All of Me by Tiffany Patterson

Chapter 11

Gabe

The Saturday after I helped Lena set up her production equipment, I turned into her driveway. It was still dark outside at five-thirty in the morning. But this was part of my planned outing.

The weather was supposed to be perfect that day, with a high of around seventy-eight. Right then, it was only in the low sixties. From what I could see, there wasn’t a cloud in the sky.

I could make out the rolling hills of the Texas Hill Country. Lena and I would have a much better view of them soon.

That is if she trusted me enough to follow through on what I had planned.

I bounded up to the front door, knocking. I heard Lena as she approached the door, and tingles rolled up my spine, the way it always did when I knew I’d get to see her.

She pulled the door open, frowning.

“I thought you were joking when you said you’d be here this early.”

My smile widened as I looked her up and down. She’d pulled her hair back into a high bun and paired the look with a pair of jade green earrings and an off-the-shoulder green and black wrap dress that stopped a few inches above her knee. The dress had a peek-a-boo middle, showing the smooth skin of her stomach.

“If you thought I was joking, then why are you dressed?”

Her frown deepened. “Smart ass.”

Even in the semi-dark, every inch of her exposed skin made my mouth water.

“You didn’t give me a dress code, so I hope this is all right for whatever it is we’re doing.”

“If it weren’t, I’d say to hell with those plans, just to make sure you didn’t think about changing.”

Her frown dropped, and she tried to stifle a smile. “Are you going to tell me now what we’re doing? Since you have me up at the crack of dawn.”

I reached around to my back pocket. “In time.” I held up the black silk scarf I’d brought with me.

“What is that?” She pointed, but her stunned gaze said she already knew what it was.

“This is what you need to wear in preparation for our date.”

“Excuse you. I am not about to go out in public dressed in a damn scarf.”

I burst out laughing. “Damn, cin, what I wouldn’t give to see you dressed in only this. And I sure as fuck wouldn't let you out in public wearing just this.”

She pinched her lips and squinted. “Oh. So you mean …”

“Yep.” I nodded. “This is to cover your eyes until the last possible moment.”

“How do I know you’re not going to take me to a dungeon somewhere and lock me up so no one will ever see me again?”

Frowning, I glared at her.

She laughed. “Fine. Whatever.”

I led her to the car and tied the blindfold around her eyes.

I held up my hand, signaling the number three. “How many fingers am I holding up?”

She reached out.

“Aht. How many fingers am I holding up?”

“I don’t know. I can’t see.”

“Making sure.” I helped her in the car before rounding to the driver’s side.

It was about a thirty-minute drive to my planned date.

“You couldn’t have waited until we were five minutes away to put this thing on me?”

“No,” I insisted. “There are signs along the road that might give it away.”

She folded her arms and poked out her bottom lip. I had to adjust myself in my jeans. The number of fantasies I’ve had about that bottom lip should be illegal.

I turned on my playlist. “Who’s this?”

She tilted her ear toward the speaker, and I could imagine her eyes squinting as she waited for the song to play so she could pull the name of this song and artist from her memory.

“Oh, come on,” she said as soon as the guitar strings started playing. Long before Axl Rose began singing his first note, Lena said, “Only the number one rock song of all time. ‘Welcome to the Jungle’ by Guns N’ Roses, written by Axl Rose. Off of their debut album Appetite for Destruction, released in 1987.”

I nodded along, knowing the facts of this well-known song.

“It was originally released in the UK in 1987, but not in the US until 1988. Please give me a challenge.”

I laughed. “I’m just warming you up, baby.”

Lena inhaled sharply, and if I had to guess, I’d say it was from my dropping the term of endearment like that. But it felt natural, so I went with it.

I played another song and then another from my playlist, waiting for Lena to guess their names and titles. She knew every one, even the obscure rock songs that I only knew about because I’d heard them at a music festival a few years back.

“That’s a special talent,” I said after her fourth correct guess.

“Not really.” She shrugged. “It’s just music. It’s not like I’m solving world peace or anything.”

I glanced over at her. She stared straight ahead, her eyes still covered.

“Do you always do that?”

That caused her to turn in my direction. “Do what?”

“Put yourself down like that?”

She rubbed her lips together and didn’t reply. Save for the murmurings of the latest song on my playlist, there was silence.

“I didn’t put myself down,” she said in a barely audible voice. “I just don’t think it’s all that special.”

“You’ve effortlessly memorized hundreds if not thousands of songs. You can recite that at will without putting much thought behind it,” I argued back.

“I’ve been listening to music since before I could talk. Both of my parents are musicians. They played in the same band together for years,” she explained. “I’m named after Lena Horne. Music is a part of me. Or it was.”

Growing quiet, she turned her head toward the windshield.

As if it was some sort of divine intervention, Lena’s song ‘Broken Kisses’ came on. She abruptly turned toward me. “You have my song on your playlist?”

“Yeah.”

“Why? You don’t even like my kind of music.”

I grinned. “It’s growing on me.”

