"Get your girl, Sinatra!" someone shouted from the crowd.

I broke away from our kiss with a chuckle and put the microphone back in the holder. I took Karma by the hand and led her to a private area behind the stage.

I couldn't believe she was here. I trusted Lanie to try her best, but I had no idea if Karma would show up. I wouldn't have blamed her if she didn't. It took all my energy to keep my anxiety in check before I stepped up to that microphone-and I was glad I did.

Karma's giggle as I lifted her by the waist and sat her on a large speaker was the best thing I've heard all day. I cupped her face and gave her a deep passionate kiss. I felt her hands slide under my black shirt against my skin. She pulled me closer and I deepened the kiss, tasting the essence of Karma that always drove me wild.

My heart was pounding against my rib cage as I pulled away from her and searched her face. I was trying to find one reason why she would give me another chance after everything.

I was terrified that my alarm was going to go off any minute. That I would wake up, hungover in my bed, with no Karma anywhere in sight. "I can't believe you're here," I said with disbelief.

"Nathan, I-"

I leaned my forehead against hers. "I didn't think you would see me after...Nevermind. I'm just so fucking happy." I pulled my head back and looked into her eyes. "How did you like the song?"

She placed her hand on my chest and flashed me a smile so loving, my chest tightened.

"Nathan, that song was beautiful. I can't believe you did that. You sang in front of people." She frowned before asking, "How come Lanie didn't know you could sing? I assumed by now she would have heard you at least once."

I tucked her hair behind her ear. "I've only sang for you, gorgeous. No one else."

She blushed shyly-which she never did-and I loved it. I loved her. She was the best thing that has ever happened to me, and I wasn't going to fuck it up this time.

I decided I was going to tell her the truth about what happened. I knew there was a risk of family drama because of it, but she was right. We were worth fighting for-and I was going to fight tooth and nail for this woman.

"I'm so sorry about last night, baby. I said some things that-"

She put her finger to my lips to silence me. "Stop. We have a lot to talk about, but we'll get to that later. Right now, our friends are waiting for us out there, and if we spend another second back here, they'll think we're fucking."

I laughed and ran my hands up her smooth thighs and under her dress. "Maybe we should be," I teased.

I was dying to be inside her again. I knew we were together less than twenty-four hours ago, but with everything that went down, it felt different. For awhile there, I thought I lost her forever. I wasn't going to take her for granted again.

"There'll be time for that too when you come over my place later," she whispered against my lips.

"Oh, yeah?" I teased. "What if I don't wanna come over?"

She cupped my rock hard erection through my jeans and I groaned at the feeling. "I don't think you'll say no to that."

I gave her one more deep kiss before I reluctantly pulled away and helped her down off of the speaker. She righted her dress and I adjusted my jeans that became a little too tight.

Her cell phone rang, her expression was pained when she looked at the screen.

"Who is it?"

She slipped her phone back in her purse and smiled at me. "No one."

I offered her my hand. "Ready?"

She laced her fingers with mine. "Yes, I'm ready."

We walked out from behind the stage and our friends noticed us immediately. I tried to keep the red out of my cheeks face they applauded and cheered.

"Nate, bro, I didn't know you had pipes like that," Ayden drawled as he clapped me on the back.

Lanie came up to me and slugged my shoulder. "I'm your sister, you asshole. How could you not have told me!"

"I never told anyone, L."

"You told Karma."

I wrapped my arm around Karma's shoulders and looked deep into her eyes. "Karma isn't anyone."

"Yeah, yeah, Jay-Z," Jackson teased. "I take it you didn't want all of us here just to watch you serenade your beautiful woman. So, what's this about?"

Jackson was always a smart one. "Let's sit down and order some drinks first. This is a cause for celebration."

Once we found a secluded table in the back of the restaurant to fit all of us, we took a seat and got comfortable. When Karma went to sit in the chair next to mine, I pulled her onto my lap. She wrapped her arm around my shoulders and arched a questioning brow.

I smiled as I laid my hand on her thigh, stroking the soft skin there. "I want you close to me," I said in a low voice so we weren't over heard. Her cheeks heated and she wrapped her arm tighter around me.

