by Gina Watson
Epilogue
The lights went down at Duke’s and out walked Cameron looking like a sex sandwich. Meg wanted to eat him up. His black tight denim hugged his muscular thighs and the V-neck threadbare T-shirt he wore exposed his tattoos in the most provocative way.
Screams, whistles, and cheers bounced around the club as he approached the mic. “First things first”—he held up his ring and pointed at it, wiggling his fingers. His smile was face splitting, “I’m a happily married man.” More cheers rang out. “I want you to meet my lovely.” He squatted and helped Meg onto the stage.
Despite her disgruntled pleas, he’d hired bodyguards. They currently flanked the stage. “Meg, tell ‘em hi.”
Meg waved and approached the mic. “Hi, I’m Meg. Thank you for tolerating this,” she giggled. To her shock, the women in the crowd cheered.
Cam led her to a chair that had been set up on the stage, and then picked up his guitar, looping the strap over his shoulder. “This song is dedicated to Meg. I wrote it at three different emotional times in my life: indifference, mind-numbing depression, and unparalleled joy. Consequently, there are a couple of transitions, but I’m just so thankful she stuck with me through all of my craziness.” The crowd laughed until he struck the first chord. He strummed and said, “Beautiful Girl.” He turned his eyes on her and sang.
A bad day at work, a sad bit of news
Wish I could have been there for you
But I failed to recognize the muse
My dreams are all that’s left of you
I missed your birthday
But what can I say
And we can’t go back anyway
Wish I could have seized the day
I’d give all of my talent
For a chance to make it right
If you’d let me repent
Eternal dark turns to light
Beautiful girl
Where did you go
Beautiful girl
I need to know
I hear you’ve met somebody new
Thoughts of you with him sting
I’m undeserving, but he is too
One day you’ll rate a king
You’re hundreds of miles away
If I were there with you I’d be okay
But late at night when I’m sleeping
A vision of you comes drifting
I’m the greatest fool I know
Pushing back, I let it all go
I wanna be with you
Just need to be with you
Fourteen hundred miles
Fast car, proposal, smile
Now we’re together
Happily forever
Why did it take us so long
To right everything that was wrong
It was so easy
We made it so hard
Beautiful girl
Happily yours
Beautiful girl
Eternally yours
When the song finished, Cam kissed his wife on the stage in front of the patrons. It was a sweet kiss that had tears falling from each of their eyes. He whispered in her ear so that only she could hear, “Together, forever—not on the road, but in our home.”
***
Cam found Meg at her laptop at the dainty white desk he’d purchased for her. He’d had a home built for them. He hadn’t known if she’d ever live with him in it, but he’d hoped. It was on the plantation property, just out of sight of Ashton and Harmony’s little cottage. Since he’d built from scratch, he designed the home to be a livable fifteen hundred square feet. It wasn’t entirely finished yet, but enough so that they could live comfortably in the space.
He walked up behind her and put his arms around her. Leaning his head on her shoulder, he asked, “Almost ready to head over?”
“Hey, do you remember the bull rider?”
“Mr. Cooper. How could I forget?”
His son just won the professional bull rider’s world cup. The prize is one million dollars. Anyway, he’s agreed to let me have exclusive access to his story.”
“Because you’re awesome.”
“We’re going to film from the Cooper Ranch.” She turned wide eyes on him.
“What?” he asked, desperate to know what she was hiding.
“It’s going to take a few days. It’s outside of Austin.”
“I’m coming with you.”
“Well, of course you are.”
“You’re cool with me going?”
“I was gearing up to beg you…if you couldn’t tell.”
Marriage to Meg had been natural. He hadn’t expected a union with her to be difficult, but her relaxed nature continually surprised and calmed him. He hoped her demeanor would hold. “And now I have to tell you something, but you can’t get mad at me.” He shifted his weight as he waited for her reply.
“I can’t possibly know if I’ll get mad.”
“Promise to try.”
She smiled at him. “I don’t think I can get mad at you so I’m thinking you’re good.”
He took a quick, deep breath. “I know you said you didn’t want your parents at our wedding celebration”—
“That’s because I don’t.” He bit his lip and frowned. “You invited them?” He nodded. “And they’re coming?” Again he nodded. She shrugged, “I don’t know why you bothered, they’re just going to ignore me like they always do.”
“One day you may wish you’d invited them.”
She stood in her plum-colored peplum dress. She’d taught him about peplum. Actually, most of her shirts and dresses were peplum and he’d asked, learning of her obsession. She added a black satin sash. Cam followed her into their bedroom where the floor was currently made of plywood. In two weeks, it would be covered in bamboo.
