Honey slapped the table. “I like this new Scarlett. Now, darlin’…tell us the rest.” She arched a brow, daring her to argue.
Scarlett rubbed at an imaginary scuff on the table. “About that…”
She told them everything about how she and Gavin met, about Aiden, about falling in love, and about why she ran out on him.
“I think we all knew there was more to the story than either of you were telling, but it was so much fun watching you lose your mind over that boy, we didn’t say anything.” Honey laughed.
“You weren’t embarrassed?”
“Lord, no,” Honey said.
“When that video was released we did worry for you some,” her father said, “but that worked out too because it gave you and Gavin an excuse to get out of this small-minded town.”
“But now you’ve come back without him,” Joyce said.
“And that baby,” Honey added.
Floyd slung an arm over her shoulder. “We only want you to be happy, Scarlett, and that rock-n-roll fella makes you happy. Any fool can see that.”
“Yes, well, leaving him was the biggest mistake I’ve made through all of this. I left because I thought I was protecting him. The problem with that genius plan is that I need him so much it hurts. So even if it’s selfish, I’m going to get him back.”
“That’s good to hear.” Gavin pulled open the screen door and strode inside.
“Gavin.” She knocked her chair over trying to get to her feet. Hope jackhammered her heart. Maybe she could fix this. “Let’s go outside so we can talk.”
“I don’t think so, Red. I need the witness of our families to make sure you don’t run again.”
She gulped down a riptide of emotion. “Our families?”
Jack walked in carrying Aiden, Luanne right behind him, with Kristy pulling up the rear. The kitchen burst at the seams with family.
“Give me that baby,” Honey said.
Luanne crossed her arms over her chest. “Good luck, Honey. Jack won’t give him up, believe me I’ve tried.”
“Honey? I’m Jack Avery. Would you like to hold Aiden?”
“Hey.” Luanne swatted his arm.
“I sure would, you good-looking thing.”
Luanne gagged.
Jack smirked.
Aiden squealed, “Scawit!”
“Sweetheart, I’m Joyce,” Joyce said to Kristy.
“Hello, I’m Kristy.”
Floyd slapped Gavin on the back. “Son, it’s good to have you back.”
“Thank you, sir,” he said without taking his gaze from Scarlett. “I need to ask you a question.”
“Yes?”
“May I marry your daughter, again?”
Her entire body vibrated with happiness.
“Do you love her, boy?”
“Boy, boy, boy!” Aiden yelled.
“Yes. I love her very much.”
Her father’s grin split his face from ear to ear. “Scarlett, darlin’, do you want to marry this fellow again?”
“Again, and again, and again.” She could barely see his smiling face through the curtain of tears in her eyes. “I love you too.”
Gavin prowled toward her. When his warm hands cupped her face, the chaos of the room fell away and it was just the two of them.
“I do love you, Scarlett. I’m so sorry for the terrible things I said. Can you ever forgive me?” His gray cashmere eyes pleaded for forgiveness.
Her arms went around his neck. “I’ve already forgiven you. I’m the one who should be apologizing. I should never have left you. I’m yours. You’re stuck with me, rock star.”
He rested his forehead against hers. “Forever?”
“Forever.”
He kissed her, and she kissed him, and they made promises to each other surrounded by the nutty, messy, unpredictable family they both loved.
Epilogue
The sweet smell of roses, lavender, and honeysuckle from her bouquet floated around Scarlett. If love had a smell this would be it. She stood under a vine-covered arbor with her rock star, who wore a beautiful tux that fit him perfectly. Never one to bend to convention, he’d left the collar open, revealing her favorite tattoo of Aiden’s name at the base of his neck.
Though they’d been married several months, this was the official ceremony. At least according to Honey, who had the whole thing planned down to when and how Gavin would remove her garter—after the cake and with his teeth.
Jack stood next to Gavin looking drop-dead gorgeous, which only pissed off Luanne. She hadn’t stopped griping about it all night.
Their family and friends were gathered in chairs draped in white and tied with red satin ribbons, on the side lawn of the farm. The trees were filled with twinkle lights and white paper lanterns, and fireflies danced just above the ground. It was a far cry from a Las Vegas wedding chapel, and her pastor, Brother Randy, was much more dignified than the Whitney Houston impersonator who’d done the honors in Vegas.
Shame.
In the last several months she’d learned to embrace the outrageous and let go of normal—because there really was no such thing as normal, and normal was boring. And if she could say one thing about life with her new husband, it was never boring.
He was about to go into the studio to record his first album for Honey Child Records, the label he and Jack started in Zachsville, even though Jack refused to live in town, choosing instead to live in Austin, where all the cool people are, according to him.
She’d warmed up to Jack over the last couple of months, but given that Luanne so openly hated him, it was good he was an hour away for his own safety.
Brother Randy addressed the audience. “The couple has elected to recite their own vows tonight. Gavin.”
An adorable bead of sweat broke out on her husband’s brow. He was nervous. This rock god, who had sung in front of millions of people, was nervous about saying his vows in front of sixty people. It made her love him even more.
“Scarlett, before I met you I lived in a very lonely world, a world of shadows and sadness, a world where I only existed. I never knew my life could be filled with so much light and love. You’ve done that.” He looked at her in that way that always stole her heart. Like he couldn’t quite believe she was real. “You breathe sunshine into my life. You amaze me every day with the way you adore our son and me. I love your beautiful heart, and I promise to guard it forever. I love you. I choose you, for always.” He kissed her hands and wiped a tear from her cheek.
The pastor nodded. “Scarlett.”
