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She nodded as she bought more feed for her poultry. “I guess both of our jobs have their downsides then.”
He glanced over at her. “Are you happy with what you’re doing?” The question had been gnawing on him for a while, especially after seeing how much she hated performing in front of crowds. “You’re not forcing yourself to be something that you don’t want to be, are you?”
“I… there are hard parts about what I do. I can’t stand that I’m losing my privacy, but what am I supposed to do? I’m branding myself and my music. How do I get around that?”
“Can’t you keep your public persona separate from your personal life?”
She smiled wryly at him, and he let out a breath. He supposed that he was the evidence that it wasn’t happening. “River told me to put up boundaries, and I’m trying, but… I think I’m failing.”
“What boundaries?”
“Well, I have to watch out for not losing who I am in all this, and not let myself fall for the latest public opinion.”
And the first thing that her music manager did was invent a fake boyfriend for her to combat critics. “Huh.”
“Yeah, and then… I put everything that I am into creating, but, how is that putting up a boundary? I write what’s close to my heart, share my innermost thoughts and feelings to those who love my art, but how do I keep the moments that are most sacred to me special? I honestly want to keep what is most precious between me and the ones I love, but I also want to be real.”
He knew that feeling. His hand went to hers, and he squeezed those adorable little knuckles—they were cold again. How did that always happen? It was July, though he supposed Millie always cranked up the air conditioning.
He blew on her hands and followed that with a kiss. “I get what you’re saying,” he said. “Honestly, I enjoy all your songs about dating me.” He laughed. “I’m not going to lie. It’s an intimidating thought if things go south…”
“Oh, I know!” she moaned.
He changed his mind the moment he saw her anguish. “I say, bring it. At least I got you to feel something. That’s my goal, woman. Bring on the high heels, red lipstick, and baseball bats. I want to inspire a real passionate angry girl song out of you.”
She covered her face. “Don’t take anything I do personally. I mean… you can kinda. I don’t know what I’m saying.”
“I do. I remember dragging Main Street with the music blaring in my truck, and it’s just that… well, we’re all living this existence together. We’re not realizing that we’re going through the same things, and then, just like that, music brings us together. Somewhere out there, someone is living high on love, and someone else is wallowing in misery and… you never know what those people need to hear. Some of my best moments have a song that goes with it, my worst moments too. Music heals; it makes us happy. I think God gave you your gift for a reason, so go out there and do what you do best. Reach our brothers and sisters out there in the way that only you know how.”
“I like that,” she said. “How’d you get to be so wise?”
His heart felt like it would explode out of his chest at that admiring look in her eyes—there was also relief and understanding there. She fairly sparkled with energy. No one had ever watched him like that before. He’d been praying to be a good man, to make his family proud, to please His Father in Heaven, and now to be able to help Emily, too. He finally felt at peace for the first time since leaving for Nashville.
She set her remote to the side. “And still, I want to make sure that the one… people… I love know that they are my priority, that I’m going to be there for them. They’re more important than… well, than anything!”
He studied her genuine expression. More than anything, he wanted to belong to that circle of her loved ones. Wait, no, who was he kidding? He wanted to bethe oneat the center of her world. “Who would that loved one be?” he couldn’t help tease her.
She blushed. “I don’t know… yet.” She squeezed his fingers. “But thanks for keeping me on my toes. So naughty!”
Good. At least she knew that he was the same Nash that he always was, and still, he needed to get serious for a second. “Your loved ones will help you find that balance that you need between your personal life and your public one. Maybe it’ll be hard… or maybewe’rejust overthinking things.” He decided not to talk about himself in third person anymore. “Either way, you can depend on me, Emily.”
Isn’t that what couples did? As he thought about his own career, Nash couldn’t help wonder about the sacrifices and the “give and take” it would require if he stayed in Nashville.
He couldn’t leave Emily now that he’d discovered her again.
Not to mention that he was about to see his cut of the profits here. A commission in the millions meant he couldn’t play around at his job anymore. “What if I could buy my own piece of land?” he asked with sudden realization. “Some place like this where I could really settle down… would you ever consider living the good life with me?”
“Life with youisthe good life.” She didn’t even hesitate giving her answer. Of course, she probably thought that he was talking big like he always did, and he was just dreaming, and maybe he was rushing into things, but… what if? What if?
He watched her beautiful eyes, imagining a lifetime with her.
The look of gratitude in her expression hadn’t dimmed since he’d started talking about her God-given talents. “I have a feeling that we could live in a trailer off the highway, and I’d still have the time of my life with you,” she said.
That deserved a reward… or a penalty… or whatever they decided to call it at the moment, just a real good kiss. He wrapped his arms around her and dragged her onto his lap to resume where he’d left off before he’d thought of her brother’s wrath. Her lips were pliant against his. She was just as eager to explore this newfound love.
Yeah, love.
His twin might call him reckless for just thinking it, but he’d already talked about a future together, and she seemed totally okay with his outlandish plans, so what was the big deal? Still, Nash plotted how to spring the “love” word at her without chasing her off. He was going to play this smart. She leaned back and her head rammed against his forgotten remote he’d set on the arm of the couch. He chucked the remote to the side.
Lizardman lunged at it, sending them both scrambling after him.
