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

by Kristine Cayne

  I had no idea how to make things right

  You walked right up to me

  Changed everything in the blink of an eye

  You brought me back from destruction

  Gave me a chance I never thought I deserved

  I can’t imagine a day without you

  Never do I want to

  Melody gasped at the end of the song. Jameson put the guitar down and sank on one knee before her. Taking her hands in his, he held back a laugh at her surprised expression. “Melody, I love you. I always want to give you good memories. In fact, I want a lifetime of them.” As he kissed each finger, he reached in his pocket with his free hand and pulled out the velvet box. Using two fingers, he popped it open and held it out in front of him, revealing a simple, elegant diamond ring he’d purchased a month ago. “Melody Roland, will you do me the honor of becoming my wife? A lifetime of music, love, laughter, and friendship. Will you marry me?”

  Melody’s shriek startled him even though he half expected it. She laughed and cried as she fled into his arms, hugging him tight. “Yes, Jameson! I’ll marry you! I love you so much!”

  He pulled out of her arms for a moment to slide the ring on her finger. It fit perfectly. He stared down at it, full of love and happiness. “I never expected a woman like you to waltz into my life when you did, but I wouldn’t change a thing,” he said softly, taking her hand in his.

  Melody rested her head against him and they moved in slow, tender motions as they danced on the roof to the sound of crickets chirping and dogs barking. “I bet you anything my brother or Joelle will be up here in a few seconds, wondering why I screamed.”

  Jameson stroked her hair gently. “I’ll take that bet, because you’d be wrong.”

  “They knew?”

  “Yep. Joelle let me use the guitar, and I wanted your brother to know what I had planned. How’s this for one last memory here? Is it a good one?”

  “It’s the best, Jameson Grant!” Melody hugged him tighter, leaning up to kiss him.

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  Blaine carried a handful of grocery bags in her arms, hurrying to her car. Mom and Chet had invited both Blaine and Randy for dinner. Randy had gone home to shower and change while she made a run to the store to pick up a few things to bring over. They’d spent the majority of the day in bed, holding each other and talking. Well, many times more than talking, but she loved that they were together. She smiled at the memory. For the first time in … well, forever, she was happy. Really happy. In love kind of happy. The mushy, cute type that she’d picked on everyone else about.

  They talked about everything. She couldn’t think of a better feeling.

  Darkness loomed over the horizon as the last rays of daylight faded. The streetlight nearby buzzed and flickered. Only a few other cars filled the parking lot of the store. Even for Harmony’s Echo this was unusually quiet, almost eerie even.

  “Now I’m being a bit paranoid,” she muttered. A strange feeling washed over her. Maybe it was nerves. The news of Frederic being awake, the fact that someone obviously had been watching her, taking pictures and videos. She felt she was in the middle of a mystery movie or something. Damn, why didn’t she just wait for Randy so they could go together? Stubborn really did run strong in the Grant family.

  Blaine set the bags down on the hood of her car and fished for her keys. Just as her hand wrapped around them, her phone rang. Randy’s name showed up on the caller ID and her heart raced. “Hey you.”

  “I miss you already.” His voice provided some comfort and she wished she was with him already. “I made it to Chet’s. Where are you?”

  “Just putting the stuff I bought in the car. I’m glad you called. It’s so quiet and eerie tonight. I feel weird.”

  “What’s wrong?” Randy sounded alarmed.

  “Nothing really. Just my slight paranoia. With the video of that night out, and the one time I noticed someone taking pictures at the house … I’m just letting my mind get overactive is all. Don’t freak out.”

  “Hey, you have a right to feel nervous. It’s been crazy. And don’t tell me not to freak out. I do worry about you. Want me to stay on the phone with you until you’re safe in the car and on your way?”

  “I’d love that. Give me a second to plug in my Bluetooth so I can use two hands to put the bags away.” She loved Randy’s concern. She heard him say something, but wasn’t sure what as she pulled the phone away from her ear and found her headset and put it on, then plugged the cord into her phone. “Can you hear me?”

  “Loud and clear. I love hearing your voice. Chet has a nice house. There’s a pool and Jacuzzi in the back.”

