Sean Stirling isn’t having a good day. Hearing snide comments on a photoshoot, he storms off, not caring that he looks every inch a celebrity throwing a tantrum. Things get worse when he falls on the ice-covered street. As a car comes barreling toward him, there’s nothing he can do to prevent his fate. Luckily, Emerson Willis is there to save the day. Emerson pushes the man from the street, then gets bamboozled into accompanying the stranger to the hospital. After Emerson sees himself on television, he realizes the man he saved is a pop star. Now, Sean is smitten and eager to thank his rescuer. Emerson, whose mind is still spinning, can’t tell what to think about the sudden attention. Can the musician convince Emerson they’re made for each other? Or will Emerson dismiss it all as the passing fancy of a rich and famous man?

Double Act

“Maybe we can still have sleepovers,” Sean said into the silence.


Emerson looked up and a happy light danced in his eyes. “You and Pip are welcome here anytime.”


When Emerson returned to eating, a thought struck Sean. So that was it! Emerson didn’t want to become dependent on Sean, in case Sean decided to throw him to the curb. Staying here, being together in this zone, was so much better for him. Better for them both, it seemed. Sean hadn’t even been tempted to touch Emerson’s old guitar, though he had Emerson play it for him every night—just to keep his vocal cords in practice.


It wasn’t the same. I miss mine, he concluded to himself. He wanted to play, strum his fingers along the metal strings, hear the hollow tones echoing around him, feel the heavy weight of the instrument in his arms. He hoped Dr. Warner gave him good news. This week had been nice, but real life was ready to return.


Chapter 44