When he paused and dropped his gaze, Grace gave him a moment before pressing him further.
“And, what?” she said.
He blew out a long breath before looking back towards her. “I wish my last time up on stage hadn’t ended the way it did. I wish I could look back with happiness at the short time I spent as a performing artist, instead of burying those memories away because they’re so excruciating.”
“I can understand that,” Grace said, and meant it.
Ryan sighed and tilted his head towards the blue leather notebook lying on the table. “It took some courage to admit that I wrote that song for you, the one I just played.”
“After what you’ve told me, I can understand that, too.”
“I know you want me to sing the lyrics I wrote, but…” He looked up from the notebook and deep into her eyes. “One step at a time.”
“Understood,” Grace said.
His gaze held her for a long beat before he moved closer and dipped his lips to hers. The tender kiss filled her with yearning, and although she sunk into his embrace with a soft sigh, she couldn’t help thinking about the betrayed eighteen-year-old boy he’d once been and how that boy’s shadow still lurked within the man, waiting for the next humiliation to come and tear him to pieces.
What he’d gone through was nothing short of horrendous. That he’d come out the other side of such a humiliating experience and gone on to build a great life and a wonderful career, made her realise what sort of man Ryan Lewis really was.
He was a survivor, one who bore the scars of his battles with dignity, and whose emotions ran deeply because of them.
When their kiss ended, Ryan gave her a soft smile that burrowed all the way into her heart. She would have leaned close once more, wanting only to feel his mouth against hers again, but for the sound of footsteps crossing the floor upstairs.
“Sounds like Grandma is up from her evening nap,” Ryan grinned, and brushed a kiss across her forehead. “Let’s save the rest of this until I walk you home tonight.”
The promise in his words made her want that moment to come sooner rather than later.
