CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
The following morning, Becky led Sky through the department store to the designer section where she and Meg had shopped the previous night. She plucked the green gown from the rack, and held it up for Sky. “This is the one. You should have seen her in it.”
He looked at the price tag and shook his head. “Now I get it,” he said. “There’s no way she could afford this on her own.”
“I’m sorry,” Becky said. “I just assumed she knew it was going on your credit card. It didn’t occur to me that you hadn’t mentioned it to her.”
“Are you sure she liked it?”
“I know she did. While she was in the dressing room, I heard her say ‘wow’ when she was trying it on.”
Sky nodded his head. “What else will she need for the trip?”
“An evening bag, shoes, another couple of outfits for parties, and a dress for the night after the awards show.”
“You and Jack are hell-bent on keeping that a secret, aren’t you?”
Becky blushed. “Yes, we are.” She took Sky by the arm, and said, “Let’s go. We’ve got a lot of shopping to do for our girl Meg today.”
“And you don’t think she’ll be mad that we picked out her outfits?”
“I don’t think so. She can always exchange them if she doesn’t like them or they don’t fit.”
Sky followed Becky in and out of stores all day long, picking up items Meg would need for the Las Vegas trip. When they couldn’t carry any more, Sky suggested they call it a day. “This was quite a work out,” he said, holding up the bags. “Are you sure Meg won’t mind that we went ahead and did all this shopping?”
“I’m sure,” Becky replied. “I think she’ll be blown away.”
“I hope you’re right.”
When he got home, Sky called Meg and asked her to stay the night with him at the log cabin. “My bed misses you,” he said. “Just come over after work. I’ll have dinner waiting for you.”
“You know I can’t resist you or your bed,” Meg whispered into her cell phone. “And how can I turn down the offer of you cooking dinner for me?”
Sky hung up the outfits he and Becky purchased in the closet in the guest room where Meg had stayed while she cared for him after his accident. He placed the garment bag containing the green gown on the outside of the closet, where she would see it first.
He closed the door to the guest room behind him, and entered his bedroom next door. He opened the bag from Desiree’s Desire, and carefully laid out the cream-colored satin and lace negligee and matching robe on his bed.
When Meg walked through the front door of the log cabin that evening, she was surprised by the lit candles and soft music playing over the stereo system. “Sky? What’s all this?”
“Just a little romance at the end of your work week,” he said, emerging from the kitchen carrying a glass of white wine. “Here,” he said, handing her the glass.
“Thank you.” She took a deep sip. “Mmm…that hits the spot.”
Sky pulled her into his arms and held her tightly. He kissed her on top of her head, and said, “You feel so good in my arms. You’re what hits the spot for me.”
Meg tilted her head up and looked deeply into his eyes. I know I can’t say it yet, but, God help me, I love you. You’re all I need. “Something smells delicious,” she said. “What’s for dinner?”
“I thought I’d try my hand at shrimp scampi. I doubt I make it as good as you, but I know how you love it,” he said. “And I wanted tonight to be about the things you love.”
Meg felt the familiar butterflies in her stomach return. “What did I do to deserve all this?”
“Everything. Everything you do, all the time, for me. You’ve made so many sacrifices. All of your free time is spent out on the road with me, keeping me sane and stable, and in a good place emotionally for the first time in my adult life. And when we return home, you work yourself to the bone at the hospital. I just want you to know how much I appreciate you, baby.” He held her tight, and ran his fingers through her long hair before tilting her chin up so he could kiss her. “You must be hungry. Let’s eat.”
He led her to the table, and pulled out a chair for her. “Sit,” he said. “Let me serve you.” He disappeared into the kitchen and returned a moment later with two heaping plates of orzo topped with shrimp and lemon slices. “I hope it tastes as good as it looks.”
Meg dug in. “Yum…this is amazing. Thank you for making one of my favorite meals.”
“I’m glad you like it.” He sampled a forkful, and added, “Not bad, if I say so myself.”
As they continued eating, they discussed the upcoming weekend run. “The rest of the band is taking the bus out west tonight, but we’re going to fly out on Friday morning with Jack and Becky. Gives us a day here at home tomorrow,” Sky said.
“Do you do that often? Travel separately from the band, that is?”
“Not too often, but Jack and I both know that it’s a little cramped on the one bus, so we thought we’d treat you girls to a little bit of luxury.”
“Time is an amazing luxury,” Meg said. “I so rarely have any free time, I’m not sure what to do with a whole day at home.”
Sky stood up and cleared their plates. “Oh, trust me, there are plenty of things I can think of doing with you, and to you, all day long.”
Meg joined him in the kitchen, helping him load the dishwasher. Once the kitchen was cleaned up, she asked, “So, what should we do tonight? Want to watch a movie?”
“How about we sit outside by the fire?” Sky picked up their wine glasses from the counter, and grabbed the open bottle of white wine out of the refrigerator. “Come on,” he said, taking Meg by the hand and leading her outside and past the pool to the fire pit.
