You're Still the One Read Free Page B

media off his back, Stone would agree to become a member of the board and back the foundation, and Charlie’s dream would become a reality.
    Grace yawned and glanced at the watch on her wrist. “Any sign of your boss yet?”
    “Nope, not yet.” He dropped the back of his head against the wall. “But he’ll show eventually, trust me on that. When he does, I need to be here.” He looked down into her tired eyes and smiled. “But just because I need to hang around this suckfest doesn’t mean you have to.” Charlie nudged her shoulder. “Go on home. I’ve monopolized you enough.”
    She laughed. “Please, as if wearing something other than yoga pants is a hardship. I got to see you in person and not just on some dang magazine cover, and I got out of the house. That makes for a killer night in my book. Poor Sam’s the one stuck at home tackling Mount Laundry.”
    “I’ll bring him by a six-pack tomorrow,” he replied with a grin.
    A sudden rush of gratitude and longing swelled within him. Maybe it was being back in Nashville after so long away. Maybe it was talking about his niece, or spending time with his oldest sister. It was probably the most fun they’d spent together in years. No conflict, no judgment, no—
    “Besides,” Grace continued. “You needed a night out without a random groupie suctioned to your arm.”
    And there it was.
    He shook his head, a chuckle rumbling his chest. She really couldn’t help herself, could she? “Hear you loud and clear, Mother Hen.”
    She shrugged without a hint of apology. “What can I say? Old habits die hard, baby brother, and just because you’re some big shot country star doesn’t mean I’ll stop worrying. In fact, I worry more. It’s the dreaded curse of being the oldest.”
    “Just like keeping you on your toes is the burden of the youngest.”
    Growing up, Charlie didn’t have one mom—he’d had six. One by birth, and five older sisters who’d viewed him as a life-sized baby doll. Naturally, one would assume they’d smothered him with attention, but that wasn’t the case. Oh, they coddled him plenty and gave tons of unsolicited advice. But for the most part, Charlie ran wild.
    To hear the tabloids tell it, he still did, but that just pissed him off. Sure, he had fun. He loved women, they loved him back, and when he wasn’t on the road, he liked to let loose. But so what? Wasn’t that his God-given right?
    Charlie worked damn hard for what he got, and he loved making music. But this gig of his wasn’t all it was cracked up to be. Take tonight for example. Here he was, standing in a room filled with people, a good third eyeing him like a piece of chocolate, and yet he felt completely alone. So, yeah, he accepted willing, eager companionship when it came his way. He was a hot-blooded male. Sue him.
    Grace tilted her head, ever the mind reader. “You know, there are plenty of nice girls in Nashville,” she said wistfully. “I suspect the same holds true for Magnolia Springs.”
    One hour. They’d lasted longer than he’d thought.
    “Nice girls,” Charlie repeated. “Like the mayor’s daughter, perhaps?” His sister had the good sense to wince, but the victory rang hollow. “Yeah, I’m not thinking a nice girl’s the answer, either. Clearly, I only bring them down to my level.”
    Grace frowned, but it was the truth. The mess with Maddie Clark was nothing but a misunderstanding, but the fact that neither she nor her father were here tonight proved how badly he’d screwed up. The mayor got off on being seen with Nashville’s finest, and his support was good for business, plain and simple. Another reason that Stone was pissed.
    “No,” he declared. “No more women.” The words tasted like ash on his tongue, but if that was what was required to get his foundation off the ground, so be it. “Until Blue leaves for our fall tour, my one and only focus will be Life & Lyrics. That’s it. No more parties, no more hookups, no more chances