“I wasn’t nervous that day. I was terrified.” Understatement.
But it was a thrilled terrified, if that made any sense. Their daughter had graced the world with her presence at eleven fifty-seven at night on January thirty-first. As it turned out she did have Harper’s eyes and a full head of dark brown hair that matched Liam’s.
There’d been nothing like holding Sofia in his arms for the first time. Nothing like her wrapping her tiny little hand around his finger as she slept. Nothing like hearing her sweet, perfect laugh.
Man did Sofia giggle like crazy. He loved that sound, loved it so freaking much.
She was ten months old now, a rambunctious little ball of mischief that didn’t like to sit still for too long. She was very active, crawling around the house like it was her job, or playing with any number of her toys, Luna included.
The tiny dog was beyond gentle with the baby, and more often than not would be found sleeping somewhere in the vicinity, one ear cocked at all times and listening out for any threat. Not that there was anything that Luna could do besides bark, but it was the thought that counted.
Besides, threats were few and far between at their home. Liam’s offer on the two-story beachside house had been accepted, and he’d had that thing baby proofed within an inch of its life before they’d even moved in. Harper had made the joke more than once that she was surprised he hadn’t padded the walls.
He was a little surprised, too, actually.
But it wasn’t just Sofia he wanted to keep safe. It was Harper, too. The woman currently sitting in the seat next to him was his everything. She’d given him the things that meant the most in this world.
In that moment, there were thousands of people sharing the same space as them, and she was still the most beautiful person in the room. Without a doubt. Her mouth was painted a bright red that matched her red dress, her hair curled and pinned up so that her neck was completely bared to him. She was wearing a long off-the-shoulder gown that wrapped around every one of her perfect curves. It was another one of Adele’s impeccable designs.
“I’m really proud of you, you know. No matter what happens.” Harper smiled as she leaned close, pressing her lips to his.
He moved his mouth from her lips to that cluster of freckles just under her left ear, kissing the spot before he whispered, “You’re the reason I’m sitting here, Harper. You’re the reason this is even happening.” He pulled back so that he could look into her eyes.
It was then that the crowd of people around them broke out into applause. Liam pulled his gaze from Harper’s and looked up as Isaac Dylan and Hunter Andrews came out onto the stage. They walked to the mike as the crowd quieted down.
“Song of the year is a category that is pretty near and dear to both of us,” Isaac started.
Hunter leaned close to the mike to speak next. “It was this award that we were first up for seven years ago, and it was a launching point for our career. These are the nominees for CMA’s song of the year.”
Harper’s hand tightened in Liam’s and it only squeezed harder as Hunter and Isaac read through the list. The crowd cheered as they named each nominee, all the way through the last one: “Forever.”
“And the winner for CMA’s song of the year goes to.” Isaac popped open the seal of the envelope and showed it to Hunter. Both of their mouths split into the biggest grins.
“‘Forever’ by Liam James,” they said in unison.
Everything in him stilled. There was no way he’d heard that correctly. “Did that just happen?” He turned to look at Harper.
She grabbed his face, kissing him hard on the mouth before she pulled back. “Yeah it did. You won, baby.”
He stood, pulling Harper to her feet and wrapping his arms around her as he kissed her again. When he pulled back there were tears in her eyes.
“I love you.” He reached up and ran his thumbs under her eyes.
“I love you, too. Now go up there and get your award.”
He kissed her one last time before he headed for the stage, the applause and cheers still ringing out loud around him. He mounted the steps and crossed over to where Isaac and Hunter waited.
They both gave him massive hugs, beaming hugely. They each said something. What? He had no clue. He couldn’t hear over his pounding heart.
And then they were stepping away as the crowd quieted down, and Liam held the award in his shaking hands as he walked to the mike and looked out at the thousands of people in front of him.
“Isaac and Hunter presenting this award is pretty perfect as the beginning of my career has a lot to do with them bringing me out on the road during their tour.” Holy hell, he was shocked his voice was steady as he spoke. “Thank you.” He looked behind him and nodded at the two men before he faced the audience again.
“I want to thank my parents and brother and sister for their constant support. For years you all had to listen to me on my guitar and you never once complained. Then there is my manager Gary Kirkland, thank you for taking a chance on me. And finally, I have to thank the muse behind the song.”
His eyes landed on Harper immediately, the radiating smile on her face making him feel like a fucking king.
“I saw her and I knew in an instant she was it for me. That night is the only time I’ve been more nervous than I am right now.” A small rumble of laughter ran through the crowd.
“I asked for her name that night and told her I needed to know it so whenever I repeated this story, people would know the name of the most beautiful woman I’d ever met. I wrote ‘Forever’ within hours of meeting her and I’m sure a lot of you know about the stories that were around when it first came out. So tonight I’m going to set the record straight once and for all: Her name is Harper James. Not only is she my wife, she’s the mother of my beautiful daughter Sofia. I’ve now experienced love at first sight twice in my life, and both of those women have the same violet eyes. This one’s for you, honey.”
He held the award up in the air, but as the crowd in front of him broke out into applause, all he could do was look at Harper.
She was still the only person in the room.
About the Author
Shannon Richard grew up in the Florida Panhandle as the baby sister of two overly protective but loving brothers. She was raised by a more than somewhat eccentric mother, a self-proclaimed vocabularist who showed her how to get lost in a book, and a father who passed on his love for coffee and really loud music. She graduated from Florida State University with a BA in English Literature and still lives in Tallahassee, where she battles everyday life with writing, reading, and a rant every once in a while. Okay, so the rants might happen on a regular basis. She’s still waiting for her southern, scruffy, Mr. Darcy, and in the meantime writes love stories to indulge her overactive imagination. Oh, and she’s a pretty big fan of the whimsy.
Learn more at:
ShannonRichard.net
Twitter, @Shan_Richard
Facebook.com/ShannonNRichard
Don’t miss the next installment of Shannon Richard’s Country Roads series! UNCONTROLLABLE
* * * Available Spring 2016
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