“Hello?” I hear Cash say next to me. “Hey, Pey.” He smiles apologetically and stands to talk to Peyton in the kitchen.
I focus on my computer and finish designing the new cans for Top Hop Brewery. Ever since they hired me almost a year ago, I have remained as their graphic designer. I have loved watching them grow as a brand and business.
“Babe!” Cash calls for me from the kitchen, after being on the phone for some time with Peyton. I walk to him wondering what the hell has him so excited. I see two beer bottles open on the kitchen counter. I raise my eyebrows in question, and his smile spreads across his face. I can’t help but smile with him.
“That was Peyton,” he says.
“I heard.”
“Guess what!”
“I have no idea. We’re drinking beer?”
Cash laughs loudly. “We have something to celebrate, and all we had to toast with was beer.”
“What are we celebrating?” I shift my weight to my right leg and tilt my head.
“We’re going on tour. Wait for it . . . With Luke Bryan,” he exclaims.
“Shut up!”
“Nope. It’s true! We knew someone was going to ask us to tour with them, but we had no idea who it would be. Luke Bryan is huge. Bigger than Tyler.”
“I am so happy for you!” I hug him tightly.
“Thanks, Liv.” He wraps his arms around me and holds me close. He kisses the top of my head before releasing me and handing me a beer.
“To new beginnings. Cheers,” he says.
“Cheers.”
Cash cannot contain the smile on his face as he holds me close. So many thoughts are swirling through my mind, but the primary one is how damn proud I am of him.
“The other guys don’t know yet. I told Peyton to call them. I want them to hear the news from him.”
“When do you leave?”
“Two weeks. Tomorrow we have a press appearance with Luke to announce our participation in the tour. Maybe we can celebrate with everyone tomorrow night.”
“We most definitely should. Tonight, you and I celebrate.”
“Oh, yeah? What did you have in mind?” He lifts me and sits me on the kitchen counter, placing his body between my legs.
“Well . . .” I look up at the ceiling, tapping my finger over my lips. “First, I treat you to dinner. You pick the place. Then, we have dessert. Lastly, a nightcap is in order. But before all that we would need to take a shower, and it’s better for the environment if we save water.” I kiss him.
“I like your plan. Just one thing, you’re not treating me.”
“Eh, we’ll see.” I run my fingers down his jaw, loving the way his scruff feels against my hand.
“Now, about that shower.” Cash lifts me over his shoulder and runs up the stairs all the while I laugh uncontrollably. I love him wet and naked.
“Baby, you’re going to go with me, right?” Cash’s fingers caress my arm. I see his silhouette in the darkness of my room.
During dinner, he asked me—no, he told me—I was going with him on tour. I was in shock when he said it and argued my point as to why that isn’t a good idea.
First, girlfriends don’t tour. He argued that point saying that some wives and girlfriends do tour. I countered saying those singers have been in the music scene longer and have their own bus. Secondly, I’ll be stuck with all of them on a bus and don’t want that to cause any tension between the band. I get along with all of them, but it’s different when you’re working and living in the same space. I know Cash, and he can get in over his head.
I prop my head with my arm and look at him. Despite it being dark, I know he can see me looking at him. “I love you. I do. So much. Your career is picking up and part of that success is being out on the road. It’s not that I don’t want to go with you, but we need to learn to live with this lifestyle.”
“I know that you won’t always be able to go with me. But, I want you to go with me on this tour. You can work remotely, which is great. I just want you with me.” He told me the same thing at dinner and then at dessert. He is relentless with this.
“Do you even know if I’ll be allowed to go? The label will need to approve it, and the guys need to be okay with it.”
“They will. They love you. I know it’s a lot to consider. We’ll be away for a few months, but we will be back for the holidays and then pick up again for the second leg of the tour in January.”
“I don’t know.” I want to say yes, but I also want us to understand that we can’t always be together, that him traveling is part of our relationship. It will strengthen our bond, but we have to trust each other.
I know fans are crazy and women are ballsy, but I trust Cash. I would love to experience a tour with him and watch him perform, but I also don’t want to be in the way of their work. Because, no matter what it seems like to Cash, touring is his job, and this isn’t take your girlfriend to work day.
“Do I have to try to convince you again?”
“I wouldn’t say no to that.” His lips touch mine, and I allow him to control the kiss. I get lost in his touch, feeling cherished and loved. I break away and kiss down his body taking the sheets off him on the way.
“Hey, this is supposed to be me convincing you.” I hear his hoarse voice speak, but I ignore him and grab his length in my hand.
I run my tongue along the underside of his cock and feel him harden at my touch. He twitches a bit when I repeat the same action before taking the head of his cock between my lips and sucking softly while my hand moves up and down his shaft.
Cash groans, encouraging me to continue. I take him in deeper, tantalizing him. In a swift movement, my mouth envelops him, hitting the back of my throat as I suck and swallow, knowing that drives him insane. His grip on my hair intensifies and I pick up speed, doing exactly what he loves. I cup his balls and feel them tighten before he releases himself into my mouth.
I climb up his body and kiss him hard. I feel empowered by his reaction to me, knowing I can satisfy him like that.