She took a minute to compose herself. She had to get this right, it was too important to mess up. “Gavin, I’ve always tried to live my life the safest way possible. I do the right things, I obey the law, I never break the rules, I return library books on time.” The audience chuckled. “But I’ve found that love changes things. It has a way of narrowing down what’s important and what isn’t, and what I know now is… You are the most important thing in my life, and I would lie, cheat, steal, and break every rule to get to you. There’s nothing I wouldn’t do to keep your heart safe and to prove my love for you. You are everything I never knew I needed, and all I will ever want.”
He didn’t wait for Brother Randy to give him permission, he grabbed her, his mouth crashed down on hers, and like every other time he kissed her like this, she lost her mind. Her lips opened for him and their tongues played together, until she was panting and boneless.
Brother Randy coughed.
“Get a room,” Jack and Luanne said in unison.
Honey whooped from the front row.
She reluctantly pulled back. With swollen lips and triumphant eyes, he smiled down at her, and she knew she’d never run from this rock star again.
The End
Acknowledgments
Oh, my gosh, y’all! I’m so humbled and blessed that you spent your hard-earned money and precious time to read my book. You guys are my new best friends!
Running From A Rock Star has been a labor
of love for me, but it wasn’t created in a vacuum. There are many people who helped me along the way.
First and foremost, I must thank my critique partners, who are incredible authors in their own right and the unofficial Scott Eastwood fan club. Carla Rossi, Stacey A. Purcell, and Melissa Ohnoutka, you’ve left your mark on this book and my heart. Your support, friendship, and honesty mean everything to me. I will never be able to thank you guys for all you’ve done.
I’d also like to thank the members of my home chapter of RWA, Northwest Houston RWA, for all their support and encouragement.
To author Nina Cordoba, my rom-com buddy and mentor—thank you for your encouragement and help in understanding the minutiae of writing funny books.
A big shout out to the SAS Romance/Erotica Masterminds! There were many days I might’ve quit if not for your accountability and encouragement. You ladies are the best, and I’m blessed to know you and be counted among your ranks.
To Johnny B. Truant, Sean Platt, and David Wright (the Self-Publishing Podcast guys)—thank you for your podcast, the Smarter Artist Summit, and for giving me a path and direction to follow. Also to the Smarter Artist community at large, thank you for being so amazing.
I’m very fortunate to have many cheerleaders in my life and I’d like to thank my Austin friends, Kristy, Carol, Jennifer, Teri, Staci, Kathy, and Jo for always asking about my writing and for encouraging me in every way possible. I love you guys and miss you so much.
To Danielle, the most generous person I know, thank you for always being in my corner and knowing the right words to get me back on track when I freak out. I thank God for bringing you into my life, my friend.
Thanks to Laurie Starkey for giving me a job and more publishing information than my brain can hold. Your capacity to care for others humbles and inspires me.
My beta readers: Kathy Duncan, Stacia Norris, Cambra Nelson, and Elizabeth Crownover, you guys rock. I am super grateful for your feedback. You seriously saved my bacon.
To the talented Najla Qamber, of Najla Qamber Designs, you created a kick-ass book cover in spite of me. LOL! Thanks for your patience and incredible eye for beauty and what works. You’re the best.
A GIGANTIC thank you to my editor, Serena Clarke. You made me look like I knew what I was doing. When you’re grammatically challenged, it’s good to know someone like you. Thank you for being such a great friend, even though we’re continents away from one another. Ain’t the internet grand?
To my parents: Thank you, Mom and Dad, for always supporting me and believing I could do way more than I believed I could. To my sisters, Amy, Dana, Joni, and Randi: You four are my ride or die people, and I love you more than you know.
To my three children: Thank you for caring about my writing and for forgiving me when my mind wandered to my story during our conversations. Thank you for your unconditional support. You guys are the best thing I’ve ever done. This includes my awesome son-in-law to be, who built my fabulous website.
Finally, to my husband: I hit the matrimonial lottery with you, babe. Thank you for all the meals you cooked, for cleaning the house, for the celebratory cake you made when I won the Lone Star Writing Competition, and for watching TV alone in the evenings so I could write. You’ve never wavered in your support of me. I hope I’ve made you proud, because this book is as much yours as it is mine. Team Albright for the win!
A Note to Readers
Dear Reader,
One of the best ways to support an author is to leave a review! If you enjoyed Scarlett and Gavin’s story, please do leave a review on Amazon. It doesn’t have to be long or fancy, just click the link below and write what you feel. Thanks in advance for being awesome!
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Stay in touch
Want to chat with other readers or me about favorite scenes, characters, or Honey’s wardrobe?
Join me on Facebook at JamiAlbrightAuthor, on Twitter at @JamiAlbright, and on Instagram at jamialbright1.
You can also find me online at www.jamialbright.com, or email me at [email protected].
Jack and Luanne practically ignited the pages when they were in the same scene. It’s a blast to write characters with such explosive chemistry. Want to know if Jack and Luanne find their happily ever after? Sign up for my newsletter at the link below to receive updates and release information.
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Want to take a peek into Scarlett and Gavin’s lives a year after their wedding? Click the link below to receive a super exclusive scene. It involves a naked trip to the barn, a hot rock star, and the pastor of the Baptist Church!
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About the Author
Jami Albright is a born and raised Texas girl and an award-winning author who writes zany, sexy, laugh-out-loud stories. If you don’t snort with laughter, then she hasn’t done her job.
Jami is a wife, mother, and an actress/comedian. She spends her days writing and wrangling her adorably mischievous dog, Tug, who may or may not be human.
She loves her family, all things Outlander, and puppies make her stupid happy. She can be found on Sundays during football season watching her beloved Houston Texans and trying not to let them break her heart.
Running From A Rock Star is the first book in her Brides on the Run series.
Running From A Rock Star (Brides on the Run Book 1) Page 26