CHAPTER 30
Cash scrubbed a hand across his beard as he paced outside Kate’s tent. She’d only been in town a few hours, but he hadn’t seen her yet. Between the re-opening of Main Street, which had taken place that morning, and helping Travis and Weston with security preparations, he’d been running since before sunup. Good thing too, because he’d been too busy to torture himself with visions of how a reunion with Kate might go.
Doubt assailed him as he counted his steps, moving in time to the quiet strums of her guitar. He should just barge in there and sweep her into his arms, beg her to stay. But he held himself in check. Tonight was her night, and there would be plenty of time for discussion after.
“Just wish her luck.” He stopped pacing and stared at the tent flap, pulse flying like a wild mustang on the run.
“You look like you just swallowed a sweet-gum ball.” Sterling clapped him on the shoulder. “You okay?”
Cash nodded. “Yep, just tryin’ to time my entrance just right.”
Sterling chuckled, glancing at the tent. “I think anytime you enter is the right time.” He grew serious. “Don’t wait, man. You got something to say to her, say it now. Don’t wait.”
There was an urgency to Sterling’s voice that resonated with him. A comprehension that they’d both seen things that couldn’t be unseen. A look of understanding passed between the two of them. We don’t run, Travis had said. The only place he was running was right into Kate’s arms. He gave Sterling a silent salute and marched to the door, rapping on the flap to announce his presence.
“Kate?” He folded back the flap and peered in. Her back was to him as she bent to put away her guitar. Awareness shot through him at the view of her very fine ass encased in what appeared to be the softest denim.
She rose and whirled with a gasp and he stopped breathing as he feasted on the vision before him. She’d changed her hair back to its natural blonde and it hung in soft waves, framing her face. His mouth turned to sawdust at the beauty of her. The glitz was gone. No sequins, no rhinestones or glitter. Just his sweet Kate, fresh-faced and utterly kissable. She wore a white off-the-shoulder top that made him want to taste the ridge along her neck, lay kisses across her collarbone.
Her eyes roved hungrily over him from top to bottom, returning to hold his gaze. The air between them crackled with energy.
A smile lit her face. “You grew back your beard.”
She’d noticed. Warmth flooded him and he raised his eyebrows in acknowledgment. “You like?”
She lifted her eyebrows too, a smile tilting the corner of her mouth. “Yeah. I do.”
God, how he’d missed hearing her husky voice.
The silence spun out between them as they stood grinning at each other. Could she hear the way his heart pummeled his ribs? He could hardly focus on what he wanted to say. “I’m meditating now,” he blurted, his prepared speech abandoning him.
“Oh?” Her eyes lit with interest. “How’s that going?”
“Great, actually. I feel more… settled.”
“Great.”
This was ridiculous. He ached to touch her, feel her soft skin beneath his fingers. Why was he still rooted to the spot? They both spoke at once.
“Kate–”
“Cash–”
The tension between them snapped, and they moved as one, meeting in the middle of the tent. Cash dove his hands into her silky tresses, gently cupping her head as her arms looped around his neck, their mouths joining in a searing kiss. She opened to the probing of his tongue with a moan, eagerly responding in kind.
This.
This was home. His intensity of his relief, his love – everything – threatened to overwhelm him, and he dropped an arm down her back, molding her to him. Kate was everything, meant everything. His life was a shell without her. He poured his entire being into showing her how much. They were both breathless when he lifted his head a moment later.
She giggled quietly. “I’m glad I waited to put my lipstick on,” she confessed.
“I would have kissed it right off.” He lowered his head again, demonstrating exactly how. When they pulled apart, he brushed his mouth along her cheek, pressing a kiss to her temple, then her forehead. Her scent surrounded him, he couldn’t get enough of it. “Is now a good time to talk?” He’d wait if she asked, but everything in him shouted don’t wait.
Eyes shining, she nodded.
“I’ve had a lot to think about these few weeks you’ve been gone. And you’re right. I can be overbearing and overprotective. It’s because I’m terrified of losing the person I love more than anything.”
She opened her mouth, but he stopped her with a finger to her lips. “Let me finish. You were right when you said that’s not a partnership. And more than anything, I want to be your partner. I want to be your lover, your supporter, your friend, and when you need one, yes – your protector. And when your mother came to–”
“My mother came?” she squeaked, a look of horror coming over her face.
“Yes. To ask us to talk you out of buying some piece of property here?”
Her face reddened, and she dropped her face into her hands. “I’m so embarrassed,” she mumbled, shaking her head.
Cash drew her into his embrace. “Don’t be. I told her exactly what I thought of her idea.”
She bit her lip, eyes filled with worry. “There are things I need to tell you too, and I guess I should have mentioned something sooner…” She let out a sigh as her voice trailed off. “But I wanted to wait until after I survived the concert to tell you.”
He tilted her chin, brushing his mouth across hers. As long as he lived, he would never get enough of her sweetness. “Then wait. Tell me later. Tell me whenever you’re ready.” His stomach turned into a bundle of nerves as he returned to the words that he’d rehearsed over and over for days. “And to continue what I’d started to tell you. If there’s even the slightest chance of you wanting a partnership, a lover, a friend-” He swallowed down the lump of emotion that lodged in his throat. “I love you Kate, more than anything, anyone. Hell, more than my own life. I don’t work without you. And if there’s a chance for us, I’ll wait. For as long as it takes. Let me be your champion.”
Her lip trembled and she let out a rough breath, eyes glittering with unshed tears. “Oh, Cash.” She stood on tiptoe and pulled him in for a kiss. “I’ve missed you so much I ache, and I have so much to tell you. But first, will you watch me tonight?”
He could hardly breathe from the hope pounding in his chest. “I’ll be watching from backstage.”
She shook her head. “No. I want you out front. Please? Watch me?”
For a second, fear for her safety shot through him. But the press hadn’t gotten wind of her presence here, and the key players involved had been tight-lipped. Even Dottie who ran the diner, didn’t know. And according to Travis and Sterling, she knew everything in town. He shook off the fear and drew his thumb across her pretty pink cheek. “Whatever you want, babe. I can trade places with Travis, you’ll have our eyes on you the whole time. I want you to go out there and enjoy yourself.”
She gave him the sweetest smile. Filled with excitement, fear, and hope. “I want that too. Promise me you’ll meet me back here as soon as it’s over?”
He couldn’t resist. He had to have another taste of her before he took his leave. He lowered his head, thrilling as she responded, pressing against him as they drank each other in. For as long as he lived, there weren’t enough words to describe his feelings for Kate. If she’d let him, he’d happily spend the rest of his life showing her how much he cherished her.
She pulled away with a ragged sigh. “I have to put my lipstick on.”
“Are you sure,” he growled, taking a final taste of her.
She melted against him, then gave him a push. “Scoot. I need to focus. Meet me back here after?”
“I’ll be right here, I’m not going anywhere.” He backed up, unable to take his eyes off her. When he reached the tent flap, he paused. “You’ve got this, Kate. Don’t doubt that for a second.”