Can You See Me? (7 page)

Skye is looking more than just a little embarrassed at this point, but she takes the microphone from Summer's hand, but not before giving her a death glare.  Summer just smiles, sticks her tongue out at her and saunters off the stage.

  “Hi, all,” Skye greets the audience with a small wave.  “I’m going to start the night off with a song that I know Dawn likes, but if you have any requests throughout the night give them to Summer and I’ll try to get to them if I know them,” Skye offers.

I’m absolutely intrigued.  She sings?  Summer is probably exaggerating Skye’s talent; she’s her sister after all.  I walk over to the bar and lean against it, taking my favorite stance with my arms crossed over my chest.  I reach into my shirt pocket and pop a toothpick in my mouth.  This should be interesting.

I can hear Hailey not too far away from me making snide comments to her friends.  Why she’s even here I can’t even fathom.  I turn to look at Hailey just as Skye starts to sing and the look on her face is priceless. Skye starts belting out the lyrics to Little Big Town’s, ‘I’m a Tornado.’

Well, I’ll be damned! Skye can really sing, and not just passably.  Her voice is absolutely melodic.  Besides the dumbfounded look on Hailey’s face, many other people are looking around in disbelief while Summer and Dawn are strutting around like two proud peacocks.  People are slowly getting over their surprise and are moving onto the dance floor.

“Wow! She’s beautiful and talented.  Definitely a keeper,” Jon comments, from my side.  He needs to keep his comments to himself before he ends up in a choke hold.

I feel chills on the back of my neck before I even look to the side and see Hailey standing there with a pout on her face.  “I can’t believe you let that girl treat me the way she did the other night.  I thought we were friends,” she says placing her hand on my chest and slowly inching her way down.

I grab her by the wrist, stopping her descent.  “That’s all we are,” I remind her quietly, dropping her wrist.  She huffs and storms off.  That chick is a few sandwiches short of a picnic basket.  I’ll have to keep an eye on Hailey Weaver from now on.

I return my attention back to the stage.  Skye has done a few songs and looks like she’s ready to take a break.  I order a sweet tea from Mitch and head in her direction. 

“Skye is going to take a quick break and in the meantime we’ll play some music over the sound system so feel free to continue dancing,” Summer announces.

I reach Skye just as she steps down from the stage and hold out the ice cold glass to her.  “Oh my gosh, thank you.  You’re a lifesaver.  It’s just what I needed,” she says in a rush and takes a few unladylike gulps.  I love it.  There’s no pretense with her.

“You were incredible,” I compliment her.  She blushes and shrugs her shoulders.

“I just love to sing.  It soothes me.  I don’t like to do it for money our recognition.  Just the pure joy of it,” she says simply.

I hear a slow song by Blake Shelton come on.  “Hey Skye, awesome job up there.  Do you want to dance?” Jon asks, interrupting us.

“This dance is already spoken for,” I reply putting my hand out to Skye.  I’m taking a chance that she won’t reject me, but Jon’s really starting to tick me off.  Skye looks surprised, but not as surprised as Jon. She reaches out her hand and places it in mine.  I sigh mentally, in relief.

We walk out to the dance floor hand in hand.  When we reach a clear spot I turn and gently pull her into my arms.  I hear her suck in her breath when her breasts brush against my chest.  I feel her nipples pebble in response against me and I smile to myself.  She reaches up and places her arms around my neck.  She feels so good against me.  I put my face next to her soft hair breathing in the light fruity scent of her shampoo.

“I like this song,” she comments quietly.  I tilt my head back and look into her soft gray eyes.  I want to kiss her so bad it almost hurts.  I don’t even know if she likes me yet.  I don’t want to press my luck.  I place my cheek back against her hair and sway to the music.  I hear her start singing quietly to the song.

I’m sad when the song ends but Jon is right there waiting before I even get the chance to thank her for the dance.  “I see what’s going on,” he says in a low voice, with a chuckle.  “You’ve thrown down the gauntlet.  This means war.  May the best man win,” he says, patting me on the shoulder and smiling diabolically.

“Is this dance free?” he asks Skye.  I smile because the song is a fast song so he won’t get to holder her close like I did.  I watch as she nods and Jon drags her onto the dance floor.  I’m heading towards the bar when Trixie steps in front of me.

