Page 162 of Fire and Icing

“I see what I see, and you’re one of the bravest.”

“What about Nashville?” she asks, looking out the windshield into the night sky smattered with stars.

I sigh, intertwining my fingers with hers on my knee. “It's a big opportunity, but I don't want it if it means losing you.”

She turns to me, determination in her eyes. “I don't want to hold you back. Maybe ... maybe we can find a way to make it work together.”

I smile and lean in to place a soft kiss on her forehead. “You wouldn't be holding me back. You’re the reason I know what I actually want.

“I had a lot of hours alone at night in Nashville, and plenty of time waiting between meetings, in greenrooms … I thought a lot about this. We could relocate to Nashville, but I don’t want you to leave your bakery—or Syd, or Waterford. After all the thought and consideration, I decided I didn’t want a life of fame. I want to see you as often as I can. Our schedules are hard enough to coordinate. We don’t need to complicate things. The kind of deal Front Porch might be offering after I laid everything out to them is the perfect middle ground.”

“I’d leave Waterford for you. If that’s what it took.”

I can’t believe she’s offering that.

I counter with, “I’d stop singing if that’s what it took.”

She says, “We’re a hot mess.”

“I’m partial to our mess.”

“Just promise me,” she says, “if your dream changes … you’ll still let me be part of it.”

I wrap my arms around her and pull her close. “You are the dream. I realized one thing in Nashville. I love performing music.”

“That’s what you realized?”

“Oh. No. That was just one of the things. There were actually two things.”

“What was the other?”

“I love you more.”

“You … love me?”

“I do. I’m madly, wholeheartedly, ridiculously in love with you, Emberleigh.”

She smiles up at me, eyes shining like she’s about to reveal the most vulnerable truth. “I love you too, Dustin. I’ve never loved another man. You’re the one.”

“Whew,” I say. Then I whoop. “Man. I didn’t expect that.”

She laughs.

“Mom said we’d come back to each other,” I say quietly, almost to myself.

“She did?”

“Yeah. She said real love always finds its way home.”

“I love that.”

“I loveyou. And I promise to always come back to you.”

“I believe you.”

Emberleigh turns so she’s facing me. I cup her jaw, staring into her bright green eyes until they flutter shut in an invitation. I lean in and kiss her. Our kiss is gentle, tender, soft. She moves her mouth with mine. Our connection is steady and certain, like we’ve finally landed where we belong. Emberleigh’s arms wrap around me and she leans into me. I hold her in a way that saysforeverandno matter what.

When I pull back, I place a kiss on her forehead.

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