After the waiter came over and took our order, we all made small talk as we waited for our drinks. Once everyone was pretty relaxed, I cleared my throat.

"So, like Jackson said, I know you guys didn't just come here to listen to me sing my heart out." Laughter filled the table. "We all know that Roger has to sell Down the Rabbit Hole. It fucking sucks. This place means something different to all of us."

I looked towards Jackson. "You and Harper met here." I looked to my little sister. "Same with you and Ayden." I looked back to the woman I loved. "I know we didn't meet here, baby, but this is where we were brought back together." I gave her a teasing smirk. "Even though you threw a drink in my face."

"What are you getting at?" Ryan asked curiously.

I looked from one man to the other. "I'm getting at the idea of us taking over and buying the place."

Startled gasps and filled the silence.

"You want to buy this place?" Ayden asked incredulously. "Do you even have the money for something like that?"

Well, he wasn't wrong. I might be getting money from the VA every month, but it wasn't enough for this. "No, I don't." I looked to Ryan. "But you do. How would you feel about investing in a place like this? That's what your company does, right?"

Ryan rose his brows. "Invest? In Down the Rabbit Hole?"

"I think it's a great idea," his wife Danielle said with a smile. "You've been trying to find something knew to get into. This is perfect."

"And you can keep it like it's been," Lanie added. "There's no one better than you guys to make sure Roger's dream stays alive."

"Is he okay with this?" Ayden asked. "I mean...this is his place."

"I know. He said he was fine with it." A corner of my mouth lifted in a smirk. "As long as he can tend bar every now and then."

Jackson leaned forward. "So, let me get this straight. Me, you, and Ayden will be the owners of Down the Rabbit Hole, and Ryan will finance it?"

"Exactly."

Jackson glanced to Harper; who's remained quiet through most of this. "What do you think, princess?"

Harper was sitting close to Jackson, but it was apparent that they still had some issues they were working on. The emotion in her eyes said it all. She sat back in her chair and seemed to think it over before looking back at Jackson.

"I think it'll be good. For all of you." Harper gave me a small smile. "This is an amazing opportunity you've offered everyone, Nate. Thank you."

"Well..." I looked around the table at the people I considered family. "What do you guys say?"

It was unanimous. "We're in!"

Karma grabbed her drink from the table and held it up. "To keeping Down the Rabbit Hole alive!"

Everyone clinked their glasses together, laughter and conversation filling the small space again. I looked up and met Karma's shining eyes.

"You ready to get outta here?" I asked quietly. We had a lot to talk about, and I wanted to get the next chapter of our lives started.

She gave me a hard kiss. "Absolutely."

"Wine?"

I leaned against the counter in Karma's kitchen. "Yeah. That'd be great."

After we left the bar, we came straight to her place. Karma poured us both some wine and she handed me my glass.

"Thank you."

She smiled at me and downed her wine before setting the now empty glass on the table. "Come with me," she said as she held her hand out.

I placed my hand in hers and she led me to her bedroom. She held my stare as she reached for the bottom of my shirt and lifted it over my head. Her hands went to the waistband of my jeans next.

"I thought we were going to talk." Don't get me wrong, I was all for making love to Karma; but I wanted to clear the air with her before we jumped back into anything.

"We are," she replied with a sultry smirk. She made quick work of removing my pants and boxers. "But I want to make sure you aren't going to run away this time. So..." She put her lips to my ear and tugged on the lobe. It sent chills throughout my body. "We're going to take a bath. And talk."

She gave me her back and pulled her hair over her shoulder. "Do you mind? I can't reach the zipper."

With a shaky hand, I unzipped her dress. It fell to the floor, reveling that she was naked underneath. Fuck. Without turning back to look at me, she walked into the bathroom and filled the tub with hot water.

As I stood there, naked in her bathroom, I thought about the night before. I glanced around her room. I remembered all to well the tenseness, sadness, and anger that filled this room. I noticed her small trash can by her bed was full of tissues and my heart ached. I wasn't stupid. I knew I hurt her. I just hoped I could make it up to her.

Once the water was to her liking, she got inside and turned her head towards me. She ran her eyes over me seductively. "Coming, Nathan?"

Hell-motherfucking-yes.