“Do you hate me, Meg?”
She grabbed a pair of suede pumps. Walking up to Cam, she placed her hand on his shoulder to steady herself as she stepped into her shoes. “No, baby. It was a kind gesture.”
He placed his hands on her waist. “I love you and I want your parents to know you’re going to have the best life anyone could.”
She smiled. “I like that.”
They kissed and forgot about the rest of the world. She was his and he’d show her parents how wrong they’d been to ignore her.
Beep. Beep. Beep.
“What’s that?”
“That’ll be Ashton and Harmony with the mule. You ready?”
She skipped to the front door, stopping just short of her target to turn around and skip back to the room, “My purse.”
“Babe, we’re going like fifty yards. I don’t think you need your purse.”
She stopped again, turned, and skipped back to him. “When did you get so smart?”
“I’ve always been smart, you just haven’t noticed.”
She huffed and playfully swatted his chest.
Loading into the mule with his guitar required a little lesson in geometry, but he managed.
“You gonna play Beautiful Girl?” Ashton asked.
“Always.”
Harmony smiled at him from the front of the Kawasaki. “Cam, will you play the song you wrote for me and Ashton?”
“Day One. Sure.”
Meg and Cam married on New Year’s Day. It was now the end of March, and since their cousins owned a pavilion, they hosted the post-wedding celebration.
As the ATV approached the party area, Meg gasped, “Oh my God! Look how pretty everything is. And it’s purple!” Excited, she jumped from the mule before it had reached a full stop. They walked hand in hand toward the entrance to the tent. Inside round tables with cloth linens, purple of course, pervaded. A huge chandelier hung from the ceiling and twinkly lights dripped from the walls, giving the place an ethereal qualit
y.
“I feel like Cinderella.” She kissed Cam’s cheek. “That makes you my prince.”
A camera shot candid photos of their exchange. His cousin Ari smiled. “Congrats. There will be many more pictures.”
They greeted the room as a couple and made rounds on each table. When they sat at her father’s table, she rested her head on Cam’s shoulder, intent to not speak.
He cleared his throat, “Mr. Price, Meg and I are glad you could make it.”
Patricia answered, “This is way over the top as always, but that’s how the David’s do things isn’t it?”
“Of course it is. Meg will only have the best there is.” He held his wife’s gaze. “Plus, I wanted to marry you as soon as possible.” Meg nuzzled into his neck. Patricia looked sick. “Well, you understand Patricia. I couldn’t be unwed to Meg for another second. We gave the money for our wedding to charity, and then ran off to the JP.”
“It all looks very nice, Megan,” her father offered. She nodded.
“Time for you guys to cut the cake.” Harmony pulled Meg from Cam’s lap. “Come on, Cam.” She placed a slicing knife in his hand. The handle of the knife had been decorated with a lavender ribbon.
They walked to the cake. “Hey you,” Meg whispered in his ear. Under the large chandelier they cut the three-tiered white cake covered with lavender fondant and filled with blueberry jam. “Purple on purple. Yummy!”
They each cut dainty pieces and Meg fed Cam cake in a nice orderly manner. He, on the other hand, smeared blueberry jam all over her nose, cheeks and chin. “Hey! You promised.”
“No, I only promised not to get it on your dress.”
She looked down while licking the corners of her mouth. Cameras snapped all around them. He leaned in and kissed her, and then helped her clean her face. He giggled. “You look so cute.”
“Oh yes, blueberry is great for the complexion.”
The DJ started a zydeco beat. “May I have this dance?”
“Is my face good?” She turned from one side to the other.
“Yes.”
The dance floor filled with family and they danced into the night, Meg even sharing a dance with her father. Cam, in turn, danced with Meg’s mother.
“Cam, I always knew you two would end up together.”
“I never had any doubts either, Mrs. Roy.”
“Well, she’s happy. I hope you two kids are happy for many years.”
Mrs. Roy’s eyes never traveled far from Meg’s father, Mr. Price. Cam knew the look of a woman in love. He’d be willing to bet money that Meg’s mother was still hopelessly in love with her father. At that moment, Cam thought about the many reasons for her indifference toward her daughter. “Do you like seeing Meg dance with her father?”
“Oh, sure. Why wouldn’t I?’
“It seems you’re crying.”
“Maybe a little bit. It reminds me of a time when we were all happy. It was so long ago. Loss hurts.”
“Your daughter thinks it’s her.”
“What?”
“Meg thinks you’re indifferent around her because she is a constant reminder of that loss.”
They froze on the dance floor. “That’s not it at all.” She shook her head. “I miss the family we made when the three of us were together. No one else…just us.”
