Chapter Eight
It was a beautiful evening, and Clay greeted them as they made their way out onto the terrace at the back of the house where a dozen or so people were already gathered.
“Laura, I’m pleased you could come.”
“Thank you. It was nice of you to invite me.”
Clay smiled. “I figured you’d probably need a breather after working with Lawrence all week. He’s my best friend, but even I get exhausted by him sometimes.” He smiled at Carson. “You know what I mean, don’t you?”
Laura felt bad for Carson, being put on the spot like that, but he grinned. “Absolutely.”
“I’m glad you could make it tonight, son. Did Autumn call you to set up a meeting?”
“No, sir.”
Clay grinned. “She’s one busy lady. I’ll tell you what, she’s right over there with Matt. Why don’t you go and say hi?”
Carson didn’t need telling twice. He nodded at Laura and then shot over to where a beautiful, dark-haired woman was standing with Matt, whom Laura recognized from the stories about him and Hope.
Clay chuckled. “He’s a great kid. You’ll be hearing him on the radio soon and for many years to come, if I know anything.”
“From what I understand, you know everything when it comes to country music.”
Clay shook his head. “I’ve been around a long time, that’s all. It doesn’t seem that long ago that I was just like Carson is now. In some ways, I envy him.”
Laura raised an eyebrow.
“He’s at the beginning of his journey. I’m near the end of mine.” He looked around at his huge house and the grand terrace overlooking a sweeping lawn. “Sorry. I think I’m just feeling my age. I’m not complaining; it’s been a great journey. It’s treated me well.”
Laura nodded. “But it’s not about that, is it? It’s about the journey itself. You didn’t choose country music because you thought it would make you rich. You chose it because it’s what you love to do.”
“You can say that again. All this,” he swept his arm out, “it’s just a by-product. Don’t get me wrong. I appreciate everything this life has made possible for me, but I’d give it all back in a heartbeat in exchange for another ten years on the road starting out fresh.” He chuckled. “In a young man’s body.”
Laura laughed with him at that. “Isn’t it funny? Most young men would trade you their body if they could have all of this.”
“Yeah, but they have no idea what they’d be missing.” He smiled. “Lawrence told me you’re getting married next weekend. I hope you and your husband remember to enjoy the ride—every minute of it. Don’t get so caught up in your goals and your careers that you forget to enjoy each other.”
Laura nodded. “Thank you. We try to enjoy every day. We both have careers we love, and we’re both ambitious. Neither of us like to be tied down, but we both love to know that we’re there for each other. We both travel a lot, but our favorite time is when we get to be home together. At least for a few days and then we get itchy feet again and need to go do our thing.”
Clay smiled. “It sounds like you’ve already got it all figured out.” A girl walked by with a tray of drinks and Clay took two of them. Handing one to Laura, he raised his to her. “Here’s wishing you both a long and happy marriage.”
“There you are.” Lawrence came to join them with Shawnee at his side. “What are we drinking to?”
Clay winked at Laura before he replied. “A long and happy marriage.”
Lawrence went white, and Laura felt bad. “Clay was giving me some wisdom before my wedding next weekend,” she explained to Shawnee, giving Lawrence a minute to recover.
Shawnee smiled. “Congratulations to you.” She raised her glass. “I wish you the same.”
“Thank you. It’s lovely to meet you.”
“I’m sorry,” said Lawrence. “Shawnee, this is Laura Benson. The girl I told you about.”
Shawnee rolled her eyes. “I know who she is. I doubt there’s a woman in this town who doesn’t.” She smiled at Laura. “Men don’t get it, but I just love your designs.”
“Thank you.”
Lawrence grinned. “I just hope you’ll like your necklace.”
“I know I will.” Shawnee reached up to plant a kiss on his lips. “It’s so sweet of you. Thank you. And thank you, Laura, for coming all the way out here.”
“It’s my pleasure.”
“Hey, I’m sorry to interrupt.”
Laura turned and came face to face with Matt McConnell. Piper had said Summer Lake was like a hot men factory; Nashville seemed like it could give it a run for its money.
Matt smiled. “Sorry. I’m not going to be able to stay long, and I wanted to meet you before I leave.”
Laura wondered if she was about to be commissioned to make another engagement ring.
