Mumbling into his chest, she continued. “Traffic was bumper to bumper, and I was so close. I pulled over and started walking.”
“You walked? In those shoes?”
Looking up at him with her arms gripped around his waist she nodded. “Not for long. This guy on a Harley asked if I needed a ride, so I got on his bike and he brought me here in no time.”
Clay scowled. Her noble intentions were overwhelming. “You got on a stranger’s bike?” His mind was reeling, his heart pulsing in protection mode. Guilt washed over him for not being there for her.
“That’s the thing, Clay. He wasn’t a stranger!” Her eyes shone brightly with what looked like hope.
“What do you mean? Did you know him?” He was so confused; he didn’t know what to think.
“The license plate on the back of his bike spelled ‘Big Daddy!’ Clay, I truly believe it was your father watching over me!”
All the air left Clay’s lungs and he blinked several times rapidly before pulling Katie in and leaning on her for support. He knew without a doubt that Big Daddy had divinely arranged for that stranger to come to her aid. His presence could be felt everywhere in the Ryman—he had felt it all night. Standing in the dressing room, they held tightly to each other, Clay not able to let go. She had made it to him in the nick of time. It all made sense now; her clothes, the lack of communication. There was one more question he had to know the answer to.
“The key?” he whispered into her ear.
“The rental car. It’s still on I-40, parked with the hazard lights on. Buddy’s taking care of it.”
His grip tightened as he nodded his head, exhaustion creeping into his bones. They had both run the gamut of emotions that day. “Let’s go home.”
***
Katie’s eyes fluttered open in the muted morning light and she immediately noticed Clay staring back at her. An instant smile grazed her sleepy lips as she reached up to touch his cheek.
“Good morning,” he said, his voice deep and low.
“Good morning.” His gaze was penetrating, as if he had something on his mind. She watched him prop his head on his elbow. With his free hand, he twirled her long hair with his fingers.
“I’ve been thinking—”
“This early?” She interrupted with a giggle.
He chuckled. “Yes.” His stare was purposeful. “Come with me. On tour.”
“What?” Pulling up into a sitting position, she shifted and held her legs close to her chest.
“Come with me. You said yourself you’ve always wanted to travel. We could do it together. You and me. It would be an adventure.” His caramel eyes sparkled with child-like excitement.
“I…I don’t know what to say.”
“Say, ‘yes,’” he pleaded, running his fingertips up and down her bare leg. “Take some time off; you deserve it. You can find another job later. Be with me, Katie. Be with me on the adventure of a lifetime.”
His offer sounded too good to be true. But the thought of not working was unfathomable. She had always worked. Even through high school and college, she had jobs and never took time off, constantly studying and working. Her climb up the corporate ladder had been arduous and the pride she felt hitting each rung higher and higher was meaningful and worth it. But there was no comparison between work and Clay Watkins. Her heart belonged to him. Hearing him profess those three little words in front of millions of people was more meaningful to her than any rung on any ladder. They had the kind of love that would destroy her if she lost it.
Suppressing a grin, she nodded.
Clay’s eyes widened with surprise. “Really?”
“Yes. I’ll go with you.”
He was straddling her in seconds, peppering her cheeks and neck with warm kisses. Her heart surged with a happiness she had never known as he whispered over and over, “I love you, I love you, I love you…”
