Love Songs (13 page)

“And you think she thinks that about me?”

“I do.”

He felt the heat rise under his collar. “I don’t know that I’m too good for anyone. I’ve never had much of a family.”

“Then it looks like you fell into the right one.” She rested her hand on his. “You fit in with the Kellers just fine.”

She stood and walked toward her office leaving him sitting there. His head spun and his stomach did a funny little flip.

It had only been two weeks and he’d already moved in and told Clara he loved her. Seriously, things never moved like that did they? But in this family they seemed to. In this family that was expected and accepted.

Maybe he’d better think about it really hard.

Was this what he wanted? Not the career or the music, but the woman—the family?

He had to unbutton the top button on his shirt so he could breathe. It was what he wanted and he never knew it was in him to want that. He wanted to marry Clara Keller and make her his. And he wouldn’t suffocate her and make her hate him like his father must have done with Warner’s mother and Patty. He would take care of her and love her. If she still wanted to kiss men on stage, he’d let her, even if he didn’t like it. If he did get that tour bus he’d want her right there with him.

He looked down at his hands. They shook. This was certainly not what he thought he’d be thinking about when he’d awakened this morning. But now he knew what he needed—wanted to do. He had to ask Clara Keller to be his wife.

Clara had slept in on Sunday morning and she felt refreshed. The warmth of the sun touched her skin and the soft sounds of a Sunday morning kept her calm.

But she realized she didn’t hear the soft breathing of the man she loved as she turned to see his side of the bed empty.

She touched his pillow, it was cold. He’d been out of bed for a while. Clara looked at the clock on the night stand, it was ten o’clock.

Well, she couldn’t blame him for getting up and going about his day. She stretched and then rolled out of bed and headed to the shower.

When she was dressed and her hair pulled back in a ponytail, she headed downstairs to find Warner. The house was just as quiet downstairs as well. She thought he might be recording or playing in the basement, but the lights were off and no sound came up the stairs. It was then she looked outside and his truck was gone.

It was normal to wonder where he went. There were no notes lying around. She looked at her cell phone on the counter—no text message either. She typed a text on her phone to Warner and hit send. A few moments later his phone buzzed in the front room.

There his phone sat on the table.

Clara blew out a breath. She needed to not get worked up over him not being there. She didn’t have any ownership on him. He was a free man to do what he wanted to do, but a note would have been nice. And damnit, who leaves their phone on the table?

The thought made her settle and laugh. Warner, that’s who.

Wasn’t that what she loved about the man? He was unpredictable and a little off center? He was probably afraid to wake her up and he was down the street writing some song with the dog behind that bent down chain link fence.

He’d come home when he was ready. And as long as that time was before the time they needed to perform, everything would be fine.

But by three o’clock in the afternoon, Clara had grown worried.

There was no one she could call and she had no idea where he might have gone. It was evident she didn’t know this man at all.

She’d cleaned and scrubbed the entire house. She’d called Darcy and acted as if she were just calling to check on wedding plans, but she was sure Darcy saw right through that.

Then she heard the sound of his old truck pulling up in front of the house. It was about damn time. Who did he think he was?

She started for the door, her hand on the knob, and fire burning through her.

Clara swung open the door in a fury only to see a completely uncoordinated Warner trying to carry bags of groceries, what looked like bags of clothes, and a vase with a dozen roses up the front steps.

It was as if water had flooded her veins and the fire in her was gone. She hurried to him.

“Let me help you.”

“Take the roses. Take the roses,” he said as he nearly threw them at her as his fingers gave way.

“Where have you been all day?”

“Shopping. I hate shopping.” He walked up the steps and into the house dropping the bags on the couch.

Clara closed the front door. “Why all the shopping?”

“I thought I’d better have something nice to wear tonight. I only have two pairs of jeans and about four ratty shirts.”

She knew that, she’d done his laundry and she’d tossed out a few things. She looked him over. “You got a haircut too.”

He ran his hand over his hair. “Does it look okay? I think it’s too short.”