“Laura, this is Matt McConnell one of country’s biggest names. Matt, meet Laura Benson. She’s a jewelry designer.” Clay didn’t look too impressed with the interruption.
Matt grinned at him. “I know, thanks. That’s why I wanted to come and say hello. Carson just told me that you know Hope and Chance?”
“I do.” Laura wasn’t sure what else to say, or why he might be asking.
“Have you seen them lately?”
“They were at the lake a couple of weeks ago.”
Matt smiled. “And they’re doing okay? I was so bummed I couldn’t make the wedding.”
Laura relaxed. Things must be okay between them if Matt had been invited to the wedding.
Clay laughed. “You’ll have to excuse him. He has a bit of a man-crush on this Chance character. I’m surprised he hasn’t written a song about him yet.”
The others laughed, and Laura smiled, glad to hear that his crush was on Chance and not Hope.
Matt shrugged good-naturedly. “He’s an awesome guy. I owe him big time. I don’t like to bug him and Hope, especially after the way the press screwed everything up, but I like to hear how he’s doing.”
“He seems to be doing fine. His sister is a good friend of mine. She says he and Hope are very happy and settling into their new life well.”
“That’s great, thanks. If you see him, would you tell him I send my best?”
“Of course.”
Matt grinned around at them.
“Didn’t you have somewhere else you needed to be?” asked Lawrence with a laugh.
“No. I just said that as an excuse to come barging in on your conversation. Now I’m here I might as well stay, right?”
Clay laughed. “You’re so bad.”
“But you love me.”
“Where’s Autumn?” asked Shawnee.
Matt shrugged again. “Talking business, as always.”
Clay gave him a stern look. “You wouldn’t be where you are today if she wasn’t like that.”
“I know, I know, she’s great. I just wish …” He shrugged again. “You all know.” He looked at Laura. “And I’m sure you can figure it out. I’m just a dumb country guy with a crush.”
Laura smiled and cast a glance back at the beautiful woman still talking to Carson. She looked like she’d be a tough nut for a dumb country guy to crack. The woman turned as if feeling Laura’s gaze on her. She met her eye and smiled. Laura smiled back, feeling as though she’d just met a kindred spirit.
“Shall we rescue you?” asked Lawrence. “Shawnee and I were hoping we could sit down with you for a few minutes. She has some ideas about her ring.”
Laura didn’t correct him, but she held her breath and waited to see if anyone else noticed his mistake. Clay looked horrified, but Shawnee laughed. “Guys, huh? He’s already forgotten that we’re talking about a necklace, not a ring. And he wonders why I want to have some input.” She slipped her arm through Laura’s and led her away. “Come on sweetie. I won’t keep you long; we can leave these guys to it.”
~ ~ ~
Smoke sat out on the front porch and sipped his wine. He loved this place. Even when Laura wasn’t here, it was a good place. But when she came back it felt like home. He pursed his lips as he caught himself rocking his heel, making the swing move back and forth. She’d laugh if she could see him. He wished she were here, but she’d be back tomorrow. He was flying to San Francisco to pick her up in the afternoon, and hopefully this time they’d get the weekend alone together. Piper had gone back to Texas to sort herself out so she could move to the lake. She was going to start work the Monday after the wedding. She could help Jason fill any gaps in the schedule while he was away.
He pulled his phone out of his pocket and checked the time. Nine-thirty. That meant it’d be eleven-thirty in Nashville. Laura had said she was going to some party tonight. He didn’t want to pester her if she was out having fun. Yeah, he did really, but that was hard to admit. He missed her when she was gone. He missed her when he was gone. He missed her whenever they weren’t together, but what they had worked for them. They’d both be miserable if they gave up what they did in order to be together more. They wouldn’t know what to do with themselves.
He smiled when his phone buzzed in his hand.
“Hey, lady.”
“Hey, you.”
“Are you back at the hotel?”
She laughed. “Are you checking up on me?”
“Yeah? I’m a big, jealous, possessive jerk, in case you forgot.”
“How could I ever forget?”
“You’d better not.”
She laughed again. “Yeah. I’m back now, but it was a great evening. They’re lovely people. I think you’d like Lawrence, but I know you’d love Clay.”
