Page 56 of Nashville Lights

“Love you too.”

Nate and I make a quiet exit from the hoedown, which is starting to rev up a few gears as the second half of the evening gets underway.

Daisy’s eyes barely open as she’s buckled into her car seat. Before we’ve even pulled out of the lodge’s parking lot, she’s fast asleep.

“I have a whole lot of things I need to talk to you about, Boone.” But first things first. I ask the question gently. “Who is she?”

A sideways glance and a low not-quite-laugh. It’s a few seconds before he answers.Is there anything sexier than Nate Boone’s suntanned, muscular, hair-dusted forearms as he grips the steering wheel?I don’t think so.“No one you need to worry about, darlin’.”

“Please be honest with me. I want to know who she is.”

He sighs. “She’s someone who wanted a whole lot more than I was ever willing to give.”

“What’s her name?”

“I can’t remember.”

I give him a look. “Don’t bullshit me, Boone.”

“The thing is, Tuck, it doesn’t matter what her name is.”

“When’s the last time you saw her?”

“I saw her tonight.”

His dark eyes are glittering in the darkness. He loves my jealousy. “Before tonight.”

For a second I think he’s pretending to mull it over. Butthen he says, “Six and a half months ago to the day. We had dinner.”

I’m a little surprised by how precise he is about it. “You had dinner?”

“Yes.”

“Then what?”

Another sigh, and this time it’s heavier. “Rox, do you have any idea whereyouwere that night, six and a half months ago to the day?”

“What does that have to do with it?”

“Do you know where you were?” he asks again. Almost patiently but not quite.

“No. On tour. I can’t remember where exactly.”

“You were in Denver.”

“How…do you know that?”

“Because I followed your tour schedules.”

“Why?”

“So I knew where you were.”

“The band?”

“Nope. You.”

His cryptic answers are confusing me. “I don’t understand what you’re saying.”

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