Feuds and Interludes (Rock ‘n’ Romance Legends #1)

Chapter 20

Twenty

B oone

I was ready to jump out of my skin at the prospect of having dinner with these two seventy-agers and the fact that Shane was being so calm, despite his professional life falling apart. I asked him to drive because I was liable to run us off the road in the studio’s van, as jittery as I was.

Shane was a surprisingly careful driver. He didn’t speed, he didn’t tailgate, but I was still waiting for him to go off the rails a bit. He looked damn good in the black slacks and black dress shirt he’d put on. I loved the leather, but I could barely keep from drooling at sharp-dressed Shane. I’d been paying more attention to his hands on the wheel and watching his lips move than I had what he was saying.

“Anyway, I’m looking at this time at Bolder Breed as an exploration, see what moves me, see what I feel like. I don’t know, you know? I don’t know if I want to hire a band before doing final recordings, or just Dave Grohl this shit and play it all myself and go from there. Lydia and I decided on three of the songs I’d brought in, and we’re re-working some of the riffs from the others. She’s brilliant, you know? Have you ever—hey, you all right over there, babe?”

“I’m fine! I’m just listening to you. I can hardly believe you’re talking to me about all this.”

Shane frowned and checked his mirrors before reaching for my hand. “Believe it. If you let me, I’ll talk your ear off.”

I smiled at him but it was strained. Thankfully, he wasn’t able to really pay attention. As he focused on the road, I tried to make my fake smile genuine.

“Talk away. I’m all ears. And I’m happy for you, I am. Did you get everything squared away with a new manager?”

“Yeah, actually. Her name is Audra. I love her already.”

“That’s great.”

He grinned at me as he made a right turn. “Enough about me. How did your day go? You know, I like this. It’s been a long time since I had someone to share the events of my day with, and none of them were musicians. Well, besides Pops. Sometimes it was tough to talk to him about music things when they were going good for me, because he wasn’t having the best luck in his career at the time. He’s always supported me, though. No matter what.”

“Of course he has. He’s so proud of you,” I said. “I get the sense he’s not too fond of me.” I immediately hated that I’d said that. God, I was so nervous.

“He likes you, Boone. He’s just…he’s old school. He’ll ride your ass before he’ll compliment you. He thinks you sing even better than John, and that’s a huge compliment. For him, the sun rises and sets with your grandfather.”

“And my grandmother.” Now I was flitting around the subject that really had me jumpy. Gran always texted me back right away, she was always there when I needed her, but these past couple of weeks since she and Bruce had been spending time together, it seemed as if her replies came later and later, or not at all, like today. This whole canceling the flight I’d booked for her, changing plans at the last minute…that wasn’t like her. I had no idea what we were walking into and that had me jumpy.

I fully realized that I was a thirty-year-old man who shouldn’t need his grandmother at every turn, but ever since Papa died two years ago and I got sick, she’d been my rock. I wasn’t sure I was ready to share her with Bruce, but that wasn’t up to me.

“Right,” Shane said, and his brows drew together, a look I was quite familiar with. “Guess things are going to be different, huh?”

“Yeah. It’s hard to imagine.”

Telling Shane my worries, showing him my tender underbelly, was a terrifying prospect. How could someone like him—someone who hadn’t curled up in a ball and wailed about his band quitting, when I would have at the very least gone on an epic bender and probably ended up in a diabetic coma—want to hear my petty bullshit? How could I even consider leaning on him when he had such bigger issues to deal with?

I knew already, after this short courtship, that I couldn’t bear to see disappointment in his gaze. I wouldn’t impose. I’d just have to get over my Gran issues myself and be worthy of his attention. I’d spent my whole life trying not to be an imposition on anyone. I’d done my best since becoming an orphan. If I was good enough, people would love me. It was as simple as that. I didn’t want their pity, I wanted their respect, and I planned to work harder than ever to earn it from Shane.

A few minutes later, Shane made the turn onto SE 13 th Avenue in the Sellwood District and looked for parking near Gino’s. I hadn’t spent a whole lot of time in Portland proper, and I was glad he was driving. And parking. He even made parking sexy.

“Man, how’d you get so good at parallel parking? I couldn’t park a golf cart in these spots, much less this big van.”

He grinned. “What did you call it? The van life? I got used to parking that thing. Anywhere you go in LA, you’re likely to have to parallel park, right?”

So capable . “Yeah, well, I’m that brat who will hire a driver or book a Lyft if the place I’m going doesn’t have valet parking. It makes me anxious.” I bit the inside of my cheek. Why did I have to open my mouth? I should just sit and look pretty tonight before Shane really figured out what he’d gotten himself into with me.

“Makes sense. There’s enough angst trying to drive in LA, much less worrying about parking. If it stresses you out, you should let someone else drive. I love driving. Traffic and that stuff doesn’t bother me. I’m happy to be your personal Lyft anytime.” He turned and winked at me as he put the van in park. “We’re here, Monsieur Collins.” He leaned over and presented his gorgeous lips for a kiss, but my dumb ass hesitated.

“Hey,” he said, reaching for me once more. “What’s wrong, Boone?”

