Chapter 18
18
Home.
Two days ago, I was trapped in the zone of wondering if something was wrong with me, if maybe there was a glitch in my ability to connect with anyone romantically. The few dates I did manage to go on always crashed and burned almost immediately. I was starting to think I might end up alone, because no one has ever compared to my long-ago first crush.
Right now I’m reeling.
I’m in love. Hard deep and for real.
And I’m already talking about moving in with him because I’ve always suspected and now I know he’s the love of my freaking life. Oh, and we’re also playing with fire because we had unprotected sex all night long .
It’s a lot.
Nate gets my bag out of my truck for me and I put on a white cotton sundress and my cowboy boots.
“We can leave your truck here,” he says.
“You want me to come with you to pick up Daisy?”
Nate’s putting the dishes from breakfast into the dishwasher, wearing only jeans with a dishtowel thrown over his sculpted, suntanned shoulder—just when I thought he couldn’t get any hotter—but my question makes him stop what he’s doing and come over to me.
He’s quiet for a few seconds, gazing down at me thoughtfully. He smooths a lock of my hair and I notice again how big he is. He’s a good six or seven inches taller than me and probably outweighs me by two to one. He’s rough when he wants to be but right now he’s so gentle with me, it almost brings tears to my eyes.
“Roxie, I want you to come with me wherever I go. But you don’t have to come with me to pick up Daisy. You can go to the lodge and we’ll meet you there if you want. Everyone will be there, getting ready for the hoedown.”
“What time is it?”
“Now? It’s almost two. The hoedown starts at three. Listen, I get that this is a two-for-one deal. Which isn’t what you signed up for.”
“Where’s the paperwork? I’ll sign up now.”
There’s something heart-breaking about his smile.
“Seriously, Nate, I understand what I’m getting into. Daisy’s your family now. Which means she’s my family too.” I didn’t know two days ago that I was about to fall head-first into a ready-made family, and I don’t exactly know how to feel about all of it, but I’m willing to take this as it comes. “I’ve fallen in love with Daisy too. She’s my tiny little kindred spirit.”
He stares at me for a long moment. “Thank you,” he whispers, kissing me softly. For a big, rough alpha male, he can be so careful. “Besides, I would hate to send you into the hoedown lion’s den alone. I think it’s better if we go together and I can be your buffer.”
“So…we’re doing the hard launch?” I cringe. My night of hot sex with Nate Boone is about to be Sugar Falls’ favorite topic.
His amber eyes are bright. “I say bring it on. We’ll definitely be the hot gossip of the day. But by tomorrow it’ll be old news and they’ll be back to discussing who got tipsy at the sewing circle.”
I can’t help but smile. “Okay. Let’s do this.”
It’s a beautiful day. Our drive along the country roads couldn’t be more scenic. But my stomach is full of butterflies at the thought of facing everyone.
Nate takes my hand. “Hey. Don’t worry about a thing, Tuck. You’ve got me now. I’ll handle everything.”
You’ve got me now. It’s pretty crazy when your dream actually comes true.
We pull up in front of a house with pink balloons decorating the mailbox, the porch and the front door. The table on the front porch has eight or nine little girls dressed in pink sitting around it. A woman is pouring pink lemonade into pink plastic cups. The woman waves. Even the woman is dressed in pink.
“Daisy is among her people,” I laugh.
As soon as we pull up, Daisy jumps up from the table and runs down the steps, a little pink and blond blur. “Uncle Nate!” She leaps into his arms.
Then she sees me get out of the truck.
There’s a split second when I wonder if maybe this was mistake. Nate has become her whole world. Maybe it’s too soon to add me to the mix.
But then her little face lights up. “ Miss Roxie .” Filled with awe. “You came .” Like she wanted me to. Like showing up for her means something.
My heart melts for this sweet child who’s missing something profound in her life that maybe I could help provide. I understand it, and a feverish pull in me wants with my whole heart to give it.
She squirms out of Nate’s arms, running over to me. She takes my hand, and Nate’s, and leads us up the porch steps. “Did you and Uncle Nate have a sleepover, Miss Roxie?”
