Rushing into his arms, Joplin didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.
“I can’t believe you’re here.” Her gaze fell on the woman by Beck’s side. His wife. “Sawyer. I don’t know what to say.”
“Say hello.”
Morgan McCloud, tall, blond, and a sight for sore eyes, laughed when Joplin pulled him close. His fiancée, India, watched the exchange with an indulgent smile.
“How? Why?” Joplin tried to catch her breath. “The last time we spoke, neither of you wanted anything to do with coming here.”
Beck and Morgan exchanged glances, speaking without saying a word. Like the old days, Joplin thought.
“We’ve been in touch a lot the last few weeks.”
“Every day,” Sawyer said with a chuckle. She winked at India. “Can’t keep our men off the phone.”
“Anyway,” Morgan said. “Beck and I almost talked each other into being here. Then, Kane showed up.”
“What? Kane?” Joplin needed to sit down. Luckily, there was a chair nearby to catch her when her legs gave out. “Tell me. Please.”
“Yesterday, early, Kane knocked on our door.” Beck smiled at Sawyer. “Didn’t have a lot to say. He apologized. Sincerely.”
“Two days ago, for me,” Morgan said. “Last person I expected to see when I went for my morning run. After the initial shock, we had a good talk.”
“Mm.” Beck nodded. “Cleared the air. Then, he said if I wasn’t in Los Angeles on Friday, he’d be back and kick my ass.”
“Yup.” Morgan laughed. “Good to know some of the old Kane is still around.”
“And here you are.”
“Don’t forget us,” Kane said as he walked in. Hand in hand, Jax and Skye followed.
Joplin watched the reunion she never thought would happen. It didn’t take long for the members of Razor’s Edge to overcome the initial awkwardness. Soon, they were laughing, talking over each other, and hugging whenever the mood hit them.
Kane met Joplin’s gaze and smiled as he crossed the room and knelt by her side.
“You’re crying,” he said, tenderly wiping her cheek.
“You finally broke me.” Joplin sighed and sank into his arms. “Proud of yourself?”
“I have to say, I kind of am.” Kane kissed her once, then again for good measure. “Always pictured you crying at my funeral, so this is a definite upgrade.”
“Not funny.” Eyes narrowed, she poked him in the chest. “I will not lose you again. For any reason. Understand?”
Kane blinked as though he was about to cry. His eyes remained dry, but he had to swallow before he could speak.
“I’m not going anywhere.”
Joplin stood, Kane by her side, and faced the room filled with old friends and new.
“Thank you, all of you. Bringing you together was Danny’s dream. The fact that you cared enough to—”
Danny cleared his throat, interrupting Joplin’s speech.
“No one came here for me, Joplin,” Danny said.
“Of course, they did.” Joplin frowned. “Tonight is my gift to you. Why else would they be here?”
“For you.” Danny took her hand, his eyes brimming with love. “From the moment you came into my life, a bright burst of light, you were my gift. My joy.”
“Danny.” Joplin drew a shaky breath. “You never said.”
“I was never good at expressing my feelings.” He shrugged. “When I asked you to bring Razor’s Edge back together, it was for you.”
“Me?”
“You felt responsible when the band broke up. You moved on, but you never truly got over the loss of your friends. I knew you would never contact them on your own. So, I made the reunion about me,” Danny explained.
“Why, you old stinker,” Joplin scoffed.
“Figured you’d mend some fences, fill the hole in your heart. Didn’t expect anyone to actually show up.” Danny laughed. “You’re even more persuasive than I thought.”
“I had some help.” Joplin touched her hand to Kane’s cheek. “I understand why you didn’t rent the concert hall. But if you weren’t expecting anyone, why are we here?”
“Just in case.” Danny shrugged. “Big meal waiting in the back. Figured, if nothing else, we’d eat—a lot.”
“Danny.” Joplin wrapped her arms around her uncle. “Thank you. But…”
“What?” he asked.
“From the beginning, you played me.” She bit her lip, hoping. “Did you lie about the brain tumor?”
“I am dying.” When Joplin let out a sob, Danny patted her back. “Shh. I’m at peace. How can I not be when I know all these people love you and will watch out for you when I’m gone.”
“I can’t let you go,” Joplin said, holding tight.
“You’ll find a way when the time comes,” Danny assured her. “But I plan to be around for a while longer.”
Joplin nodded and said a silent prayer for Danny.
“I have one request,” Danny said, looking around the room. “Would be a crime to have all this talent in one place and not take advantage. Had a few instruments brought in. Just in case.
“Danny,” Joplin whispered. “Don’t push our luck.”
As usual, when Danny made up his mind, he wasn’t interested in anyone else’s opinion.
“What do you say, Razor’s Edge? How about a song?”
“Really,” Joplin said to her friends. “Don’t think you’re obligated to—”
“Sure.” Kane shrugged. “Why not?”
