Beating in time, p.4
Beating in Time, page 4
He waved a hand, seeming energized now. “Nah. They’ll be fine. A little rock and roll is good for them.”
I grinned. “Okay. Hurry then.”
When the kids “snuck” into the kitchen the next morning, I rolled over on the couch and pulled the covers up more. Wyatt’s voice sounded rough as he quietly conversed with them. I’m not sure if it was from the dehydration brought on by alcohol consumption, or by singing at the top of his lungs. We’d had a great time. I mean, awesome. I didn’t realize how much I needed it. How much I missed him. We’d gotten rid of the empties so the boys wouldn’t know how much we drank. Even took the trash to the garage. Then Wy got me set up on the couch with some blankets, and we fell into our prospective beds at around 3 a.m., which was sure to make Wyatt’s day a challenge.
I fell back asleep and woke with a start. Birds were chirping, and the light told me it was pretty late. I flew up and swung my legs over the couch, grabbing my phone off the coffee table. Nine-forty-five. I was supposed to be at the Sands Resort at ten. I scrubbed my face with my hand. No shower then. Wyatt told me not to worry about locking the place. He said he never bothered to, and if anyone wanted to steal the crappy stuff that he had, they needed it more than him.
I called the private driver we’d arranged for, who was at the Sands. By the time we arrived at the resort at nearly five after ten, a lengthy row of cars snaked along the curved driveway to the entry.
I leaned forward. “What’s the holdup?”
“Security, sir.”
“Mmm.”
I scanned the vicinity. The Sands had gotten a facelift since I’d last seen it and was looking pretty upscale. On a high fence surrounding the property, a banner rippled in the breeze. It read—Rock the Island, to benefit the Jay Boyd Foundation—and then went on to name the various activities and entertainers. Some of the best local bands were playing during the weeklong event, as well as the few who had garnered some success on the national and international scene, namely my band, Insatiable Fire, and Hali Cole, the rock goddess. Two groups to hit the big time may have seemed like too few, but it was an island after all; the talent pool was small. Seeing Jay’s name sobered me. He had been in our grade, so Remi must have met him through Wyatt. He was just...a great guy. Nice, funny, local star running back turned coach after he graduated, volunteered everywhere under the sun... If I’d had to choose a husband for Remi myself, I couldn’t have done any better. Cancer was hell.
We moved.
“What happened?”
“They finally recognized the car and waved us in,” the driver responded.
The guy at the door, however, was a hard ass. “I’m on the banner right over there.”
He squinted. “You could just look like the guy.”
He was almost going to have someone escort me to my room to get my I.D. to prove who I was. No one ever recognized the drummer. Lead singer, sure. Bassist, of course. Drummer, not so much. Before that happened, though, one of my people signaled our manager and Lou came to vouch for me.
I was about to greet my boys, but I stopped when I spotted a nameplate on the reception desk. I picked it up. REMINGTON LOUISE BOYD, Manager/Social Director. I trailed my fingers across it. That explained why she was so sure she would see me this morning.
I turned to Phoenix. “Did you see...?”
“Oh, yeah, man. Didn’t you know that Remi worked here?”
“No. Everyone failed to tell me this.”
I glanced beyond his shoulder and up a curved staircase that was open to the lobby and my jaw dropped. Remi was descending and totally rocking her business attire. The dress itself was just plain gray with a wide belt cinching her waist and a Veed neckline, but it hugged her curves like a high-performance sports car on the autobahn.
Dak twisted and noticed her. “There she is.”
She called as she descended, “Hey! I’m sorry I’m late. We had a little crisis poolside.”
When she reached the last step, Dak grabbed her and swung her in a circle. She was dwarfed by his massive body. She shrieked then tried to cover a laugh, looking around to see if she was gathering any attention. A gaggle of female employees behind the desk had their heads together and were talking animatedly, peering in their direction.
