Risk (Gentry Boys #2)(87)

“Do you see him?” I yelled.

Saylor shook her head.

When an arm grabbed my neck in a sudden hug I nearly committed assault and battery, figuring some drunken fool was trying to feel me up.

“Chase!” I scolded.

He laughed. “I thought you were going to smack me.”

“You sound disappointed.”

“Maybe.” Chase shrugged, his blue eyes merry. It had been a rough few weeks for him while he got clean. It seemed he’d grown quieter lately, more serious, as he tried to get his life on track. Most nights he was either working security at the school or reading on the couch. Creed had scoffed the other night when I wondered aloud if Chase might be lonely.

“Believe me,” Creed muttered as he seized me in the darkness, “that boy knows where to find company if he wants it.”

Indeed, Chase seemed to be searching for company just then. His gaze shifted around restlessly. I waved a hand in front of his face.

“You looking for something special?”

“Can’t be,” he said graciously, grabbing Saylor with one arm and me with the other. “All the special girls are taken.” He kissed Saylor’s cheek and then mine before releasing us.

I looked at him sympathetically. “Sorry I couldn’t talk Stephanie into coming.”

Chase raised his eyebrows and gave me an altogether naughty look. “Oh, she’ll come around,” he chuckled. “They always do.”

“Boys,” I sighed, rolling my eyes. Then I stiffened as the music stopped and a man stepped up to the microphone. He was white-haired with a long handlebar moustache. He tipped his cowboy hat back and grinned at the young crowd as they whistled and waited for him to speak.

“Folks, tonight we have a local boy making his debut. Since his voice is a lot more pleasant than mine I won’t go dragging this out. Ladies and gentlemen, Mr. Creed Gentry.”

As Creed stepped in front of the microphone I clasped my hands in front of me so they wouldn’t shake. When we returned from Oklahoma I was determined to talk Creed into doing something with his natural talent for music. I figured I would have quite an argument on my hands but something seemed to have lightened inside of Creedence Gentry. After only a few weeks of collective badgering from me, Cord, Saylor and Chase, he reluctantly agreed to give it a try.

Creed was a little stiff as he took the stage. He kept his eyes down as he raised the microphone high enough.

Smile, baby. Let them see you.

He plucked a few strings of his guitar and then raised his head. As he looked out over the audience his expression wasn’t particularly friendly. In fact he looked as if he was about to dare half the crowd to meet him out in the alley. I felt Saylor grab my arm anxiously. Cord glanced over at Chase with a worried look. If this didn’t go well then Creed would likely just stomp off the stage and forget performing forever.

But then Creed caught sight of all of us standing together. His face broke into a grin. When his eyes centered on me his grin widened. I smiled back, hoping he could read everything I was silently saying.

I’m here for you.

I believe in you.

I love you.

Creed cleared his throat and spoke carefully into the microphone. “Hello folks. I’m damn glad to be here tonight and I hope you enjoy the show.”

Chase leaned over and whispered in my ear. “He rehearsed this every second you weren’t around.”

I didn’t understand what he meant until Creed began singing. It was a song I’d first heard as a child but that wasn’t when it made the biggest impression. ‘Between the Devil and Me’ was one of Alan Jackson’s greatest hits. It was about a man struggling to overcome his demons by seeking solace in the arms of the woman he loved. It would always bring back the memory of a night when I took a risk on a guy I barely knew. When Creed had whispered in my ear that we would dance all night long I had no idea what we were starting. Neither did he.

Since The Hole was a country bar, Creed then launched into some Tim McGraw and Garth Brooks songs. As I listened to him and noticed the appreciative silence of the crowd, I began to relax. His set only lasted twenty minutes, but as he ended the last note the audience erupted in wild applause. Cord pumped his fist jubilantly and Chase hooted so loudly he hurt my ears.

Men and women alike patted Creed on the back as he made his way over to us. His eyes were focused only on me though. He absently handed Chase his guitar and picked me up, kissing me urgently before doing anything else.

“Because of you,” he whispered as he set me back down. I couldn’t ask him right away what he’d meant by that because Cord and Chase were grabbing him in brotherly bear hugs.

“I knew you’d be wonderful!” Saylor squealed as she took a turn hugging him.

Brayden and Millie offered their congratulations and we all moved to the back so we could hear one another a little better. Creedence held my hand and I watched him as he talked to his brothers and our friends. I’d never seen him smile so much.

Soon Saylor started yawning and leaned against Cord’s shoulder.

“You tired, honey?” he asked, brushing a lock of brown hair from her forehead.

She yawned again. “Afraid I’ve got no stamina these days.” She patted her belly. “It’s hard work growing a human.”

Cord nodded to Chase. “Are you staying out tonight?”