Page 40 of Princess and Country

They shook hands. “Don’t call me sir, please. I’m not that old. I’m Riley.” The man turned to face Dahlia. “Hi, Dahlia, nice to meet you.” His gaze landed on me next. “And you must be Jeff; I’ve heard a lot about you too.”

“It’s a pleasure,” I said, holding out my hand to shake his. “Thanks for coming today.”

“It wasn’t a hard choice. After I heard the demo you gave Dan, I knew I had to meet with the band before someone else did.”

Pride filled me. I knew it. I resisted the temptation to jump around and hug everyone.

Riley brought his focus back to Carter and Dahlia.

“You guys were great up there. I’d like to hear more about your music and meet up with you. Soon. Very soon. What do you think?”

Carter pinched his lips together and steeled his back. “Let me talk with my bandmate for a second, would you?”

Carter tugged at Dahlia’s elbow and led her away.

They talked for at least five minutes before joining us.

“We’d like to meet with you, Mr.—”

“Burns. Riley Burns.” He held out his hand to shake all of ours. “That’s settled. Oh, and one more thing. Who was that guy playing with you?”

“His name’s Stud. We were trying him today, see how he’d sound. For now, it was a one-time thing.”

“If I were you, I’d bring him on board full-time. He’s crazy talented. Other groups might poach him after hearing him play today. I know I would.”

“We’ll see what we can do. We can’t promise anything yet.”

“Carter, Dahlia, you’re both talented. And your songwriting is top-notch. But having a guy like Stud in your band is a sure thing that could lead to being signed by a major label or bring you to another level. The three of you together, it’s dynamite. Think about it.” Riley handed Dahlia his card. “Call me next week, we’ll schedule an appointment.”

The moment he was out of sight, Carter lifted me in his arms and spun me around like I weighed close to nothing.

And then, once he put me back on my feet, he spun Dahlia around. Finally, it was my turn to lift Dahlia in my arms. My mouth landed on hers, and with all the passion running through my veins, I kissed her.

Someone whistled, and we brought our attention back to the lined-up fans waiting to get pictures and autographs.

“All y’all better hold on to these pictures because these guys will be famous, and you’ll be able to tell everyone you met them here today,” I said to them, becoming the photographer of the hour, snapping pictures of my two most favorite people in the world with the crowd handing me their phones.

Hours later, Carter leaned close as he put his guitar case in the cargo bed of my truck. “I owe you one, big bro. You might have changed our lives today.” I pulled him into a hug.

“I’d do just about anything for you, brother.”

* * *

I didn’t join Dahlia and Carter at their meeting in one of Nashville’s high-rise buildings with Riley Burns a month later, but I tagged along. Mr. Ellis drove us there and went inside with them. As a business lawyer, he was their official representative. I’d do anything to be a part of their band if I had any musical talent whatsoever. Music was Carter and Dahlia’s thing. Not mine.

I needed to pave my own path. Find a career I’d thrive at. Whatever it meant. I had no idea what it was yet except that being a third wheel to Carter Hills Band was not it.

I spent the three-hours-and-forty-seven minutes the meeting lasted in the pub where I used to work. Nashville had become a second home to me, and I’d miss coming back here next year, but I was set on buying a house, settling down with my girl, and becoming someone she’d be proud of.

Once their meeting was over, Dahlia, her dad, and Carter met up with me at the bar.

I held my breath when they walked in.

“How was it?” I asked, my heart thundering in my chest the moment they took a seat around the table.

“Incredible,” Dahlia said, her gaze full of stars.

“I don’t know where to start,” Carter added, a large smile splitting his face in two.

“Listen, kids. I’ll review their offer. But if we can get this Stud—” Mr. Ellis’s eyes searched the papers before him on the table “—Burgess to join the band, they’ll increase their offer. So far, it sounds good. I’ll get a few colleagues to make the required verifications, but this could be big. Bigger than you ever expected. You need to be ready for this. Because if we reach a deal, your lives might never be the same ever again. You need to be sure it’s what you want. Fame, tours, and all of this.”

Mr. Ellis’s words lingered between the four of us. Dahlia grabbed Carter’s hand and mine and squeezed them tight.

As Dahlia’s dad drove us back home, we settled on the back seat of his SUV, and I circled her shoulder with my arm. Carter sat in the passenger seat, too tall to be comfortable back here. The air in the truck sizzled with electricity. Nobody said a word. Carter looked out through the window, Mr. Ellis played low music through the stereo, and I just enjoyed the peace and calm with my girl nested in my arms.

Dahlia cocked her head to look at me. “Thank you,” she said with sparks in her eyes and a warm smile, the one she reserved only for me. The one that could bring me to my knees and make me do anything she’d ask of me.

“For what?”

“Everything. Riley. Being here. Loving me.”

My lips found her temple. “Princess, I’d do anything for you. You should know this by now.”

She embedded her head in the crook of my neck, and with her body molded to mine, she drifted to sleep.

My heart doubled in size.

I breathed out and closed my eyes. Sharing this moment, right here, right now, with Carter and Dahlia was more important than anything else in my life.