“Make a great wedding present if you were to tell her.”
“I’ll do that.”
“Thank you, Mrs. Roy. You look so much like her you could pass for her sister.”
“You’ve always been a real charmer, Cam.”
Around midnight when the energy in the tent had become lazy, Cam played his guitar and sang. When he performed the song he’d written for Meg, he had her stand next to him. They cried and others did too, but at that moment they were the only two souls in existence. He’d sacrificed who he’d been for her. Once he’d done that, he’d truly started to live. Rock star status was great, but if he’d known what being loved by her as his wife was like, he wouldn’t have hesitated giving up everything for her. Her love permeated his words and music until only the sweetest tune remained. Cam would give his whole life to experience one minute of her sweetness.
He smiled at Meg. “I’m happy.” It was a phrase he wasn’t used to saying, but he couldn’t wait to live it. “I love you, Nutmeg.”
“I love you, Cam. And don’t call me that. You know I don’t like it.”
“Okay.”
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Gina Watson is author of contemporary series romances. She lives in Texas where she leads a double life: university instructor by day, romance writer by night. She loves to be contacted by readers to discuss all things romance.
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Other books by Gina Watson:
St. Martin Family Saga
Whiskey Cove
(Novellas)
SCORE
SHAMELESS
SHATTER
SUITED
SMOLDER
St. Martin Family Saga
Emergency Responders
(Novels)
SIZZLE
SEIZE
SURGE
David Family Saga
Let the David brothers whisk you away to the bayou country and captivate your senses as they heat up the humid Louisiana nights.
Bayou Rogues
(Novels)
DAMAGED
DECEPTION
DERAILED
DIRTY
DARE (2015)
David Family Saga
These David cousins are more provocative, more rich, and more tormented than their seafood-loving kinfolk.
Bayou Billionaires
(Novellas)
The Haunting of Ashton David
Words and Music by Cameron David
The Teachings of Maximilian David
Gabriel David’s White Horse
Zachary David Productions
The Haunting of Ashton David
David Family Saga: Bayou Billionaires
In one night he lost everything.
She lost the promise of their future.
Ashton David lives a tormented life. The Louisiana plantation that once belonged to his father and gleamed like diamond now stands in ruin. It’s drafty, tattered, torn, and haunted. Ashton has tried to walk away many times, but something exists that pulls him back.
If she closes her eyes tight, Harmony can remember the Ashton who took her to junior prom. But it’s been over a decade and years of grief have left him unable to tolerate the sight of her. The love they shared crippled by heartbreak and despair.
Everyone in town knows Ashton is unlovable, but Harmony isn’t interested
in what they have to say. She’s back, armed and educated, and she’s ready to take on the beast. But even angels become discouraged when left alone to fight demons.
***
Words and Music by Cameron David
David Family Saga: Bayou Billionaires
He’s a rock god who leaves many broken hearts in his wake…
…but
there’s always one who is unforgettable.
Cameron David is a rising star of indy rock and he’s breaking hearts all over the South. He knows how to drop smooth lines on the stage and in the bedroom. When he’s denied by the one woman he actually has feelings for, even strumming his favorite song can’t lift his mood.
Baton Rouge Thirty Nine news anchor Megan Price has had a couple of one-nighters with lovable crooner Cameron David. However, she’s realized there is no future to be had with the promiscuous drifter and has resolved to leave him behind—far behind—as she accepts a gig at Toronto News Twelve.
Hearts rock and emotions roll in this contemporary novella.
THE TEACHINGS OF MAXIMILIAN DAVID Excerpt
Excerpt has not been edited. Content may change upon final publication.
***
Max awoke at five-thirty to the light strains of Balmorhea. Just as it did every morning, his Jura Giga 5, fully automated espresso maker brewed a rich, crema-topped shot of espresso. He angled his feet over the side of the bed, stood, stretched, and then walked in the nude to retrieve the nectar of gods from the built in coffee station in his bedroom.
Sipping the smoky, rich and chocolaty espresso, he dropped down to the floor and started in on the arduous task of completing one thousand crunches.
At two-fifty he took a break to finish off his coffee. He completed his morning abdominal obsession, and then dressed in his running attire, donning his new cross trainers in the process. One of his favorite things in life was a new running shoe. Hence, he purchased a new pair every month. Once dressed, he was off down the hall to access the back stairs, jogging swiftly down.
On the back patio he completed a sequence of runner’s stretches, inhaled deeply, and then took off toward the bayou. He enjoyed waking before most. On days when he was unable to complete a bayou jog he was most pissy.