Sparks Fly! A Divine Creek July 4th Family Reunion (10 page)

Charity squealed when she saw the gold ring inset with at least a carat’s worth of baguette diamonds. “Oh! I love it!” She threw her arms around him and danced on her tiptoes then looked up at him as he grinned. “I love you more every day. I would marry you all over again! Thank you!”

Justin chuckled and squeezed her ass cheeks. “Make that squeally sound again. That was kinda cute.”

Charity giggled and kissed him again. Through the door she heard a loud screeching noise and then an amplified mumble. “Oh, crap! Is that what I think it is?”

Justin chuckled as he tied the drawstring on his swim trunks after repositioning his deliciously overabundant cock in them. “Sounds like Emma brought her karaoke machine with her.”

“Grace said they enjoy Emma’s so much that she was thinking about getting one.”

“Babe, you gotta talk her out of it. Grace is smooth and sweet as silk but her singing could curdle milk.”

Charity shook her finger. “Nuh-uh. I’m not saying anything. You’ve never heard Emma sing if you think Grace is bad. Grace may sound like Dolly Parton, but Emma sounds like squawking geese. No complaining. Rachel will take the mike from her and sing something we like.”

“Where’s my earplugs when I need them?”

“Don’t worry, I’ll distract you,” Charity whispered as she cracked open the pantry door, wondering once again why the pantry had a locking doorknob on it. They snuck out and made a pit stop in the bathroom before joining everyone as they enjoyed the blessedly final chords of Grace and Emma Rivers’s horrendous rendition of “Friends in Low Places” by Garth Brooks. They had maybe another hour before it was time to leave for Bowie Lake, and it looked as though the food had just been served.

“Damn, were we in the pantry
that
long?” Charity whispered as they slipped into a chaise lounge together.

Justin wrapped his arms around her as she settled against his chest, every nerve ending in her body vibrating with gratitude for her kinky husband. Admiring the ring as it sparkled on her finger, she sighed happily when Justin kissed the top of her head.

In her ear he whispered, “You were a
very
resistant, virginal serving wench, but you’re mine now.” His words were humorous, but she heard the deep love that resonated in them. He was willing to do just about anything to make her happy, including concocting a marauding Viking for her to role-play with. Feeling incredibly sappy, and for once having no snarky remark to say, she looked up at him and smiled, receiving his tender kiss.

The more musically blessed in the bunch seized control of the microphone, and Rachel asked Duke Rivers to cue “Respect” by Aretha Franklin, and then she pointed at Michael Martinez and said into the microphone, “I know that you know this one, Michael-baby. Come on up here and sing it with me.”

Utterly fearless, Teresa, Angel, and Joaquin’s six-year-old son jumped up. “You got it, Rachel-baby.”

As Rachel got Michael set up with his own microphone, Duke said, “Before there was Lady Gaga there was Lady Soul, right? Ready, Rachel?”

“Give it to me,” Rachel quipped sassily, and the music started. She copped an attitude and belted out the first line of the song.

Michael struck a pose and echoed back with the second line. He grinned at her as they took turns singing the lines of the verses.

Charity snickered as Michael swiveled his little hips and danced with Rachel and they sang the choruses together. To Justin she said, “Think he knows he’s singing a woman’s song?”

Justin laughed. “I don’t think he cares! Oh, look. Little man is fixin’ to bust a move!”

Michael looked up at Rachel, grinning like a Cheshire cat, and sang to her about how her kisses were sweeter than honey.

Rachel swiveled her neck and shook her finger as she swung her hips in her best Aretha Franklin imitation, telling him that so was her money.

Their antics had everyone laughing and wiping tears from their eyes as Rachel and Michael brought it home with style.

Grace nudged Ethan and arched a brow. “I saw ‘Homeboy’ by Eric Church in the playlist, Ethan. You sounded so good when you sang along with the radio the other day. Why don’t you give it a try?”

Ethan chuckled. “I don’t know. I need to check that last brisket that’s still on the pit.”

