Page 53 of Doc Rock
Shit, Ford breathed deeply. Not his woman, and the fella was at least seventy-five and highly unlikely to be a threat to his relationship with Sie.
For fucks sake.He caught himself again. There was no relationship with Sie. He needed to get a grip.
“Good. Who is this young man?”Steve questioned.
Sie hesitated before replying,“This is Graham. He’s an old friend.”
Graham?Ford blinked a couple of times. It had been years since anyone had used his actual first name. Why was she calling him Graham?
“Your friend looks just like the lead singer from Midnight Thunder.”Steve peered at him harder.
“He does, doesn’t he?”Sie smiled, but Fordcouldtell how much of a strainit wasfor her to do.
“I nearly had a palpitation. I thought you had Ford standing on your doorstep. I thought to myself that maybe you met him at the concert.”Steve stepped over so he was right against the waist-high fence that separated their gardens.
“No. I told you, I was working in the first aid tent, not galivanting with a rock band.”
“Shame. While I was up in the nose bleeds,it wasfun to imagine you meeting the band.”Steve stared harder at Ford, who dropped his gaze.
Sie clearly didn’t want her neighbour toknowwho he was.
“Steve’s a big Midnight Thunder fan. He got tickets to both shows in Burra Creek,”Sie said.
“And I got one for you as well, Mai.”Steve turned his attention to Ford and added,“She told me it wasn’t hertastein music. Which is a total lie, Ihearher playing Midnight Thunder all the time.”
“Steve!” Sie’s cheeks flamed.
“Really?”Ford asked. He couldn’t help it; a smile tugged at the corner of his lips.
“Yeah. She sings along as well,”Steve said.“She’s got a great voice; she should have been a singer.”
“Steve. Have you been listening at my windows?”Sie shoved her curls back again.
“No! Well, not purposely, but when you sing, Iknowit’s going to be a good day. The first time Iheardyou, I thoughtit wason a record. Then you walked out of the back door with a basket of laundry, singing your heart out. To be honest,”Steve leaned closer to the fence,“I was shocked it wasn’t Sie, that girl they used to have. Your voice is more mature, but it has a lot of the same qualities she did when she sang backing vocals.”
Ford stepped toward the fence. It appeared that Sie lived next door to a mega fan.“Really?”
“Absolutely. Ihearher all the time, and she’s playing her guitar again. When she first moved in two years ago, she barely played. But now not a day goes by where I don’tgettohearher wonderful music.”
Sie flushed redder.“I just strum. I’m hardly a pro.”
Steve scoffed.“Our walls are thin, and my living room is against yours. I canhearyou play. It makes an old man very happy to listen to such a talented young lady.”
“Shecouldhave been a pro,”Ford said quietly. He didn’t look up butfeltSie’s gaze swing to him.
“I agree, young man. And I have to say, your resemblance to Ford is quite remarkable.”
“Right, Steve. We’ve got togeton. Great chatting. I’ll bring you some dinner over later.”Sie grabbed hold of Ford’s sleeve and tugged him toward her front door.
A jolt of electricity shot up his arm, and he couldn’t stop himself. He adjusted Sie’s grip so she held onto his hand.
Her eyes snapped back to him, and she opened her mouth, but anything she might have said was interrupted by Steve, calling after them.
“Thanks, Mai. I washed your plate from yesterday.”
Sie looked back.“Thanks, Steve. I’llseeyou later.”With a final tug, she towed Ford in through the front door and closed it behind them.
The silence of the house rang in his ears. He should let go of her hand and step away from her, butit wasthe first time since she’d left that he’dfeltpeace and that things in the world were right again.
