“Which is?”
“You are the love of my life, Camaro. Whether your last name is Moltepulciano or O’Brien, it is you and your sweet heart that I’m in love with. If you say yes to me, I promise to sing you the song I wrote for you, right here and now, and also to love you for all of my days. Rocker or businessman, pauper or prince, I belong to you, and you belong to me. The only thing you need to do is believe and write your own happy ending for the two of us in our real lives.”
He cocked his head. “What do you say?”
“I say yes.” I smiled slowly, infusing the curve of my lips with all the love inside my heart. “And I say they live happily ever after.”
“Of course we do. It might’ve been chance that brought us together, but it was inevitable for me to fall in love with you, and you with me.” He grinned. “You’re a brilliant writer, after all, writing from your heart a perfect ending from the things you know. Now, sit down and I’ll play you the song I wrote just for you.”
What would be so wrong
To hear the siren’s song
If it could set me free
Open my eyes to see
That you’re my only song
I’ve known it all along
You are my melody
You woke the sound in me
Could it be wrong at all
To heed the siren’s call
And understand at last
That we can leave the past
You are my only song
You carry me along
You are my melody
You’re my muse, can’t you see
Let me inspire you
Make all your dreams come true
Protect you from all harm
Take shelter in my arms
’Cause you’re my only song
Our love could be so strong
And if you will let me
I’ll be your harmony
Epilogue
* * *
Camaro
“Once upon a time, there was a lonely prince. He lived in a palace on three levels by the sea. One level had a view of the ocean. One level had a view of the land. And the top level, his secret favorite level, had a view of the sky. At night, when his princely responsibilities were done and no one else was watching him, he would climb up the ladder and fall asleep on his rooftop, gazing at the stars.
“One night, one very special magical night, he woke up to see an angel peeking around the moon to look at him. She had hair as dark as the night sky, and silver eyes that sparkled brighter than the moon.”
“Can I see the picture again?” a little boy with platinum hair asked me.
I turned back to the page with Jewel’s illustration and moved the book around to let the others see the picture again too. There was a collective sigh from all the children gathered in a circle around me. Smiling softly, I returned to my previous spot and continued to read my story.
“‘Who are you?’ the lonely prince asked the angel. ‘You seem familiar to me.’
“‘I am a muse. Your muse.’
“‘What is a muse?’ the prince asked.
“‘A magical creature. A daughter of Zeus. We are many. We inspire artists. It isn’t important what I am, but why I have been sent. You are alone. You don’t need to be, and you won’t be anymore, once you find your true calling.’
“‘What is my true calling?’
“‘That’s for you to decide.’
“‘How can I decide?’ The young prince’s regal brow creased.
“‘Look within. All the important answers lie within our hearts.’
“‘I would rather talk to you some more. Won’t you come sit beside me for a while?’
“‘I can’t.’ The muse shook her head.
“‘Why not?’
“‘No one has ever asked me to.’
“‘I’m asking.’
“‘Okay.’ The muse stepped out of the heavens and dropped down to the earth, sliding through the darkness of space as if it were a slide. Her feet were encased in slippers that shone like her dress did with stardust. Her soles made a magical tinkling sound when they touched the rooftop.
“‘Your shoes sound like music.’ The prince grinned. He never felt like grinning when he was doing his required princely chores. ‘I like music. Can you tap your feet again?’
“The muse tapped her feet. The prince tilted his head.
“‘Your golden hair looks like treasure, and clinks like coins do when the strands glide together,’ the muse said with a smile. ‘I like the way it sounds.’
“‘We make nice music together.’ The prince stood, bowed to the muse, and held out his hand. ‘Would you dance with me?’
“‘Yes, I would.’ The muse danced with the prince until the sun came up. She came every night. They danced, and they made music together. They were both happy.
“One night, the muse told the prince, ‘I can’t come back to see you anymore.’
“‘Why not?’ The prince frowned.
“‘Because I am a muse, and my job is done. You have found what you must do.’
“‘What?’ the prince asked.
“‘You are a musician, not a prince. You must make music.’
