"The way things are right now. This is how we're gonna need to stay" Rayna told Deacon as she reached out for his hands, taking each of them into her own. She knew Deacon was right. She was in love with him, madly in love with him and would be for the rest of her life. She was just so petrified at giving their love another chance because of the pain she so desperately wanted to forget.

He could feel her trembling, she was scared. He was scared too. Scared that this would be the last time he was ever so close to the only woman he would ever love. Deacon gently brought his lips to her left hand that he held in his own, and lightly kissed the top of it. He then let his lips wander to her inner wrist, placing a single tender kiss there before leaning his forehead against hers. A sudden surge or electricity ran between them and just like that their souls connected just like they always do when they're together. Their love was undeniable and he couldn't believe she was trying to pretend that the feeling wasn't there. As much as it killed him that she had doubts about them, all Deacon ever wanted to give Rayna was love and happiness. A life that is good. If Rayna really wanted to be with Luke he wouldn't stop her, but he knew that what she wanted, what she truly wanted was him. And he wanted her. God, he wanted her so bad it physically hurt.

"Tell me you don't feel that, and I'll let go" Deacon whispered.

Rayna felt her insides crumbling and her sense of control quickly being lost as she tried to avoid looking at him at all costs. Of course she felt it. She always felt it with him and only him. Just one glance at Deacon sent her heart on fire. Being this close to him quickly had her doubting everything and all of the choices she had made up to this point. She could feel her insides being undone as she let out a shaky breath.

"Or just come to the Bluebird tonight baby and just sing with me, and then you tell me you're gonna marry someone else." Deacon barely was able to speak those last words as he was so afraid that this is where it would all end. This is where they would say their last and final goodbye.

The thought of saying goodbye for good to Deacon had Rayna in a state of emotional turmoil. She was not strong enough to handle this. She thought that she could just tell him the lie she had been telling herself for so long now. She was going to marry Luke. Luke would be the one for her, her man, her husband, her love. She was going to live a happy life with Luke. She would have a clean slate and a fresh start at the life she had always wanted. Except, there was one thing that was missing. Rayna wanted a life with Deacon. Her whole life ever since she had first laid eyes on him, she knew that he was it for her. She would never love another man, never could.

The same was for Deacon. It almost seemed that from the moment they first met, their love had been cursed, a beautiful yet tragic curse. They were one, and no matter how hard each of them tried to escape, they couldn't. Their love was magnetic and was so much stronger than either of them ever could be.

There was nothing in the way now. Nothing stopping Rayna and Deacon from having their chance to finally be together, to have their happily ever after. Deacon knew about Maddie and Maddie knew about him. They had formed this incredible bond that had Rayna see Deacon in a whole new light. He was the father she had always wanted him to be. He had become a strong, confident, and dependable man who just took her breath away. Seeing him with Maddie made her heart melt as well as the love he showed for Daphne. He treated her girls so well and with such love. She craved that she would just wake up and they would be a family, because when they were all together it felt like a dream. She was long divorced from Teddy and Deacon was laying his heart on the line.

She quickly thought back to Luke. He was a good man and he loved her. He kept her safe, safe from all of the what-ifs. He was the safe choice. She loved him, but deep down she knew that she wasn't in love with him. The thing was, as much as she loved Deacon, sometimes love just wasn't enough. So many thoughts raced through her mind and she felt so confused and like she couldn't think straight or at all. Rayna felt like she couldn't breathe. She squeezed Deacon's hands as she tried to steady herself, she was falling apart. Tears began streaming down her face as she did the one thing she knew she shouldn't. She looked into his eyes.

(I would love and very much appreciate it if you could kindly post your review after reading the chapter. I love feedback and your comments will help me direct how the story will go so I can get a better feel for what interests you as the reader. Thank you so much and I hope y'all enjoy!)