Harmony for Christmas (Dansboro Crossing #4)

Epilogue

HARMONY - ONE YEAR LATER

“Hello, Austin!” I yell, stepping onto the stage. It seems like I’ve lived a lifetime since I’ve said that. Little did I know the last time would lead me to where I am now.

This time, I say it with a little more gusto. It’s the last time I’ll be on this stage for a while—any stage. When the proverbial curtain closes tonight, I’m taking a much-needed six-month break.

My gaze casts briefly to the man standing just off stage. His arms are folded over his chest, and there’s a scowl on his face. Most people can’t see, however, the warmth in his eyes. I can. I can see past his concern for me as I stride out in my boots to begin the first song. I can see the love he envelops my soul in.

To say our newest album has taken off would be an understatement. Uploads of our performance in Dallas were lighting up social media before we even walked off stage.

Then our fans found out about the man in my life. Poor Beau. He had his life splashed across every site almost overnight. It never seemed to bother him much though. I guess if there are no skeletons in your closet, you can still sleep easy at night.

About the time life in our sleepy, little world calmed down again, he proposed. It was the most romantic thing ever. We packed a picnic and spent the day by the river. He lit a fire as the sun dropped and, with the sunset in the background, got down on one knee. I knew he was a romantic at heart.

I accepted of course. Not in some beautiful, graceful way. I sobbed tears into his shirt until I broke out in hiccups. Thankfully, that didn’t make the rounds on social media.

Instead, there were a million shots of his grandmother’s gorgeous engagement ring on my finger. I haven’t taken it off since. Our wedding was perfect with just family and friends.

Let me be the first to explain how incredibly hot a sexy cowboy looks in a tuxedo. Our wedding night in a fancy hotel in Austin was a challenge. I had a hard time deciding if I should simply marvel at him looking like something I’d like to lick or actually ripping the tux off and doing just that.

I did the latter. I’m no idiot.

The next day, he swept me off to Peru where I managed to twist my ankle on the way to see Machu Picchu. I did post some great pictures of the donkey that hauled me down if that’s any consolation.

“Here,” Beau says, thrusting a bottle of water into my hands the moment I walk off stage for my first wardrobe change. My wardrobe is a lot more complicated now. Gone are all of the skin-tight jumpsuits and crop tops. Now, I’m in roomier outfits. Yep, you guessed it. Six months into our marriage, I got pregnant.

It was planned. No failed birth control, super sperm, or any of that other stuff for me. We just decided we didn’t want to wait to start a family.

Beau was beyond excited when that little stick showed two lines. It caused a few disagreements over me immediately beginning the tour. I worked out a compromise with the label to divide it into two sections with a six-month break in the middle.

“How are you feeling?” Robin asks when I reach the dressing room. I have two mother hens watching over me now.

“I’m good.”

“I’ll be glad when tonight is over,” Beau says. His hand presses to my belly as I’m trying to wrestle my shirt off.

“As much as I hate to admit it, I will be too.” Robin holds up my next outfit. “The barfing on the bus was bad enough. Now, I keep waiting for that thing to pop out during a performance.”

“Nothing’s popping out,” I say, rolling my eyes. “I’ve still got three months. I’m not that huge, am I?”

“You’re perfect,” Beau answers. He’s not an idiot either.

“Yeah, now get your perfect butt back out there.” Robin helps me pull my next outfit into place. Quickly, we move back toward the stage. I notice out of the corner of my eye Beau taking his place on the side again. Arms still crossed over his chest, scowl still firmly in place.

I slip him a quick smile before turning to Luke. He’s already begun the next song. It’s going to be nice knowing I can take time away and still come back to the same guys I started with. They’re actually excited about having extra time too.

Our songs are a little different with this album. I’m told they’re softer. Less about tribulations and more about falling in love.

“Thank you for coming out tonight. I hope you had as much fun as we did,” I say at the end of the last song. I announce the band one more time, and we’re officially done for a while. We only return for one encore, then my feet need a break.

I thought first-time pregnancies weren’t this hard on your body. Someone should explain that to this one. My feet and back are screaming.

“Sit,” Beau barks when we reach the dressing room. “Robin, can you give us a couple of minutes.” He’s used to the fans traipsing through for the meet and greet by now. Robin nods and closes the door.

I sink onto the couch in relief. “Let me see these.” Beau pulls my feet onto his lap. Carefully, he pulls off my boots. His thumbs rub circles across the arches.

“If I wasn’t so tired, I’d ride you like there’s no tomorrow just for doing that,” I moan. He really does have magical hands.

“I think that’s how we got here in the first place.” He smirks at me. I know exactly how we got here. It involved the couch in his studio and a very risqué drawing session. Think Rose in Titanic . “Do you want to change?”

“No. Let’s just get this done so we can go back to the hotel, and I can collapse.” He slides my favorite slippers on and helps me off the couch. “How come I never realized until now that cozy slippers really are God’s gift to the world?” He laughs and moves to the door. With his hand resting on the knob, he turns to appraise me.

