“He’s going to be a race car driver when he grows up and go real fast around the tracks.”
“That doesn’t surprise me,” I laugh softly, knowing Ryder and Eve both love their fast cars. I pick up a crayon and start to color with her. “So you would be okay if Momma had a boyfriend?” I ask casually to gauge the situation.
“Only if it’s Miles, cause he likes you a lot and would get his feelings hurt if you had another boyfriend. You like him a lot too.”
“Okay,” I say, trying to hold back my laughter so she knows I’m taking her seriously. “I wouldn’t want to hurt his feelings.” I bite my lip as I debate whether to ask the next question, but curiosity gets the better of me. “How do you know we like each other a lot?” I’m getting relationship advice from a four-year-old. It’s sad it’s come to this, but my daughter is probably wiser than most adults.
“Because you both look at each other like you look at me. With love,” she adds with a smile before going back to coloring.
I swallow down the emotions that come brimming to the surface. Even my daughter sees what I’m so desperately afraid to admit…
That I’ve fallen just about as deep as you can go.
Whether I’m ready to admit it or not…
I’m in love with Miles Montgomery and there’s not a damn thing I can do about it except pray that my heart remains in one piece.
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
MILES
The place is starting to fill up, and my excitement grows. The town really came together for me on my opening day. I’ve been told numerous times how beautiful the place is and how excited they are to have me back.
The bartenders and waitresses I’ve hired are killing it. I must have interviewed dozens in the past few weeks and hired them based on my gut feeling. Up until now, they have not disappointed, making sure everyone is taken care of in a timely manner.
Four food trucks, featuring local businesses, line the back parking lot, and people are already taking advantage of the good food out on the huge wraparound deck.
I glance at the stage and see the band setting up to start the first half of the night. It’s a new, up-and-coming band in the area that covers a wide range of the latest country and southern rock hits. I knew when I heard them play and saw their following that they would draw a large crowd.
Link and Seth, my old band members, should be here soon. They both wanted to come and support me, which means a lot. I haven’t missed being on the road, but I have missed playing withthem, so I’m looking forward to getting on stage with them tonight. My fingers are already itching for the sticks as I find myself tapping my fingers to a beat in my head.
Grabbing a bottle of wine and a special bottle of bourbon I kept for this occasion, I head toward the big curved booth in the corner that I reserved for my family tonight. I see my parents and Knox already seated with Ryder and Eve. Travis and Sophia are across from them with Jake and Lyla sitting in the corner.
I don’t see any sign of Savi and Olivia as I set the bourbon on the table and start to uncork the wine bottle for the girls. Her last text said they were on their way, so they should be here any minute.
“This place looks amazing, honey. I know I’ve said it a million times, but Dad and I are so proud of you. To see our name up there tonight with the lights…” My mom’s voice catches as she struggles to hold back the tears. Dad puts his arm around her and gives her a comforting squeeze.
“It means a lot to both of us and your brothers,” my dad says, finishing for my mom as she collects herself.
“I wouldn’t be where I am without everyone here at this table, so I should be the one thanking you guys. It means a lot that you are all here tonight.” I reach for a wine glass on the table and start to pour a glass for my mom.
“We wouldn’t have missed it for anything,” Travis smiles around the room at the growing crowd. “It looks like the whole town didn’t want to either,” he laughs. “First night and already a success.”
“Between Eve, Sophia, and Lyla, I’m pretty sure there’s not a soul in two counties that doesn’t know about tonight,” Ryder chuckles. “They’ve been telling every client that walks into our businesses.”
“True,” Eve laughs. “We don’t have a single flyer left outof the hundreds we passed out.” She takes a sip of her wine, and her eyes go wide. “Damn, that’s good.” She takes the wine bottle and looks at the label.
“That’s all, Olivia,” I laugh. “I just sign off on the orders.”
“Speaking of Olivia,” Lyla says, her eyes brimming with excitement. “She and Savi just walked in.”
Turning, my eyes scan the crowd before honey-colored hair catches my eye. Her hazel eyes find mine, and everything in the room disappears as we lock in on each other. I feel such a pull toward her that I’m surprised we don’t slide across the floor like two strong magnets.
“Miles is in trouble tonight,” Sophia softly laughs behind me, and she’s one hundred percent right as I take in what she’s wearing.
Her long hair is down tonight in loose curls, and her eye makeup is done up to make her light green eyes stand out even more. What has my heart going ninety miles per hour is the fact that she’s wearing my shirt. She must have gotten it from Savi when I gave all the girls some from the women’s line.
She chose the black one with the loose V-neck. TheMontgomery’slogo is across her left breast, and I know without looking that it’s across her back as well. The crop shows off her tanned stomach, and I blink when I see the diamond dangling from her belly button. She didn’t have that before because I would have noticed. I definitely would have noticed because I’m dying to trace the metal with my tongue. Piercings do something to me. That’s why I have them.