  “Can’t wait to see it.” Blaine unlocked the door, pulled it open and started to put the bags in the backseat. She still wasn’t too sure how she felt about her mom dating a man who also had a past history of alcohol abuse, but she made a vow to herself that she’d calm down and give him a chance. Mom deserved happiness just as much as anyone. Blaine had to admit, seeing Mom smile again gave her hope that maybe she would press forward on a good note and not fall back into her depression.

  She had two more bags to put away. Just as she reached for them, the hairs on the back of her neck stood up. This feeling! She couldn’t shake it!

  “You sound really out of it. Are you sure you’re okay?” Randy asked.

  “I don’t know how to explain it,” Blaine replied, looking around. Shadows danced on the pavement, but they were just debris blowing around in the wind. “I feel like I’m being watched.”

  “I wish I’d have gone with you.” Randy sounded apologetic.

  Blaine brushed off the feeling. “It’s fine. Like I said, I’m paranoid. It’s probably nothing.” It wasn’t like she’d be around here much longer. Once in the car, she’d feel better.

  “Hold on. I’m walking out to the porch so I don’t alarm your mom. Blaine, if something’s going on, tell me right now, okay?”

  “I swear I’m fine! I’m getting ready to get in the car right now!” She put the last of the bags in, closed the door and started to make her way around to the other side of the car. That’s when she noticed the shadowed figure on the other side. She screamed as her pulse quickened. Why oh why did she have to park all the way on the far side of the parking lot where there was minimal light and hardly any people?

  “Blaine, what’s happening?” Randy’s voice sounded so far away as she tried to calm down. The shadow darted away fast. Then she heard someone yelling nearby. A man. She recognized the voice.

  “Stop!” the man yelled. Blaine watched as he chased the figure.

  Lucas? Was that Lucas chasing the person?

  “Blaine! Talk to me!” Randy’s voice was loud in her ear.

  “Someone was on the other side of the car waiting! Then they ran. I think Lucas is chasing after them.” She swallowed hard after getting the words out.

  “What? Damn it! I’m on my way. I’ll come get you.”

  “Randy, don’t! It’s fine. I’m going to be out out of here in a minute. I just want to check and see if it’s Lucas and see who the person is.” Or maybe she should get in the car and get out of here, but she wanted to know the identity of the person and their intentions. She sure as hell wasn’t going to let anything happen to Lucas, either.

  He caught up to the shadow and grabbed them. Someone else exited the store and noticed what was going on. She hoped they didn’t think Lucas was trying to do something to the person. “Randy, I need to go. Lucas caught up to the person and I have a feeling I might need to call the cops. I promise I’ll call you right back.”

  “Are you sure you don’t want me to come down there? No, forget it. I am. Don’t try to talk me out of it.”

  “You’ll alert my mom and make her worry-”

  “Stop, Blaine. You’re not changing my mind. I love you.” Randy hung up before she could protest. Checking real quick that she had her keys in hand, she ran over to Lucas.

  “Hey! Let them go!” The perso
n Blaine had seen running out yelled at Lucas. They both approached him and the unknown person at the same time.

  “This person was crouching behind my friend’s car.” Lucas gestured at Blaine as he had a grip on the person’s arm. They struggled to get away, but Blaine still couldn’t tell who it was.

  “Is this true? I’ve called the police already.” The man looked to Blaine for affirmation.

  “Yes, it’s true. I was getting ready to get in my car when I noticed a shadow. I didn’t even know Lucas was here and he just ran after the person.” Blaine’s knees were wobbly. She felt like they were as thin and unsteady as toothpicks.

  “Who are you, and what do you want with my friend?” Lucas asked the person angrily. They were wearing all black. Long sleeves, hood, the works.

  Without thinking, Blaine reached out and yanked the hood down, revealing the face in the dim light. She gasped. “Isabelle?”

  Oh God. Frederic’s attempted murderer was hiding by her car! But wait, she didn’t know Frederic was awake and had told the police it was Isabelle. Or did she? So what did the woman want with Blaine?

  “You know her?” Lucas asked. Isabelle glared at Blaine, then tried to yank out of Lucas’s grasp again.

