"Mommy, you should have seen him! It was great! He played a song and everything." Parker exclaimed while Tiffany put in her diamond stud earrings. She smiled down at her son.

"I'm glad you had such a good time." she said. She looked back in the mirror and smoothed out her long blond hair. She gave another tug to the low neckline of the blue satin shirt she had borrowed from Erin and sighed.

"Tiffany, hurry up! Your date is boring me!" Erin called from the kitchen where she was currently sitting at the table with Lance. Tiffany rolled her eyes, gave herself one more once over and then walked out of the bathroom.

"You better be good for your aunt Erin and make sure you finish your homework." she told Parker as he followed on her heels.

"I will." he said with an exasperated sigh. Lance stood up when Tiffany walked in and he looked her up and down before he could stop himself. Her long blond hair was loose and hanging around her shoulders and down her back in golden waves. She was wearing make-up but it was light and he smiled when he noticed that he could still see her light freckles.

The top, she had obviously borrowed from Erin and he made a mental note to thank the annoying red head tomorrow, when he saw that the blue satin material clung to her chest and tiny waist and showed off the cleavage that seemed to turn his brain to mush. Her jeans fit snug on the curve of her hips and her long legs and the high heeled shoes she wore made her three inches taller than her normal five feet five inches.

"You look beautiful." he said and then cleared his throat when he heard how husky his voice sounded. Tiffany blushed and looked down at her bright red toenails that were sticking out of her peep toed heels.

"Thanks." she said. "You look pretty good yourself." She added as she looked him up and down. He was wearing a black button down shirt that hugged his broad shoulders and muscular arms. His dark jeans looked new and hugged his long legs and she smiled when she realized that he had polished his boots. His face was clean shaven and his black hair was messy as always, though tonight it looked as if he had run his hands through it at least one hundred times and she wondered if maybe he was nervous.

"Are you ready?" he asked as he pulled her coat off the back of the chair and helped her slip it on.

"Lead the way." she replied as she slipped her arm through his and he led her out the door.

"Where are we going?" Tiffany asked him once they were in the truck and she realized that he was driving them further out of town instead of into town.

"There's something I want to show you." Lance replied. Tiffany rolled her eyes at his vagueness and was about to ask him to be more specific when she noticed that her picture was still taped to his dashboard and there was a picture of Parker next to it. Lance followed her gaze and smiled.

"Now I have my whole world with me no matter where I go." he said. Tiffany didn't trust herself to speak so she just smiled and nodded and looked back out the window. Sure the line was corny but Tiffany's heart didn't care as it filled with love.

Then her heart sped up and nerves attacked her stomach when Lance turned down the pond road.

"Lance…?" Lance just smiled and shook his head.

"Have patience." he said. Tiffany glared at him and he laughed. He knew she didn't have a bit of patience. Memories flooded Tiffany's mind as the still water of the pond came into view. She looked around at the long grasses and the surrounding mountains and felt a pang of longing in her heart as she remembered all that had happened here.

Fiery kisses, passionate touches and the loss of her innocence all came back to her as she looked at the peaceful pond and the serene mountain clearing.

"What are we doing here?" she asked nervously as he put the truck in park.

"I bought it." Lance replied looking out the windshield. Tiffany raised her brow.

"Bought what?" she asked.

"The pond and about twenty acres of land with it." he replied. He looked over at Tiffany and saw that she was looking at him as if he had grown a second head. He laughed.

"Don't be so surprised." he said. "I have an architect drawing up plans for a house and he's supposed to be faxing them to me tomorrow and I already have a contractor lined up to do the construction."

"So you're really sticking around?" Tiffany asked as hope again blossomed in her chest. Lance laid a gentle hand on her cheek.

"Of course I am. I couldn't leave you and Parker again if I tried." Tiffany smiled but then she frowned.

"What about Georgia? Don't you miss your mom?" she asked. A sad look came over Lance's face and he turned his gaze back out the windshield as he draped his hands over the steering wheel.

"There's nothing for me in Georgia." he replied quietly. "My mom passed away about a year after I left here. I was so caught up in touring and gigs and making my way that I didn't even know about it until after the funeral." Tiffany felt her own heart hurt at the amount of pain in his voice.

"I'm sorry." she said as she laid her hand on his cheek and wished there was something else she could say or do to erase the pain.

