Love Struck (Miss Match #2) (37 page)

“So this is the advantage of a Museum of Science wedding?” Lacy asked with more than a note of sarcasm.

Tim nodded and sniffled. “Isn’t it simply spectacular? God, I just can’t take it. Weddings are so emotional. Where’s the bartender?”

The first break that Lacy got, she looked for Eli, hoping he hadn’t left while she’d been wrapped up in wedding formalities. She’d understand if he had—it was likely pretty boring stuff for an outsider. But she thought it might mess her up something awful inside if he’d gone without talking to her.

Thankfully, she didn’t have to find out. She found him instantly, watching her across the dance floor. With his guitar in hand.

Andy stepped up to the microphone. “While the DJ is on break, we have the special treat of hearing from an up-and-coming solo artist. I haven’t actually heard him sing personally”—she found Lacy’s eyes—“but my sister vouches for him, and any of you who know Lacy know that she has excellent taste. I give you now, Eli Frank.”

Guess I forgot to password-protect my phone.

Or maybe she hadn’t forgotten at all.

Eli moved to the mike, and her pulse picked up to a happy/nervous rate as he returned the smile she gave him. He positioned his hands over the strings and began a song she hadn’t heard before. Though she always listened to lyrics, she paid close attention this time, certain they had meaning for her.

Seems I’m not the person I

Thought I was

Scared, coward

Sitting on the sidelines of my life

Didn’t know it mattered

Till I met you

Now I want to be

Anything you need

I watched you walk away

But I’ve got something more to say

There you are

Here I am

I got nothing to offer

Except for my hand

You wanted a fight

So I’m taking a stand

For you

Blake and Andy swayed together in the middle of the floor, but Eli and Lacy were the ones having the moment, their eyes locked as he continued with his second verse.

Seems you’re not the person I

Thought you were

Scared, wary

Looking for the answers I can’t give

I knew that I would love you

When I met you

What I didn’t know

Was how much I’d hurt to let you go

You tried to walk away

But I’ve got something more to say

There you are

Here I am

I got nothing to offer

Except for my hand

You wanted a fight

So I’m taking a stand

For you

I’m making it right

I’m taking a stand

For you

At the end of his song, all the guests applauded, except Lacy. She was too overwhelmed to do anything but clasp a single hand to her chest and hope her knees didn’t give out. When she’d asked him to fight for her, she never imagined he might fight like this—with his heart and soul, in front of so many people. It was the single most romantic thing anyone had ever done for her.

She went to him then—how could she not? She took her time walking over, though, enjoying the way he surveyed her every step. Besides, she wasn’t sure what she wanted to say to him yet, and she hoped the extra seconds would help her come up with something.

As luck would have it, she was still unsure when she got to him, but unlike the other times she’d been blocked, she knew the words would come. In fact, the words that came out were his—the ones that used to greet her online. “Hey, you.”

Eli smiled, his eyes creasing in that way she adored. “Hey, yourself.” He cleared his throat. “You look incredible.”

She blushed as his gaze and compliment heated her inside and out. “Thank you.” But now he’d flustered her and she didn’t know what to say, so she scrambled. “Uh, you sang! It was nice.”
Nice
. Geez that was a lame compliment for the most amazing thing she’d ever heard. “I didn’t know you did weddings.”

“Thank you. And I don’t. At least, I hope this isn’t what my career will be now.” He looked into her eyes. “This one, well … I only came for you.”

“That’s what she said.” God, had she really just responded with one of those? She was failing miserably.

He laughed genuinely. Man, she’d forgotten how much she loved that sound. It relaxed her. Reminded her how easy it was to be with him.

“Ah, Lacy, I’ve taught you well.” Eli’s smile turned somber. “And
you’ve
taught
me
well too.”

Well, that was intriguing. “Really? What have I taught you?” She was suddenly nervous that he wasn’t there to claim her after all. Partly because he hadn’t yet touched her—and she was aching to be touched—and partly because a “lessons I’ve learned” speech seemed a little more like the kind of thing you said with good-bye.

