Page 71 of The Rebel with Broken Strings
The raw emotion in her voice made Gunner’s breath catch. “Darlin’, are you sure?”
Aubrey’s lips curved into a soft smile. “I’ve never been more sure of anything in my life. I can’t do life without you.” She paused, cocking her head. “Well, Ican. But I don’t want to.”
Gunner’s heart soared, hope and joy flooding through him. He cupped her face. “I’ve missed you something fierce,” he murmured, his voice thick with emotion. “But how’re we gonna make this work?”
Aubrey’s gaze never wavered. “I’ll work remotely with Chef Miguel to create cocktail and app recipes for the bar when we’re in Nashville or on tour. Charly and Willow have agreed to hire another bartender to replace me. The rest of the time, we’ll be in Timber Falls.” She paused, a hint of vulnerability creeping into her voice. “And maybe when I’m in Nashville, I can find a restaurant to work at, so I can see if that dream I once had is worth chasing again.”
Gunner’s breath caught. “You’d do that? For me?”
“For us,” Aubrey corrected, a smile playing on her lips. “Besides, I love the city. It’s part of who I am, just like you are, so this would be good for me too. I kept thinking I had to give something up to be happy, but I know now, I don’t. I can have it all. We can make this work—our perfect, messy life. We’ll be home, as long as we have each other.”
He didn’t need to hear more, pulling her into a tight embrace. The warmth of her body against his felt like coming home, her curves fitting perfectly against the planes of his chest. He buried his face in her hair, inhaling the scent of lavender and something uniquely Aubrey, as the crowd went wild.
“I love you so damn much,” he murmured, his voice thick with emotion.
Aubrey’s arms tightened around him, her fingers digging into his back. “I love you too,” she whispered, her breath hot against his neck.
Not quite sure how he got so lucky, he leaned away and then dropped his mouth to hers. The noise of the crowd and the music of his band faded into the background, his focus solely on her.
She tasted like sweet honey, her lips soft and plump against his, her body warm and inviting. He held her tightly, wanting to never let her go.
For a bit, they were lost in the moment, the heat and electricity between them palpable. It was as if they were the only two people in the world, completely consumed by each other.
But all too soon, the kiss ended, and he pulled away, still holding her close. They looked into each other’s eyes, both of them breathless and exhilarated.
Not wanting to break the spell, he leaned in and whispered, “I need to finish the show. Then we can go somewhere quieter so we can continue this.”
She smiled and replied, “Wherever you go, I’ll follow and bring my dreams with me.”
Epilogue
The Naked Moose stood transformed, its rustic charm now covered in twinkling lights and colorful banners. Standing outside of the bar, Aubrey held the door open, greeting the arriving family members of the talent show kids with a warm smile. Gunner had recently finished a tour across America, promoting his latest album, and Aubrey was happy that they were both back in Timber Falls for the summer months. She loved her time traveling and the big cities, but Timber Falls was home.
“Welcome, Brooks! Anna, that dress is adorable,” Aubrey exclaimed, kneeling to admire a little girl’s frilly dress. As she stood, she caught sight of the Millers approaching. “John, how’s that leg healing up?”
The older man chuckled, patting his knee. “Right as rain, thanks to your famous chicken soup, Aubrey.”
“We’re so excited for the talent show,” a young mother gushed, her toddler clinging to her leg.
Aubrey nodded, a sense of pride washing over her. “It’s our favorite event here too.” She glanced inside the bar, catching a glimpse of Gunner setting up the stage.
Inside, he carefully tuned a small guitar, his strong hands moving with practiced ease. A group of wide-eyed children gathered around him, their excitement palpable.
Aubrey shut the door and headed toward the stage. The talent show was a yearly tradition now at the bar. And Gunner mentored all the musical kids every year, even when he was on the road.
“Alright, kiddos,” Gunner said, his eyes twinkling. “Who wants to give this beauty a strum?”
A chorus of “Me! Me!” erupted, and Gunner laughed, the sound rich and warm. He handed the guitar to a shy boy hanging back from the group.
“Here you go, partner. Give it a try.”
The boy hesitated, then plucked a string. The note rang out, clear and true, and a smile spread across his face.
“There you go!” Gunner encouraged, his voice filled with genuine enthusiasm. “You’re a natural.”
As Gunner continued to interact with the children, Aubrey found herself watching him, struck by the easy way he put everyone at ease. It was a far cry from the troubled man who had returned to Timber Falls seeking redemption and a fresh start.
“Alright, folks,” she called out, her voice carrying over the excited chatter. “Let’s get this show on the road!”
