Until Her Smile: Happily Ever Alpha World Read online

  We work through the song, making changes as we all see fit, until we’ve got it perfect.

  “Ahhh!” Reese squeals. “I think we’ve got another winner!”

  “I think you’re right,” I agree. “Do you still want to record it right away and debut it at the CMA’s next month?”

  “Absolutely.”

  “I think you’re going to be the talk of the show after you drop this single,” Lee tells Reese.

  “I sure hope so,” Reese says, the nervousness evident in her voice.

  “Girl! You have absolutely nothing to worry about. You could sing the damn phone book and you’d make it a number one single.” I do my best to reassure her. “You’re on fire right now and I don’t see that success going anywhere but up.”

  “I hope you’re right.”

  “You know I am. Look at how far you’ve come in just the last year and a half.”

  “I know, and I’m so thankful for all of it. Just as I’m thankful for the two of you. I couldn’t do this without both of you.”

  “We’re just as thankful for you,” Lee replies. “My phone and email have been blowing up with writing session requests from everyone in town. So, just know that your success is our success, and we’re not going anywhere, just as you’re not going anywhere anytime soon.”

  “Thanks, guys. You really do know how to make a girl feel better.”

  We visit for a little while longer, and before we pack up for the day, Reese lets us know she and her fiancé, Austin, have finalized plans for their summer wedding next year.

  “We picked a date and I’m going dress shopping in a few weeks!”

  “That’s so exciting! When’s the date?” I ask.

  “June twenty-fifth. That way, if the Eagles make the finals next year, we don’t have any conflicts.”

  “I’ll make sure to mark it on my calendar. Are you planning on having it in your home town?”

  “Yes, I couldn’t imagine getting married anywhere else.”

  “Keep me posted, and if you need any help with anything, I’m just a phone call or text away.” I tell Reese before we part ways for the day.

  Walking out to my car, I pull my phone out and check for any missed calls or texts. While I’m in the zone and writing, I tend to put my phone on silent so I’m not distracted by anyone calling or texting me.

  I have a missed text from Cam confirming the date and time next week for me to complete the assessment on the child she contacted me about. I add the information to my schedule and text her that I’ll be there and that I’ll see her later tonight at the bar.

  “To the best writers in town!” Reese toasts Lee and I at the bar, and we all toss back our drink of choice.

  “Thanks, guys!” I state, after chasing the shot I took with a drink of Coke.

  “Sorry I’m late!” I hear a voice from behind me. I turn to find Cam and Ethan approaching our group.

  “Cam! I’m so glad you could make it.”

  “I told you I’d be here. I just was running a little later than I expected, so I waited for Ethan to finish up and we just walked over together.”

  “No problem, we’ve only been here for about thirty minutes as it is. Have you ever met Reese?” I ask her.

  “Nope,” she tells me as the bartender stops in front of us. They quickly order before she turns her attention back to me. “I haven’t, but Ethan knows her fiancé.”

  “Ah yes, the hockey connection. I always forget that he used to play. Well, let me introduce you. Reese, this is Cam. Cam, Reese.”

  “It’s so nice to meet you!” Cam tells her.

  “Likewise,” Reese replies with a smile.

  “Austin still in town?” Ethan asks.

  “Nope, the team flew out today. They play in Carolina tomorrow night,” she tells him.

  “Figured they’d already be gone.”

  “Yeah, it was nice to have him in town for the two nights. Our schedules don’t always align, so it’s nice when they do. Although, with no tour going on, I get to spend a lot of my time in Indy. I just have to be here for the next few weeks, working on my next album and gearing up for the awards show. But once that’s all over, I’ll be heading back to Indy.”

  “I don’t know how you guys do the competing schedules so well. I think I’d go insane being away from this guy if he still played,” Cam says, patting Ethan on the chest with her palm.

  “It’s crazy, that’s for sure. But we make it work. We also learned to take advantage of all the time we do have together. No matter what little amount of time we get, sometimes just a few hours or a few weeks, we make the most of it.”