“Would you like to dance Sherriff?” she requests.  No, I wouldn’t, but I’m nothing if not a gentleman.  At least, it’s not a slow song.

“Sure Trixie,” I reply, following her back to the dance floor.   I face her in the ready position for a quick two-step, making sure to hold her as far away as possible without releasing her completely.  As we’re dancing I glance over and see Skye laughing and talking with Jon.  At one point she even puts her hand on his chest.  She looks like she’s having a good time.  Jon’s really turning up the charm

I look down at Trixie’s petite 5’3 frame with her thin blonde hair, big blue eyes and freckles across the bridge of her nose.  If I didn’t know she was twenty-two she could easily pass for sixteen years old.  I shiver.  Ugh, the thought gives me goosebumps.  I can’t wait for this dance to be over.  I’ve already got my eye on my next dance partner.

The song finally ends and I give Trixie a curt bow and hightail it towards my next victim.  I guess Skye’s had enough of a break and heads back up to the stage to perform again.  She starts off with another slow song.  Perfect.

“Excuse me, ladies, would you mind if I have this dance?” I ask gallantly putting out my hand. Rose giggles and gets up from her seat and takes my hand.  I lead her gingerly to the dance floor.

“You’re such a sweet young man Cooper.  You know my granddaughter is single,” Rose hints in a stage whisper.

“Which one?” I ask, laughing. She shakes her head unhappily.

“Sadly, all of them, but I was referring to the one you were devouring with your eyes on the dance floor,” she replies candidly.  I cough, choking on a laugh.  “Oh please, a blind man can see the chemistry between the two of you,” she comments.

“Looks like she’s having a pretty good time with Jon to me,” I remark jealously.  I hope she didn’t catch on to that.  I look at the smirk on her face and I know she did.  That’s exactly why I don’t talk that much.  I give away too much when I do.

“That’s just because you don’t know what you’re looking at, but I do, and Jon’s not the one.  Trust me on this,” she tells me, tapping her finger over my heart.  “Thanks for the dance handsome,” she says, leaving me standing there perplexed.  I didn’t even know the song had ended, but I think that will be my last dance of the night.

I look around the room for Dawn and my eyes land on her taking shots at the bar with Trixie and some of her other friends.  I walk over to her at the bar.  “Happy birthday, darling.  I’m going to hit the road,” I inform Dawn, giving her a departing hug.

“Wait, aren’t you going to dance with me too?” she whines. “I’m the birthday girl after all,” she states, poking out her lower lip.  I shake my head in a negative response.  Definitely not going to happen.  I know Dawn has been crushing on me for a while.  She makes it blatantly obvious whenever I’m near her.  The last thing I need is for Skye to think I’m putting the moves on her kid sister.

“If you’re trying to get Skye’s attention you’re wasting your time,” she sneers.  “My sister swings the other way, if you know what I mean,” Dawn insinuates, facetiously.  I narrow my eyes at her and she takes a step back.  I never took Dawn as a mean-hearted girl.  I’ll give her the benefit of the doubt and chalk her comment up to jealousy or sibling rivalry.

“Good night, Dawn,” I reply in an ice cold voice, ignoring her previous comment.  I touch the tip of my hat in farewell and turn on my heel to leave.  Skye’s still on the stage performing and I don’t want to leave without saying goodbye to her too.  Her eyes land on mine and I smile.  I nod my head in her direction and touch the tip of my hat in farewell to her as well.  I feel better about leaving now without getting a chance to speak to her again.

Chapter Nine

Skye

The party is finally over and I’m exhausted.  Dawn’s passed out face first on the bar with her friend Darren moaning in agony next to her.  I think the poor guy is going to be sick.  Summer had a little too much to drink too and the owner, Jason, helped her up the stairs to the apartment about an hour ago; while I tried to help the staff clean up some of the mess my sister and her friends made.

“Hey, you don’t have to do that.  That’s what I pay these guys for,” Jason says motioning to the employees cleaning up the bar.

“I know, but Dawn and her friends acted like spoiled brats and made an unnecessary mess,” I say, picking up the ribbons and wrapping papers strewn about.

