The Greatest Show (Willow Son #5/Brothers of Rock #20) (18 page)

“
Get
him out of here,
”
Brantley
said.

The Willow Son fans were on his
side and they grabbed Rick and dragged him from the bar.

Brantley turned and looked at Mike.
“
What was that?
”

“
And
old flame,
”
Mike said.
“
I never liked him. He was an
asshole. Tried to force himself as Seth
’
s
father. He threw a fit when his blood didn
’
t
match Seth
’
s. I
’
ve wanted to hit him for a long
time.
”

“
If
he comes around here again, call the police and then call me,
”
Brantley said.
“
I
’
ll
take care of it.
”

Brantley looked around the bar and
while the crowd had thinned and were mostly people who cared more about a cold
beer than their cell phone, there were still people there with their phones
out, typing away.

Shit.

“
Mike,
I have to call my band manager,
”
he said.
“
I have to get
ahead of this. Not a good thing when you
’
re
someone like me.
”

The next hour became nothing but a
whirlwind. Videos were surfacing of Brantley fighting Rick. Sites were picking
up the videos and sharing them, speculating on Willow Son
’
s impending doom and a few
writers had the nerve to suggest that Brantley was secretly on drugs and
working at a bar to get some cash for his next high.

Back in the bar, Brantley stayed
until Mike closed up and then he helped clean up a little.

“
You
know, you should get yourself checked out,
”
Brantley said.
“
I can get
you to a real doctor just to double-check everything.
”

“
You
saying I
’
m old?
”

“
I
’
m saying you keep limping and
you have a bad cough. You might have an infection.
”

“
I
’
m fine.
”

Brantley put the mop he was using
back in the bucket.
“
You
know, she depends on you. I want that changed, but I think she
’
ll always look to you. Can you
at least do me a favor and tell me how much you owe on this place?
”

“
I
’
m six figures.
”

“
How
many?
”

“
Almost
two.
”

Brantley nodded.
“
I wish she would have called me.
I could have done more. I was giving what I thought was enough.
”

“
Money
is never enough in life,
”
Mike said.

“
I
know that. I realize that. I found out before, when Ryker was here, that my
father
’
s dead. I never knew
him. It was a bad situation.
”

“
Ah,
shit,
”
Mike said.
“
I
’
m
…”

“
No.
Don
’
t be. What I
’
m trying to tell you is that
when I see this around me, it matters. You matter, Mike. I can
’
t thank you enough for all you
’
ve done here. I don
’
t want to push anyone away but I
want to be part of it all.
”

“
You
are part of it,
”
Mike said.
“
Now go home to her.
”
Mike then sighed.
“
And give me that name of that
doctor you were talking about.
”

Brantley went outside and got into
his car.

He called Harry again.

“
Jesus
Christ, what now?
”
Harry
yelled into the phone.

“
I
need money.
”

“
What?
”

“
I
need money. I
’
m going to
give you an address and I want you to help me out with something. No arguing.
No bullshit.
”

“
What
are you going to do here?
”

Brantley had a simple answer.
“
Fix everything I fucked
up.
”

(17)

Emma heard the door open and she
popped up. She threw the covers off her body and ran to the door. She hurried
out of her bedroom and ran to Seth
’
s.
He was still sleeping peacefully. Dinosaur blankets covering him and in his
right hand, he was clutching the drumstick Brantley had given him the first
time they met.

She slowly shut the door and walked
to the top of the steps. She listened as Brantley walked through the house. He
let out a groan and Emma heard to sound of a zipper. It was Brantley
’
s bag. He had brought a bunch of
clothes with him last time.

Emma went down the steps until she
saw Brantley.

“
Hey,
”
she whispered.

“
Hey
Emma. Did I wake you?
”

“
Yeah.
That
’
s okay though. I wasn
’
t sleeping too well. How was
your night.
”

Brantley stood and had clothes in
his hand. The light from the dinning room shined across his face. When Emma saw
the bruises, she let out a gasp and rushed down the steps.

“
What
happened?
”
she asked.

“
Got
into a fight,
”
Brantley
said.

“
What?
”

“
With
Rick.
”

Emma froze when she heard the name.
“
What did you just say?
”

“
Yeah,
exactly. Rick. The asshole from that first night. You were still with him?
”

“
It
wasn
’
t like that,
”
Emma said.

