You Shook Me All Night Long (Scorned Lovers Book 1)

by Simone Harlow

  Maybe he had something to do with that. According to Henry, when she found her inner sex kitten, she also got her feisty on. He liked it, but he could see how that would cause some friction. “I feel bad about giving you a hard time.”

  “Don’t. It needed to be done. I just hope she can forgive me.”

  “She will. She loves you.”

  “But she doesn’t like me.”

  You didn’t make it easy he wanted to say. “So fix it.”

  “I will try.”

  Before he could say another word, he watched as the horse hit the fence railing and Charlotte went flying off the horse’s back. Travis took off, but someone grabbed his arm. He stopped and looked back at Charlotte’s mother. She shook her head.

  “Give her a minute. Let her get up. She needs to get back on the horse on her own.”

  Travis’s entire body shook. “Fuck me,” he muttered. He knew she was right, but what if Charlotte was hurt?

  The horse walked over to Charlotte and bent its head low and nudged her.

  Charlotte lifted her hand and stroked the horse’s nose. Slowly, she rolled to her feet, and dusted off her butt. She grabbed the reins. She looked at him and he could see the grim look of determination on her face as she put her foot in the stirrup and got back on the horse. He glanced at her mother could see tears streaming down her cheeks.

  “Thank God,” she whispered.

  Charlotte kneed the horse and took off around the ring, again increasing her speed. She patted the horse on the neck, and then waved to them.

  Travis watched her flying around the ring, taking the fences. He knew now she had finished her journey and they could start another one together.

  “You might need this.”

  He looked down at the black box in Charlotte’s mother’s hand.

  “It’s a family heirloom.”

  He pulled out a blue velvet box. “I’m already covered.” He opened up the lid to reveal the antique ring he bought a few days ago.

  She raised her eyebrows.

  “Is it alright?”

  “Edwardian platinum band, white diamond surrounded by Burmese rubies. Four karats?”

  “Five,” Travis said.

  “Antique?”

  He shrugged. “The jeweler said circa 1925.”

  Her head nodded. “Art Deco. She loves that period. An exceptional choice. You know her well.”

  He really just liked it and it did remind him of her. “So you approve?”

  “I do.”

  Travis caught Henry’s eye. She’d gone shopping with him, but he’d picked it out. “Thank you.”

  “Are you going to ask her now?”

  Hell no. “Nah, she is dirty and it might not go over well. I haven’t planned it yet.”

  “If you need any help…”

  “Thank you.” He had the mom and the family. Now he just had to get Charlotte on-board. He slipped the ring box back into his pocket just as she dismounted the horse, handed the reins to the groom, then climbed under the fence.

  She ran to him and threw herself in his arms. “I did it.”

  “Yeah, you did.”

  “I didn’t think I could.”

  He knew she could, she just had to want it bad enough. “I knew you would.” He squeezed her tighter. “Are you alright after the horse threw you?”

  “I fell. Mystic didn’t throw me.”

  “You went sailing through the air and I thought you were a goner. I don’t even want to say it out loud.” He shuddered.

  She patted his cheek. “The first thing I learned is how to take a fall.”

  Was that supposed to make him feel better? It didn’t. “Like you’re a stunt man.”

  “I’ve walked away from worse.”

  “It doesn’t count. I didn’t see it. You’re lucky I didn’t punch that horse.”

  She leaned her head on his chest. “I had to get back on.”

  He knew that. He wanted her to get on a horse and then get off. She didn’t say anything about riding like a mad woman. “I don’t have to like it.”

  “What is my mother doing here?”

  He felt her stiffen in his embrace. “Making peace.”

  “Humph.”

  He pulled her away from him. “Please play nice.”

  She lifted one of those black eyebrows. “Are you telling me what to do?”

  He couldn’t tell her what to do. This needed to be her choice. “I’ll let you interpret it how you need to.”

  “Well, I’m …”

  He shook his head. “Maybe stubborn Charlotte needs to take a breather.”

  She opened her mouth, but closed it and kissed him. “For you.”

  “Do it for you.”

  She turned and looked at her mother. Then went to her and opened her arms. Her mother was crying and Charlotte embraced her.

  Travis let out a long breath.

  “What a kiss-ass you turned out to be.” Henry nudged him in the ribs.

  Yeah, he got what he wanted so he was cool with kissing Charlotte’s ass. It was one of his favorite things to do. “I don’t have your balls, Henry. I’m not standing between those two.”

  “Does this mean I’m going to have to be nicer to her?” Henry scowled.

  And he tried not to laugh. “It would do you some good.”

  “I better get your next album for free.”

  “I have to finish it first.”

  “Then get to it, man.” Everett came to stand next to him.

