by Tania Joyce
She thanked Nina and rushed out of the bridal shop. A blast of hot, early September air swept through the narrow SoHo street as she ducked into her waiting car. She texted the guys to let them know she was on her way.
Leaving now. C U soon. xG
Slumped against the cool leather seat, she wiped her weary eyes.
Stupid wedding. She was over it before it had even happened.
As the car weaved through traffic and headed toward Everhide’s rehearsal space in Brooklyn, Gemma swiveled her engagement ring around her finger.
She took a couple deep breaths and stretched her neck from side to side. She closed her eyes. In six weeks, she’d be Mrs. Kyle McIntyre.
If she survived that long.
At least she could tick off one item on her to-do list.
I got a dress.
A beautiful, simple gown. It was gorgeous.
A vision of the look on Kyle’s face when he saw her in that sheath filled her mind. His espresso eyes would darken and smolder, take on that glint of possessiveness. His whole body would turn to hers. He’d tense his hands by his side as if it took every ounce of will to keep himself restrained. Heat filled her cheeks and a sly smile slipped across her lips. She couldn’t wait to see his reaction. Couldn’t wait to be his wife.
In the calm and quiet cabin of the car, her mind cleared. She wasn’t someone who gave in easily and wasn’t about to turn her wedding into some huge affair. If Kyle’s changes were minimal, like what to have for dinner, or what type of champagne to drink, she’d be okay with that. Anything to keep the peace. But there was no way she’d be married under an archway filled with twinkle lights with hundreds of guests present or walk down the aisle to Wagner's “Here Comes the Bride.” Hell no. With shows, parties and performances to knock off their agenda before the big day, she didn’t want to worry anymore. As long as the gathering stayed small and she could go barefoot in the sand and got to say “I do” to Kyle, she’d be happy.
Because she wanted nothing and nobody to stop her from marrying the man of her dreams.
Chapter 2
The old rehearsal studio in Brooklyn, with its velvet gray drapes surrounding the mock-up stage, smelled of stale cigarettes. Kyle sat on a large amp. His leg jigged in time to the quick beat he plucked on his bass. Da dada da, da da. Da dada da, da da. He glanced at his watch. 1:23 p.m. Gemma was late.
She’d texted saying she was on her way thirty minutes ago. It shouldn’t have taken her this long to get here. Where is she? He didn’t want rehearsal to run overtime. Tonight, when he and Gemma got home, they had to discuss the wedding. There would be no more excuses from her to evade the subject. He half-smiled, recalling her efforts. There’d be no running off to jam out a riff that came to her head, no dashing away to write lyrics, and no getting sidetracked by sex. Although that would be hard to resist. He loved her sense of humor and her feistiness. She made him laugh, feel treasured and adored. Her confidence, quick wit and strength always captivated him. A true angel. But damn, she could be stubborn. Especially when it came to something she wanted to avoid.
He understood why she didn’t want a ceremony. The run-ins and scandals they’d had over the years with the paparazzi, and the issues with her mother and father, had put her off public displays of affection. But he wanted a wedding more than anything. Wanted the day to be perfect. And to make their day even more special, he wanted to make changes. The challenge would be getting Gemma to agree.
Hunter, his best friend, stretched out on the wooden floor a couple feet away, humming warm-up scales. Sophie, their manager, and their backup band, crew and technicians hovered beside them, running through schedules before they jumped into this afternoon’s rehearsal. A few impatient glances darted his way.
Hunter groaned, rubbing his palms against his eyes. “Where the hell is Gem?”
Kyle’s fingers slipped down the neck of his bass and he quickened his tempo. “She was with your girlfriend, dress shopping. That’s why she’s late.”
“Should we start without her?”
“Nah. Give her a bit longer to get here.” Rehearsal, or anything to do with their music, was the one thing Gemma never missed. She hated losing one minute. She’d be tearing her hair out at whatever was holding her up. Come on Gem, where are you?
“Kara probably made her try on every damn dress in the shop.” Hunter leaned back on his hands and crossed his ankles. “Gem won’t be happy when she gets here.”
“Maybe she’s late because she found a dress.” That would be awesome if she found one, putting an end to her worry about the only thing she had to organize.
