Page 6 of Riding Danger

“Let’s take it from the top.” Layla smiled as Everly turned to walk out. “Those kids will probably walk in filming us.”

Sure enough, we were in the middle of the chorus when the first round of kids walked in. A good few of them were holding phones. Layla took mine and hers off the top of the piano and gave it over to kids who were empty handed. When we messedup or reached a point where we needed notes, we stopped and discussed it, and all of it was recorded.

In some cases, we pretended to not notice the cameras, and then on occasion we’d smile at it or make a funny face. The kids loved being part of the process and it was the most fun I’d had rehearsing a song in a long time. Once we had done two run throughs, Everly moved one lot of kids out and the next started filing in. I made a few notes for Layla and my back was to the door as the hairs at the back of my neck raised.

It was like slow motion, as I turned to face the group of children who walked in. I’d noticed it in the first group, but more so as the second group walked in. Nine-year-olds varied a lot in size. It was as I surveyed the children, looking for the source of the chill which ran down my spine that I noticed her.

Green eyes held me captive. There was no way to avoid running into her while I was in town. My friend, Jason Wilder, was from Marina De Ferrier. He’d mentioned she would join us at some obstacle course the next day. I thought I had another day to prepare for seeing her.

Even though I sat quite a distance from her, I was well aware of the gold flecks in those eyes that shone when she was happy. They were not shining now. In fact, I’d have to say she looked pissed. Worried even, but not surprised. Did she know I was here? That was possible. My presence in town wasn’t a secret. Yeah, it was possible she knew I was in town. Still, it was the worried look and the way she bit her lip that had my attention. What exactly did she have to be worried about? That I would call her out for not staying in touch. That seemed absurd. It had been almost a decade since I saw her. And yeah, she did break my heart. But I was over it. Way over it.

Of their own volition, my eyes travelled down her body. The shoestring straps of her green sundress showed off the freckles I had once traced with my tongue. The dress fit around her breastsperfectly before dipping in at the waist. Her hips were a little wider than I remembered, but that was not what gave me pause. The little hand resting there made me do a double take. I looked into the sparkling blue eyes of a little boy. He had the lightest sprinkling of freckles across his cheeks.

My first thought was that she had moved on, but as I studied the kid, another chill raced through me. That face was one I’d seen often enough growing up. In the mirror. I knew my math was not the greatest, but… “Oh my God.”

Layla darted her eyes between me and Shiloh. “Shi, you never mentioned you’d be here this morning.” Then she turned and forced a smile. “Shi rents the cottage on the same property I’m staying at while I’m in town. We made pancakes together yesterday.”

I nodded, remembering that pancakes were made and something about gatecrashing. I smiled at the woman who’d been in my thoughts for ten years. “Shiloh.” I couldn’t help but smirk as my gaze darted between her and the little boy. “Looks like we have some catching up to do.”

3

SHILOH

Dammit! Why did he have to be so hot? Actually, no. Hot was an understatement. The man personified beauty with those piercing blue eyes with a darker ring around the outside. Then there was that shock of brown hair, which looked perfectly messed up. Hair, I knew, felt perfectly soft between my fingers. Then there was the rest of him.

He may have been sitting down but that didn’t hide his shoulders. And, of course, I had a memory. But his chest was broader than it had been at twenty. And while everything else was hidden, I was one of the many women who knew that the underwear ad he did a few years back, had not needed any photoshopping.

I had no idea why he was in town. There were bigger recording studios in San Diego, and even more in Los Angeles, where he lived. Why did he have to show up here? And what about Ethan? His father rejected him once before. How would I handle it when he pretended to want nothing to do with us now?

I knew there was a chance I would see him. When Ethan mentioned he was recording, there was no way I could get around it. I always figured that since some of his friends livedin town, we would eventually meet each other again. I just never wanted Ethan to be with me.

“Ryder.” My gaze dropped to Ethan and then back up to Ryder. I hoped he would get the idea we should keep the conversation for later. “We should talk. But not now.”

He nodded and smiled at our son, who was looking at him with some kind of awe. Yeah, if there was any part of me that thought I would be able to negotiate the situation with any sort of ease, I was deluding myself.

Gratitude filled me when Layla came to our rescue. “Why don’t we take it from the top.” She turned to Ethan and smiled. “Make sure you get footage of both of us.”

As they sang, Ryder’s eyes found mine more often than he looked at Layla. The oddest thing was that they had phenomenal chemistry. I had seen it a few times over the years when they performed together. Their fan base had hoped they would hook up. According to both of them, that had never happened.

Even though they had to sing a few lines more than once because it seemed Ryder was a little distracted, the choruses were perfect as they looked at one another. I ignored the thread of jealousy spiraling up my spine as I watched them. They were not together. More importantly, we were not together.

It was beautiful to hear their voices harmonize and I couldn’t help but be mesmerized at how comfortable Ryder looked at the piano. Then again, there were very few instruments the man couldn’t play, but he had often joked that the drums were his favorite.

They had gone through the song maybe twice, though it felt longer with all the stopping when the other group of children joined us. Ryder held a finger out to Everly and she must’ve given him the go ahead to do what he planned.

He stood from the piano and clapped his hands together. “Right. So Mrs. Moore has informed me that every year she letsone or two kids sing in the recording booth.” He looked around the room, trying hard to hold back his smile. “Who would like to share a booth with me this morning? We can sing together, and if you want, I can even give you some pointers.”

Without hesitation, Ethan’s hand rose next to me. This was my absolute worst-case scenario. I knew he could hold a tune. More than, actually. But come on, his father was one of the most talented musicians on the planet. That didn’t mean he wouldn’t embarrass himself. At least Ryder had the decency to look around the room before he chose Ethan.

My kid stepped forward and Ryder held out his hand. “I’m Ryder Hawkins. And you are?”

“Ethan Bauman.”

His lips twitched, and I wasn’t sure if he hated the name I had chosen. Dammit, I should’ve stayed away. Maybe if I wasn’t with Eth, then he wouldn’t have made the connection.

“Nice to meet you, kid. Do you have any preferences as to what you want to sing?”

“Make me feel your love.”

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