Covered In Lace

chapter EIGHTEEN

“I can't believe I let you talk me into bringing you,” Michael said to Flynn. “Lacey is going to have my head on a platter for this.”

“I can't miss her opening night,” Flynn said. “You know that.”

“Yeah, yeah,” Michael said. “Love's a bitch.”

Michael helped the medical assistant push Flynn's wheelchair up the ramp and onto the private jet. Then they lifted him from the wheelchair and settled him into an extra wide leather seat and adjusted a stool beneath his wounded leg to keep it elevated during the flight. A few minutes later, the plane was cleared for take-off; the flight plan taking them directly to JFK International Airport. With any luck, they'd be at Lacey's concert at Radio City Music Hall in time for the start of her show.

Flynn knew he was risking complications to his recovery by making this trip. After all, it had only been a few weeks since his release from the hospital, and one grueling week of physical therapy, trying to get his leg back to some semblance of normal. Wasn't that worthy of a break to see the woman he loved perform? He hoped his doctor's would see it that way and he hoped Lacey would, too.

Most of the shooting was a blur to him. He'd had to rely on Lacey and the State Police to fill in the blanks. From what they'd told him, he knew he'd be forever grateful for the single sniper shot that blasted Earl Fisher straight to the gates of hell. Taking Earl out when they did, saved Flynn from certain death and gave him a second chance at life – a life with Lacey.

From a medical stand-point, his doctor had described the path of the bullet as tearing through his thigh muscle and slamming into his femur bone and chipping off a tiny piece. Surgery had removed the bullet and repaired the damage to the surrounding muscle and tendons, but it was estimated he'd have to undergo months of painful physical therapy to regain full use and strength in his leg. A less healthy man might not have the strength or stamina to expect a complete recovery. Flynn's intention was to not only prove how fast he could do it, but how much stronger he'd be when he was done.

Having Lacey beside him through his recovery made the pain feel less important. Feeling her love; seeing it in her eyes, made him work with more intensity to get back to one hundred percent. The doctor's were amazed at his ability to work through the pain and take those first few steps. His determination and focus were unrelenting. He'd make a full recovery because failing was not an option and anything less would mean Earl Fisher had won. Victory would belong to Flynn and Lacey and no one else.

Each day that passed since the shooting, Flynn watched the bruises Earl had inflicted on Lacey fade a little more and her facial stitches were removed. He only wished the trauma of being held captive by Earl had diminished for Lacey, too, but it hadn't. Every once in a while, he could see that far-away look mask her face and fear seep into her beautiful eyes. He hated that most and wished he could change it for her; make her feel safe.

Safe.

He'd never felt the full magnitude of that word before; nor had he thirsted for it like he did now for himself and for Lacey. Thoughts of it shadowed every decision he made. Never again, would he take his or Lacey's safety for granted.

Flynn smiled at the memory of waking up in the hospital. The first image coming into focus being Lacey's beautiful face hovering over his; concern creasing her brow, tears making her eyes glisten and her soft voice whispering, “You promised me forever, Flynn Beckett. I want my forever.”

God, he loved her. He'd give her anything she wanted – her forever and then some. Forever was a long time, he thought, and yet he didn't think it would be nearly long enough. He turned and looked at Michael, sitting beside him reclined in the airplane's plush leather seat.

“Do you really think Lacey will retire after this tour?” Flynn asked him.

Michael rolled his head on the back of the seat toward Flynn and inhaled slowly. “If you had asked me that question last year, I'd have said: no way in hell it would ever happen – not in a million years,” he said. “But, since meeting you she's...different; more settled. She seems older, too – but don't tell her I said that, or I'll have to kill you.”

Flynn laughed at Michael's comment. “After what I've been through in the last month, your death threat doesn't faze me in the least.”

Michael nodded. A slow smile curled his lips. “You're really good for her,” he said. “The changes I've seen in her are all for the better.”

“She's accepted a position at the middle school teaching music,” Flynn said.

Michael nodded. “Yeah, she told me about that,” he said. “I think she'll be a great mentor to the kids.”

“Me, too,” Flynn said.

Michael studied Flynn's expression. “What's going on?” he asked. “You don't seem all that happy about Lacey staying. Isn't that what you wanted?”

“It's exactly what I want,” Flynn said. “But I'm not a hundred percent certain it's what she wants. I'm nervous she'll eventually get bored and want to move on; get back on the road.”

“That's a realistic fear,” Michael said. “But Lacey's never been one to be wishy-washy about a decision. The fact she took that job at the school says it all. She's staying, man – whether you're ready for it or not.”

