Total pages in book: 29
Estimated words: 26941 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 135(@200wpm)___ 108(@250wpm)___ 90(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 26941 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 135(@200wpm)___ 108(@250wpm)___ 90(@300wpm)
She rolls until she’s facing me, and her lashes flutter open, her brown-eyed stare as enticing as my morning coffee.
“Hey,” she says, one side of her face on the pillow as she meets my gaze.
“Hey.” I brush long strands of hair off her cheek. “Sleep well?”
A pleased, sated smile takes hold. “Really well.”
“No regrets?” I have to ask.
She places her finger over my lips, stopping the question. “Not one.”
I blow out a relieved breath. “I need to know what changed your mind.”
She sighs and places her hand over my chest. “You asked me to trust you with my heart. You wanted everything, and I knew if I walked away, I was going to be alone. Worse, I’d be without you again.”
I see the sheen of tears in her eyes before she blinks them away. I never want to see her sad or hurting.
“I knew my mother had loved and lost my dad, and she’d moved on. There was a lesson there I was finally willing to see.” Her fingers draw circles on my skin. “So I opened my eyes. I needed to get over my fear of loss and abandonment, or I’d lose you. And I couldn’t let you go again.”
I’ve heard what I need to. There is no going back. For either of us. I kiss her hard, my mouth parting her lips, my tongue making itself at home.
I’m not sure how long we lay locked and lost in each other, but when she breaks the kiss and comes up for air, I look her in the eyes.
“I love you, Tara. I’ll be with you even when I’m not, and I’ll never be gone long.”
Her smile lights up everything inside me. “I’ve made my peace with what I thought were our differences. I fell in love with a boy who wanted to be a famous rock musician, and I’m still in love with the man who achieved his dream.”
I grasp her wrist. “I’m going to make all of your dreams come true, too.”
“You already have.”
* * *
Tara
A week later, the sun shines overhead, a gift from above on the day of an outdoor concert. The band tests their instruments, which have been tuned and left ready for them on stage.
Axel has made miracles happen. He arranged for the Original Kings to play a benefit concert to raise money for Norah’s Ark in order to keep the shelter open and get some of the pets adopted.
While he has his plan, I have mine. I went behind his back and took care of something very important before it was too late, and I have a surprise waiting for him when he comes off stage. From the moment of his return, he’s been all about giving to me. It’s time I do something for him.
Norah joins me at the moment the band strikes their opening chord. Around us, the Kingston family mingles with each other, excited to see Dash in his element. Just like I can’t wait to see Axel in his.
Watching him play, sweat gleaming on his strong muscles, his talent on the drums bordering on legendary, I can’t be prouder. I would have been a fool to push him away, and I am so grateful I came to my senses. When it comes to loss, the past is difficult to overcome, but this man and the life we can have together are worth it.
Later, after the band plays their final encore and Dash encourages the crowd to donate to the shelter and to adopt, not shop, the guys lay down their instruments and walk off stage to a standing ovation. Well, the audience is already standing anyway, I think, smiling.
“Tara?”
I turn at the sound of my name. A woman who resembles the Kingston siblings and has to be their mother walks over to me.
“Hi. I’m Melly Kingston.”
“Hello! I’ve heard so much about you.” I smile at the other woman. “Axel has told me how you’ve treated him like family since he joined the band and his sister married Dash. It’s so good to meet you in person.”
Melly meets my gaze. “Can we hug? I feel like you’re family now, too.”
I hug the woman who has treated Axel like a son.
“I’m glad you two are together now,” Melly says. “It wasn’t that long ago he was climbing the walls, wondering how to convince you he was serious about you.” Melly’s warmth makes her impossible not to like.
“Well, we had our challenges,” I admit. “Mostly mine.”
“But she came to her senses, and now they can live happily ever after,” a familiar voice says as my mom wraps an arm around my shoulders.
I turn and kiss my mother’s cheek. “Mom, this is Melly Kingston.” I perform the introductions, and the women start talking. “If you two don’t mind, I have something important I need to do.” I leave them alone, sensing the two will get along well.