Page 49 of Love Songs

“Just never thought about that before,” Kirk trailed off with a shrug.

“And . . . I might’ve bought a house.”

“What do you mean, youmight’vebought a house?” Kirk leaned forward. His dark hair fell back into his eyes, and he tucked it behind his ear. “Where?”

I couldn’t help the grin that tugged at my lips. “I put in an offer on a house I saw when I was staying in Caldwell Crossing.”

“Wow.” Kirk sat back, staring at me like I was some new and strange attraction to marvel over. Then he chuckled, a low, hearty sound, and shook his head. “You just lit up like a Christmas tree. Like when we had our first sold out concert, and when we got our first platinum album. When you met Jaylin for the first time.”

“Everything about it feels right,” I said, and it did. I’d never felt so certain of anything before now.

Kirk sat quiet in thought for a moment, then he raised his eyebrows and grimaced.

“But that town was so small,” he said in a hushed voice laced with disbelief. “And quiet.”

Unexpected laughter burst from my lungs at the look of horror on his face.

“Spend a week there and you’ll fall in love with it,” I said when I could catch my breath. “There’s a soul to the town that breathes life and joy. The people are quirky and endearing and feel like they’ve always been friends. They seem to know me more as the guy who set the stage on fire on Founders Day, orthe guy who won the fire lieutenant in the bachelor auction for an outrageous amount of money and not as the lead singer for the Dallas Blade Band.” I chuffed under my breath. I had a feeling they would never let me live either of those things down. “And it will be the perfect place for Jaylin to grow up.”

He stared at me skeptically, then his eyes softened, and the corners of his mouth curled up.

“And might a certain firefighter have something to do with it, too?”

My phone rang, and I held up my finger as I dug it out of my back pocket to avoid answering. Nolan Kaslo’s name flashed on the screen, the realtor from Caldwell Crossing.

“Hold that thought.” I stood up, and a bubble of elation rose in my chest. “I have to take this. Nolan,” I said by way of greeting as I made my way to the kitchen. “What’s the news?”

“Congratulations, Dallas,” Nolan said brightly. “You are now the official proud owner of a fully dilapidated home on Harmony Lake.”

There was humor in his voice, prompting laughter from me.

“Yes.” I pumped my fist, my body buzzing like a busy beehive. “This is the best news I’ve had all week.”

Holy crap. I was a homeowner. Sure, the house needed a massive amount of work, but it was going to be amazing when it was finished.

Nolan chuckled before getting down to business. “You’ll need to come to town and sign the final paperwork with the lawyer, then pick up your keys. When do you think you can get here?”

My mind whirred with excitement. I wanted to shoutnow, but it was late Wednesday already, and I wanted to take Jaylin with me. “This weekend.”

“Good, good,” Nolan said. A horn honked in the background, and I pictured Conor in his station wear, walking down thesidewalk to Harmony Chocolates for his truffles fix. “Be here before the lawyer’s office closes on Friday to get the paperwork done.”

“Will do,” I said, my pulse racing. “I’ll call you back with my schedule.”

Holy.Shit.

I felt weightless as I walked back into the living room, like I was floating on air, and my cheeks were aching from a massive smile I couldn’t contain.

Kirk raised an eyebrow, a grin tugging at his lips. “Good news, I take it?”

I nodded so fast I probably looked like a bobblehead doll. “I have officially bought a house.”

“Congratulations, Dall,” he said, but his smile didn’t reach his eyes.

I didn’t know what to say, so I pulled him into a hug. Our lives were about to change in a big way, and while I was looking forward to mine, I knew Kirk was unprepared for the changes to his and felt like he’d been cut adrift.

“I’m sorry,” I mumbled into his shoulder.

“Hey, no.” He extracted himself from my embrace and took a step back, his watery gaze beseeching and his smile shaky. “Don’t you dare apologize for going after what you want and what’s right for you.”

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