Restless Heart (11 page)
Authors: Wynonna Judd
“Oh, I will,” she said breathlessly. “Thank you!”
“And here’s my card. I’ve been doing this for more years than I care to count and I can instantly spot talent and stage presence. You’ve got both, but you need some polish. If you have a manager in mind, give them a call.”
Destiny nodded vigorously. “I’ve done my homework. I have someone in mind.”
“May I ask whom?”
“Miranda Shepherd.”
Middle-aged Miranda was well-known around Nashville, and occasionally came into the restaurant with her clients. She was rumored to be hard-nosed and polished in the boardroom, but Destiny was impressed with her down-to-earth attitude toward the waitstaff and her clients: celebrities and up-and-comers alike.
Nick gave an approving nod. “Excellent choice! If this works out the way I think it will, you’ll need Miranda’s guidance.” He winked. “I’m sure glad I had a burger on my mind tonight. Once in a while it just works out that way. See you soon.”
“Thank you. I’m looking forward to it.” Destiny shook her head mutely as he walked away, then stared down at the cards in her trembling hand. “Wow.”
“That’s what I was going to say.”
She looked up to see Seth standing there.
“Actually, maybe I’ll still say it. Wow. You brought down the house, Destiny.” He grabbed her in a hug, then released her with an apology. “I came straight here from the game. I mighta just gotten some field dust on that shirt of yours. I’d wipe it off, but . . . well, maybe not here in public.”
Seeing the gleam in his eye, she forgot all about her performance, and Nick Novell, and the business card she was holding.
Then Seth asked, “What’s that in your hand?”
She opened her mouth to tell him, then closed it again, telling herself she might jinx it by talking about something that wasn’t a done deal.
Or was there some other reason she didn’t want to tell Seth that she might be on the brink of something huge?
Maybe you’re afraid he’ll give you a reason to turn your back on your career—even now that you’re on the brink of taking off.
Twenty-four hours ago she’d have said that was impossible.
But twenty-four hours ago she’d never been kissed by Seth Caldwell.
“I suppose you’re too drained after that performance to let me take you out to celebrate?” he asked.
“I definitely am.” She looked him in the eye. “But we can go back to my place instead, if you want.”
“Oh, I want.” He broke into a slow grin, and she wondered what she’d just done.
SIX
A
s Destiny fit the key into the lock, Seth had to laugh at the ferocious sound of Mike’s bark.
s Destiny fit the key into the lock, Seth had to laugh at the ferocious sound of Mike’s bark.
“You know, Destiny, he might look like a little alien, but he sounds like a huge dog that could take someone’s head off.”
“I know. It’s like having a built-in alarm system. Mike, hush!” She turned the key, opened the door, and the so-called dog came running, barking and jangling his tags.
Laughing, Destiny gathered him into her arms and he licked her face. “Yes, Mike, yes. It did go well. Thanks for asking. And look who’s back to see you. It’s your friend Seth.”
“Hey there, Mike. I’d pat you, but I’ve kind of got my hands full here.” He was holding both Destiny’s guitar and the duffel bag he’d grabbed from his car—not because he had any hopes of spending the night with her, but because he needed to get cleaned up. Not that he was in any hurry to get home . . .
“Remember, I didn’t know you were coming over tonight,” Destiny told him, flipping on a light, “or I would’ve cleaned for you.”
“It wasn’t bad last night. How much messier can it be?”
She raised an eyebrow at him. “It was kind of a whirlwind day.”
“Whirlwind? As in cyclone?” Stepping over the threshold, Seth took in the clothing strewn over every surface and wondered if there was anything left in her closet.
“I had to figure out what to wear.”
He flicked his gaze over to her. “Good choice.”
His heart kicked into high gear. He knew he was staring, but she took his breath away. It wasn’t the clothes or makeup or hairstyle that captivated him; it was Destiny herself. Her beauty radiated from the inside, intertwining with her personality to create the sweet and spunky package that had enchanted the audience back at the bar and grill.
He’d jumped on her obviously spontaneous invitation for him to come back here with her, worried she might take it back—but she hadn’t.
She’d even asked whether he, too, had something to celebrate. “Did you win?”
“No, but it was a great game.”
“Then it was worthwhile,” said the girl who, just last night, had told him winning was the only thing that mattered.
Seth smiled and reached over to tug on a lock of her hair. He meant it as a playful gesture, but the softness curled around his finger like spun silk. When he pulled his hand free, fine strands caught against his calluses.
He cleared his throat. “You really should wear your hair down more often, Destiny. It suits your personality.”
“You mean wild and crazy?” she teased, but there was a husky quality to her voice.
“More like untamed and beautiful, like your music . . . heartfelt but with an edge of honesty that hits you right in the gut,” he said, and immediately felt foolish. “There goes my man-card again.”
“Your what?”
“Never mind. Where should I put this?” He indicated the guitar, handling it like the precious cargo it was.
“Oh, you can set it over there on the stand,” Destiny told him. “I’ve got to go walk Mike.”
“By yourself? At night?”
She gave him a look. “What do you think I do, hire a bodyguard every time my dog has to go?”
“Here—I’ll trade you.” He held out the guitar. “You take this. I’ll take Mike.”
“But—”
“I know, I know. He’s not supposed to be here. We’ll be very quiet and careful, won’t we, Mike?”
“Mike? Quiet?” Destiny shook her head, but she took the guitar and handed him the dog and a leash.
“Should I make some coffee while you’re out there?” she asked.
