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“But it feels better, doesn’t it?”
She hooked her arms around his shoulders and her smile faded.“Every time you touch me, I feel better.”
Her words made hope flare, but he was still too scared to say what he wanted to say:Then don’t leave.Please don’t leave.I love you, Sweets.I’ve always loved you.Instead, he kissed her, slowly and deeply, trying to communicate everything he couldn’t say.
When he drew back, he changed the subject.“So how is everything going?Have you had any luck convincing Mimi to sell?”
She shook her head.“No.She stubbornly refuses to even talk about it.”
“I’m sorry,” he said.“Is there anything I can do?”
“I don’t think there’s anything that anyone can do ...unless one of my sisters or I want to marry Rome or Casey Remington.”He knew she was kidding, but just the thought of Sweetie marrying Rome or Casey made Decker feel a little crazed.Something he tried to hide as she continued.“There’s something we need to talk about.”
His heart picked up its pace.He knew this time would come.He just hadn’t thought it would come this quickly.Or hurt this much.He tried to brave his way through it.
“I guess since you can’t talk Mimi into selling, you’re leaving.”
Her eyebrows popped up.“Trying to get rid of me so soon, Deckster?”
He didn’t laugh.“I don’t want you to leave, Sweets.”
She cupped his jaw in her hand.“Then you’ll be happy to hear that I’ve decided to stay here in Wilder a little longer.”
Every muscle in his body relaxed and he wanted nothing more than to jerk her into his arms and kiss her silly.“What about your singing career?”
“I don’t really have a singing career.Something I’ve been lying to everyone about—including myself.”
He should have kept his mouth shut.He was getting exactly what he wanted.Sweetie staying longer.But damned if he could let her feel badly about herself.“It’s not a lie.You’re the best singer I’ve ever heard, Sweets.Your songs are better than anything on the radio.”
She laughed.“Which is why they soured you on country music forever.They were so damn good.”
A blush heated his cheeks.“Actually, after you left, listening to country music—any country music—made me sad.”
Her smile faded.“You’re the only one I’ve ever been able to sing my songs to.I think it was because I knew you wouldn’t judge them harshly.”
He smoothed back her hair.“Sing me one now.”
She hesitated for only a brief second before she started singing in a soft voice that had always made his heart swell with pride.She sang a song about a small-town girl leaving home to make it in the big world and how much that girl had missed her family and her friends and the people of her town.Decker knew she was that girl.When she finished, he hugged her close.
“I love it.What’s it called?”
“’Small Town Regrets.’”She drew back.“Do you really like it?I just finished it last night when I was waiting for you to get home from work and I know it needs some work.”
“I think it’s perfect just the way it is.The townsfolk need to hear it.”He could read the hurt in her eyes.“They love you, Sweets.They just need to know that you love them too.”
She gazed into his eyes with a look he couldn’t describe.“How did you get so calm and levelheaded, Decker Carson?From your daddy?Your mama?”
Talking about his parents had always been painful.But strangely now, in Sweetie’s arms, he could smile when thinking of his mom and dad.“Definitely not my mama.She was stubborn and feisty and had no patience whatsoever.”He hesitated.“A little like someone else I know.”
Her eyes widened.“I don’t have a clue who you’re talking about.”She plucked a piece of straw from his hair.“So I guess it was your daddy who was calm and collected like you.”
“I haven’t been all that calm and collected since you came back to town.”
“I rile you, do I?”
“Just a little bit.”He kissed the tip of her nose.“And maybe that’s a good thing.My mama used to rile my daddy all the time.She loved teasing him until he chased after her and flipped her over his shoulder.”He smiled at the memory.“When I was younger, I’d wrap my arms around my daddy’s legs until he picked me up too.”
Tears glistened in Sweetie’s eyes.“I bet they were awesome.Only awesome parents could make an awesome son like you.”