Joplin placed a hand to her chest, unsure she could take another shock to her system. After everything she’d been through tonight, suddenly, who could have guessed the most surprising moment would be Kane picking up a guitar. Not her.
Taking a seat beside Danny, India, and Sawyer joining them, Joplin waited while all five members of the band found an instrument. They formed a semi-circle—Kane in the middle.
“Instead of an old song, I’d like to play something new.” Kane smiled. “Unpolished, but Jax and Ryder Hart helped smooth out some of the rougher edges.”
“Who has their phone handy?” Danny hissed. “Record, ladies. Record.”
Sawyer did the honors, pointing the camera towards the reunion of Razor’s Edge.
Kane bowed his head as his fingers caressed the strings. Around him, Jax joined in, then Morgan and Beck. Skye waited, ready to add her harmonies.
When Kane glanced up, his gaze catching and holding hers, Joplin’s pulse skipped a beat. When he sang the first words, his voice deep and true, her spirit soared.
You took my hand. I took you for granted.
You gave me your heart. I rambled and ranted.
I’m not the man I used to be. Watch me falling to my knees.
Don’t turn around. Don’t turn away.
Just love me. Love me. All my days.
Joplin didn’t know how long the song lasted. Five minutes? Five hours? For her, time stood still. Danny, the least sentimental man in the world, wiped a tear from his eye.
As Jax and the others continued without him, Kane set aside his guitar. He walked toward Joplin, she met him halfway.
“Did I tell you how sexy you look in your tuxedo?”
“Ryder Hart’s tuxedo, to be exact.” Kane grinned. “I’d rented one, but he said tonight called for a designer label, not something off the rack.”
“I approve.” Suddenly, Joplin felt inexplicably shy. “You wrote me a love song.”
“I did.” Kane slid his arms around her waist. “What do you think?”
“I think I was wrong.”
“You?” He chuckled. “Never.”
“Everyone is allowed one mistake.” Threading her fingers through his hair, Joplin sighed. “I wasn’t supposed to fall in love with you again. Remember?”
“Vaguely,” Kane said, a twinkle lighting his dark eyes. “I love you, Joplin. I never stopped.”
“Maybe what I felt
for you five years ago was more desperation than love.” Joplin wanted him to understand how important this moment was for her. For them. “My feelings don’t compare. I love you. With all my heart. With all my soul.”
EPILOGUE
♫~♫~♫
THEY WERE GATHERED in Ryder Hart’s home studio. Jaxon Cross. Kane Harrison. Skye Monroe. Beck Kramer. Morgan McCloud. Razor’s Edge. Together again. Fifteen new songs for the movie The End of Rainbows.
Skye won the lead, the part she dreamed of playing. Jax always planned to write the soundtrack. But now, instead of a solo project, his bandmates were around him to help bear the load.
As writing partners, as friends, Kane and Jax found their rhythm right away. The songs came with enviable ease. They argued. They made each other crazy. And they loved every second.
“Before we get started, I’d like to make a toast.” Kane raised his cup of coffee. “To Danny Graham. Joplin brought us back together, but her uncle set the wheels in motion. You were a great man, Danny. You will be missed.”
“To Danny,” the group said in unison.
“How are you doing?” Kane asked, rubbing Joplin’s arm.
“Good,” she said. “Better.”
Danny had passed away in his sleep one month ago to the day. Though she was prepared, Kane knew Joplin felt the loss deeply. Apart from a few charitable donations, she was heir to her uncle’s entire estate.
Joplin dealt with the details quickly and efficiently.
“Sure you want to sell the Beverly Hills property?” Kane asked. “You grew up there.”
“Danny loved the house.” Joplin shrugged. “I didn’t. The money will be a great start for the Danny Graham Foundation. A charity in his name to help cancer patients pay for their treatments would make him happy.”
“I agree,” Kane said.
Joplin brought his hand to her mouth, her lips curving into a smile.
“I’ve been thinking.”
“Always a good thing.” Kane smiled. “Care to fill me in?”
“There’s no reason we have to live in Los Angeles. New York would be a nice change. Or Seattle. Even Stillwater. Pick a city. What feels like home?”
“The location doesn’t matter. Home, my heart, is with you, Joplin.”
“We don’t have to decide right now,” she said with a happy sigh. “We have plenty of time.”
“We have forever.”
Kane kissed her. Sweet, passionate, filled with promises, and tinged with the unknown. Together, they could face anything. Together, they were home.
♫~♫~♫
Don’t miss the other books in the Rock & Roll Forever Series
ALMOST PARADISE
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ALMOST BLUE
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ALMOST EVERYTHING
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And a Special Rock & Roll Forever Christmas Novella
ALMOST LIKE BEING IN LOVE
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You met The Ryder Hard Band. Curious about their love stories? The Hart of Rock and Roll series, all five books, in one amazing boxset, is only one click away. Grab your copy now.
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