Whiskey and Country

Once we finished dinner, Jack traipsed away, going back to the living room, Buddy after him.

“I’m screwed. Now he’ll ask me for a dog. You know that, right?”

Nick coughed a loud chuckle.

“Guess I’ll see more of you two in the future then.” He sipped his wine, giving me a sorry-not-so-sorry shrug.

“In no time, you’ll beg us to stay away. I doubt you’re ready for a woman and a toddler to take over your bachelor life. Don’t worry. We won’t invade your space. I pretty much invited ourselves over tonight. That was rude. I’m really sorry—”

Nick’s face fell. He shifted in his seat to face me.

“You’re always welcome here. Both of you. And you didn’t invite yourself; you came to my rescue after I asked you for your help. And you brought dinner. I’m the one in debt right now. I owe you one. Whatever your request, I’ll be there.”

His liquor-colored irises darkened, becoming a dark shade of brown. They descended and stopped on my mouth before moving back up to my eyes. My breathing halted. I saw stars, feeling lightheaded. What was going on with me? I tried to speak but failed to produce coherent words.

My heart hiccupped in my chest, the wild rhythm making me excited. And scared.

Nick blinked and resumed talking as if nothing happened.

But something happened, right? Was I going crazy? Or hallucinating?

I had no idea how to explain in words, or rational thoughts, what passed between us. I shook my head to push the notions away, unable to define the waves of heat crashing all over me.

“I’ll go check on Jack,” I said, standing up, trying to escape the heavy air surrounding us. My heart swelled in my chest at the sight of my son.

With his arms around Buddy, he had fallen asleep, spread on the old bloodhound, his head buried in his fur.

“I’m officially in love with that dog. You should warn your neighbors I might have to kidnap him one of these days,” I said as Nick joined me, nudging him in the ribs.

“Please don’t. Or you won’t have a reason to come over anymore.”

His words stayed suspended in the air between us.

Something hot ignited deep down in my core.

Flames.

Or was it pure unleashed raging fire so powerful it could burn me alive?

I swallowed hard, glancing down to avoid Nick’s piercing gaze. To escape the moment.

We faced each other, none of us saying a thing. My heart inflated even bigger in my chest. And it did some dance I wasn’t used to anymore. Nobody, except Carter, had looked at me with so much heat in years.

The back of my eyes burned at the intensity of our exchange. I tried to blink, but couldn’t, fearing I’d miss something if I did.

Nick rubbed the back of his neck, still watching me.

He erased part of the distance between us and reached for my hand, tracing circles over my palm.

“Do you have to go?” he asked. “Maybe we could lay Jack on the couch or—”

“I’d like to stay. If it’s okay with you.” When did my voice become so throaty?

Nick grabbed a blanket, and we settled Jack on the sofa. I kissed his head and tucked him in. “Sleep tight, baby. I love you,” I said, caressing his dark hair.

On wobbly legs, I followed Nick to the kitchen. We filled our wine glasses and moved to the den.

“I like this house,” I said after taking the room in, once we took our places on the cream loveseat. Large windows, a piano in a corner, and a second stone fireplace.

“You play?” Nick asked, pointing to the piano.

“Not really. I know a few songs, but it’s not my instrument of choice.”

I took a sip of my wine to ease the dryness of my mouth.

“One day, I’d like to hear you play. Do you still sing?”

A soft laugh left my mouth. “I do. Sometimes. Mostly to Jack.”

“Don’t you miss it? Playing in stadiums. The fans. The hype.”

I folded my legs under me and shifted to face him, pondering. “Yes and no. I miss parts of it. But mostly, I don’t. I love my life. What I’ve built for Jack and me. I’m satisfied with what I have. I don’t need an extravagant lifestyle or money to be content.”

“Jack looks like a happy kid. You did great,” Nick said, sipping his drink.

“Thanks. It wasn’t always easy, but we made it work. In our own way.” I paused. “Do you think—?”

A loud thud resonated from the other room, cutting our discussion short.

“Mama?” a tiny voice filled with tears cried from the living room.