by Savanna Grey
“Do you remember how much time I spent at your house growing up, Lace?” he had taken hold of one of her hands in his.
“Yeah. Sure. You were there from the time you and Matt were in junior high all the way through high school…just about every day.”
“Do you know why I spent so much time at your house?” his tone was guarded.
“Not really. I remember you and your Dad didn’t really get along. You had some tough times, I remember that. What’s that got to do with…”
“Let me finish.” He placed a finger to her lips, silencing her.
“You’re right. That was part of it, but not the entirety. You see, not only did my Dad fight with me, he liked to fight with my Mom too. All they did was argue. There was never any peace at our house. They didn’t divorce until I went away to college. I couldn’t get away fast enough.” He paused, watching the confusion on her face.
“You see, they had a terrible marriage. My Dad was a self-centered, egotistical bastard most of the time. Do you know how many times I heard ‘Oh, you look just like your father.’ You hear it so many times, you start to believe it…not just the looks but the genes too.”
“Dalton, you aren’t your father.”
“I can’t give you what you want, Lacey. I heard you the night you were sick. I was so worried about you. I’d never seen you like that. I couldn’t leave you, but when you told me you loved me, I panicked. I’m not that guy, Lace. I wish I could be – for you. If for anyone, I’d want it to be you, but I knew better, so I figured it best to break it off right then and there before I ruined our relationship completely.”
“Can you ever forgive me, Lace? Please say you’ll forgive me. I can’t stand the thought of not being part of your life. I know I’m probably asking too much of you…”
He was holding her then, his pleading hands grasped around her arms.
“You aren’t giving yourself enough credit. You are capable of being that guy. You’re committed to your friends, family…they all love you because of who you are, not who you think you need to be, D.”
She reached up to touch his chest. You have a big heart. It’s strong enough for you to give it away if you allow yourself to believe it to…to trust in the person you give it to. Don’t sell yourself or your life short.”
He pulled her to him, her face nestled in the crook of his neck, his buried in her hair. Trailing open-mouthed kisses, down her neck, she turned her face to him as he reached her mouth.
“Love me, Dalton. Tonight. No strings. No questions. No expectations. Just love me.”
He stared intently, connecting with her on a new level. Slowly he unwrapped her towel and laid her down on the bed. He stood to remove the remainder of his own clothing, his eyes never leaving hers.
“Maybe I should lock the door…just in case. Thank God I took the only extra key.”
Chapter Thirteen
Light barely seeped through the blinds as Lacey’s eyes fluttered open. She paused, giving her mind a chance to shed the fog. She felt a warm body against her as memories of Dalton’s lovemaking flooded her. He’d done what she’d begged him to. He’d made love to her throughout the night.
She turned to watch him sleep. The house could be on fire, and he wouldn’t know it. Smiling, she reached out to brush his hair but stopped. She didn’t want to wake him.
Last night he had opened himself to her in a way he never had – to anyone. It made more sense now as to why he had behaved the way he had. It still didn’t hurt any less, but she understood his motivation now.
The question was what now? She had no idea. Last night had solely been about sex. No, not just sex, but a mutual coming together of two people who truly did care about each other. She knew he cared for her – possibly even loved her, but he had no faith in his capacity to love in return.
She knew she wasn’t going to get the answers right now. In fact, right now she wasn’t certain of anything except she needed to get her things together to head back to Nashville.
Freshly showered and dressed, she sat on the edge of the bed next to Dalton.
She kissed his cheek. “Dalton, time to get up, sleepy head.” He moaned from underneath his pillow.
“I was hoping if I kept pretending to be asleep, you’d let me stay in your bed a while longer.” He mumbled.
She reached over, grabbed her pillow and swatted his behind. “Get up out of that bed, lazy butt. You need to pack, and if you don’t hurry, I’m sure breakfast will be gone.”
She made to stand, but his hand shot out, grabbing her wrist and pulling her down to him.
