And that terrifies me.
I can’t even look the flight attendant in the eyes when we disembark the plane. Owen is shameless, grinning and waving to everyone as we make our way to the truck he has waiting for us. His arm is around my waist, and his body is burning hot beside mine. I keep having flashbacks of him between my legs or the way he looked at me as I rode him, something I was shocked I did. I wanted to please him, though, as he pleased me. After fishing out the keys from under the back tire, he looks up at me, grinning. “You good?”
I scoff. “Beyond. I feel like I’m floating.”
He winks as he jingles the keys at me. “I have that effect,” he teases, coming around and helping me into the truck. As he walks around to get in, I peek my head out of the orgasm cloud of Owen to see where I am. I know this airport. I stood at it many times, wishing my dad a good trip and welcoming him home from road trips with the Nashville Assassins.
“We’re in Nashville?” I say once he gets in.
That grin of his is unstoppable as he nods. “Yup.”
Dread fills my gut, and I gawk at him. “Why?”
He grins at me until he realizes I’m not smiling. “It’s a surprise.”
“Does it involve my family?”
Owen’s face crinkles up. “No, why?”
I let out the breath I was holding in a loud whoosh. “Oh, thank God.”
His face doesn’t un-crinkle. “Why?”
I meet his inquisitive gaze. “Because I can’t see my family in this dress. So much is showing. My dad would lose his shit about the length, and then my mom would have words about the top. Like, this dress is for you and only you.”
He doesn’t move; his eyes stay trained on me. “I’m down for the dress being for me, really. But when you say that about your parents, do you mean because it’s revealing, or do you mean the size of the dress?”
“Shit. I don’t know,” I admit. “Both options could very well be the reason for the anxiety I’m feeling, but it’s more how revealing the dress is.”
He nods. “It better be, sugar. ’Cause after seeing that body of yours, you don’t get to talk badly about it anymore.”
I chuckle. “What? I don’t?”
He shakes his head, violently almost. “No. Because honestly, Angie, your body should be a temple or a new religion for me because I plan on worshiping you every chance I get.”
I choke on my laughter. “Stop it.”
“I’m dead fucking serious,” he says as he reverses and heads out of the parking lot. I fully believe him too.
“You’re such a nut,” I accuse, and he flashes me a goofy grin.
“It’s unfair you kept yourself from me that long.”
I snort. “Okay.”
“Truthfully,” he promises, and I would never doubt him. Not anymore. Not ever again.
Oh, what a feeling.
We drive through downtown, and I force myself to ignore my desire and take in all that Broadway has to offer. I hadn’t realized how much I missed it until now. We talk about our favorite things in Nashville and are in awe of how much the city has grown since we’ve left. South Carolina is awesome and fun, but the Southern charm of Nashville is all-consuming.
“Do you miss it?” he asks, stroking my thigh, and I flash him a grin.
“I do. I was actually just sitting here wondering why I left, but then if I hadn’t, we might not have linked up.”
“And that would be a travesty,” he adds, and I laugh in agreement. “You left because you wanted your career.”
I smile as I nod. “I do love my career. So much.” He squeezes my hand, and I ask, “Do you wanna come back?”
“I do, one day. I don’t know if Shelli or my mom will ever get me on the team, but it’s a dream of mine, for sure. I know for a fact I’ll end up back here. To play or retire. How about you?”
“I’d want to retire here. I want to get a house outside of the city, on some land, but close enough to still enjoy Nashville for what it is.”
“You want land?” he asks, and I nod. “That’s cool. I want land too.”
We share a smile, and his fingers move from my thigh to my hand, threading our fingers together. I sigh softly as we leave the city and drive on the highway for a while. The conversation is light and easy, as always. When we arrive at a nursery, I look over at him. “So, if you’re taking me to go plant shopping, I may squeal. But once the excitement wears off, I’m going to be questioning the need for the dress and heels, oh, and plane to go plant shopping.”
He grins as he pulls in. “It’s all worth it, trust and believe. And the plane, that was definitely a need.” I grin back at him as he leans in, pressing his nose into mine. I love the color of his eyes, the way his dark lashes kiss his cheeks when he blinks, and that damn dimple. I love it; I love him. “I never wanted to be a member of the Mile High Club until I met you.”