Free Melodies of the Heart: A Pinewood Grove Sweet Romance by Sarah Paisley Page B

he told her. “In fact, I haven’t really decided what I want to do.”
    “Oh,” Kassidy said, finally looking at him. She wanted to find answers on his face, but there were none there for her to see.
    “I need more time to think about it,” he explained. “I’m sorry I haven’t come by in the last few days, but I’ve spent just about all my time on the phone with my manager and the record company, and every moment I haven’t, I’ve been in no mood to see anyone. I didn’t want anyone to see me that pissed off. Especially you.”
    “So what does that mean?” Kassidy asked, trying not to get too excited about the answer.
    “It means I’m going to stay in Pinewood Grove for a while,” he told her. “I don’t know for how long, but as long as they don’t know I’m here, or at least where here is, it’ll give me time to figure out just what I want to do.”
    “That sounds nice,” Kassidy told him. He still hadn’t mentioned how she played into his thoughts on the future, but she didn’t want to ask only to be let down by the answer.
    “I like this place,” he continued. “There’s something about this town that I think can really help me get back to my roots. To help me decide what I really want to do next. I know my band is pretty upset, and the label is furious, but I don’t care. This is what I want right now.”
    “And you should do what makes you happy,” Kassidy agreed while she fought back her own emotions. He was staying and she was overjoyed, and yet there was a melancholy that she couldn’t fight. He was staying for him, and she knew that was the best thing for Levi, but she couldn’t help but think of her own desires.
    “You make me happy,” he said, his words cutting through her fears like a saber. “Kass, I hope it’s obvious, but you’re the biggest part of why I want to stay here. I can’t promise that I can stay forever, and I know that means you may not want to be with me, but at least as long as we can be friends...”
    “But you’re staying,” she said. “At least for a while, right?”
    “I promise,” he assured her as he took her hands in his.
    She had just finished telling him that he needed to do what made him happy, but she was so afraid to take her own advice. Taking that step might lead to heartbreak, but she was quickly realising that if she never tried, it would only lead to regret.
    “I want you to stay,” she said, her voice quivering. What she wanted to say was, “I want you to kiss me,” but she couldn’t quite get the words out.
    Levi knew what she meant, and this time when he leaned down and moved his lips close to hers, she didn’t turn away and pull back. She let him kiss her gently, and her hands squeezed his as their kiss deepened and filled her heart with joy.
    “I’ve wanted to do that since the moment I saw you on the street,” he told her when his lips released hers.
    “Me too,” she admitted, finally allowing herself to smile, and to hope that this was more than just a summer fling. Then another, more responsible thought hit her. “I need to get back,” she said, hating the way it sounded when the words left her mouth. “I don’t want to, but I have to. I was only stepping out for lunch.”
    “That’s okay,” Levi said as he grabbed her new helmet and handed it back to her. “I really don’t want your parents to think I’m kidnapping you or something.”
    “Or something,” she laughed, though she knew exactly what they were worried about.
    Levi got back on his bike and Kassidy climbed on behind him, but as they pulled back on the highway she could tell that he wasn’t going nearly as fast on the way back to town as he had when they’d left. She didn’t mind one bit. Kassidy was happy to keep her arms wrapped around him while the wind blew past her.
    When they arrived back at the bakery, Kassidy could see her father standing behind the counter and she knew she was in trouble, but she didn’t care.
    “Give me your