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“Tomorrow?”
He narrowed his eyes at me. “What the fuck is wrong with you? Yes, tomorrow.”
My chest tightened as I slowly stood. How strange and yet perfectly timed that I would arrive in Comfort on the very day that I told Bristol I loved her, all those years ago.
My phone buzzed in my hand as I stared out the window.
“You know it’s him,” Lanny said.
“He can wait,” I replied. “And I didn’t need you to escort me home, you know.”
“Well, we couldn’t have you changing course in mid-air now, could we?”
I turned and looked at Lanny. Her mouth was turned up slightly, and I knew she was attempting to hide a smile.
“Give me one good reason why I shouldn’t fire you, Lanny.”
“I’m the only person who knows all your passwords and has the power to take away your dog nanny.”
With a smile, I nodded. “That is true.”
“Besides, I talked Brad into a little vacation. We’ll be staying in Fredericksburg, and I intend on as many wine and brewing places as I can. I’m going to get drunk like I’ve never gotten drunk before.”
My laugh came out more like a roar. “Wow, is working for me that bad?”
“When you punch reporters and tell the record label execs to fuck off, yes, it is very hard.”
“My mama is going to be over the moon to see you. Same with Grams,” I said as I stared back out the window.
“I’m excited to see where you grew up, Anson.”
“Don’t be. It’s a normal little town in the middle of Texas.”
“What do you think everyone will do when you show up? Oh, maybe they’ll throw like a barn dance in celebration of your return!”
“Or a street dance…or maybe throw tomatoes at me, instead,” I mocked.
“Ha ha. Well, I’ve always wanted to go to a street dance.”
We drove in silence the rest of the way. The drive from the San Antonio airport to Comfort felt like it took an eternity.
Lanny drove down FM 473 toward town, and I felt my heart damn near beating out of my chest.
“You’re sure your grandmother won’t mind me staying a couple of nights until Brad gets here with Zeus?”
I huffed. “Are you kidding? She’ll love it. Just be ready to gain ten pounds, because she’ll cook you every meal and dessert under the sun.”
“Oh, German food! I can’t wait.”
“You say that now. Don’t blame me when your jeans don’t fit.”
“Can we please drive down the little main street? I looked it up and it’s so damn cute! Please, Anson?”
Laughing, I said, “Turn at the next left. It will take you right into town.”
She did a little dance in her seat as I rolled my eyes.
As we drove down High Street, Lanny took it all in.
“I should have driven. You’re going to wreck us.”
She squealed. “This is so cute! Anson, how could you say you wanted to burn this place down?”
My head dropped to the back of my seat. “It was a metaphor, for fuck’s sake!”
“No wonder folks in town talk about you.”
“What? Who said that?”
She gave a half shrug. “Your mother.”
I smiled as the familiar historical buildings on High Street came into view.
“Please, can we park and walk it?”
My head snapped over to Lanny. “Right now?”
“Yes!”
“No!”
“Why not!?”
“Um, excuse me, but when did our relationship change? I’m the boss. There’s no arguing with the boss.”
“No, for the next month or two, you’re simply Anson.”
“Am I still paying you right now?”
She nodded as she slowed down to park.
“Then I’m the boss, and the boss says…”
My breath was immediately taken from me. From the corner of my eye, I saw her.
Bristol.
“Pull in and park. Now!”
Lanny was already halfway into a parking spot as I looked out the back window of the rental car.
“That’s more like it, Anson!”
I quickly opened the door and jumped out.
“Um, where are you going?” Lanny called out as I crossed the street and made my way over to Huckleberry’s. Bristol was sitting at an outdoor table with Mindy and another girl.
“Don’t run. Please, do not run,” I mumbled to myself as I walked up and stopped a few feet from the table.
One glance up, and her beautiful caramel eyes met my blue. For the briefest of moments, I swore she was about to smile. I saw the surprise in her eyes. The corners of her mouth turned upward for a fraction of a second.
“Hey, Bri,” I said as I watched her stand and slowly make her way over to me.
I heard whispers, but I didn’t care. Because there she was, standing in front of me, the most beautiful woman I’d ever laid eyes on. She hadn’t changed a bit. Her brown hair was pulled up into a ponytail, and the way she stared at me made my cock take notice. I did a quick scan of her.
Fucking hell, she was still perfect. But I knew she would be. Her white, soft flowing shirt was tucked into her jeans. She wore a brown belt and a pair of brown flat shoes. When my gaze moved back up and met hers, I swore I saw something familiar in her eyes.
