Page 51 of Nashville Lights

“I’m definitely not telling you everything. He’s your brother.”

“Just tell me…general stuff. Not specifics.” She’s practically bursting. “So…didyou?”

“Did I what?” I bite my lip, feeling a light heat rise to my face.

“Oh my god, I knew it!” Dee squeals, squeezing my hands. “We’re going to be sisters forreal.”

I’m still acclimatizing to my new status as…Nate Boone’slover.I don’t even know how to categorize it yet.

It’s a little daunting to have it scrutinized and fawned over by an entire small town, starting with my best friend. All I can do is cowgirl up and face it head-on. So I just it tell it like it is. “Dee, I love him. I’ve always loved him.”

Dakota’s eyes fill with tears. “Rox, I mean, it doesn’t shock me. I wasthere, remember? I saw the way you used to stare at him.”

“I tried not to. We were all too close back then. And too young. At least I was, I guess. I never told you this, but I kissed him once.”

“You did?”

“And then he left.”

She’s quiet for a few seconds. “Rox, it would never have worked out back then. For a lot of reasons.”

“I know.”

“But it can work out now.”

I nod. “Yeah,” I whisper, not wanting to somehow jinx it. “I hope it can.”

“I’ve never, ever seen my brother look at anyone the way he looked at you on Friday night, Rox. The feeling is obviously mutual.”

“I haven’t seen him for so long. But when I got here, I think we both justknew. And we didn’t want to waste any more time.”

We’re both crying now. “I’m so happy for you, Rox. And obviously for him. And mostly for me.”

I laugh through my tears. “I don’t know why we’re crying.”

“I just hope it was...no, I’m not even going to ask that. You’re right, there are some things a sister should not hear about.”

“True. All I can say is I’m glad I waited for him.”

More tears pool in her eyes.

There’s a loud pounding on the door, making both of us jump. “Dakota!”

“Oh, shit. It’s Luke. Or Leo. They’re ready to play.”

“Play?”

More pounding. Dakota opens the door to both the twins, standing there, guitars slung over their broad chests and actual pieces of wheat sticking out of their mouths, like someone drafted up two stereotypical “hot, wholesome country boys” and with their magic wand somehow brought them to red-blooded life. “Dee, we’re ready. The other band is on their last song. Hey, Rox!”

Leo’s greeting is so enthusiastic it’s obvious they’ve heard the news. It’s confirmed when I’m embraced by one twin, then the other, with all the energy of young bulls on stampede. My hot and heavy night with their brother is clearly a cause for celebration. “Nothing like the country air to re-kindle old flames, eh? We attribute his vastly improved mood entirely to you, gorgeous.”

“Um, thanks, I guess,” I manage, from inside their testosterone sandwich.

“Would you two stop?” Dee scolds them, pulling them off me.

Washed up, shaved and in their best flannel shirts, there’s no denying the middle brothers are handsome men. The guitars only add to the effect. But all I can feel is how much I miss their older brother. “You guys are going to play some songs?”

“We’ve been working on something special,” Luke says, all green eyes and cocky grin. “A couple brand new songs.”

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