“Trust me, I’ve seen worse,” he says kindly.  “How about you take these two home and let me worry about this mess?”  Jason suggests.  “Darren here lives off of rural route 13 in a small yellow house, number 1252,” he informs me, with a hand resting on Darren’s head.  “I’ll help you with Dawn.  Hey Darren can you walk buddy?” he asks the drunk kid, shaking him.  Darren nods his head, moans and attempts to stand up in response.

I quickly rush over and throw his arm around my shoulder offering my support.  I look at Jason, who sweeps Dawn up in his brawny arms like a sack of feathers.  “Alright, let’s do this,” I say, leading Darren out the front door and around the side of the building to Summer’s red pickup truck.  I already have the keys because I took them earlier when I saw her tossing back shots with Dawn. 

I pause holding the passenger door open so that Jason can place Dawn in the middle.  This is an old truck so there is no cab with a back seat.  He places her gently in the cab and she promptly falls over in the driver’s seat.  I help Darren get in and check to make sure they’re both buckled up and that Darren’s limbs are safely inside the truck before I shut the door.

I move to the driver’s seat slowly pushing Dawn up to a sitting position as I slide over.  She groans and rests her head on my shoulder.  Perfect.  I put on my seat belt and start the engine.

“Looks like you’re good to go.  Just be careful on these roads.  It's pitch black out here and the roads are slick from all the snow we’ve been getting,” Jason cautions me, then he taps the roof of the truck in parting, and heads back around to the front of the building.

I back out slowly and head down Sycamore Street at a snail’s pace.  I know where rural route 13 is because I saw it when Summer drove me into town from the airport.  I head in that direction and it’s pretty easy driving until I hit thirteen where the trees are dense and the street lights are far and few between.  I hope I don’t pass this guy’s house.  I look across Dawn at Darren.  He’s got his head resting against the window and drool is dripping down his chin. Just great.

Twenty minutes later my high beams land on a yellow house.  As I pull up closer I see a mailbox at the side of the road, 1252.  Oh, thank goodness.  I release a sigh of relief.  I pull up the long driveway as close to the front door of the house as I can get.  As I reach the end of the driveway a middle-aged gentleman with graying brown hair steps out of the front door.  I put the truck in park and hop out.

“Is my boy drunk again?” the man greets me, obviously agitated.  He sighs running his hand over his hair. “I’m sorry.  I’m sure it’s no fault of yours.  I appreciate you bringing him home safely.”

“I’m sorry, Mister?” I pause in askance.

“Miller.  James Miller,” he replies holding out his hand.  I take his proffered hand, shaking it.

“I’m Skye Williams.  My sister, Dawn had her twenty-first birthday party tonight and they had a few too many drinks. Jason, the owner of Acorn Groves Bar & Grill suggested I take Darren home and he gave me the directions,” I explain to Mr. Miller.

“Jason Greene always has been a stand-up guy,” he comments, more to himself than to me.  “So you’re the new Williams sister the towns been buzzing about?  About broke Hailey Weaver’s nose against the bar the other night, if the rumors are true,” he remarks.

“It’s not what is sound like,” I start to explain.

“Oh, I’m sure she had it coming.  She’s not used to having viable competition and you’re just a pretty as they said you were,” he compliments making me blush with embarrassment.

Mr. Miller walks over to the passenger side of the truck and snatches the door open.  Darren comes tumbling out into the snow covered ground.  James Miller shows no sympathy and bends over grabbing Darren by the ear.  “Get up boy.  What did I tell you about coming home pissy drunk?  As long as you live under my roof you will conduct yourself accordingly,” he says to his son who has become a little soberer as he’s dragged into the house by his ear.  I hop back into the truck out of the blistering cold.  I’m ready to head back to town and drop Dawn off at home with Mom and Grandma Rose. 

“Skye, where are we?” Dawn asks groggily, eyes half open.

“In the middle of B.F.E. dropping off your friend Darren,” I reply.  She giggles.

“Yeah, he does live in the middle of nowhere,” is her response, as she drops her head back on my shoulder.  “I’m sorry Skye.  You know I love you, right?” she says, slurring her words.