Chapter 13
“No problem, Suze. Glad you could make it,” Lewis said, his tone open and friendly. Like he knew her. “We only just finished the second course, so your timing is actually perfect.”
Timing for what?
“Oh that’s a relief.” She gestured to the wide open patio behind us. “Do you want to get started now?”
She was all smiles even though her cheeks were flushed, and her raven hair looked slightly frazzled despite being pulled back into a sleek ponytail. Her clothes gave me pause. Whiskey and Lace didn’t strike me as the denim shorts, chequered shirts and cowboys boots sort of place.
“I’m going to be awful at it, but sure.” Lewis pushed back his chair and stood, his gaze fixed on me, a little glint there making it perfectly clear that he relished my bewilderment.
Mischief danced in his eyes, a playful smirk tugging at the corners of his mouth. My heart did a funny little flip in my chest. How was it possible to want to smack him and kiss him senseless at the same time?
“Ready?” He held out his hand to me.
“I’d need to know what’s happening to be ready for it.”
He chuckled and wiggled his hand. “You’re not going to find out if you stay there. Or did you suddenly lose your reckless streak?”
“I’m not reckless.”
His brows climbed, calling me a liar, and okay, so maybe I’d given him good reason.
I gave in because my curiosity was a vicious bitch. It had nothing at all to do with him goading me. Nothing.
“Liv meet Suze.” Lewis gestured between us with a grin that could power the whole damn city. “She’s here for your next surprise.”
I raised an eyebrow. “Another one? You’re spoiling me rotten, sug.”
“Oh honey, I’ve known this one for years and there’s nothing he loves more than surprising and/or shocking someone. If you haven’t put your foot down yet, I reckon he’s just getting started.” Suze laughed. “You ready to kick up your heels?”
I stared at her. Was she serious?
“A dance lesson? Here?”
“Not just any dance lesson.” He tugged me into his side. “Line dancing. Did you think I’d bring you to a Southern restaurant and end the night there?”
I mean, yes?
“I can’t believe you…” I tipped my head back, smiling up at him. “You’ve truly outdone yourself this time, rock star. Thank you.”
“I’d do anything for you, cariad.”
Tears burned the back of my throat, happy tears, overwhelmed tears. I blinked them back, determined not to turn into a blubbering mess.
But god, it was a near thing.
Every thoughtful gesture, every sweet word out of his mouth… it chipped away at the walls I’d built, the armour I wore to protect my heart.
He had a way of making me feel cherished, adored. Like I was the only woman in the world, the only one that mattered.
It was heady and frightening and exhilarating, and another brick fell from the wall, bringing me closer to falling head over heels in love with him.
The band in the section beyond the partition switched gears, the first twanging notes of a familiar tune filling the air.
I swallowed hard, trying to find my voice. “Lewis, I…”
But before I could put my tangled emotions into words, Suze clapped her hands, her face alight with infectious enthusiasm.
“Alright, y’all, let’s start with a basic grapevine! Lewis, you just watch Olivia and follow along.” She winked at him. “She’ll keep you on the straight and narrow.”
My body responded on instinct, falling into step with practised ease. I grinned, watching Lewis try to mimic my movements, his brow furrowed in concentration.
“Come on, rock star,” I teased, my boots scuffing against the polished wood. “Don’t tell me that musical brain of yours can’t keep up with a little old country two-step.”
He laughed, stumbling slightly as he tried to match my grapevine. “I’m man enough to admit when I’m outclassed. You’ve got moves I can only dream of.”
I preened a little at the compliment, letting the music flow through me as I spun and stepped in perfect time. It felt like coming home, the familiar rhythm settling into my bones and chasing away the last of my nerves.
“That’s it, Olivia! You’re a natural.” Suze clapped along, her eyes bright with approval.
Suze called for a break and Lewis stopped moving with a grateful sigh.
“How’d you get so good at this?” he asked. “Been holding out on me, Carolina girl?”
“I’ve been line dancing since I could walk. It’s in my blood.” Even with Suze calling a break, the live band still played on, and my feet would not stop moving. Lewis watched me with a bemused smile. “Mama used to say I came out of the womb already knowing the electric slide.”
He chuckled, low and warm. “Why am I not surprised?”
It wasn’t like I’d been out of Nashville long enough to miss it, but getting to show off my skills like this, to let loose and just enjoy the simple pleasure of moving to the music, it would never get old.
“Why did you pick line dancing if you couldn’t do it?”
“I’m not really a dancer, so the type wouldn’t have mattered, but…” A tiny flush crept across his cheeks. “I knew it would make you happy so…” He shrugged and stole another piece of my heart with ease.
“No one’s ever done something like this for me before.”
“Then you’ve been dating the wrong kind of men, songbird.”
Understatement of the century.
I huffed out a laugh. “Starting to think that might be the case, yes.”
He cupped my face in his hands, his thumbs sweeping over my cheekbones with a tenderness that made me ache. “Get used to it. Because I plan on spending a long, long time showing you exactly how you deserve to be treated.”