The way his face got all soft when he looked at me was too much. It was so much easier when he was the Metal Menace. This sweet side to Shane Butler had me unsteady, and I knew I needed to get it together before we went inside.

“Nothing. Thank you for driving.” I reached for the door, but he put a hand on my arm.

“Boone, talk to me.”

“I’m just—” My phone beeped and I checked my glucose monitor. “Wow, a little low. Let’s get inside. The sooner I get some food in me, the more human I’ll be. Sorry.”

“Don’t apologize. Wait for me. I don’t want you to fall.”

He hopped out his door and walked around to open my door, which was probably a good thing since my legs felt like jelly.

“Thanks,” I said, pushing up on my toes to kiss his cheek.

That warm smile was back, and he stared at me for a moment before he put his hand at my lower back and gave me a little caress.

“My pleasure. And hey, I’ll follow your lead with the grandparents, okay? Whatever you want to do. I know this is a big deal for you. John hasn’t been gone that long. It’s probably weird seeing her with someone else, even if it’s Pops.”

My breath caught and my eyes burned. He knew exactly what to say. God, this was too good to be true. I blinked back the fucking tears and chinned and chested the fuck up. I didn’t dare speak though. I didn’t trust my voice.

We went inside and Shane stood beside me as he let the hostess know we had a reservation. When she went to check on our table, he slid his hand along the waistband of my pants. He leaned close to my ear and spoke in that low voice that made me break out in goose bumps.

“Goddamn, Collins. These pants are fucking glorious on you. I’ve never seen a man wear pants as well as you do.”

Heat rushed to my face and neck, and I avoided turning to look at him for fear I’d combust.

“Keep that up and you’ll see me not wearing them later.”

I reached behind my back and squeezed his hand as the hostess returned.

“Your party has already arrived. Follow me.”

We strolled through the crowded restaurant and more than a few people did double takes as we passed them. A few even whipped out phones and took pics of us together.

“The interwebs are going to implode,” Shane muttered, “in three…two…one.”

I turned to laugh at what he said, and then saw some very excited fans holding back their squeals as they tapped furiously on their phones.

“You didn’t happen to mention to your new manager today that she may be fielding a bazillion calls for comment tonight, did you?”

“Did you call Dickie?”

I laughed loudly, throwing my head back. “Should we give them a show?”

Shane shook his head but he was grinning. “Watch this.” He placed his hand at my lower back and bent to whisper in my ear. “We might regret this later, but I’m having way too much fun to stop now.”

I turned and gazed up at him, fluttering the eyelashes just a bit. I placed a hand on his chest and pressed up on my toes to whisper back. “I’m not wearing any underwear. Any more fun and it won’t just be the hickeys showing.” I kissed his cheek for good measure.

We turned the corner and were faced with the sight of our grandparents kissing in the booth.

That cooled our ardor.

“Gran,” I said as we approached the table.

She pulled away from the kiss and didn’t even blush, didn’t seem concerned about being caught.

“There you boys are. Come. Sit.” She patted the seat next to her, which meant there was only space for me and Shane would have to sit next to Bruce. That made me sad. We were a new development, of course, but I guess I’d pictured us sitting next to each other, holding hands under the table in solidarity.

I glanced at Shane, and his scowl was back.

I slid in next to Gran and hugged her, kissing her cheek as Shane and Bruce hugged. I extended my hand to shake Bruce’s, and he looked at it in surprise for a minute before he awkwardly shook it like he might an overzealous fan’s. Shane, of course, had to show me up by being totally cool when he took Vera Jean’s hand and graciously held it in both of his as he bowed to her. Man, he was good at this.

“Boys, we have news,” Vera Jean said. She barely waited for our asses to hit the seat before she grinned and linked arms with Bruce.

“By all means,” I said, thinking we had some pretty big news of our own.

The septuagenarians turned to each other and grinned before turning back to face us.

“Bruce is moving in with me.”

My face was about to break under the strain of holding up my smile.

“Wow,” was the clever response I came up with. I glanced at Shane, but he just turned a concerned expression on his grandfather.

“That’s right! I’m selling my condo, Shane, and I’m donating all the proceeds to the Collins Foundation. It feels good to do something in John’s name.”

“Pops?” Shane leaned a little closer and said quietly, “That’s your nest egg. Are you sure?”

“Never been surer,” he said, turning to smile at Vera Jean, who had such a starry-eyed gaze when she smiled back at him.

Shane looked to me with his eyebrows raised, as if he was struggling with what to say as well.

“When?” I finally asked, not sure I wanted the answer.

“I signed a contract with an agent two days ago and the movers are packing up my stuff tomorrow.” He leaned his elbows on the table and said the next specifically to Shane. “Life is short, son. Why wait?”

Shane held his gaze for a moment, and then faced me. “That’s very true.” He kind of shrugged with one shoulder and waited for me to respond.

“Well, maybe I should get the agent’s number,” I said with a laugh. “Guess I’m going to be in the market for a new home.” Sure, the laughter came out a little manic, but it wasn’t the worst response I could have made.

“Oh, dear boy, there’s no rush. Whenever you’re ready.” Gran patted my hand, and I swore I felt my cheeks crumbling like one of those dry skin commercials. Any second now my face would be a pile of rubble on the table.