“Definitely.” The two sisters had decided they wanted to be pregnant at the same time. And they had made that pact before Simone’s good news. If Fanny got pregnant soon all our children would grow up together. There would be a next generation of cousins who could potentially be as close as we all were now. I just didn’t like the uncertainty that went along with waiting on Hollie. Especially when I knew what we were waiting on was something Fanny very much wanted. Something I very much wanted. We kept getting our hopes up, but then Hollie would get another enticing role she couldn’t turn down.
“Maximillian is a great guy.”
I nodded. Cash had certainly swept the young actress off her feet. Apparently his rule about not getting involved with his clients hadn’t applied to Hollie. I could relate. None of my rules had mattered when it came to my gypsy rose, either.
“They’re amazing together. He wants her to slow down her filming schedule, doesn’t he?”
I nodded absently in response to Simone’s question. My brows drew together as Fanny veered to the right. I wanted her in my arms. It had been too long since she had been there.
Where was she going?
Fanny stopped at the painting of the mermaid. She reached up and placed something on the shelf next to her. The Lakers cap. I stood as she leaned in and kissed her.
What had she wished for?
Wearing a determined visage, I moved through the crowd toward her. She turned when I reached her as if she sensed my presence.
“Ash.” She put her hands on my chest, and my pulse settled into a steadier rhythm beneath her gentle touch. Her beautiful grey eyes brimmed with love and hope like they usually did whenever she looked at me.
“I love you,” I told her. She smiled as I wrapped my arms around her and drew her deeper into my embrace.
“I love, you too,” she returned.
“What did you wish for?” I asked.
Somewhere nearby a cell rang.
“I think you’ll know soon.” She smiled softly.
To be continued in Hollie’s story…
Acknowledgments
The characters tell me their story and I write it down. Usually in the daytime but sometimes they wake me up in the middle of the night. But after that it takes a team for the manuscript to turn into the novel you are reading now.
My family. My husband and two boys.
My best friend. Lisa Anthony to know her is to love her.
My best writing friend, Michelle Warren who also designs my beautiful covers.
Rock Chick, Teresa Marsh Jensen for keeping me updated on the coolest rock bands.
My test readers. Authors Ginger Scott and Anne Eliot. Brandee Price. Brandee Veltri.
My editor, Dr. Diane Klein. She’s way cool and super smart.
My proofreader and intrepid world traveler, Lexxie Lin from Unconventional Book Views.
My formatter, Julie Titus of JT Formatting. She has been with me since the beginning.
My Rock All Stars, book bloggers, my advance readers, and you for reading my story. Your support, your reviews and your words of encouragement are the reason I write and love doing it so much.
About the Author
Michelle Mankin is the New York Times bestselling author of the Black Cat Records series of novels.
Rock Stars. Romance. Redemption.
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.
Catch the perfect wave with irresistible surfers 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.
Exploring the sexual double standards for women, the ROCK F*CK CLUB series is a what-if the groupies called the shots instead of the rock stars.
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.
Other Books by Michelle Mankin
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 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
FINDING ME series (also available in audio):
Find Me
Remember Me
Keep Me
ROCK F#CK CLUB series:
Rock F*ck Club 1
Rock F*ck Club 2: A Post Season One Novella
Rock F*ck Club 3
Connect with Michelle Mankin
Connect with Michelle Mankin on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Author-Michelle-Mankin/233503403414065
On Twitter:
https://twitter.com/MichelleMankin
On her website:
http://www.michellemankin.com/
On Instagram:
https://instagram.com/michellemankin/
The Black Cat Records newsletter.
Autographed paperback and swag giveaway each month:
http://eepurl.com/Lvgzf
Oceanside Page 33