Lance turned and their eyes locked together. Before Tiffany realized what he was going to do he laid his hand on her cheek, tilted her head up and covered her mouth with his own.

Sparks flew as their mouths met and flames of passion filled them both. Tiffany moaned and parted her lips to his hungry advances. The feel of his tongue against her own was still familiar after all these years. Her buried his hand in her hair and pulled her face closer as his kiss became even more hungry and passionate.

Neither knew how long they stayed this way. Touching, tasting and remembering what they had once shared as the cold October wind blew against the truck. When they finally pulled apart Tiffany looked at the fogged up windows and couldn't help but smile.

"Just like old times." she said and he smiled when he heard the breathlessness and passion in her voice. He shook his head.

"No, it's not like old times, Tiffany. You have no idea how lonely I have been all these years without you. My lips missed you." he added. Tiffany couldn't help but laugh.

"That's quite a line, Mr. Asher." she said.

"Line?" he asked. She nodded and then began to wipe the window clean with her hand.

"I'm sure your lips have not been that lonely without me. Not when every woman in the world would give their left leg to keep them company." Lance bit back a laugh at the jealousy he could hear in her voice.

"Are you asking me how many women have kept my lips company?" he asked with a raised brow. Tiffany didn't look at him and she shook her head forcefully.

"No. That's none of my business." she said quickly. She didn't really want to know just how many women had had Lance while they'd been apart.

"Every part of me has been lonely for seven long years Tiffany. My lips, my body and my heart. None of them were willing to settle on anything less than you." Tiffany felt tears fill her eyes as her heart constricted in her chest at his words. She knew that he could be lying and simply telling her what she wanted to hear but she chose to believe that just maybe he was telling the truth and that he had loved her so much that no other woman would do.

"I missed you." she said and she had. She had missed the way his blue eyes lit up when they saw her. She had missed the sweet, sometimes corny, things that he said to her. She had missed his strong hands on her cheeks and his warm arms holding her tight.

"I missed you too." Lance said before pressing a feather light kiss to her lips and causing her heart to jump. Then Tiffany laughed when she heard his stomach growl.

"Hungry?" she asked. He grinned sheepishly.

"A little." he replied. He didn't tell her that he had been so nervous about taking her out tonight that he hadn't been able to eat all day.

"Well let's go get some food then. You're supposed to be taking me out Mr. country music star and showing me a good time."

"Oh, I can show you a good time." Lance replied raising his eyebrows suggestively. Tiffany slapped his arm playfully and shook her head.

"Food Lance. I want food." she said. He laughed and took her hand in his, lacing his fingers through hers.

"Let's go then." he said and he turned the truck around and headed for town.

They were just walking up to the doors of the quiet, country restaurant when the door opened and a red haired man with big glasses ran into Tiffany. Tiffany barely managed to grab the three Styrofoam containers he'd been carrying before they hit the ground.

"I'm sorry, Scott! I didn't see you coming!" she said as she handed him his boxes back. Scott pushed his glasses up on his face and smiled.

"No, it was my fault, Tiffany. I nearly ran you over." he said. Tiffany realized that Scott and Lance had never met each other and so she introduced them.

"Lance, this is Scott, he's Ben's dad. Scott, this is Lance, Parkers dad." The two men nodded in greeting and shook hands.

"Where are Ben and Grace at tonight?" Tiffany asked. A sad look came over Bens face as he adjusted the boxes in his arms.

"Grace hasn't been doing very good here lately. Ben is at home reading to her because it makes her smile."

"I'm so sorry." Tiffany said as tears filled her eyes. "I wish there was something I could do."

"I appreciate you offering to pay for her treatment, Tiffany. Grace just has such a kind heart and she doesn't want to feel like she is taking advantage of you."

"I'll keep praying for you and your family, Scott. The Lord can work miracles you know." Tiffany said while thinking about the way the Lord had given Parker his father back and given her the love of her life back.

"I pray everyday that the money will come in a way that she will be able to accept. But what will be will be and we just have to accept it." he said blinking tears out of his brown eyes. "Well I hate to rush off but Grace has not had much of an appetite lately and tonight she was actually craving Gena's pasta salad so I bought her three boxes full." he said nodding down at the boxes in his hands.

"Take care of yourself, Scott." Tiffany said and he bid them both goodbye and walked away.

