Page 10 of The Lyrics of Love

“I should be going,” Ainsley said, giving Rylie a final hug. “Enjoy yourself tonight. Just be you. Don’t think of it being a date with a famous person. It’s simply you and a very attractive guy sharing a meal and a little about yourselves. Hopefully, something may come of it. If it doesn’t, then you can move on.”

Ainsley said she would let herself out and left the office.

Rylie brooded.

She didn’t want to pin her hopes on something good happening during dinner tonight, but she couldn’t help herself. The thought of Nash’s smile had her heart doing this crazy pitter-patter thing that only happened in romance novels. Yes, she thought he was hot. Incredibly hot. He also seemed interesting. He was quiet, just as she could be. Maybe she could probe his depths and learn some things about him.

Despite what she had told herself, she went downstairs at five-thirty, checking to see that her purchases from the estate sale were on display. She’d sent e-mails to the two clients who she believed would snap these items up, and she had back-ups in case they didn’t.

“I think I’m going to head home a bit early,” she told Jerry.

“I see you called in the troops,” he said, indicating the box she held.

“I volunteered to bring dessert to dinner. Ainsley was kind enough to bring some goodies over.”

“Mr. Edwards will probably want to move to the Cove permanently after he tastes your cousin’s baked goods.”

“Maybe he can write a song about them,” she teased. “I’ll see you in the morning. Goodnight, Jerry.”

“Have fun, Rylie. You deserve it.”

She went to her SUV. The boys had already unhooked the trailer from it, and she drove home. Turning on the shower, she stepped out of her clothes and tossed on her shower cap before jumping in for a quick rinse. She slathered on lotion and spritzed herself with fresh perfume before putting on a clean bra and panty set. Her sundress went back on. She didn’t want Nash to know she’d come home to freshen up for him. Not that there was anything wrong with that. She just wanted to show up as if she’d left work and come straight to his place.

She added a bit of eye shadow to her lids and put on a new coat of lipstick. Brushed her hair and returned the head band to her head. Looking in the mirror, she decided she was as ready as she could be.

Her heart starting to race, she returned to her SUV and drove the short distance to the McCarry cottage. Getting out, she brought the bakery box with her. Before she could ring the doorbell, the door opened.

Nash stood there, in a navy T-shirt that showed off his muscular arms and chest and faded jeans that were molded to his legs.

But what surprised Rylie most was that he had shaved and his hair no longer hung to his shoulders. Instead, it was neatly trimmed, as short as if he were a banker on Wall Street.

“You look... nice,” she managed to get out, handing him the box as he stepped aside so she could enter.

“Buttercup Bakery,” he said, looking at the stamp on top.

She smiled. “I never said I would make dessert. Just bring it. My cousin owns the bakery, and everything she makes is to die for.” She set down her purse on an end table. “Who cut your hair?”

He rubbed his chin. “My drummer. Billy Brown.”

“Oh, the band member who lives in Salty Point?”

“That’s Billy. His dad was a barber. He trims everyone’s hair when we’re on tour. The band. The roadies. Our manager.” His face soured, and then he seemed to shrug it off. “I called and told him I was in town and needed a cut. I haven’t had one since... I came off my last tour.”

Rylie supposed that was when he had discovered his wife had cheated on him.

“Well, you look really good,” she said, feeling the atmosphere between them charged to Defcon Max.

He took a step toward her, and she could smell the spice of his cologne. It seemed she wasn’t the only one who had cleaned up for this date.

His hands settled on her waist. “I wanted to look good for you.”

His touch caused her to tremble. She couldn’t remember the last time a man had put his hands on her.

“You smell good,” he said. “Really good.”

And before she could reply, his lips covered hers.

CHAPTER 4

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