He pictured her in a wedding dress, something plain and simple. Her dazzling smile, dark brown hair flowing down her back, her delicious lips he couldn’t wait to kiss . . . she’d be gorgeous, no matter what. His heart thudded harder thinking about it.
It’d taken more than twelve years for their friendship to evolve into love. A love that was intense. Profound. Wicked. He’d adored her for longer than he cared to remember. They’d connected through music. Nearly destroyed each other through too much heartache. Even risked their careers. But two years ago, on her twenty-fourth birthday, the stars aligned. They finally admitted their feelings for each other and hadn’t looked back.
Now, the moment was almost here. A moment he’d thought would never happen. He was less than five weeks away from marrying her. After the rough road they’d taken, he wanted to celebrate big-time. Promise to love her, protect her and treat her right. Be nothing like his parents.
Hunter stretched and rubbed the back of his neck. “Bud? Are you okay? You’re zoning out.”
“Yeah. Just got a heap on my mind. Mainly wedding stuff.” But thinking about his parents had triggered memories. Staring at his fingers, his brows pinched together. He plucked his strings harder; his heart shuddered with each reverberation. He recalled his dad’s violent outbursts, his cutting backhands and constant belittling, the always-present fear in his mom’s eyes, and the horrific night four years ago when his parents were killed in a tragic car accident. Nightmares still plagued him. Losing his sister, Emily, to leukemia, when he was fifteen, was just as brutal.
“Are you getting cold feet?” Hunter asked.
He chuckled. “Never.”
While Hunter had been his best friend since elementary school and been by his side through the rough days, Gemma had been his true strength through it all. She’d seen his every wound, heartbreak and failure. And yet, the miracle was she loved him. Every moment with her was a blessing. No matter how much she drove him crazy at times—or was frustratingly late—he loved her with every fiber of his soul. He’d never lash out at her like his father had to him and his mom. No fucking way.
It wasn’t in his blood. Life was too good.
He’d survived for years—the travel, the touring, the partying, the girls—thanks to his friends and Everhide’s entourage. Despite being surrounded by people he loved, sharing every high with Gemma and Hunter, he’d always been lonely. But now, when everyone went home and the music stopped and he crashed into bed, he wasn’t by himself. Not anymore. No more emptiness loomed in his chest. No more pain crippled his heart. Gemma filled every void. He couldn’t wait for her to wear his ring. To call her his wife. To be hers, forever.
“Guys,” Sophie hollered at him and Hunter, jamming her hands onto her hips. “What’s happening? Where the hell is Gemma? Has she texted again?”
“Nah. She can’t be far.” Kyle tapped his fingers against his bass and glanced at his watch again. “Wait five more minutes or we’ll start without her.”
Sophie rolled her eyes, smoothed her hand over her Chanel headband scarf and turned back to her conversation with their band. Not too much fazed Sophie, but like him, not being on time did.
Hunter scooped up his cell phone from the floor beside him. “I’ll fucking text her.”
“No. Don’t.” A nerve pinched in Kyle’s neck. He sighed and slumped his shoulders. “That’ll get her
uptight and I need her to be in a good mood after rehearsal.”
He hoped she was better than this morning. Conversations around the wedding hadn’t gone to plan. He hated he’d upset her, but time was running out to get things organized. They needed to talk. Tonight.
“Why?” Hunter’s fingers hovered over his cell phone, but he didn’t type. “What’s got your nut sacks in a knot?”
Kyle sucked in a deep breath and let it out slowly. He stretched his neck side to side. “I need to talk to her about the wedding tonight. And . . . I want to make some changes.”
Hunter let out a high-pitched chuckle and shook his head. “Oh shit. You’re game.”
“I know.” Resting his arm on top of his bass, his heel jiggled. “But it will be worth it.” I hope.
Hunter put his phone down. “Is she still stressing over information being leaked to the media?”
“Yep. I think that’s got her freaking out the most. I’ve done everything to ensure that won’t happen.” He’d taken on the organizing so no wedding planner could accidentally slip information to the press and Gemma could remain stress-free. “But I want to invite more people.”
Hunter’s eyes widened. “Are you insane? You do want to get married, right? Gem’s not going to like that.”