Phoenix was next to maul her. When he set her down, she came over and offered her hand to me, which kind of took the wind from my sails. “Levi and I saw each other last night,” she commented. “And you must be Caleb.” She held out her hand to him as well. “Nice to meet you.”
“Caleb?” Dak said. “That’s your name?”
“Yeah, dude. I’ve been playing with you for seven years and—”
“Eight,” I corrected.
“Eight years and you didn’t know my name is Caleb?”
Dak shrugged. “I never thought to ask. Besides—” he pinched our lead guitarist’s cheeks—“you’ll always be Boner to me, sweetheart.” He gave him a light slap then turned to face us. “Now...”
He took control and introduced Remi to the rest of our group, our stage manager, Percy Dolan, pyro guy, Vince Sutter...along with our manager, sound guy, light guy, etc.
“Well, gentlemen. Nice to meet you all. If you’d just follow me, please, I’ll show you the facilities.”
Normally, we’d let the crew handle this, but since we were at home, we wanted to participate in everything as much as possible. Dakota and Phoenix had known Jay, too, and were as eager as I was to make some money for the foundation which divided their proceeds between pancreatic cancer research and scholarships for local athletes. I hung around on the fringes, seething a little at not having her attention. I tried to assert myself into the conversation a couple of times, but it came off awkward and everyone stared at me. They discussed arrangements for the ballroom, where the big, black-tie finale/silent auction/concert would be taking place, as well as some more casual appearances we had scheduled throughout the week. We were performing in all our favorite haunts. The ones we played at when we were Steel, minus Caleb and plus Wyatt.
When we were walking between venues at one point, I fell in step with her.
“Hey.” She checked if anyone was within earshot. “Isn’t that the shirt you wore yesterday?”
“Yeah. I crashed on Wyatt’s couch and overslept, so I didn’t have time to change.”
Her forehead creased. “But Wyatt went to work, right?”
“I assume so. He wasn’t there when I woke up.”
By the time we were finished, it was nearly 2:30 and I was starving. The band members circled together.
“Hey, man. Wanna find something to eat?” Dak asked.
“Uhh...no. You guys go on without me. I’ll catch you later.”
I’d only gotten a few feet beyond them when I heard a familiar squeal. “Dakota Blackstone!” Followed by a flurry of activity and high-pitched, excited voices mixed with Dakota’s bass rumble.
Remi was behind the front desk going over some page that one of her employees had just handed her. When she saw me, she took a deep breath and pasted on a sunny smile, angling sideways. “Hi. Did you have a question about the arrangements?”
“No. But I do have a question. Would you like to have lunch with me?”
“Lunch?” she said as if she’d never heard the term. Her gaze darted around the lobby and she wet her lips. “Actually, Levi, I want to jump on a security matter right away. Your guys’ safety is crucial.”
“Is something threatening our safety?”
That got me immediate eye contact. “Oh, no. Not to worry. I’ll make sure security is tightened.”
“Tightened? I hardly got through myself for our meeting.”
She frowned. “Really? I thought everyone knew what you looked like. Did you happen to catch the guard’s name?”
I laid my arms on top of the desk. “No. It was no big deal. We appreciate the way you’ve kept the fans off us. It’s much more of a hassle when you have to deal with fans—or Pyromaniacs, as they’ve dubbed themselves—and the absence of them is unusual and pleasant.”
She smiled brightly. “Good. It’s good to know that. Most of the larger events are by invite only, people curated that will likely give a large donation. At the smaller, more casual events that are open to the public, we’ll have to step up security. We are so thankful that you all are helping us with this.”
“Of course. We wanted to honor Jay and help Last Chance Beach too.”
“It means so much,” she said sincerely. “And hopefully we can raise some money for kids and cancer research too.”
“So lunch is out. What about dinner?”
“Uhh...I’m sorry, but I’m not free for dinner either.”
Why would you try to lie to me? I’ve known you forever. Don’t you know I can see right through you?
“Late night drinks?”
She shook her head. “I promised Misty I’d take her to the beach.”
I studied her. “I see. Maybe tomorrow then.”
