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.”