Over the years, certain people had become an integral part of his life. His cousin Kade, Everhide’s management team, security team, backup band, techs, and a few friends should be at the wedding. These people were family. Family that went beyond DNA. But Gemma didn’t see it that way. She didn’t have a strong sense of family like he did. She’d always kept a line drawn between work colleagues, friends and home life. He didn’t. He wanted these people and their partners to be part of the celebration. He wanted to stand in front of everyone he cared about and vow to love Gemma for the rest of his days. Upping the number of guests wasn’t unreasonable, was it? Going from six people to fifty might be a stretch though.
“That’s why I need her in the best possible mood.” He wiped beads of sweat from his brow. How could he convince her it was right to invite extras? That it meant a great deal to him?
The door to their upstairs rehearsal room slammed open and in strode Gemma. His heartbeat jumped from moderato to allegro. The nerves in the pit of his stomach were drowned by a warmth rising in his veins. Her cheeks were flushed red, no doubt from a mix of rushing to get here and the heat outside. Her long hair was tied back into a disheveled ponytail like she’d just gotten out of bed. The frayed denim skirt she wore low on her hips showed off her slender sexy legs that he loved to kiss every inch of or have wrapped around his waist. Her arms, toned from relentless hours on lead guitar, still held a summer tan. Her gorgeous face was highlighted by a hint of makeup and pale red lip gloss. And just like every time she walked into the room, her smile stole his breath.
The bewildered blaze in her eyes disappeared when she met his. She dashed across the room, past Sophie, their backup band and techs. They clapped as she passed. She threw them the bird.
Damn, I love her.
“About time you showed.” Sophie called out to her.
“Not my fault. Give me two minutes and I’ll be ready.” She threw her duffel bag at Kyle’s feet. It skidded to a halt by the amp. He swung his bass out of the way so she could slip into his lap and kiss him.
“Hi there.” Her breath panted as if she’d run a mile. “Sorry I’m late. Kara held me up, traffic was a bitch, and have you seen the crowd outside?” She hitched her thumb toward the studio’s large box windows that ran the length of the far wall. “There’s about thirty fans outside. How’d they know we were here?”
Kyle kicked Hunter’s foot. “Hunt posted on Instagram.”
Hunter shrugged a shoulder and clambered to his feet, dusting his hands off on his jeans. “We got here early. I was bored.”
“Nice one, goofball.” She leaped from Kyle’s lap, grabbed her transmitter off the nearby table and clipped it onto the back of her skirt. “Without Chester, it took me ages to get inside. Dylan had to get out of the car and play bodyguard.”
“Where’s Chester?” She shouldn’t be out without security. Good thing her driver could step in when needed.
“He had to take his mom to the doctor. He’ll be here soon.”
“You should’ve called. Sam and Mick could’ve come down and helped.” He glared at his and Hunter’s bodyguards drinking coffee by the far wall. They should’ve been waiting outside for Gemma to arrive. Just because tour was over, it was no time to slack off. “We didn’t know there was a crowd outside.”
She waved her hand. “It wasn’t too bad. Dylan didn’t mind.”
Resting his bass beside him, Kyle stood and searched her face and limbs for cuts or bruises. “You okay? Are you hurt?”
“No-pe. I’m fine.” She made a fist and boxer punched the air. With a twist of her wrist, she snapped her fingers, over and over. “I got held up outside by . . . what’s that girl’s name who runs one of our fan clubs? The Ringers chick?”
Kyle grabbed his in-ears and transmitter and put them on. “You mean Taylah?”
Gemma clicked and pointed. “Yeah. That’s her.”
Hunter pulled a hairband from his jeans pocket and tied up his shoulder-length wavy brown hair. “Really? I didn’t know she lived in Brooklyn. I only posted to Insta like . . . twenty minutes ago. News travels fast.” His tone held an undercurrent of cockiness. His smirk hinted at being impressed by being able to attract a crowd so fast.
Kyle leaned forward and kissed Gemma on the forehead. “We’re just glad you’re here. And safe.”
“Always.” Gemma tickled him in the ribs.
He flinched, ticklish as hell. “So? How did this morning go?”
