by Lynn Stevens
Tagg’s eyes never came back to meet mine. He shook his head, still focused on something other than me.
“Do you mean that, Carly?”
That voice. It wasn’t real. It couldn’t be. Slowly, afraid of seeing an illusion, a ghost, I turned.
Gracin stood on the edge of the sidewalk. His hair was a little darker, and his eyes weren’t obscured by the fake blue contacts. My body wanted to run into his arms, but my brain wasn’t working.
“Carly?” Tagg put a hand on my arm.
I glanced over my shoulder, afraid Gracin would disappear if I took my eyes off him for too long. “I’m sorry.”
Tagg nodded and set the rucksack at my feet. He backed away from me, his eyes void of his usual happiness. When he spun on his heel, I finally turned back toward Gracin.
“I … Carly, I’ve missed you so much,” Gracin said as he cautiously closed the distance between us.
I poked his chest just to make sure he was real. I mean, I knew he was real, but I needed physical proof. Gracin pressed my hand against his chest. His heart beat in time with my own. I closed my eyes.
“I had to take care of a few things before …”
I opened my eyes, staring into his unobscured hazels. My hand slid out from his. I reached up, touching his cheek. His skin was as soft as I remembered it. God, it had only been three months but it seemed like a lifetime. I wanted to collapse against him. I needed his arms around me. But I didn’t know why he was here. I didn’t know how long he’d be here. I didn’t know so many things.
Stepping away from him, I swallowed. “Like what?”
Gracin shoved his hands in his pockets. “Firing my manager. Hiring a new manager. Moving to Nashville. The usual.”
His glib attitude didn’t cut it for me. I needed more. Couldn’t he see that? “Start over. Explain in detail.”
“I flew to California once my run at the theater ended. Dad wanted me to do a reunion tour with Accentuate and had signed the contract for me. I couldn’t let that happen so hired a lawyer and fired my father. It took longer than I expected, but it could’ve been a lot worse. Dad decided to go quietly instead of having his reputation ruined. If anyone found out he’d forged my signature on that contract, he’d never manage another act again.” He glanced to his left before turning back toward me. “Your dad helped. Before I left, hell before you left, we started talking a lot. He helped me find the right lawyer. Remember Frank Eaton?”
I nodded. Frank had been one of the guys chatting Gracin up at Andy River’s cocktail party. My mind spun like an out of control top with all this information. I still couldn’t believe he was standing in front of me.
“He told me to call him when I needed a change. I called him the day you left.” Gracin stepped closer. His fingers caressed my cheeks and kept me from looking away. “I wanted to get here sooner, Carly, but I needed to get my life in order first. You … you helped me see who I can be. I’m … I moved to Nashville last weekend. I’ve finished a demo of original songs. Frank thinks … he believes I can make it in country music.”
“But why didn’t you call? Text? Email?” God, I didn’t want him to stop touching me.
“You told me not to.” He sighed against my skin. “Miranda told me to get my head out of my ass.”
I laughed. My sister never ceased to amaze me. “She’s a pain.”
“Yep. A good pain.”
“What about us?” His answer scared me, but he was here. Did he want the same things I did?
“I don’t know, but we’ve got forever to figure it out, don’t we?” He smiled, but the fear wasn’t gone from his eyes. “Don’t we?”
I wanted to say yes. My eyes filled when I couldn’t. Regardless of how much he wanted to wash away the last few months, it still hurt. “I … I’m not sure.” I shook my head, and his hands fell away. “You know … You know how I feel about you, Gracin, but I don’t know where I stand. I told you, and you …”
Gracin reached for me again, clutching my waist and pulling me against him. “I need you in my life. Without you, I’m not … I’m not complete.” He pressed his forehead against mine. “These last few months have been hell on earth without your smartass remarks and beautiful face. I can’t go through that again. I don’t want to. Every day, I picked up my phone to call you, but I couldn’t do it until I had my shit straight.” He pulled his head back, meeting my eyes. “I love you, Carly Reynolds.”
I grabbed his face and brought us together. His lips brushed mine, before devouring them like a starving man. Not that I was much better in the restraint department. After a very public display of affection, we finally came up for air.
“What happens now?” I asked when I caught my breath. My hands clenched his shoulders as if he might fly away.
“Well, we drive to Branson where I’ll stay through Christmas.” He leaned in for another quick kiss. “Your father’s graciously asked me to perform during the Christmas season. And I’ll be singing original songs. Frank’s shopping the demo and thinks he’ll get me a deal by the end of the year. If not, we’re going to sell the songs. Well, except one.”
“Which one?”
He tugged at the necklace, bringing the silver pick to his lips. “No Regrets.”
“I’ve never regretted anything with you, Gracin.”
“I have one,” he confessed. His fingers brushed through my hair as that old familiar stone sank into my stomach. “I regret ever letting you walk out of my life without a fight. You can bet I’ll never do that again, Carly. For as long as you’ll have me, I’m yours.”
Gracin leaned down and kissed me like we had all the time in the world. And maybe we did. I hoped so. Either way, we were going to find out.
Also by Lynn Stevens
Westland University Series
Full Count
Game On
About the Author
Lynn Stevens flunked out of college writing her first novel. Yes, she still has it and no, you can't read it. Surprisingly, she graduated with honors at her third school. A former farm girl turned city slicker, Lynn lives in the Midwest where she drinks coffee she can't pronounce and sips tea when she's out of coffee. When she's out of both, just stay away.
www.lstevensbooks.com
