“Just look at me,” Rory whispered into the microphone, and there were whistles in the audience. He began singing the beginning, and the crowd roared, then immediately quieted so they could hear him.
He stared at her the entire time he sang. Soon it was time for her part.
She nervously began, her voice soft until the part where she had to belt it out. She knew her voice was not that great, but the audience roared, and then the most amazing thing happened; they began to sing along.
She turned and smiled, seeing so many of the women in the crowd singing.
Rory didn’t take his eyes from her, and when the song ended, the applause was deafening.
“Stay right there,” he said to her.
He pulled his guitar off and moved to set it in a stand. Then he walked slowly to her, crooking a finger so she’d turn toward him. He took both her hands in his and then he dropped to one knee, looking up at her, smiling, and the crowd went wild.
Rayne’s eyes got big. “What are you doing?” she whispered so low, she was mouthing the words.
“My pretty girl with the lavender hair, you stole my heart when you stood on stage with me and sang that song. I love you more than anything in this world. And I know this is a crazy life I’m offering you, but I can’t think of anyone else I want to share it with. Will you marry me, Rayne?”
He let go of her hands, pulled a diamond ring out of his pocket, and held it up to her. She covered her face with her hands, peering at him over the top with big eyes that began to sting with unshed tears. Then she nodded frantically, and the room erupted.
He slipped it on, then stood and hugged her, lifting her off her feet and spinning her around in circles as a whirl of lights sped by her.
And that’s the photo someone snapped from the front of the crowd—the one that made it to the papers. Her with her sparkling silver cocktail dress and her heels kicked back, her lavender hair flying out behind her and her face buried in his neck.
What that photo didn’t show was the happiness on her face.
***
Jameson stood in the living room of the condo and toasted the couple with a glass of champagne held high.
“To my baby brother and his lovely soon-to-be-bride. I wish you all the best in the world. And to Rayne—this family you’re marrying into is a little bit of crazy, a little bit of loud, but a whole lot of love. Welcome to the family.”
She smiled and lifted her glass to him in salute. She was tucked up against Rory’s side, his arm tight around her waist. They drank a sip, and Rory dipped his head and kissed her.
It was late and soon the girls all left, and his family drifted off to bed.
She moved to their room to undress, but had barely slipped her heels off before they heard the baby’s cries in the monitor.
Rayne groaned, and Rory moved behind her, setting his hands on her shoulders; he kissed her cheek. “I’ll get her, babe.”
He moved off to do that, and she went into the walk-in closet to hang up her dress and take off her jewelry. She took a moment to stare down at the sparkling diamond on her hand. She’d been so surprised tonight, but it had all been so perfect. She smiled and slipped a silk robe on and padded down the hall, looking for Rory. She found him leaned back in the deep cushions of the sofa group, his head back and Danielle on his chest. She had her legs tucked up under her and her little butt in the air, her cheek pressed to her daddy’s shirt and her little bow mouth moving silently to an imaginary bottle. His big palms held her butt and back. They were both fast asleep.
Rayne took the sight in for a moment.
Her life was good—so good. That precious baby and that man had been sent to her from heaven above. She whispered softly, “Thank you, Daniel. I know you sent me these two, and I know you’ll always be watching over us.”
As if on cue, her baby smiled.
Epilogue
Rayne—
The entire O’Rourke family as well as my father and my girl squad were all gathered at the family farm for Danielle’s first birthday party.
It had been an exhausting day filled with fun as all the little cousins played. We’d put up balloons and banners and even a ball pit for the little ones to play in.
I’d gotten fabulous pictures of Danielle with her little smash cake that Velvet had made for her. Butterflies and fairies had been the theme of the day, and all the little girls had dressed up with little wings on their backs and fairy dresses, all designed of hand-painted silk by Malee.
Now the children were fast asleep on blankets around the bonfire under the starry night sky, and all of us tired parents rested and stared at the flames.
Danielle was curled in Rory’s arms, and as I looked around I saw Lila Rose in Ava’s lap and baby Grace between Max and Malee. Ben lay with Buddy, his pit bull, resting at his side. Liam was sprawled on a blanket with Velvet in his arms.
Jameson walked around the circle with a bottle of fine Irish whiskey, pouring some in each of our Red Solo cups. He made sure everyone had some for a toast except for Velvet; he skipped over her, saying, “You can’t have any.” Even my dad and Mrs. Larsen took some.
Jameson raised his cup high as the fire crackled and the wood popped, shooting sparks into the air. “I’ve learned, with a little help from my beautiful wife, that the secret to having it all is in knowing that you already do. This family is a circle of strength for all of you to draw from. We’ve had amazing successes, but we all know that it’s not about the size of the house…it’s the people in it.
“In this family…we make mistakes, we say we’re sorry, we give second chances, and we forgive.” He paused to laugh. “We also do really loud arguments.”
We all laughed.
Jameson continued. “But when it’s all said and done, we love each other, stand by each other, and look out for each other.”
“Cheers to that.” Max lifted his cup.
“Hear, hear,” Liam agreed.
“Absolutely,” I heard my husband say in my ear.