Grace giggled and shrugged. “Oh, okay. That’s all right. I wanted to sing Adele’s ‘Rolling in the Deep’ anyway.” As she rose from her chair all eyes were glued on Ethan imploringly. Charity put her hands to together in a prayerful gesture that made him roll his eyes, but he nodded. The guy was blessed with golden pipes, just like Eli. Charity was relieved when he stopped Grace and got up instead.

“Well, maybe just this once, Gracie, but I’m a little rusty.”

Duke cued it up and handed him a mike. “I owe him one,” Justin whispered. Charity elbowed and him and snickered.

The instrumentals began and Ethan didn’t miss a beat, singing about a small-town boy trying to pretend he fit into a culture foreign from the one he was raised in.

His voice was compelling as he sang the song from the perspective of a big brother just trying to protect his sibling and keep his family intact. Charity found herself nodding her head as he sang the song, making it look effortless. Justin tapped his foot on the end of the chaise as he flicked his thumb against the armrest.

Charity looked around the group and smiled. What a wonderful gathering of family and friends. Laughter bubbled inside her as she watched Beau and Justine talking quietly together while they ate. She could recall a time when she understood why some species ate their young when they used to bicker constantly. Now high schoolers at fifteen and sixteen, they made Charity feel like she and Justin were on the downhill slide in raising them. Soon they’d spread their wings and make their own choices.

Will Peterson played in Ash’s lap while Juliana sat at his side, leaning in for a kiss and looking like the newlyweds they still acted like. Seth and Jayne sat side by side at a picnic bench, eating and listening to the music.

Charity had to admit that from all appearances, Seth and Jayne were hitting it off nicely. He hadn’t made any moves to kiss her or anything, but he also wasn’t giving Buck and Chad much room to work their charms, either.

Charity knew that Buck and Chad were looking to follow in the Divine tradition and share some lucky woman. Charity had a feeling they’d lost their shot with Jayne, judging by the way she’d remained focused on Seth. He’d put his white T-shirt back on after getting out of the pool, which Charity thought was a crying shame because his body art was riveting. Justin had even teasingly passed his hand in front of her face earlier when Seth had removed the shirt to get in the pool.

Charity caught Jayne’s eye and nodded her head toward Duke, giving her a nudge. Jayne smiled shyly but looked away. Ethan’s song came to an end, and Duke asked, “Who’s next? Any takers?”

“Hmm? What, Jayne?” Charity called helpfully. “Sure! You can take a turn.” Jayne screwed up her mouth and looked like she wanted to throw something at Charity, but she just laughed. “Grace, remember how good of a singer Jayne is?”

Grace jumped right on board with her and nodded. “Hey, Jayne, Duke has that Jo Dee Messina song you used to love to sing. Remember?”

“Oh! Yeah!” Charity chirped, getting an even uglier look from her cousin as she shook her head. “You mean ‘Bring on the Rain,’ right?”

“Yup! That’s the one. Come on, Jayne. You can do it.”

Jayne looked like she was caving, and then Buck and Chad started chanting, “Jayney! Jayney! Jayney!”

Seth whispered to her, and she gazed at him soulfully and nodded, then rose to her feet.

Oh, yeah, that girl is in deep.

Jayne stopped in front of Charity and said, “I’ll sing ‘Bring on the Rain’ if you’ll sing ‘Wildfire.’”

Charity cackled. “I can handle singing some Michael Martin Murphey tonight. Just let me get another glass of sangria.”

“Right
on
!” Justin hooted.

When she sang that song it made him horny. They might not make it to the lake after all. Charity grinned when Seth Carter moved to one of the outdoor loveseats as Jayne spoke softly to Duke and took the microphone he offered.

Jayne looked around and then located Seth in a seat much closer to her. Charity could tell by the blush in Jayne’s cheeks and the emotions that played over her face that the action meant something to her.

* * * *

Seth got comfortable on the loveseat as the familiar guitar opening began to play, and Jayne opened her mouth. The soft vocalization was shaky for the first few seconds, but then she closed her eyes and sang the opening verse.

