Page 89 of Nashville Cowboy
She blinked. Twice. “You can’t do that. What about your music?”
“I’ll do it here. Figure something out.”
“But will you be happy here if I’m the only reason you’re staying?”
“You’d be reason enough for me, but I do love our crazy town. Hank and I have been spending more time together, and small miracle, we’re not always yelling at each other. And of course, there’s Mima. I don’t kid myself into thinkin’ she’ll live forever.”
“But I want you to be happy, too.”
“I am happy. The minute I decided I’d stay, it was like a weight lifted. I didn’t know how much I dreaded going back. My management isn’t going to be thrilled to hear it, but I don’t have any loose ends. The last contract fell through when the producer walked off. We hadn’t scheduled any tour dates because I was supposed to be in the studio recording.”
“What will you do?”
“Well, Priscilla wants me to buy the Shady Grind.” He laughed. “Wouldn’t that be something? The first place I ever played. I’ll think about it, but either way I’ll fit my music in. The part I love. Writing songs. And Hank needs me from time to time. Guess I’ll be a part-time cowboy.”
Eve opened her mouth to speak, but she couldn’t. She didn’t trust herself not to sob. Instead, she felt a tear slip down her cheek.
Jackson wiped it with his thumb. “Did I upset you, or are these happy tears?”
She nodded. “Happy ones.”
Then she jumped him, wrapping her legs around his waist. She kissed him, and made love to him, until he was as happy as she.
Chapter 29
It hadn’t taken Lillian long to see that something substantial had shifted between Jackson and Eve after the wedding. The two were no longer making any effort to hide the fact they’d pretty much moved in together. Normally Lillian wouldn’t approve, but these two deserved a little leeway. Substantial progress had been made, and all this without the quilt.
She probably no longerneededthe quilt, though it would be nice to have as a backup just in case those two got themselves a wild hair. Unfortunately, their type of intense passion was at times the problem itself. Love like that could go sideways in an instant with two such headstrong personalities.
Such as when a blond, shiny obstacle showed up on one’s doorstep…uninvited.
As always when she was in need of help from up above, Lillian strode outside into the cool, brisk morning and held out her arms to the heavens.
“Dear Lord, what am I supposed todoabout this mess?”
Albert casually observed from the fence post where he sat perched, his Sunday Stetson tilted back. “Just can’t help yourself, can you?”
“I worry that Winona James could mess up all my wonderful progress.”
Albert snorted. “Yourwonderful progress?”
Lillian waved him away. “Suppose you’re goin’ to tell me I didn’t have anythin’ to do with this beautiful reunion happenin’ right now under my own roof.”
“Was the weddin’ brought them together again in the same place. Thank Lincoln and Sadie.”
“Ha!” Just like Albert not to give her any credit where credit was due. “Now the hard part starts.”
“Hard part?”
“Keepin’ him here, you dunce! Don’t you get it? Jackson belongs athome. And Eve will get him to stay.”
“Or she’ll go with him.”
“Bah!” Lillian wouldn’t even consider that possibility. “You’re wrong again, old man.”
“Who are you talking to, Lillian?”
Lillian whipped around to find Brenda scanning the area. “What? Oh, no one. Just talkin’ to myself. You know…praying.”
