Page 24 of Love Song, Take Two

She lifted her chin and dusted off her shoulder. “I know.”

Then got to her feet, gathering their plates and carrying them to the kitchen. She heard Fletcher come up beside her and without any discussion, they worked to put away the leftovers, wash the dishes and wipe down the kitchen. Every so often, he’d make a wiseass remark about her cleaning technique and then show her how he’d do it instead. When Emery came down, pillow marks on her face and hair a mess, Fletcher took that as his cue to leave.

“Thanks for a fun evening, ladies,” he said, backing out of the kitchen with a silly smile.

Emery yawned and waved. “See you tomorrow, Fletch.”

“I’ll walk you out,” Micah said, smoothing down her dress and heading to the front door, but found Fletcher standing at the stairs. “What are you doing?”

“Emery brought me in this way.”

“Of course she did.” She waved for him to go up as she grabbed her keys and then followed him up the stairs—at a respectable distance, but still ogled his ass—and opened the door as he pulled on his sneakers.

Fletcher stepped outside and paused as she stepped outside with him. He turned, putting them closer than she realized. “Go out with me.”

“As friends?”

“Fuck no,” he said, rubbing a hand over his jaw. “I have never wanted to be friends with you.”

“Jeez, Fletch, don’t hold back.”

He rolled his eyes and took another step towards her, bringing him close enough for her to inhale his cinnamon and leather scent mixed with pasta sauce. “You know what I mean. Go out with me.”

“Okay, fine. My god, you don’t have to beg.”

“If I remember correctly, you liked it when I begged.”

I really fucking did. Smirking, she said, “I’m free on Friday.”

“I’ll be here at one. Dress comfortably.”

“Naked or minimal clothing?”

Fletcher shot her a glare and shook his head, walking to his truck. She smiled as she drank in his strong legs and dark hair, the confident stride that got him from her front door to his vehicle. He glanced back at her once more before hopping into his truck and driving away. Slumping back against the door, she chuckled. A date, with a rockstar. Who would have thought.

Fletcher

It was one hell of a love song.

“I’ve lived in Sirena Beach my whole life and I didn’t know this even existed,” Micah said as she hopped out of his truck. Fletcher smiled as he came around the front to take in the building in front of them. Except for a large hand-painted sign that read Shepley Cellars Tasting Room, there was no sign of what the place could be. Big windows were framed by weathered walls with vines clinging to them for life.

“In your defense, I think they just opened this one.”

She hummed, drawing his gaze to her face. He was still pinching himself about being on a date with ‘the one that got away’. Ever since Thanksgiving, his friends had been referring to her that way. He had assigned that term to Micah when they were recording “Mermaid”, but he’d never held onto the hope that he’d see her again. If he was being honest, he knew that even though he wished they had another shot, he’d accepted that it was a one time thing. He met Alice, they got married and he effectively pushed Micah into the back of his mind.

Until now.

He had replayed Micah’s flirty words on a loop. He had been so good at trying not to think of their night together, but the minute she brought up begging and being naked, that was all his brain could focus on. And it wasn’t even Micah of sixteen years ago that lay naked and spread out in his bed, it was the Micah of now with those curves and short curls and tattoos that took his breath away.

“How did you find this place?” she asked, interrupting the inappropriate thoughts of her brown skin against his white sheets.

He mentally kicked himself and pulled open the glass double doors. “The owner is an old friend.”

“Of course they are,” she mumbled and brushed past him, a small smile tugging at her lips. Chuckling, he stepped into the reception area and let his eyes adjust to the darker room, while she wandered out of sight.

When he’d insisted they go on a date, he had no idea where he was taking her. He’d never gone out of his way to plan things with Alice when they were married, because his ex-wife didn’t enjoy the luxury that his name and fame brought them. She preferred quiet nights at home, avoiding the band as much as possible and any time he was recognized in public, she walked in the opposite direction.

He didn’t consider himself the most romantic person, but Fletcher liked the idea of doing something more than the standard dinner and a movie that everyone suggested.

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