Chills rushed over Seth’s skin as her clear soprano gathered strength after the first two lines. She sang the song like she’d lived it. He’d asked her to sing the song for him, but he had a feeling the song had a deeper meaning for her, and he almost regretted his words because she was forcing herself to share something with all of them she might not have wanted to.

Duke gestured to Eli Wolf, and Seth watched as the tall guy left Rachel’s side and took the mike Duke offered. He sang the background vocals flawlessly for Jayne and Seth heaved a sigh of gratitude that she wasn’t up there alone anymore.

When the song was done, it was quiet for a few seconds, and then everybody burst out with applause, causing Jayne to blush some more and bow as though she felt awkward. Seth noticed Grace and Charity both brushed tears from their eyes.

Jayne walked away but then realized she still had the microphone in her hand. She blushed even hotter and turned back to give it to Duke and then came to Seth and smiled when he patted the spot beside him.

Charity took the spotlight as “Wildfire” by Michael Martin Murphey began to play.

Seth put his arm around her shoulders as she settled and whispered close to her ear, “That was really something, Jayne.”

Jayne peered at him. “They remembered that I was a big fan of that song a few years back. It was nothing.”

Seth shook his head again. “Let me restate. That was
beautiful
. You sing like an angel, Jayne.”

She crossed her forearms over her chest, rubbed her upper arms, and smiled. “Thank you.”

“You cold?”

“No, not at all. You?”

The last thing he was at that moment was cold. “Were you still planning on going to the fireworks at the lake?”

“Yes.”

“Could I interest you in a moonlit ride out to the lake?”

The setting sun glinted off the red highlights in her hair and illuminated her ivory complexion as her full, pink lips curved into a beautiful smile. “Yes, you could.”

A little while later, after karaoke was done and it was time to ride out to the lake, Jayne excused herself to change back into her street clothes.

“Hey, Seth.”

He was drawn from watching Jayne as she walked away, her hips swaying hypnotically with her steps, and turned to look at Buck Turnsell and Chad Jordan.

“Yeah, man.”

“Jayne is special,” Buck said and offered his hand.

“Oh, you noticed that too, huh?” Seth replied with an easy grin as he took Buck’s hand and shook it, then Chad’s.

“Yeah. No hard feelings?”

“No, of course not. I would’ve competed just as hard for her if she’d been into either of you. Or both of you.”

Buck nodded. “Good, because I want to come and see you about getting tattooed sometime. I saw the way the ladies were eyeing yours and Clay and Del’s, which I heard you’d done as well. You did a nice job on Lily’s, too, not that I was
ogling
her or anything.”

“Right,” Chad muttered. “That Del Cook is a jealous son of a bitch.”

“And rightfully so, Chad.” Seth chuckled, recalling how territorial Del had been when he and Lily had first visited him to see about having her tattoo redone. “I’m glad you like my work. Come see me anytime.”

Jayne rejoined him, and he escorted her around to where he’d parked the bike earlier.

“Seth?”

“Yeah?”

“Grace invited us to come out to The Dancing Pony afterward. There’s a big celebration going on there too. I’ve never been there before. Do you think you might like to go?”

“Sure…But I’m kind of raggedy for a nightclub.” He gestured at the holes and rips in his jeans before handing her the helmet to put on.

“That’s what is so great about it. The party has a beach theme. They knew lots of people would go out to the lake tonight and they want everyone to come as they are for the lake or beach.”

“Okay, but only if you’re riding with me.” He went behind her and twisted her hair into a rope again, taking longer than he had to this time because he enjoyed the feel of it so much.

“If you don’t mind.”

One more chance to have you snuggled up against me? If this is torture, chain me to a wall, baby.
“Of course I don’t mind. Do you have to work tomorrow?”

“No, I took the day off.”

He climbed on the bike and started it then held it steady for her as she got on. She wrapped her arms around him as he pulled out, and he was more than content with her snuggled up to his back.