The sincerity in his voice, the intensity of his gaze… it stole the air from my lungs and set my blood on fire. I wanted to kiss him, to pour everything I was feeling into the press of my lips against his. But Suze’s voice cut through the charged moment, pulling us back to the present.
“Alright! Break’s over. Let’s see if we can’t get Lewis up to speed.”
I grinned, slightly dazed as I stepped back and held out my hand. “You heard the lady, rock star. Time to show us what you’ve got.”
He took my hand, lacing our fingers together. “Pretty sure we both know you’ve got me beat in the dancing department. But I’ll keep trying if you’re willing to be patient with me.”
“Always,” I promised, something warm and wonderful unfurling in my chest. “We’ll take it one step at a time.”
And Lord almighty, did we ever. As Suze called out the steps and the music played on, I guided Lewis through the patterns, our laughter mingling with the twang of the steel guitar. He stumbled, his brow creased in concentration as he tried to match my movements. But he never gave up, never stopped trying. And every time he got it right, the brilliant smile that lit up his face took my breath away.
“Look at you go!” I cheered as he nailed a particularly tricky turn. “Reckon you’ll be putting me to shame in no time.”
“Not bloody likely,” he scoffed. “Pretty sure you’ve got a monopoly on talent in this relationship.”
I raised an eyebrow, fighting back a grin. “Oh, is that so? Because last I checked, you’re the one with the Grammy. Multiple Grammys, actually.”
“Yes, but you’re in a league of your own.” He shook his head, his expression soft and serious. “Watching you on that stage, hearing your voice… it’s like nothing I’ve ever experienced. You’ve got a gift, songbird. One that puts the rest of us to shame.”
“You really mean that, don’t you?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.
“With every fibre of my being.” He brushed a kiss over my forehead. “Liv, you’re extraordinary. In every possible way. And I feel like the luckiest bastard alive every time I get to witness it.”
A shaky laugh bubbled up my throat, half sob and half pure, unadulterated joy. “Funny. Because I was just thinking the same thing about you.”
He grinned, the boyish, lopsided smile that never failed to melt me into a puddle. “Guess we’ll just have to agree to disagree on who the lucky one is, then.”
“Guess so.”
For half an hour, we moved together, going through all the sequences, stopping and starting until Lewis got it. Our boots scuffed against the polished wood while our laughter mingled with the music and chatter of the other patrons on the other side of the partition.
How was I supposed to hold onto my heart when he kept pulling out all the stops for me? No way would I survive six months on tour without falling so hard I’d never find my way out.
If I’m not careful, I might just start believing in fairy tales again.
Lost in my thoughts, I stumbled, my boot catching on the smooth wood. But before I could even let out a yelp of surprise, Lewis’s arms wrapped around me, saving me from an embarrassing tumble. He straightened, taking me with him, his arms tightening around me as he held me against his chest.
“You alright?”
I stared into his eyes, my heart doing a little two-step of its own at the concern in his hazel gaze. “Yeah, I’m… I’m fine. Just got a little lost in my head for a second.”
His brow furrowed, his thumb rubbing soothing circles on my hip. “Anything you want to talk about?”
Oh, sugar, if you only knew.
My gaze dropped to his lips. They were so close, just a whisper away, and part of me wanted nothing more than to close the distance and sink into him… while distracting him from his question.
But instead, I took a deep breath and let the truth spill out. “I was just thinking… about how different you are. From anyone I’ve ever met.”
His breath hitched, his eyes darkening with an intensity that made my knees weak. “Different how?”
“In every way that matters,” I whispered, my fingers curling into the fabric of his shirt. “You’re kind and generous, patient and understanding. You make me feel seen, Lewis. Really, truly seen. Like I don’t have to hide or pretend or be anything other than exactly who I am.”
“Liv…” His voice was rough, choked with emotion. “That’s all I want, cariad. For you to be yourself, always. Because the real you? She’s bloody brilliant. And I feel like the luckiest man in the world every time I get to see her shine.”
How does he always know just what to say to turn my insides to molasses?
I rose up on my toes, my lips parting, needing to taste him, to show him what his words meant to me. But before I could close the distance, a pointed cough sounded from behind us.
“Hate to interrupt, lovebirds, but I come bearing one last taste of Southern sweetness,” Sawyer drawled, a knowing grin on his face as he lifted the silver dome with a flourish.
I groaned, dropping my forehead against Lewis’s shoulder. “A bell. He needs a bell.”
Lewis chuckled, the sound rumbling through me like distant thunder. “I’ll get right on that.”
Sawyer walked over to our table and placed the dome down. He hovered, waiting with a slightly impatient pinch to his lips for us to join him. Unfortunately for him, Suze clapped her hands to get our attention.
“Alright, y’all, this looks like a mighty fine place to call it a night. Liv, you aced it of course. Lewis, keep practising. I expect you to be a pro by the time you get back.”
“Yeah, right.” He shook his head but then released me and tugged her into a hug. “I can’t thank you enough for coming out on such short notice. I owe you one.”
She slapped him on the back and stepped away, her eyes twinkling. “Hush now, it was my pleasure. You just make sure you treat this one right, ya hear? She’s a keeper.”