“You are most definitely going on that bus with me.” I giggle into his chest and kiss him again.
“Thought you were going to convince me.”
“Oh, I am about to make you beg me to take you with me.” He flips us over and buries his face between my legs. His tongue offers a delicious torture. I grip the sheets as I fall apart at the mercy of his mouth.
Next thing I know, Cash is moving inside me roughly. His mouth sucks on my nipples before moving up my neck, leaving his mark and forcing his tongue into my mouth. He claims me with his desire, making sure he knows I’m his, and only his. As if I didn’t already know.
The pressure builds deep in my belly, pleasure climbing up my spine as I explode around him. Cash follows right after, dropping his weight onto me.
After a few breaths, he looks in my eyes and cups my face. I still feel him inside me. “I love you, with everything I have. You are more than my muse. You are my world. If you’re unhappy on the road, I will pay for your flight out of whatever city we are in, and you can come back home. I promise.” He kisses me lovingly. The moment is so intimate as we are still connected and he is bearing his heart to me.
“How can I say no to that?”
Cash smiles slowly and then kisses me to the point of no return. “Thank you,” he breathes out.
“I love you, superstar.” He rolls over and pulls me into his side, keeping his hold on me all throughout the night.
“Dinner was amazing. Thank you,” I tell Leah, Cash’s mom.
“Thank you, dear. I’m glad you enjoyed it.” I am helping Amy dry the dishes after dinner. I have become close to Cash’s family. They are so welcoming and natural. Amy and Maddie are great. Maddie says she owes us for babysitting Maya. Cash loves spending time with his niece, and I have a soft spot for that girl.
“So you’re going with Cash on tour?” Amy asks me.
“I am. He spoke to Peyton yesterday.”
“I think that is grea
t,” Leah says. I smile warmly at her. “That boy is crazy about you.” I feel the blush creeping up my neck and try to shoo it away.
“You’re embarrassing her,” Maddie tells Leah.
“Hey, we all had to go through it when we started dating the boys in this family. It’s a right of passage.” Amy winks at me. I love that I am this comfortable with Cash’s family. Since the first day they met me, they have treated me like a lifelong member of their tribe.
“Are y’all gossiping?” Gavin walks into the kitchen with Luke and Keith and hugs Amy from behind. He rubs her belly and asks, “How are my girls?”
“We are doing just fine.” Amy and Gavin shared that they’re expecting a couple of months ago.
“Where’s Cash?” I ask, looking around, when I notice he isn’t with them.
“He’s probably out in the barn,” Gavin responds. “It’s where he always goes before any big event in his life. Growing up, it was his basketball games. Later on, it was concerts.”
I excuse myself and walk outside towards the barn. I stop at the entrance and watch him a second. He’s sitting in the loft. It seems he has a knack for escaping to lofts with his thoughts. I walk towards him and climb the ladder to sit next to him. I place my head on his shoulder and sigh.
“What’s going on?”
“Nothing. Just thinking.”
“About?”
“The tour and the concerts. All the demands coming our way and whether or not I can handle it.” I lift my head and look at him, my eyebrows furrowed.
“Baby, you can definitely handle it.” I hold his hand with both of mine.
“I hope so. I’m nervous.” This is my vulnerable Cash. This is the sensitive guy I first fell in love with.
“I got you.” He smiles at me with so much love, I almost melt into him.
“Always?” He kisses me softly.
“Always,” I murmur against his lips.
“How much do I need to pack?” I ask Cash as I look around my room. Everything is turned upside down, and I want to crawl under the covers and go back to sleep.
“Pack comfortable clothes and a few nicer outfits, enough for two weeks’ worth. We’ll be able to do laundry at some stops. Don’t stress it. The essentials.”
“I’m a woman. Everything is essential.” Cash laughs and walks up to me. He hugs me from behind and rests his chin on the top of my head.
“What can’t you live without for a couple of months? Pack that.” He kisses my temple and begins to put things in my small suitcase. “These are a must.” He holds up a lingerie set.
“I’m pretty sure that’s not an essential, and we’re going to be on a bus with a bunch of other dudes.”
“This will be for the nights we get lucky enough and get a hotel room. Also, I’ll know you’re wearing it and that’s all that matters.” He sticks the lingerie in my bag and keeps going.
“You’re definitely going to need this.” Cash holds up my birth control pills and waggles his eyebrows.
I laugh and try to grab them from him. With a failed attempt, I just stand and watch him sort through my stuff and pack what he thinks I’ll need. I appreciate it. I have no idea what I’m getting myself into. I don’t know if I can share a tiny shower with five or six other men. Ugh. Men. I shake my head and grab what I need from the bathroom.
“Are you sure this is a good idea?” I ask him, peeking my head out of the bathroom. Cash stops and looks up at me. “You can get in over your head sometimes.”
Cash slowly stands and walks towards me. My heart is racing. I know this will disappoint him.
“I’ve never been more sure about anything in my life.” He cups my jaw and smiles. “We got this, babe.” He kisses me softly and way too quickly before pulling back and finishing packing for me.