“Nah, it’s too hot tonight for that. I’ll just take some sweet tea, if you have it.”
“Lots of ice, no lemon. Right?”
He smiled in surprise. “Good memory.”
“For some things.”
Seth carried Mike down the steps and out to the small yard behind the building.
“There you go, guy. Get busy.” He set Mike on the tiny patch of grass and watched him sniff around.
He could hear the lively sounds of lower Broadway in the distance—so very different than sleepy little Wilmot, where the only sound at night was chirping crickets.
But then, there were crickets here, too, and a familiar, sweet scent of summer in the sultry city air. Honeysuckle, he realized, and looked around for the source before spotting the telltale vine that determinedly twisted its way around the chain-link fence.
He thought about Destiny and how hard the past four years must have been on her. Behind the in-your-face strength and sassy humor was an emotionally vulnerable woman needing a strong shoulder and a sympathetic heart.
I want to be the one who gives that to her.
I want her to come back home with me—and that’s never going to happen now.
Seth looked up at a nearly full moon and stars glittering like rock candy against blue velvet. At least Destiny could come outside and look up into the same night sky he’d be seeing at home. From now on, he’d think of her here . . .
Suddenly, a new sound reached his ears: the soft strumming of a guitar.
He looked up at the fire escape and saw her silhouette against the brick building. She didn’t see him; her head was tilted down and her hair tumbled forward to shadow her face. Barefoot, she’d changed into shorts and a T-shirt.
She began to sing, and Seth smiled, remembering the Patsy Cline classic as one of Destiny’s many old-school favorites.
“
Crazy . . .”
Crazy . . .”
Seth let the song wash over him like steamy-cool summer rain. Destiny’s husky pitch gave the timeless song a modern edge, yet evoked the haunting beauty of the original.
Mike trotted over and sat on his haunches beside Seth, tilting his head as if he, too, were captivated by the song.
Then he joined in, tossing back his spiky head and howling.
“Ahhh-eoowwaaaa!” His doggie lips curved in a perfect O.
Overhead, Destiny laughed and kept right on singing, right through to the end, accompanied by a final canine wail as she sang, “For lovin’ . . . ya-oooooah!”
Seth applauded, laughing, and she called down, “Any requests?”
“For you or for your sidekick down here?”
“We’re a duo, just like Brooks and Dunn.”
“Hmm, let me think . . .”
“Nah, show’s over.” She gave the guitar one last strum. “Bring my little sidekick on up here, would you, before he gets me into trouble?”
“Sure thing.” Seth scooped up Mike and returned to the apartment, where he found her packing her guitar away.
“Thanks for the private performance,” he told her as he set Mike on his feet.
She smiled. “Sometimes, on warm summer nights, I like to sit out on the fire escape with my guitar. It makes me remember how much I love this city.”
Again, he was reminded that this was her home now—not Wilmot. He forced himself to look enthusiastic. “So what do you love most about it?”
“Oh, you know . . . that you rub elbows with all walks of life here. You can walk into the Stage or Tootsies or Legends and see all ages from crusty old cowboys in worn Wranglers to college kids in Lucky jeans. Same thing at concerts. Country music is about real life, real people.”
“You’re going to be a part of the music that makes this city famous.”
“Yeah, well, if that’s the case, then this town will never be the same,” she joked.
“I was serious.”
“So was I. Listen, why don’t you have a seat and I’ll get us our sweet tea?”
“I don’t want to go near your furniture”—
or you—
“until I get a shower, if you don’t mind.”
or you—
“until I get a shower, if you don’t mind.”
“Sure, go ahead. There are clean towels in the linen closet. Help yourself.”
“Thanks.” Seth picked up his duffel bag. “I won’t take long.”
H
earing the shower go on in the bathroom, Destiny shook her head. After all that had happened tonight, this might be the most surreal event of all: Seth Caldwell at her place, naked.
earing the shower go on in the bathroom, Destiny shook her head. After all that had happened tonight, this might be the most surreal event of all: Seth Caldwell at her place, naked.
Well, in the next room, behind closed doors, but still . . .
“Talk about crazy,” she told Mike, who gave her a blank stare. “Oh, never mind.”
She gave him a bone-shaped biscuit, then sliced cheddar cheese into squares and located some wheat crackers. As she poured two glasses of sweet tea, she let herself wonder what it would be like if this were a typical Saturday night and she and Seth were settling in for a movie or a baseball game.
But then she closed her eyes and swallowed hard, firmly reminding herself that Seth was only here by chance, just for tonight. He belonged back in Wilmot, and she belonged here—especially now.
Thinking or hoping for anything else was only setting herself up for heartbreak, and she had all the disappointment in her life that she could handle right now,
thank you very much
.
thank you very much
.
She was going to enjoy Seth’s company this evening, then say good-bye and go back to her life as he went back to his.
Two separate and very different lives.
Destiny carried the tray to the coffee table and sat down to wait. In the bathroom, the shower stopped running.
She picked up a magazine and flipped through it, but her brain refused to focus on anything other than the fact that Seth was undoubtedly toweling off his naked body on the other side of the door.
A few minutes later it opened. “There. I feel much better now.”
Seth reached up to run his fingers through his wet hair, and Destiny couldn’t help but notice a delicious ripple of muscle beneath the Wilmot Panthers T-shirt stretched across his wide shoulders. And while there shouldn’t have been anything attractive about his basic black sweatpants, Seth managed to wear them well.
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