You were just another pretty face,
Until I felt the sparks,
I’m not a perfect person,
You know how much that’s true,
With the strength of your love,
I want to be a better man for you,
I can never make up for my past,
So many lies I can never undo,
Couldn’t believe I was falling fast,
I wanted those restless nights to be through,
I see those questions in your eyes,
You don’t know how much I’ve missed you,
It may take another thousand tries,
I want to be a better man for you,
If you’ll just take my hand right now,
I know what I have to do,
I’ll be a better man for you,
I’ve never felt love like I do,
I’ll be a better man for you,
I knew from the start,
there was something about you,
Believe me, this is from the heart,
That I want to be a better man for you.
When the song finished, Avery had tears running down her cheeks.
“I love you, Avery Callimer. Thank you for bringing light back into my life.” Lucas put the microphone back up on its stand and bolted off stage. Everyone clapped and cheered. Whistles rang out. Avery got to her feet and met Lucas midway. He opened his arms and Avery fell into them, clinging so tight. “That was amazing! And beautiful! And- Oh, Lucas, I thought when I came back and you were gone, that I’d never see you again!”
“Oh, honey. I meant what I said. You’re the one for me. I’m sorry I couldn’t get back before you did. I wanted to.” Lucas stroked her hair and kissed her temple as he looked into her eyes. “I love you so much,” he whispered.
“I love you too, Lucas Bennett.” Avery kissed him. She felt bad for stealing the show at Laura’s wedding, but no one seemed to mind anymore. In fact, music began to play and couples were out on the dance floor again, including Laura and Ray.
“I want to spend the rest of my life with you, Avery.” Lucas took her hand in his, moving to the mid tempo music. “I want to help you make your dreams come true. I want to be the man that wakes up beside you every day, the father to our children, the man you dedicate songs to when you’re a famous singer. I will always be honest, faithful and open with you. Will you marry me Avery, and make me the happiest man on earth?”
Avery gaped at him. He held out a ring box and opened it, showing Avery the most stunning ring she’d ever seen.
“Umm, second happiest.” Laura stood nearby, her hands on her hips and a smile on her face. “I plan to make my husband the happiest man on earth.”
Avery and Lucas laughed. “Fine, you have that honor. As long as I get to keep this girl.” Lucas squeezed Avery and kissed her again.
“Avery, if you don’t say yes to this man right now, I’m going to have to reevaluate our friendship,” Laura teased.
Avery giggled. “Well, because I can’t lose my friendship with Laura, my answer is yes.” Lucas slid the ring on her finger, feigning a wounded look.
“Oh come on, didn’t my attempts at singing in front of a crowd win you over at all? Thanks for your ultimatum, Laura, but I could have won her over on my own.” Lucas held up Avery’s hand and kissed the finger which now had his ring.
“Oh, who am I kidding? I would have said yes before, Lucas.” Avery kissed his cheek, looking at the ring. So perfect. Amazing.
“Avery, I’m not the perfect man, which you know,” Lucas said seriously. “But I’ll do my best to make sure you’re taken care of. One thing I know is that you will always be loved.”
“I don’t need perfect, Lucas.” The next song turned to a slow one. Perfect timing. Avery rested her head on Lucas’s chest as they danced. “I just need you. And ... you mentioned a father to our kids? Umm, how early did you want to start on that family?” Avery smiled up at him, hoping this would go over well.
His brows raised and he held her closer. “Are you telling me something, Avery?”
She nodded, tears welling in her eyes. “I’m pregnant. I found out a few days ago.”
“Oh, Avery.” Lucas hugged her, his eyes blazing with happiness. “You are amazing. I can’t believe I’m going to be a future husband and a future father, and learned about it on the same day!”
“You’re happy about it? You’re not angry?”
“Why would I be angry at the woman who has given me everything I’ve ever wanted? Love? And a family? I couldn’t be happier!”
“I’m so glad to hear that. I was afraid you wouldn’t want any of this.”
Lucas tipped her chin up. “I want everything with you, Avery Callimer, soon to be Avery Bennett. Things aren’t always going to be wine and roses. I know relationships take work. We started ours without a lot of trust, but I intend to be everything I can for you. I know you want to have your music career, and while I’m so over the traveling all the time, I want you to have your dream. I don’t want to lose you, and if that means I have to learn to make a sacrifice, then I’ll work on it. You and your happiness are far more important.”
Oh, how she loved the sound of that. Avery Bennett.
“I don’t want you to give up what you want, Luc-”
Like always, he shut her up with a kiss. Now that was something they’d have to talk about. When the kiss ended, Avery giggled. “You always do that.”
He shrugged, then smiled. “What can I say? I love your lips. But seriously, I know it’s going to take some adjusting for both of us, but we’ll find a way to make it all work. Isn’t that what love is? I thought about that a lot, when I realized how I felt about you. When you went home after our fight and I couldn’t get a hold of you, then finding out that monster Nick Tate had you ... I knew then. I wasn’t going to let my feelings get in the way of what I really wanted, and that’s you. You’re the best thing for me, Avery Callimer. In return, I want to be the best for you. I think any life with you, whether we’re traveling or in one place, is going to be amazing. I just- I need you in my world.”
He was so hopeful. Avery knew then and there that they would be okay.
“We’ve gotten this far,” Avery said softly, touching his face. “We’ll find a way. We’ll always find a way.”
“I’m so glad you feel that way. I do have one request for you though, Avery.” Lucas cupped her cheeks, holding her face close to his.
Her heart thumped faster and louder in her chest. “What’s that?”
Lucas pulled something else out of his pocket. A crumpled piece of paper. “I’ve never had a song written about me. I request that you finish this one and sing it at our wedding.” A smile played at his lips. Avery took the paper from him and unfolded it, reading the words.
The lyrics she’d started writing at the beach stared back up at her. He’d found this and kept it? It meant that much to him?
“Please?”
Avery tipped her head back and laughed as Lucas twirled her around the dance floor. She held onto that paper and to her future husband like they were her lifeline.
“Anything for you, Lucas. And I’ll write plenty more as we live our lives together. I love you so much!” For the rest of the night, Avery couldn’t keep her eyes off the man that meant so much to her, and couldn’t wait for the day she would become Avery ‘Baby Stetson’ Bennett.
THE END
What’s next for Baby Stetson the band? Find out in the next Love and Music in Texas book. Jameson gets his own happily ever after, and you can catch up with Avery and Lucas.
About The Author
Nikki Lynn Barrett lives in Arizona with her husband and son. She’s an avid reader, a dreamer, and loves everything about books. She runs a book blog, an online used bookstore, and writes various genres of romance. Nikki can also be found outside with her camera when a storm is near, snapping photo after photo. Her dreams of becoming a writer started when she was young, when she started writing boo
ks in one subject notebooks by the fifth grade. You can visit Nikki’s site at: www.nikkilynnbarrett.blogspot.com for more information. She is currently working on her next book. Nikki would love to hear from readers. Email her at [email protected]. You can also visit me on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/NikkiLynnBarrettauthor.
Baby Stetson (Love and Music in Texas #1) Page 31