Her shoulders fell. “You love me enough to push me to the far flung corners of the world?”
I blinked, and thought about how she’d phrased it. “Yeah. Exactly. I love you, and I want to spend as much time with you as I can, but I also want you to go out and conquer the world on your own terms. You deserve that.”
“You sweet man,” she whispered and pressed her lips to mine. “I don’t want you to worry about keeping me here, Levi.”
“Because nothing can keep you here?”
She laughed, and the sound was melodic and feminine. “No, because this town is my home—for better or for worse—and I will always come back to Carson Creek. I’ll always come back to you too, Levi.”
I held my breath. “Yeah?”
“It would be really inconvenient to fall in love with a guy and then never come back home to him, because that’s what you’ve become to me Levi. Home.”
Home. That sounded nice. Really nice. “Say it again.”
“So bossy,” she murmured and shook her head. “It’s a good thing I love you, bossy thing that you are.”
“I love you too Lacey. With my whole heart.” I couldn’t wait another minute to wrap her in my arms and I rushed out of the car, jogging around the front to pull her out, flush against me, so all of her soft curves were smashed against mine. “So damn much,” I growled and then I kissed her because she was home and she was safe, right here in my arms. Most of all, she was mine.
All mine.
Chapter 29
Lacey
There were so many people in my house. So. Many. People. Carson Creek wasn’t one of those small towns with a population of five hundred, but it was small enough that everyone knew everyone.
Or so I thought.
As I looked around at the familiar faces like Ryan and Pippa, my other brothers Roman and Derek, Valona, Trey and their three girls, I was struck with how many strangers there were in attendance. At my house. Carlotta stood by a man I didn’t recognize, who looked at her like she was his everything. Even Margot and Jared had come to welcome me back, both with men I didn’t recognize.
But they’d all showed up to see me, to congratulate me on my big break. At forty-five. I wore a smile and accepted all the kind words for as long as I could stand it, but the truth was, all the praise made me feel as if this one story was my sole accomplishment in life.
“Hey, what’s wrong?” Levi flung an arm around my shoulders and whispered the question in my near, punctuating it with a nip of my earlobe.
“Nothing, it’s just, you’d think I didn’t do anything until this moment. I ran a newspaper for the past twenty years, raised a wonderful daughter, but this is my only claim to fame?”
“Or maybe they’re just happy you’ve finally gotten to go out and chase another of your dreams. Your brother Ryan has always been a writer, but now he’s writing songs for other artists and people are excited for that new opportunity. Same thing with Roman. It’s no different Lacey.” He kissed my cheek and wrapped me in a hug that made me forget everything and everyone else around us.
“Get a room,” Ryan said and bumped Levi out of the way to pull me in for a hug. “So glad you’re safe, big sis.” His gaze fell on Pippa, who I was sure had forced him to come make peace with me.
“Thanks,” I grumbled against his chest. “Even though you were totally against me going in the first place.”
“I was worried about you, rightfully so,” he shot back with a sheepish smile. “But I’m glad you’re home, and I’m so damn proud of you, Lacey.” He squeezed me in a bear hug that stole my breath.
“Thanks, Ryan.” His words meant a lot to me, but as Levi’s words played in my head, I let my anger go. It didn’t matter what Ryan or GG thought of my choices, all that mattered was that I was proud of myself and setting a good example for my daughter. “I appreciate it.”
“So, we’re cool?”
“Yeah sure, we’re good.” He was my brother, and I would love him always, but my choices were mine. Good or bad.
“What about us?” GG’s voice grumbled behind us and practically sucked all of the energy from the room. “Are we all right?”
I turned around and tried for a smile, but GG looked older than the last time I saw him. Greyer and thinner, like a man his age. “Daddy,” I sighed. “Sure, we’re fine.”
“Fine,” he grumbled and stared at me for so long I thought he’d fallen asleep with his eyes open, and standing. “I’ve been alive long enough to know that when a woman says ‘fine’ it means anything but.” His assessing gaze never wavered, and I sighed.