What to Read After FSOG: The Gemstone Collection (WTRAFSOG Book 9)

by Kristine Cayne

  “I’m sorry you had to do that, Marty.” Melody’s blue eyes were wide as she wiped her face again. “I thought having to testify against someone I cared about was hard. I can’t imagine having to do that against a family member.”

  Everyone sat around talking for another half hour or so before they realized how late it was.

  “I think we should try and get some sleep,” Jameson said to Melody, brushing her hair back.

  She let out a long sigh. “You’re probably right. Thanks everyone. I feel a lot better. I’m still uneasy, but y’all definitely helped.”

  Jameson chuckled. “I love it when you say y’all.”

  “Between you and Avery, it sticks!” Melody laughed.

  Avery stood and hugged Melody. “I’ll work on other Texas words to rub off on you. Hey, safe travels and you’ll be all right. You’ve got one awesome protector on your side.” She said good-bye to everyone else and then she moved to Blaine and Randy. “As for you two, if you need anything, you know I’ll do whatever I can. I know it’s easier said than done, but don’t let anyone’s stupid rumors mess with you too much. Love you all. I’m going to head out. Jameson and Melody, let me know when you’ve landed tomorrow.”

  One by one, everyone filtered out. Blaine walked with her brother, Melody and Randy to the back door as everyone left.

  “You sticking around, Randy?” Jameson asked.

  “That all depends on your sister.”

  “If you’re not up when we leave tomorrow, then I’ll see you when we get back.” Jameson wrapped Blaine up in a hug. “Mom said she’d come home earlier in the evenings if you want company.”

  “I’ll be fine, I promise. Mom doesn’t need to hover either.” Blaine tugged her brother’s hair playfully. “Go get some sleep, you two.” Once her brother and Melody went off to their room, she focused her attention on Randy.

  “Do you work tomorrow?” He brushed his fingers gently across her face.

  “Nope. I’m only three days a week right now.”

  “I have to work, but why don’t you come over when I’m off and I’ll make you dinner?” he offered. “Just you and I. We won’t have any rude people interrupting us. I do hope for conversation this time, though.”

  Blaine giggled. “You mean you won’t impersonate me with your high pitched, terrible impression of me?”

  “Hey!” Randy jabbed her abdomen playfully. She grabbed his hand and pulled him against her.

  “Hey what?” She leaned in and pressed her lips to his. God, if only her heart and her head went for the same thing. She was driving herself and most likely Randy crazy.

  “Hey.” Kiss. “You never gave me.” Another kiss. “An answer.” More kisses. Strong arms slid around her waist as he pressed kisses against her lips, then moved down along her jaw to the slope of her neck.

  Blaine moaned and dragged her nails against the skin on his back. “How am I supposed to-” She let out a hiss as Randy went for her neck again. “Answer when you keep doing that?” Not that she was complaining. Not at all.

  “Hmm. Good point.” Randy backed away abruptly.

  She gasped. Damn him! “You’re messed up!”

  “Wait, so I stop for you to answer because I was distracting you, and I’m messed up?” Randy tapped his forehead like he was trying to think. “What’s wrong with this picture?”

  Blaine growled. Damn it, she loved his teasing ways. “My answer is yes. I’ll have dinner with you. Now can I-?” She didn’t get a chance to finish. Randy swept her in his arms again and kissed her senseless. Slightly startled, she lost her footing and slammed against the counter, knocking over a box sitting there. It hit the floor with a loud, heavy thud. Oh shit! Hopefully that was nothing breakable!

  “Whoa. I didn’t mean for that to happen. Are you okay?” Randy asked. He bent down to retrieve the box, looking sheepish.

  Blaine nodded and groaned when a door from the hallway opened. Whoops. Who did they just wake up?

  “What’s going on out here?” Melody stopped in the dining room, relief flashing in her eyes when she noticed Blaine and Randy. “Oh, it’s just you two.”

  “Sorry!” Blaine felt the heat rush to her cheeks. It was so obvious what the two of them were doing. “I’m clumsy.”

  Randy put the box back. “Yeah, we didn’t mean to wake you.”

