Page 78 of Come Back to Me

“His brother was a pilot too.”

She stills. “Was?”

“No, Sundance isn’t dead,” I say wryly. “It would take a lot more than a plane crash to stop him. He had to leave.”

“Why?”

“Difference of opinion with a CO.”

“He was dishonorably discharged?”

“Nah. It was all covered up nice and neat.”

“How wasn’t any of that in the press?!”

“Because his dad made sure it wasn’t. Sundance and Rock Ferrer’s father is Jerry Majors.”

“JERRY MAJORS?! The director? He’s related to Rock Ferrer? How didn’t I know that?”

“According to Sundance, Rock didn’t want to be a nepo baby. Rock and Sundance have different moms. Anyway, I could make a call.”

A breath soughs from her, and all that interest that was aimed my way drifts. The tension in her limbs sags too. “I-I…” Her hesitance is so unlike Tee that I turn to her in concern. I expected her to bite my hand off at the opportunity, but— “I don’t think I’m good enough. H-He…”

“I saved Sundance’s life on no less than four occasions. He owes me,” I say firmly. Untangling her nails from my forearm takes some work, but I make it happen so I can slot my fingers through hers. “And I’ve heard your music.” Not that I’ll tell her how. “It’s beautiful.”

I’m not lying, but what’s more beautiful is her passion.

Watching her tonight as she scrawled note after note, humming, knowing what sounded right, scratching out what didn’t, I don’t think I was more fascinated when I jumped into the cockpit for the first time. I could have warned her of my presence thirty minutes earlier. Instead, I’d watched her create.

Her hand clings to mine. “Isn’t it unfair? I-I’d be skipping the line.”

“It’s not what you know, it’s who, and in this instance, I have no problem in calling in the favor.”

“Why not?”

“Because Sundance is the reason I came home.”

Tee

“This Kiss” - Faith Hill

Because Sundance is the reason I came home.

That name...

It puts me on edge.

Sundance Kid.

Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid.

The Western.

That’s how my Butch earned the name.

But he isn’tmyButch. I’m not sure he ever was.

“You mean he...”

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