Her mother stood. “Chrissie, it was honest and heartfelt. That’s never wrong. But please don’t stay in that place forever. If you love him, your bodyguard, find a way to make your relationship a priority.”
“It’s too late,” she said. “He left. He didn’t even say good-bye.”
“I’ve been married to your father since I was eighteen. We’ve had our ups and downs, but we’ve always found our way forward together. Trust me, it’s never too late. I know you can find a way if he’s what you want.”
“He is. But Dante’s a SEAL.”
“Even SEALs can fall in love.” Her mother reached down, took her hand, and pulled her off the couch. “Don’t walk away from him because it feels impossible. Or at least, that’s my advice. You need to do what’s right for you.”
Chrissie held tight to her mother. A relationship with the SEAL she loved looked like a deadly obstacle course. He’d deploy to a terrorist hot spot. She’d fly from one American city to the next. When would they have time to be together and make sure their love didn’t crumble?
Never.
But the only other option, not touring and waiting for him in Coronado, being there when he came home…could she give up her career for Dante?
Maybe.
She glanced at the door. She wanted to run to him. But it felt selfish. Her family had so much more now. And she could keep providing for them—if she stayed.
She pulled away from her mother’s embrace. “Say hi to Dad for me. And the twins.”
“I will,” her mother promised. She headed for the door, gave one last wave, and then she was gone.
Chrissie sank down on the sofa. Time to write a fun, upbeat love song. Her pencil hovered over the page, and her mind stumbled back to the first time she’d walked out of her hotel bedroom wearing a French maid outfit, or when she’d walked into his room in her short skirt and boots. The heat in Dante’s eyes…
Take it off…
You’re mine tonight…
The words flowed. And so did the tears. Because she didn’t want the memories. She wanted Dante.
Don’t walk away from him because it feels impossible.
Her mother’s words echoed in the empty room as if they wished to override her upbeat lyrics. Maybe her career wouldn’t prove a dead end. She’d been so certain her fame had destroyed her parents… What if she was wrong again? About her and Dante?
If she was willing to try a long-distance relationship, if she promised to do whatever it took—long flights from her latest concert to California, fewer tour dates, less recording time…
The odds were stacked against her. Chances were they’d never be able to make it work. But as long as he was alive, as long as he loved her, she had to try.
“Mason,” she screamed. She was on her feet and at the door, pulling it open. She found Moira, her silent and always-present bodyguard outside the door. “Mason!”
Her manager rushed down the hall. “What’s the matter?” he demanded.
“I need to go to California,” she announced. “I have to find Dante and tell him I was wrong.”
“Chrissie.” Mason raised his hands, palms flat in surrender. “You have a concert at the Bluebird in a few hours. Your fans are expecting to see you on that stage. And you demanded that all the money from this one go to charity.”
Go anyway, she thought.
But she couldn’t do that to the fans who’d given her so much. Without them, she would still be writing songs durin
g her breaks from scanning groceries. She’d be playing bars and small-town fairs. And she’d have never met her guard SEAL.
Plus, she’d have to refund the ticket price, and the charity would lose out because of her love life. And if she was wrong about Dante… If he didn’t want to try…
“After the show,” she said firmly. “I want a plane at the airport, waiting to take me to California. I don’t care where he is. If he’s out in the ocean or running those crazy fast miles with his team. I’m going to find him.”
…