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That was the first thought that popped into my head as I entered the beautifully decorated barn alone, sandwiched between laughing and flirting twosomes. Not only would having her by my side make the wedding and the entire evening ahead much more enjoyable, but dammit I just missed her.
As soon as the crowd ahead of me parted in search of their tables, I spotted her, and she was even more gorgeous than usual. Instead of her go-to black or navy blue dress, her curves were draped in slinky gold fabric that highlighted her sun-kissed skin, and I knew if I were closer I’d see the freckles on her shoulders. Her dark hair was swept into one of those intricate updo styles with sexy tendrils hanging down, brushing her cheeks and collarbone, making my fingers itch to bridge the gap between us and touch her. She looked stunning.
And I lost her.
We hadn’t spoken since that mind-blowing night where I couldn’t agree to take her as my date to the wedding. She no longer needed my input on wedding details, so she hadn’t reached out, and neither had I. A mistake I deeply regretted at the moment.
A hand landed harsh on my shoulder and pulled me from my musings, pulled my attention reluctantly from Carlotta and to my new brother-in-law. “She’s looking good enough to eat isn’t she?” Roman asked the question casually, but his gaze held a little too much heat for my liking, and I frowned in his direction. Rock star or not, Carlotta was mine, or she would be as soon as I figured out how to win her back. Roman laughed at my expression. “No offense bro, I heard how you messed up things with her, but I’m not getting in your way Chase, just stating a fact.”
I nodded, because he was right, she did look good enough to eat. I snorted at my own silliness and turned to Roman. “How’s the album coming along?”
“All done,” he answered with a proud grin. “It turns out I can be both a solo artist and a member of The Gregory Brothers, especially with their support and blessing. Hey, I guess you’re my brother now too.”
I flashed an amused grin. “That’s how this works, but you’re still the baby, and I’m not a rock star.”
“I don’t know man, you’re kind of a rock star aren’t you? I mean that’s why you want to keep everything with Carlotta hush-hush right?” There was a hint of a smile as he spoke, and I sent my elbow into his side. “Too soon?”
“Way too soon,” I growled at him. I was living with the consequences of my actions, only it didn’t feel like living at all, more like I was coping with the consequences. Learning to live without Carlotta, dammit. “Yeah I messed it up but I didn’t realize it until I went back to living without her. How can one person make such an impact in such a short period of time?”
Roman let out a huff of laughter that held no trace of humor. “It tends to sneak up on you like that.”
A passing server stopped in front of us. “Signature cocktail? Champagne or beer?” Her words were for both of us, but her gaze ate up Roman.
“Tell me about the cocktails,” he drawled, lips quirked into a small smile.
“We have Pippa’s Garden, which features a lavender gin and lemonade. The Happy Ending is a cross between a whiskey smash and a mint julep.”
“Happy Ending,” we both said at the same time, plucking two glasses from the tray.
I took a sip and let my gaze wander the barn until I spotted the woman painted with liquid gold, and then I took another sip as the ache of losing her gripped my heart.
“You know, I was scared as hell to strike out on my own, wondered if I had what it took without my brothers to back me up. I was even more terrified to tell them, but it all worked out for the best. Ryan has even more money coming in from the songwriting, so there’s not the same pressure to tour now that he’s started a family. Derek gets to do more producing now while I do my thing. All that fear for nothing.”
“Hmm,” was my only response as I watched Carlotta smile and laugh with the wedding attendees.
“My point is,” Roman said, his deep voice forcing my attention back to him, “is that getting the fuck out of your comfort zone can be rewarding. This town is nosy as fuck,” he laughed. “That includes me, I’m here at your side all up in your business, but they care. A lot. If you need signatures to declare something a historical landmark, fundraisers for re-election, or people to pick up leaves for the older homeowners in town, all you’d have to do is ask, and they would all line up to help. And if I tell you right now that Derek is in search of a plot of land, a realtor will approach him before he made it to the other side of the barn. That’s just the way it goes.”
He was right, of course. It was the beauty of living in a small town as well as the curse. Everyone helped out everyone else, the whole damn town was like family, well-meaning but nosy as hell. I turned to Roman with his big blue eyes and wild blond hair, “Aren’t you supposed to be the wild Gregory brother?”
He shrugged, but I didn’t miss that hint of pride in his smile. “I am the wild one, but the other two are boring as fuck, so it’s easy to be the wild one. But I’m also the gorgeous one and the wise one.” He took a long sip of his drink and sighed dramatically.
I followed his gaze back to Carlotta’s beautiful face, lit with excitement as she wrapped her arms around Ryanna and cuddled her. “She can do better than me.”
Roman nodded beside me. “Of course she can. Pippa can do better than Ryan, but he’s the one who owns her heart. He’s the one she chose to love, and believe me, he feels lucky every damn day that she did. Trust me, I’ve heard the songs. That’s just how it works Chase, we’re never good enough for the women we love, but we work hard, every day, to become worthy of them. Right?”
“Shit,” I grunted as his words sank in. “When did you get so smart too?”
He laughed and clapped me on the back again. “Song writing makes you incredibly introspective, and I’ve spent most of my life listening to women tell me why they like a particular set of lyrics. Life on the road is its own kind of education, Chase.”
I snorted. “I received a formal education, and I feel like I got cheated out of some important lessons.”
Roman laughed. “But I’m sure you can break down the societal whatever of Shakespeare or something like that.”
I laughed and shook my head. “Yeah, thanks for that.”
“My pleasure new brother, now if you don’t mind there is a gorgeous woman over there, and surprisingly I don’t know her, but I would like to. Very much.” Before I answered, Roman strolled off and sidled up to the woman with deadly focus.
Time to become worthy of her.
