Joy Ride by Desiree Holt (bill gates best books TXT) 📗

time with me she does if she had a husband at home waiting for her.”

“Unless her husband works nights,” Frannie pointed out.

“I still don’t think that’s it. And you know I’ve seen married women in that situation before hanging at different clubs. Unfortunately.” He stared down into his cold drink. “This is going to sound so dumb, but I don’t believe she’s that kind of person. Anyway, it feels like…something different. I’m telling you, Mom. Maybe it’s just my gut talking but she’s…how can I explain this? More like the girls I knew in high school.”

Frannie chuckled. “That may not be the greatest comparison, Marc. I remember some of the girls you dated back then.”

He had to smile. “I was in my immature wild stage. I got over it fast. Anyway, you know what I mean. She’d never even been in a rock club until last Saturday. Can you believe that?” He frowned. “Maybe it’s against her religion or something. You think?”

“I think if that was the case, she wouldn’t have gone home with you. Twice. No, she’s got to be afraid of something.”

He tried to replay every scene with ML in his mind, looking for a clue—anything that he may have missed. “But what?”

“Can’t answer without knowing a lot more about the situation. I’m just guessing but speaking strictly as a woman, I’d say she has trust issues of some kind. Maybe she had a bad experience. If you really have feelings for this woman, even under these circumstances, you’ll have to make her believe she can trust you enough to tell you about herself. You respect women, sweetie. And that should be obvious enough to her to help lower those barriers she’s put up.”

He sighed. “Easier said than done.”

“Honey, if she’s what you want and you think she’s worth it, then you can make the effort.” She laughed softly. “Your brothers will be home this weekend. Want me to send them to the club to scope her out if she shows up?”

“No!” Marc was horrified. He loved his brothers and was very proud of them, but they were the last people he wanted involved in this. “Don’t you dare.”

“Just teasing.” She drained the rest of her water. “Sorry I can’t give you any better advice here. Unless I can meet her for myself, I’m really shooting blind.”

“Okay. About what I figured. But thanks for listening. I’m willing to bet there aren’t too many other moms whose sons could go to them with something like this. You’re one in a million, you know?”

“I’m flattered by such high praise but really, I just love you and want what’s best for you.” She paused. “This is the first time I’ve ever heard you this serious about anyone, Marc. As your mother, I’d really like to see you settle down with someone. But you’d need someone pretty special, someone who can roll with the pinches the music business delivers.”

“This one is special,” he insisted. “Despite everything. And I really could see her here for a Sunday brunch. I think you guys would like her a lot.”

“Then hang in there. And speaking of music, how are the new tape and the video coming?”

“Good, good. Mom, I think this is going to be the big break for us.”

“You’ve certainly worked hard enough for it. All of you. And I know how much you want it. So what happens next?”

“We’re doing everything this weekend and on Monday, Rick’s going to sit down with Deep Blue River’s manager. By Monday night, we’ll know if he bites and the deal is on.”

“You know we’ll be crossing our fingers for you. I personally think the band has got what it takes.”

“From your lips to Butch Meredith’s ears,” he told her, standing up and giving her a hug. “You don’t now how much your support means to me. The whole family.”

“We love you,” she said in a fierce tone. “Don’t ever forget it. I’ll send you good thoughts that this thing with Music Lady works out.”

“Thanks. I love you guys, too.” He disposed of his empty soda can and dug into his pocket for his keys. “Okay. I’m gonna run along.”

“You sure I can’t talk you into dinner?”

“Not tonight, I want to work some more on the script for the video and iron out some glitches on my part of the new song. But soon. I promise.”

His mother rose and walked him to the door, giving him another hug. “Take care, Marc. And be careful.”

“I will. Thanks, Mom.” He headed slowly to his truck, shoulders slumped.

Well, that didn’t do anything except to underscore what I was already thinking. Why is it when I finally find a woman I’m pretty sure will complete my life, the whole thing has to be so squirrely?

He drove home, restless and edgy, trying to settle himself down for tonight’s gig. Would she be there tonight? Would she come home with him again? She’d stepped into his world and in an instant, carved out a place for herself in his heart. What did he need to do to make her feel comfortable enough to let him into hers?

Chapter Nine

I’m not going back there tonight.

Emma repeated it over and over to herself until it echoed repetitively in her brain. She chanted it like a mantra as she drove home from her little shopping expedition. She changed into shorts and T-shirt and sat out on her back porch with a glass of wine. Repeating the words aloud as she managed to choke down a sandwich, she even thought of calling Andrew, still feeling guilty about the way she’d treated him, but blew off that idea before it was complete. So she hadn’t been as nice to him as she might have been. But Andrew wasn’t even listening to her, and there wasn’t much she could do about that.

The Emma who’d been with Andrew would have been shocked at doing something so crazy, figured out how to do penance, maybe even groveled to Andrew. But the