She managed to hold it together until she got home to Reid’s house. Since Martha quit, Kate had all but moved in with him. He hadn’t said much about what happened with Martha, but Kate suspected it had something to do with her.

He met her at the front door, and she rushed into his arms.

“How’d it go?”

She couldn’t get a word past the sob that closed her throat.

“Honey, what is it? What happened?” He led her into the drawing room to sit.

“Everything,” she finally managed to say. “Everything happened.”

He wiped the tears from her face. “Tell me. I’m dying here.”

“Buddy and Taylor want to take me on the road to open for them this summer. And they want me to record your song so they can release it as a single.”

He gasped. “Are you serious?”

Nodding, she sniffled. “But they don’t want the band. Just me.” Tears rolled down her cheeks. “How can I do that to them?”

Reid tightened his hold on her. “You have to do what’s best for you, honey.”

“But they’ve done so much for me. I owe them everything. The only reason Buddy and Taylor came in tonight was to see the band. I can’t screw them over like this.”

“You don’t have to decide anything tonight. Why don’t you get some sleep and think about it some more tomorrow?”

“It’s not just that.”

“What?”

“The whole summer on the road,” she whispered. “Away from you.”

“Kate, Buddy Longstreet and Taylor Jones want you to tour with them. Come on! This is the dream come true.” He tilted her chin up so he could see her eyes. “Remember what I told you before? I’ll be right here waiting for you. It’s time to fly, baby.”

She smiled. “That’s my song.”

“It’s your time.”

“I love you. I want to be with you always.”

“You will be.” He touched his lips to hers. “Let’s go to bed. You’re exhausted.”

“Holy shit, man, you weren’t kidding,” Buddy said without preamble when he called Reid the next morning.

“I told you.”

“We were just blown the fuck away!”

“I heard you offered her the whole ball of wax.”

“It was either going to be me or someone else, real soon. She’s amazing.”

“I know,” Reid said with a sigh. “You’ll be careful with her, won’t you?”

“Reid, you know I love you, man. We were raised like brothers, am I right?”

“You know you are.”

“I’m going to ask you something, and I want you to tell me the truth, all right?”

“Okay.” Reid knew what was coming and decided to be honest with Buddy. Hiding what he felt for Kate was becoming harder by the day.

“What’s she to you?”

“Everything.”

Buddy paused before he asked, “Who else knows that?”