She sank into one of the Adirondack chairs, and watched while Sky started the fire. She admired his long body and broad shoulders in the light of the dancing flames. “This is perfect. Thanks for planning such a romantic evening.”
He poured them each some wine before sitting next to her. “And we haven’t even gotten to the romance part yet.”
Meg leaned back and sipped from her wine glass. She craned her neck to look at the stars that had just begun to appear in the evening sky.
“You look like you’re deep in thought.”
She turned in her chair so she could look at him. “Maybe a little. I’m glad we have the day tomorrow. I still have to get some clothes for Las Vegas.”
“I thought you went shopping with Becky the other night.”
“I did, but I didn’t get anything.”
“Why not?”
“I don’t know…I guess I’m not used to shopping in the stores Becky shops in. We have different, um…”
“Taste?”
“Budgets.” She curled herself into a tight ball, hugging her knees to her chest. She was uncomfortable talking about money, particularly to Sky. He always insisted on paying for everything when they were together, and it had taken her some time to get used to his generosity.
Sky gazed at Meg, who was staring off into the distance. He allowed her the silence she seemed to want for a few moments before he finally spoke. “I’m sorry if your shopping trip with Becky wasn’t successful.”
“Not your fault.”
“Actually, it sort of is. I suggested you go with her.” He stood up, extinguished the fire, and took her by the hand. “Let’s go inside. I want to make it up to you.”
“What are you talking about?” She allowed herself to be led inside and towards the guest room. “What’s going on?”
Sky opened the door, turned on the light, and pulled her inside. He gestured towards the garment bag that was hanging on the outside of the closet door. “I picked you up something today,” he said with a grin.
Meg’s heart began to beat quickly. “This is for me?”
Sky nodded. “Why don’t you open it?”
Meg’s hand trembled as she reached for the zipper on the garment bag and pulled it all the way down. She pushed back the two sides of the black plastic, and gasped at the sight of the mint green gown she had tried on the previous night. “Oh my God! Sky, what did you do? How did you know?”
“It’s the right dress, then?” When Meg nodded, he grinned ear to ear. “After you acted all strange last night, I called Becky, who filled me in on your shopping trip. I met up with her this morning at the store.”
Tears filled Meg’s eyes. “Thank you, but really, you didn’t have to do this. I would have found something to wear.”
“Yeah, I’m sure you would have found something, but not a dress that made you say ‘wow’ in the dressing room.”
She blushed, and hung her head, unable to meet his eyes. “I didn’t realize Becky heard me say that.”
“Well, she did. She also said you looked absolutely amazing in it, and I don’t doubt it. The green matches your eyes perfectly.” He tilted her chin up and brushed his lips against hers. “I never want you to feel like you have to skimp on clothing for trips with me and the band, especially on a dress you’ll probably only wear once.”
“But, Sky…”
He put his fingers over her lips. “No buts, baby. It’s my way of saying thank you. After all you’ve done for me, let me take care of you. Besides, there’s more.”
“More?”
“Open the closet door.”
Meg pulled the door open, and was shocked to see hangers filled with more outfits. “What is all this?”
“Clothing for the Vegas trip. There are going to be industry parties and dinners we’re going to have to attend. Becky helped me pick some things out, but feel free to return them if you don’t like them or they’re not the right size.”
She flipped through the rack, admiring the beautiful clothes. “Should I try them on?”
“Might as well. Give me a fashion show,” he said, as he sat on the squeaky iron bed. He watched intently as Meg modeled each outfit for him. “I know I said it on our first date, but you could have been a model. You’d give your cousin a run for her money.”
“Yeah, right,” she said as she looked in the mirror and tugged at a beaded, blush colored mini dress. “This is a little short.”
Sky was salivating at the sight of Meg’s long legs on display below the hem of the mini dress. “Really? I don’t think so. I’m all kinds of turned on right now. You’ve got legs that go on for days.”
“What event did you envision me wearing this to?”
“I don’t know, maybe the one Jack and Becky are giving the night after the ACMs.”
“She mentioned something about a dinner the following night, but didn’t give me any details about it.”
“Yeah.” Sky approached Meg, unzipped the dress, and pulled her close against his chest. He brushed her long hair aside, and kissed the back of her neck. “I don’t know about you, but I think it’s time we went to bed,” he whispered while nibbling on her earlobe.
Meg slid out of the dress, and placed it back on the hanger. “I really don’t know how to thank you for all of this,” she said, gesturing to the closet.
“Oh, I can think of plenty of ways,” Sky chuckled. He took her by the hand and led her to his bedroom.
Meg immediately spied the lingerie laid out on Sky’s bed. “What’s this?”
“I decided to pick myself up a little treat while I was shopping for you. Been waiting all night to see you in this, baby,” he said while running his fingers over the silky material. “I’m going to wash up in the bathroom, and when I come back, I expect to see you wearing it.”