Wyne and Song (13 page)

She closed her eyes and sighed, understanding the little boy’s need to show off. It was normal at that age. Hell, at any age, really. “How is he?”

“Upset, but not from the reporters. He’s upset he can’t see you.” His words squeezed her chest tight. “But it has to be this way, Phoebe. I can’t subject him to that frenzy every time you make the news.”

She nodded, letting the tears flow down her face this time. “I understand, Ethan. I really do. Tell Tyler it wasn’t his fault. Please make sure he knows that.”

“I will.”

Her chest hurt too much for her to breathe deep, so she kept her breaths shallow. “And, Ethan, thanks for the last few weeks. They were…um…great.”

She disconnected the call before he could reply, or hang up on her, and told herself it was for the better anyway. The Poconos was just a pit stop, a fill-in for her summer before things got serious in the fall. She was an actor. A thespian. The show must go on.

It just might not be as bright.

The phone rang again, and her heart leapt.

Did he change his mind? Because if he had, she’d totally change hers, too.

But it wasn’t Ethan. It was her mom.

“Hun, are you okay? Why didn’t you tell me about this mountain lion? I’m hearing it on the local entertainment news.”

She swallowed. “Sorry. It was no big deal, but the poor little boy is getting hounded, and I hate it.”

“I’m so sorry, hun. Is there anything I can do?”

Her throat heated with more unshed tears. “Thanks, Mom. But, no. It’ll run its course. I just hope it stops by the wedding. Ben is that little boy’s uncle.”

“Crap.”

Hearing her mom swear, even in a roundabout way was rare. She giggled despite her heartache. “Exactly.”

“Speaking of the wedding, I’m so excited! And I found this darling navy dress that actually comes down to my knees, can you believe it? I mean, a woman my age isn’t exactly thrilled with the fashion trends lately. I prefer to hint at my assets, not spend the whole evening standing up, or yanking on the hem to keep from exposing my sweet spot.”

It took Phoebe’s mind a few seconds to catch up to her mother’s tirade. She laughed. “I’m glad you found something you like. I can’t wait to see you in it.”

Her mother would look great in a potato sack.

“Thanks, hun, and listen, don’t let this news stuff get you down. You know it’ll blow over.”

It wasn’t the press that bothered her, it was the realization she’d no longer spend alone time with Ethan or Tyler ever again. She’d still see them at functions like the upcoming wedding, but their presence in her life had just ceased.

She never expected Ethan to overlook her profession. She really didn’t. But his dismissal hurt all the same. It hurt like hell.

If she’d learned one thing today, it was what Phoebe had already suspected. If she ever did decide to have a family, they’d have to learn to live with the press in their lives. Other stars did.

“Well, if it’s any consolation,” her mother continued. “Niles is thrilled with the publicity. He said this is good publicity and could help your chances with the people in Hollywood.”

It was on the tip of her tongue to tell her mom she didn’t give a
crap
about that, but managed to keep her mouth shut. Her mom didn’t deserve her anger and regret. The woman worked hard to get her where she was, so Phoebe would not sound ungrateful, and even managed to respond at the right moments in the conversation, even though she suddenly felt as if someone had turned off the sun.

E
than stood with Tyler at the local airport, waiting for his sister and her husband to land with Lea’s sister and her fiancé. Tomorrow was the Fourth of July, and the wedding. Between the national holiday, the wedding of the town’s sweetheart Lea Gablonski to the town’s confirmed bachelor Benjamin Wyne, and the fact the famous Phoebe Weston was singing at the ceremony, the town was abuzz with excitement.

He was not.

That part of his life had extinguished when the paparazzi harassed his son for eight days straight. Thank God school had ended, because he’d been forced to keep Tyler home the final three days at the principal’s urging.

The presence of news people had forced him to miss Phoebe’s opening night two weeks ago, although, forced wasn’t quite right. He’d had a choice, he just chose to stay away from the famous woman. Something he should’ve stuck with weeks ago when he’d invited her to his son’s game. Against his better judgement, he’d given into, not only Tyler’s desire to be with her, but his own.