  “I wasn’t asleep yet. Jameson’s already out, but I can’t seem to shake the nerves.”

  “We’ll be quiet. Get some rest girl.” Blaine exchanged a look with Randy. Amusement blazed in his eyes.

  Melody eyed them warily, then shook her head with a smile. “Have a good night, love birds.” She winked and left the room.

  Blaine laughed as soon as she heard the door close. “Tell me, was she mocking me? She’s acting just like I did last year when those two were all lovey dovey. Was I that bad?”

  Randy’s arms slid around her from behind. “Were lovey dovey? They still are. And yes, you were that bad,” he teased, leaning close and breathing on the nape of her neck.

  “Hey,” she said seriously, turning around in his arms to face him. “I know I’m a mix of feelings right now, especially when it comes to you. I just want you to know how much the most recent weeks have meant to me. I keep pushing and then pulling you right back. I’m sorry. My feelings for you scare me. Every time I turn around, you’re still here and I can’t thank you enough.”

  “That’s what friends are for.” Randy pulled her closer to him to the point she was completely pressed up against his chest.

  “Friends? Is that what we are?” Did friends kiss the way they did? Did friends have these feelings for each other?

  “Until you tell me otherwise. Your pace, remember? All I ask is for you to let me in. Let me take care of you. Lower that guarded gate around your heart. I don’t want to hurt you, Blaine.”

  She leaned against him, feeling safer than she had in a long time despite her unease about someone following her around trying to get a picture. She wasn’t sure who they were. Maybe a reporter or someone who’d seen the videos. Right now with Randy, she felt better. “Would it be wrong to ask you to stay with me tonight?”

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Sunlight streaked through Blaine’s window and she sat up to an empty spot beside her. Randy must have left already to get ready for work, and she immediately missed him. They’d cuddled up together and talked until they both fell asleep in each other’s arms.

  Is this what love feels like?

  Wait, what? Love? Did she love Randy? Well, she definitely felt something strong for him. Something she never expected and never felt for anyone else before.

  “Falling in real love for the first time at thirty four?” she said out loud, climbing out of bed. She had to have missed Jameson and Melody leaving. A sound from the kitchen startled her, and a flicker of hope that maybe Randy was still here ran through her. With a yank of the door, Blaine was out of her room and down the hall in no time. But it wasn’t Randy in the kitchen. It was her mother.

  Mom waved with a smile. She looked like she just woke up. “Morning.”

  “Hey. Didn’t know you were home. Did you get in late?” Blaine headed for the coffee maker.

  “Yeah, then I got up to see your brother and Melody off. I noticed Randy’s car here all night.”

  Blaine felt her cheeks flush. “Someone was outside the house last night taking pictures. It freaked me out, so he stayed after band practice.” Did anything go unnoticed around here? It was weird, having three couples in and out of the house!

  “Taking pictures?” Mom sounded alarmed. “This isn’t good stuff, hon.”

  “I know. I hate that I brought my troubles back with me.” Regret swirled like a twister in her gut.

  “Blaine…” Mom stopped what she was doing to face her. “Don’t do that. Don’t worry so much that you brought your troubles home. I love that you’re home. I know we had our share of not getting along when you were younger, but I love you unconditionally. I wish you d
idn’t feel like you had to leave to find yourself or to make your family proud.”

  Blaine gaped at her mom, never knowing how much she knew. She thought she’d hidden her feelings well.

  “Don’t look at me like that. I know my kids. You struggled with who you were and who you wanted to be, although you shouldn’t have. Your passion would have found you. I think that’s why we butted heads so much, because I felt the same way at your age. I didn’t know what I wanted. Everyone around me did. I’ve been down that road. Hey, I could use some company today. Do you feel like spending time with your mom? I’m finally going to go through the house and clean the rest of it up to sell. There’s no sense in keeping it. I feel terrible because your dad inherited the house, but there’s no family left who wants it unless you do.”

  “Honestly, no.” Blaine hardly spent time in that house since they’d moved there after she’d left. The house belonged to her grandparents on Dad’s side before Dad inherited it when they passed away.