“Yeah. Maybe.” Her voice was pitched too high.
You can’t avoid me forever, Remi Lou.
CHAPTER THREE
Levi
With the rest of my crew at lunch, I decided to order room service and take the shower I’d missed before changing into tan shorts that also served as swim trunks and a white, lightweight button-up shirt. When they returned, Dak and Phoenix went to their folks’ place to visit, and Boner said he wanted to do some reading. He always had his head stuck in a book. I definitely wouldn’t be visiting my dad. I wasn’t a masochist. So I decided to take a walk on the beach. I couldn’t go to a public one unless I wanted to take the risk of being recognized and spending about three hours signing autographs and have people say, “You’re not Dakota or Phoenix, but you are part of the band, right? I guess that’s pretty good...” I did have a few people that “fangirled” over me, but they were usually guys and almost always drummers.
I decided to go to a little stretch near Sandpiper Point to see if it was still as unknown as it once was. I called a car and peered out the window as we crossed the island, taking in more of the businesses that had risen since I left. When we crossed my old street, I had a very visceral flashback. It was like I could hear the voices of young Wyatt, Dakota, Phoenix, Remi, and me laughing as we road our bikes into town, Dak the loudest, showing off his ability to do a wheelie.
I asked the driver to drop me at the end of the unmarked lane connected to Ocean Drive, which was the main road that looped around the island. We almost missed it as it was even more hidden than it had been eight years ago, the vegetation between the palm trees having grown nearly like a wall on both sides. I still couldn’t figure out the reason for it to exist, unless it was overflow parking for either Sandpiper or Gull Cottage, but in that case, why not make it into a parking lot, not a street? Or perhaps it was an outlet for the Beach Patrol or Island Rescue. The rescue center was on the opposite side of the island, near the Sands, where we’d started, so maybe they felt the need to have access on this end of the island to the water, and the lane stopped maybe 75 yards from the ocean.
I leaned forward. “Adam, right?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Adam, do you think you’ll be able to find the entrance to this turnoff when I call you later?”
“Yeah. I should be able to. I’ll study it again when I leave, make sure I have a handle on where it is.” He gazed through the windshield at the overgrown ferns, the trees nearly touching above us, covering the whole lane in shade. One car was parked at the end, but it was probably dumped there by someone too lazy to take it to the junkyard. “This place has kind of a drug run feel to it.” I got the sense that by watching my face in the rearview mirror, he thought he’d get some kind of confirmation from me. “Or maybe a spot to meet a mistress?”
Closer to the mark. At least it was eight years ago.
“Yeah. I have no idea why it’s here. I just know a section of beach is up ahead that hardly anyone goes to.” I put a tip into his palm, then had a thought, and withdrew another bill, holding it aloft. “And I’d really like to keep it that way, ya know what I mean? Nobody needs to know about this place.”
He grinned and gave me a sly wink. “You’ve got it.”
If he knew that I had only come to sit on the beach and maybe take a stroll, instead of whatever nefarious deeds he had in his mind, I got the feeling he’d be disappointed in me. Everybody expected rock stars to be deviants. And, to be fair, most of us were. I got out and watched him maneuver the car in order to get back to Ocean Drive and waved at him before continuing my trek down the street in the shade, listening to all sorts of strange bird calls. It was peaceful. I halted at the end, where the road met the sand...where we’d parked that night.
The truck came to a stop, and I put it in park and shut off the ignition. This was awkward. Had I brought some other girl here I could be somewhat smooth and transition to the next phase of the evening’s activities, but not with Remi.
“We shouldn’t be doing this,” I said again, staring at the windshield blindly.
She opened the truck door and slid to the ground. “Come on. Let’s take a walk.”
A walk? Is that what she’s expecting? I want to do a whole lot more than walk with her. But, then again, we shouldn’t be doing those things.