“I'm ready,” Flynn said. “But...”

“Do you really think she'd walk away from you?” Michael asked.

Flynn glanced out the window of the plane and shrugged. “Maybe.”

“Look, no one had a rockier start than me and Annie,” Michael said. “She was the most mistrusting woman I'd ever met. Granted, I f*cked up a few times and gave her some justification for her fears, but most of it was in her head. She just couldn't believe I wanted a life with her. I can't even count how many times we broke up over the stupidest shit. It took her a long time to realize what I'd known from the beginning...I wanted her and I wasn't going anywhere.”

Flynn looked Michael in the eye. “I'm asking Lacey to marry me,” he said. “Tonight at the show. It's all planned.”

“You're shitting me,” Michael said. “Is that why you hobbled out of bed against your doctor's wishes?”

Flynn laughed. “Pretty crazy, huh?”

A slow smile formed on Michael's face. “I love it,” he said. “And Lace will, too.”

Two hours later, Flynn was being wheeled into the back entrance of the venue. Jerry McCarthy, one of the stage managers, met them in the hallway and told Michael that Lacey and Annie had already hit the stage and were about halfway through their first set.

“I'm gonna hit the men's room before we go out front,” Michael said to Flynn. “Don't do anything crazy while I'm gone.”

Flynn watched Michael disappear then looked up at Jerry. “Can I ask you for a favor?” Flynn asked.

Jerry lifted his eyes from his clipboard. “What'd you need?”





The medical assistant positioned Flynn at the side of the stage, just out of sight from Lacey, and applied the brake on the wheelchair. Michael moved closer to the curtain allowing him a better view of his wife performing.

Lacey and Annie were ripping up the stage, the music was nothing less than heart-pounding good; heavy on the guitar licks and percussion. They performed a nice mixture of their old standards and did a few cover songs, too. One song was particularly pleasing to the crowd: the Janis Joplin version of, “Piece Of My Heart”.

“Didn't I make you feel, like you were the only man,” Lacey sang, in the smooth whiskey textured voice she was known for around the world.

The audience whistled, stomped, and applauded their appreciation and Lacey smiled, elongating the last word of the phrase. Flynn smiled, too. Lacey was perfection at making him feel like the only man – her man, and damn, he loved her for it.

“An didn't I give you nearly everything that I woman possibly can?” Lacey sang, leaning forward over the stage while holding the microphone stand like a man dipping his dancing partner; her guitar pushed behind and resting against her back. “Oh, honey you know I did.”

Another thunderous roar of applause erupted from the crowd and Flynn found himself clapping, too. He also made a mental note to ask for a solo performance of that very song – later, when they were in bed.

Lacey's voice slid right into the next song; this one he recognized, was from her new album. Judging from the response she was getting from the audience, her new album would be wonderfully received.

Flynn continued to watch Lacey perform; hanging on every lyric and note she pulled from her guitar. He loved the way she commanded a stage and Annie was the perfect musical reflection of her. Both were sexy as hell; tall leggy blondes, grinding against their guitars; hips swaying: truly a sight every man could sincerely appreciate. They were the Crazy Rocker Chicks in the business and Flynn had never felt more proud.

It was almost time for their last song before the encore set. Knowing what he was about to do tightened his gut. The appearance of Jerry beside him made it even more real.

“She still doesn't know I'm here?” Flynn asked Jerry.

“Nope, you'll totally blindside her,” Jerry said. “They have a short break after this song before the encore. Still wanna do this?”

Flynn nodded, feeling the sweat collecting on his palms and wiped them off on his pants.

A roadie approached them carrying a hand-carved cane and handed it to Jerry. On stage, Lacey and Annie were strumming through the last few chords to the song, drawing out each note and inciting a near riot of excitement from the crowd.

“Last chance to change your mind,” Jerry said.

“If I crash and burn, he'll scrape my ass off the stage,” Flynn said, pointing to the burly medical assistant standing behind them.

Jerry shook his head in disbelief and handed the cane to Flynn. It took the two of them to get Flynn lifted to his feet and steadied. The subtle commotion had Michael turning around to see what was going on. Soon as he saw Flynn standing, he came back to them.

“It might be safer if I push you,” Michael said to Flynn.

Jerry held Michael back as Flynn took his first uneasy step and then a second.

“I want to walk,” Flynn said. He forced a smile to mask the pain that radiated through his leg and knotted the muscles in his hip. It was all he could do to keep from screaming out in agony or falling back into the wheelchair.

