***
“That was the best party ever!” Austin said, sinking into an Adirondack chair across from his mother. “You and Clint are awesome for doing this for me.”
Natasha smiled. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d seen her son look so happy or carefree. “It was our pleasure. We’re just glad you guys had a good time.” Looking at the amber-streaked sky as the sun dipped lower, she said, “And I’m glad the weather decided to cooperate. It was a perfect day.”
Austin grinned. “Yeah, it was, and not just because of the weather. You were really happy too, weren’t you?”
“I was.” She took a deep breath, taking in the scent of the magnolia tree they were sitting under. “Just seeing you having a good time made my day.”
“Riiiight. That smile on your face all day had nothing to do with Clint?”
“Maybe just a little,” she said, trying to keep a straight face.
Her baby really was growing up—he’d started teasing her about the man in her life. What next? Girls? Talk about a driver’s license and going off to college? She couldn’t stand to think about all the changes they would face in the next few years. For now, she just wanted to enjoy their time together.
“Looks to me like you two are gettin’ pretty serious.”
Natasha was grateful her son had given her an opening because she had no idea how to approach the subject of Clint’s proposal. “Actually, we are.” She took a deep breath, shooting a quick glance Austin’s way before she forced out, “Clint proposed to me last night.”
Austin’s jaw dropped as he leaned forward. “No way! What did you say?”
“That I had to talk to you first.” She sat forward too, reaching for his hands. “Honey, it’s been just the two of us for a long time. How do you feel about the possibility of having Clint as your stepfather?” Before he could answer, she rushed on. “Clint told me you two talked about it, but were you just telling him what he wanted to hear? I’d understand if you were. But now’s the time to speak up if you have any reservations about me marrying Clint.”
“Mom, relax,” Austin said, chuckling as he withdrew his hands from her tight grasp. “Breathe.” One side of his mouth tipped up as he shook his head. “I’m cool with it. Clint’s a great guy and not just because he has all this,” Austin said, spreading his arms to encompass the vast property.
“Tell me what you think makes him so great,” Natasha said cautiously. She was afraid her son would count Clint’s wealth, assets, and fame among his attributes, and she didn’t want those things to figure into the equation.
“The way he looks at you.”
Tears flooded Natasha’s eyes at her son’s words. “What?”
“You heard me.” Austin hung his head, breaking eye contact. “I’ve never seen anyone look at you that way, and I always wondered why ‘cause you’re pretty much the greatest.”
“I love you so much,” Natasha said, fighting to push the words through the emotion clogging her throat as she gripped his shoulder. “And for the record, I happen to think you’re the greatest, kid.”
“I know I made a big deal about Clint’s house and money and all that, but I thought about it and realized that it doesn’t really matter all that much.”
“It doesn’t?” Natasha asked.
“No. What matters is the way he treats you.”
“And you.” Natasha tucked a lock of hair behind her ear as she sniffled. She was trying not to cry because she knew how much it upset her son to see her tears. “Tell me the truth, do you really like him? I mean, I know you guys get along, but you could really see him as your stepfather?”
Austin was quiet for a few minutes, as though he were sifting through his thoughts. Clint’s dog, Otto, wandered over, looking for some attention. As Austin scratched the dog, smiling when Otto rested his head on his leg, he said, “I used to think about what it would be like if my dad was in my life.”
“I’m sure every kid who grows up with only one parent wonders what it would be like to have a ‘normal’ family,” Natasha said, making air quotes.
“It’s not that you weren’t great,” Austin said quickly, “but—”
“You don’t have to explain, honey. I know when your granddaddy died, there were lots of times I wished for just one more day with him. Especially during important events, like my high school graduation and the day you were born.” She rustled his hair, smiling when he pulled back out of her reach. They may have been alone, but he clearly didn’t think that gave her the freedom to treat him like a little boy again.
“Yeah, but that was different. You knew your dad. You had good memories with him.” He sighed. “I have nothing, not even a picture of my old man.”
Natasha winced. She had been honest with Austin about who his father was and how he’d reacted when she’d been forced to leave a message to let him know she was carrying his baby, but now she wished she’d had the courage to track down Austin’s father and give them at least one more chance to get to know each other. “It’s not too late, Austin. If you want to try to find your father—”
“We both know he doesn’t want me. If he did, he would have returned your calls.”
“I think he was scared,” she said, trying to ease Austin’s pain, not defend Greg. As far as she was concerned, he was a coward who didn’t deserve to know his son. “He had a wife and family in another state. I’m sure he thought he’d lose them if they found out about us.”
“Still…” Austin looked at his mother. “How could he just forget I was alive?”
“I don’t know, baby,” Natasha said, her heart and voice breaking again. “But that was his loss. I’ve told you this before, but having you was the best thing that ever happened to me. I wouldn’t have changed a single thing.”
“I know, Mom.”
They were both silent as Austin tossed Otto a stick, which he dutifully retrieved.
“You think Clint wants to be…” Austin cleared his throat. “Like my dad?”
Natasha swallowed, trying to get a handle on her feelings. “Nothing would make Clint happier than having an important role in your life.”
