Page 25

I shift, straddling the log and facing her directly. "If this will cause you huge stress, or if you don't want to be with me, we can stay as friends, and I'll drive you home whenever you like. But Julia…" I tilt her chin up with my fingertip. "We belong together. I feel it. It's like when a piece of music needs to go back to the root chord. We just feel…right. "

Her perfect lips tip up in a smile. "You're comparing us to music theory?"

"If that's what it takes, yes."

I take the silver ring off my thumb and slide it onto her middle finger. It's too large and would slip right off right away so I put it back on. Then I unbuckle my leather cuff and wrap it around her wrist until it's snug.

"I can avoid crowds when you're with me," I murmur softly. "Usually it's just a few people now and then anyway. I can include you in my public life as much or as little as you want."

"I appreciate you thinking this way," she whispers hesitantly.

"And it won't last forever," I insist. "I know the crowds will fade. I'll end up songwriting for other musicians, doing movie soundtracks, maybe teaching music. Whatever. I'm okay with any of that." I shrug. "Honestly, looking at the careers of similar musicians, I probably only have another seven years in the spotlight, and that's being very optimistic."

She gasps. “You can't think like that. You have to assume you're going to be a superstar for years. Power of positive thinking, right?"

I shrug. "My music is getting to a lot of people. That's enough for me to be happy." I slip my arm around her. "The only piece missing from my life is you. Julia Morrison. The light of my life. The angel with blue-gray eyes."

I pull out a notebook to write that down.

"Sorry, I have to take song-writing notes at all times." I take her hands again. "Even when I'm busy telling you how much I love you."

Her bottom lip wobbles and her fingers tense in mine. I wait for a few breaths, then whisper, "It’s no problem if it takes you a year to feel this way as well. I'm in no rush. I just want to care for you and make you happy. To be the best boyfriend I can."

I flash her my megawatt grin. "Plus talk you into moving in with me so we can stay up late songwriting whenever we both feel inspired."

My entire body tingles as she lifts her hand, dragging it along my stubble, then across my shoulder. "I love you too," she whispers. "It's scary to say that but I feel it. And it's real."

"That means we’re real, angel."

"Even though…" She hesitates. "I have a boring day job, and a normal life? And you’re off on tour and doing TV shows and everything?"

"Beautiful, we'll work it out. I mean, I've lived for years without you. I can survive being away from you for a few weeks. We can do lots of video calls. Same for you, right?"

She exhales. "So you don’t expect me to drop everything and follow you around?"

"Hell no. Touring is rough, and I don't think you'd like it. I only want you to do things that make you happy."

"What about your fans?" she whispers. "What if it ruins your image to be seen with a long-term girlfriend?"

I shake my head emphatically. "I don't care about image anymore. It's just you and me and happiness, angel. The fans can be happy for us, or they can go find someone else to listen to. That's up to them."

"Natalie’s going to kill me."

"Please, she has to be nice to you. I'm her biggest client, right?"

Julia bursts out laughing. "I can’t wait to send Natalie a mini press release on our one-month anniversary, if we make it that far."

"Angel, we may as well start writing our wedding announcement right now." I kiss the backs of her hands. "Because that's going to happen much sooner than you think."

Julia’s eyes and pinkish cheeks glow. “You can’t just say things like that.”

“I can. I will.” I flash the superstar grin again. “Hell, I’m going to put it into a song.”

15

JULIA

* One Year Later *