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I know that River wasn’t married to Scarlett’s mother, but I’m curious about what kind of woman it is that gets to be the mother of his child. I bet she was beautiful, and he loved her madly. “Are any of your songs about her… Scarlett’s mother?”
A wrinkle forms on River’s brow. “I didn’t know her mother. She was a one-night stand that happened after a show. She was a bad decision that I made after drinking way too much whiskey.”
That isn’t at all the fairy-tale romance I was expecting to hear.
Scarlett was transported to our NICU in Austin because the hospital where she was born didn’t have a neonatal intensive care. The only thing I knew was that her mother had died shortly after delivery.
“I’m sorry. I just assumed that you were in a relationship.” I look away because I’m embarrassed. “That wasn’t my business. I didn’t mean to meddle.”
That explains so much about River’s behavior in the beginning. I thought he was grieving. But he didn’t love Scarlett’s mother. Hell, he didn’t even know her. That’s why it was so difficult for him to connect with his daughter.
“Look at me, Leighton.” One second, two, three before I’m able to force my eyes back to his. “I partied that night with my band after the show. I was drunk, and Josie Burns was a mistake. But Scarlett Leighton wasn’t. Please don’t think that I regret her.”
River does that sometimes—calls her Scarlett Leighton. And I think that it’s so cute.
“I know you don’t regret your daughter, but I shouldn’t have asked. I overstepped, and I apologize.”
“There’s no need to. Really.”
We stop at the last door at the end of the hallway and River gestures into the room. “This is yours. It’s the largest guest room and has its own sitting area and en suite.”
The room is huge. Nearly as big as my apartment but very plain. Wood floors. White walls. White bedding. Pretty boring. I’m going to need to put my touch on it.
“Scarlett’s nursery is in here.” River walks across the room and opens a door. “I wasn’t comfortable with a wall separating you so I had someone come in and put an opening between your room and hers. Now you won’t have to go all the way around to get to her.”
River may be this famous superstar musician, but he is also proving to be a thoughtful, considerate man. “That’s a wonderful idea.”
“I want you to make this space your own. You can do anything you like with it. Hire an interior designer if you want. My treat.”
“That’s too much after everything else that you’re doing for me.” Plus, I’m not a showy person. My decor from Target is plenty fancy for me.
“Nothing is too much for the woman who is taking care of my daughter. It’s the least that I can do for you.”
No man has ever spoiled me. I wouldn’t know how to accept an offer like his. “It’ll be fine with the furnishings I brought from my apartment.”
“We’ll let my personal assistant take care of getting someone in here for you.”
How can I say no when he’s so insistent? “Okay. And thank you for allowing me to change the room to my liking.”
“It’s important to me that you’re happy here.”
I believe that River truly means that. And I don’t think I’m going to have any problems being happy here with Scarlett and him.
I’m a hundred miles from Brad. A hundred miles from where the most devastating events of my life happened. A hundred miles from my old life and everything I left behind.
This is my fresh start.
My new life begins here and now.
With River and Scarlett.