  “Yeah. She’s-” Blaine had to stop herself from admitting what she knew, since Randy said no one was to know yet. “She’s my ex’s old assistant.”

  “I’m a hell of a lot more than that!” Isabelle snapped. “I’m his wife!”

  Blaine gasped, staring at Isabelle. Wife? “How- how long have you been his wife?” she barely found the strength to get the words out. She’d divorced Frederic only a few months ago!

  “Fifteen years. We were separated for awhile. I guess that’s when he brought you on board to work with him.” Isabelle sneered. “Little Texas girl who didn’t know what she was doing. What do you mean, ex? You think you had something with Frederic? Just because we had problems and were separated for a few years doesn’t mean you had a shot!”

  As Blaine processed the information, she shook her head. “I was married to Frederic for six years. How could-?” Married. He was married to someone else at the same time! Sick!

  “Right. Why would he marry you? He can’t-” Isabelle shook from Lucas’s grasp, but he got another grip on her again.

  “He can and did! I have the papers to prove it!” Blaine shrieked. She’d guessed Frederic had women on the side, but never did she imagine he had another wife. Her mind went into a spin. In fact, the whole damn world seemed to spin. The last thing she recalled was falling before a pain exploded in her head.

  Randy had no idea what to expect when he arrived at the scene. Making a quick getaway, he’d informed Blaine’s mom and Chet that he was going to get her, but didn’t explain why. He knew they were worried, but what he wanted was to get to Blaine and make sure she was okay.

  Finally pulling into the parking lot, he noticed the police there along with a couple of paramedics. What the hell? His heart raced as he killed the engine and ran out of the truck. A woman in handcuffs sat on the curb, cursing at everyone. Lucas stood to the right, facing away from Randy. Where was Blaine? Then he noticed her, standing between the two paramedics. Did the woman hurt her? “Blaine? What’s going on?” All eyes turned to him. He ran to her and swept her up in his arms. “Are you okay? Did she hurt you?”

  “I’m okay.” She gripped him tight. “She didn’t do anything to me. I fainted. Randy- that’s Isabelle.”

  “What? What was she doing by your car?” Damn it! The thought of an attempted murderer hiding behind Blaine’s car waiting for her scared him to no end.

  “That’s what we’re trying to figure out. She’s refusing to talk.” Blaine turned to stare back at the woman. She shivered. Randy let her go to take off his longed sleeved button down shirt since he had another one on underneath and draped it around Blaine’s shoulders. Then he slid his arms around her again.

  Could this be almost over? He sure hoped so.

  Lucas’s phone rang, startling everyone.

  “That’s probably my wife wondering how long it takes me to pick up something from the store,” he said to the curious cops. He pulled the phone from his pocket. “I promise I’m not lost, Avery. I can’t explain everything right now, but I found someone hiding by Blaine’s car and chased her. We’re talking to the police now. Yes, she’s fine. I’ll be there soon. Okay, I’ll let her know you want to talk as soon as possible. Love you, honey.” He hung up.

  Randy overheard one of the officers suggest they get Isabelle down to the station and booked.

  “You ruined his life, didn’t you? It was all you for years! You ruined everything!” Isabelle spat at Blaine as the cops lifted her to her feet. She was put in the back of the car, cursing and screaming the entire time. The door closed, but they could still hear her.

  “Y’all are free to go for now. She’s going to be questioned and officially charged. If both of you would, please come by in the morning. We’ll also release a statement clearing the both of you and Frederic’s condition.” The officers nodded at Blaine and Randy, then looked at Lucas. “Thank you for catching her.”

  “I wasn’t about to let someone go when they were obviously planning on doing something to my friend.” Lucas glared at the car with Isabelle inside.

  “You sure you don’t want to get checked out? You hit your head pretty good when you fell,” an officer asked Blaine.

  “I’m fine. It hurts, but I’ll be okay. I’d just like to go be with Randy and my family now. We’ll be by in the morning.”

  Randy thought they would have wanted them to come to the station now. This was almost over. They were no longer in the shadow of suspicion. Frederic was awake, the real attacker caught and in custody. Finally, maybe things would get better and Blaine wouldn’t be in the negative spotlight so much.

