And Bobby is a trusted employee who works as a driver for our firm.”
“Law firms need drivers?”
“We have a lot of out-of-town clients,” he says. “He picks them up at the airport, takes them wherever they need to go in the city, then takes them back to the airport when it’s time to go home.”
Jackson doesn’t talk much about his work, so I’m weirdly fascinated.
“I’m embarrassed to ask, but what kind of law do you practice?”
“Why embarrassed?”
“I’m just constantly surprised how little we know about each other.”
“Kinda like me with the roses. The florist asked for your favorite flower, and I had no idea what to tell him.” Jackson sighs softly. “We really have done everything backwards, haven’t we?”
I nod. “But we can fix it. Tell me about your job, and I’ll tell you my favorite flower.”
As Bobby drives us around town, Jackson tells me about his job at the firm. He used to be a patent attorney, but now he specializes in Entertainment Law. I’m fascinated to learn that his firm represents some of the biggest artists in country music, although he can’t tell me their names due to attorney-client privilege. It makes sense, considering we live in Nashville. I guess I just didn’t realize that my boyfriend rubs shoulders with the rich and famous.
“It’s mostly contracts—pretty boring stuff,” he explains. “But it does come with some perks. Like tonight, for instance.”
I pretend to pout. “I don’t even get a hint?”
“Nope.”
“But I wore the heels. See?”
I show off the death traps I wore to the gala. Jackson’s eyes momentarily glaze over, and I hear him take a deep breath.
“Fine. We’re going to a concert.”
“Ooh! I like concerts.”
“That’s what I hear. And apparently, you love this artist. At least, that’s what she said.”
“Who?”
“My annoyingly helpful sister.”
I grin. “Are we going to the Opry? The Ryman?”
“No, but that can be our next date if you want. Those tickets are pretty easy to get. These . . . not so much. I really had to pull some strings since it’s sold out.”
The SUV comes to a stop, and I glance out the tinted windows hoping for a clue. And I find it, right there on the marquee sign at Bridgestone Arena.
“ADELE?” My heart thunders in my chest. “This show’s been sold out for months!”
Jackson grins. “Perks. Remember?”
Tears well in my eyes.
“I love her,” I whisper reverently.
Leaning over, Jackson kisses my temple.
“And I love you,” he says softly.
“Best first date ever.”
Jackson grins and pours us another glass of champagne. “I had no idea you loved Adele so much. I think you knew every word to every song.”
“I was pretty depressed this past summer. Her music helped me a lot.”
“Why depressed?”
“Because I couldn’t find a teaching job. I know that probably sounds silly . . . to be sad about something like that. But I needed to work, and I’d busted my tail to get my degree. I was just so, so miserable and had no idea what I was going to do.”
I think back to August, with me wallowing in my little apartment, listening to Adele and eating takeout for weeks on end. I had no idea how much my life was about to change.
“But then your sister showed up, uninvited, and asked if I wanted to be her nephew’s nanny.”
“Thank God for my sister,” Jackson says softly, tenderly caressing my face. “I’m so glad you said yes.”
“Me, too.”
“Speaking of my sister,” he says. “I didn’t even want to bring this up, but I want to be very clear about something. I know Dana put an idea in your head . . . about why I proposed.”
I shake my head. “Jackson, don’t. I know that’s not the reason.”
“You do?”
“I do.”
“Good.”
After the concert, neither of us were ready for the evening to end, so Jackson asked Bobby to drive us around town. Nashville’s incredibly beautiful at night, but I couldn’t focus on the lights of the city. I was too mesmerized by the handsome man at my side.
“Jackson?”
“Hmm?”
“Why lavender roses?”
“Because Dana wouldn’t let me pick the red ones.”
I laugh. Dana probably thought red roses were too cliché.
“And because the florist said lavender roses express feelings of love at first sight,” he continues. “I’ve loved you since the moment you walked through my door, so I thought lavender was perfect.”
Tears fill my eyes. Again.
“I really hope those are happy tears,” Jackson says, gently ghosting his fingers across my cheek. I simply nod, too overwhelmed to formulate a coherent response.
He tells Bobby to take us home