except for the flowers in her hands and around her feet. “The group tasting sounds too crowded for my taste.”
He smiled, stopping right behind her so he could attempt to see that piece of art through her eyes. “What do you see, Mick?”
“Myself,” she said softly, leaning back against him and rested his chin on top of her head as they stared at the woman. “I see someone who has finally found a way to be comfortable in her skin, to love herself, to cut herself some slack and simply live.”
“Have you not been living ?”
Micah shook her head and straightened up, turning to face him with a contemplative smile. “After my divorce, I struggled with everything. The balance of raising Emery and finding myself. I was so young when I got pregnant and married, and sure, I had the whole wild college life and did all the things that people at that age do. But I…” She sighed and lifted a hand to tuck her hair away, drawing his attention to the semi-colon inked into the inside of her wrist. “I feel like I didn’t pause to understand myself.”
In a way, understood that. He’d been going through the motions for years and even in his own marriage, he’d been along for the ride and never really present . It wasn’t because of any one thing or person, and Alice didn’t seem to fit beyond that first year of being together. They stuck it out for reasons he could no longer remember, never really being in love, but not letting go either.
“What does living look like to you now?”
She lifted her head and their eyes locked as she smiled. “Letting my daughter be herself, guiding her along the way when she needs it. Working a job I love, even when it takes a lot out of me. Spending time with my best friends, wearing the clothes I like, singing along to every trashy song on the radio…going out with a man from my past.”
He chuckled at the last point and shook his head. “I feel like the man from your past should have a better title.”
“What would he like to be called?”
Yours , he whispered to himself. But before he could say something a little more subtle, a soft voice said his name. turned to the young waitstaff who was blushing as they smiled at them.
“Sorry to interrupt, Mr. Kelley. We’ve got a table open for you.”
“Thank you so much,” Micah told them and wrapped her hand around his arm. “Come on, Mr. Kelley, we’ve got wine flights to enjoy.”
Harriet, their waitress, showed them to a table, handed them a menu and rattled off all the specials. wasn’t listening, he was watching Micah as she nodded along and asked a million questions. The moment they shared at the mural played on a loop in his head. Her ex hadn’t seen the incredible woman in front of him and he’d made a mess of his relationship with that brilliant kid. If Micah and Emery were his—even at a time when he didn’t want a family— would have bent over backwards to make it work. He would have gone to the ends of the earth to ensure the two of them were loved with every fibre of his being.
“That sound okay with you?” she asked, bringing him back to the present.
“Yes?” He grimaced, because he didn’t know a damn thing they were talking about.
She laughed and looked up at Harriet. “I think we’ll take the surprise flight and go from there.”
“And the standard cheese board?”
Micah nodded, her smile lighting up her face. Once Harriet was gone, her attention turned back to him. “You okay, Fletch?”
“Thinking about how lucky you and Emery are to have each other.”
“Are you still thinking about what I said?”
“Always.”
She stared at him for a long moment and he winced internally, because he might have been too honest. It was true, though. While he might not have thought about her all the time, she had burrowed under his skin and stayed there for the last sixteen years.
“Is your mermaid ink in honor of Sirena Beach?”
smiled, turned his arm over and pushed up the folded sleeve of his shirt. Finding her mermaid underwear in his hotel room that night was the first time had any interest in mermaids. Then the song happened and Uncle Hank’s invitation to visit followed, now he was staring at the one that started it all.
“Would seem that way, right? I actually got it after our song went platinum,” he told her, eyes fixed on the cerulean tail.
“You wrote the song, didn’t you?”
He hesitated, because never once did he think that he’d be looking the object of the song in the eyes and telling her that it was about her. But maybe this was the opportunity to tell her the truth. Instead, he cleared his throat and nodded. “Yup. Didn’t think it would make it onto the album or that it would do as well as it did.”
“It was one hell of a love song, Fletch.”
“Wasn’t really a love song.” Liar, liar, pants on fire. “Merely a dedication of sorts.”
“She’s a lucky woman, whoever she is,” she said, giving him a ‘if you say so’ look.
“What about your mermaid tattoo?” He leaned back in his chair, pulling his arms off the table and watched as pink spread across her face.
“A double whammy tribute—” she rubbed her lips together, eyes darting everywhere but his face “—for my hometown and your song.”
His heart clenched at the realization that Micah had done it for the same reasons he had. Except, she didn’t know all the details. But before he could say anything, Harriet returned with a tray of wine glasses. She set the drinks on the table and explained each one, but was still unable to listen. His mind spun with all the ways he could tell Micah that she was the mermaid . The one that called him out to sea, seduced him and changed his life. He might not have pined for her all these years, but every now and then, his soul craved her company. Especially when the song played on the radio.
“What do you wanna try first?” Micah asked once Harriet was gone, turning the tray sideways so both of them could see all the glasses.
“The rainbow sparkles. What did she call it?”
“My Little Rosé.”
The name made them both smile and he picked up the small glass to sniff. It was a brighter pink than most rosé he’d drunk, but it was the glitter that really threw him. Micah arched an eyebrow at his hesitation and after toasting her, he took a quick sip. He’d been prepared for something else, so was pleasantly surprised when the wine went down smooth.
“Surprisingly not offensive,” he mumbled and handed it to her to try.
Nodding at his assessment, she reached for the next one—a white that was almost colorless—and pursed her lips at the glass and sipped, her nose scrunching up as she held it out to him. “That’s tarty.”
“It is called Tartonnay,” he teased, reading off the small name cards he didn’t see before. He took a sip of the wine and grimaced as a shudder worked its way through his body. It was good, but maybe a little too much for his palate. “Damn, okay.”
She laughed and nudged at the tray. reached for the dark red one and peered at the card. “Dark of Noir. Seems like the most unimaginative name.” But he took a sip and was relieved that the Pinot erased the tarty Chardonnay off his tastebuds.
Micah seemed to think the same thing about the Pinot, because she set it beside the rosé and reached for the final glass of white. “It only says Blanc, so maybe it’s not anything too fancy?”
“Or maybe it’s really boring,” he countered with all of the skepticism he could muster.
She laughed and sniffed the wine, eyes widening slightly before she took a sip. Holding glass away, Micah whistled. “Oh, it is fancy.”
He narrowed his eyes and took the glass from her, sniffed and shrugged before taking a big sip. The explosion of flavors was most unexpected and as the grapefruit, guava and hints of chocolate swirled around his mouth, his eyes slipped shut. When he opened them, he found Micah watching him with a playful smile, bottom lip tucked between her teeth.
“I think this is the winner,” he said softly, not wanting to say something cheesy and ruin the moment.