Meant to Marry Me: Nashville Country Dreams Part 1

It was no surprise at all that Hank was late. In fact, Bree would’ve been shocked if he’d been on time. But when he knocked on her door at 9:30 that evening, she wasn’t upset at all that he was late. It had given her a little more time to work on a new song she was writing and a little less time to be in the same room with Monica and Trent.

“You look purty!” Hank exclaimed as she opened the door.

Glancing down at the dress she was wearing, Bree said, “Thanks.” It was a mix of beachy and nightclub. A nice green strappy dress that came to about mid-thigh with a floral print in corals and reds, she figured it would work for the local bar. Her hair was pinned up in a twist and she was wearing hoop earrings, a necklace, and a few bangles, as well as strappy sandals with a small heel. “You look nice as well.”

Hank was wearing a rather loud floral print shirt in bright blue and orange with khaki shorts and loafers. But she could tell he’d taken his time with his hair and double-checked he didn’t miss any spots while shaving. “Thank you, dear. I figured if I was going to walk in with a beautiful starlet on my arm, I should dress the part.”

Bree laughed, not knowing what to think of that. She made sure her phone and key card were in the wristlet that contained her ID, credit card, and a little bit of cash and then followed him out into the warm air.

It was actually much cooler than it had been earlier in the day, and for a moment, she thought a storm might be on the horizon. But if it was, it was a long way off, and they should be able to get to the club and back without getting caught in the rain. It was a bit of a surprise that it hadn’t rained on them yet since the area was known for getting storms from out to sea.

“Do you wanna walk or shall I hail us an automobile?” Hank asked in a sophisticated voice.

“I’m okay with walking. I might need a ride home.” She had a feeling she’d probably end up drinking more than she should under the circumstances.

“Well, the princess bride has arranged for us all to get up bright and early tomorrow to play volleyball on the beach at eight, so you might not want to drink too much.”

“Eight? After a night out? Are you serious?”

“As a heart attack. I wonder if she’ll even make that event herself. It might just be all the older folks who aren’t out partying tonight who make it there.”

Bree laughed, thinking about Trent’s parents versus Monica’s parents on the sand. “Maybe Great-Aunt Patricia will spike a few.”

Hank’s laugh was loud and robust as he no doubt pictured the older woman jumping up and hitting a volleyball like she was Kerri Walsh Jennings. “Now, I’d get up early to see that.”

The club wasn’t far away. Within a block of the location, they could hear loud mariachi music coming through the open door. “God, I hope they play some techno or something, too,” Hank said, making a face. “I prefer country, of course, but I’m not sure I can handle the music they’re playing now all night.”

“I’m guessing they’ll at least play some Caribbean hits,” she assured him. “They probably try to hit all flavors around here.”

not country,”

he couldn’t come in for one reason or another,

as the man at the door was, Hank had at least thirty pounds on him and was a few

her ear from several feet away. She was surrounded by her group of girls, as she had been before the dinner the night before, and they were all looking

smile broadened. He gave Hank the familiar head nod that most guys did when they saw one of their bros, but he just looked fondly at Bree, and then she turned away from him because she couldn’t handle the

saw her and came rushing over anyway. “Yay! You’re here! I’m so

I spent most of the day lying

as Hank excused himself to go hang out with the other guys. “Let’s

that. She went to the bar and ordered whatever it was Lilly was drinking--something fruity and sweet--and did her best to calm her nerves by

fact, she was feeling pretty good. A few of the guys asked her to dance, and she happily accepted. After a few hours, she no longer really cared about Trent and

then Trent had to walk over and bring her whole

shoulder, he asked, “Bree, are you all

to see how close he was. She looked around for Monica and saw her sitting with her girls at a table across the room, in the middle of one of her epic stories.

little… inebriated. I just wanted to make sure none of these guys was getting a

far as she could tell, none of them had done anything inappropriate, but then, she hadn’t been paying that much

The song switched to something slow, and the people around them paired off, except for the excess men who couldn’t find a woman. Most of them headed to the

thinking, Bree wrapped her arms around Trent’s neck. “Have you even danced with

does like to dance. She’s just been busy with her friends so far.” His hands were on Bree’s waist now, and

so beautiful,” Bree

“She is both of those things,

woman who looks like that wouldn’t be at regular school. She should go to one of

he said, smiling at Bree. “She was

have to

did quite well, thank you

pretend,” Bree pointed out.