Michael's eyes darted to Jerry. “He's going to open the wound inside,” he said. “Let me push him.”

“He wants to do it on his own,” Jerry said. “Besides, if anything happens, we'll use the venue ambulance stationed outside.”

Jerry watched Flynn take two more steps.

Michael turned to the medical assistant. “Maybe you should help him.”

“He made his decision quite clear,” the man shrugged.

Michael rubbed his face and watched Flynn slowly hobble beyond the mountain of crates, cables, and equipment at the side of the stage. In another moment, he'd be visible to Lacey and the audience. Soon as that thought passed through his mind, a spot light illuminated Flynn's progress across the stage and the crowd started cheering louder.





Lacey heard the roar from the audience and saw the people in the first few rows pointing to stage left. Her eyes followed the spot light and she nearly dropped her guitar when her eyes found Flynn. She started shaking and tears filled her eyes.

“Oh, my God,” Annie said. “What's Flynn doing here?”

Lacey's eyes blinked, disbelieving what she was seeing was real. These were the most steps she'd seen him take alone since the shooting and she knew there had to be a significant amount of pain involved. She saw the strained expression on his face; his eyes determined and focused.

Her eyes drank him in, the dark button down shirt exposing a gorgeous slice of his chest, the shirt sleeves rolled up to the elbows, tight jeans accentuating the bulge. Sweet mercy, he was all man, and she loved every deliciously muscled inch of him! She swallowed hard and moved toward him.

“Baby, what are you doing here?” she asked, cupping his face in her hands.

“I wasn't about to miss your opening night,” he said.

He smiled nervously, doing his best to maintain his balance on the cane and ignore the thousands of eyes trained on them; clapping and whistling when he kissed her. His arm slid around her waist; his fingers fanning over her hip.

“You're supposed to be at home in bed,” she said.

“My bed isn't the same without you in it.”

Lacey's fingers covered his mouth and he kissed the backs of them. Hearing his words made her stomach flutter and her female parts start to ache. She reached for the microphone behind her and lifted it to her mouth.

“A few weeks ago, this man took a bullet for me,” she said to the audience. “He's supposed to be resting at home.” She turned back to him; her hand running across his chest. “I can't believe you're here.”

He pulled her tighter to him. The pain in his leg was burning at his nerve endings and sweat began to build on his forehead. The spotlight heating his face wasn't helping, either. Even still, he nudged his nose to hers.

“Baby, I need to ask you something,” he said.

“Right now?” she asked. “Wouldn't you rather wait until after the show?”

Flynn shook his head and pressed his lips to the side of her face. “The stage is where you've lived most of your life,” he said. “It makes perfect sense I do this here.”

Annie saw Lacey sway and took another step closer. Across the stage, Michael held up his hand to stop his wife.

“Flynn, what's going on?” Lacey asked, the microphone pressed to her chest.

He dropped his arm from her waist and pushed his hand into his front pocket. “You'll have to forgive me for not kneeling to do this,” he said. “But I really don't think I'd be able to get back up if I did.”

Lacey covered her mouth with her hand and the first of her tears began rolling down her cheeks.

“When this tour is over, I'd love it if you came home and married me,” he said. “We can get to work on making some beautiful babies that look just like you.”

Flynn pulled a diamond and sapphire ring from his pocket and held it up like a trophy. “What'd you say, baby? How do you feel about marrying me?”

Lacey threw her arms around his neck and nearly knocked him off balance. The medical assistant jumped into action and started across the stage. Flynn wobbled and used the cane to catch his balance.

“Is that a yes?” he asked, holding on to her waist for added support.

She held his face in her hands and their eyes met. “Yes, yes!” she said. “Absolutely...without a doubt, I'll marry you.”

The audience jumped to their feet and cheered. Flynn tried to slide the ring onto Lacey's hand. His nerves had him shaking to the point he nearly dropped it. They laughed at his fumbling and Lacey used her fingers to help.

“It's beautiful, Flynn,” she said.

“Just like you,” he said.

Annie came up behind Lacey and hugged her. Michael soon joined them in a group hug at center stage.

Center stage....as it should be, Flynn thought, with Lacey.

Flynn kissed her knuckles and the diamond, then lifted her arm up in the air in a triumphant gesture. Again, the crowd roared their approval and Lacey turned to him giggling. Her smile was as dazzling as the new ring sparkling on her hand and Flynn's chest tightened.

“I love you,” he said.

“Me, too. Forever.”