Normally, artists didn’t get to speak before they sang, but Rocky had cleared it with the producers beforehand. Given the hubbub around Ash’s identity, they knew it’d be a huge boon for ratings, and there’d be a lot of surprised faces they could pan to in the audience. I planned to make it worth their time.
“But it means even more to do it with my husband Ash by my side. For all you who’ve been wondering, I can confirm he’s the mystery voice on my record. Every song on Phoenix Rising is a duet; a give and take between us. This album wouldn’t exist without him.”
I turned to Ash and spoke to him instead of the crowd. “The song we’re going to sing for you tonight is my latest single. It’s all about wanting to build a life with someone; about growing old together.” I pushed my guitar around my back and laid my palms on my belly. “It’s about looking at the man you’re going to spend the rest of your life with and saying, ‘there’s three of us now.’”
The crowd erupted into wild, uproarious applause. Chase was in the front row on his feet whistling like a banshee, while Charlotte was waiting in the wings with a sly, knowing smile on her face. She’d been there when I’d taken the test a couple of days ago. Rocky was behind her, his eyes scanning the crowd, taking in their reception. It’d been my idea to announce Ash’s place and important in my life like this; it had been Rocky’s idea to surprise Ash with my other announcement. Now he looked smug, like he was counting the dollar signs in his head.
And Ash? Well, his face was cycling through a bevy of emotions: confused, stunned, surprised, happy, elated, joyous, and now, as he picked me up and spun me around, like he was the happiest fucking man on the planet.
I’d told him I was going to give him babies one day, but because of what had happened with Sonia, he’d never let himself hope too much for that. The last two years I’d tried my hardest to fill in the cracks she’d left him with, the chasms in his soul where his first child had once existed, but I’d always known a part of him expected it not to happen. Tonight, I’d given him hope. I knew our baby could never replace the one he’d lost before he ever got a chance to know him or her, but now he could finally lay his demons to rest.
“I love you Ash,” I said, planting a kiss on his lips as he set me back to my feet. And then, turning back to the audience, I asked, “Now who wants to hear some music?”
THE END
Soundtrack
Vice—Miranda Lambert
Someone New—Hozier
Old Ways—Demi Lovato
Money on My Mind—Sam Smith
Pushing Time—Miranda Lambert
Say It to Me Now—Glen Hansard
Stay with Me—Sam Smith
Take Me to Church—Hozier
Tin Man—Miranda Lambert
Beautiful Disaster—Kelly Clarkson
Devil in Me—Anderson East
Remedy—Adele
Stay—Rhianna
Work Song—Hozier
Poison & Wine—The Civil Wars
Read All About It—Emeli Sandé
Sober—Kelly Clarkson
Holding Onto You—Miranda Lambert
Dive—Ed Sheeran
Arms of a Woman—Amos Lee
Lost Stars—Adam Levine
Maybe—Kelly Clarkson
Georgia—Vance Joy
Take Me Home—Jess Glynne
Life Support—Sam Smith
That Kind of Love—Max
Tennessee Whiskey—Chris Stapleton
LISTEN ON SPOTIFY
Acknowlegements
First and foremost, I want to thank my husband. Every time I think this job is too hard or that I can’t do it, he convinces me otherwise. For over twenty years he’s been my rock, the reason I keep on going.
To Jenny Taylor, who reads everything I write even though she gets practically zero sleep since she spends her days and nights delivering babies. Her job is literally a matter of life and death, but she never makes me feel like what I do isn’t important.
To my mom, Laura, who is without a doubt my biggest fan. Ever since I was a little girl she’s told me there wasn’t anything I couldn’t do. She’s been knocked down a few times over the years, but like Rae, she always got back up. And she’s unfailingly one of the most positive people you’ll ever meet.
To my writing partner Jamaila Brinkley, who has been with me since the beginning and is a major part of my cheering squad. Harper was right; you truly are my soul mate!
To all the book bloggers out there, thank you for featuring my book covers, excerpts, and release announcements. Without you, I’m not sure where we indies would be.
It’s here that I want to take a moment to thank two of the most dedicated and passionate people from this world I’ve had the pleasure of knowing. Tina from Bookalicious Babes Blog and Nicole from Emerald Books Blog—you took a chance on my books early on, and for that I can’t thank you enough.
Finally, thank you to all of my readers—those of you who keep clamoring for just one more story. For fourteen years, I worked in corporate communications, writing staid, dry, technical pieces, and I never thought I’d get a chance to let loose the voices in my head. It means so much to me that you love my crazy and damaged—albeit lovely—characters as much as I do.
