by Dee J. Adams
A fire engine rolled up the driveway. Mel must have opened the gate after he called 911.
“Help!” Ashley called as she stood up. “Over here!” She raised her hands and fresh pain burst in her arm and back. She took one step and found herself on the ground. She tried to move forward, but nothing happened.
Then—as it had so many times in the past—the lights went out.
Chapter Twenty-Six
The pounding in Mel’s head was all too familiar. But this was different. He hadn’t had a drinking binge in months. So what the hell had him so fucked up? He caught the faint aroma of smoke and everything came back to him in a flash of clarity: the fire, Ashley, Paula. Mostly he remembered the sickening amount of blood covering Ashley’s back and arm. Fresh panic washed through him and he bolted upright. A huge mistake. The room spun crazily around him.
“Whoa.” Next to him, Greg jumped out of a chair and eased him back with a hand on his shoulder. “Easy does it, pal. You’re okay.”
He was in the hospital. He got that much before he’d had to shut his eyes to the spinning. It didn’t help. Everything still whirled around him and nausea turned his stomach. What the hell had happened? It had to have been Paula, but he didn’t have a clear picture. The only thing in his head was the vision of Ashley hanging off the side of the stairs. He’d used up what little strength he had to land an uppercut to Paula’s jaw, which sent her over the railing. He didn’t remember anything after that.
“I didn’t realize I was your ICE,” Greg said. “I’m flattered.”
“Who else would it be?” Mel mumbled. He hadn’t had anyone else. Until Ashley.
“Ashley…” he muttered between clenched teeth. His head still reeled. Thinking about all the blood made it worse. “How is she?” Mel opened his eyes, needing to see Greg’s face when he got the answer.
The serious expression on his manager’s face spoke volumes. “She’s in surgery,” he said. “She lost a lot of blood, but she should be okay.”
Should be? That wasn’t good enough. “What happened? I don’t remember.”
Greg’s face finally settled into two heads instead of five. “From what the police can piece together, you ran out of the house and Paula clubbed your head with a bat. The only thing that saved you from a cracked skull was Ashley’s hand covering your head. She deflected the brunt of the blow, but it was still hard enough to make you bleed like a motherfucker and knock you out. From the looks of it, Ashley and Paula struggled and the dog got into the fight.”
Yes, Mel had seen Roamer on the ground, the fur on his shoulder caked with blood. He’d staggered past him, following the trail of blood.
“Paula somehow stabbed the dog,” Greg continued. “Whatever she used to stab him, she used on Ashley. Then she dragged her to the stairs. That’s when you got to her.” Greg paused. “You should know someone on the hospital staff recognized you and ratted to the press. The entrance is swarmed with paparazzi.” Greg managed a wry smile. “Word of advice. If you want to go incognito, saving women from burning houses and killing psycho stalkers isn’t the way to go about it.”
“I don’t care about the fucking paparazzi,” Mel muttered.
Greg nodded. “I know, pal. But the reality of what might’ve happened scares the shit out of me, so I’m trying to joke about it.” His lips quirked in a half grin, but his eyes lacked any humor.
“They really think Ash is going to be all right?” he asked.
“Yeah. They wouldn’t tell me much, but they told me that. I don’t know who to call for her. She came in without any ID. I only knew it was her from your description and the fact that she’s your neighbor and the firemen said you’d pulled her out of the house before they got there.” Greg smiled grimly. “That will at least be some positive PR. Rock star turned hero.”
“I don’t give a shit about PR,” Mel mumbled. “I only care about Ashley.”
“Look at that,” Greg mused. “The uncatchable Seger Hughes has finally fallen. Fallen hard.” Mel took a breath to tell him to fuck off, but Greg continued. “I’m glad, pal. You needed to find a lady to love. Merry Christmas. You deserve it.”
The retort died on Mel’s lips. “Thanks, man. Merry Christmas. Thanks for being here.”
“Like I said, I was surprised I was your emergency contact.”