  “I figured I’d ask. It’s been sitting there so long. I don’t think I could go back and live there.” Sadness filled her mom’s eyes. “I know Jameson doesn’t want it. Even if Baby Stetson wasn’t planning a Nashville move in the next year or two, he doesn’t have the best memories of that town or the house.”

  No he didn’t. Blaine knew that for a fact. Jameson wouldn’t be too sad at all to see that house go up for sale. “I can help out if you want. I’d love to spend some time with you. Randy’s making me dinner tonight after he gets off work, but I have the whole day free until then.” Another eyebrow raise and smile came from her mom. “What?”

  “You and Randy. I’ve always liked that boy. I love that he grew out of his shyness with the band.”

  Blaine laughed, remembering what Randy told her she’d said one night about him being so gawky. “I like him too.”

  “Just like?” Mom’s lips twitched upward.

  Damn, she was good. “No, not just like. Much more,” Blaine said softly. “But I don’t know if I’m ready.”

  “Ready or not, it’s there.” Mom hugged her. “Let’s get some breakfast and then head to the house. It’ll be my treat. I’m looking forward to a mother/daughter day.”

  Blaine and her mom walked into the house along with someone who had been taking care of the place. She recognized that face from somewhere. When her mother said the woman’s name, Blaine knew exactly who it was. Lea, Jameson’s ex. The one he’d made a huge mistake with. Wow. So that was her.

  “You just let me know if there’s anything you need. A lot of folks have asked about the property, so I’m sure once you put it on the market you’ll sell it fast.” Lea looked uncomfortable. She kept darting her gaze over to Blaine.

  “Thank you for keeping up with the house, Lea. It’s hard coming here still, but I feel like I have to do this,” Mom said.

  “I’m glad you’re doing better.” Lea twirled her dark hair around her finger. “So … how’s Jameson? I heard his band on the radio the other day.”

  Blaine was about to walk in the other room to look around, but the question about her brother stopped her. She had to bite her tongue. Let Mom handle this one.

  “Jameson is doing well. He’s happy.” Mom sounded slightly uncomfortable.

  Lea nodded. “That’s good. He deserves happiness.” The woman then pivoted and walked away.

  “Awkward,” Blaine muttered, not realizing at first that she’d spoken out loud until Mom whirled around to face her.

  “Exactly why I didn’t want to do this with your brother. Lea doesn’t seem to be over him at all.” Mom stared back at the wall where pictures were hung. “This is going to be harder than I thought.” Sadness etched in her voice, which pulled on Blaine’s heartstrings. She realized then her mother might be dating and happy, but she’d always have a special place in her heart for Daddy.

  The tears fell and Blaine couldn’t stop them. “I miss Daddy! I wish I could rewind and have the chance to spend more time with him. I wanted him to be proud of me.” Her whole body shook with sobs as finally her emotions poured out all at once, something she hadn’t been able to do in a very long time. Bursting into tears like this made her feel much younger than her thirty four years, but it was long overdue. All of her feelings needed to come out instead of being so bottled up like they’d been for years.

  “Blaine.” Mom ran to her and cradled her in a comforting hug. “Oh baby, we were all proud of you.” She stroked her hair just like she used to do when Blaine was younger. Waves of nostalgia slammed her body all at once, making her unable to breathe as she choked back another sob. She clung to her mother as regret rolled down her cheeks. Years of it. “Come on, calm down. It’s all right. We’re here together right now. I promise you, your daddy was proud. He loved you and Jameson so much.”

  Blaine calmed down after a while and looked up at her mother through blurred vision. “Hey Mom? I’m sorry for getting so upset over you and Chet. I- I got scared. There are so many changes that I came home to, and it’s been harder than I ever realized. I want you to be happy, I really do. I just don’t want to lose you.”

  “You won’t lose me. I know I went down a dark road. I was selfish. I wasn’t the only one who lost somebody, and I never took you or your brother’s feelings into consideration. Come with me. Let me show you something.”

