Longing for You (Touched by Magic Book 1) Read Online Free Page A

Then again, he hadn’t counted on something else weighing on his brother’s mind.
    Time was running out. If Jonah ended up coming through, he’d need to warm up. It was hard to say how long that would take if he hadn’t played in a year. Guess his sound-producing job gave him little free time. Judging by the way his brother turned and stared at his suitcase, it didn’t matter anyway. He was determined to leave.
    “Jeff won’t be ready for the recording if he doesn’t show. Why ask for my advice if you guys aren’t going to follow it? A freaked-out girlfriend is a piss-poor excuse to cancel, if you ask me.”
    “Doesn’t change the fact that he had to though. For Christ’s sake, she’s pregnant, Jonah. Jeff has a whole mess to deal with. I ain’t touching it, and it shouldn’t matter. Where the hell is your heart?”
    “It’s where I left it. Buried at the train station.”
    The top of the suitcase flopped closed. Had it been a door, it would have been slammed shut because Jonah’s ridged stance hinted at his frustration. Guess coming back to Savannah drudged up the same feelings for him as it did Theo, regardless if it was over different women. Of course it did. Jonah loved Ally. Had Paula Jacobs not made her threats, things would have been different.
    Shaking the thoughts from his head, Theo stepped backwards and gripped the edge of the dresser. “How long you gonna live in the past, Jonah? You’re not responsible for what happened.”
    “No, I’m only responsible for letting her leave with the wrong impression.”
    It wasn’t like Jonah left Ally willingly, but his brother did a damn good job convincing her otherwise. Her mother left him with little choice. Had it been Theo, he wouldn’t have let anything stop him, would have told the girl he cared about that she was the one…
    Yeah right. Lying was easy. Believing the lie, not so much. He was as big a coward as his brother back then. By the time they both shoved away their fears, it was too late.
      “You thought you were doing the right thing. Why don’t you try looking her up? See what she’s—”
    “Don’t go there, Theo. You can’t cross burnt bridges.”
    Jonah tugged on the suitcase handle and set the wheels on the carpet. It made the lump in Theo’s throat thicken. His dilemma wasn’t a priority for Jonah. Escaping painful memories was.  
    Yet before he could accept defeat, Jonah refaced him. “Okay, I give. How long’s the set?”
    It was as if a light was shining down from heaven and angels were singing in the distance. The glorious moment had Theo clapping his hands and pointing finger guns at Jonah. “Ten songs, big bro. You will not be sorry. I think this is the distraction you need. Wait ‘til you see the Friday night crowd this joint gets. Bodies packing the floor, ready to dance. Honeys at our feet, just dripping for a chance.” He pointed skyward and chuckled. “Hey, that’s not bad.”
    Not giving his brother another thought, he rushed out of the room, determined to find a pen and paper. If he wasn’t mistaken, there was a pad and pen in the sitting room with the hotel logo printed on both. He didn’t need much, just something to jot down the lyrics forming in his head. Inspiration had bad timing.
    At least Jonah came through for him. It would do them some good to play together. He couldn’t remember the last time they hung out or had fun. Probably in New Orleans, before Jonah accepted a job offer to be a sound producer in L.A.
    What a night that had been, a drunken night of music, booze, and women, Theo’s three favorite things. Combine the three, like they did that night, and it guaranteed a two-day hangover. If Jonah let loose once he started playing, Theo didn’t doubt they’d have a repeat performance.
    Even if they didn’t do something crazy, it would definitely be a night to remember.
    * * *
    A warm breeze blew Cassie’s hair away from her shoulders as she stood outside the theater, awaiting Ally’s