Gus’ bandmates clasped her on the shoulder and praised her. She bounced down the stairs of the stage and handed over the guitar to her cousin.
His voice was filled with awe as he said, “Hell, girl, you’re crazy for not recording another CD.”
Sky shook her head. “I’m a one-hit wonder, Gus. As in, it’s a wonder I even had
one hit.”
“You had more than that, honey.” He kissed her on the cheek, then returned to the stage. He clapped her up again, and Sky blushed.
Sam gazed at her with admiration in his bright-green eyes. “You are something else, darlin’.”
She sipped her beer, then said, “Just having fun. How about we dance now?”
He led her out onto the floor and they tore it up with the two-step. Sky lost track of how many songs passed as they danced.
Eventually, she asked, “You know a few country swing moves?”
He smirked. A sexy look that did her in. “I’m a Texan by blood, darlin’.”
He twirled her around the floor. Sky couldn’t remember the last time she’d enjoyed dancing so much.
When she was breathless and feeling as though she’d met her match on the dance floor, she hollered up at Gus, “How about a slow one for us older folk?”
Her cousin laughed. “Girl, if you’d take a break every now and then, you could catch your breath.”
Sky gestured toward Sam. “Look at what I have to compete with.”
Gus chuckled. “Might want to do some P90X, or something.”
She stuck her tongue out at her cousin.
He did her a favor, though, and slowed it down, covering Mickey Gilley’s Stand By Me.
Sky and Sam were in the middle of the floor and he pulled her in nice and tight to him. He twined their fingers and rested them against his chest. Her other hand curled the nape of his neck, her fingers brushing his skin under the thick strands of his hair.
She asked, “Is there anything you’re not good at?”
His jaw set. “Plenty.”
She sighed. “I meant aside from saving the planet and finding the solution to world peace.”
He brushed his lips along her temple. “Sometimes, a man wants to be a hero for a woman like you.”
“Mission accomplished.”
Stand By Me morphed into Willie Nelson’s Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain.
“I like the classics,” Sam said.
“Me too. The ’70s country music reminds me of my mama and daddy. They used to sing and dance all night long on Friday and Saturday nights. They were a lot of fun.”
“Were?”
“Well, Daddy’s still alive. He lives in San Antone. Has a new girlfriend, after so many years of being alone. I don’t know her yet. I think he’s afraid to do a meet ’n greet because he believes my sisters and I will take offense. We won’t, and we’ve told him as much.”
“And what about your mom?”
She gazed up at him. “Died of liver disease when I was thirteen. My two sisters, Macy and Morgan, are twins. They were six when Mama passed.” Sky couldn’t help the ritual moment of silence. Then she added, “They don’t really know her the way I did, and they’re supportive of Daddy’s current life. But for some reason, he feels guilty for moving on. He loved my mama deeply and was devastated when she passed.”