“‘Ah,’ he said, realizing what the muse said was true. ‘I will. I will make music.’
“‘I am happy for you.’ The muse smiled, but it was a sad smile. ‘I will miss you.’ She kissed the prince, and she turned to jump back into the night sky, but the prince stopped her.
“‘Muse,’ he said. ‘My muse. You must not go.’
“‘Why not?’ she asked.
“‘Being a muse isn’t your calling anymore. You love me, and I love you. Love is the most important thing in the world. We make each other happy. You must stay and marry me. You can help me with my princely duties in the day, and at night, we will dance and make music together.’
“And they did.
“The prince wasn’t lonely anymore, and the muse was no longer a muse, but a princess. And all the levels of the castle were filled with their music and love, and they lived happily ever after.
“The end.”
The children clapped excitedly, and I smiled, feeling as happy as the muse in the story.
“Mrs. Marshall?”
“Yes, Gilbert.” I glanced up to see my driver.
“Mr. Marshall called. He says you need to hurry.”
“Yes, of course. I lost track of time.”
“He knew you would, ma’am.” Gilbert stuck a finger into the collar of his shirt to loosen it. His skin was red beneath it. I knew he had a little bit of a crush on me.
“I’ll just sign their books and be right there.”
“You need to, uh, get dressed.”
“So I do.” I glanced down at myself in my T-shirt and jeans. What was appropriate for children’s hour at the bookstore wouldn’t work for the Grammys. “My dress is in the car. Can you get it?”
“Sure, but—”
“I’ll change here in the restroom.”
Gilbert’s eyebrows rose high. “You’re a high-fashion supermodel, a bestselling author, and the wife of a rock star up for a Grammy for best album tonight. You can’t change into a ballgown in a public restroom at Barnes and Noble.”
“I can, Gilbert, and I will. Don’t be ridiculous. I’m those things, but I’m still just me.”
Muttering under his breath about my eccentric behavior, he shook his head and went to get my gown. I signed the picture books and took photos with my fans. I loved my fans. They were the best.
Afterward, I shimmied into a black velvet body-skimming gown embroidered with gold stars and crescent moons. I noted with a secret smile that it was a little snugger than it had been when Lace Lowell designed it for me.
Inside the town car, I fluffed my hair and put on lip gloss while Gilbert pretended not to glance at me in the rearview mirror.
At the Microsoft Theater, Gilbert stopped at the designated drop-off point. A uniformed attenda
nt stepped to the curb to open my door, but my husband beat him to it.
“My lady,” Brad said low and soft, offering me his hand.
I took it, and he pulled me effortlessly from the back seat into his perfect embrace.
As he kissed me, his hands went low on my ass, and mine twined together around his neck. Cameras went off all around us, the whirring of the motors sounding to my author’s ears like the fluttering of rapidly turning pages. The pages to Brad and Cam’s continuing happily-ever-after.
Brad leaned back to look at me. “You’re coming up onstage with me tonight.”
Dazzled by how handsome he was in his tux, with the flashes of the cameras going off like fireworks in his gorgeous blue eyes, it took me a moment for his words to register.
“No way,” I said. “I don’t sing.”
“You’re my siren and my muse. I’m doing your song. You’re going to sit on the piano bench with me.”
Outwardly, I sighed, but inside, I swooned. His extravagant love made me a feel like a fairy-tale princess. Well, a queen now, technically.
“Okay, I can do that. But you need to do something for me.”
“What’s that?” he asked, canting his head.
“Be the father to our child.”
“You’re pregnant?”
I nodded, tears filling my eyes.
“Ah, Cam. This is incredible. A wish come true.”
He lifted me in the air and swung me around, and I gazed adoringly down at him while he beamed up at me.
His love made me his queen. My love made him my rock ’n’ roll king. Together, our love had made a prince or a princess.
And someday, he or she would have their very own once-upon-a-time story to tell.
Acknowledgements
* * *
To my readers. I am so grateful to you. Thank you for reading my stories. Because of you, I have my dream job. I love you. You rock the casbah!
To my hubby. The inspiration for everything romantic.
