Page 52 of Nashville Lights

“Not at all entirely for your benefit, Roxie,” Dakota clarifies. “Just a casual late-afternoon session.”

“A casual late-afternoon session of breaking every heart in town, especially for listeners of the female persuasion.” Leo winks at me.

Dee rolls her eyes. “As long as they don’t swoon to the point where they need medical attention again.”

“That did not happen.” Now I’m curious.

“Unfortunately, it did,” Dee confirms.

“We can’t help being irresistible to womankind, Rox,” Luke smirks. “It’s baked into our DNA.”

“Out, you two.” Dee guides them out of the office. “Get up there and play your hearts out. Make sure you play that song about the Sugar Falls sweetheart. Everyone loves that one. And don’t play any Tucker Brothers’ covers. Roxie’s heard all those.”

“As if we would,” Leo calls over his shoulder as they make their way toward the stage.

Dee and I find the Boone table and I’m grateful that at least some of their attention is diverted from me to Luke and Leo, who get a big cheer as they climb onto the stage.

Aunt Lou and Betty-Ann make a space for me and pat the seat between them, which I squeeze into, both of them kissing my cheeks and fawning over me. It could be awkward—since they’re basically congratulating me on getting laid by their own son and close-enough-to-a-son. But I’m too riveted by the sight of Nate in the near distance, talking to a woman.

A very beautiful one. Wearing a green dress that shows off her abundant curves.

Daisy, Harper and some other kids are holding popsicles and running around.

The woman touches Nate’s shirt as she says something to him, her eyes full of…something. Longing. Pissed-off disappointment. Hope.

Nate’s fists are shoved into his pockets and he kicks the ground with his boot. He says something to her.

Whatever it is, it gets a reaction. She glares at him, half with rage and half like she’s about to burst into tears. She spits out a reply then walks away.

What the hell was that about?

I can guess and I don’t like it one bit.

Were they together?

Recently?

Howrecently?

Was he just breaking up with her then?

Nate wanders back in this direction.

He sees me and his gaze holds mine. There’s a dark challenge there, to go ahead and get mad about whatever it was just happened there. Because something clearly did. But there’s also that slow, hot almost-smile that does what it always does. It kills me. It grips my heart because he’s so beautiful and there’s not a damn thing in this world I can do to stop from loving him.

Right now, I hate that. That his hold on me is so easy and so resolute.

He comes over to me, just as Luke and Leo start playing. The music’s loud. Everyone starts cheering. A few girls scream their names.

Nate curls his warm, rough hand around my neck, letting it rest there.Just like he did when he was deep inside me.To calm me. To reassure me. To anchor all the wild, tumbling feelings that make me lose all control.

The light squeeze communicates a bond I want so badly to believe.

He has some explaining to do. But it’ll have to wait.

Nate’s hand slides to gently tug at my hair…exactly like he did when he held me down and filled me so completely, pumping me full of his hot cum.

God, he felt so good.

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