Brantley put a hand up.
“
It
’
s
not my business. But he feels it is his business to take care of Seth. And you.
Then your father mentioned a few things.
”

“
I
’
m sorry,
”
Emma said.
“
I
should have told you sooner. Or not. I mean, we
’
re
not together. We never really were. He was just there for me.
”

“
So
you have some guy sort of there for you? You have some guy sort of there for
Seth? A guy who thought he was Seth
’
s
father? And that didn
’
t
confuse Seth?
”
Brantley
shook his head.
“
But yet
with me
…
you hesitate.
”

“
It
’
s not like that,
”
Emma said. She reached for
Brantley but he pulled away.
“
Hey,
come on.
”

“
No.
You figure this out, Emma. You
’
re
pissed at me for buying you pizza? Then I
’
m
trying to help your father and next thing I know some guy is clocking me in the
face, saying he
’
s your
family.
”

“
I
’
m so sorry about what happened.
”

“
Don
’
t be sorry,
”
Brantley said.
“
I
’
m
sorry if anyone else belongs in my place. You called me. You said it was time
for me to be here and I came. All those years past I can
’
t control and I hate myself for it.
”

“
It
’
s not that simple for me,
”
Emma said.
“
What I feel with you
…”

Brantley reached for her hand.
“
I
’
ll
keep it simple. I
’
m in love
with you, Emma. I
’
ve always
loved you. I
’
m in love with
Seth. That
’
s my son. I want
to take care of him. I plan on it. The last thing I want to have happen is you
feel unloved by him though. So here I stand, my ass on the line now. The bar
was packed tonight.
”

“
That
’
s good.
”

“
No,
not when you
’
re a rockstar
throwing punches. I
’
m all
over social media. Rumors are going wild about me. About the band. This is not
good at all. I
’
ll get
through it though. I
’
m used
to rumors and bullshit stories. Happens all the time. I also found out tonight
that my father is dead.
”

“
What?
”
Emma asked.
“
Oh, Brantley
…”

“
He
’
s been dead for a while now. I
asked Harry to try and find him. I wanted to talk to him. I don
’
t know why. Maybe I
’
m just afraid I don
’
t know how to be a father and I
wanted to blame him for that. But it
’
s
up to me to make decisions, Emma. I
’
m
not going to push away. But I am not leaving Seth
’
s
life either.
”

Brantley walked by Emma and went to
the stairs.

“
Wait,
”
Emma said. She turned and
lunged at Brantley. She grabbed his hand.
“
We
’
ll tell him. Together. Okay? If
that
’
s what you want.
”

“
It
’
s not about what I want. It
’
s about what we want. As a
family. If you and me aren
’
t
meant to be together, like living together, I can accept that. Seth will too.
But I need to be his father.
”

“
You
are. He
’
s sleeping upstairs
with that drumstick you gave him. That
’
s
what matters.
”

“
Think
about it,
”
Brantley said.
“
I
’
m
going to grab a shower. I stink like a bar.
”

“
I
kind of like it,
”
Emma
said. She tugged at him, wanting him.
“
I
love-
”

“
Think
about it,
”
Brantley
repeated.

He broke away and walked up the
stairs.

Emma stood there, numb. She then
got a spark of energy and rushed up the stairs wanting to take on Brantley. At
the top of the steps she saw Brantley standing at the door to Seth
’
s room. Emma hid back enough so
Brantley couldn
’
t see her.
But she could still see him. He put his pointer and middle fingers together and
touched his chest twice. Then he kissed his fingers and pointed them to the
room.

There was a sudden twist in Emma
’
s stomach and she wanted to
throw up.

She watched Brantley walk away,
going into the bathroom.

When the water turned on, she
stepped forward.

Her body, her heart, her mind, her
soul - all of it was on fire for him. This wasn
’
t
lust anymore. This was real. This was what Brantley had said
…
a family.
He wanted a
family and he would get one. He had one.

Emma took her shirt off as she
walked. Her bare breasts bounced as she walked with defiance, knowing what she
ultimately wanted. She stripped out of her PJ bottoms and panties, then bundled
everything up and tossed it all into the bedroom.

