Page 32 of The Lyrics of Love

“You have some nice friends. And they really love you.”

“I’m lucky. Friends can become your chosen family.”

“Can I walk you to your car?” he asked.

“Sure.”

They headed down the steps of the gazebo and toward their cars. Nash wished they had three miles to walk together instead of thirty yards because he didn’t want this night to ever end.

“I really enjoyed dinner. And especially hearing you play. It was different hearing the songs live instead of on the radio or streaming them. I get it now. I saw how you came alive. How the crowd energized you and you all connected with one another.” She hesitated a moment and then added, “Thank you for playing A Mistake I Can’t Take Back. It’s full of heartbreak, but I hope the next one you write will be full of hope.”

He touched his fingers to her face. “It will be. Because it will be about you. About us. Can I call you tomorrow?”

“You better, or I might just call you,” she teased.

Nash helped Rylie into her car and then climbed into his truck. He had wanted to kiss her goodnight, but he wanted to save that first, meaningful kiss for when they were in private. Yes, they had already kissed a couple of times, briefly, but when he kissed her the next time?

That kiss might last all night.

CHAPTER 12

Nash awoke, knowing it was early. He rose from the bed and pulled back the curtain, seeing the sun was beginning to rise. The clock beside the bed read ten after six. He figured he had already missed Rylie since she said she usually started her workout at five thirty. He would give it another half-hour and then give her a call.

He hit the restroom and brewed a cup of coffee. He lifted his phone from the charger in the kitchen and took the coffee and his phone out to the porch to sit on the swing. The early morning quiet engulfed him. Going to bed early and getting up early seemed to agree with his body. Already, it had set a new internal clock within him. He believed he would get more writing done during his time in the Cove than he could have anywhere, even his Tennessee farm.

That reminded him that he also needed to call Pops. He took another swig of coffee and set the mug by his feet and opened his phone. A long list of texts—multiple ones from Phil Mooney, his attorney, as well as Dart and Wills. Even a couple from Billy. And probably another three dozen from other people. He had left his phone on the charger when he and Rylie went to dinner last night, and he hadn’t thought to check it before bed.

Skimming them, he realized that people who had come to hear him play last night had recorded him, including when he sang A Mistake I Can’t Take Back. All the texts mentioned the song.

He decided to call Phil first. His lawyer didn’t even bother with a greeting.

“If that song is what you can produce living in a place I’ve never heard of, I suggest you buy a house there and keep writing. And you’re going to need to hire a new manager.”

“Good morning to you, too, Phil.”

“I’m serious, Nash. The song blew up the Internet last night. We need to get a copyright for it ASAP. You haven’t written anything like that in a long time.”

“I know. I had a little inspiration for it.”

“You met someone? You’ve only been there a couple of days.”

“Yup. And she’s really special, Phil.”

“I do not want to hear that, Nash. Not after the disaster called Luna.”

“Luna is dead to me,” he said flatly. “And Rylie is nothing like Luna.”

“Just don’t marry her,” Phil warned. “Remember the last time you met a hot chick and how that worked out.”

Anger surged through him. “You don’t know what you’re talking about, Phil. I said this woman is different. Luna wanted my name and a ring on her finger to open doors for her. Rylie owns her own antiques store. She’s successful professionally. And she doesn’t really care that I’m a famous singer. In fact, she would prefer I wasn’t one.”

“That wouldn’t be good for either of our bank accounts,” Phil quipped.

“What I’m saying is, she wants to get to know me, the man away from the stage. Yes, she was the inspiration for the new song. I did make a pretty big mistake with her, and she pushed me away. Hard. Thankfully, she’s giving me a second chance.”

“Or she wants you to think she didn’t want you and plans to reel you in with talk of trying again. I don’t know, Nash.”

“Well, I do. Stay out of it, Phil. File for the copyright. Let me do as I wish in the Cove. I already have plenty of melodies in my head. The time spent here will be good for me.”

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