“You know,” Kylie began in a whisper between kisses. “I seem to remember you telling me once that you weren’t the kind of guy to take me on dates, write me love songs, serenade me in public, and send me flowers. I think you might’ve been wrong about that, Mr. Corbin.”
Trace laughed and shook his head. “Actually, I was going to do this in front of a live audience, but I remembered how much you didn’t love that last time. I’m learning.” He pulled her into his arms and she laughed along with him.
“I think I might’ve been wrong, too,” Kylie said as they swayed to music only they could hear.
“Oh yeah? What about, babe?”
She looked up and smiled into his eyes. “I told you once that you weren’t all that damned special.” She placed another soft kiss on his mouth. “You are very special. So damn special.”
Trace wiped her tears. “Well, Kylie Ryans. If I didn’t know better, I’d think you were starting to like me.”
She grinned at her future husband. “More like love you.”
He made a big show of exhaling. “Thank God, because Rae and Claire Ann are already planning the wedding.”
They couldn’t seem to let go of each other from that moment forward. Kylie’s arms were still wrapped around his waist as they locked up and left the bar.
“You know, to some people, this probably looks like the end. Like we finally got our happily ever after.”
Trace’s bright hazel eyes sparkled down into hers as they stepped out into the city lights. “And what does it look like to you, Kylie Lou?”
She kissed him once more as he held the truck door open for her.
“The beginning.”
IF ANYONE ever would’ve told me that I’d love another man more than I loved my daddy or Trace Corbin, I would’ve told them they were crazy. While laughing in their face.
And yet, as I wait in line to de-board the plane from London back home, anticipation builds in my chest and I know in that moment that I love the guy waiting for me more than I have ever loved anyone. My entire life changed the day I met him. In ways I never could’ve imagined.
I can barely concentrate on lugging my giant carry-on bag through customs. All I can see in my mind are his bright blue-green eyes and his headful of messy dark curls. I can already picture how wide his smile will be when he sees me.
His favorite song is the ringtone on my phone and I turn into a sentimental mess every time I hear it.
I’m beginning to think it’s true what they say about absence making the heart grow fonder.
I tour a lot less now, since I’m no longer a solo act but part of a group. After a few years of doing our own thing, Mia Montgomery, Lily Taite, and I decided to start a band. We just finished our second world tour and Backwoods Belles is currently one of the hottest bands in the country. But we’re about to take some time off. Which I think the love of my life will be thrilled to hear. No matter how little I tour, being apart is still hard on both of us.
I’ve got some big news for my guy and I’m both excited and nervous about what his reaction will be. It’s been my experience that the male species often has a hard time with change.
The people in front of me are trudging along slowly and I want to plow them down. I check my phone for the tenth time since turning it off airplane mode. His handsome face is the background on my screen, and seeing it just makes me even more anxious.
The lady in customs at the Hartsfield airport looks miserable until she checks my passport. She smiles and asks politely for my autograph for her niece, which of course I give her.
It will never stop blowing my mind that people want my name on a piece of paper. Life is an amazing and strange experience sometimes.
I’m practically jogging to baggage claim where I know he’s waiting for me. A few people give me strange looks but I couldn’t care less.
Through the crowd I see him and I know that he sees me in that same instant. His dimpled smile greets me, and I drop my carry-on bag and run.
So does he.
“Mommy!” He squeals as I lift him off the ground and spin him in a circle. “I missed you this much.” He throws his arms out as wide as they’ll go.
“Well I missed you even more than that,” I tell him, choking back tears. It feels like he’s grown so much in the six weeks I’ve been gone. Once I’ve covered his entire face with kisses, I glance over at my husband. “I missed you too, babe.”
He places a chaste but firm kiss on my lips before moving his mouth back to my ear. “Missed you too, Kylie Lou. I’ll show you how much…later.”
I have to stifle a shiver and set our son down gently.