  We spend the next few minutes visiting and celebrating our success, then make our way over to a table, where we continue to share stories about our many writing sessions and all the shenanigans that happen during those times.

  “Hey, man,” I hear a new voice say to someone nearby. The deep timbre causes a tingle to slide down my spine. I turn to see who it is and a guy I’ve never seen before is greeting Ethan. He’s obviously military or in law enforcement, just from his hair cut and physique.

  Well, hello there.

  “Hey, you made it! Good to see you, man.” Ethan pulls him into a man hug. “Glad you’re back. How was the deployment?”

  “Long. I’m glad to be back stateside, that’s for sure,” he says, slapping Ethan on the back.

  “I can only imagine. Let me introduce you to everyone,” Ethan tells him, turning to our group. “You’ve met Cam, my fiancée.”

  Ethan pulls Cam into his side and drops a kiss to her temple. I love seeing my friend with such a good man.

  “Fiancée. Damn, guys. Congratulations!”

  “Thank you,” Cam tells him.

  “Peyton, this is Stacey, Lee, and Reese. Lilly and Cash might also drop by at some point tonight. Guys, this is Peyton. He’s one of my oldest friends and a badass soldier.”

  “Hello.” He greets everyone, and I let my eyes wander over his body. I take in his fit frame, the well-kept haircut and days’ worth of stubble on his face, and the carefree smile on his lips. The tattoos that cover his exposed forearms enhance the sinewy lines of his muscles, and the t-shirt he’s wearing clings to him like a second skin that doesn’t leave much to the imagination. I can feel the tingles of attraction sliding across my body.

  Everyone says their hellos and we all shift slightly so another stool can be pulled up to our round table. The open spot ends up being between Lee and me, and I’m more than happy to have him next to me.

  He takes a seat and the smell of him fills my nostrils. A little bit woodsy but all man. It sends another tingle right down my spine and causes my core to clench. I’ve never been this reactive to a man, especially one I’ve just met and haven’t even talked to.

  I smile at him as he takes a seat next to me, accepting the beer set down in front of him by a passing waitress.

  “Thank you,” he says as she turns to drop off other drinks to waiting patrons. “Stacey, correct?” he asks me, after taking a drink of his beer.

  “Yes, surprised you remembered my name.”

  “I make it a point to remember a beautiful woman’s name,” he muses.

  “Ah, charming,” I quip back. I didn’t get the playboy vibe from him, but his comment has me second-guessing that.

  “Fuck, that was cheesy and I’m far from that. Sorry, I’m a little bit rusty, I guess. Six-plus months in the desert will do that to a guy,” he tells me and, just like that, my mind is back to thinking all good thoughts about this guy.

  I laugh at his comment as I try and rid myself of the nerves that have all of a sudden taken form. “It’s okay, just no more cheesy lines tonight.”

  “That, I can agree to,” he says, lifting his beer to cheers with me. I pick up my drink and clink the glass against his before we each take a sip. “You’re friends with Ethan?”

  “Cam and I work together occasionally.”

  “Only occasionally?”

  “My m
ain job is a songwriter, but I occasionally work with kids in a music therapy setting,” I explain. “Cam helps fight for kids needing additional help and services. She mostly works with the services that are provided in or by the schools, but occasionally, she’ll help coordinate services outside of the schools. I don’t have much time lately to work with kids, but I really enjoy it when I do.”

  “What kind of songs do you write?”

  I laugh at his question. He obviously isn’t from around here or knows who’s also sitting at our table, with Reese here. Which is a little surprising, for how famous she actually is.

  “Country, mostly. You might have heard of a few of the songs. They’re kinda popular at the moment,” I tell him.

  “Who sings your songs?”

  “This one,” I answer him, pointing at Reese. He looks over at her, taking her in before turning back to me.