She knew what she wanted and she
was going to have it. Take the risk. Take the plunge. Just for it. Just like
the wild girl Brantley had met, dancing without a care in front of the speakers
at a concert.

She never felt so exposed in her
life and not just because she was naked.

At the bathroom door, she grabbed
the handle and feared it was going to be locked.

So what? I
’
ll kick the damn thing
down.

The door opened.

Brantley stood there, naked, his
back facing Emma. He grabbed a towel and looked over his shoulder.

“
What
are you doing?
”

“
I
don
’
t need to think,
”
she said.
“
I
’
ve
had years to think. I
’
ve
had years to fantasize about you coming back into my life. You
’
re here. I
’
m terrified you
’
re going to leave me. Tomorrow.
The next day. A year. Ten years. But right now, you
’
re here.
”

Brantley turned and faced her.
“
I
’
ll
keep my promise
…”

“
And
I love you too,
”
Emma cut
in. She reached forward and pulled the towel away from Brantley. He was halfway
ready.
“
Now
…
take me into the shower and
fuck me.
”

**

She was wild.

Brantley gripped her hips tight and
pulled as he thrust forward. She let out groan after groan, her hands against
the tiles, pushing back at him. He couldn
’
t
contain himself anymore with her. He wanted to make love to her and fuck her
all at the same time.

The harder Brantley pumped at her,
the harder she thrust back at him. Her knees then started to bend as she came,
her toes curling against the bathmat. Brantley bent his knees too and stayed
with her. His hands slid around her body and up until he cupped her perfect breasts.
They were amazing handfuls, her nipples hard nubs pressing against Brantley
’
s palms.

“
Stand
up,
sexy moves
,
”
Brantley ordered.

He took his body from hers and
stood her up and turned her around. His hands then slithered down her wet body
and cupped at her ass. She put her left leg up and Brantley slid his hand down
the back of her thigh. He pressed forward, entering her again.

“
Oh,
shit,
”
Emma groaned.
“
It feels so good.
”

“
Yes
it does,
”
Brantley said.

He then kissed her and started to
love her again. This time he was slow, deep, and thorough. He felt every inch
of his body explore every inch of hers. The water was hot, almost stinging, the
steam making it even harder to breathe. They were wet from the water and from
their sweat.

It was amazing.

Her hands clung to his back, her
nails scratching hard but not too hard.

They were meant to be together.

Their bodies connected in such a
beautiful way.

Brantley started to speed up,
listening to the command of his body.

Emma let out a whimper and Brantley
kissed her again. She groaned into his mouth, and that was just enough to set
Brantley off.

He thrust as deep as he could and
started to come.

He held himself there, grabbing
Emma at the back of both her thighs, lifting her up. She locked her ankles
around him and just held there.

Brantley kissed her until the
water started to go cold.

**

Emma forced a brush through her
knotty hair. She had no idea how she was running on anything. She had gone to
sleep just before ten. Now it was almost two in the morning. She probably got
two hours of solid sleep before Brantley came home.

She finished brushing her hair and
saw Brantley in the reflection of the mirror as he sat on the edge of the bed.

“
What?
”
she asked.

“
I
want to talk to him alone,
”
Brantley said.
“
Man to man.
”

Emma turned.
“
Oh?
”

“
I
don
’
t want you tied into
this with Seth. This was my decision as a man and as a father. He has to know I
was wrong by not being there. He has to know that you were the one who did
everything. Emma, I have so much to make up for. Forty dollars, pizza, a night
at your father
’
s bar, and a
drumstick don
’
t matter. I
need you to know that. My proof will be in the time I give you in the future.
And that
’
s a hard thing to
trust in. I know my track record and I know who I am. But when I look at you,
Emma, fucking hell, it
’
s
like nothing I
’
ve ever
experienced in my life. I
’
ve
stood in front of eighty thousand people and it doesn
’
t give me the feeling like I have with you.
”

“
See,
that
’
s what I
’
m not used to,
”
Emma said.
“
So when I hear it
…”

“
Get
used to it. It
’
s the truth.
Come here.
”

Emma walked toward Brantley. His
hands went under her shirt, touching her bare skin. His touch was warm and felt
like protection. She put her hands to his shoulders and felt him continue to
rise up, until his thumbs teased against her nipples.

“
Again?
”
she whispered.

“
Forever,
”
Brantley said.