“Don’t I know it.” He wrapped his arm around my waist again, holding me close as he pressed a kiss to my temple. “She’s the best thing that’s ever happened to me.”
He said it so easily, so matter-of-factly. Like it was a given, a universal truth.
How could he be so sure? We’d only known each other for a handful of weeks, had only been together for a fraction of that.
But god, it felt right. It felt real, and true, and meant to be.
Suze said goodnight and slipped away, leaving us alone on the candlelit rooftop. We joined Sawyer at our table and sank back into our seats. When he had all of our attention, he removed the cover with a flourish.
If he’d said he was hiding a deconstructed cobbler I would have been in my seat the instant he appeared.
Flaky bits of crust jutted up from a bed of Bourbon-soaked peaches and vanilla bean ice cream, a drizzle of caramel sauce tying it all together. It was nothing short of edible art. Too beautiful to destroy, but my mouth didn’t care.
“Sawyer, honey, you’ve outdone yourself,” I breathed, shaking my head in disbelief. “How did you even know…?”
The chef winked. “Let’s just say a little birdie might’ve clued me in that you were craving a little sweet taste of home. And by little birdie, I mean this smitten fella over here.” He nodded towards Lewis.
“Just when I think you can’t possibly top yourself,” I said to Lewis, my heart doing a giddy flip in my chest, “you go and pull something like this. A girl could get used to being spoiled within an inch of her life, you know.”
He ducked his head, a boyish grin tugging at his lips. “Good thing I don’t plan on stopping anytime soon, then. I want you to know, beyond a shadow of a doubt, just how special you are to me. Whatever it takes, for as long as you’ll let me.”
And Lord, if that wasn’t a declaration, I didn’t know what was.
I took a bite of the cobbler before my mouth could spit out all of my unprocessed feelings. The first burst of sweetness exploded on my tongue and I groaned. “Oh my lord, Sawyer. This is…” I shook my head, momentarily at a loss for words. “This is like a little slice of heaven right here.”
Sawyer grinned, his chest puffing out with pride. “Don’t. You’re making me blush.”
“I mean it,” I said, pointing my spoon at him. “This might give Hattie a run for her money.”
Lewis chuckled, his eyes warm as he watched me savour another bite. “High praise indeed.”
“What’s your secret?” I rested my chin on my upturned palm and grinned up at him.
“Oh no. I’ll take my recipes to the grave.”
“Fair.” I laughed and took another toe curling bite. “Whatever it is, you’ve outdone yourself. I’m half-tempted to lick the plate clean.”
“You just enjoy every last bite, darlin’. There’s plenty more where that came from.” With a final nod and a smile, Sawyer left us.
I dug into the cobbler with gusto, savouring each decadent mouthful. The peaches were perfectly tender, the bourbon adding a warm, smoky depth to their natural sweetness. And the ice cream, oh lord, the ice cream. Creamy and rich, flecked with fragrant vanilla bean, it melted into the warm pastry, creating a heavenly contrast of temperatures and textures.
I couldn’t help the little noises of appreciation that escaped me as I ate, each bite sending me further into a state of blissful contentment.
Lewis watched me, his eyes dancing with amusement and affection. “Should I give you two a moment alone?” he teased.
I swatted at him playfully, my cheeks warming. “Hush, you. When something’s this good, it deserves to be properly appreciated.”
“I couldn’t agree more,” he murmured, but the way he was looking at me made it clear he wasn’t talking about the cobbler.
My skin prickled with awareness. The air between us felt charged, electric, like a storm about to break.
I cleared my throat, trying to regain my equilibrium. “You’re not going to try it?”
He blinked, seeming to come back to himself. “Oh, I am. I just…” He shook his head, a wry smile tugging at his lips. “I got a bit distracted by the view.”
I ducked my head, warmth flooding my cheeks. “Sweet talker.”
“Only for you, songbird. Only for you.”
He dug into his own serving then, and our roles reversed. A look of pure bliss crossed his face at the first taste. His eyes slid shut, a low hum of appreciation rumbling in his chest.
“Damn,” he breathed after a moment, his eyes opening to meet mine. “That’s… I don’t even have words.”
“Right?” I grinned, taking another bite. “Michelin Star well earned.”
We polished off the rest of our cobblers in comfortable silence, punctuated by the occasional appreciative moan or contented sigh. By the time my spoon scraped the bottom of the dish, I was pleasantly full and slightly drowsy, the combination of good food, good wine, and even better company leaving me in a state of utter relaxation.
“I don’t even know what to say. This whole night, everything you’ve done… it’s like something out of a dream.”
He reached across the table, tangling his fingers with mine. “It’s no less than you deserve, Liv.”
Lord, how does he do that? How does he make me feel like the only girl in the world with just a few simple words?
I swallowed hard, emotion rising in my throat. “I’m not sure I’m ever gonna be able to top this.”
“You don’t have to,” he said softly, his thumb stroking over my knuckles. “Just being with you, seeing you smile… that’s enough for me.”
I had to face the facts. I was already gone. Hook, line, and sinker. Tumbling headfirst into something vast and terrifying and unutterably beautiful.