Lance noticed the sad mood that seemed to have enveloped Tiffany as they were seated at a tiny booth in a quiet corner of the restaurant.

"Want to tell me about it?" Lance asked her gently. Tiffany forced a smile and reached across the booth to grab his hand.

"I'm sorry. We're supposed to be enjoying ourselves."

"I'm with you so I'm enjoying myself." Lance replied matter of factly. "And I hope you know you can talk to me about anything." Tiffany sighed.

"Ben's mom has cancer. The doctors say that unless she gets a new treatment she won't make it. The only thing is that Scott got laid off from the mill and lost his insurance and they have no way to pay for the treatment. I offered to pay but she won't take it."

"I'm sorry." Lance said. He knew how much Tiffany had always tried her best to help others.

"I've been wracking my brain, trying to come up with some kind of charity event that would make enough money but nothing I come up with seems like it will raise enough for what they need." Lance didn't reply but seemed deep in thought as they waitress brought them their drinks and took their order.

"What are you thinking about so hard?" Tiffany asked him after several minutes.

"I have an idea actually." he replied. "Do you think a concert would raise enough money for her treatment and whatever else they need?"

"Are you serious? You would put on a concert to raise money for them?" she asked.

"Yes of course. This means a lot to you and Ben is Parker's best friend. We could do it Saturday." Tiffany's eyes widened.

"This Saturday?" she asked. He nodded and took a sip of his pop.

"Yeah." he said with a shrug.

"Lance, it's Thursday! How exactly are we supposed to have everything ready by Saturday?"

"We just have to get the word out." he said. Tiffany's mind was reeling. She was amazed that Lance was willing to do this to help Grace and her family. She shouldn't be so surprised though, she knew what a good man he was.

"Okay, I'll call the radio stations in the morning and have them get the word out.. I just have to figure out ticket prices and things.. How much should I charge for a Lance Asher concert ticket?" Lance was laughing by the time she got done rambling.

"I have a better idea." he said. Before Tiffany could ask what his idea was he pulled out his cell phone and dialed a number.

"Hey Keith, it's Lance." There was a pause as Keith must have responded. "How are your girls and Nicole doing?- Great. Yeah I've actually decided to settle down in Kentucky. I have a little boy here.- He's six.- Yeah it is great. Listen I was actually calling because my sons best friend's mom is really sick. She has cancer and needs a special treatment but her husband got laid off recently and they don't insurance or money. I am going to put on a charity concert here in Hardan this Saturday and I was hoping maybe you'd be willing to come and make an appearance.- Thanks Keith. I'll see you then." Lance hung up the phone and before Tiffany could he dialed another number.

He repeated his conversation with someone named Jason and then again with someone named Luke. He was about to call someone else when Tiffany couldn't handle the suspense any longer. She grabbed his hand that was holding his phone to stop him from dialing.

"What is going on? Who are these people you're calling?" she asked. Lance grinned proudly.

"We are now having a charity concert for Grace and the performers will be Lance Asher, Keith Urban, Jason Aldean and Luke Bryan. I think that should bring in enough money." Tiffany stared at him with utter disbelief.

"Are you serious?" she asked. Lance nodded as the waitress sat their food on the table and then she stared at him for several seconds before walking away, giggling and pulling her cell phone from her pocket.

"Yeah I'm serious." Lance said. "I did make a few friends while I was living the big life."

"You are unbelievable." Lance smiled proudly and pulled his hand away from her.

"I have one more phone call to make and then everything will be taken care of." he said. He used speed dial to call Thomas's office and smiled when Peggy answered.

"Hey Peggy, it's Lance. I know I fired your boss but I was really hoping I could get you to do my a favor…." Lance was on the phone with Peggy for a good ten minutes and when he finally hung up he smiled at Tiffany.

"Within the hour there will be ads on TV, internet and radio about the charity even Saturday night. The community center will be rented for the event and the decorators will be on their way with everything they need to get the place ready."

"What do I have to do?" Tiffany asked feeling overwhelmed. Lance reached his hand across the table and smoothed her hair behind her ear.

"Eat your dinner and enjoy yourself." he said. "Peggy will handle everything else."

"You're something else, you know that?" Tiffany asked as she smiled at him. Lance shifted in his seat and grinned.

"That's a good thing right?"

"Yes. That's a very good thing."