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 Interrupt? He frowned.  I told you I wanted you to meet my family. My mom,
my grandma. I told them all about you, they were wondering where you were.
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Hannah Murray
 Oh God, I m so sorry. She buried her face in her hands.  It s just& I have
something to tell you and I don t think I can do it.
 Nina, you re really starting to spook me. He peeled her hands away from her face
and she reluctantly opened her eyes.  Just tell me you re married, you re dying,
you re really a man named George? She gave a watery laugh and he squeezed her
fingers.  Whatever it is, just say it.
 Okay. She drew in a deep breath, closed her eyes and it all came pouring out in a
mad rush of words.  I used to come watch you play. I used to come to every show and I
was bigger than I am now and I doubt you even noticed me at all but there it is. And I
know this is really weird but I didn t want you to know I used to be sort of like one of
your groupies because I didn t want you to think I do this a lot or that I just like you
because you re a musician because I don t. Like you just because you re a musician, I
mean. I really like you a lot, I could possibly, maybe, probably, be in love with you but
I m not sure because it s only been a week and I don t know where this is all going but
wherever it s going, it s not because you re a musician. Or because I used to be a
groupie. Kind of.
She ran out of breath and out of words and just sat there trying to breathe with her
eyes still closed.
 Wow, he said, and she winced because she couldn t tell by his tone of voice if it
was a good wow or a bad wow.  You ve been holding that in all week, huh?
She nodded.  Pretty much.
 Feel better now that it s out?
 Sort of, she said.  I m still pretty nauseous, but that s probably because I ate the
burgers that caught fire in the microwave.
He chuckled.  Yeah, that might do it. Nina, look at me.
She did, reluctantly opening her eyes to peer up at him. He was watching her with
amusement. Well, at least it s not revulsion, she thought.  What?
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Knockout
 I recognized you the first day when you ran into me and knocked yourself out in
the rain.
Her eyes flew wide open at that and her jaw dropped.  What?
He laughed, tapping her under the chin, and she snapped her mouth shut.  I
remember you coming to the shows, bringing your girlfriends.
She finally found her voice, although it came out scratchier and squeakier than
usual.  You do?
His expression softened and he reached up a hand to cup her cheek.  Of course I
do. I remember packing up in this hole in Trenton. You were leaning against the stage,
your blue eyes staring up at me and you said  thank you . He smiled.  How could I not
remember that?
 Oh God, she moaned, and closed her eyes again.  I m so embarrassed.
 Embarrassed? he asked, the surprise in his voice enough to have her opening her
eyes again.  Why? I love that memory. Those years were so hard, playing gig after gig
in dive bars for peanuts. Knowing people liked what I was doing made it easier to keep
going.
 But&  She fumbled for something to say.  But& I didn t think you knew who I
was.
 I knew. He smiled.  You never seemed to hang around long though. Every time I
went to find you after a show, you were gone.
 I just& never thought you d be interested. She waved her hands vaguely.  There
were always all these women hanging around, throwing themselves at you.
He shrugged, sheepish.  I was twenty-six and stupid. I thought the bigger the
boobs, the better the girl.
She rolled her eyes, feeling the knots in her stomach loosening at the humor of the
moment.  Boy, were you wrong.
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Hannah Murray
 Oh I don t know, he mused. He eyed her chest lasciviously.  These are pretty
substantial and you re the best girl I know.
She giggled, smacking him on the shoulder.  Jackass. Then she sobered.  Tony?
 Hmm?
 It really doesn t bother you?
 What, that you knew me before? He shook his head.  Not in the least. Does it
bother you that I m not the big rock star I planned to be?
 Of course not, she said.  I like you for you.
 I like you for you too. He took her hands again.  Look, I don t know where this is
going either. But I know we re good together and I know I want to keep seeing you. I
want to see if we can make something more out of this. And I still want you to meet my
family.
 Really?
 Absolutely, he said.
 I m sorry I bailed on you tonight. Her lips twisted wryly.  I guess I just got scared
and insecure, thinking if you knew I had hung around like a lovesick puppy five years
ago, you wouldn t find me attractive now.
 Well, you were wrong, he said, taking her lips in a soft kiss.  I find you
amazingly attractive now. And I found you amazingly attractive then. Sexy, he kissed
her check.  Adorable. He kissed the other cheek.  Loveable.
She sighed, settling into his embrace and twining her arms around his neck.  This is
one time I can say I m so glad to be wrong.
He chuckled.  I wish you d stayed to hear the show. You missed your song.
She pulled back, frowning in confusion.  My song?
He nodded.  The one I played for you this afternoon? It has lyrics now. I was hit by
inspiration while I was waiting to do the sound check. It s called  Nina s Song .
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Knockout
 Oh. She blinked back tears.  Oh that s the sweetest, most romantic thing anyone s
ever done for me. Will you play it for me?
 Now? he asked, pulling her closer and nuzzling her neck.
 Well, maybe later, she sighed, tilting her head so he could reach the sensitive spot
behind her ear.
And much later, he did.
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Hannah Murray
Epilogue
Four Years Later
Nina kicked open the door of the beach house with her sneakered foot and dropped
her bags.  Wow, this place hasn t changed at all, she said. She started to step inside
then squealed with surprised delight when she was snatched off her feet.
 What re you doing? she gasped, her hands coming up to grasp Tony s neck as he
swung her up into his arms.
 Carrying my bride over the threshold, he said, and did. He let her slide slowly
back down once they were inside, keeping her within the circle of his arms and taking
her mouth in a lingering kiss.
When he lifted his head, she shook hers.  Babe, I was your bride three years ago.
Now I m just a wife. The old ball and chain, the old lady 
He laid a finger on her lips.  You ll always be my bride, he insisted, and she felt
herself go all gooey inside.
 Aww. She rose up on her toes to kiss him, moaning when it turned heated.  I
should check on the kids, she murmured, and felt his lips curve against hers.
 I called home when we stopped for gas, he said, chuckling.  Jack was running
around naked and Ginny was telling Auntie Julie he was just following his bliss and [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]