Idiot.

Distancing her from his life had been the hardest thing he’d ever done. His son’s safety and privacy were his priorities. For years, his happiness sat at the bottom of the list, and now it was back.

But he’d manage. He always did.

“Is that their plane, Dad?” Tyler tugged on his shirt, bringing his attention to the small runway in front of them. “Is that the one I’m going to fly in when I go to Texas with them on Sunday?”

Ethan’s stomach clenched at the thought of his son airborne in something so small, even though his sister had flown up in the state of the art jet a few times.

Maybe he shouldn’t let him go…

“That’s it! That has to be the one, because I see Aunt Brandi and Uncle Kade getting out!”

Tyler jumped up and down, his face alight with joy, something he hadn’t seen in a few weeks. Warmed by the sight, Ethan smiled. Maybe going to Texas was exactly what his son needed.

“Ethan! Tyler!” Brandi smiled, cutting across the tarmac to where they stood near the parking gate.

His son ran ahead, leaping at his sister, receiving a big hug before she transferred the laughing boy to her husband.

“Hey, big, bro,” she said, pulling him in for one of those big hugs.

God, he’d missed her. She gave the best damn hugs.

Brandi always had a way of making you feel like everything would be all right. Having lost her mom, his step-mom, at a young age, surviving an abusive relationship no one had known about, dealing with autoimmune disease that killed her thyroid and caused her weight to fluctuate, and moving out of state on her own, his sister was his hero. She was a survivor. Resilient. She’d been his and Tyler’s lifeline when his life had gone to shit, stepping in to care for his two-year old son while he’d been deployed.

“Hey, little sis,” he responded, squeezing her back. “Missed you. How’s Texas treating you?”

When they drew back, he didn’t need to hear her answer, he could see it for himself. Her gaze was unclouded and warm, and the smile on her face appeared to be a permanent fixture.

“Wonderful,” she replied, stepping back to slip her arm around her husband when he neared. “I love it there.”

He shoved his hand out. “Kade, great to see you again.”

The solid Texan with a short, military cut and keen gray eyes, full of a similar warmth and less clouds than the last time they’d met, shook his hand with a firm grip, while Tyler sat on the man’s shoulders. “You, too, Ethan. Thanks for letting us take this guy back to Shadow Rock with us for the month. My nephew is chomping at the bit. Excited to have a boy around.”

“Yeah,” Brandi laughed. “Seems he’s out numbered now that Shayla and Kerri had baby girls this spring.”

“I can’t wait! Cody’s going to show me the ropes, and I’m going to show him how to jump high like a ninja Jedi,” Tyler claimed, grin on his face, chest puffed out.

Ethan’s stomach took another blow.

“Ninja Jedi?” Brandi smiled.

“Yeah, Phoebe taught me.”

“Phoebe? Is she here?” Gwen asked, coming to a stop behind the couple, with her arm though one of Kade’s guardsmen Ethan recognized from his sister’s wedding last year. Tanner.

He was beginning to wonder what was in the water down there because his sister wasn’t the only one who’d transformed. Gwen had always been drop-dead gorgeous, and had a very successful supermodel career, which she’d dumped Ben for just out of high school. But the woman standing on the tarmac, wearing jeans and a simple blouse, holding hands with a tattooed cowboy, glowed with a serene beauty. She looked…content.

For a brief moment a few weeks ago, he’d felt like Gwen looked.

“No,” Tyler replied. “We have to keep separate on a count a
parappazzi
and all. But she’s going to be at the wedding tomorrow. I can’t wait for you to meet her.”

“I actually used to be her neighbor before I moved to Texas and Lea took over my penthouse.”

“Cool.”

Avoiding his sister’s probing gaze, he shook hands with Tanner, then led everyone to the resort’s shuttle in the parking lot. He wasn’t a fool. That maneuver only bought him a little time. Brandi would tackle him before leaving on Sunday, of that he had no doubt. 