Gemma’s head fell back, and she groaned. “I hate wedding dress shopping with a passion.” She spun around and glared at Hunter, evil flaring like flames in her eyes. “That reminds me.” She grabbed the copy of their setlist off the speaker beside him, scrunched the paper into a ball and pegged it at Hunter’s face. It struck him on the forehead. “That’s for your girlfriend being out of control. She doesn’t listen. She thinks this is her wedding. And is driving me fucking crazy.”
Hunter caught and juggled the ball, laughing a that-so-didn’t-hurt-me laugh. At six-foot two, he towered over Gemma. “Why are you taking it out on me? She’s your bestie.” He flicked the paper ball back at her.
Gemma caught it one-handed. “Ha . . . too slow.”
Before those two broke out into a wrestle on the floor, Kyle wrapped his arms around Gemma and held her close. Normally he’d join in with their play-fighting antics, but they needed to start rehearsal, and a quick feel of her warm skin against his would always beat mucking around. “I take it dress shopping didn’t go well.”
She slumped and rested her head against his chest. “Kara made me try on all these dresses I didn’t like. Such a waste of time.”
“But did you get a dress?”
Lifting her chin, she met his gaze. Flecks of silver glittered in her green eyes. She scraped her teeth across her lower lip and slid her hand down his chest, tugging on the center of his T-shirt. “Yeah, I got a dress.”
His heart strummed like a symphony. “Well then, it was worth it.” He dipped his head to kiss her, the taste of her cherry-flavored gloss lingering on his mouth. “I can’t wait to see you in it.” Just thinking about it made his dick throb.
Hunter grabbed his rhythm guitar off the rack and hooked the strap over his head. “Before you two make me sick, let’s get this over with so I can go home to my girl. Hopefully she’ll be in the mood to play dress-ups for me.”
“Too much information.” Kyle grabbed Gemma’s guitar off the rack and handed it to her. “But whatever does it for you, bud.”
Hunter’s face lit with a smug grin and he filled the air with a strum of his guitar. “That she does.”
“Hey!” Sophie ambled toward them. “Two minutes is up. Y’all set?”
“Yep.” Gemm
a plugged in her guitar and shuffled the cord out of her way.
Kyle swooped in to steal one more kiss from Gemma. A decent kiss, not some lame-assed tease. He had to get rid of her fluster, make her feel good about getting a dress, have her excited to hit rehearsal with a bang, and put them on the right path for tonight’s talk. This type of kiss always affected her. A tease of his tongue, a rush of hot breath, a gentle suck on her bottom lip. Hmm. Her body just started to melt into his, her guitar pressing between them, when he stopped. Had to before he got a hard-on.
Her cheeks flushed pink and she licked her lips. “What was that for?”
“You’re here.” Before Gemma’s intuition kicked in and she questioned his motivation further, he turned, picked up his bass, and placed the strap over his head. “Let’s play.”
Not a day went by when he didn’t count his blessings. He had Gemma and Hunter, his brother from another mother. These two were his closest family. They’d grown up together, experienced life together, achieved their dreams together. Love had taken them down some crazy, heartbreaking, and mixed up pathways. But the connection between the three of them would always remain. It ran deeper and stronger than any bloodline. Nothing and no one would ever tear them apart. He’d do anything for these two. Yep, he’d literally die for them. So Bryan Adams.
“Right.” Sophie batted her copy of their setlist against her palm. Kyle clipped his mic in and straightened. When Sophie spoke, they stopped and listened. “We’ve less than one week until the benefit concert in Central Park, then two weeks to Vegas; and a week after that is New Jersey, your last big gig for this album and promo schedule.”
“Oh shit, really?” Hunter splayed his hand over his chest, his tone full of faux shock. “Guys, did you know we have some gigs coming up?”
“Enough of your smart-assing around.” Sophie whacked him on the arm with the set list. “I’m just reminding y’all we’ve a shitload to do before time off, so let’s get to it.”
“Hey, before we start.” Gemma snatched the set list from Sophie. “On the way over, I thought we should change out the song ‘Only You’ and replace it with ‘Escape’. It’s a better fit for the tone of the first section. We open with party songs, then do a mash-up of old hits, and close with a couple classics and our latest single. What do you think?”