Whiskey and Country

Okay, my thoughts were going ballistic in my head.

And goosebumps prickled my skin.

I’d just met Nick. And knew nothing about him. I couldn’t think about him this way. Too intense. Too soon. Right? And who knew? Maybe all he hoped for was to make some friends in town.

And now I was talking to myself, trying to lessen the tumult in me, when he pulled his chair back to sit.

His face had blanched, and he studied me with a frown.

“You okay?” I asked, snapping out of my dirty thoughts about the man I met just an hour ago.

Nick cleared his throat, the wrinkles across his forehead deepening.

“Listen, I’ll ask you something. Don’t freak out.” He swallowed, and my eyes followed the movement of his throat. “And you don’t have to answer either, but something clicked in my head. And I’m curious. Are you Dahlia Ellis, the famous country music star?”

I cringed. Kinda. I walked away from fame because I hated being recognized. In my everyday life, I rarely told people about my past. That life seemed like a lifetime ago. It happened before everything. Before my heart shattered. Before Jack’s birth. Before I had to reinvent myself and move here in order to survive.

Nick eyed me, one finger wiping away the condensation around his glass.

“You want the truth or a tale I can come up with?” I asked, trying to get out of spilling my life story.

Nick’s gaze turned grave. A memory passed through his eyes. His golden irises, the color of whiskey, darkened. Hurt. Defeat. Sadness. They all swirled in them. “The truth. Always. But if you want to warn me away, then I think it would be better to come up with an unbelievable story instead.”

His eyes glinted under the noon sun. And a mischievous smile bent one side of his lips.

I couldn’t refrain from laughing at the sight of him.

“Nah, none of that, I promise. I love the truth too.”

I shook my head and pressed both palms on the white linen covering our table, gathering some courage.

“The truth it is then.” I inhaled, then my shoulders dropped. “Most people around here know parts of what happened to me, so they’re pretty shy about asking questions. Wait. How did you find out?”

“Ivy showed me the wall with pictures of you guys. She thought I was aware. I had no idea. I swear. And I’m not some sort of sick fan. Call it curiosity. Or a deep quench to know you better. I don’t wanna start our friendship with half-truths.”

“Oh, you want us to be friends?” I asked in a hushed tone.

Warmth pooled in my cheeks. I used to turn crimson in embarrassment as a teen. I thought I had grown out of that. Apparently not. And right now, I felt like I was back in time, experiencing attraction for the very first time.

Nick shrugged. “Yeah. I might even consider you my first official friend in town.” A boyish smirk spread across his face.

“Okay. I’m Dahlia Ellis, a founding member of Carter Hills Band. Fun fact, it used to be called Ellis and Hills. Anyway, Carter Hills is my best friend. The one person I can’t live without—other than my son. My husband died when I was pregnant, so my baby has never known his daddy. Carter is the closest thing to a father my son has. We’re family. The three of us.” I breathed out. There. I said it all. Well, most of it. The important parts at least. “You know my secret now. Please don’t let it change the way you perceive me.”

Nick’s smile softened. “I won’t. Thanks for being honest with me. It means a lot.”

A server brought Nick’s appetizer, and after thanking him, he pushed the plate to the middle of the table. “Here, help yourself.”

I blinked and picked a crostini, my smile growing.

“Thanks,” I said as I savored the avocado delicacy. “What about you? What’s your secret? Why did you move here? You’re not wanted by the police or anything, right? No psycho tendencies?”

Nick’s eyes dropped to his folded hands, turning somber. No smile graced his lips at my quip. Instead, he inhaled sharply before bringing his attention back to me. Clamps of steel tightened my stomach.

“Just moved from Chicago. Someone I really cared about died not so long ago. It affected me. In many ways. He never had the chance to reach for his dreams.” His throat worked, and he looked away for a second, blinking hard. “I had a great job, amazing friends, but I felt I was missing something.” He blew a long breath. “Thought I could follow his advice and reach for my dreams too. And that a change of air could do me good.”

“Oh shit.”

“Yeah.” He downed half his glass of water. “I packed my stuff, drove to the beach first, spent a week there, worked on a ranch for three, and landed here.”

My eyes flared of their own volition. “Wow. And also, I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be. Some days are hard, but most are better.”

Ivy brought our plates.

We each took a bite before I spoke again.

“How do you like Green Mountain so far?”

Nick’s lips widened. “Better than expected. To be honest, I thought I’d wanna drive away within a day. Somehow, it’s growing on me. But tell me something. Why does everyone smile here?”

“Everyone does, huh? We are just laid-back and happy. It’s the mountain air. It makes us feel peaceful and content. You tell me now. There are like a million small towns in this country. Why here?”

Nick took another bite of his wrap and swallowed before speaking again.

“My best friend’s uncle is Hilton and Sons’ owner. He got me the job.”

“You know Mike?” He nodded as I continued. “He’s a nice man. Honest and hardworking. He helped me with the store renovation.”

Nick studied me for a moment.

“Somehow, I wish I could’ve been the one doing all the work there.” His eyes, honey-gold in daylight, locked on mine. His loaded stare stole every ounce of air from my lungs. For a reason I didn’t quite understand, I loved being on the receiving end of such intensity. As if Nick could read me. As if my soul begged to reveal all its secrets to him. As if we already knew each other. Long before today.

A heated wave swallowed me.

Tickles rattled my spine, lighting up all my senses until we were in sync. I lacked words to explain the ardent buzz.

My body overheated.

Did my face turn tomato-red?