It doesn’t take him long to get all I’ll need into a suitcase. I’m grateful he was here for this. I’m pretty sure I would have broken down and not been ready to go in the morning. I want nothing more than to go with Cash, but the logistics of it intimidate me.
I turn to face Cash. I stare at his sleeping face and softly touch his cheek. He looks so peaceful. I love this man, and I can’t imagine not leaving with him tomorrow. Jen will take care of the house while I’m away. The responsibility will be good for her, as well.
I close my eyes, snuggling into Cash’s chest and close my eyes when his arms tighten around me in his sleep.
“Ready?” Cash walks into my room with a cup of coffee and hands it to me.
“Yup,” I say and gratefully take a sip from the cup.
“It’s only temporary.” Cash chuckles softly.
“I know. Why does this feel more permanent than it really is?”
Cash grabs the coffee mug and drinks some of it. “Maybe because it’s marking a new chapter in our relationship.” He says this so calmly but knowingly. He must be right.
“I guess,” I shrug my shoulders. I’m ready for anything that life throws my way when it comes to Cash Knight, so I don’t know why I’d be so nervous. I take a deep breath and smile at him.
“You good?” He waits patiently. I smile and nod.
“I’m wonderful. Let’s do this, superstar.” He chuckles and grabs my suitcase. We drop the coffee mug in the sink and I say bye to Jen. We’ll be back in a couple of months, and she knows where to reach me.
“Keep an eye on Ryder,” she laughs and winks. She knows Ryder is head over boots for her. Then, she looks at Cash. “Take care of my girl, Cash.”
“Always.” Cash kisses Jen’s cheek, and we walk out. I look back at my townhome briefly before getting into Cash’s car and driving towards our future.
I hear the crowd as we wait for our signal. It’s a hot evening in Nashville. The perfect night for a concert. Two years later, we’re back at Country Fest, but instead of opening the concert with a couple of songs, we’re the headliners. It’s a huge honor. We finished touring with Luke Bryan in March. We went all over the country and a few cities in Canada. The experience was unimaginable.
Olivia was a trooper, sticking through the entire tour. It was a huge adjustment at first, and the bunks on the bus are tight, but we made it work. We will always make it work. While we practiced and had meetings, she worked. In the evenings, she was at the side of the stage, cheering us on. And like always, I would call her up on stage each concert and sing her song to her. She has become more comfortable coming up on stage when I do so.
Every day that passes I thank the Lord above for sending me my muse. Every day she inspires me and pushes me to be better than I was the day before. Now, I just need to get her to move in with me. I think it might be an easy battle to win.
“You guys are up,” Peyton says. I look at the boys and they all smile at me.
“Let’s do this.” We walk on stage and are hit with a wave of cheers.
“Good evening, Nashville!” I talk into the microphone. “Thanks for staying out and waiting for us.” Cole starts on the drums, Ryder joining him and then Jason. I begin singing the songs from our second album. Our set is on point and we are having a blast. I dance on stage and hold the microphone out into the audience for them to finish my verses. Ryder joins me, stringing the chords on his guitar like the pro he is.
Song after song, we put our hearts into the performance and just let loose. This place is where we allow ourselves to be without any judgment or doubts. The stage is our playground, and we are four wild boys running around, owning the place.
We finish our set and everyone applauds for us. I try to get them to quiet down so I can speak.
“Two years ago, I called a stranger on stage, but she stayed in the audience while I sang to her. I’m a lucky bastard, because I did get her name later that night. I’ve been a goner ever since I met her. I promised her I would always call her up when I performed, whether she came or not was up to her, but there’s always a place for her on stage. Olivia Young, take this as your cue to get up here.” I wait for her to approach the stage. I know she wo
n’t deny me this. Not after joining me on stage in stadiums and concerts all over the continent.
I smile when I see her roll her eyes and walk on stage in those cowboy boots I love on her. The audience goes crazy. I laugh and say, “Isn’t she beautiful?” The fans agree, whistling and calling out to her.
“We’re going to do it a little different today. I have a new song. It hasn’t been played, nor recorded yet.” The crowd begins to yell louder. “This one’s for you.” I look into her baby blues.
“It’s titled, ‘Your Love.’ Y’all are in for a treat.” The slow tempo starts, and I sing to the only person who matters in this moment.
That feeling you give me when we’re alone
Makes my heart race as you inch close
I fell straight for the light you shone
Summer glow, river flow
Your hand will lead me where to go
Your love, girl, has me wild
Thinking ’bout the next time
I get to call you mine.
You get me all riled up
When I see you walk up,
Your eyes only on me
Your love, girl, your love is all I need
Come on baby, give it to me
Paved streets, willow trees
Nothing else but you and me.
We got all night to make love
Show you what you mean to me.
Your love, girl, has me wild
Thinking ’bout the next time
I get to call you mine.
Your love, girl, your love is all I need
Come on baby, give it to me
It’s your love girl that has me so far gone.
Olivia looks at me with such tenderness. I cup her cheek and kiss her as the noise around becomes muted by her touch. “I love you,” I whisper against her lips before I get down on one knee. I hear gasps all around and laugh nervously.
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