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

After the show, they went back to Emerson’s to get practicing. The hard part was Emerson’s fingers. They hadn’t played this extensively for so long that the pain was a major deterrent. They had to stop several times and ice his fingertips. Sean suggested they help him form calluses quicker by using rubbing alcohol, but Emerson didn’t want to try it. So, he did it the hard way, playing until his fingers bled, then resting until he could stomach the pain for a few more songs.


That night, they were both too exhausted to do anything more than curling up in bed.


The next day was worse. Sean focused on his social media accounts, posting pictures of Emerson and his guitar, answering a few fans’ questions, updating the tour dates into the calendar. Emerson, though, was really suffering from the pain. Sean wished he could ease it, but this was the best way. The quicker his fingers built up resistance, the better his playing would be.


Chapter 53