Jameson stared at his wife. “My brothers, love your woman, love her completely, tell her, but most importantly, show her, because this life is fragile.” He turned in a circle, taking in his siblings. “All of us have learned that the hard way, because we had to. It can be taken from us so quickly, and so we’ve learned to never take it for granted. Everything is temporary in this life but our love for each other. Remember that.”
I watched Rory as his brother made that toast. I knew for him it wasn’t just his parents’ death that had taught him that lesson; he’d been quite shaken when he’d thought he might lose me as well. When Danielle and I had gotten home from the hospital, he hadn’t left our side for weeks, and after he proposed, he’d given me the wedding of my dreams. He liked to spoil me, and I let him, because I knew he needed to do that. I know he’d promised my father to take care of me and provide for me, but in the hospital when he’d been on his knees praying to God, like my girls had told me he’d done, I think he’d made a promise to God, as well.
And now as I watched him hold our daughter with such love in his eyes, I knew that whatever promise he’d made to God that day, he’d keep it.
I leaned over and kissed him.
Jameson lifted his glass, and we all followed suit. He stared up at the sky. “Mom and Dad, we made it through. We all have wives and children. Well, one on the way.” He winked at Velvet, who blew him a kiss.
Ava interrupted him, holding up two fingers. “Two.”
Jameson frowned at her correction. “Is she having twins?”
Ava shook her head. “No, honey. There are two O’Rourke women with babies on the way.”
His brows arched. “You?”
She smiled and nodded.
He grinned huge, and I couldn’t help but laugh as he took her cup away. “Then you can’t have that.” He bent and kissed her. “Goddamn, I love you, woman.” Then he looked to the sky. “Mom and Dad, I know you are both so proud.” Then he turned to his family. “I love you
all.”
And as we drank, two shooting stars sparkled across the sky.
***
Thank you for reading RORY. If you liked RORY, you’ll love Soul Sisters…
Preview of SOUL SISTERS – A Duology due out January 2020
What happens when twin sisters switch places?
Not a big deal?
What if one is a rock star and one is a biker chick?
Before rocker Charlotte Justice made it big in the music industry, she was part of a duet with her twin sister. But something happened that not only ended their act, but also drove a wedge between them so huge, her sister had run off, disappearing for years.
When Charlotte hires a private detective to find her twin sister, whom she hasn’t seen in years, she’s not ready for what she discovers. Scarlett is living with a motorcycle club.
Determined to rebuild their relationship, Charlotte invites Scarlett to one of her concerts. Charlotte’s just returned from the first leg of her European tour and she’s exhausted. A heavy tour schedule and personal issues have her needing a break and that’s when a spur-of-the-moment decision has her switching places with her twin, giving Scarlett the opportunity for the music career she never got to have, and giving Charlotte what she thinks is going to be a stress-free respite.
What awaits them is more than either of them anticipates.
Is the grass truly greener on the other side?
And what happens when they each fall in love with men neither of them expected?
Preview of HAMMER
Hammer watched Tink strut past him without so much as a glance. She’d been giving him the cold shoulder for a while now, and it was getting on his nerves. His eyes moved over her hot little body—a body that had been driving him crazy and keeping him awake at night.
His brothers ribbed him endlessly about her—the one chick he’d been infatuated with for months and who wouldn’t give him the time of day. They found that hilarious.
Hammer, not so much. He found it irritating, exasperating, and annoying. He just didn’t get it. After all, he was a big, muscular man who turned female heads wherever he went. Tattoos covered the skin of his sculpted body, and that combined with being a patched member of the Evil Dead MC did it for most women who were into bad boys. Not Tink, though. Unfortunately for Hammer, the one woman he wanted more than any other seemed to be immune to him.
Well, he’d had about enough of her snubbing him like he didn’t even exist. That was all about to change, because Hammer had decided he’d pussyfooted around her long enough. He was going after what he wanted, and what he wanted more than anything was that hot little girl with the short white blonde hair. The one so petite, the guys in the club had nicknamed her Tinker Bell.
Yes, that sexy little sprite was going to be his.
***
Tink was totally aware of Hammer’s eyes on her as she walked past. Warmth flooded her body, like it did every time she was near him and he looked at her that way, like he was undressing her with his eyes and imagining all the sordid things he’d like to do to her.
Things she lay awake at night imagining as well.
But Tink wasn’t willing to risk her heart; not for a man who could hurt her like he could, a man who’d already been with her sister. Raven always got what she wanted, and that usually was anything she thought Tink might want. She’d beat her to it every single time.
Tink had learned long ago not to even try to compete with her sister. It was pointless. So, she’d carved out a life for herself surrounded by the men of this MC and the women who’d become her best friends. It was a world she thought her sister would never be interested in, and she’d never have to compete with her in.
Apparently, she’d thought wrong.
Look for HAMMER August 2019!
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About the Author
Nicole James is the author of hot as sin romance with badass heroes who’ll do anything for the women they love…
The Evil Dead MC Series and Brothers Ink Tattoo Series.
She makes her home in Alabama.
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Rory Page 20