A
fter Friday night’s performance, Phoebe quickly changed into a simple black dress, pulled her hair into a ponytail and headed to the lobby to meet Jill and Lea and the rest of the bridesmaids. She was excited for her friend, excited to see Gwen again, and looked forward to meeting Brandi whom she’d heard so much about from both Gablonski sisters.

And yet, Phoebe was miserable.

She thought for sure it would’ve worn off by now. It’d been over three weeks since she stopped seeing Ethan and Tyler. She’d bumped into them once or twice while helping Lea with wedding stuff, but never talked long.

“Phebes!” Gwen rushed across the lobby to pull her in for a hug, after Phoebe had signed autographs and posed for pictures. “My God, you were phenomenal! You were born to play Christine!”

Her friend drew back and smiled, and Phoebe’s mouth dropped. “Gwen, my goodness you look radiant! What is your secret?”

“Tanner.” The woman grinned, looking more gorgeous than any woman had the right to without a stitch of make up on. “Honey, he just…I can’t believe I’m going to say this, and if anyone repeats I’ll deny it, but he completes me.”

Tears burned her eyes, and she blinked them back. “I’m so happy for you.” She pulled her friend close for another hug. “You deserve this happiness. I’m so glad.”

“Thank you.” Gwen sniffed. “Now stop, or you’ll ruin my makeup.”

“You’re not wearing any.”

“Oh yeah, that’s right.” Her friend chuckled. “Tanner taught me to accept who I am. To stop putting on airs, and do what makes me happy. So, I reprioritized my daily life. Made time for what matters to me, and makeup just wasn’t part of it anymore.”

“Stop making me cry.” Jill sniffed. “I didn’t bring any chocolate with me.”

Lea handed her a tissue. “Here. I haven’t stopped crying since my sister and Brandi got here.”

They laughed.

“Phoebe, this is Ben’s sister, Brandi,” Lea introduced her to a vaguely familiar, stunning woman with sun-kissed caramel waves, and to die for curves that more than a few male patrons had checked out as they walked by.

“So nice to finally meet you,” she said, shaking the woman’s hand. “Tyler talks about you constantly and can’t wait to go to Texas with you.”

Where the hell did that come from?

She wasn’t supposed to think of him, and had done so good the last…oh…forty seconds. But it was no use. The little boy was never far from her thoughts, and already burrowed deep in her heart.

A spark of something unrecognizable flashed in the woman’s brown eyes and they warmed even further. “I’ve missed him. It’ll be great to spend time with him, and free up my brother’s schedule.” The woman held her gaze a long moment then continued. “Gwen was right, you were great tonight. I had the pleasure of seeing you several times on Broadway, and was happy you were the woman Ethan told me about.”

Ethan talked about me?

Damn her heart for warming.

“Thanks, and, well, why do you seem familiar to me? Do you perform?”

She laughed. “Not anymore. Just for family and friends.”

“Brandi used to play the violin for the Philharmonic,” Lea informed.

“Oh, that’s it. The Kennedy Center. Yes,” she said, the memory of the woman’s exquisite brilliance brought a smile to her lips. “You killed a Vivaldi piece I’ll never forget.”

A blush colored the woman’s pretty face. “Thank you.”

“She’s going to play at the wedding and reception, too,” Lea informed. “I’m so lucky. I have a wonderful musician and a wonderful vocalist to help me celebrate marrying the love of my life.”

Once again, Phoebe blinked back tears, but at least these she didn’t have to hide.

“Dammit, Lea. Now I need chocolate,” Gwen said, swiping at her face.

Jill hooked arms with her and Gwen. “Let’s get to the resort and continue this bachelorette party. I made chocolate penis pops for everyone.”

Phoebe knew her acting skills were going to come into play the next twenty-four hours. No one was going to suspect how unhappy she was, especially since there really was nothing anyone could do about it.

