Page 35 of Nashville Lights

“Nate,” she whispers, her eyes bright. “Thishouse.”

“You like it?”

“It’s a dream house.”

It’sherdream house. Because I always listened.

Now all I need to do is convince her to live in it.

13

“Can I look upstairs?”

“Of course.” I step back. “After you.” And if my life wasn’t already painful, following the sweet, sassy little goddess who’s haunted my dreams for eight years up the stairs makes it exponentially more unbearable. Or somehow perfect. Because she’shere. And if I get my way, we’re not coming back down these stairs until morning.

“Daisy’s room is the first one on the left.”

She wanders into it. “Nate,” she gasps. “I can’t believe this.” She actually twirls around, exactly like Daisy did. “This was my absolute dream room when I was a little girl. You’re a romantic at heart, Boone. No wonder Daisy loves you so much.” She puts her hand on herheart and grins at me.

She’s so damn sexy it hurts. The fading daylight paints her in golden light, making her eyes shine like sapphires.

“I just do as I’m told. As soon as Daisy moved in, I told her she could have anything she wanted. So the first thing we did was paint it pink.”

“It’s definitely pink.”

“It’s the pinkest pink we could find.”

We both laugh. The sound of her laughter washes over me, stirring up memories of summer nights under the stars.

I adjust myself in what I hope is a subtle move as Roxie checks out the tent, with all the glitter-covered stars Daisy and I made.

“This is so cool.” She emerges from the tent, a dusting of glitter on her cheek, like she’s made of magic. “Six-year-old slumber parties are the best. Too much candy, very little sleep, and lots of giggles. I’m sure she’ll have fun. And she’ll come back tomorrow totally wired. But it’s all worth it to make her happy, right?”

“Always. I just hope I’m doing enough of that.”

Roxie’s eyes meet mine. “She seems happy, Nate.”

“I hope she is. I’m not nurturing like Ma or Lou, or fun like Dakota, and I don’t have limitless patience like Tobias. I can be her rock, though.”

“She obviously adores you. You’re her knight in shining armor and I’m not surprised. You always felt like that to me too.”

It wasn’t what I was expecting her to say. “Yeah?”

“Yeah.”

“I didn’t know that.”

“You always made sure I was okay. You got the band-aids when I skinned my knees. You made us a bridge to cross the creek. You fixed my truck.” Her smile is almost shy.Fuck, I’m in trouble.“You’re doing an amazing job.”

“Thanks. Her mom’s sister is contesting custody. They don’t think a ‘bachelor’ like me can provide a good enough home. They think Daisy should be with family.”

Roxie is quiet for a moment. “One look at you two together and it’s obvious she’s where she’s meant to be. And besides, you are giving her a family. Your mom and brothers and Dakota and Lou and Earl? It’s pretty ideal, if you ask me. I don’t see how anything could top that.”

Roxie’s faith, her instant defense of my bond with Daisy, hits me. “I appreciate you saying that,” I manage roughly.

“It’s the truth. Daisy’s so lucky to have you, Nate.”

We share a small, meaningful smile, and something shifts. No one else’s opinion has ever really mattered much to me, but knowing Roxie sees me as worthy of raising Daisy suddenly means more than I can articulate.

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