at being a bigshot country singer.
Marissa hadn’t understood that performing was Tom’s dream—one he intended to make come true on a larger scale. He didn’t sing in clubs on the weekends because it was a frivolous hobby or an easy way to get laid. It made him happy. It made him feel like he was on top of the world, watching as people enjoyed the music he composed and played.
He had met Marissa in Savannah when she’d caught Roadhouse’s performance one evening. A mutual friend had introduced them, and they hit it off right away. At first she’d loved the idea that her boyfriend was in a band, probably because she was able to get into clubs at no charge and usually enjoyed free drinks, too. But gradually, over the year and a half they were together, the novelty had worn off. Marissa had grown weary of watching Tom perform every weekend in local, and sometimes not so local, clubs.
She nagged at Tom to take time off from performing so they could have a real vacation together, or at least a real date. And when that tactic didn’t work, she tried to convince his father to increase his hours at the family store. She figured if he worked a lot in the hardware store during the week he’d need time off on the weekend to recuperate. Preferably with her.
That didn’t work either.
Tom’s father had refused her request. And his father had told Tom of Marissa’s attempt to interfere with his work schedule. That revelation had led to their first big argument, and the relationship hadn’t lasted long afterward.
Marissa had tried to smother Tom’s feelings of happiness and fulfillment. She tried to take away his freedom to pursue his dream in life. And he refused to give up his dream for any woman.
Tom glanced at Bethany one more time as they neared the Macon City Auditorium. Now she was looking straight ahead through the windshield.
"Hey, are you okay? You’ve been awfully quiet."
She turned and gave him a small smile. "Yeah, I’m fine. I guess all the excitement and adrenaline from today suddenly wore off. I feel like I’ve been hit by a ton of bricks."
"Don’t worry. We’re almost back to our home away from home."
Tom parked the SUV in its assigned spot and turned off the engine. He left the vehicle and walked around to meet Beth as she stepped out. Then he escorted her back to the RV she shared with Liz and Hannah. The only light visible inside was the small kitchenette bulb she’d left on over the sink. It cast a faint glow over Beth’s features as Tom stopped outside the door.
"I had a really great time tonight," he said. He raised a hand to trail his fingertips over her soft cheek, loving the feel of her.
Beth’s wide eyes stared up at him. "I did, too. I can’t wait to see where things go from here."
Her tone wasn’t the least bit teasing. It was just honest enthusiasm that he heard, tempting him to sample her lips one last time before he retired to his lonely bed.
"Things are only going to get better, sweetheart. No doubt about it."
Tom lowered his lips to Beth’s. What was meant to be a gentle good night kiss quickly flared into a passionate engagement of lips, teeth, and tongues. Hands tangled in hair while mouths converged in an endless quest to sate their hunger for each other.
"Oh, sorry guys. We didn’t mean to interrupt."
"Yeah, we’ll just slip inside and pull the curtains. Then you can continue as you were."
Tom slowly lifted his head and unwrapped Beth’s hair from his fingers. He looked over to where Liz and Hannah stood a few feet away.
"That’s okay, ladies. We were just saying good night anyway." He stepped away from Beth but caught her hands as they slowly slid down his chest. She still looked a bit distracted from their kiss.
"Okay, Tom. If you say so. But I don’t think anyone’s ever told me good night in quite that way." Hannah wiggled her eyebrows at him and beamed a huge grin as she and Liz made their way past to enter the RV.
"That’s probably because you
Marissa hadn’t understood that performing was Tom’s dream—one he intended to make come true on a larger scale. He didn’t sing in clubs on the weekends because it was a frivolous hobby or an easy way to get laid. It made him happy. It made him feel like he was on top of the world, watching as people enjoyed the music he composed and played.
He had met Marissa in Savannah when she’d caught Roadhouse’s performance one evening. A mutual friend had introduced them, and they hit it off right away. At first she’d loved the idea that her boyfriend was in a band, probably because she was able to get into clubs at no charge and usually enjoyed free drinks, too. But gradually, over the year and a half they were together, the novelty had worn off. Marissa had grown weary of watching Tom perform every weekend in local, and sometimes not so local, clubs.
She nagged at Tom to take time off from performing so they could have a real vacation together, or at least a real date. And when that tactic didn’t work, she tried to convince his father to increase his hours at the family store. She figured if he worked a lot in the hardware store during the week he’d need time off on the weekend to recuperate. Preferably with her.
That didn’t work either.
Tom’s father had refused her request. And his father had told Tom of Marissa’s attempt to interfere with his work schedule. That revelation had led to their first big argument, and the relationship hadn’t lasted long afterward.
Marissa had tried to smother Tom’s feelings of happiness and fulfillment. She tried to take away his freedom to pursue his dream in life. And he refused to give up his dream for any woman.
Tom glanced at Bethany one more time as they neared the Macon City Auditorium. Now she was looking straight ahead through the windshield.
"Hey, are you okay? You’ve been awfully quiet."
She turned and gave him a small smile. "Yeah, I’m fine. I guess all the excitement and adrenaline from today suddenly wore off. I feel like I’ve been hit by a ton of bricks."
"Don’t worry. We’re almost back to our home away from home."
Tom parked the SUV in its assigned spot and turned off the engine. He left the vehicle and walked around to meet Beth as she stepped out. Then he escorted her back to the RV she shared with Liz and Hannah. The only light visible inside was the small kitchenette bulb she’d left on over the sink. It cast a faint glow over Beth’s features as Tom stopped outside the door.
"I had a really great time tonight," he said. He raised a hand to trail his fingertips over her soft cheek, loving the feel of her.
Beth’s wide eyes stared up at him. "I did, too. I can’t wait to see where things go from here."
Her tone wasn’t the least bit teasing. It was just honest enthusiasm that he heard, tempting him to sample her lips one last time before he retired to his lonely bed.
"Things are only going to get better, sweetheart. No doubt about it."
Tom lowered his lips to Beth’s. What was meant to be a gentle good night kiss quickly flared into a passionate engagement of lips, teeth, and tongues. Hands tangled in hair while mouths converged in an endless quest to sate their hunger for each other.
"Oh, sorry guys. We didn’t mean to interrupt."
"Yeah, we’ll just slip inside and pull the curtains. Then you can continue as you were."
Tom slowly lifted his head and unwrapped Beth’s hair from his fingers. He looked over to where Liz and Hannah stood a few feet away.
"That’s okay, ladies. We were just saying good night anyway." He stepped away from Beth but caught her hands as they slowly slid down his chest. She still looked a bit distracted from their kiss.
"Okay, Tom. If you say so. But I don’t think anyone’s ever told me good night in quite that way." Hannah wiggled her eyebrows at him and beamed a huge grin as she and Liz made their way past to enter the RV.
"That’s probably because you
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