F
our more hours.

Ethan counted down the time until he could leave his brother’s reception and call it a night. Ben and Lea’s wedding had been great with only minimal paparazzi interference. His brother had looked as if he’d taken a medicine ball to the gut when Lea had appeared at the end of the white runner leading to the outdoor gazebo decorated with white frilly material, lights and flowers. Similar to what Lea was wearing, minus the lights.

She’d made a beautiful bride, all glowing and smiles like it should be, and Ethan had been honored to stand next to his brother and witness the two pledge their love to one another, like Brandi and Kade had pledged last fall. With that love seeming to have blossomed even further, he had hope the same would hold true for Ben.

“Having a good time?” his sister asked, and he hid a curse at not having seen her coming.

Since her arrival, he’d done a great job of avoiding alone time with her. Until now. If you could call a pavilion full of people being alone.

“Yes, you?” he asked, glancing sideways at her while sipping his beer in his quiet perch in the corner. He had a great view, especially of Phoebe’s ass whenever she was pulled onto the floor to dance. It was bittersweet torture, and he loved every minute of it.

Except when she was dancing with a guy. Like now. She was tearing it up with Nicco, and Ethan found it hard to breathe with what felt like a stone lodged in his chest.

“Liar.” Brandi chuckled. “Dad said your mom couldn’t make it?”

He shook his head. “Overseas business trip planned since last year.” No one had been shocked when his mother had put work before her family. That’s what had led to the divorce and his father gaining custody of him and his brothers when Ethan had been a teenager. He’d vowed back then never to get involved with a woman whose career was her life.

Then he met Phoebe.

He let his gaze stray to the woman still cutting it up on the floor, this time with her escort, Ryder. Good thing he knew Lea’s brother’s heart lay elsewhere, because the way the two had gotten along as if they were best friends, laughing and joking the whole damn day sometimes caused a nerve to twitch in the back of his neck.

“You’re miserable, Ethan.” Brandi sighed. “Why don’t you just go ask her to dance?”

He blinked at his sister then frowned. “I’m fine.”

“Tyler told me what happened. And Ben. And Lea. And Jill. I’m not sure why you’re so afraid to be happy, Ethan. Not every woman is Erika.”

“I know. It’s not that.”

Phoebe was nothing like his former wife. But it also didn’t mean he’d be enough to make her want to stick around. Especially with the beautiful woman’s crazy lifestyle.

“I think it is. You may be fooling yourself that it has to do with Tyler and keeping him safe from the big bad tabloids, but it’s that
void,
that rift in your heart Erika created, which has you questioning your self-worth. And no matter how many times your family and friends reassure you none of it was your fault, you simply don’t believe us.”

Shit.

His chest was tight, but not just because she’d hit the nail on the head, but because she would’ve had to dwell in that dark pit to understand. “God, Brandi, I’m so sorry.” He grasped her shoulders and stared deep into her eyes, hating that her ex had sent her to that hell. “Ed was an ass. You have always been absolutely beautiful, inside and out.”

She smiled a watery smile with tears in her eyes. “Thanks, Ethan. I know that now, but for years, no matter what you or the rest of our family or my friends told me, I didn’t feel it. I didn’t believe it.”

“What changed? What made you believe? Kade?”

Her smile broadened, and she swiped away a tear. “He was part of it. The catalyst. But it was me. I had to feel it in order to truly believe it. He made me take a look at who I was, and I liked her. I liked who I was with him. And it doesn’t take a genius to see you and Phoebe have a connection. Your bodies sway to each other like magnets. It’s beautiful. It’s real.”

He wanted to joke and ask if she’d had too much champagne, but it wasn’t a joke. There was nothing funny about their connection. In fact, it was scary as shit.

“I like her, Ethan,” Brandi stated. “She has my blessing. I’d never trust Tyler with just anyone. She’s as infatuated with him as he is with her. You already know this, don’t you?”

