“What else can I say? The theater puts on top notch entertainment and has since they opened.” He knew because Madeline had made sure to tell him how amazing Clara was as Annie. “The music is superb, the sets are fantastic, and of course the actors were amazing.”

Cal nodded. “Clara Keller. How do you think her performance rated over last night’s performance?”

Ah, there we go he thought. “Both nights were perfectly executed. Her timing, her voice, her emotional delivery. I can say I’ve never seen Maria done better.”

Cal hit the button on his phone and held out his hand to Warner. “Thank you for your time.”

Warner narrowed his eyes on him. “Is that all you wanted to ask me?”

“Most certainly was.”

He nodded. “Mr. Carson, it was a pleasure.”

Cal Carson walked away as Clara emerged from the door behind him.

“Was that Cal Carson from TV you were just talking to?”

He turned and kissed her cheek. “Yes it was.”

“What did he want?”

“He wanted to know what I thought about the performance.”

She bit her lip. “He wanted to know why last night sucked and this one didn’t? Did he want to know why Patricia Little hates me now too?”

Warner ran his tongue over his teeth. “No. I was a little surprised her name didn’t come up at all. I certainly thought it would have.”

“So he only asked you about your thoughts on the show.”

“Yup.”

She grinned that sexy grin he’d been getting used to. “And you told him you thought I was absolutely amazing?”

“I absolutely did.”

“Really, Warner, that’s all that matters.” She rose up on her toes and gave him a gentle kiss. “Okay, I’m starving and I only have an hour to eat.”

“Doesn’t give us much time.”

“Deli around the corner. C’mon.”

Within the hour they were back at the theater, Clara was in her dressing room, and he was standing at the bar, sipping on a soda.

“Sticking around for the next show?” Arianna asked as she moved up next to him.

“Of course.”

She smiled easily. “I wasn’t sure that girl was ever going to fall in love. Looks like the right guy just hadn’t driven by her yet.”

He swallowed hard. “She had a lot of relationships?”

Arianna shook her head and the woman behind the bar handed her a bottle of water. She smiled at her, opened it and took a sip. “No. Clara was always one who was into enjoying her life with no strings attached. She liked her work here. She loves her friends. Her goals were more important.”

That stung Warner in the chest. None of that sounded like the Clara he knew. She was willing to give up everything to sing his songs and get them recorded. His mouth went dry and his took another sip of his soda.

“I’ve seen how she looks at you,” Arianna continued. “I’ve been lucky enough to be part of a family that waits for that perfect person. And when that perfect person comes along we scoop them up.”

“And you think she thinks that about me?”

“I do.”

He felt the heat rise under his collar. “I don’t know that I’m too good for anyone. I’ve never had much of a family.”

“Then it looks like you fell into the right one.” She rested her hand on his. “You fit in with the Kellers just fine.”

She stood and walked toward her office leaving him sitting there. His head spun and his stomach did a funny little flip.

It had only been two weeks and he’d already moved in and told Clara he loved her. Seriously, things never moved like that did they? But in this family they seemed to. In this family that was expected and accepted.

Maybe he’d better think about it really hard.

Was this what he wanted? Not the career or the music, but the woman—the family?

He had to unbutton the top button on his shirt so he could breathe. It was what he wanted and he never knew it was in him to want that. He wanted to marry Clara Keller and make her his. And he wouldn’t suffocate her and make her hate him like his father must have done with Warner’s mother and Patty. He would take care of her and love her. If she still wanted to kiss men on stage, he’d let her, even if he didn’t like it. If he did get that tour bus he’d want her right there with him.

He looked down at his hands. They shook. This was certainly not what he thought he’d be thinking about when he’d awakened this morning. But now he knew what he needed—wanted to do. He had to ask Clara Keller to be his wife.

Chapter Eleven

Clara had slept in on Sunday morning and she felt refreshed. The warmth of the sun touched her skin and the soft sounds of a Sunday morning kept her calm.

But she realized she didn’t hear the soft breathing of the man she loved as she turned to see his side of the bed empty.

She touched his pillow, it was cold. He’d been out of bed for a while. Clara looked at the clock on the night stand, it was ten o’clock.

Well, she couldn’t blame him for getting up and going about his day. She stretched and then rolled out of bed and headed to the shower.

When she was dressed and her hair pulled back in a ponytail, she headed downstairs to find Warner. The house was just as quiet downstairs as well. She thought he might be recording or playing in the basement, but the lights were off and no sound came up the stairs. It was then she looked outside and his truck was gone.

It was normal to wonder where he went. There were no notes lying around. She looked at her cell phone on the counter—no text message either. She typed a text on her phone to Warner and hit send. A few moments later his phone buzzed in the front room.

There his phone sat on the table.

Clara blew out a breath. She needed to not get worked up over him not being there. She didn’t have any ownership on him. He was a free man to do what he wanted to do, but a note would have been nice. And damnit, who leaves their phone on the table?

The thought made her settle and laugh. Warner, that’s who.

Wasn’t that what she loved about the man? He was unpredictable and a little off center? He was probably afraid to wake her up and he was down the street writing some song with the dog behind that bent down chain link fence.

He’d come home when he was ready. And as long as that time was before the time they needed to perform, everything would be fine.