“You and Ashley are all I’ve got,” Mel confessed. “She has to be okay.” Something nagged at his brain…he was forgetting something. Buddy! “Hey, how’s Roamer—the dog?”
“He’s at the emergency vet clinic. He should be okay too.”
Mel sighed, a gust of relief that went soul deep. He couldn’t believe Paula had single-handedly nearly killed them all. They had a second shot at life and he planned to make the most of it.
“Just so you know,” Greg said. “There’s a detective waiting to talk to you about what happened. He hung around for a while last night, but finally went home. He said he’d be back today.”
“Bring it on. I don’t have anything to hide.” Not anymore.
* * *
Four days later, Ashley felt the intense focus of Mel’s protective streak when he pushed her hospital-regulation wheelchair out to the waiting limousine. He’d warned her about the media attention. He’d even given a press conference in hopes of diverting attention away from Ashley.
No such luck.
Hoping to fool the paparazzi and news vans, Mel left from a back exit. He might have fooled a few of them, but not all. As soon as the sliders opened, flash bulbs went off, microphones jammed into her face and cameras began rolling. So much for secrecy. Questions hit fast and furious and Ashley got a taste of what Mel’s life had been like for more than a decade. She barely heard most of them, but a few stuck out.
“How serious are you two?”
“Seger, how does it feel to be a hero?”
“Ashley, how do you plan to thank Seger for saving your life?”
How did they think she’d answer? Well, guys, I’m going to take him home, take his pants down and get to work…? Did these idiots really think she was going to talk to them?
“Ignore ’em,” Mel said in her ear. “We’re almost outta here.”
With a reassuring arm around her shoulder, Mel helped her ease into the limousine. She finally had her sight back and now she had to maneuver with a giant cast that stretched from her hand to her forearm. But at least a broken hand would heal, the stitches would come out and the cast would come off. This didn’t compare to the prospect of losing her vision permanently.
Mel climbed in after her and shut the door, leaving the noise and chaos behind. The new limo screamed money. She sank back into the soft, black leather seat. Not a bad way to travel if you had the option. It was weird to think he lived like this most of the time.
“How’re you doing?” he asked. The concern in his eyes made her smile. He’d been at her side as often as he could and she’d never felt more loved or wanted. He’d made sure she had the best of everything. The best care, the best food, the best flowers. She wasn’t sure if this was his way of wooing her or if he’d felt obligated to go big now that his identity was out… It was a subject they’d have to discuss. She didn’t need wooing. He’d already won her heart.
“I’m okay. A little sore still.” Anytime she moved the wrong way her stitches pulled. “How’s your head today?” His concussion had kept him at the hospital for three days, but he’d been released yesterday.
“It’s okay. The headache is down to a dull roar.” He leaned in and kissed her softly on the lips. The contact was just what she needed.
It didn’t escape her that he hadn’t mentioned her house. She hadn’t asked what was left and he hadn’t offered any information. Deep down she already knew. Her dream house was gone. Destroyed. She concentrated on the important things. Mel, Roamer and she had survived. They all had scars to show for the nightmare. Ashley had two stab wounds on her back and one on her arm with an even thirty-six stitches compared to Roamer’s fourteen stitc
hes in his shoulder and three staples in Mel’s head. God, what a night to forget.
“Were you able to get Roamer last night?” she asked. After Mel, he was the next thing on her mind. Her sweet puppy dog.
“Yeah,” Mel said. “Ellie and I picked him up. He was happy to get sprung. They had him wearing this ridiculous satellite collar and he looked so pathetic. Poor guy.” He stroked her cheek with his thumb in the sweet gesture he did. “Once I got him home, we had a heart to heart and we agreed he wouldn’t try to lick or bite the stitches so I took it off.”
Ashley grinned despite herself. “Mel, he’s a dog. He’s going to try and lick the stitches.”
“Are you kidding me? Not with all those women in the house watching his every move. I told him we guys have to stick together. He agreed with me. He’s fine.”