We’re within earshot, and all the little girls—and the mother—are waiting for my answer. “Um…well, we had a glass of wine and I decided not to drive back.” It’s Nate’s white lie, after all .
The little girls gather around me, wide-eyed. Some are bold enough to reach out to touch the fabric of my dress. “Isn’t she beautiful ?” Daisy whispers to her friends. “Look at her boots . They have pink on them. And look at her lips . That’s the lipstick I told you about. The one called Pink Kisses.”
The woman comes over and Nate introduces us. “Kristie Anderson, meet Roxie Tucker. Roxie, Harper’s mom Kristie. Kristie and her husband Shane are old friends of mine and of Jed and Laney’s. Daisy and Harper have grown up together.”
“So nice to meet you, Roxie.”
“You too, Kristie.”
“You wouldn’t be Roxie Tucker of the Tucker Brothers’ fame, by any chance? Nate’s mentioned that he grew up with the four of you.”
“I’m just the manager. The boys do all the work.”
“I know that’s not true,” Kristie laughs. “I used to be in the music industry myself, before having Harper.”
“Were you?”
“I was the assistant manager for the Down Home Boys, before they got big and before I found out Harper was on the way. Shane and I got married and we moved out here, so I’ve been out of the scene for a while, but I really do miss it.”
“My brothers have played with the Down Home Boys at a couple of festivals. They’re nice guys.”
“Yeah. Superstars now.” She smiles as though remembering good times. “But I knew them back when they were lean, hungry kids.” To Harper, she says, “Honey, why don’t you help Daisy get her bag and her party favors together.”
“Okay!” Harper holds Daisy’s hand and all the little girls scramble inside to help.
After the commotion settles, Kristie pours Nate and I some lemonade. “That must be a huge job, Roxie, managing such a successful band. Every song on their newest album is in the top twenty.”
“Yeah, it’s going well. And it’s definitely busy.”
“I’ve often thought about going back to it,” she says. “I’d love to. But I have no idea how I’d even go about doing that. It’s probably been too long.”
Nate nudges me lightly. “Roxie was just saying she might be looking for some help. Maybe the two of you could get together and talk it over sometime.”
Kristie’s eyes cautiously light up. “I would love that. If you’re interested. I mean, I’m probably not qualified to do much.”
“Anyone who played a part in launching the Down Home Boys is more qualified than most, I’d say.” When Nate talked about delegating some of my work, I was quietly thinking it would be hard to find someone who could fill that role. My brothers are too used to me being at their beck and call. But now that Kristie’s offering, and is clearly excited about the possibility, and has worked with one of the biggest bands in country music, the idea doesn’t sound quite so crazy after all .
“Think about it anyway.” Kristie says. “Nate can give you my number. Just reach out whenever.”
“Thanks, Kristie. I will. Actually, if you want to give it to me now, I can put it in my phone.”
She gives me her number and Nate asks her, “Shane’s working today?”
“Yeah,” she confirms. “Every Saturday, at least for now.” To me, she explains, “My husband is a builder and a contractor with his own small business, but he’s also been working to complete a business degree at night school. He’s just about finished and I can’t wait until he’s done with it. This working full-time while studying for his degree has been a lot.”
“Sounds like it.”
Kristie glances at the door, which is still closed. “Nate, Daisy did wake up last night. She was crying and I was about to call you. But Harper and some of the other girls knew why she was crying. We all kind of gathered around her and talked about it and she calmed down. I stayed with her and they all eventually fell back to sleep. I would have called if she hadn’t stopped crying, but she seemed okay. I asked her if she wanted to stay and she did. I just wanted you to know what happened.”
Nate nods, and that weight-of-the-world heaviness is back. “Thanks, Kristie. I appreciate it.”
“We may see you at the hoedown later, depending on what time Shane gets home, and how tired Harper is. I imagine all the girls will need an early night tonight. Once the sugar high wears off.”
Daisy’s ready and we say goodbye to Kristie and the other girls before loading Daisy and all her stuff into the back seat of Nate’s truck.
And we’re on our way to the hoedown.