Fall From Grace(15)

Tucker stood up when we got to the table and gave me a broad smile.  It made me want to throw up, and I didn’t even understand why.  Conner grabbed our coats and put them on the back of various chairs.

“Grace, you didn’t get to meet the rest of the guys last night.  Of course, you know Tucker and Conner,” Lea said, sounding oh-so-dorky.  “This is Ethan, the drummer,” she pointed to an extremely blond guy who looked to be the size of two NFL football players.  He saluted me with a drumstick.  “And, this is Brayden, the bass player, and you know Shane already.”  Brayden nodded at Shane and me. Well, Shane just stared at me saying nothing.  I chuckled inside; the run must have gotten to him!

The last band member, who was introduced as Alex, showed up with a huge bucket of ice-cold beers for everyone.

Lea grabbed me by the hand and shoved me into the seat next to Tucker, who promptly handed me a beer.  I tried to twist my face into a smile. This was going to be a long night.

Tucker leaned closer to me and whispered into my ear, “You look incredible.”

I leaned back and smiled.  “Thank you.”  He was sweet.  Very attractive too, just, well, I guess I’d give him a chance.  A small one.  I looked up to see Shane watching me.  He didn’t take his eyes off of me until the drummer, Ethan, hit him on the head with one of his drumsticks to let him know they needed to be on stage.  Shane was definitely not used to a girl saying no to him.  He looked pissed at me.  Oh well.

“What the hell was that look?” Lea asked when Shane got up to leave.  He had to have heard her, but he didn’t acknowledge the question.

Tucker leaned in smiling, “Well, take a look at her, she’s beautiful.  Of course, Shane is going to look at her!”

I shook my head.  “No.  I think he’s pissed at me.  I sort of told him off this afternoon and then he challenged me to a run.”

Lea’s eyes widened.  “He ran with you?”

I nodded my head and laughed.

Tucker and Conner both looked confused.  “Why is that so funny?”

“I made him run about twenty miles without stopping.  I didn’t jog either.  I ran.  I think he’s pissed, because his ego got a little wounded.”

The guys burst out laughing.  “That’s awesome!”

A moment later, the emcee was introducing Mad World again and the crowd tripled before my eyes and went wild.  Shane’s unbelievably sexy voice cut through the noise of the screaming audience and silenced them.  The power his voice had over everyone was crazy.

The music was absolutely moving. Whether they played a fast or slow song, they were talented.  I found myself ignoring the conversations I was involved in with everyone at the table just to hear the words to the songs or the sweet chords thundering from Shane’s guitar.

I was grateful when Tucker left to use the bathroom.  I stood up and watched Mad World play.  A slow piano melody drifted softly to my ears, I closed my eyes and listened.  Lea walked over and grabbed my hand.

“Come on, Gray, let’s go up and watch them.  This is one of my favorite songs.”

We made it up to the stage without getting into any brawls like the night before.  I laughed at the thought.  Lea stopped in front of Shane and he winked at her.  As Alex played his keyboard, Shane walked to the back of the small stage, grabbed a guitar, and started playing an intricate melody.

My breath caught in my lungs.  Shane was playing a twelve-string double neck harp guitar.