Glancing around, it occurs to me that other patrons have filed in to listen to the song, and are now applauding, snapping me into the here and now. I smile and say thanks, put the guitar away and walk down the steps toward Will, who is now standing, waiting patiently for me.
“Come here,” he crooks his finger at me and I comply, walking to him.
He pulls me into his arms and off my feet, buries his face in my neck and holds on tight. I have no choice but to wrap my arms tightly around his neck.
“That was beautiful. Meg, why did you ever stop?” he asks as he sets me down, takes my hand and leads me out of the theater. If he hears the other patrons murmur about him being ‘Will Montgomery’ and snapping our photo with their cell phones, he pays them no mind.
“Leo left.” I shrug and feel a tug on my arm as Will stops dead in his tracks.
“Who the fuck is Leo?”
“He was my best friend since I was twelve, and band mate. He’s five years older.”
“And you were in a band together?” Will asks, his voice no softer and I sigh.
“Yes, through college. We got pretty good. He decided to pursue a career in music down in LA and I chose to stay here to pursue nursing.” Of course, I leave out the part about Leo signing with a band behind my back and that he’s now the lead singer of one of the hottest bands in the freaking world.
“Do you really prefer nursing? Honey, you’re a fantastic musician.”
“Thank you.” I kiss his cheek as he holds my door open for me to climb into his car. When he joins me in the car I continue. “I love being a nurse, Will. I’m a damn good one.”
“I know you are.” He takes my hand in his and kisses my fingers before linking them with his and lays our hands in his lap. “I’m just surprised. With a voice like yours, you could go really far.”
“I’m where I need to be,” I say softly.
“Okay.” He winks at me and grins. “Thank you for singing for me.”
“You’re welcome.”
“Are you hungry?” he asks. I check the time, and gasp.
“We spent all afternoon there! It’s almost dinner time. So, yeah, I’m hungry.”
“Wanna try burgers again?” he asks with a grin and I smirk.
“Not in downtown Seattle.”
“Nah, I know a place.”
* * *
“I want to show you something,” Will says out of the blue. We’re in his car, having finished our burgers at Red Mill, the same place where we first met that day when I ran into him and Jules.
“What?”
“Well, you shared a really important part of yourself with me today.”
It thrills me that he understands how important music is to me. I smile at him and wait for him to continue.
“So, I want to share something important to me with you.”
“I’m game,” I reply happily.
“Ironic choice of words.” Will chuckles and merges onto Interstate 5 heading south into the city center. I sit back into the plush leather seat and enjoy the ride in this sexy car of his. God, I love this car. It turns me on, big time.
I look over at Will and lick my lips.
He glances my way and then does a double take and gives me a confused smile.
“What?”
“Your car is sexy.”
“Are we back at this again?” he asks and laughs as he changes lanes.
“You look sexy as hell in this car.” I turn in my seat and face him.
His eyes find mine again. “This is only the second date.”
As if I need a reminder.
“Yep.”
“You keep fucking me with your eyes like that…”
“And what?” I interrupt him. “You had me naked and coming on my couch last night and didn’t break the rule. I doubt me eye-fucking you will make you break it either.”
“Jesus, keep talking like that, honey, and see how fast I break your rule. You have quite the dirty mouth you know.”
“I know.” I shrug and laugh. “I went to college with Jules and Natalie. Have you heard them talk lately?”
Will smirks and takes an exit off the freeway.
“Besides,” I continue. “I hung out with a band full of guys. I was never destined to have a clean mouth.”
Suddenly it occurs to me that maybe my language offends him.
“Does it bother you?” I ask.
“Does what bother me?” he asks and pulls into a private underground parking lot under the football stadium.
“My mouth.”
“Your mouth is delicious.”
“My language, smart ass,” I mutter and smack his arm.
“Ouch! You like it rough, sweetheart?” He offers me a wolfish smile and I laugh.
“Sometimes, yeah.”
This gives him pause. He parks the car, shuts it off and stares at me. “Seriously.”
“Sure.” I shrug. “You didn’t answer my question.”
He just stares at me, his mouth agape. I rub his thigh gently with my fingertips.
“Will?”
“Yeah?” He comes out of his trance and swallows.
“Does my language offend you?”
“No.” He shakes his head and frowns. “You’re not nearly as bad as Jules.”
“Few are, Will.” I laugh and climb out of his sexy car. He waits for me, takes my hand, and leads me to an elevator.
“So, obviously, we’re at the football playing place,” I comment casually in the elevator.
“Football playing place?” Will asks and doubles over in laughter.
“You know what I mean.”
“Do you know anything about football?” he asks, delighted with me, and I glare at him.
“Of course I do.”
“What position do I play?” he asks.
“Is this a quiz?”
“A little one.”
“You’re the quarterback.”
“Who do I throw the ball to?” He ushers me out of the elevator and then leans against a wall and crosses his arms over his chest.
“Another guy in a blue and green uniform.” I respond confidently. “Usually,” I add, earning a glare from him.
“I’m going to torture you for that.”
“I hope so, babe.” I grin at him and his face sobers. “What?”
“Why can you call me babe, but I can’t call you that?” he asks.
Good point. I frown and shrug. “I guess babe doesn’t sound like baby to me. It sounds more grown up, maybe? I don’t know. It doesn’t weird me out, though.”