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“He never complained. And I know he doesn’t regret a second of it. Joshua’s in the UK now, studying to be a microbiologist.” I smirk slightly. “Kid’s a genius.”

Laney tilts her head. “I’ve never met him.”

I arch a brow. “Really?”

She shakes her head. “No, Lucas never mentioned him much. But he never talks about his past at all. I had no idea he’d lost his parents so young.”

“Lucas is the best of us.”

Laney sips her coffee. “He is, I just never realized how good until now. What about his brother? Is he nice?”

I nod, sipping my coffee. “Josh is a good man, just like his brother. Quiet, studious, always had his nose buried in a book. Lucas used to joke that he got all the brawn while Josh got all the brains.”

She smiles softly. “Sounds like they’re close.”

“They are. Lucas did right by him. Kid’s going to change the world one day.” I set my mug down, giving her a look. “Just like you.”

She flushes, her eyes darting away.

I grin. Yeah, I like getting under her skin. Maybe a little too much.

“What about you?”

“Me? I had no one—my parents weren’t exactly winning any awards. And Nico…” I huff a quiet laugh, rubbing the back of my neck. “Let’s just say, the Mancini family had a little more… influence.”

She picks up on my hesitation. “Influence?”

I shrug. “His dad, Enzo Mancini, is powerful. The kind of man you don’t cross. But he was good to me and Lucas. Treated us like family, still does. Gave us a place to belong when we needed it.”

Her expression softens. “That’s really nice of him.”

I hold back a chuckle. Nice isn’t exactly the word I’d use for a man like Enzo, but she doesn’t need to know the whole story. Instead, I nod. “Yeah, he offered both of us a spot in his world. Said if we ever wanted in, there’d be a place for us. But we had different plans.”

I sip my coffee, glancing at her. She’s listening intently, her plate nearly forgotten. “I wanted to try my luck in Tennessee—see if I could make it in country music. Lucas…” I exhale, shaking my head. “He fell in love, got married. Had Joey.” My voice drops a little at the mention of the kid. We both know how that story played out.

Laney frowns, toying with the handle of her fork. “How did you end up in Ohio, then?”

“Grew up in New York, but when I landed in Tennessee, I finally felt like I was home. I spent years there, chasing the dream, making it happen. But it was also lonely as hell.” I gesture vaguely. “I used to spend summers here with Nico and his family. His old man had a summer place not far from here. So, when I started thinking about settling somewhere permanent, I came back. Found this plot of land—it was nothing but trees and a busted-up barn—but the second I saw it, I knew it was mine.”

Her lips curve. “You built all this?”

I nod. “Took time, but yeah. That barn? It’s my recording studio now. It’s where I wrote and recorded my biggest hit, ‘Midnight Dune’.”

Laney’s eyes widen. “That’s where you wrote that song?”

I smile. “Yep. Lucas followed me out here a year later, met Sam, and well… the rest is history.”

She leans her elbows on the counter, resting her chin in her palm. “I love that song.”

My smile deepens. “Yeah? I kinda gathered that when I heard you singing it in the park.”

She looks away, her cheeks flushing slightly. “Yeah.”

My chest warms, but I force myself to play it cool. “Well, maybe I’ll play it for you in the barn sometime and we can sing it together.”

Her smile is soft. “I’d like that.”

Damn. I need to be careful. This woman already owns my heart, but right now, if she asked, I’d hand over my soul too. Needing to break the spell, I change the subject. “I’ll drive you to Christie’s so you can get your things.”