“All those women” referred to her mother, sister and best friend. Once she’d regained consciousness and given the hospital their numbers, they’d all made it to L.A. in record time. The past two days they’d been taking turns visiting her hospital room and trying to salvage anything from her house. Mel had graciously put them up at his place.
Even though Mel had only been home a day, Ellie had told her he was being spoiled rotten. Her mother had been cooking up a storm and he’d been eating everything put in front of him. All three women had treated him like gold, not because he was Seger Hughes, rock star, but because he was Mel Summers, the man who’d saved Ashley’s life. The man Ashley loved.
The toughest part of this whole situation would be finding a new place. She’d loved her ocean perch. Even though Mel had told her she would stay with him, she wasn’t naive enough to think he meant on a permanent basis. Certainly not yet at least. It was one thing to develop their relationship to this point, but another to assume she could move in with him. As much as she loved him, she couldn’t assume he felt the same depth of emotion. In fact, she highly doubted it. Yes, they were great friends and they had off-the-charts sex, but maybe he mistook that for love…she wasn’t sure, she just knew she couldn’t impose because they happened to be neighbors who also happened to be sleeping together.
Ashley picked off some lint from the new sweats Ellie had bought her. All her clothes had been destroyed. Her important papers had survived in the fire safe, but most everything else had burned. The task of rebuilding brought tears to her eyes.
Mel squeezed her hand. “It’s going to be okay, Ash. I promise.” His soft gaze melted her. To think that she’d gone so long without seeing his beautiful eyes, and now they were all she wanted to look at. Since the ruse was over, he’d started shaving again and she brushed her thumb across his smooth cheek. He caught her hand and kissed her palm. It was funny how when she looked at him she saw Mel Summers, not Seger Hughes. They were one in the same and yet she still had a hard time reconciling the fact.
The limo turned into the driveway and Ashley took a deep breath. Mel leaned close and tipped her face toward his. “Just remember, you’ve got me, okay? And insurance.”
Ashley couldn’t muster a grin. “It must be worse than I think,” she muttered.
“We’re alive and that’s what counts,” he reminded her.
That alone was a damn fine Christmas gift. “I know. You’re right.” She did know it. She just had to occasionally remind herself.
Mel’s house came into view first and Ashley prepared herself for the worst. But when the burned-out shell of her place emerged, she couldn’t help the tears that filled her eyes. Yes, she was grateful they all had survived, but the sorrow at the loss of her dream house still cut deep. Knowing Paula had taken it from her made her sick.
But knowing Paula had killed Lizzie made her even sicker. The police had found Lizzie’s body in a shallow gave outside of Solvang. Lizzie was kind, talented and loved and her family would never see her again. The reality of that fact cut to Ashley’s heart.
Her only consolation was that Paula couldn’t hurt her or anyone she loved ever again.
The limo came to a stop in front of Mel’s house and she climbed out slowly, careful of the stitches pulling her skin. She’d have to live with them for another week, but that was the least of her problems.
Ashley surveyed the destruction beneath a beautiful blue sky, bright sun and scattered clouds. Just like always, the breeze blew in the ocean air and Ashley took a deep breath, thankful she could see it all. Life was full of give and take.
She made a decision. If she’d had to choose—not that she’d actually had the choice—she’d have chosen to have her vision instead of her house. The house could be rebuilt, the contents replaced. She looked at Mel. Being able to see him was the best present she could ever have.
Together she and Mel walked toward her place. Ellie had tried to prepare her, but there wasn’t any way to be ready for something like this. What the fire hadn’t destroyed, the water from the fire hoses had. The walls had crumbled in. Along with gasoline, Paula had set propane tanks in the house and they’d exploded. That had been the first explosion while Ashley was in the house. The second they’d heard while on the stairs. Apparently there had been two more.
“Here’s the deal,” Mel said, facing her and blocking her view. “We rebuild. It’ll be back to new in no time. Better than new.”
Ashley smiled at his pronoun. “We?” she asked.
