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“I see you for who you are. Now, let’s go live out my fantasy.”
“This is your fantasy?”
“One of many that you’re in.” I flashed him a seductive smile.
He put his arms around me and pulled me close. “I think I’m going to need a list. I don’t want to miss anything.”
“Oh, you won’t.”
He groaned. “You’re going to be my undoing.”
“You don’t mind, do you?”
“Not at all.”
With every word and touch, I knew what I had always known—we belonged together. It became more apparent when Brooks showed us to our seats. Not only were they in the front row, they were front row center. As in Rick and I would be making eye contact and he might fling some of his sweat on me.
“How did you score these tickets?”
He brought me closer and nuzzled my neck. “I can’t give away all my secrets. I like that I can surprise you.”
“Baby, you can surprise me like this anytime.”
“Challenge accepted.”
Holy crow. I was in love.
The lights onstage began to flash, and several band members from the opening act I wasn’t familiar with jogged out. Soon the arena was thumping and bumping. I hardly paid attention to the unknown band. I was too busy getting lost in Brooks’s eyes and enjoying everything about him, from the way he held my hand as if he were planning on it forever, to the way he tasted like the limes he loved to squeeze into his water.
Admittedly, though, when Rick came onstage with his red guitar, I set my sights on him. I was on my feet and cheering the loudest. I swore Rick and I locked eyes for half a second and he winked at me. But, honestly, it had nothing on the way I felt when Brooks wrapped his arms around me from behind and held me all night while I sang along to every song Rick belted out. I had to give the man props; he was seventy years old and still a rock god in looks and talent.
The best part of the night, though, was when Rick Springfield said, “This one goes out to Grace. You know who you are.” My heart pounded wildly, wondering if it was me he was talking about. The synthesizer went wild, and Rick started singing “Affair of the Heart.” I knew then that it was.
I turned around, in shock. “How?” I shouted, so Brooks could hear above our song.
Brooks wore a smug smile, so pleased with himself. He wouldn’t say how he’d pulled it off. He just wrapped his arms around me and sang in my ear every word of my favorite song. He left no doubt we were having an affair of the heart.EpilogueValentine’s Day
“So are blindfolds going to be a new thing for us?” I reached up and touched the one Brooks had placed on me when he’d picked me up for what I thought was our Valentine’s Day date.
Brooks chuckled while leading me out in the cold to who knows where. His arm was firmly placed around me so I wouldn’t fall and kill myself. Which would have been a tragedy, considering I had just had the best seven months of my life. I guessed at least I would die happy.
“You didn’t answer me. Now I’m worried this is the beginning of some slasher movie. Me in an evening gown, traipsing through what feels like grass, while my lover leads me on to my death. On Valentine’s Day, no less.”
“Was that a plotline in General Hospital?”
I had to think about it. “Possibly. You still didn’t answer my question.”
“I thought you trusted me.”
“I do, which is why I’m worried. It isn’t like you to dress me all up and blindfold me.”
“Perhaps I’m more fun than you think.”
“Oh, honey, no one would ever accuse you of being fun,” I teased him.
He stopped and nuzzled my ear before whispering, “You seem to always have fun when we’re together.”
The chill of the night had nothing on the goose bumps he could produce. “I do,” I stuttered.
“Plan on more tonight.” Maybe he wasn’t fun, but holy crow was he sexy.
We carried on. Wherever on was.
“Have you heard from your parents? Are they having a good time on their honeymoon cruise?”
“I imagine so. But we have a don’t ask, don’t tell policy.”
I laughed. “I suppose that’s for the best.” I thought about how cute his parents had been as they got married last weekend in their living room. Tom’s health had significantly improved. He looked like a new man with all the weight he had lost. June had been all bronzed in her spray tan glory. And she’d glowed from happiness. Brooks had given away his momma at the wedding and been his daddy’s best man. His toast to them had brought me to tears. My favorite line was, “Thank you for teaching me about the power of forgiveness.”