  One by one, the cars drove away. Randy kept his eye on the car with Isabelle in it, still reeling from the fact that she’d been found by Blaine’s car. Would she have tried to hurt her if Lucas hadn’t stepped in?

  Blaine finally broke the silence. “Thank you, Lucas. I’m glad you had to come by the store for whatever it was. You- I think you saved me tonight.”

  “I actually came to get some baby Tylenol for Emily,” Lucas said. “I was getting ready to go in the store when I noticed her. I was about to yell for you to watch out, but she ran.”

  “Oh damn. Go get Em’s medicine.” Blaine hugged him. “I’ll call Avery in a bit.”

  “She’ll be waiting.” Lucas hugged her back, then glanced at the store. “I’d better go before they close. You take it easy tonight. You did hit that pavement pretty hard. My wife will kill me if I let anything happen to you.”

  Blaine laughed. “I’m fine. Besides, Randy’s been known to make me relax if I’ve overdone it.”

  “And I plan on that tonight, m’lady.” He reached for her hand, pulling her close to him again. He didn’t want to let her go.

  “Come on, I’ll keep the store open long enough for you to get what you need,” the store owner said to Lucas.

  Lucas waved to Blaine and Randy before following the man inside.

  “Are you okay to drive, or should we take one vehicle and come back tomorrow for the other?” Randy asked.

  He could tell Blaine was going to protest, but then she stumbled. “Okay, I’m dizzy. Maybe driving one would be a good idea. I have all the stuff in mine.”

  Randy kissed her lips softly. “Hand over the keys. I hope you aren’t one of those people that tells someone else how to drive their car from the passenger seat.” He tried to lighten up the mood a little.

  “Depends on the driver, but so far you’ve passed the tests.” She gave him her keys. “Do you think it’s really over?”

  “I hope so. I really do.” He led her to the car and opened the door and helped her ease onto the seat. Then he ran around the other side and climbed in. He had to adjust the seat a little before he was comfortable. “Where to?”

  �
�I’d still like to go see Mom and Chet.” Blaine buckled her seatbelt. Randy didn’t fail to notice she pushed the lock down even though no one was around. “What did you say to them when you drove down here?”

  Randy cringed, thinking of how lame he’d sounded earlier before bolting to get to Blaine. “Not much.” He pulled out of the parking lot and was glad to be on the road, away from the scene.

  Mom took one look at Blaine and practically freaked out. Yeah, she probably looked bad. A smudge on her cheek, her hair a mess and she was exhausted. Blaine told her everything. This would only be the first of many repeated conversations of the night’s events. Chet sat beside her mom at the table holding her hand. She didn’t know the man well at all, but just from the few times she’d been around him, she sensed that he really did care about her mother. Despite her misgivings about him at first, the fair thing to do was give him a chance.

  “You didn’t have to go to the store for anything, Blaine!” Mom exclaimed, surrounding her with a hug.

  “You know what, I’m glad I did. It scared me at first when I didn’t know what was going on, but now that she’s caught, maybe this will finally be over,” Blaine said with confidence. Her body still trembled just from the shock of it all. She was slightly overwhelmed with her mother’s overbearing hug, but she wasn’t about to complain.

  “Randy gave us a big scare when he ran off and didn’t say much,” Chet said, but he didn’t sound angry.

  “I’m sorry. My thoughts were just to get to Blaine. I heard her scream and even though she said Lucas was there, I wanted to be with her too.”

  “No harm done now. I’m happy everything turned out okay.” Chet gestured to the kitchen. “I’ve got chicken almost done. Who’s hungry? What did you bring with, Blaine?”

  She pulled out the stuff from the bags and handed them over. There were containers of potato salad and a fruit platter.

  “I heard from Jameson earlier. He said they’re coming home tomorrow. Melody and Chris can’t wait to get back and put that part of their life behind them.” Mom picked up some of the stuff Blaine brought and set them on the counter. She seemed at ease in the house. It almost felt natural. As Chet stepped around her to check on the chicken, they kissed. A pang of sadness tightened in Blaine’s chest, thinking of how many of those displays of affection she’d missed seeing between Mom and Dad. Now Dad was gone.