Page 85 of The Last Love Song
Or if they did, they’d be backing away knowing they’d given it their all.
“Heather, I don’t want you to miss the audition because of that bastard. If you feel well enough, I can charter a private plane and get you there by noon. You’ll have plenty of time to sleep in and still make the audition.”
“I don’t want to go.” She shook her head. Her body sealed to his, making thoughts more difficult.
Still, he persevered.
“I don’t blame you if you’re tired and stressed. But there’s another audition option next month in New Orleans, right?” Gently, he smoothed her hair off her cheek, tilting her chin so the moonlight from a high window shone on her creamy skin.
“I don’t need to go then, either.” Her lips grazed his cheek. The scent of her shampoo made his knees a little weak.
“Why? You can’t turn your back on a dream because of this. You don’t want to live with regrets.”
“I’ll tell you why.” Releasing him, she stepped back to slip off her shoes.
She stood in front of him in a filmy white blouse and blue-and-white-gingham capri pants with a dirt smudge on the knee. She looked beautiful, but he couldn’t wait to burn the blouse, which had a man’s boot print between the shoulder blades.
Zach hadn’t recovered from seeing Jeremy kick Heather. It was the first thing his eyes had homed in on when Sam had pulled into the diner’s parking lot after receiving a call from Harlan and Ethan Brady saying they’d spotted Heather’s car. The old man had flown the ancient crop-dusting plane while his grandson had hung out the side using binoculars to search the area. Zach was seriously considering giving the kid the Porsche for Christmas.
“I’ve held on to the dream of performing my whole adult life. It’s a good dream, and it helped me to hone my music and become a better singer and performer.” The words flowed easily from her mouth. “I’ll always be grateful that dream gave my talent focus and passion. But I realized today that it wasn’t the right dream anymore for where I am in my life.”
“Heather, you’re incredibly talented.”
“I know.” She gestured for him to sit on the couch. “Not to brag, but I do know. I could get on that show, and maybe even win. But I don’t want a life where the focus is on fame more than the music. I’m a musician. I want to entertain. Play. Sing. But I’m also a good teacher, and I don’t want to turn my back on that. Because the only thing better than making good music is helping other people make good music.”
Zach felt the rightness of the plan. It protected her health, in addition to helping her use her gifts. But would it be enough for her? He knew it was more than enough for him. Now that Gabriella was finally going to report what had happened to her, and there was a chance they already had her stalker in custody, Zach felt as if he could move forward with his own life. He was more than ready.
“What do you see as the right dream now?” Zach hoped against hope that his name came up often in this next part.
It was killing him not to drag her to bed and adore every inch of her. But he needed to make sure they had a plan. That she could be happy in a future that involved him.
“I’m not entirely sure. But I want you in my life all the time, so I’d like to sit with that idea for a while and figure out how I can have more music in my life and you, too.”
Zach opened his mouth to say how much he loved her. How much he wanted her in his life, too. But the day had been too emotional, and he didn’t trust himself to speak. The pressure on his chest clogged his throat, making him…
He pulled her into his arms. Covered her face with kisses. Possibly a tear or two, but if she noticed, she was too sweet to say so. He pulled her onto his lap and held her tight, burying his face in her hair.
“I love you so much, Heather Finley.” God, what had he ever done to deserve her? He wasn’t sure, but he intended to do his best to be worthy of her trust.
“I love you, too, Mayor.” She kissed all over his face, happiness pouring out of her. Radiant.
“We’re going to come up with the best dreams.” He touched her with a reverence he knew he would always feel. “And then we’re going to make them all come true.”
“I have one that involves my bed,” she whispered very irreverently in his ear, her kisses as damp as his.
He liked the sound of that. “I have one that involves getting you naked. See how well those two go together already?”
“We’re really good at this.” She wound her arms around his neck.
He scooped her off the couch and headed for the stairs leading to her loft, where her bed shone in a moonbeam spotlight.
“It’s only going to get better,” he promised, a promise he would work every day to keep.
“Have I told you lately you make the best campaign speeches?” She traced his mouth, careful of the cut on his lip.
“Did I tell you how the mayor is assigned absolute power in times of crisis?” He climbed the stairs slowly, savoring every moment of having her all to himself.
Forever.