When we met at the tailgate, she took my hand. Although I’d held her hand before—as a friend helping her around a puddle or up a steep trail—this was different. We were intentionally making this contact and inviting the intimacy that it brought. But everything felt so right with her, so natural, even though my brain should have been screaming at me to stop, and was, indeed, at times.
“Wait.”
She stared at me as if afraid I was backing out.
“Let me grab some beach towels from the back in case we want to sit.”
She smiled. “Excellent idea.”
When I returned with them tucked under my arm, she was taking off her heels. She swung them into the truck bed as I removed mine.
“Okay. Let’s go.” She took my hand again and we stepped from the road to the sand, sinking into the fine grains. It was a small step that felt like a giant step, because we were on our way to a place we’d never been before. As we crossed the sand, a little rise to our left kept us hidden from view, if anyone had been there to view us. When we got beyond that mound of sand and sea oats, she said coyly, “Why don’t we sit instead of walk?”
The grin was automatic. “Okay.” I spread the towels on the sand for us and we sat, side by side, knees drawn in as we gazed at the ocean. I twisted my head to study her. A soft breeze lifted her hair, the moonlight bathing her beautiful face in a pearly glow.
“It’s such a nice night.” She seemed so happy. It made my heart feel good. She spun to look at me. “The perfect night for us to be together.” I didn’t say anything. Couldn’t say anything. My heart was in my throat. “Perfect for what we’re doing.”
And just what is that, please?
She stroked my cheek and slowly brought her lips to mine. This wasn’t the fast and furious kisses of earlier. These filled me with a sweet, beautiful ache. A longing for her that was almost unbearable. I trailed my hand along her arm then back up, over her shoulder. She had the softest skin of anybody I’d ever known, and I wanted to touch all of it. We knew each other so well, but I wanted the parts of her I hadn’t seen yet. Wanted all of her. Every. Square. Inch. My mind was already racing there. Already sucking on her breasts. Already going down between her thighs and tasting her. Already burying myself in her and driving hard.
But that wouldn’t happen. Not tonight, anyway. It became even more imperative for me to leave in the morning. For me to make a name for myself and prove to my dad I wasn’t “a waste of human flesh” who would “never amount to anything.” I needed money so I could return and give Remi everything that she deserved. This is what it was all about. If I’d been honest with myself, that’s what it had all been about from the start, since the first day we met. She was so sweet and soft, and funny and kind...she moved me like no one else, from day one. The realization of that was like being struck by a blinding light of clarity.
She parted from me and slowly lay on the towel.
Holy shit. We’re really doing this?
“Come here, Levi,” she pleaded.
I can’t let that happen. I’m not worthy of her. Not yet.
But I stretched myself over her and began to explore, kissing her wrists, the insides of her elbows, her neck. I leaned away so I could look at her again then pressed my hand to her flat stomach, where the moon had painted a white stripe.
“You’re so beautiful, Remi. You always have been...but seeing you this way...” There were no words to explain what I was feeling. I kissed her again, pouring everything I had into it, trying to make everything perfect for her. I went slow and deep then switched to kisses that pulled at her lips.
She reached down and started to undo my belt buckle, which flipped me out. “Wait-wait-wait-wait. What are you doing?”
She messed with it again. “Well, I would think that would be fairly obvious.”
“Stop. We can’t do this.”
“But I love you, and I want to show you.” I was rocked. No one had ever said that to me. Not my mom before she committed suicide, and definitely not my dad.
“I love you, too, Remi,” I said slowly. “And that’s why I can’t let you do this.”
“But you’re leaving tomorrow.” Her expression was dead-serious. “And I want you to be my first.”
“Oh, Remi. That should be...someone better than me. You should give that to someone really special.”
“That’s what I’m trying to do. You’re really special.” She looked back and forth between my eyes. “You mean everything to me, Levi.” She got choked up. “Do you not...want me like that?” A few tears leaked past the barrier of her lashes.
“No, no, no, no, no. Ssh.” I brushed the hair from her face, catching her tears. “Of course I want you like that. Any guy would want you like that, Remi.”
