Page 62 of Trophy
Maybe it was the wine, but she was giggling and feeding Rob bites of her scrumptious chocolate mousse at the end of dinner. He was looking at her like he genuinely believed she was the most beautiful woman in the world.
She might have just melted away completely if a big man with a long, unkempt beard hadn’t come over and clapped Rob’sshoulders with both hands. “Rob West,” the man said with a very strong mountain drawl. “It’s been a long time.”
Rob turned around, blinking when he saw who it was. “Malachi!” He stood up and shook the man’s hand. Then he turned to Allison and introduced them. “Allison, this is Malachi Beardsley. We used to know each other from around, although I haven’t seen him in years. And Malachi, this is?—”
“Your honey. That much is obvious.”
Rob shot her a quick, apologetic look, as if he thought she might not like being called his “honey.” She actually thought it was kind of cute, and she was still trying to process the irony of a man with a beard like that having the last name of Beardsley.
She managed to say hello in a mostly articulate way. It looked like Malachi wanted to stay and chat, but he was called up by the long-haired man in overalls who had just stepped onto the stage and picked up a banjo.
“Got to go,” Malachi said, giving them a quick wave before he went to join the overalls man and another guy with hair in a ponytail. “Music starts at seven thirty.”
“Oh, I guess we’ll get to hear some of it,” Allison said, turning her chair slightly as the musicians started to pluck and tune their instruments.
“I’m not sure it’s going to be the kind of music you’re used to,” Rob said, cocking one eyebrow at her.
“What do you mean? What kind of music is it? Folk music or something?”
“Eh. More like… bluegrass, with some country mixed in. Wait and see.”
Allison watched with interest and then understood immediately what Rob was talking about. She’d never heard the song they played, and she couldn’t understand all the words, but it seemed to be a story about a hunting dog who’d gotten lost somewhere in the woods. The music was very interesting,though, and the men obviously knew how to play very well. She was smiling as she looked over to Rob.
“Don’t tell me you like it,” he said, looking at her closely despite his teasing smile.
“It’s different. It’s interesting. I kind of want to hear more.”
The second song she liked even better, but their coffee and dessert were done, and she was wondering if they should give up their table. There was probably another reservation at eight, and she didn’t want to be rude.
She was just turning to Rob to suggest they think about leaving when the song finished and Malachi spoke into the microphone. “We have a treat tonight. A really talented musician who was long since forsaken his guitar. Maybe we can get him to join us for a song.”
Allison looked around, interested in who this was, when she realized the three guys in the band were all grinning at Rob, who looked like he’d been caught in oncoming headlights.
“Rob West,” Malachi continued, confirming her conclusion. “Come on up and sing a song for us.”
Allison gasped and covered her mouth with her hand as she stared at Rob. He was shaking his head and waving Malachi away, smiling but looking very self-conscious.
“Do you sing and play the guitar?” Allison asked him.
He shrugged. “I used to. Just something to do. I was never very good.”
“He’s saying he wasn’t very good,” Malachi said into the microphone, obviously set on goading Rob into getting up on the stage. “Let’s try to convince him to come up.”
The rest of the customers and the waitstaff were all getting into the spirit, clapping and calling out for Rob to get up there.
Allison gave him a little push. “Go on,” she said, a little embarrassed to be the center of attention but, more than that,really wanting to see what Rob could do onstage. “Go sing a song with them.”
Rob looked torn. “Are you sure?”
She really didn’t understand, but he appeared to be hesitating because of her. “Why wouldn’t I? I’d love to see this side of you. Please show it to me.”
Something in his eyes changed, and whatever it was, it made the decision. He stood up and shook himself off. When he got up to the stage, he took the guitar the ponytail guy handed him, and he shook his head at Malachi in amused reproach.
Malachi appeared very pleased with himself. “We’re going to have to go more mainstream with this one, since Rob here is so out of practice.”
Allison was ridiculously excited as Malachi started to play his fiddle, the first bars obviously signaling what song they were going to play.
Naturally, Allison hadn’t heard this one before either, but a lot of the other people in the restaurant must have because they clapped when the guys started to sing. Allison focused on Rob, who seemed to be quite good on the guitar. He had a warm, pleasant voice—nothing really exceptional, but she loved the sound of it.Lovedit. Loved that she was finally getting to know this side of him—one that was so authentic and endearing and even sexy.
