Meeting Lacey’s gaze, Rachel asked, “So it’s just about sex? Or are you seriously considering this?”

“No, I’m serious. We are talking over drinks tonight.”

“So you’ll find out tonight and then go home and really make a good decision, right? You won’t just jump into this? I know Karson; I know he is impulsive and has a way of making you forget all reason.”

She smiled because Rachel was right, but she loved that about Karson. “Of course,” she said with a nod as she looked down, running her finger along the rim of the glass.

“But I’m pretty sure the decision will be him, Rachel,” she said almost in a whisper.

Letting out a long breath, Rachel nodded. “We will cross that bridge when we come to it, but please don’t do anything stupid and reckless. Remember that you have a life here. You can’t just pick up and go to Nashville with him. You have to be here with us, your family.”

She knew that, but she also knew that someone was going to have to move. Not saying that she wanted to move to Nashville or anything, but she sure as hell didn’t want to live without him any more than she had to. If it was more practical for her to move there after dating for a couple months, then she would. They would take it slow; they would get to know each other now that they were adults and fall even more in love. She may have family in Chicago and she did love them, but she had to follow her heart—her happiness—and that was Karson. They would support her. Or at least she hoped they would. Or she would lose them all in the process, and she wasn’t sure how she felt about that.

But she knew she needed Karson.

Lacey’s hand shook as she reached for her wine glass, her eyes gazing around the packed, posh bar. It was one of her favorite spots. She had spent many nights at the bar, drinking a glass of wine after a long day at the office. Too many nights, if she was honest. It was just so hard though, watching as Rachel went home to the boys and Grady while she was stuck going home alone. It was depressing. At least here, she was never alone, which again, if she was honest, she was.

Glancing over at the bar, she smiled. She had been hit on every time she sat down, something most single women would love, but to her, it was annoying. Every single time, she would find something that would make her not want to get to know the man who would sit beside her. Weird nose. Big teeth. Funny smile. Horrible laugh. Too cocky. A bum. Asshole. It was always something, but now, she knew it was because they weren’t Karson.

It was kind of funny that Ethan got to her. Had she really been that desperate to get rid of her feelings for Karson? She must have because those years with him were positively pitiful. The sex was horrible. She didn’t feel sexy, she didn’t feel special, she just felt used. When, really, she was the one using him. Why didn’t she go after Karson? Why couldn’t she swallow her pride and find him? Obviously, it would have taken just one look in those devastating eyes of his and everything would have fallen into place. She wished she would have known that because then nothing would have held her back.

And nothing would hold her back now.

Moving her fingers through her hair, she brought her hair to the side of her shoulder and braided it slowly as she waited. She was nervous. She wasn’t sure what was going to happen, but she prayed it had a favorable outcome, though she really wasn’t sure what that was. As long as it involved Karson, she was pretty sure things would sort themselves out.

Where was he? He said he would come straight from the arena, and she didn’t think it would have taken this long. What if he was backing out? Ugh, she had to stop doing that. She had to stop doubting him and start believing in him or this wouldn’t work. It was just that it made her nervous. She finally could see everything she wanted. A life with the man she loved, the man she dreamed of, but at the same time, it all felt so unreal. Like she was dreaming. Going without the love she needed for so long had tainted her a bit, but she needed to let that go.

Karson wasn’t going to hurt her again.

Glancing at her phone, she saw that it was flashing with a text message. With her brow furrowed, she slid to the message screen to see that Karson had texted her.

Shit. Her stomach dropped as thoughts of him canceling flooded her. Wasn’t she just saying five seconds ago she was going to stop that? He was probably just texting to say he was running a tad bit late. So pushing the negative thoughts away, she pressed the text and read his words.

Karson: I swear, Ms. Martin, you are the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen.

Her heart fluttered as a smile took over her face. She was about to text him when she felt like someone was watching her, and as she looked up, he was there. Across the bar, looking dashing as all hell, he headed toward her, a grin on his face. He looked positively sinful, really. Stubble covered his square jaw, his lips curved in such a delectable way, and those eyes, so dark and locked on her. His hair was brushed to the side, wet from the shower he must have just taken. Worry filled her that he might get sick; it was cold out, and she planned on telling him that, but soon she was distracted by the way his expensive suit hugged every single inch of him. His muscles on the verge of making the sleeves of his jacket fall off, and boy, those legs. She knew how they looked naked, and of course, she was quickly brought back to her bed, him lying on her in the most perfect way, feeling totally and utterly complete.

He was magnificent and was looking at only her.

Stopping behind the chair, his smirk grew as he asked, “Is this seat taken?”