He didn’t answer because he didn’t like the answer. If only Phoebe wasn’t in the public eye. Had a normal nine-to-five job. All right. Not exactly, but it was a hell of a lot closer than the actress’s. Normal. That was what he wanted for his son. Not a constant upheaval and lack of presence.

“She’s beautiful, too, and her voice?” his sister continued. “That song she sang during the ceremony...even Dad and Kade teared up. She feels things deep, and makes you feel it, too. She’s in the right profession. She was a born performer.”

It was the truth, and therein lied the problem. He couldn’t contemplate a future with her because of her profession, and yet, she belonged on stage, making people feel.

She made people feel offstage, too. 

“You don’t have to answer this out loud, big brother, but how do you feel when you’re with Phoebe? Do you like who you are with her? If you do, then fight for it. Make things work.” She reached up and kissed his cheek, then drew back and smiled. “And now, I think it’s time for the Wyne dance. You ready to help Dad get his Greek on?”

He returned her grin, and watched as Ben waved her over to the band. It was a running joke since they had absolutely no Greek in them whatsoever, and yet it’d been a tradition since Brandi learned to play the famous folk song.

“My wife give you the speech?” Kade joined him, placing his back to the bar, too.

“Yep.”

“I told her to go easy on you, but she took one look at you and Phoebe together, then watched Phoebe teaching Tyler to twist, and she got that look in her eye,” his brother-in-law said. “Just thought I’d warn you.”

He nodded. “Thanks. But, between Jill and Lea, I’ve been doomed for weeks. You don’t happen to have any advice on how to stop it, do you?”

Kade snickered. “No, except to heed what they’re saying, because you know we can be thickheaded. You also have to permit yourself to believe you’re allowed to be happy. And admit to yourself what you
know
but refused to believe, Ethan. And this is the tough one…you have to admit you make her happy.”

Well, hell.

Kade’s words wouldn’t have knocked him on his ass if they hadn’t hit home.

“Okay, ladies and gentlemen, please welcome my sister, Brandi.”

Cheers and claps echoed through the crowd, and he was glad for the interruption.

“It’s that time of the night. You know the time. Mr. Dennis Wyne, front and center, sir.”

Ethan grinned as his father stood, removed his tuxedo jacket, and carefully set it on the back of his chair before walking to the center of the dance floor and bowed for the crowd. Specifically toward a certain table.

His father seemed to be a little taken with Phoebe’s mom who’d arrived on the morning bus. Judging by the way the two kept glancing at each other, he got the impression the feeling was mutual. The pretty woman sat with Phoebe and Jill, smiling at something her daughter had said, but her gaze was totally on his father.

“This dance is going to be good.” Mason snickered, appearing at his other side with Keiffer.

Ethan was glad to see his youngest brother making such an effort today. He knew it was a struggle, but the guy had laughed and joked and even danced tonight. It was a present Ben and Lea would no doubt cherish, because it could very well be the last time the whole family was together.

“Yeah, I think Dad’s going to dance to impress.” Keiffer grinned. “You ready?”

Since the whole family usually joined in, he gave his usual nod, set his beer down on the bar, and glanced at Kade. “You coming?”

The cowboy raised his glass. “I think I’ll stick to cheering my family on.”

“Lucky shit,” he said, slapping his brother-in-law’s shoulder before Mason grasped his other and yanked him onto the floor…next to Phoebe who Jill had apparently coaxed.

But what was even more interesting was the fact Phoebe’s mom was on the floor with her.

“Do you know the Greek dance, Ms. Weston?” his father asked.

“Anna, please,” she responded, pretty flush coloring her cheeks. Her fancy navy dress hinted at a movie star worthy figure girls half her age would envy.

“Anna Weston?” His father’s gaze narrowed. “I saw an off Broadway production of West Side Story where an Anna Weston played a flawless Marie back in the early ‘80s. Was that you?”

Her pretty face brightened while warmth glowed in her gaze. “Yes, thank you. That was a year before I got pregnant with Phoebe. I can’t believe you remembered that.”