“Hmm, I might have to disagree with that.”

He opens the door, and Travis makes his entrance. “Uncle Travis is here!” I swear I can hear Beau sigh from all the way across the room.

“Hey, don’t forget Uncle Trace is here also.” His bright eyes sweep over me the moment he enters the room. “How are you, sweetheart?” Great, now I have four mother hens all clucking around me.

“I’m great. Ready for some quiet time at home.”

“Are you kidding?” Travis says. “We’ve got way too much to do. Bro softball league, get the nursery ready, graduation,”—he counts each one off on his fingers—“moving, baby classes, baby.”

It all sounds exhausting, except for bro softball league. That’s literally what they call it, and I can’t believe they convinced Beau to play.

I can’t wait to see our friends again. Austen started a book club last time I was home. It was probably all the wine I drank at one of the meetings that led to the naked sketching and this little one. Anyway, they always made sure I could join via online chat when I was on the road.

“All right,” I say finally. “Let’s get this done, so we can get onto that.”

BEAU

I had no idea the difference one Christmas could make in my life. If you had told me I’d be balanced on a stool in the corner of a room watching my wife sign autographs, I would have laughed. Not only am I in awe that I have a wife, but I’m about to be a father. Now I’ll get the chance to do everything right that I got wrong with Travis.

“Babe, are you ready to go?”

Babe. I’m someone’s babe now.

“Whenever you are.”

Robin ushers the last fan out the door. Harmony turns to me. She looks exhausted but gorgeous all at the same time. I take her hand, leaving Robin to pack up her stuff, and pull her to the door.

“I’m starving,” she admits halfway down the hall.

“What are you starving for tonight?” I have hunted down the oddest food over the last six months when I’m with her. I actually stood outside the bakery one night in our small town, begging Lucy to sell me anything she had left. Harmony devoured a stale cinnamon roll and a blueberry bagel at two in the morning. Good thing Lucy, the owner, is so good-natured. I owe her big for that one.

“I want the biggest plate of enchiladas ever seen.”

“They’re going to give you indigestion,” I warn.

“Beau, everything has started giving me indigestion. I swear the doctor is off by a couple of months.”

“Let’s hope not. I don’t really want to deliver our kid on the way home tomorrow. Especially after enchiladas.”

We have no idea if we’re having a boy or a girl. I convinced Harmony to wait until it makes an appearance. Seemed like a fun surprise at the time. I think the whole town wants to kill me though. They’re planning a huge baby shower with no idea what the theme should be.

There’s a car waiting outside to whisk us to the hotel. It’s one of the better perks of being the star of the show. We’re staying at an upscale hotel not far from the venue.

Harmony, who looks dead on her feet, plasters on her best smile until we’re locked safely in the room. She would never take a chance on disappointing a fan who happened to be in view.

“You head for the shower, and I’ll order. Once again, are you sure about the Mexican food at”—I check my watch—“eleven at night?”

“Absolutely.” She kicks off her slippers and walks to the bathroom shedding clothes along the way. “Chips and queso too,” she calls from the bathroom.

All I can do is shake my head as I hear the water turn on. Finding Mexican food at eleven at night is no easy task. Even in the city on a Saturday night, most places are closed. Thankfully, Trace has a place on speed dial.

“Fuzzy robes might also be God’s best gift to the world,” she says, walking into the living area of our suite fifteen minutes later.

“Still beg to differ.” She walks to me, and I envelop her in my arms. “Your night of indigestion should be here soon.”

“My hero.”

“I think that sentiment will change sometime in the middle of the night.”

“Never.” She gives me a radiant smile, and my heart rate increases threefold. I wonder if it will ever stop doing that. I don’t think so. I don’t think I will ever fall out of love with Harmony. There’s a very good chance that my heart hammering in my chest will eventually kill me when I’m old just from one look. That’s the plan anyway.

“Yay!” she exclaims when the desk calls. I meet the driver at the door and tip him well. Harmony is already bouncing in one of the chairs next to the table. “You’re not eating anything?” She gazes at the carryout containers in front of her.

“There’s only room for one of us in the bathroom all night.” She shrugs and digs into the massive mess of food. With a deep sigh, she closes her eyes, and I watch as she celebrates the first bite.

“I hope you’re as excited to go home as you are about your dinner,” I tease.

She looks at me with her soft blue eyes. Her smile is radiant.

“I’m already home, Beau. You’re here. You’re the only home I’ll ever need.”

A warmth I’d never felt before her sweeps through my body. She’s right. Over the last year, I’ve been home at the ranch and in Nashville. We’ve made our home on the back of a bus, in hotel rooms, dressing rooms, and stages.

I understand what she means. She’s been my home since that first morning when she wrapped her arms around me in the middle of a snowstorm. I’ll never need anything else. I’m home.

Thank you for reading Harmony for Christmas.