She looked into his face and saw love there. “Okay.”

He kissed her again, this time long and slow, leaving her boneless when he broke away. “You’re coming to the show tonight?”

“Did you just kiss me until you were sure I’d say yes?”

“Did it work?”

“I decided for sure last night. I’m only working a few hours this morning, mainly to keep my mind off you. Tuesday and I are heading to Portland in the afternoon.”

He grinned, and she took his hand, winding their fingers together. “You’re impossible when you get your way.”

“I’ll make it worth your while. Will you stay with me tonight? Go to tomorrow’s show, too?”

“Are you staying in Portland?”

“Nah. It’s only an hour away. I wanted to come home. To you. I slept like shit in my bed, though. Because your stuff is in my bathroom. Your things are at my house, and you weren’t, and I didn’t know if you ever would be other than taking it all back.”

“Enough of that, okay? I feel like we can’t keep going over it if we’re to move on. I don’t need you to wear a hair shirt. You’re sorry. I’m sorry. We’re together.”

“So you’ll stay?”

“Incorrigible.”

“Unmanageable, too. But goddamn, I love you.”

CHAPTER THIRTY

PADDY BOUNDED UP the stairs toward the stage. One-handed, he took his guitar as Nat held his other. He paused before walking out and gave her a kiss. Letting her taste reassure him.

She was there with him. They were back on track. Everything was really, really good.

“Have a great show. I love you.”

He grinned. “I love you, too.” He walked out and let the sound of a hometown crowd wash over him. They’d made a few adjustments to tonight’s lineup. Some because Ezra was with them, and some for other reasons.

“It’s good to be home, Portland.”

More cheers as he grinned out over the crowd. The lights meant he couldn’t really see it all, but he felt their attention, and it fed into his mood.

“I think this is gonna be a good show. What do you guys think?”

The crowd cheered, hooted and yelled out song titles.

Paddy looked to the side. “Ez, what do you think? Gonna be a good show?”

Ezra walked out, slinging his guitar on, and the crowd lost their minds. Paddy grinned at his big brother.

“It will be now, yeah.”

He counted into “Ground Down,” a song off their new album, and they were off.

Paddy hadn’t felt this good since before she’d walked out of his hotel room three weeks before. He was there onstage at the end of a supersuccessful tour. Their album was kicking ass and all his brothers were up there with him.

And she was there. When he looked to the right, he caught sight of the pale moonlight of her hair. He knew she’d be dancing, knew she’d be smiling.

They sailed through “Chemicals” and “Boots” before he handed his guitar off and headed to the piano. The crowd, knowing it was “Silent No More” roared their approval.

“This one is for Natalie, who makes me a lucky, lucky man simply because she exists.”

He began to play, and as he sang, they all sang with him. His words echoed not just back to Nat, but to their special people, too. That filled him. The awe that something he wrote for her would also be something they’d sing to each other, play at weddings and proms. It was so damned special.

He fell into the lyrics. Speaking to her about his love and what she’d done for him. This time was different. This time he understood what it meant to not have her. So now he knew better what it meant to have her at his side. What it meant to fight to keep someone he’d been careless with.

He knew what he had. Wasn’t sure he deserved her, but he’d sure as hell try to be worthy.

They played through to the first encore and left the stage. The lights didn’t come up, so they all knew the band would be back. He headed straight to her and kissed her because he wanted to.

“Hey.”

“Hey, Paddy Hurley. You sure know how to win a girl back.”

“Glad it’s working.”

He excused himself and ran back to hit the john. On the way back, he chugged down some water and ate a protein bar, tossing one to Ezra as they met up just off the stage entrance.

Ezra tipped his chin in thanks.

“How’s it going, old man?”

“Not bad. Not bad at all.”

Paddy leaned in close. “So I’d really like to drive Nat home. Can you take Tuesday back with you?”

Ezra’s brow rose, but he shrugged. “Already handled. You’re doing the right thing. She looks happy.”

“Working on it. You ready?” He looked around to catch Vaughan’s and Damien’s attention. Everyone gave a thumbs-up, and they went back out.

After a rousing version of “Dive Bar” and “Revolutionary,” which was a song Damien had written for Mary, Paddy paused. “Forgive us if we butcher this cover. But a week ago, I was on a flight to yet another city after yet another show, and this one came on, and it made me think of the most important person in my life.”

He and the guys only had a few runs at practicing “Titanium” but he thought they managed a pretty rock-and-roll version. She was fearless in ways he’d never fully understand, but he appreciated nonetheless.

She was strong and fierce and the best thing in his world. She made him better.