“Are you sure you have to be in such a hurry? I’m having a little bit of a hard situation I could use your assistance with.”
“You are incorrigible.” She stood to head downstairs.
“Okay, I guess it’s just me, myself and I.”
“I’ll save you a pancake. Don’t hurt yourself or break anything in the shower.”
A pillow hit the closed door behind her as she closed it.
A smile lit up her face as she heard voices in the kitchen as she made her way down the stairway.
Jesse eyed her over a cup of steaming black coffee. “Isn’t it the best?” she asked Lacey as she handed her a freshly poured cup of her own.
Her eyes narrowed in confusion. “What?” sipping the golden liquid.
“Make-up sex.”
Lacey choked as the hot liquid burned down her throat.
“I heard the word sex. What did I miss. Hopefully not sex.” Luke sauntered into the room, his hair and beard still damp from his shower.
“I don’t know. You’re growing on me more and more.” Jesse kissed his cheek.
“Woman, don’t even tease me like that.” He barked non-threateningly.
Lacey saw the local newspaper was on the counter.
“Oh, look, I wonder if the wedding pics are in the paper today that Sara gave them. Let’s see.” Lacey flipped through to the Lifestyle section. “Oh, Look! Here they are. They look so good. Awe…” her dreamy expression changed as she skimmed down the page of the local story high-lighting Nate and Sara’s union with mentions of the guests, including Peach Logic.
The article was accompanied with a photo of a woman in Dalton’s arms with her lips on his at the bachelor’s party. Her heart sank. This was Dalton. It was who he was. The playboy. It’s what he was comfortable with, what he wanted. She was a fool for hoping for more.
She closed the paper and finished her coffee. “I’m going to finish packing.”
Jesse looked at the paper and back to Lacey as she climbed the stairs once again.
“What in the world chapped her hide?” Luke asked.
“I don’t know, but it has something to do with…oh.” Jesse’s words stumbled as she looked at the pictures Lacey had just reviewed. “My guess would be on this idiot right here.” Her finger poked the photo in the paper as she laid it on the countertop.
Upstairs she found her bed now empty. Dalton had thankfully returned to his room. She sat in the chair by the French doors opening to the balcony. The mountains in the distance were peaceful compared to the turbulent emotions churning inside Lacey.
Dalton’s words came back to her from last night.
“I’m not that guy,” he’d said. He’d meant it. He had never offered her anything more than sex, despite how he may or may not feel about her. Who was she to try and change that?
“You can’t make someone love you, Lace.” She lectured herself. Sucking up the pain and not wishing to cause a scene upon her exit, she quickly wrote Dalton a note.
They both needed to leave here and move on. No hard feelings. Just time. She needed time. He needed space.
Quietly she left her room and looked downstairs. No one was in sight. Good. She carefully hauled her bags down the stairs attempting to make as little noise as possible. She’d almost made it to the front door when Luke walked in.
“Going somewhere?” his eyebrows were raised.
“I,
uh, yes. I got a call from work. I need to head on back early.” She reached in her back pocket. “Would you give this to Dalton please. I’m in a real hurry.” She extended the note out to Luke. He hesitated.
“I didn’t take you for a coward.”
Her head shot upward. “You wouldn’t understand, Luke.”
“You’d be surprised.” He held the note up. “I’ll see that he gets this. You sure about this?”
“Yes. Never more. Thanks for everything. I really did have a lovely time…” her voice cracked.
“Good-bye, Luke. I’ll text Jess from the car. She can ride with Beau and Luke home.
Maybe she was being a coward, but she needed to put some space between Dalton and herself right now. Letting go was what she needed to do, not try and hang on.
She let herself cry for the first hour on the road, each sad country song aiding in her heartbreak mood. When Peach Logic’s latest hit came on the radio, she turned it.
******
“Lacey, Amanda needs to see you.” Pam, Amanda’s assistant buzzed over the intercom.
Pushing back from her desk, she walked to Amanda’s door and knocked.