  Blaine rubbed her eyes, then followed her mom upstairs to a room. Had everything just been left here for the most part? Was it really more than a year ago that Daddy had died and everything changed?

  Mom pointed to a set of chairs to sit in, then headed for the closet and pulled down some dusty photo albums. She blew the dust off them, brushed the top one with her hand and sat down in one of the chairs.

  “What’s this?” Blaine asked, curious. She plopped onto the chair next to her mother and waited for her to open the album.

  “My scrapbook of you growing up,” Mom said softly, handing her the album. “From your baby years to your graduation. Your brother has one, too. Some of my favorite memories and pictures are in there.”

  There were pictures of firsts in the beginning of the book. Her first picture, first bath, first outfit, first smile. She was being held by her dad in some pictures, her mother in others. Then there were her toddler years. A photo of her holding baby Jameson caught her attention. “I almost look like I liked him.” She laughed.

  Mom nodded. “You were pretty good with having a sibling.”

  “And I still kind of like him,” she teased, flipping through the book. “Oh wow. Me sitting in between Jameson and Avery at the inn! It’s changed so much!”

  “Notice in a lot of these pictures, you’re dancing.” Mom pointed to one. “You used to make your brother and Avery smile by putting on a show. I remember when they were about a year old, they sat down to watch you and I heard the laughter. I ran into the room from the kitchen and there you were, entertaining them. I think you always had a passion, Blaine. You just didn’t realize how much of one until you thought you didn’t have it.”

  “Wow.” Her heart skipped a beat, looking at all the photos. She’d forgotten, or at least put some of these memories in the back of her mind.

  “You seemed so dead set on leaving here to find yourself. I was hurt, but then I realized you just needed to make your own way. You and I are very much alike.”

  “This is beautiful,” Blaine whispered, her voice thick with emotion. She loved this book. So many memories of her childhood. Memories with Jameson, Avery, Randy, and her parents. Memories when she’d been young and so full of hope. Determination. She wanted that passion back. In a silent vow, she told herself she wasn’t going to allow anyone else to bring her down, including herself. Let the town talk. Let Frederic be an ass. She was going to get her life back on track and keep her dreams alive.

  One of those dreams was to find out what could happen between her and Randy.

  Blaine closed the book, a warm and fuzzy sensation dancing around in her belly. “Thank you for this
. I needed it.”

  For the rest of the day, Blaine and her mother reconnected as they sifted through memories good and bad that made up their life.

  Randy put the finishing touches on dinner as it simmered on the stove. He anxiously awaited Blaine’s arrival. Her last text said she was on her way. She’d spent the day with her mom at the old house, going through things and getting ready to finish cleaning it out. It had been a long time coming for Mrs. Grant.

  As he put the lid on the pot, he debated whether to just ask Blaine if she’d be up for doing an exclusive for the paper since he’d been asked again today. Maybe it would be better coming from him in case Dad or someone else approached her about it. He didn’t want to do it either way, but he had a feeling somehow it would come out eventually.

  The doorbell rang. That had to be her. His pulse quickened as he hurried to answer it, eager to see Blaine. He pulled the door open and there she stood. For the first time in a few days, her smile reached her eyes. In her hands she held a bottle of wine. Randy couldn’t help himself. He took the bottle, set it on the nearby table, and pulled Blaine into his arms. Her hair was damp and smelled like lavender. He inhaled, taking in the scent as he held her close. “Mmm,” he mumbled out loud without meaning to. Damn, the things she did to him.

  “It smells so good in here!” she exclaimed.

  Randy took another whiff of her hair. “Yes it does.”

  That made her laugh, then she kissed him. “I meant what you’re cooking.”

  “I guess I should get back to it, but you’re distracting.” He wrapped his arms even tighter around her waist, loving her right there. “You look good. I mean, you always look good, but there’s a sparkle in your eye today.”

  “I had a good day with Mom. We reconnected. I kinda fell apart this morning when I first walked into the house and saw photos on the wall and so many memories of Dad. Mom showed me a scrapbook she made of my childhood and it helped me realize I had so much going for me. I didn’t need to run off to find myself, but I guess some things I had to learn the hard way.”