When Sparks Fly (37 page)

“Baby….Renee…O God….”

Blake’s breathing was shallow, hard.

Renee’s skin was wet from the workout this was giving her. Every fiber in her felt ecstatically alive, even the fine hair on her arms stood at attention. The energy exchange with this man was unlike anything she’d ever experienced.

“Blake!”

Their shared release shook their bodies. Each time they had sex, Renee was emotionally taken to a higher realm. She collapsed on Blake, her breathing labored.

“My God, Renee, just when I think it can’t get better…”

Renee kissed him. She didn’t want talk now, she wanted quiet. She wanted to bask in what just happened. She snuggled tighter into his embrace and continued kissing him.

Several hours later Renee awoke to the sound of voices in the other room. She put on her robe and quietly peeked out the bedroom door. The hall mirror was positioned just right for her to see the living room. Blake was talking with someone.

Renee couldn’t make out what was being said. It was best she just stay put so she climbed back into the warmth of the cocoon Blake and she had created. The bedroom was nearly soundproof…the reason she got quality sleep. She sighed.

Blake was right, they needed to solve their living situation. One night at her place, one night at his or wherever they happened to fall that particular moment was no way to live. They needed to be in the same space full time.

This relationship felt permanent to Renee, but she couldn’t assume Blake felt the same way. She should suggest they live in one apartment and use the other just for music and appointments. Maybe they could even put a recording studio in, it was food for thought, anyway.

I wonder who’s out there with Blake?

Renee’s curiosity got the better of her, yet there was no way she was going out there looking this disheveled. She tossed the covers to the end of the bed and made her way to the shower. Thankfully a full bathroom was attached to the bedroom so she didn’t have to go into the hallway to get to it.

Renee made herself presentable and hustled out to the living room with hopes of finding out who Blake was talking with. However, she saw no one in the room and Blake in the kitchen fixing food.

“Good morning, my darling.”

“Hey. Was someone here? I swear I heard voices.”

“Oh, yeah, but nothing exciting.”

Blake handed her a cup of coffee and turned his attention to chopping veggies in hopes of hiding what had just taken place.

Renee’s puzzlement grew as she took the cup Blake offered her.

“What do you mean nothing exciting?”

“Seriously, it’s nothing. I’d asked Ben to find some apartments we could look at. He stopped by with the list.”

Blake hated lying to Renee. It wasn’t really lying, it was just withholding information. He didn’t want her knowing what he’d done with the demo they’d recorded. Not yet anyway.

Renee walked into the kitchen, wrapped her arms around his waist, and laid her head on his back.

“You okay, honey?”

“Yeah. Just feel disoriented this morning, that’s all.”

Blake continued mixing ingredients and then poured them into a prepared pie shell before placing all of it into the oven. He set the timer for fifty-five minutes.

“Whatever you’re fixing smells delish. Where did you learn all this cooking stuff?”

“At college. In order to survive, I took cooking classes. Don’t laugh. It was better than most of the other electives. I have a basic knowledge…not a chef by any means.”

Renee put her coffee mug on the island counter. She picked up the paper with the apartment information.

“Some of these look really small compared to what we have now. I wish there was a way of combining both of our apartments into one ginormous one.”

“I never thought of that. Wonder if the owner would let us do that…if we paid for it, of course.”

Blake kissed Renee. He was always surprised by her innovative ways of doing things. Her idea of combining apartments was brilliant.

“I’ll phone the building owner later today and see when I can go talk with him.”

Blake topped off his coffee as well as Renee’s. A folder rested on the counter by the apartment info and he grabbed it before she had a chance to investigate its contents.

“What’s that?”

Man, nothing gets by this woman!

“Info for some upcoming gigs. Be right back. I’m taking it into my office so I know where it’s at.”

There is no way she’s ready for this. No way. It has to stay a secret until the Independence Day celebration.

Blake walked leisurely down the hall to his office and placed the folder in his top desk drawer, locking it before leaving the room. He grabbed a few other papers and went back to the kitchen.

“When I said you have a full schedule, I mean a full schedule. Your day, my darling, begins at one o’clock with an appearance at Hopscotch Records. You’re slated to play for thirty minutes there. At three we head to Norton Consolidated Schools for an assembly. At five we leave for your performance at the winery.”

Renee sighed and smiled.

What an incredible schedule to hear aloud. My dreams are coming true. I am a singer, songwriter, and performer.

Renee grabbed Blake in a head to toe hug and released him. She twirled in repetitive circles.

“SQUEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!

‡
Chapter Ten

The ten foot long barn-wood arbor stood to the left of the brick patio. The contrast of the lime green grapes against the dark green foliage made a dramatic statement. Matching benches of weathered wood lined the inside of the arbor. It was a perfect place to set up a performance.

Louie Winery was a fairly new business in the area. The award winning wines and beautiful view drew hundreds for outdoor summer concerts, bridal showers, and various business meetings.

The weather this mid-summer afternoon was perfect: temperatures in the low 80’s, a slight southwest breeze, the sun slowly setting behind the arbor. Who could want more?

Blake helped Renee set up the gigs from the beginning. He ran sound checks and continued encouraging her throughout the process. He played the part of ‘roadie’ well.