“Come in.” Amanda hailed. “Ah, Lacey. Good. I didn’t know if you were still meeting with Chase or not. He all set to go on tonight?”
“Yes, he’s ecstatic at the chance to open for PL.”
“Good. I want you there to make sure everything goes the way it should. He’s young and overeager sometimes. Help him settle in.”
“Isn’t Jerry going to be there? Do we need two of us?” She sounded trite to her own ears.
“Is there a problem?” she hesitated, watching Lacey before continuing. “Jerry is out sick, so I need you to go in his place, which works out well because we just receive notification that PL’s album just went platinum. You can make that presentation at tonight’s show. Great publicity for them.”
Four days had passed since leaving Dalton in Wilson’s Hollow. He’d tried to call and text numerous times, but she hadn’t responded. She knew seeing him would be unavoidable but hadn’t anticipated it being so soon.
Damn. She guessed she was going to have to get her big girl panties back out tonight.
“What do you need me to do, Amanda? Just send the details over and I’ll take care of it. Chase will do great. I’m sure of it.” She turned to go, but Amanda stopped her.
“Lace, do me a favor. Try and have some fun tonight, huh? This is a concert and a celebration. You’ve been part of PL’s success story since the beginning. Enjoy it.”
She nodded and left Amanda’s office. She had no idea what she was asking her to do. Finishing up early, she left the office to prepare for the evening’s events.
Treating herself, she had her hair styled and added a manicure and pedicure. She grabbed a salad from her favorite restaurant and headed home to get ready…mentally and physically.
Tonight, she was a representative for Milestone, so she needed to look her best. Jeans and a t-shirt wouldn’t cut it. She donned her favorite pant suit. It was professional yet feminine. She felt good in it.
Looking at the clock, she scurried out of the apartment down to her waiting car.
The stadium felt different when she first walked in, being a bystander instead of part of the working crew felt strange.
“Little Lacey, where have you been, girl? We have missed you!” Chuck from the stage crew came up to her followed by several of the other PL crew.
“Aren’t you a sight for sore eyes, honey. How the heck are ya?”
“Isn’t the same without ya.”
Their sentiments touched her heart.
“I’ve missed you guys too. Hope you’re keeping them in line. You know they need all the help they can get.” She teased.
“Some more than others.” Chuck commented.
“So good to see you guys, but I have to run. My guy is opening tonight. Need to make sure he behaves. You know how the newbies can be.”
They chuckled. “if anyone can set them on the right track, it’s you, Lacey girl. Take care.”
Lacey waved good-bye and headed back to the dressing rooms. Dalton watched from stage right, smiling.
Chase was round tighter than a banjo. “Would you stop jumping around. I’m trying to fasten your mic battery.” Her hand slipped into the inside of his jeans.
“You can put your hand in my pants anytime.” Chase smiled smugly.
“You wish. Now, focus. You have five songs on the playlist. Just like you rehearsed. If you get nervous and forget the order, they will be on the stand right behind you. Got it?”
“This ain’t my first rodeo, sweetheart. Just sit back and enjoy the ride.” He winked at her.
“This isn’t my first ride either, cowboy, so you need to listen up. If you screw-up, I’m going to kick your sweet little ass. Put that in your pipe and smoke it.” She jammed his hat on his head. “Fifteen minutes until show time. Let’s roll.”
The stage manager grinned as Lacey passed.
“Good to have you back, Ms. Swanson.”
In the end Chase wooed the crowd. His music was on point and his stage presence drew them in. He knocked it out of the park. Score one for him.
Now came the difficult part. Presenting the album to Peach Logic. It was her job to introduce them tonight and make the presentation prior to their show.
“You’re on.” The stage hand directed.
“Deep breaths. Deep breaths.” She repeated over and over.
“Hello, Nashville. How’s everybody doing tonight? Are you ready to get Peached?” she smiled at the rowdy crowd, chanting for the group to come on stage.