About the Author
USA TODAY bestselling author Rebecca Norinne writes contemporary romance about life and love in the real world with a guaranteed happily-ever-after. She is originally from the U.S., but lives in Dublin, Ireland, with her husband. When not writing, she is watching rugby, drinking craft beer, or traveling the globe in search of inspiration for her next book.
You can follow Rebecca on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram. And for news about her latest releases, don’t forget to sign up for Rebecca’s newsletter.
Also by Rebecca Norinne
LUCKY STAR: A HOLLYWOOD LOVE STORY
He said nothing would come between them, but then Hollywood did. Can their love survive his fame?
The only thing actor Cameron Scott wants more than fame is Sarah Travers, the sassy director’s assistant who’s been his best friend since his days as an unknown. After a night spent drinking too much tequila, their relationship moves in a whole new direction. Suddenly, things couldn’t be more perfect ... until Cameron lands the coveted lead in a major motion picture and the studio sets up a "fauxmance" with his gorgeous new co-star. Cameron promised Sarah their love could endure anything, but can it truly survive the price of fame? Find out in this steamy tale of love, sex, and scandal with a happily-ever-after simply made for the movies!
WINNER "BEST OF 2016" FROM BOOKALICIOUS BABES BLOG
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THE TIES THAT BIND: A FORBIDDEN MAFIA ROMANCE
My twin brother Jayce wants the daughter of our family's greatest rival snuffed out, and as the St. John Family assassin, the task falls squarely on my shoulders. Except this is no ordinary hit. Arabella Wilson was my first love—my only love. And my brother? It's only a matter of time until he turns his sights on me. So who will it be—my brother or my lover, my darkness or my light? Find out in this forbidden mafia romance based on Shakespeare’s Romeo & Juliet.
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Meet the Men of Dublin Rugby
TRYING SOPHIE
(Dublin Rugby #1)
Sex and rugby are the only things I care about. I play hard and I fuck even harder.
Until my first love waltzes back into my life and I’m given a second chance to right the wrongs of my past. She doesn’t want to forgive me, but I’ll use everything at my disposal to make her see I’ve changed. That I can be the man she wants me to be.
I’ve never pursued a woman the way I chase down opponents on the field, but this time I won’t back down. I won’t let her run away again.
Sophie was my first love. I'm going to be her last.
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RUCK ME
(Dublin Rugby #2)
She flies by the seat of her pants, and he’s a no nonsense kind of guy. When these opposites attract ..
. oh baby, it’s game on!
I’d called Aoife O’Shaughnessy a number of things, but dumb was never one of them. Through all the trouble she’d gotten into over the years, I never once thought she was actually stupid. Until now. Because I just heard her plan to lose her virginity to the biggest asshole we know.
My first thought? How the fuck is Aoife still a virgin? The second? Over my dead body.
So I volunteered for the job instead.
It might be the stupidest thing I’ve ever done, but once the words were out of my mouth, I couldn’t take them back. I didn’t want to. Suddenly, I couldn’t stop wondering what it would be like to kiss the pink-haired sprite I’d known my whole life, to hear her moan my name when she comes.
And she’s wondering about me too.
It was only supposed to be about sex, but now I'm in deep. I never meant to fall in love with Aoife; this wasn’t supposed to happen. And what came next? Well, neither of us planned on that.
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SCRUMptious
(Dublin Rugby #3)
Chef Lauren Andrews is cooking up something seriously hot with a rugby player ten years younger. It shouldn't add up, but when they get together, age ain't nothing but a number.
Some people came to Ireland for adventure or love. Not me. When I landed in Dublin, it was because my job as a sous chef had imploded on national TV. Humiliated and jobless, I landed a temporary gig as a cook for a rugby team, a sport I knew nothing about.
I certainly wasn’t looking for a relationship, especially with someone like Donal Casey, the team's cocksure young hooker. It was supposed to be a fling, nothing permanent. At least that's what we told ourselves.
But what if you found love in the most unexpected place, with the most unlikely partner? What lengths would you go to keep him? I have a feeling I'm about to find out. Because even though I’m wrong for him, when I’m in Donal’s arms, everything feels oh so right.
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BREAK DOWN
(Dublin Rugby #4)
All my life I’ve looked and wondered. Could I? Would I? And then, finally, I did. And when I sampled a taste of that forbidden fruit, my world came crashing down.
So here I am in a new city in a new country, trying my best to rebuild my life—to get back the things I've lost. But one look at him—those impenetrable whiskey-colored eyes, the abrasive scruff dotting his jaw, and the colorful ink lining his forearms—and I’m back to wondering all over again.
Can I? Will I?
My brain says no, but my body says yes.
** Coming Spring 2018 **
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