I couldn’t read her emotions due to her covered eyes and the way she turned forward again, but a new tenseness seemed to shroud her.

I was sure it wasn’t all in my head when after a minute into the song, she said, “Turn it off.”

Her voice was a whisper, but I heard it. I did as she asked, again resolute on my decision to find out why the hell one of her most famous songs, from her best-selling album, always made her sad.

“We’re here,” I said a few minutes later. “Keep your blindfold on,” I ordered when she started to reach for it.

I got out of the car and looked out at the vast field that stretched around a large, ranch-style building. In the distance, I heard the motors of the hot air balloons. Though still somewhat dark, I spotted a few of the balloons sitting on the ground, waiting for takeoff.

A guy waved, and I squinted, seeing that it was the owner of this place. I’d made a special request to have the owner be the one to take us up and not one of his younger employees.

“Thank you,” Lena said when I helped her out of the car.

“We’re going to have to walk a short distance. It’s in some grass, but nothing too treacherous,” I told her.

“You still can’t take this thing off of me?”

“Not yet. We’re almost there.”

“I thought you said we were here.”

I guided her around the ranch and toward the area where the balloons were. Lena swiveled her head this way and that.

“Stop trying to see,” I chided.

“I’m not,” she argued. “What’s that noise?”

“Don’t worry about it.” I led her over to the multicolored balloon where Rick, the owner of Rick’s Balloon Rides, met us.

“Howdy, folks.” He stuck out his hand for me to shake. “Mr. Townsend, a pleasure to meet you in person.”

I nodded as I shook his hand. “Gabe.” I pressed my palm to my chest. “And this is Lena.”

“Ma’am.” He stuck his hand out for her to shake.

“Sir, pleasure … um, I think.”

I laughed at Lena’s response. “Guess it’s time to reveal the surprise,” I said.

“Probably should do that before you get on board,” Rick advised.

I nodded.

“Board? On board what? Are we at an airport?” Lena asked, turning her head from side to side.

“Not quite,” I answered as I slowly lifted the veil from over her eyes.

She blinked and brushed a few strands of hair out of her face with her hand. Slowly, realization dawned on her face.

“Are those … are these hot air balloons?”

“That they are, Ms. Lena.”

“We’re going on a hot air balloon ride.” I held my hand out to her.

She glared down at my hand and then folded her arms. With a shake of her head, she said, “Unh, unh. No way. You know about my fear of heights.”

“It’s perfectly safe.” I turned back over my shoulder. “Isn’t that right, Rick?”

“Haven’t dropped anyone out of the sky yet.”

I glared at him when he started to laugh at his stupid ass joke. He must’ve caught sight of my face because he quickly sobered.

He cleared his throat. “A little balloon humor, ma’am,” he said to Lena. “It’s very safe, and I’ve been operating for over thirty years.” He dipped his head at me. “Your fellow, here, requested that only I be the one to take you on this ride, given my experience. He made sure that I provided him with the entire safety history of my company, and he paid top dollar to get you an early morning ride. When the wind is low, and the sky is clear.”

“Thanks, Rick,” I said. “I got it.”

I moved over to Lena, who had backed away from the balloon, and took her by the waist.

“I’m not getting on that thing.”

“Yes, you are,” I said. “Because you won’t be doing it alone.” I leaned in, dropping my forehead to hers. “Trust me.”

She visibly swallowed. “Trust is earned, Gabriel.”

“Then let me earn yours.”

She pinched her lips before looking over my shoulder. I was close enough that I could see the uncertainty swell in those cinnamon pools, but she eventually nodded.

“We’re ready,” I said to Rick, with Lena’s hand in mine.

He gave us the rundown of what to do and what not to do while on the ride.

I stood behind Lena as she braced the side of the basket that held us. She shook like a leaf and squeezed her eyes closed as he started to take off.

“I hated roller coasters as a kid,” she commented. “All the other kids loved them, and I never understood why.”

“They’re fun,” I said.

“Your definition of fun and mine are very different.”

I brought her hand to my lips, pressing a kiss to her knuckles. Her shoulders relaxed a bit.

“Now we’re gettin’ somewhere,” Rick said behind us when he began to climb.

Lena inhaled sharply, and her body tensed even more. “Gimme the blindfold back.”

“Not a chance in hell,” I said. “Open your eyes.”

“No way.” She shook her head adamantly. “This was a bad idea.” The basket shook a little. “Oop, what was that?” she demanded, digging her nails into the side of the basket.

“Easy,” I said reassuringly. “That’s normal. Isn’t it, Rick?” I called over my shoulder.

“Tiny bit of wind. Everything’s under control.”

I held onto her waist.

“Open your eyes, Cin. The sun’s coming up.”

She shook her head. “Not doing it. I’ll open my eyes when we’re back on the ground.”

“You’ll miss the entire thing.” I covered her eyes with one hand and placed my other hand on top of one of hers. “Do you want me to describe what I see?”

She hesitated for a beat before nodding.

“The sun is starting to peek over the hills in the distance. An endless parade of magenta, purple, and orange color the sky, lighting the bluebonnets in the distance.”