“You don’t think he’s just saying that ‘cause he loves you, do you?” Before Natasha could respond, Austin said, “My own dad didn’t want me. Why would a guy like Clint want me?”
“I think I can answer that.” Clint walked up behind them, obviously returning from putting away the dirt bikes. He leaned against the tree as he folded his arms across his chest and fixed Austin with a long, hard look. “I’ve always wanted a son. In fact, I’ve thought about it a lot, what my son would be like.”
“You have?” Austin asked, looking at Clint.
Clint nodded. “I sure have. Having such a close relationship with my nephew gave me some clue, but when I met you… something just clicked.”
Seeing her son’s awestruck expression, Natasha thought she’d never loved Clint more than she did in that moment.
“You made me care about you.” Clint smiled. “I wanted to teach you things, do things for you. I felt proud when you did well on a test or learned a new chord. And I was disappointed when your mama told me you’d gotten into it with some kid at school.”
“He asked for it,” Austin said defensively. “He said—”
“That’s not important right now,” Clint said, raising his hand. “What is important is the way I feel about you.”
Natasha could tell Austin was holding his breath, waiting for Clint to continue, and he wasn’t the only one. In spite of his forced bravado, her son was a sensitive kid, and she hoped Clint could tell how much his love and acceptance meant to Austin.
Clint tipped back his cowboy hat so Austin could read his expression. “If I’d met you somewhere else, if you were someone else’s kid, I’d still feel the same way about you.”
“You would?” Austin looked skeptical. “How come? There’s nothing special about me.”
Natasha wanted to tell him how wrong he was, that he was spec
ial, but it was Clint’s turn to speak his mind.
“That’s where you’re wrong,” Clint said, looking smug. “I don’t waste my time on people who aren’t special. If I hang out with somebody, it’s because they’re pretty damn cool. Like you. You make me laugh, and I’ve realized recently I don’t do enough of that, so thank you.”
Austin smiled, looking proud of himself. “Sure, it’s no big deal.”
“Yeah, actually it is a big deal. See, I can buy a lot of things, but I can’t buy love or laughter or happiness. Those things come from having people like you and your mama in my life. And make no mistake, Austin, you’re a big part of the reason I’m so happy right now.”
Natasha’s heart swelled as her son’s face lit up.
“I am?” he asked.
“You gave me something I’ve never had before, something I’ve always wanted,” Clint said, kneeling so he and Austin were at eye level. “A relationship with an amazing kid I could see as my own. That is, if you’ll have me?”
Austin surprised Natasha by hugging Clint hard, the way he used to hug her when she’d surprised him with his favorite comic books. Watching the two of them together left no doubt in her mind as to what her answer would be when Clint asked again. She couldn’t imagine spending her life with anyone else, especially after seeing how much her son meant to him.
“Yeah,” Austin said quietly, swiping his arm over his eyes. “Yeah, I’ll have you.”
“Good.” Clint ruffled Austin’s hair the way Natasha had tried to, only Austin let Clint get away with it without complaint. “Now that we’ve got that settled, why don’t you head on in and play some video games with Ry while I talk to your mama?”
“Sure,” Austin said, bending to pat Otto’s neck. “Mom, whatever you do, don’t screw this up for us.”
Clint laughed as Austin walked away with the dog at his side.
Chapter Fifteen
Even though things had gone well with Austin, Clint was still nervous. Natasha had been pretty quiet during their whole exchange, not giving him a hint as to what she’d been thinking. The day had been so hectic they hadn’t had a chance to talk much, and he feared she might have concerns about them moving too quickly.
“I hope you don’t mind that I kind of hijacked your conversation,” he said, claiming the seat Austin had vacated. “I didn’t mean to. I just heard the things Austin was saying, and I figured I was the only one who could answer his questions.”
Natasha reached for his hands as she leaned forward, looking overwhelmed by emotion. “I can’t thank you enough for the things you said to him.” She cleared her throat as her gaze landed on the grass beneath her feet. “I’ve done my best to make him feel loved and wanted, but I know his father’s rejection has really hurt him.”
Clint knew it wasn’t his turn to speak yet. Natasha had years of hurt, frustration, and anxiety bottled up inside her, and while he may not have caused her sorrow, he was more than happy to be her sounding board.
“He’s questioned whether anyone could love him if his own father couldn’t. My mama and I have always tried to bolster his self-esteem and make him feel special, but…” She closed her eyes as she gripped Clint’s hands harder. “I always got the sense it wasn’t enough. Then he met you, this big star who took an interest in him, and I saw him change. He started to believe that if someone like you cared about him, he must be special.”
“He is special,” Clint said quietly, waiting for Natasha to open her eyes. “And not because of me. He was incredible long before he met me because of you and the influence you’ve had on him.”
“But you did something for him that I’ve struggled to do,” Natasha said, searching Clint’s face with awe. “You made him believe in himself. I’ve seen his self-confidence soar since you started teaching him how to play guitar, and I know that’s because he’s developing a skill that makes him feel different, unique.”
“It did the same for me,” Clint said, thinking back to one of the first conversations he’d had with Austin. “Every kid wants to feel they have some special talent, something that sets them apart from everyone else. When I realized I could sing and started learning how to play guitar, it changed everything for me, including the way I saw myself. I want that for Austin.”
