Tate (32 page)

She looked up and I told her my thoughts. “I’ll need representation, and she’s been a huge asset to both of us.”

“It’s a wonderful idea,” she replied.

“I know she’ll need some time to learn the ropes, but I’m not in any hurry right now. I’m taking some downtime to learn how to be the husband of Maisie Morrow.”

“I love you,” Maisie said, leaning forward to kiss me. “Is this a honeymoon?”

“I believe so.”

“Come with me,” she said with an enticing smile, and I picked up the trail of clothes she left as I followed her. When we reached the bedroom, I dropped them to the floor and stripped down to my shorts.

“I love that you don’t wear tightie-whities,” she laughed as I stood there in striped boxer briefs. 

She scooted to the middle of the bed. I slipped off my shorts and joined her. We sat facing each other. Maisie seemed comfortable, so I let her take charge. As her eyes locked on mine, she scooted closer, leaning to kiss me. I reached for her, pulling her to my lap. I smelled that scent that made me crazy – that sweet caramel smell that was Maisie.

Her eyes never left mine, her gaze so intense that it was all I could do to rein myself in. She moved in, wrapping her arms around my back and slowly sliding them up, then running her hands through my hair.

She counted to ten in a soft voice. “Slow, Tate. Focus on me,” she whispered. I felt chills as her hands caressed where she touched.

The way she looked at me was the sexiest thing I’d ever experienced. I took her lead, taking deep, calming breaths, repeating the word ‘slow’ over and over. “I have to touch you.”

“Please,” she whispered.

Keeping my eyes on hers, I reached for her breasts and she sucked in a deep breath and then stopped me. “Let me touch you. Pleasure for pleasure,” she said.

I couldn’t wait any longer. I shifted her on my lap and wrapped my arms around her. As I entered her, we both cried out.

“Jesus, Maisie. Where’d that come from?” I asked breathlessly, as she lay blissfully in my arms.

“Here,” she said, placing my hand on her heart.

***

The next morning, we left Blowing Rock for a full day of shopping in Lenoir, the closest place to shop, on our agenda. It was only a short, half-hour drive, but the twisty turning road we took kept Maisie giggling as we made our way to town. We visited furniture stores, finding things we liked for the upper level living area, kitchen and master suite. We found an area with cute shops and boutiques, and had a bite to eat, and then hit up a Walmart finding things Maisie decided she needed for the kitchen and decorating. As we shopped, I noticed something I hadn’t seen since our trip to Disney World. Maisie was happy. I was ready to enjoy these experiences with her.

Two days later, the furniture and appliances arrived. It was beginning to look like a home. I was ready for that with her. I loved the ‘Maisie touches’ here and there, but I loved the ‘us’ that I was beginning to see. Watching her settle in, and adding to her ‘next time things’ list on the counter that continued to grow, made me smile.

Another trip to Lenoir for Christmas decorations, and we were done. For the next week it’d just be us at the cabin.

On Christmas Eve, we decorated a small tree together. Maisie baked cookies for Santa. Later, we watched Miracle on 34
th
Street on the large flat screen that was my Christmas gift. Maisie shared with me that it was her favorite Christmas movie.

As we crawled in the bed that Maisie had happily made up with a new comforter, she snuggled close. It was chilly, and I pulled her nearer.

“Today was a good day.”

“It was a happy day that I loved. I feel blessed that we could just be ‘Maisie and Tate’. We’ve found things together to put pieces of us into this amazing cabin.”

“I love you, Maisie. I loved you before I knew you. I dreamed of you before I met you.”

***

Maisie

Christmas morning, I woke to find Tate lying on his side watching me. It didn’t matter what the day brought - this was heaven. I’d spent the last few Christmas mornings alone. He was holding a box, wearing a big smile.

“Merry Christmas,” he told me, placing a sweet kiss on my lips, and handed me the box.

I sat up and tore into the paper and box to find a crystal heart etched with the words, ‘Tate & Maisie’, ‘Cherished’, ‘Forever’, ‘Vegas’, ‘August 24
th
, 2013’, and ‘I have found the one my soul loves,” in the glass. “It’s beautiful. I love it, and I know exactly where I will put it.”

“Tell me, Maisie,” he said, and pushed my hair away to nuzzle my cheek.

“On the mantle. Here, not Nashville. This is ours, not yours or mine.”

“I love ‘ours’, Maisie.”

After dinner, Tate rose and went to the bedroom, returning with a beautifully wrapped present. The shape of the box led me to believe it was jewelry.

“I thought the cabin was our gift, and you already gave me the heart that I love.”

“I’m glad you love it. I love the way the heart turned out,” he smiled. “But I saw this, and I need you to make something to go with it.”

I ripped the paper from the box, lifted the lid, and drew in a breath. Inside was a side view butterfly brooch in copper with blue sapphires. “It’s gorgeous,” I said.

“I need a dress to go with it for the GRAMMY Awards.”

“Your size or mine?” I laughed as I closed my eyes.  “I see it.”

“Make it,” he replied.

***

Tate

“When can we come back?” she asked, as we crawled in bed the night before heading home.

“I have to go to Florida to finish the album, and then promo jaunts, and then the road…” I said. I thought about the bags packed, waiting to load in the truck, and suddenly felt gloomy. The thought of leaving weighed heavy on my heart. I’d enjoyed this too much for the thought of all that was ahead to be appealing. I’d had Maisie to myself for two weeks. Dion, Carlene, Mama, Deidre… no one had called and I wasn’t ready to share her again yet.

“What is it, Tate?”

“Just not ready to go. I’ve loved every second we’ve been here. I dread going back to
that
reality.”

