Page 129 of Pink and Country

The last words of the song he wrote for me.

Tears pooled in my eyes.

I touched the delicate piece of jewelry like it might break under the pads of my fingers.

“Carter, this is beautiful.” I leaned forward to kiss his lips. “I can’t accept it, though. It’s too much. It must have cost you a fortune.”

“April, I want to spoil you. I know you don’t like the idea of it, but from time to time, please let me.”

“Carter, as much as I love you, I’ll never be okay with you spending money on me. Listen, living with you is one thing. But I’ll never let you pay for everything. In case you haven’t noticed, I’m pretty independent. I love small hotel rooms better than suites. I prefer tacos to five-service dinners, and I don’t think I’ve ever bought more than a handful of pieces of clothing worth over fifty dollars.”

Carter curled his fingers around my neck and pulled my forehead to his. “I value your independence. I love you’re your own woman, and I’ll never try to change who you are. This time, though, I really want you to have this. See this as a move-in-together gift. I’ll downsize everything you don’t feel comfortable with. Cars, hotel rooms, anything. I want you to tell me when I overdo something. It might take me a while to adjust, but I will. I promise. I’ll do anything for you because I love you so fucking much.”

We kissed. Like it was the first time. Or the last time. And I warmed up to his gift. The most beautiful thing someone has ever gifted me. After a song. Nothing could ever beat the song.

I breathed easier. Carter agreed to meet me halfway. It was everything I could ever ask for.

On the plane back home, after waking up from a quick nap, I caught a hint of a smile on his lips as our eyes met. The sight of him, looking at me with those eyes, always stole my breath away. Carter leaned down and pressed his mouth to mine, sparks lighting up his stormy-gray irises. “There’s something I need to tell you.” I tipped one eyebrow, prompting him to continue. Instead, Carter shook his head. “Not here. Not now. It can wait. Just wanted to put it out there. In case I chicken out.” He forced a smile. For a split second, a thick fog clouded his gaze, before his eyes showered me with love.

Shards of fear tickled my spine.

Angst crept inside me.

Did Carter change his mind about us? Sweat pearled on my nape. Should I be worried? Would Carter realize I wasn’t good, pretty, or cool enough to be a part of his life? I zoned out for a minute. Carter must’ve noticed, because he inched closer and claimed my mouth, his lips deliciously pressed against mine.

“Don’t worry, Fairy. It’s not about us.” I relaxed under his warm stare.

Whatever Carter wanted to talk about, it must’ve been serious because he had this “I’m-all-business” look on his face and wrinkles around his eyes as he went over his next engagements with June. But then he glanced my way, and the power of his stare liquified me in my seat, messing with my head. And my heart.

Before we landed, I woke up sitting in his lap. I had no idea how he picked me up without me waking up, but he did. He held on to me, his head resting in the crook of my neck, his breath warm against my skin.

“We’ll get your things from your apartment when you’re ready, woman. This is real. Us. We’re the real thing.”

“We’re crazy.” My arms wound around him. “But I love us the way we are.”

My fingers rubbed the diamonds around my wrist. Flutters danced in my belly. Carter’s words meant more than any jewelry he could ever buy me.

I breathed deeply, a sense of peace washing over me. When did I get so lucky?

After landing in Nashville, we parted ways with the rest of the team. All my limbs were heavy. Carter laced his fingers through mine, and I pressed my head to his shoulder in the cab. “Finally alone,” he said between yawns. “Do you want to spend the night here? Could be fun.”

I nodded. “I’d like that. Let me check with Saunders if she can watch Bernice for a little longer.”

My tongue tied itself in knots and my jaw dropped when my feet touched the hardwood floor of Carter’s penthouse. The amazing view of the city skyline from his top floor took my breath away.

“Wow. This is impressive,” I exclaimed, standing in front of the floor-to-ceiling window overlooking the city. “You used to live here?” Carter inched closer, a lopsided smile lighting up his face, and wrapped his arms around me, my back to his front, and kissed my temple.

“We said we’d wait, but we could still live here. Whatever you want.”

I shrugged and spun around to face him. I looped my arms around his neck, twisting strands of his hair around my fingers. Carter let out a groan, the one awakening my body each time.

“Maybe someday. Right now, I’m happy in Green Mountain with you.”

For dinner, we ordered from the Thai place down the street and sat on the floor in the living room. I loved how we could be so homey together. As if we’d been here, together, for years.

Since we landed, Carter had been a lot quieter than usual. He grabbed my plate and sticks and discarded them on the coffee table beside us. A flicker of emotion passed through his eyes, and he scratched his forehead with his thumb. What was he nervous about?

“April, what I’m about to tell you, I’ve never told anybody else before. I’ve been keeping this to myself for a long time. It haunted my nights sometimes and my days quite often.”