My grumpiness returned and intensified.
I plotted an intercept course but was stopped by a hand on my elbow. Irritable, I turned, prepared to shake off this usurper’s fingers.
But it was Claire.
So I didn’t.
Instead, I returned her smile.
“Claire McClure, we meet again.”
Her grin widened and she laughed, pulling me into a hug. “Hello, Cletus. How are you?”
“Oh, I’m perfectly adequate.” I leaned away and captured her hand, tucking it in the crook of my elbow. “Will you stay and dance with me?”
“Only if you sing a song with me.”
I shook my head. “I guess we’re not dancing then.”
Her mouth pressed into a frustrated line. “Come on, come sing with me. You deserved that recording contract just as much as I did, and yet you insisted on playing second fiddle.”
“That’s because second fiddle gets all the Banana Cake Queens.”
“Good.” She nodded once, ardently. “I was planning on harassing you about her today, but I’m glad you finally came to your senses. You two are perfect for each other.”
“We are, aren’t we?” My eyes automatically sought Jennifer and I frowned. Jackson James had said something to make her laugh.
Itchy britches.
But then I caught myself smiling as my attention snagged on her mouth. I’d take her smile in any form, for any reason, even if Jackson had been the one to put it on her face.
“So there’s nothing I can say to convince you to sing with me?” Claire pressed.
“No.” I gathered a deep breath, turning to Claire and removing her hand from my arm, but keeping our fingers hooked together. “I aspire to different achievements than worldly success, and I know you do as well. But, Claire, I’m glad you finally saw reason and accepted the record deal. Your star is too bright to hide in plain sight.”
“You just rhymed, Cletus. I might have to steal that for a song.”
“Go ahead. I ain’t using it for anything profitable.”
Claire’s eyes moved over my features as though I were precious to her. I guess I was, in a way. I suspected we all were, even Billy.
As though reading my mind, her smile waned and her eyes fell from my face to my bow tie. She removed her fingers from mine and straightened my tie, smoothing her hands down my lapels, then lifting to her tiptoes to place a kiss on my cheek.
“Thank you for believing in me, Cletus. I’ll pay you back one of these days.”
I nodded, considering—studying her—then took a chance and suggested gently, “If you want to pay me back, go ask Billy to sing with you.”
A flash of pain burned bright behind her eyes and her smile dropped, falling into an anxious frown. She shook her head, saying softly, “He doesn’t want to sing with me.”
Her denial had me huffing a laugh. “Oh, Claire. He only wants to sing with you. No one else. Never anyone else. Just you.”
My words did nothing to ease the anxiety in her expression. In fact, it seemed to heighten it. Her eyes darted away, searching, and she pasted a forced smile over her features.
“I think Jennifer is looking for you.” Claire pointed to my right and I followed her gaze.
Sure enough, Jennifer was looking at us and grinning. She waved at Claire happily, then her gorgeous eyes moved to me. Her smile grew.
“Tell her I said hi.”
I felt Claire squeeze my arm, but when I turned back to my friend I was met with the sight of her back, walking away. I scowled at her, at her wrong-headedness. I didn’t understand her.
Stubborn woman.
Clearly she was in love with my brother.
But there was nothing I could do about her. At least, not yet. Maybe later.
I turned my attention back to Jenn and Jackson, and continued my original course, meandering with purpose toward my woman.
“Jackson,” I said as I pulled even with them, ensuring my voice was as flat as the tires of his car.
They aren’t flat yet, but they will be.
He turned his smiling brown eyes to me and they dimmed as I wrapped my arm around Jenn’s waist and pressed a kiss to her neck.
“Hey,” I said, ignoring him.
She smiled up at me, wrapping her arm around my waist as well. “Hey.”
“How are you?”
Her smile grew and her eyes lowered to my lips. “I missed you.”
She missed me.
Life is good.
I mirrored her smile, about to suggest we sneak off, but then Jackson cleared his throat.
“Hello, Cletus,” he said, drawing our attention back to his irritating face. I’d ignored him so well I’d forgotten he was still there.
“That was a nice ceremony,” he offered benignly.
“It was,” I admitted, still flat.
He scratched his neck. I followed the movement with my eyes while Jennifer gave me a sharp squeeze.
My grumpiness flared because I knew what that squeeze meant. She wanted me to talk to Jackson James, that’s what the squeeze meant.
Oh good Lord.