“When we went out to dinner and had dessert in the hotel afterward the other week, I realized I had put all this energy into the kids and our family, but not enough on Vaughan and Kelly when I’m not deep inside you.”

“You’re saying all this to get me hot, aren’t you?” It was working.

They went through a side door where Vaughan’s name was on a list. The host led them to an elevator and sent them up to the top after sliding a key card through a slot.

Once they began to climb, Vaughan slid his arm around her waist, holding her close. “Did I? Get you hot?”

Kelly kept her gaze on their reflection in the elevator doors. “The answer to that question is going to be yes in at least ninety-eight percent of the situations I’d be presented with.”

A smile hitched his mouth up at the left. “Then that’s just a very positive by-product.”

They were led to a table on a rooftop deck, surrounded by overflowing planters of flowers and herbs. Votive candles sat in hanging jars, dotting the space like fireflies.

Once they’d been left alone and were perusing the menu, Vaughan spoke again. “Mary’s the one who told me about this place. She said it was quiet, private and romantic and had great food I’m supposed to take pictures for her. I wanted us to have something special. Just Kelly and Vaughan.”

“She’s a foodie? Should have guessed, naturally when she brought like forty-five amazing dishes to the house that day.”

“She ran a supper club for a few years. She’s done a few cookbooks now. Has a web series in development. Foodie is probably a lightweight word for it. But yes.”

“She’s very sweet to the kids. And she was nice at the house.”

“They’re a little busy just now. She’s due next month. But she’s told me she wants us all to come over for dinner. You’ll like her.”

They ordered a bottle of champagne and the appetizers their server had recommended.

Vaughan looked her over carefully. “Are you all right? There’s something you want to eat on the menu, right?”

“Pretty much all of it. You need to get something different than I do so I can try yours. Otherwise I’ll have menu remorse. You know when you order something and like three minutes later you wish you’d ordered something else?” Kelly turned her attention from her menu to Vaughan’s face. “Why do you ask?”

“You just looked a little hesitant. Like you didn’t really want anything.”

Kelly shrugged. “I have an appearance tomorrow and several important business meetings so I have to think about everything I put in my mouth. I was doing calorie math.”

“You look great. You’re in fantastic shape. You can have dinner without worrying.”

Oh, she could? How nice of him to give her permission.

He didn’t mean anything he’d said to be anything but complimentary. She tried to remember that. She didn’t want to fight with him. It was nice to be there in the evening as summer was ready to push spring out of the way.

It was sweet of him to have brought her there. The place was one of those well-kept secrets so she didn’t need to deal with lines of fans outside with grabbing hands and all the temptation they represented.

He was trying really hard and she needed to do the same and get the hell out of her own way.

“So, tell me about your solo project,” Kelly asked him as a jazz trio played Cole Porter across the rooftop.

* * *

“THIS PLACE IS like a scene from a movie,” Vaughan said. He definitely needed to thank Mary for the suggestion and his manager Jeremy for the favor he called in to get them this table.

“Thank you for making this happen.”

“My solo stuff. I’ve had some ideas for a few years. I’ve tried to bring them into Sweet Hollow Ranch. This last album was an education for me. I pushed hard on things I felt strongly about. Some of it made a difference and it was good for me to learn how to step up and be more active in our creative process.”

Food arrived, they ordered dinner and he spoke again.

“And then the tour ended and I landed in your guest room. And all this change hit me. I started writing as a way to get it out. Like free writing, I guess. And then they were lyrics and songs.”

“I’m thrilled for you. I hope you’ll let me hear it.”

“I seem to recall a certain naked model sprawled in my bed as I played guitar and serenaded her more than once.”

“I love hearing you sing. Why not do this with Sweet Hollow Ranch?”

“It’s not our sound. It’s my sound. I want to sing these songs. I want to produce them how I want them. I told Paddy, if it’s a band thing, I have to compromise. I don’t want to. This is mine. I want it how I want it.”

“All right.”

“Just like that?” Vaughan asked her.

“You have a talent. A gift. I support you doing whatever the hell you want with it.” She shrugged. “You’re an artist. That process isn’t always predictable and sometimes you need to flip the script and do something totally new. That’s exciting.”

“Thank you for supporting me.” It meant a lot to him. “I spoke to my brothers about it. They’re all behind me. I figure given all the major stuff going on in their lives, the band won’t be back in the studio for a year or two. Now’s my time. I have the place to work. The time to work and so much fucking joy and terror and amazement in my life right now I feel like if I don’t use it when it’s clearly pushing so hard to be done, I’d be turning my back on it.”