She bit her lip anxiously while she waited for his response.

“Uh, lots of things. But mostly, you taught me how to fight.” His forehead wrinkled and he rubbed at his jaw. “I’m not sure what Lou told you about the band breaking up or what happened with the tour—”

She broke in. “He didn’t tell me anything. I worried … was it because of me?” Her voice squeaked with the question and she hated herself a little bit for it.

“No!”
That’s something at least
. Except then Eli said, “I mean, yes, but not directly.” He shook his head, as if trying to erase what he’d just said. “Actually, first it was Jax. He had an … accident.”

Lacy’s stomach dropped. “Oh, no! What happened? Is he okay?”

“Yeah. He, uh, you know, I’ll let him tell you what happened the next time you see him. Anyway, he had to have surgery and has to take it easy for awhile, but I think he’s going to be just fine.”

“And that’s why the band broke up.” Of all the reasons she’d imagined why the tour had ended, she’d never thought it was because someone had been hurt. She felt awful for having been so egotistical to think she was the cause of it.

“No. The band broke up at my suggestion. That’s where you come in.” He took a step toward her. “You, Lacy, made me realize that I needed to fight for the things I love and one of those things was my music. Another one of those things was Jax. I think he needs some time to get some focus. And I need some time without him murdering my songs. Hence the announcement that I’m now a solo artist.”

Her throat felt tight. So that’s what his song was about, what he’d chosen to fight for—Jax and his music. And here she thought he’d chosen to fight for her. She was shattered with disappointment, but she forced herself to keep smiling. “That’s great. I’m really happy for you. You’ll be a much better artist on your own.” She felt her eyes starting to pool with tears. “Uh, if you’ll excuse me, I see someone—”

She started past him but Eli grabbed her wrist. “Wait, Lacy. Don’t go.”

A jolt ran through her, not just from the spark at his long missed touch, but because he wasn’t letting her walk away. Was he trying to tell her what she hoped he was trying to tell her?

She was afraid to get her hopes up. “Why do you want me to stay?” She didn’t turn to him, just let the question fall over her shoulder.

“Because I’m not done telling you what else I have to fight for.” Still holding her hand, he walked closer to her until his front was nearly pressed along her back and his mouth was near her ear.

Lacy could barely breathe, her voice a whisper when she asked, “What’s that?”

“You.”

He turned her so she was facing him, and though her eyes were downcast, he tilted her chin up until she gave in and met his gaze. “I love you, Lacy.”

Her pulse sped up.

“I meant it that day when I said it, I meant it months before when I only knew you online, and I mean it even more today than ever. I wanted to follow you that day, wanted to come after you so many times in the weeks since, but I knew that I couldn’t until I was free of everything that would get in my way of fighting for you the way you deserve to be fought for. So I made sure that Jax was settled and band stuff was tied up, and I swear I was headed to find you—Lou told me where you lived—when your sister called and invited me to do the wedding.” He cocked his head. “A Christmas Eve wedding, huh? You planned our first date to be a wedding? Seems pretty serious, if you ask me.”

She gave a guilty smile, but smiling made her feel more vulnerable so she quickly covered by saying, “It was convenient. That’s all.”

But Eli knew her. “Uh-huh,” he said, skeptically. “Anyway. When Andy asked me to play, I thought it was perfect. It gave me a chance to keep my promise to meet you tonight. I couldn’t stand the thought of breaking that after I’d already broken your trust in so many other ways.”

“Not
so
many other ways.” Not too many that they couldn’t work through it. She hoped.

“Maybe not
so
many. But enough. So I wrote you that song—well, I wrote you about twenty songs, but that’s the one that said what I needed to say most.”

Her heart flipped. But she played it cool. “Twenty songs? I think I need an encore.”

“Later. I promise.” He smiled in a way that had her guessing that he meant his next performance to be sans clothing.

Or maybe she was just hoping that.

