She congratulates me on another song, reaching number one. That’s eight number one hits and a platinum album, which is still crazy to me.
Breakfast flies by, and the food is of course amazing, and when Gigi won't let me pay, I leave a tip that more than covers the meal.
"Home?" Austin asks.
"Actually, I have someplace else to go. It's a bit of a drive. Top up or down?" I ask.
"Down." Austin rolls her eyes at me, like it's the stupidest question she's ever heard. She’s just so damn cute, when she rolls her eyes. She puts her hair up, as I put the top down, and we head south to Franklin, Tennessee.
"Where are we going?" Austin asks, as we enter the town.
"To The Carter House," I tell her. Austin loves historical homes, and I heard about this one recently and know she will love it.
We spend the next few hours touring the house, grounds, and visitor center. We learn a major Civil War battle took place right in the house's front yard, and it was described by one of the family members that you couldn't see the grass there were so many dead bodies, covering the ground.
Austin gets a chill with that comment, and I give myself permission to wrap my arm around her in comfort. I tell myself that it's just to comfort her from the creepy history. It's not so I can feel her warm body next to mine. When I pull her in for a hug, it’s not to feel her tits against my chest. She doesn't stay in that hug with her head on my chest for anything more than comfort, as she listens to the tour guide.
Maybe, in a different world in another time, this could be more, but I have to be happy with this.
Chapter 3
Austin
I’m really glad I decided to stay here. I've already been more productive today, work-wise, than I have been in weeks. This house always has my inspiration flowing. I've always thought of this as home, but I have never really stayed here longer than it took to decide my next stop in life. It's been my layover point, safety net, and safe haven, since I graduated high school. Maybe this time, staying here in Nashville with my brother, is my next stop.
I'm working in the dining room today, which has great views of the amazing pool area and is far enough away that if Dallas decided to watch TV, it won't distract me. Though to be fair, Dallas is always considerate of me. When I'm working, he will watch TV in his room, rather than chance distracting me. I'm not sure what he's up to today, but he's been in and out of the house.
We had a great time yesterday taking the house tour, but I was up all night, thinking of the few minutes I spent in Dallas's arms. It was like instinct for him, when I felt that chill run through me, he was right there to comfort me. On the way home, we rode with the top down again and talked about some other places to visit. He even pulled over and let me drive the last few miles home. That was a close second to the highlight of the day.
I smile to myself, as I stretch and take in the space around me. This dining room is so comfortable, and it doesn’t feel cold, like many in the large houses around here. One of the walls in this room is exposed brick. The reclaimed wood dining room table is large enough to sit twenty, if you put in the leaves, but they always keep them out, so it can sit ten right now. The table has matching wood chairs on one side, and on the other side, along the wall with the windows to the backyard, is a bench seat attached with pillows. It looks more like a long window seat than a dining room table bench.
The pillows are all done in gray and creams and pair good with the brick wall. It's homey and relaxing. Remove the pillows and add some fancy place settings, and you have a very formal space. The decorator the guys used knew her stuff.
I didn't sleep as well last night, as I did the first night pressed against Dallas. I try not to admit that to myself, because the reality is hard to handle. It isn't the first time we have fallen asleep together. I have crawled into his bed a few times, when the storms get too bad, or I've had a bad dream, but we never cuddled like that. We always stuck to our sides of the bed.
I push it all out of my mind and work on this brand kit for a lingerie boutique. They need a logo and a brand design of colors and fonts. From there, I will help design her website and social media graphics. I love her stuff and am having a lot of fun mixing the leather and lace theme she wants to go with.
I'm so into my work I don't hear Landon walking in, until he's right in front of me.
"How you have always been able to block us out so intently and work, I’ll never know," Landon says.
I jump up and hug him, as my brother gives me my favorite bear hug. He isn't a hugger by nature, and I haven't seen anyone else get bear hugs from him, but I love them. They make me feel safe and always pull me out of a bad mood.
"I missed you so much," I whisper.
"Me too." He squeezes me again, before pulling away. "Where's your stuff? Do you need any help?" He asks.
He looks around, like he expects all my stuff to be piled nearby. His dark brown hair that matches mine is longer than the last time I saw him with a