She didn’t say anything for a while. I tucked her into my arms and held her a little tighter. Finally, she turned to face me. “It’s our haven here. We’ll be back soon.”

***

Back in Nashville, we offered Deidre the job and she accepted – with hesitation - concerned that she didn’t know what to do. Maisie had already talked to Carlene about that, anticipating Deidre’s anxiousness. Carlene set up a meeting with her manager, Rip Manuel. He’d been in the business for years. He wasn’t taking new clients, and had slowly dwindled down to only Carlene.

“I’m too old to manhandle more than this one anymore,“ he said, cocking his head toward Carlene.

“I’m ready to learn what I need to do to guide this talented man,” Deidre told him.

Rip set up a training schedule, and Carlene offered up some names and numbers of people that she felt would help her.

As we drove away afterward, I turned to Maisie. “I think Rip and Carlene got somethin’ goin’ on,” I said with a smile.

She smiled brightly. “He’s been with her for years. I’ve thought the same thing. She never mentions him in that way, but I’ve seen the glances.”

Maisie left Dion in charge of her dress for the GRAMMYs while we went to Florida for a few days to get some of the songs recorded. Maisie sat in on some of the recordings, but David came to Melbourne and she spent time with him and we met her new family that lived in town.

“This is a project to be proud of,” Andy told me after a day of recording.

“I’ve decided to debut
Timeless
at the GRAMMYs,” I told him. Maisie still didn’t know. This would be a big surprise.

“I can’t wait to see her face,” he grinned.

We flew into L.A. on Friday before the event on Sunday. That evening, everyone joined Andy for dinner at Wolfgang Puck’s. Jake and Deidre had been quietly sneaking around together for a while. Finally, Maisie called them out. We were standing around the table ready to be seated. As the guys started pulling out chairs, Maisie halted the process.

“Wait, please,” she announced. She walked over and stood behind a chair and turned to Jake. “Jacob, please sit down.” He did, and she pulled out the chair beside him.

“Deidre,” she said, and everyone turned to look. Deidre’s face turned a shade of crimson that I’m not quite sure I can describe. “We all know you two are seeing each other. Share the love.”

I looked at Jake - his face showed nothing but pleasure. “I’ve been trying to get her to come clean for a while,” he laughed. She finally plopped in the chair beside him, and the flush on her face made everyone laugh.

Sunday morning, Maisie wasn’t feeling well. She rested while the guys and I went to rehearse. I requested a closed rehearsal because we didn’t want anyone to know about the song. When I returned to our suite, she was still lying in the bed.

“You OK?” I asked, sitting on the side of the bed, stroking her hair.

“I will be. I took something a little while ago. I think something I ate last night didn’t agree with me,” she explained. I lay down beside her and held her.

***

Maisie

Tate waited in the living room of our suite while I finished dressing. When I walked from the bedroom to join him, I saw him appreciate his view.

“Maisie,” he said with a growl. “You take my breath away. No one else on the red carpet can possibly come close to the beauty I see before me. You are gorgeous.”

My hair was up in a simple twist. The bottom of my dress was pleated copper satin that fell to the floor. The top was the same color, but in a sequined fabric. I’d designed a halter style and my back was bare. The neck plunged low to where the butterfly brooch sat just between my breasts.

“Those sapphires make your eyes come alive.”

“It’s not the sapphires,” I told him. “It’s you. You look so handsome. Let me see the vest.”

“He opened his jacket and flashed the copper sequined vest, made from the same fabric as the top of my dress. I’d stitched guitars and cowboy hats into it. “Nice,” I said, and felt a happy smile pass my lips.

“I love it. Shall we go?” he asked, extending his arm for me.

“Yes. Wait ‘til you see Deidre,” I whispered in his ear as we went out the door.

When Deidre stepped through the elevator doors on the next floor with her hand on Jake’s arm, I saw joy on both their faces. With her blonde hair, I knew the fabric Dion had chosen for the dress would be perfect. It was teal, with a lace bodice with no plunge. She told me she wasn’t comfortable showing much skin. The back was open to the waist with clear straps across her back to hold it in place. It was straight with a wide band of rhinestones that surrounded her waist. The look on Jake’s face was priceless. He wore a gray tailored suit, and together they looked like the perfect couple.

“Wow,” Tate whispered loudly in her ear as the doors closed.

“Thank you,” she said with a bashful smile, and looked at me. “Thank
you
, it’s amazing.”

“Yep,” Jake beamed.

***

Tate

Andy joined us in the lobby and we made our way to the Nokia Theatre. Walking the red carpet, Maisie was charming and engaging as we spoke with the media.

“Your dress…” Michelle Devoe from Entertainment News began.

“Is a Maisie Morrow original,” Maisie replied.

“It’s gorgeous! The glow on your face tells me you and Tate are enjoying yourselves,” the reporter observed.

“Yes,” she said contentedly.

I was performing at the thirty-five minute mark of the show. Jake, the rest of the band, and I rose to head that way during a break. I looked back at Andy and saw him wink.

Finally, we took over the stage. Fellow country singer, Dina May introduced me. “Ladies and Gentlemen, Tate Morrow.” The place erupted in cheers and applause.

“I’ve got a surprise for Maisie tonight! Hit it, Jake.”

As soon as Maisie recognized the tune, I saw her lean to Andy and whisper in his ear, smiling widely. As I sang, her eyes never left mine. I knew she was surprised and happy.

When I returned to my seat, she leaned closer, sneaking kisses on my neck, and whispered sweet words in my ear. I couldn’t have been more enamored. She was undoubtedly my soul mate.

At last, Megan Cowart from the TV show
Hudson Place
walked on stage and recapped the nominees for Best Song. A hush fell over the auditorium as she opened the envelope. “Tate Morrow,
Our Moon
!”