“I do too.” Natasha smiled as tears streamed down her face.
“Who knows if he’ll have a future in music? That’s not important. What is important is that we can use music to teach him that he can do anything he sets his mind to, whether it’s learning to play guitar, getting better grades, or making some sports team.”
“I couldn’t agree more.” Natasha was beaming, as though Clint was echoing her thoughts and she could barely contain her excitement about being so in sync with her partner.
“The road I traveled to get here sure as hell wasn’t an easy one,” he said, brushing Natasha’s tears away. “But if I can use my experiences to teach your son something about being a man, it will all have been worth it.”
“I love you so much,” she whispered, leaning in to wrap her arms around his neck. “Thank you for being so good to me and Austin. I don’t know what I did to deserve you, but I’m so grateful you came into my life and made me realize what I was missing.”
Cradling her face, Clint held his breath, taking in her beauty and perfection, as he realized she was so much more than he’d ever dreamed she would be. He’d thought he knew her before, but the picture he’d formed hadn’t even scratched the surface. He loved her compassion and depth, the passion with which she approached parenting, and the positive energy she exuded. She made him want to be a better version of himself, because he saw in her so many of the qualities that he knew he lacked.
“Does that mean you’ll marry me?” he asked, touching her forehead with his. “Say yes, Tash. Please say yes.”
“Yes.” She giggled through her tears as she pressed her palms to his cheeks before their lips met. “I can’t wait to be your wife!”
Clint leapt off his chair, taking her with him. As he swung her in a low circle, her feet grazed the grass. “I’ve been waiting a lifetime for this, baby.” He kissed her neck. “A lifetime. I’m going to make you the happiest woman in the world, I swear.”
“You already have.”
“Let’s set a date,” he said, setting her down as he gripped her shoulders. “I want to do this before I have to go out on tour. I want you and Austin to be living here with me—”
“Sssh.” Natasha smiled as she pressed her fingers against his lips to silence him. “We have plenty of time to figure all that out. Just know that I’m as anxious as you are to make it official.”
Clint groaned. “Speaking of making it official, I don’t even have a ring to give you. I didn’t plan to do this now. It just felt so right last night that I realized I didn’t want to wait any longer.”
“I don’t need a ring,” Natasha said, slipping her arms around his waist as she rested her head against his chest. “I have you. That’s all I need.”
Clint had dated plenty of women who’d expected expensive jewelry for every special occasion. The fact that Natasha didn’t even want an engagement ring just reinforced the fact he’d chosen the right woman. “Well, you’re going to have a ring. A big one, if I have my way.”
Natasha wrinkled her nose as she looked at him. “Does it have to be big? That’s not really my style, babe.”
“It can be anything you want it to be—big, small, yellow, pink. I don’t care, just as long as you have my ring on your finger and the world knows you’re gonna be my wife.”
“I still can’t believe it.” Natasha grinned. “Natasha Davis. That has a nice ring to it, doesn’t it?”
“Sounds pretty perfect to me.” He inhaled deeply as he crushed her against his chest.
“Oh, I just thought of something.” She pulled back to look at him. “I haven’t met your parents yet. I know you’re not that close, but won’t they be concerned that you’re marrying a woman they’ve never met
? Who has a kid no less?”
Clint didn’t care what his parents thought, but he would do whatever it took to put Natasha’s mind at ease. Besides, he had no doubt they’d see the same amazing qualities in her that he did. “We can go see them next weekend, if that works for you. We’ll bring Austin too. I’m sure they’d love to meet him.”
“That sounds great,” Natasha said, spinning in his arms so her back was against his front as the sun started to set. “I can’t wait to meet them.”
Clint wasn’t looking forward to seeing his parents again, but if it would make Natasha happy to meet her future in-laws, he was willing to make the sacrifice.
“Should we head in and tell the boys?” Clint asked, resting his chin on her shoulder.
“Maybe in a bit. What about Den? I haven’t seen him around very much today.”
“Yeah, I noticed that too. I don’t know what the hell his problem is, and right now, that’s the last thing on my mind. I just want to enjoy this moment with you.”
“I want that too.” Natasha turned her head to kiss his cheek.
They turned toward the door when Ryland yelled for him. “Your manager’s on the phone. He says it’s important.”
Clint patted his waist where his phone was usually clipped. “Damn, I must have left my cell inside. I should probably take that. You gonna come in?”
“No, I’d like to stay out here for a bit longer and enjoy this beautiful sunset. You take your time though.”
“Thanks for understanding, baby.” He kissed her neck. “I’ll try not to take too long.”
***
Natasha had her eyes closed and didn’t hear Den approach until he cleared his throat. She opened her eyes to find him staring straight ahead, clutching a turquoise leather book.
“Hey, stranger,” she said, nudging his foot with hers. “Where’ve you been all day? You missed the party.”
“I had some things I needed to take care of,” he said, briefly clenching his free hand before releasing it. “How was Austin’s party?”
Hero Worship (Music City Moguls Book 6) Page 16