Clara set the vase of roses on the coffee table and turned to Warner. She ran her fingers through his newer, more hip, do. “I like it.”

He let out a breath. “Well, really that’s all that matters.”

His shoulders had finally dropped and he seemed more relaxed as he slid his hands to her waist. “I’m sorry I didn’t call. I can’t find my phone.”

“It’s right here on the table.” She nodded to the coffee table where he’d buried the phone with the bags.

“Oh. I should memorize your number. I didn’t know how to get a hold of you. And I should always be able to get hold of you.” His voice softened as he spoke.

“I’ll write it down and put it in the glove compartment of your truck.”

He smiled as he pressed his forehead to hers. “I like how you think.”

“We make a good team.”

She felt him tense as she rested her hands on his chest. He shifted his eyes to hers. “You really think so?”

“I do think so. And tonight we’re going to show them all what a great team we make.”

Warner moved his head back and now looked directly at her. “Tonight
we’re
going to show them?”

She smiled and rose up on her toes, wrapping her arms around his neck. “Darcy set it up so that my understudy closes out the run and I’ll be there to perform with my man.”

She saw his Adam’s apple bob as he swallowed hard. “Wow. They did that for me?”

“For us.” She set herself back on the ground and gave him a hard stare. “I’m in on this Warner. You and me. We’re going to sell more than your songs. We’re going to sell you. You deserve the glory and stardom that come with the lyrics. You’re an amazing song writer and you’re being sold short because of one bitch who won’t shut up when she should.”

His eyes lightened and a smile formed on his lips. “Wow, I really do love you.”

“Don’t tease me now. Because now I’m getting pissy.”

“No. No teasing. It’s just amazing that you’ll do this for me.”

“I told you I love you. I don’t just use those words haphazardly.”

He nodded. “I know. I’ve met your family. You all mean it when you say it and you hold on tight when you find the right person.”

She narrowed her eyes on him. “Who were you talking to?”

“Most recently your aunt. But what you have comes across loud and clear.”

Clara nodded. “Why the roses?”

His eye brows knitted and then rose as he tried to keep up with her shift in conversation. “They’re for you for closing night.”

Clara smiled. “You’re very thoughtful.”

“Well, they have a dual purpose. And now that you’re going to be performing with me this changes things.”

Warner stepped away from her and ran his hand over his hair as if he’d forgotten that his longer locks were gone. He turned back to her.

“I’ve had a lot of things going on since last night. I got an offer to do a reality TV show.”

Clara bit down on the inside of her cheek as she thought about that. Why hadn’t he said anything? Then she remembered she’d had him undressed and in bed before he could have. But that was really a big offer.

“What kind of show?”

“They’ll follow song writers and musicians trying to make it.”

“It would give you exposure.”

“It’ll give Patty something to shoot down.”

“And the world will actually see she’s wrong.”

He nodded. “Something else came to mind last night too and I wasn’t ready for it.”

Clara watched him collect his thoughts. Suddenly she was afraid she didn’t fit into this new plan of his.

He paced the floor and then looked up at her. “I’m not a family man. Not that I don’t want to be. I just don’t know how to be.”

“Okay,” she drawled out, confused as to what he was trying to tell her.

“Your family has really embraced me the past few weeks—all of them.”

“That’s what Kellers do.” She put her hands on her hips. “Warner, what are you trying to say?”

He scratched the back of his head. “I never thought I’d be the kind of man to get married or settle down. I’d never thought about having kids or owning a house.”

Clara could feel the sting of tears starting in her eyes. He was going to dump her. It was coming and she was going to blow when he finally delivered the last words of this little speech he was working up to.

“Spill it, Warner.” Her voice was edgy. “Just get it over with, would you? I have things to do.”

He nodded with his eyes wide. He stepped toward her and took her hands in his. She noticed immediately that his hands shook. “The roses are because I don’t have anything else to offer you.”

Clara swallowed hard.
Here it comes,
she thought.