My Rock All Star reader group. For encouragement.
My team. Lisa Anthony. My PA. Michelle Preast at IndieBookCovers. Lori Jackson Designs. Wander Aguiar. Allusion Graphics. Enticing Journey Promotions.
Honorable mentions.
A sweet reader who has her name in the story.
Teresa Marsh Jensen. My rock muse.
MJ Fryer. My literary muse.
Other Books by Michelle Mankin
* * *
Michelle Mankin is the New York Times bestselling author of the Black Cat Records series of novels.
Fall in love with a rock star.
Love Evolution, Love Revolution, and Love Resolution are a BRUTAL STRENGTH centered trilogy, combining the plot underpinnings of Shakespeare with the drama, excitement, and indisputable sexiness of the rock 'n roll industry.
Things take a bit of an edgier, once upon a time turn with the TEMPEST series. These pierced, tatted, and troubled Seattle rockers are young and on the cusp of making it big, but with serious obstacles to overcome that may prevent them from ever getting there.
Rock stars, myths, and legends collide with paranormal romance in a totally mesmerizing way in the MAGIC series.
Get swept away by temptation in the ROCK STARS, SURF AND SECOND CHANCES series.
Romance and self-discovery, the FINDING ME series is a Tempest spin off with a more experienced but familiar cast of characters.
The ROCK F*CK CLUB series is a girl-power fueled reality show with the girls ranking the rock stars.
The ONCE UPON A ROCK STAR series is sexy modern fairytale retellings.
When Michelle is not prowling the streets of her Texas town listening to her rock or NOLA funk music much too loud, she is putting her daydreams down on paper or traveling the world with her family and friends, sometimes for real, and sometimes just for pretend.
BRUTAL STRENGTH series:
Love Evolution
Love Revolution
Love Resolution
Love Rock’ollection
TEMPEST series (also available in audio):
Irresistible Refrain
Enticing Interlude
Captivating Bridge
Relentless Rhythm
Tempest Raging
Tempting Tempo
Scandalous Beat
The Complete Tempest Rock Star Series, books 1-6
The MAGIC series (also available in audio):
Strange Magic
Dream Magic
Twisted Magic
ROCK STARS, SURF AND SECOND CHANCES series (also available in audio):
Outside
Riptide
Oceanside
High Tide
Island Side
The Complete Rock Stars, Surf and Second Chances Series, Books 1-5
FINDING ME series (also available in audio):
Find Me
Remember Me
Keep Me
ROCKF*CK CLUB Girls Ranking the Rock Stars series (also available in audio):
ROCK F*CK CLUB (Girls Ranking the Rock Stars, Book #1)
ROCK F*CK CLUB (Girls Ranking the Rock Stars, Book #2)
ROCK F*CK CLUB (Girls Ranking the Rock Stars, Book #3)
ROCK F*CK CLUB (Girls Ranking the Rock Stars, Book #4)
ROCK F*CK CLUB (Girls Ranking the Rock Stars, Book #5)
Once Upon A Rock Star:
The Right Man
The Right Wish
The Right Wrong
Stay connected. For cover reveal and release alerts: Text ROCK BOOK to 33777
For release alerts, follow Michelle Mankin on Bookbub
Receive the Black Cat Records newsletter
Hang out with me in my reader group. Join the Rock All Stars. Be an Author Michelle Mankin VIP.
Follow Author Michelle Mankin
On Instagram
On Facebook
Twitter
Still here?
Would you like to know what fairy tale will be next and who will be in it?
Text ROCK BOOK to 33777
I will text the info to your cell, along with a link to the pretty photos in my storyboard for a possible novella with Camaro and Bradley. At the end, there will be a poll. I am letting you, my lovely readers, vote on whether I add a Camaro novella to my writing calendar.
Rock hugs,
In other words, super cool ones;)
Michelle
Ps. If you really enjoy my books. Yay!!! Join my reader group on Facebook. You can get to it from my Author Michelle Mankin page. It’s called Rock All Stars. I would love to see you there!
The Right Wish Page 33