“It’s my pleasure tonight to bring out the trio that is not only burning up the road with their Southern Comfort tour, but burning up the music charts as well. Just this week they received a new accolade for their hard work. I’m here tonight to present that award to them. Will you help me get them on stage?”
Giddy with excitement at the crowd’s exuberance, they fueled her enthusiasm. “Give it up for Georgia’s own Peach Logic!”
Dalton, Jesse and Beau joined her center stage. Jesse and Beau hugging her. Dalton waved to the crowd and stood beside Lacey. He reached in and hugged her, whispering in her ear, “Lacey, you’ve got some explaining to do.” She couldn’t help but giggle at his Ricky Ricardo impersonation.
“What’s going on, Lacey? What are you talking about?” Jesse whispered, she too waving at the crowd.
“I know you came here to hear them sing, so let me get on with it, so they can do just that.” She motioned to one of the stage hands, who carried out a covered squared object about the size of a white board.
“It is my extreme pleasure to present to Beau, Jesse an Dalton their very first – and I am certain not the last – platinum album. Congratulations, you guys. This is so deserved. Let’s hear it for Peach Logic!”
Lacey pulled the cover from the platinum album and handed it over to Beau. Jesse was jumping up and down with excitement. Dalton looked at it in amazement.
“Well how about them peaches?” he asked the crowd.
The stage hand took the award off stage, and Lacey turned to them. “Knock ‘em dead!”
She turned to make her exit, some much emotion churning through her – elation for the group, sadness for no longer being part of it…so much feeling.
“That’s a humbling moment right there, folks. I must tell you. Dreams do come true. It’s almost a perfect night, but there’s just one thing that would cement this as the best night ever for me. Do you want to know what that is?” The stadium vibrated.
“Okay. Hey, Tommy.” Dalton called to the stage manager. Don’t let Ms. Swanson leave. Bring her back out her for me.”
Dalton’s words registered with Lacey as Tommy stopped her and turned her back toward the stage. What was he doing? She would kill him. Not in front of thousands of fans, but when they had all left, she would finish him off.
Her eyes were bugged out, attempting to se
nd the silent message to him. He just smiled back at her.
“I meant it when I said this has been a humbling experience, but recently I’ve been brought to my knees for a different reason, one entirely personal. I’m ashamed to admit I was a class A jerk.” He nodded his head to the crowd.
“it’s true. I was. This lady right here wasn’t afraid to call me on it either. She might be little, but let me tell you she is mighty in heart and spirit.”
She glared at him. “What the hell are you doing?” she grated out.
“She has put up with me for three years out on the road. Heck, since we were in junior high. Anybody that can do that and still say they love me, deserves a gold medal. Hell, I’d say, they deserve a diamond with that metal, what do you guys think?” The crowd had quieted down trying to figure out exactly what Dalton was up to.
Lacey was too, not to mention Beau and Jesse.
Dalton turned the mic off and reached in his back pocket. It was her note.
“I don’t want to be free. I want to be tied to you for the rest of my life, Lace. If you have faith in me, then I have faith in us. Please don’t walk away from me again. I love you with every part of me. I’m sorry I didn’t say it before. I’m sorry I hurt you. God, you don’t know how sorry I am. Please give me a chance to prove to you I can be the man you made me believe I am.” He finally took a breath, waiting, fearful hope in his eyes.
“Lace?”
“What would you say to a love knot? Do you know how to tie one of those, cowboy?” Her grin lightened the weight on his heart as she winked at him in front of his fans.
He turned his mic back on.
“Woo Hoo!” he spun her around several times before clasping the back of head and locking lips.
“Take a video and post it on Instagram. It’s my story, and I’m holding her to it. Dalton Gentry’s turning himself in with no intention of ever being set free.”
Other books by Savanna Grey include:
The Morgan BrothersGarrett’s Point Series
Coming HomeCaptured Heart
Playing For KeepsConflicted Hearts