“Anyway,” he said, “despite the promise that I’d meet you tonight, it took every ounce of strength to wait until today to see you. But I figured you’d be busy with the wedding preparations otherwise.”

“You mean that Andy asked you not to come until today because
she
was worried about being busy with preparations.” Lacy put a finger to Eli’s lips before he could protest. “Don’t defend her—I know her well.” If it weren’t Andy’s wedding day, Lacy might have decided to be irked at her sister for that. Or maybe she wouldn’t since she was too happy about Andy’s matchmaking to think about much else.

Except now all Lacy could think about was how nice Eli’s lips felt beneath the skin of her finger. How much she wanted to kiss them and lick them and suck them.

Eli grabbed her hand and kissed her finger before moving it from his mouth. “Yes, Andy asked me to wait until today.” His eyes crinkled with worry lines. “Was that okay? Did I mess up on fighting for you by not ignoring her? It did seem appropriate since today was the day we were supposed to meet originally. Besides, I didn’t want to disrupt your recording time. I know how you musicians get when you’re cutting an album.”

She chuckled. “It is appropriate. And no, you didn’t mess up. You did just fine, and I appreciate that you gave me time to focus while recording. You’re right about how we get. How I’m sure
you
get too. I finished fourteen brand-new shiny songs. Only regret is that I didn’t have a professional mandolin on any of the tracks.”

“If you want to add it later, I know a guy who’s recently gone solo.” He winked.

“I do too it seems.” Her smile faded as she took a deep breath and gathered courage for what she really needed to say. “About us … I didn’t fight for you either, Eli. I didn’t realize it until today, but I let you walk away too. More than once. After that night, I knew I wanted you. I didn’t even care if Jax was Folx—I wanted
you
. But then I read your note…” She couldn’t use his brush-off as an excuse, though, either. “I could have fought then, but I didn’t. I let you go.”

Eli shrugged. “Then we’ve both made mistakes.”

“Are they mistakes that we can get beyond?” Her lip quivered and her body itched to press against him.

“I’m here. So what do you think?”

“I think we can too.” He pulled her into him, finally, and she melted into his chest. “Eli, I love you. Thank you for being the man noble enough to fight for me.”

“There’s no one else in this world I’d rather be.” He put his hand beneath her chin and tipped her face up to his. She leaned in, and touched her lips gently to his. The sparks were still there when they met, but now there was something more. A sense of completion. He pressed more firmly against her, and her lips parted. But just barely.
Church tongue.
Her hands came up and held his face, the familiar scruff, then moved up and through his hair.

She wanted to make it last forever, this kiss, but eventually Eli pulled away to ask, “So now what?”

That was certainly a loaded question. Because she really wanted to say “now we find an empty closet and get it on,” but Andy had just caught her eye as she twirled around the dance floor, so sneaking off wasn’t an option.

With sex off the table—for the time being, anyway—there was only one other thing that made any sense. “Now we dance!”

Lacy tugged Eli behind her to join the crowd in the “Macarena.” For the next twenty minutes, they danced and laughed and grooved to the music. Lacy was happy to find that, like her, Eli wasn’t the best with his moves, but he didn’t let that inhibit him.

She was tired and sweaty by the time the DJ turned on something slow, and Lacy was more than ready to be pulled into Eli’s arms.

They swayed together for a whole verse without speaking, simply enjoying the pleasure of being in each other’s arms without any guilt or regret to mar it. After a bit, Eli asked, “Did your sister walk down the aisle to the theme from
Downton Abbey
?”

“Wow. You know
Downton Abbe
y? Is there something you need to tell me?” She’d love the man, but she wouldn’t be forced to watch the PBS turn-of-the-century British drama.

“I know the theme song. Not the show. But if you want me to watch an episode—”

“No,” she cut him off sharply. “That’s okay. We can let the Donovans be the fans of that one.” She paused, letting her sister’s new family name settle in her ears.
The Donovans
. “They’re really good for each other. Perfect, actually. You should see their groom’s cake—it’s in the shape of a pinball machine.”