“What about a few club gigs? I can do one and see how it goes.”

They had three club gigs set up to preview their material in front of a small audience before they dropped the CD. They were fan club tickets mainly, which meant the crowd would be on their side but also would give good feedback. It was the kick off of the tour, gave them a chance to do the material live to work out any kinks, too.

“Been nearly three years since the last time we toured on new material. It’d be a big surprise for the fan club, too.” Paddy snorted.

“I’ll do the two secret shows and we’ll see about the rest.”

He clapped a hand on Ezra’s back. “Gonna kick some ass with you. But no pressure, yeah? Do it, and if you feel like it isn’t going to work, don’t do another.”

Ezra nodded. “Come on. I have a coffee date with your girlfriend later.”

“The hell you do.”

Ezra thought that was hilarious. “I do. I’m assisting her with your present. Plus, I’m pretty to look at. Everyone says so.”

“Oh, well, if it’s for a present, I withdraw my objections. Also, it’s good for her to be around the brother who is far less smooth so she remembers just why I’m so irresistible.”

“Whatever. Let’s get working so I can play.”

* * *

EZRA PUT THE guitar in the case and grinned up at her. “He’s going to love this. It’s in perfect shape and yep, tuned.”

She smiled back, happy. “Thank you so much for helping me find it. I wouldn’t have known where to start looking, much less what to get him.”

The what in question was a dark cherry-red 1981 Gibson 355. She’d had to cajole, charm and ruthlessly pursue it once Ezra had said it was a guitar Paddy had wanted for years, but the person who had the one he really wanted didn’t like him.

Of course, she took that as a personal challenge and had been working on the guy for the past three months.

She loved the shape of it. Curvy, like her, she supposed. When he held it onstage, hopefully, he’d think of her.

“Honestly, I think you’re a freaking wizard for getting Ed to sell this to you. Also, when Paddy gets over his freak out of joy he’s going to frown at you for what this must have cost.”

“It’s my money. I wanted him to have it.”

Ezra kissed her forehead and watched her wrap it. “I’ve never seen a package look so professionally wrapped outside a department store. You could slice tomatoes with those corners.”

“I worked in a department store when I was in high school. I was the queen of the holiday wrapping counter.” She huffed a breath on her nails, shining them against her shoulder.

“I bet. So you’re staying up our way, right? I mean...” Ezra looked around the house. He’d insisted on accompanying her to Eugene where she’d taken custody of the guitar from Ed, a crusty old dude who’d been the one and only owner. “Tuesday’s not around?”

She hid her smile. Both of them thought it was easy to hide their mutual fascination with one another from her.

“She flew out to Tennessee first thing with her parents. They’re having a huge family reunion at her great-aunt’s house. Apparently, all her extended family are coming in from all over the country to celebrate her great-aunt and -uncle’s sixty-fifth wedding anniversary.”

“Wow, that’s pretty awesome. She’s from Tennessee?”

“She was raised in Olympia. Her mom was born and raised there and met Tuesday’s dad while she was going to college in Virginia. They came back to Olympia after they graduated and married. He’s a former hippie who owns a roofing company, and she’s an engineer. His folks are from Tennessee. Cookeville.”

“Small world. My mom and dad are from Columbia and thereabouts. Both grew up on farms.”

“You two have a lot in common. You should ask her to dinner sometime.”

He gave her a look, and she tried to stay serious.

“What?”

“Her best friend is my brother’s girlfriend. I’ll wait a bit to see how that works out before I make connections.”

She picked up the case and put a bow on it. “Yes, I’m spending the night. Also, so are you saying you think Paddy and I are going to crash and burn?”

He choked. “What? No! How the hell did you get that? Christ, women. You’re all the devil. As it happens, I think you and Paddy are good together, and thank goodness he does, too. You keep him calm. He didn’t even bloody Vaughan’s or Damien’s nose. Not once.”

“Pfft, he gave Vaughan a black eye, and he split your lip and Vaughan’s. Twice. If that’s calm, God help us the next time you guys record.”

“Says the woman who charmed this guitar out of Ed Chasen to give to Paddy Hurley. Seriously, this guy hates my brother.”

“How about we load this into the car along with those presents over there? I’ll grab my bag and meet you at your car and then on the way over to the ranch, you can tell me the Ed and Paddy story?”

“Okay. But only if you tell me how you charmed him.”

“Deal.”

She ran upstairs to grab her bag with her clothes and toiletries. She already had stuff at Paddy’s house, which made her happy. But she had some Christmas presents she’d give him in private, too.

She locked the house up and met him at his truck where he opened her door—Sharon Hurley didn’t raise boys who didn’t open doors for other people—and she climbed into the seat.