  “I don’t remember her name,” he says under his breath, quiet enough that only I can hear him with all the noise around us in the bar.

  “Reese Blackwood. Have you seriously never heard of her?”

  “Sorry. I don’t pay much attention to things outside of my unit and protecting this country of ours.”

  “She’s only the hottest female in country music right now. Has been that way for the past couple of years. Lee”—I pause, pointing to the other side of Peyton— “my writing partner, and I, along with Reese, have penned her last few hits. Because of that, we’re all up for some big awards in a few weeks at the Country Music Awards.”

  “No shit,” he says, stunned.

  “No shit,” I echo, a smile filling my face.

  “Do you write for any other artists?”

  “Yep, I’ve had a few other songs become singles. Now, with our success with Reese, we’ve been extremely popular lately.”

  “That’s amazing.”

  “It sure has been a fun year,” I confirm. “Going from writing as a second job to being sought after sure was a one-eighty. But, it’s been an amazing ride and I’m thankful for it everyday.”

  “So interesting.”

  “So, tell me about you, Peyton,” I state, taking another drink from my glass.

  “What would you like to know? I’m a pretty simple guy.”

  “Whatever you want to tell me.”

  “Well, the basics. I’m twenty-eight, been in the Army since I was eighteen, and plan on being a lifer. Followed my dad’s footsteps into the Army. He retired after thirty-five years in the service. It’s been just the two of us since I was eight. We moved around a lot when I was growing up thanks to the Army, but he’s always been there for me, no matter what.”

  “That’s awesome that you’re so close to him.”

  “He’s a great man. I came to town to spend the next ten or so days with him while I’m on leave.”

  “Oh, so he lives around here?”

  “Yes, when he retired, he moved back to Nashville. It’s where he was born and raised, and always felt like home to him. Bonus is, I’m only an hour or so away when I’m on base up at Fort Campbell.”

  “Have you been based there long?”

  “About eighteen months or so. But I’ve been gone the last six months, deployed in Afghanistan. My unit just returned a couple of days ago. I went on leave as soon as we were cleared after returning and as I said before, I came down here as soon as I could to spend time with him, and see some old friends while I’m at it.”

  Chapter Three

  Peyton

  God, she’s beautiful. And obviously talented.

  When I got to the bar earlier, Ethan doled out introductions. I greeted everyone with a smile and a nod, but when my eyes landed on Stacey, my pulse kicked up and my dick hardened against my zipper of my jeans.

  As luck would have it, I ended up sitting right next to her, and not two words into our conversation, I immediately made an ass of myself.

  I don’t know what it is about her, but she’s got me tongue-tied and my brain is foggy. It’s like I’ve never spoken with a beautiful woman before. Post-deployment horny has apparently taken on a whole new level if she’s got me this tied up in knots.

  “So, where are you from?” I ask, taking another swig of my beer. I’m willing my erection to die down just a bit so I can focus on my conversation with Stacey.

  “Born and raised in North Carolina. What about you?” she asks.

  “I was born in Colorado, but we moved around a lot due to my dad being in the Army, so I never really had one place I considered home. The most memorable station was up in Alaska. I loved the four years we were up there. My dad and I would go fishing, hunting, hiking or something different outdoors almost every weekend. We lived there from around the time I turned ten until I was fourteen. I’d gladly take an assignment of my own up there anytime.”

  “Sounds fun. I love how your eyes light up every time you’ve mentioned your dad. I can tell how much he means to you.”

  I try to hide the blush I can feel creeping up my cheeks behind my beer as I take another drink.

  “Yeah, he’s my best friend. I’d be lost without him in my life,” I tell her honestly.

  “I love that. Shows you just might have a sensitive side underneath all that muscle,” she says, squeezing my bicep.

  I smile again at her words and my skin is on fire where her fingers just touched. Even through the barrier of my shirt, I feel like she’s branded my arm with just one touch. I lean in closer, bringing my lips to the shell of her ear before I speak again.