“Didn’t know I’d be doing this when I saw you at that stop light. But, Clara, will you marry me? And I mean, will you marry me soon? Let’s elope next week. Do the shows with me. Be my partner. I don’t have anything to support you. I don’t even have a ring. That’s what the flowers are for. I can’t…”

She’d lost track of all the other things he was babbling about. “Whoa!” She sucked in a breath. “Warner, I was ready for you to tell me you were leaving.”

He took a step back. “Why would I leave?”

“You’re out of sorts.”

He laughed. “All the damn time. But I love you.”

Clara’s head was spinning and then she let out a chuckle. “Let’s back up. You bought me the roses so you could ask me to marry you?”

Warner nodded quickly. “Yeah. I realized that was what I wanted more than anything when I was talking to your aunt last night.”

Clara understood it now. “And you want to elope?”

He nodded again. “I don’t want to wait. And your aunt made it clear that the Kellers, when they find the right person they snatch them up. Well, maybe the Wrights should do that too. I mean if only my family would have gone after what they wanted maybe my life would have been a little different.”

She wrapped her arms around his neck again. “Warner, you did go after everything you wanted. Look at all you’ve done on your own. The jobs, the college degrees, the music. I do think you’re a Keller at heart.”

“That’s a pretty big statement.”

“And it’s true.”

Warner wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her to him. “Okay, but you haven’t answered me.”

Clara’s stomach was filled with butterflies as she looked into Warner’s eyes. She’d never been nervous, but he gave her this new buzz. “I’ll be your partner. Whatever it takes to get you sold. Do the show, Warner. Let them show the world who you are.” She sucked in a breath. “Now, I’ll let you know what I think about eloping, that’s going to take some thought. But, I will tell you, I would love to be your wife.”

His eyes opened wide. “Really? You’d want to marry me?”

“You asked me to didn’t you?”

“Yeah, I did. I just didn’t think you’d want to.”

“Are you backing down?”

Warner shook his head. “No. No. I want this more than anything. I’ve just never had anyone want me back in return.”

Clara pressed her lips to his. “I’m never letting you go. So you’d better decide this is what you want forever.”

He let out a breath. “It’s what I want.”

“Good answer.” She kissed him again. “I’ll tell you what. We see how it goes tonight and then maybe we can plan a trip to Vegas next weekend.”

“Really? You’ll marry me that quick?”

Clara shrugged. “I’ve never been one for big flashy events like overdone weddings. But maybe next month or so we can have a big reception.”

“I’d like that.”

Clara rested her head against Warner’s chest where she could feel his heart race against her cheek. “So would I.”

There wasn’t much time for celebrating their pending nuptials. They had a show to get ready for in a few hours and they needed to practice.

Warner was going to have to carry most of the show himself, but that was okay by Clara. This was his music, his opportunity, and his dream. She would be the woman behind the man. There always was one—the one who kept it all together, she amused herself with the thought.

When Warner was in work mode—he was in work mode. There was almost a little demon that appeared when he talked. She’d seen the kind before. The music made them mad with a passion and it was nearly relayed in anger. There’d be no reason to get upset when he wanted to start a song over and over. She knew once the night was over he’d simmer and be back to normal.

Once they’d run through the short play list, they only had twenty minutes to perform, then they got ready. Clara was more than impressed with Warner’s choice of clothes he’d purchased.

“I very much like how your ass looks in those jeans,” she said leaning up against the doorjamb.

“I hate shopping. Did I mention that?”

“You mentioned it.”

He finally looked up at her and his jaw dropped. “Oh, Lord, you look good.”

“You think so? Too casual?”

He shook his head. “No. Just right.”

She gave him a wink and turned to walk back into the bathroom.

“Hey,” he called from the other room. “Your ass looks good in your jeans too.”

She only smiled and kept moving toward the vanity.

The curl in her hair probably wouldn’t last under the lights, but she’d sprayed it stiff. Her eye makeup was heavy, but she liked the smoky look to them. The flowy cotton shirt was the same one she’d worn when she and Randy had performed at The Stage. She liked it best. Usually she’d wear her boots with the ensemble, but she was really wanting to wear a pair of heels tonight. She’d put the boots in the Jeep just in case she changed her mind.