“What are bluebonnets?” Lena asked.

“Our state flower,” I answered. “Every Texan gets Texas history drilled into them in school. Want to see them?”

She pushed out a heavy breath. “Yes.” It was quiet, but I heard her answer.

Slowly, I moved my hand away from her face.

“Open your eyes, Cin.”

She did so, and after a moment for her eyes to adjust, she let out a soft moan. “It’s just as you described.”

“That’s Harlington, down there.” I pointed in the distance.

“How do you know?”

“See that tall building?” I asked. “The one with the bell on top?”

“I see it.”

“That’s the church where Micah and Jodi got married.”

She let out a laugh. “It looks different from this angle.”

“Most places do. Every sunrise is the renewed promise of a better day.”

She turned to me with a wrinkled brow.

“Someone used to say that to me.” I peered out into the distance, watching the sun slowly shine its brilliance on the wildflowers below.

“Who?” she asked in that honey and milk voice that made me want to divulge all.

“My mother.” I cleared my throat. “We used to watch sunrises together.” I cherished those mornings of only my mother and me, watching the sun kiss the sky good morning as she would call it.

“You’ve stopped shaking,” I said after some time.

She smiled. “You noticed.”

“There isn’t much I don’t notice about you.”

She turned her head away, dipping it before she peered out at the horizon again.

“Why does listening to your album make you upset?” I asked after a few silent minutes.

“You do notice everything, huh?”

“About you, yes.”

She stared out at the sky, observing the scene around us. It was stunning, yet I couldn’t help but stare at her. Lena Clarkson had my complete and total attention. She had ever since the moment she walked into my brother’s wedding reception.

“I wrote Broken Kisses when I was twenty-three years old,” she started. “It’s my best-selling album.”

“You won three Grammys for it.”

She smiled. “Only missed Album of the Year.” She turned to face me. “That was over six years ago. I’ve written two albums since then that haven’t gotten half the praise.” She lowered her head and shook it.

“I don’t write for the accolades. But what scares me the most is thinking my best writing days are behind me. Do you know what it’s like to feel like you peaked at twenty-three?”

There were tears in her eyes, and the pain in her gaze clawed at my chest. I wanted to comfort her somehow, but when I started to reach for her, she shook her head.

She let out a humorless laugh. “For the past few years, I’ve been getting along fine, writing music for myself and for other artists. Many of the songs were successful. I don’t need to write another song to live comfortably for the rest of my life.”

There was a pause, and I looked out to the sky and the hills beneath us. The expanse of this area where I grew up always brought me some peace. Even on the days when I thought there was no peace to be had.

“Maybe I used up all of my talents,” Lena continued. “I should be happy that I had the opportunity to do what I enjoy for this long.” She shrugged and turned back around, giving me her back.

I pressed into her body, keeping her bracketed close to me. “That’s bullshit,” I growled. “Talent doesn’t get up and leave you.”

She made a disbelieving sound with her mouth. “I was at least able to write easy pop songs. The throw away kind with simple but catchy lyrics. Not my best work, but they sold well enough. I can’t even do that anymore.”

I thought for a minute, hating the despair and fear I heard in her voice.

“Creativity is endless. Maybe you need to stop being so hard on yourself.”

Leaning back, Lena peered at me over her shoulder with a lifted brow. “Who says I’m too hard on myself?”

“I do,” I answered. “The other day, when you couldn’t get that equipment set up, you acted like you were the biggest moron on the planet. And because you haven’t written anything yet, you think your entire career is over.”

I spun her so that she fully faced me.

“I can guess who it was that put all those doubts in your head.” I paused, gritting my teeth, thinking about her douchebag ex. “But it’s your gift, not his. It belongs to you. The music will come when you start believing that again.”

After a moment of hesitation, Lena lifted on her tiptoes and pressed a kiss to my cheek. “Thank you.”

That short ass peck on the cheek wasn’t half of what I wanted from her. But given that we were in public, of sorts, I would have to make do with what was deemed appropriate. So, I wrapped my hand around the back of her head and brought our lips to touch.

The electric pulse that passed between us on that kiss was probably enough to keep this hot air balloon in the air for at least a few more hours.

But I didn’t dwell on hot air balloon rides or even the Hill Country that was the backdrop to our first kiss.

I pulled her in close to me, blanketing her with my body. Lena, for her part, wasn’t a shrinking violet when it came to the kiss. She ran her tongue across the bottom of my lip, tasting me as I savored her.

“Shit,” I grunted when I pulled back, holding her at arm’s length. If I didn’t, I feared I’d rip her damn dress off of her and have the Texas hills echo with shouts of my name.

But we weren’t alone.

A slow smile spread across my lips when I took in the shocked expression on Lena’s face.

“We’ll be doing that again,” I promised before pressing a kiss to her forehead.

“Ready for breakfast, folks?” Rick asked, pulling me out of a daze.

As part of the ride, I’d planned to land in an open field where we would have a picnic breakfast.

“Yeah,” I replied, staring Lena in her eyes.