  “Something like that. My dad will always be one of the most important people in my life. We’ve been through a lot together, the hardest being when my mom walked out on us when I was just eight years old. I wouldn’t be the man I am today if it wasn’t for him.”

  I notice the shiver that runs through her body as my breath rolls over her skin. She turns more into me, bringing her side and shoulder flush with my chest. I don’t know what it is about this woman, but I’m drawn to her. There’s a pull between the two of us, like two ends of a magnet being drawn together.

  Our intimate moment is interrupted by a loud clap of laughter from the rest of the table. We fall into conversation with everyone else for a while longer, but neither one of us makes any effort to move away from each other. So, while I talk and have a good time relaxing with Ethan, the heat radiating off of her body is soaking right into mine, making me want her even more than I did when I sat down.

  Chapter Four

  Stacey

  I finish off my final drink for the evening as Ethan, Cam, Reese, Peyton, and I continue to chat and hang out. Lee called it a night an hour or so ago, as he had to go pick his wife up from the airport, who was returning from a work trip.

  “Well, I think I’m going to head out,” Reese says to everyone as she slips her phone into her clutch.

  “Thanks for coming out with us tonight!” I say, standing to give her a hug.

  “Anytime,” she replies. “Are we still on for Monday?”

  “Absolutely. I’ll see you at the studio,” I tell her before she says goodbye to everyone else at our table and makes her way out of the bar.

  “Did I understand correctly that she’s engaged to a hockey player?” Peyton asks.

  “Yep, Austin Jones. He plays for the Indianapolis Eagles. They are just the cutest couple ever! He proposed to her on stage at one of her concerts earlier this year. Totally surprised her! It was epic.”

  “Sounds like it. Reese appeared to be a pretty cool chick. Laid-back and wasn’t offended that I didn’t know who she was or what she sang.”

  “She’s one of the most laid-back people you’ll ever meet. She’s down-to-earth and hasn’t let the celebrity status go to her head. We met years ago, when she was first starting out, after she’d won the singing competition TV show she was on, and she’s pretty much the same exact way now. Just a little stronger of a backbone, after all she’s been through.”

  “I think we’re going to take off, as well,” Cam says as both she
and Ethan stand.

  “Thanks for coming out tonight, man. It was great to catch up,” Peyton tells Ethan as they pull each other into another man hug.

  “Absolutely. Maybe we’ll have time before you head back to base to get together for a barbecue or something.”

  “Definitely! That, and I’d love to get in with you and work on a new piece I’ve been thinking about for the last few months.”

  “You know how to find me. I can work you in at some point before you leave, I’m sure of it.”

  “Sounds good, man,” he says to Ethan, then pulls Cam in for a side hug. “And it was good to see you again, Cam. Congratulations on getting this guy to settle down.”

  “Good night, guys!” Cam tells both of us.

  “Night, I’ll see you next week for that eval,” I call to Cam’s retreating back.

  I sink back down on the barstool and grab one of the glasses of water a server dropped off to us a little bit ago. I’ve only had a couple drinks over the past few hours, but I still feel like I should drink some water before I go. I don’t live far, so I took an Uber over. I didn’t want to have to worry about driving after enjoying my time tonight.

  “Does your dad live far from here?” I ask Peyton, remembering he said earlier that he stays with his dad when he comes to town.

  “About ten minutes away or so, depending on traffic. How about you, are you far?”

  “Nope, about a five-minute drive.”

  “How are you getting home tonight?” he asks.

  “Uber. I didn’t know how much I’d drink and wanted to be safe.”

  “I can drop you off, if you’d like. I’ve only had the one beer, as I knew I’d be driving.”

  “Sure, that’d be fine,” I say with a smile.

  “You ready to go now?”

  “If you are.”

  “I’m actually starving. Would you want to go hit up a diner somewhere and grab a bite to eat? I’m not sure what my dad’s got in the fridge, so it’s probably best if I grab something before heading back.”