“Trust me, you were memorable.”

Ethan glanced at his siblings, all of them wearing the same shocked expression at the flirtatious exchange.

“Thank you.” Her blush deepened. “And to answer your original question, yes, I know a dance or two.”

Taking Phoebe’s smirk into account, along with the elbow to the arm her mother gave her, Ethan had the feeling his father was in for a challenge. Then Brandi lifted the violin and the first strands of the dance filled the pavilion.

Halfway through the song, Ethan somehow ended up dancing with Tyler, Jill, Mason, and Lea, in the slow section, while Ben, Keiffer, Phoebe, and her mom kept up with his dad. By the time Brandi played the last note, the crowd dubbed Anna and his dad the winners.

He suspected Phoebe and Ben had gone easy on them.

Out of breath, a lot hot, and more than ready for a drink, he was leaving the dance floor when Tyler grabbed his hand and tugged him to Phoebe, where he placed his hand on hers, then the bugger smiled and walked away.

She glanced up at him, lips curving into a grin.

“Sorry,” he said, smile tugging his own lips. “My son has all the subtly of a rock.”

“I make it my practice to never hurt the feelings of a rock, so…” She let her voice trail off while she squeezed his hand.

He wanted to, God yeah, he wanted to dance with her and hold her, but the last time had led to more, and he couldn’t do the more part. “Phoebe, I don’t think—”

“Shh…” she said, pulling him close. “Don’t think. Dance.” Her hand slid up over his chest to entwine behind his neck, sending shivers down his spine, before she melted against him.

Ah hell
. He was strong, but not that strong. He couldn’t push her away, not when every single cell in his body just jumped to life. Blood rushed through his veins, his heart beats increased.

One dance. One incredible slow dance. That was what he was allowing himself. So he made the most of it. He held her close, molding her body to his, inhaling her spicy perfume, enjoying the brush of her soft curves as the beat of the music, the beat of their bodies, took over. 

When the song ended, he forced himself to release her and step back, and realized the crowd was quiet. Glancing around, he noted shock and smiles on several faces. He glanced at Brandi, she nodded to him with tears in her eyes. That was bad. So he looked at Lea. More tears. Real bad. He avoided women all together. But when his gaze met Kade’s and he saw knowing and understanding there, he decided now was a great time to get some air.

“Excuse me,” he said to Phoebe, then walked off the dance floor, through the crowd, and into the night.

Ten minutes of communing with the crickets and listening to water lapping at the shore had righted his world enough for him to head back to the celebration. It was his brother’s wedding, and he was not going to let his damn libido ruin it. If Keiffer could battle his depression to be there for Ben and Lea, then he sure as shit could make the effort to put aside his inner battles, too.

“Ah, see, told you he’d be back,” Mason told Ben as he walked over to meet him when he stepped under the pavilion. “You needed air, even though we’re already outside, didn’t you?”

He laughed. “Yeah.”

“Been there, done that.” His brother nodded. “I found my turmoil ended when I stopped fighting my attraction to Jill.”

“Same went for me with Lea,” Ben said, handing him a beer. “I stopped fighting the knowledge that she makes me happy, because she does, and I’m the luckiest son-of-a-bitch because the smart, gorgeous, kindhearted woman just married me.”

“True, poor girl,” he said, receiving a thank you punch in the arm. “You hit like a girl.” He received another for good measure.

Mason snickered. “But the biggie was when I stopped fighting the knowledge I make her happy. I’m guessing you’re just about at that crossroads.”

No. Not even close.

He couldn’t see where he was solely responsible for her happiness. Maybe pain, because he’d fall into bed with her, then push her away. She certainly deserved more than that, even if she never asked for more.

“Well, since you’re about to have a lot more free time on your hands this month with Tyler heading to Texas tomorrow, you may want to take advantage of that free time to explore those roads,” Ben suggested before his wife appeared and tugged him out onto the floor for a slow dance.