Page 64 of Saddles and Snowstorms
Rowan’s hand found my knee under the table, giving it a reassuring squeeze. The simple touch steadied me, grounding me in a way I hadn’t expected.
Colt and Caroline finished their duet to thunderous applause, taking exaggerated bows before Caroline pointed directly at our table.
“I nominate Brooks and Rowan!” she called out, her voice carrying across the diner.
All eyes turned to us, and I felt my stomach drop to my feet. Rowan’s hand squeezed my knee again, but this time it did little to calm the panic rising in my chest.
“Oh, I don’t—” I started, but Colt was already bounding over, microphone in hand.
“Come on, cowboy!” he urged, grinning from ear to ear. “Show us what you’ve got!”
I looked at Rowan, silently pleading for help. To my surprise, he stood up, taking the microphone from Colt.
“I’ll go,” he said, his voice steady. “But Brooks can sit this one out.”
Relief washed over me, followed immediately by a strange sense of guilt. I watched as Rowan made his way to the small makeshift stage, scrolling through the song selections with a confidence I envied. The room fell quiet as he found what he was looking for, and the opening notes of “Desperado” filled the diner.
And then his voice—God, his voice. It was rich and deep, filling every corner of the diner as he sang about a prisoner who had found his cage. The room fell completely silent except for Rowan’s singing, everyone captivated by the unexpected talent coming from our town vet. Even I sat transfixed, my beer halfway to my lips, forgotten.
When he reached the chorus, his eyes found mine across the room. “You better let somebody love you, before it’s too late.” The words hung in the air between us, and I knew they were meant for me. A lump formed in my throat that I couldn’t swallow away.
Dolly appeared beside me, her weathered hand resting on my shoulder. “That boy’s singing to you, Brooks,” she said quietly, her voice barely audible over the music. “Plain as day.”
I couldn’t respond, couldn’t tear my eyes away from Rowan as he continued, his gaze never leaving mine. It felt like we were the only two people in the room, like he was laying his heart bare for me through someone else’s words. The vulnerability in his eyes made my chest ache.
When the song ended, there was a beat of silence before the room erupted in applause. Rowan smiled sheepishly, ducking his head as he made his way back to our table. The flush on his cheeks made him even more beautiful.
“Where the hell did that come from?” Colt demanded, clapping Rowan on the back. “You been holding out on us, city boy!”
Rowan shrugged, sliding back into his seat beside me. “Sang in a band for a bit in college. Nothing serious.”
“Nothing serious, he says,” Caroline scoffed, shaking her head. “That was incredible.”
I couldn’t speak, couldn’t find the words to expresswhat his performance had done to me. Instead, I let my knee press against his under the table, a silent acknowledgment of what had just passed between us.
“Your turn, Brooks,” Beau called from across the room, his arm slung casually around Lucas’s shoulders.
I shook my head, panic rising again. “I don’t sing.”
“Everyone sings,” Lucas countered with a grin. “Some just do it better than others.”
“Leave him be,” Rowan said, his voice gentle but firm. “If Brooks doesn’t want to sing, he doesn’t have to.” The protectiveness in his tone made my heart swell.
The others exchanged glances but backed off, Colt dramatically clutching his chest. “Fine, fine. But you’re missing out on the full karaoke experience, cowboy.” He turned his attention to Dakota. “What about you, strong silent type? Got any hidden talents?”
As the attention shifted away from us, I leaned closer to Rowan, our shoulders touching. “That was...” I struggled to find the right words. “You never told me you could sing like that.”
Rowan’s lips curved into a small smile. “Never came up.” His eyes met mine, intense and honest. “Did you like it?”
“Like it?” I whispered, making sure no one else could hear. “Rowan, that was the most beautiful thing I’ve ever heard.” I swallowed hard, fighting the urge to reach for his hand. “And I heard what you were saying. Through the song.”
His eyes softened. “Yeah?”
I nodded, unable to look away from him. “Yeah.”
The moment stretched between us, heavy with unspoken words and fragile emotions. I wanted to tell him everything—how terrified I was of losing him, how afraid I was of letting people in, how the walls I’d built were crumbling every time he smiled at me. But the words stuck in my throat.
Dakota took the stage next, surprising everyone with a soulful rendition of “Tennessee Whiskey” that had Caroline whooping and Colt pretending to swoon. I used the distraction to lean even closer to Rowan.