Smoke smiled. For all he joked about being jealous—and for all there was a tiny grain of truth to it—he loved hearing about her adventures, about the people she met, and what she thought of them. She got to experience so many different lifestyles through her work. “Why, what’s he like?”
“He’s just a really cool guy. I think he’s feeling old, seeing a new generation of singers coming along, and realizing that his own time is limited. He’s really chill though, about enjoying the ride, making the most of every minute, not taking anything for granted.”
“I like the sound of him.”
“He liked the sound of you, too. He toasted to our long and happy marriage, and said we both need to remember to enjoy the journey, not get too caught up in chasing goals.”
“I was just thinking about that myself.”
“Thinking what?”
“I was thinking that I miss you, whether it’s you that’s away or me, I miss you when we’re not together, but we’re not messing up, are we? It’s better this way, right? It’s better to miss each other because we’re both living our lives to the fullest than it would be to find a way to get more time together.”
She was quiet for a long moment.
“Don’t worry. I’m not trying to tie you down.”
“I wasn’t worrying. I was wondering. Is that what you’d like?”
“I don’t know, lady. Would I love more time with you? Absolutely. Would I be any use to you if I never went anywhere? Probably not.”
She laughed. “That’s how I feel, too. I love you so much. I miss you, but it took me so many years to get to the point I’m at now. I don’t want to give it up. I don’t think you want to give up your flying either.”
“I don’t.”
“Then we’re good. We just carry on as we are. Maybe the day will come when we want to change things, and we both need to feel free to say so if that day comes.”
Smoke laughed. “And we will. It’s who we are. Neither of us is going to suffer in silence and not say anything. I guess I’m just feeling all philosophical a week before our wedding.”
“Okay, I’ll let you off then. How are thing going on your end?”
“All good. Pete’s got the stag night figured out.”
“Have you talked to your dad yet?”
“No.”
“Any reason?”
He smiled. She was worried about him, but she wasn’t going to say so. “No. No reason except I hope he doesn’t say no. It’s dumb. If he doesn’t want to, it’s no big deal, but in my head, I’ve made it a big deal. In my head, him coming to my stag party has become a symbol of our relationship finally being healed.”
“I understand that. I’m sure he’ll want to.”
“Yeah, me too, but for some reason, I’ve been torturing myself by prolonging the uncertainty.”
“So, get it over with. Call him.”
“I will. And never mind you nagging me, lady. What’s happening with your bachelorette party?”
“Ha! I have a whole team of girls working on it. It’s easier for me.”
“Where are you going?”
“It’s a secret.”
“Laura!” he used his sternest tone, but she just laughed.
“Get over yourself. Just because you’re being a wuss about your stag night, wimping out and going to Giuseppe’s, that doesn’t mean I’m going to go quietly. I plan to have a ball!”
“Not literally, I hope?”
She laughed. “No, I don’t have time to arrange one of those. I’m surprised at you, though. I didn’t think you’d let me win this one.”
“Win? It’s not a competition.”
“Since when has anything we’ve ever done not been a competition. It’s not often I lose, but I’m surprised you’re just lying down on this one. I’m going to have an epic bachelorette party, and you’re going to go for a quiet drink.”
Smoke pursed his lips to stop himself from laughing. She knew how to provoke him. “You really want to step it up, make this a competition? You know I’ll outdo you if I want to.”
“But you don’t even want to, you’re just out for a quiet life now, going meekly into boring old married life without even marking the death of your bachelorhood.”
He laughed. “My bachelorhood died the day I met you, lady, and I don’t want it back.”
“I don’t want mine back either, but I’m at least going to give it a good send off.”
“Okay, you do what you need to. I’ll have a think about my own plans.”
“You’re going to venture beyond Giuseppe’s?”
He smiled. She was curious now. “I don’t know, but if your plans are a secret, then mine should be, too. We’ll see who can have the best party, shall we?”
“We will. Challenge accepted, Captain Hamilton.”
“Don’t sound so smug Mrs. Hamilton.”
“Oh, Smoke. I do love the sound of that. I’m like a little girl with her first crush. I keep practicing my new signature. Laura Hamilton.”
Smoke grinned. “Just over a week to go, and that’s who you’ll be.”
She laughed. “Assuming we both survive our bachelor parties.”
His grin faded. “We will.”