Whisky Moments

by Bowie, Emily

  Radio stations are back to playing my stuff, and no one seems to be mention Camilla as the Black Widow. That nickname seems to have gone away. Now they’re calling her a saint for putting up with me. For once, I agree with what they’re printing.

  “Think we can get chickens?” Camilla asks, looking at our huge backyard.

  “You want to kill me?” I chuckle. I think Camilla would have a whole farm in our backyard if it wasn’t for me.

  “They’d be outside.”

  “How about next time I mess up, you can buy yourself a hen.”

  “So, next week?” She looks at me over her shoulder, giving me that teasing grin of hers.

  I have been blessed with a lot of things this year. When the year started, I thought my life was going down, but now I realize it was all part of the journey that led me here. Making this my best year since I moved to Nashville.

  Leaning over, I place a soft kiss to her lips. “I love you.” This woman is it for me. I never believed in soul mates until I met her. I feel like we were designed for each other. Camilla is the only woman who has captivated me, leaving me with a feeling that I need more. I want to marry her, get on knees and beg for her hand, yet I know this isn’t that time. But I won’t be able to wait much longer.

  “I love you too.”

  “We can skip my parents’ house.” My lips nuzzle into her neck. “They don’t even know we’re here yet.”

  Her body moves into me. “As tempting as that is, your mother will give us hell if she ever found out.”

  “It’s a risk I’m willing to take.”

  “We can be late…” She gives in to me.

  *

  Camilla and I tiptoe into my parents’ fully finished house. The local radio station mixes with the noise and constant buzzing of people in the kitchen. We can hear everyone’s here, celebrating their new house. Bringing the bottle of champagne out, I get ready to push the high-pressured cork out to surprise them all with our arrival.

  “Rhett, I don’t know about this,” Camilla says softly, always trying to be the voice of reason.

  Just as I’m about to open it, a popping sound comes from in front of me and hits behind me, a cork flying right past my head, missing me by an inch.

  “What?” I holler, surprised and losing grip on my bottle. The impact of it falling makes my bottle go off.

  In front of us are my two brothers busting a gut. “Got you!” They point to me. Camilla is laughing behind me, and I spin to her.

  “You set me up.” My spitfire, always keeping me on my toes.

  “Honestly, I found it quite entertaining that the three of you boys all had the same idea.”

  “Clean up this mess boys.” Ma comes around the corner, scolding us like she did back in the day, while going to give Camilla a hug.

  “What, I don’t get the first hug?” I tease.

  Camilla returns the embrace, winking at me. “That’s because she likes me more.”

  Shay is throwing rags at each of us, when we hear the sound of a newborn baby cry. All the women dash back into the kitchen to where the sound is coming from.

  Walking over to Kellen, we shake hands. “Congrats on this generation’s first girl. May her boyfriends be brave to show their faces.”

  “Shay survived. We couldn’t have been that bad.” We all laugh at our sister’s expense.

  As I walk into the room, Camilla is holding their little girl, Sophia. She is the tiniest human I have ever seen and looks precious in her arms. The thought has me grinning about all the things we will get to experience together. When I glance down, the baby is once again looking peaceful with a pacifier in her mouth.

  “Want to hold her?” Camilla asks, already placing the baby in my arms. I’ve never held a newborn before. The thought is terrifying. When I finally saw Shay’s kids they were a few months old and looking much bigger than Sophia.

  “You’re a natural,” Camilla whispers, sensing my fear.

  “What’s next for you two?” Ma asks. I’ve never seen her smile so broadly. She finally has all of her children under one roof and has been able to enjoy it enough for her to be content.

  “We’re combining tours in the spring,” Camilla answers for me, knowing Ma really wants to know how much of us she will be seeing.

  “Until then, we’re organizing the house, going back and forth to Nashville to start promoting Rhett’s and my new songs. But after the tour, we plan to stay in Three Rivers to wind down for at least six months before we start any big projects.”

  Her arm slips behind my back as we look at each other.

