Page 25 of The Lyrics of Love

He smoothed her hair, amazed that she was standing before him, looking and smelling so good. Deliberately, he refrained from kissing her. She hadn’t wanted to rush before.

But she surprised him, leaning close and brushing her lips against his.

“I had to get that out of the way,” she told him, echoing his sentiments from the previous night. “But as I told you before, I’d like to get to know the man you are. The one behind the scenes. Not the one on the stage in front of screaming fans, feeding off their energy. The one you are when the lights dim and the crowds disappear.”

“I’m willing to show you, Rylie,” he said. “Just let me get this out of the way.”

He saw her stiffen, thinking he was going to kiss her. Instead, Nash released her hand and wrapped his arms around her, bringing her close. He caught the scent of violets again, inhaling deeply as he merely held her to him.

It was a little bit of heaven on earth.

Still, he didn’t want to seem creepy and hold her for too long. Releasing her, he caught her hand again and led her to the porch swing and sat, bringing her with him.

“I had visions of us sitting here together. Talking.”

Nash continued to hold her hand, feeling how it right it was, knowing it was all he needed at this moment.

“What do you want to talk about?” she asked.

“Anything except why you’re giving me another chance. Let’s save the serious stuff for after dinner.”

Rylie arched a brow. “We’re having dinner together? What are you making?”

“I’m not. I thought we’d try one of the places on the square. In fact, I’d like to go to Sid’s Diner.”

“Why? I thought it was hard for you to be in public. Everyone is going to want a piece of you, especially at Sid’s. It’s the most popular place on the square.”

“Then everyone will know I’m serious about you.”

“You’re... serious?” she squeaked. “About me.”

He touched her face, the back of his fingers stroking her cheek. “I am.”

Nash wanted to say he had told her cousin he might want to marry her—but Rylie looked poised for flight. He didn’t think she would be here if Ainsley had passed along that little tidbit.

She shuddered. “This is a little unexpected. You’ve pulled a one-eighty on me. I didn’t think you wanted to be serious.”

“That was my original plan.” He paused, his fingers moving to her hair, tucking a lock behind her ear. “Then I met this amazing woman. Different from any I’d ever known. She convinced me to reevaluate the direction I was heading.”

Her eyes grew large with his words. “What are you saying, Nash?” she asked, her voice quivering.

“That I may have the same goals you do.” He hesitated. “I’ve been alone—and a loner—all my life, Rylie. But I think I do want what others have. Someone to come home to. Someone to share the little things with. Someone to have my children.”

She sucked in a quick breath.

“I’m not trying to scare you,” he said quickly. “I’m not crazy enough to tell you I love you or that I want to make a lifetime commitment to you. But,” he added, “if I did? You’re the kind of women I would want to do it with. So for now, I say let’s take our time getting to know one another. See where things lead. I can’t promise you it’ll be a smooth path. I can’t even promise if we’ll continue to walk on the same path. For now, though, I want to walk side-by-side and explore things with you.”

“Such as?”

“I’d like to see a little of your world. I got a glimpse of it at your store. Take me with you on one of those estate sales. Teach me a little more about antiques. Let me get to know your friends. I already know how much you love and trust your cousin, and Ainsley is super-protective of you. You’ve mentioned friends being family. I want to meet them. I know my band members, even when we’re fighting, are family to me. I suppose ‘family’ is not only your blood kin. It can be the family you create with the friends in your life.”

“I agree with that. Ainsley lost her mom and dad. I lost mine. We’ve always been close as sisters. The friends I’ve made since moving to the Cove have become very important to me. They are my family. Willow and Tenley were college roommates. Willow grew up in the Cove. Her brother is Ainsley’s husband.”

“Jackson,” Nash said.

She smiled—and this time the smile reached her eyes.

“That’s right. You are a good listener. Willow dated Dylan in high school, but being an artist, she moved to Europe for almost ten years. She came back to the Cove when her grandmother died and reconnected with Dylan, who’s the sheriff of the Cove. Dylan’s best friend is Carter, who is Tenley’s husband.”

---