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“Nope.”
“Harriet is finally dumping Peter?”
“No. But we can hope.”
I tap my finger to my lips, humming in exaggeration. “You won the lottery and we’re millionaires?”
His eyes flare. “Maybe.”
“What?” I laugh.
He sits up, kneeling between my spread legs. “I’m getting carried away. Or maybe I’m not. I don’t know.” He’s rambling, cheeks flushed, and vibrating with eagerness to share his news.
I make a face, impatient and intrigued. “Don’t leave me waiting. What is it?”
“A talent scout from some record label in the city was in tonight”—he pulls a business card from his back pocket—“and they asked me to call them.”
My eyes flick between the card and Tate’s look of disbelief. “Holy crap! Like a real record label?”
“I sure as shit hope so. He said my music was original and a fresh take on country they haven’t seen in decades. Decades!” He scrubs a hand over his face. “Can you believe it?”
“Yes. I can. Your songs are incredible.” I take the card and type the information into my phone. “Vance Records. Established 1996. It’s legit. They…Wow! They produce a lot of music for huge stars.”
Tate peers over the top of my phone. “What do you think? Should I call them?”
“Do you want to call them? What do they want to discuss?”
He shrugs, flicking the edge of the card with his thumb. “Maybe my songs or…Nah, they must do this kinda thing all the time. There are plenty of more talented people out there than me.”
“Hey.” He looks up at me. “What have you got to lose?”
“Nothing. I just never thought my music could get me this sort of attention. I’m happy performing at the distillery, but…” Hope gleams in his eyes. “What if this isn’t just a quick conversation? Is it crazy to imagine they’d want to buy my songs or offer me a record deal?”
I grin. “No. Because when I was stressed and losing my mind over the bar exam, you kept on reminding me I was made for greatness. You pushed me, stayed up late with me while I studied, and waited outside the Expo Center both days until I finished my exam. I don’t care what you do, and if this is what you want, I’ll be cheering you on all the way. And if it doesn’t happen, you’re still the greatest thing to ever happen to me, Tate Brooks.”
He blows out a breath. “I’m gonna do it. I’m gonna call them.”
I clap a hand over my mouth, giggling. “This is crazy. A talent scout?”
“Jesus, just imagine what we could do if they offered me a deal. I’m nobody, but we could move out and find somewhere bigger. We could take that trip up north we’ve always talked about.” I watch as he gets carried away with his imagination. “We could even leave the country. Imagine that.”
“Whoa. If you succeed in knocking me up at the end of the month, there’ll be no transatlantic traveling for a while.”
A different sort of excitement takes a hold of him. A new type of love rippling below the surface of his already overflowing heart. We both stare down at my stomach. After being selfish and it just being the two of us for eight years, we are finally ready to start a family. I’d been tracking my ovulation for a couple of months, wanting to know the perfect window to start trying.
“You’re going to make the most incredible momma.” He encircles my belly with his hands. “Just think, in a few weeks, our baby could be in here.”
Hope takes flight underneath his palms, a flurry of butterflies soaring high. “I can’t wait to make you a daddy.”
His face lights up. “That actually reminds me.” Tate jumps to his feet and grabs his backpack, rifling inside and pulling a tiny teddy bear, no bigger than his hand, from the front pocket. He smiles down at it while rubbing the back of his neck. “I picked it up on the way home. Maybe I’m getting carried away, but I wanted to be the first person to buy them their first toy.”
My heart was already bursting at the seams, then he goes and does this. I don’t think Tate’s love knows any limits. It’s constant, powerful, and I can’t wait for our child to experience it.
I rise to my knees and hang over the back of the couch, crooking my finger at him.
He moseys over, his big hands engulfing the plush bear. When he’s close enough, I push up and capture his lips. “I think it’s perfect, and whoever they are, will love this as much as they do you.”
ENDLESS SUMMER