I have my very own personal roadie.

Renee giggled at her thoughts.

“I think this is one of my favorite places to perform.”

“Yes, honey, it suits you well.”

“I’m going to walk down the path to the creek. I won’t be long.”

Renee loved this venue. She gained strength from being outside. She loved how it looked, how it smelled, how friendly the people were…she just loved it, all of it.

The grounds surrounding the main building and gift shop were immaculately kept. Wild grasses were clumped together along the driveway and the sidewalk that led to the front door.

A stone walkway wound around the building to the vine covered patio that was accessible from inside as well. Rectangle glass tables with black wrought iron legs dotted the patio. Some chairs matched the tables and others coordinated with the interior décor.

As Renee walked the short distance to the creek, squirrels scampered across her path. The loud squawk of a lone blue jay startled her. She sighed.

This…this is the life I’ve always wanted. I’m sharing what I love with those who really want to listen…not to mention I have a really hot guy who loves me.

Renee squatted by the creek and let the water dance through her fingers. She pondered on the crowd and their acceptance of her performance. She smiled as she thought of Blake being the center of her focus for each concert.

Each concert brought more and more people. Renee noticed that the age groups varied depending on the venue. The winery brought a good variety of 20-70 year olds who loved music, loved dancing, and loved to have a good time.

It was time to head back to the arbor. The rhythmic clicking of Renee’s boots against the stones on the path, reminded her of the beat to Blake’s song. She’d tentatively titled it When Sparks Fly. Of course that wasn’t set in stone, but it was a good title. It seemed to fit him, them, their situation.

Blake was inside the arbor finishing some last minute tweaking on equipment. When he saw Renee approaching his arms automatically opened wide and the love of his life waltzed right into them.

Renee hugged Blake and smiled when he planted a sweet kiss on her lips.

“You look amazing, honey. This’ll be an awesome concert. Knock ’em dead, baby.”

Blake sat on the ground in front of the arbor. The patio was filled with patrons eager to hear Renee. The glass topped tables held uncorked bottles of wine, partial bottles, and stemmed wine glasses with the winery logo etched into them. Even green space around the path down to the creek sported lawn chairs with people holding glasses of wine. It was show time.

Without introduction, Renee started playing an upbeat country instrumental to get the crowd warmed up. It took no time at all for couples to get out of their chairs and dance.

Wild appreciative applause erupted as Renee ended the song. She stepped closer to the mike.

“Thank you so much! It’s wonderful to be here this afternoon. This is one of my favorite places. Thank you, Louie, wherever you are, for graciously hosting me today. Enjoy the delicious wine and your beautiful surroundings.”

Renee only played one chord and the crowd was on their feet hollering and clapping. It amused her that they knew her music by just one note.

“Here we go!”

The song was a love-God-and-country type tune. It seemed to speak to a lot of people who were in attendance.

Renee played an extra-long musical interlude and sang the chorus twice. Judging by the noise, her followers loved how she’d ad-libbed this one.

“Wooooo! That’ll get your blood movin, huh?”

Renee sat down on the stool and hooked one of her booted feet on the bottom rung so her knee was at the right height to balance her guitar.

“I’m going to slow it down a bit now. Most of you know I volunteer with a local organization. Kids with Cancer has been a part of my life for a number of years. I wrote this song for a very special little girl. I’m sad to say we lost her this spring. Allison, honey, this is for you.”

Renee kissed her fingers and reached them toward the sky before beginning the
Crayon Butterflies
. The notes she played were filled with compassion and love as were the words that accompanied the music.

I was chasing a dream with my guitar when you washed me with your song

Like a lark in a blameless blue sky as you sang to the sun

Ten summers you did shine

To leave your afterglow like honey on my mind

Tears rolled down Renee’s cheeks with the ending of the song and she swiped them away with the back of one hand.

The crowd was on its feet, not a dry eye found. A hushed applause rippled through the grounds.

“Thank you so much. Allison was a very special little girl, she was my angel butterfly,” Renee cleared her throat.

“Just a reminder, if you’d like to become involved with this worthy charity, grab me between sets. I’ll be more than happy to visit with you about it.”

Renee pushed the stool, and her emotions, out of the way and grabbed her six string guitar, strapping it over her shoulder. She took the pick from her lips and began fine tuning the strings.

Usually segues from the thoughtful, reflective music to the get down and dance tunes took a couple songs.

Renee, for her own good, needed to get back to the happy music. Without missing a beat, she strummed one note.

“So, who’s ready to party?”

Again, Renee played a dancing song. The tune was reminiscent of something Joan Jett might sing. This one prompted everyone to get up and dance. Looking out over the crowd, the majority were up on their feet, dancing, swaying, and smiling.

“Thank you so much. Y’all are awesome. I’m going to take a wee break and meet you back here in fifteen minutes or so. Mingle. Visit. Go buy wine.”

A low rumble of laughter made its way through the crowd as Renee walked out of the arbor and to where Blake was sitting. She offered her hands to help him up.

“Honey, you just keep getting better and better. Your confidence at these performances is incredible. Why haven’t I heard Allison’s song before?”