  Sophia begins to fuss, and Kellen takes her from my arms. He’s a natural. I would have never thought he would be the first of us boys to have a kid. Brax isn’t far behind him. My ma’s dream of all of us boys growing up is finally here. I’m excited for the next part of our lives, having the next generation around us.

  “Rhett.” My father’s booming voice has everyone looking up at him as he walks over. I try to think about what I did wrong for him to call me out. I can’t think of anything.

  “Well job done last week.” He gives me a curt nod. “I appreciate everything you have done to help this family out.”

  I’m blown away. I don’t think my father has ever complimented me before.

  “Thank you.” He reaches his hand out and gives me a shake.

  *

  Eight months later

  We’re in the last city before Camilla and I head back to Three Rivers. Everything seems like a whirlwind. Our duet has stayed on the charts within the top five for the last twelve weeks. We are stable, still having fun. If I thought I loved Camilla then, it’s only amplified over the last few months.

  Standing on stage together, the lights are bright. We’re about to finish the concert with our duet. The crowd chants and claps, wanting their encore. My plan is to give them one they’ll remember.

  Walking hand in hand, we go back onto the stage and pictures of us through our relationship play on the screen over our heads while we sing our song. When the song ends, I go down onto my knee. The crowd gasps, already figuring out what my intent is.

  Camilla’s hands steeple in front of her mouth, her eyes wide as she looks down at me. Her smile is always there, never wavering.

  “Camilla Black, will you do me the honor of being my wife?”

  “Yes!” she screams, falling down onto her knees. Her arms are thrown around my neck and I place the ring onto her shaky finger.

  The applause is deafening. Standing up, we look into the crowd, their volume increasing with time.

  “Thank you, Nashville! I thought I would ask Camilla tonight, here in the city we both hold dear to our hearts. It’s here we first met and got together. As a city, you have pushed us both to do greater things. I couldn’t be happier right now.”

  I pull her in, giving her what the arena wants. I kiss the hell out of her, loving the fact that she will soon be Mrs. Rhett Steele, even if it’s only on her driver’s license.

  The End

  OTHER BOOKS BY EMILY BOWIE

  You can find all of these titles with Kindle Unlimited

  Bennett Brothers Series

  Recklessly mine (book #1)

  Recklessly Forbidden (book #2)

  Recklessly Devoted (book #3)

  Steele Family Series

  Stolen Moments (book #1)

  Moonlight Moments (Book #2)

  Bittersweet Moments (book #3)

  Whisky Moments (book #4)

  Standalones:

  Kiptyn’s book (title to be announced) coming Summer 2020

  ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

  Another book is done, the Steele family series complete. This would not have been possible without my betas, Sara and Jerilyn. These girls help with everything. From tossing ideas out to plotting help, advice, searching through stock imagines. These girls see my books so very rough, before any editing process and sometimes only half complete when I need another pair of eyes to see if I’m getting my idea
through with words.

  Kayla, my incredible editor. Thank you for all of your notes, and areas that need ‘fluffing’. I trust and look forward to your advice, suggestions, and comments.

  Melissa & Karina: thank you for proofreading Whisky Moments, and doing it with such little turnaround time. Thank you!

  Thank you to Jersey Girl Design for creating Whisky Moments cover, and my beautiful teaser.

  Thank you to Give Me More Books for helping with the cover reveal and release of this book.

  Bloggers thank you for participating and helping spread the word about my books! You are a huge help in all of my releases.

  Thank you to my reviewers who take the time and read Whisky Moments before it released. I am truly humbled by the support you have shown me.

  To my readers, thank you for being here. Picking up this book and taking a chance on me. I look forward to 2020!

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  Emily Bowie is from a small town in Western Canada. She has been making characters come to life through her writing since she was old enough to put her thoughts on paper. She loves her white wine cold, her heels red, and her books spicy.

  She married her high school sweetheart and they have two amazing children.

  When she is not writing she can be found reading a good book, making digital scrapbooks and being physically active—whether it is at the gym, going for a walk, or playing /keep up with her children.

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