Two walls in the large corner office were all glass with a view of downtown Nashville. Buddy reclined in a leather chair as he talked on the phone. His signature black Stetson was firmly in place, and his black cowboy boots were perched on the desk. He gestured for Kate to have a seat.

“Well, listen, I’ve got a meeting,” he said. “You betcha. You’ll be hearing from me, don’t worry. Right-o.” He dropped his feet to the floor when he hung up the phone.

“How are you, Kate? Did Christina offer you anything?”

“I’m fine, thanks.” Kate wanted to pinch herself. I’m in Buddy Longstreet’s office!

“Well, darlin’, Taylor and I were real glad to hear you’d called while we were in New York. The kids had a blast in the Big Apple. Have you been there?”

“Yes, I love it there,” she said.

He came around the desk and plopped down in the chair next to her.

Suddenly, Kate was sitting close enough to touch a man who’d inspired thousands of women to throw their panties at him. It took supreme effort to not show him how star struck she was.

“We’ve got a lot to talk about. I take it you’ve decided to accept our offer?”

“Yes.”

“I’m happy to hear that. You had us wondering when we didn’t hear from you right away.”

“I had a crazy couple of days. I’m sorry it took me so long to call you. I can’t thank you both enough for taking a chance on me. I won’t let you down.”

“Of course you won’t. You’ll be great. But before we get into all that, I want to tell you some things I wish someone had told me when I was sitting where you are right now.” He got up and went over to a small bar in the corner, where he fixed himself a short drink of what might’ve been bourbon. “This is a tough, tough business, Kate. You have to be willing to commit to your career one hundred and ten percent, at least at first. You’re either rehearsing or recording or on the road. There’s no time for a life. There’s no time for anything but work. The first couple of years will probably suck. I’ll be honest with you about that.”

“Sounds glamorous,” Kate said with a grin even as her heart ached when she considered what it would mean for her and Reid.