“Yes, we,” he repeated, straight faced. “Just like we’d be rebuilding that house—” he pointed to the mansion, “—if it had burned down.” He paused. “That’s how community property works.”
Ashley studied his serious gaze. Interesting how he’d used that term. “But this isn’t community property,” she said, all but holding her breath because she wasn’t sure where he was going with this.
“It will be once we’re married.”
Ashley blinked. Her heart rate tripled. “What?” She barely got the word out. Now she’d regained her sight, but she’d clearly lost her hearing.
Mel pulled her close. He took a small velvet pouch from his pocket and dropped the contents into his palm. He held the most amazing diamond ring Ashley had ever seen. It rivaled Ellie’s engagement ring. A giant diamond in a platinum setting. “I couldn’t pick this up until I got out of the hospital so it’s kind of a belated Christmas surprise.” His eyes sparkled with love and maybe a little insecurity and Ashley melted. “Marry me, Ash. Make my house a home. Fill it with your laughter and your spirit.” He smiled. “And your murals. Fill me too. Show me what matters every day for the rest of our lives.”
God, he truly was a poet. Tears blurred her vision. Her chest constricted with emotion.
A low bark made her turn and Roamer hobbled from Mel’s front door, his tail wagging furiously. Ashley met him halfway and hugged him tight, careful of the bandage on his shoulder. He couldn’t lick her face fast enough and she sputtered and laughed.
Mel crouched next to her and the three of them hugged. A family.
Roamer lay down so she could scratch his belly and Mel gave her his super watt smile.
“So,” he said, holding up the ring. “You gonna marry me? ’Cause I want to call my best friend with the happy news.”
Ashley nodded, her joy complete and evident in the tears that streamed down her cheeks. New Year’s was around the corner and nothing could start it off better.
Mel slid the ring on her finger, pulled out his cell phone and hit a number. A second later, Ashley’s new phone buzzed in her pocket. She took it out, saw Mel’s number and smiled as the tears came harder.
“Hello,” she answered.
“She said, yes,” Mel said, looking into her eyes. In his eyes she saw her future, her best friend and lover. She saw the man she would spend the rest of her life with. She’d never felt this complete. Mel was the missing piece in her life and with him she could tackle anything.
Ashley laughed through her tears, her heart more full than ever before. “I couldn’t be happier.”
Mel leaned forward and kissed her softly. “My best friend is really
happy for us,” he murmured at her mouth.
Ashley touched her nose to his. “So is mine,” she whispered.
Epilogue
Eight Months Later
Ashley watched from the wings of the stage as the crowd went wild. Mel’s new album had done better than the very first, selling more than fourteen million copies. His single, “Ashley Here with Me,” had debuted on the charts at number one and had stayed on top for twelve weeks. “Always Believe” was going to be released next week and the record company had high hopes for another smash. Not only had his old fans embraced his new music, but he’d found a whole new generation of listeners who loved him as well.
With new music had come a world tour and Mel had been jazzed to take Ashley with him. Showing her all the places she’d ever dreamed about made him pretty damn happy.
The toughest part had been leaving Roamer with Ellie in Indiana. But since Ellie’s four-acre property had a lake, they figured Roamer would suffer the six-month separation in doggy glee.
They’d been on tour four months now, but Ashley loved every show as if it were the first. Being able to play his new music had made Mel appreciate his older music too, so facing the crowd was as fun and exciting as it had been at the start of his career. He attributed his new love of music and life to Ashley. He showed her every day how much she meant to him and how much she inspired him. On days he didn’t have a concert, he showed her whatever new city they happened to be in. Tonight he wowed the crowd in Paris. This was the second of three dates. Tomorrow night they had plans to see the Eiffel Tower. Ashley couldn’t wait.
“Tonight is a special night,” Mel told the roaring crowd. He’d already done two encores so this was the last one and the crowd knew what was coming since he hadn’t played Ashley Here with Me. “Can you all do me a favor and help me bring out my beautiful wife, Ashley?” Mel looked at her standing in the wings and motioned her forward.