  As if he needed any more pressure. “Give me a second, I gotta deal with some personal stuff first.”

  Everett slipped his arm around his wife’s waist and pulled her close. “I want you in the family as soon as possible.”

  “Isn’t that Charlotte’s choice?”

  “Hell no, I’m the man of the family.”

  Travis swung his gaze to Henry. “Maybe, but I know who wears the pants.”

  Henry laughed and slapped her husband on the ass. “You are very smart.”

  Everett kissed Henry’s cheek. “Let’s go home so I can take your pants off.”

  Travis watched them go over to Charlotte to congratulate her and say goodbye to Mary and Charlotte’s mother.

  Mary walked over to him. “I’m going to enjoy having you in the family.”

  “I’m going to like being in this family.” He smiled.

  “Don’t make me wait too long. I want to hold my great-grandbabies.”

  He stuck his hands in pocket. “I’ll get right on that.”

  Charlotte kissed her mother and then her grandmother goodbye. “Travis, it’s time for you to take me home.”

  “Just because you got on a horse doesn’t mean you can boss me around.”

  She trained those beautiful brown eyes at him. “Of course it does.”

  “Okay, you can.”

  “I’ll make sure you enjoy it.”

  He was sure he would. For the rest of his life.

  They sat on the middle of the bed as he played for her. Magnolia was snoozing on his pillow.

  You put the broken man back together.

  Your touch, your grace, your love took my pain away.

  You have my heart, my soul, my life in your beautiful hands.

  Sweet Baby, Charlotte, I got everything I never knew I wanted.

  Sweet Baby, Charlotte, you are everything I need.

  Travis looked up from his guitar.

  Charlotte put her fingertips to her lips. “Oh Travis, is that for me?”

  He smiled. “Everything I have is for you.”

  “Oh my...”

  “What do you think?” He needed her to like it.

  “It’s magnificent. How am I supposed to live up to that?”

  He shrugged, feeling like a school boy with his first crush. “That’s how I see you.”

  “I love you, Travis.”

  “I love you, too.” He put his guitar aside and leaned over and kissed her softly. He sat back down and reached behind him and broug
ht the ring box out. He held it in the palm of his hand. “Marry me.”

  “Yes.”

  He opened the box and took the ring out, slipping it on her finger. “I have one more question.”

  “As soon as your hair grows back.”

  “What?”

  She gave him a sly look. “I’ll marry you as soon as your hair grows back.”

  “That wasn’t the question, but if I get extensions we can get on a plane to Vegas this weekend.”

  “Silly man. No.” She sighed. “We will have a proper family wedding. I don’t need lavish, but I need the people I love around me.”

  That means at least another three years. “Charlotte, you love everyone.”

  “Of course. It’s the Christian thing to do, but I don’t have to like them.” She smiled. “I promise it will be a small wedding, but I need time to plan it. Do you want to tell your mother or mine that we ran off to Las Vegas and got married by an Elvis impersonator?”

  His face scrunched up. Hell to the no. “There will be pain, huh?”

  She nodded and patted his hand. “Beyond our worst imagination.”

  “Damn, I hate it when you’re right.”

  “No, you don’t. So what was the other question?”

  He ran a finger down her cheek, enjoying the softness of her skin. “I got distracted by your blinding beauty.”

  “You just want me to say yes without you asking.”

  She knew him too well. And it didn’t scare him. “Well yeah, but can I put this song on the album?”

  “That’s sweet that you’re asking me, but of course.”

  “Declan did a great job with it.”

  She gave him that sexy pout. “He heard it first?”

  “I was going to have him sing for you.”

  She leaned forward and whispered. “I like your voice better.”

  “Just keep that between us. You know how sensitive he is.”

  “Things like that make me love you more.”

  “Just don’t stop.”

  “Never.”

  Epilogue

  Eighteen months later

  Travis was never going to fuck Charlotte again, he promised himself as he watched her give one last push and the second baby came shooting out. Twins. Damn, he helped make them.

  “It’s a boy.”

  A son and a daughter. He felt the tears sliding down his cheeks. His mother gave him a one-armed hug as she cradled his daughter in her arms.

  “I want to see him.” Charlotte said between breaths.

  The doctor placed the baby on Charlotte’s stomach and a nurse handed him a pair of scissors to cut the cord. This time his hand didn’t shake.

  Charlotte’s mother put her hand on the baby’s head. “Have you picked your names?”

  Charlotte nodded and handed the baby boy to the nurse for her to clean up.

  “What?” Grace asked.

  “You're holding Vivienne Grace, and Andrew Nicolas is being cleaned up.”

  His mother smiled and kissed the baby’s head. “I’m honored.”

  “As am I.” Nicole smiled. “Viv would be thrilled.”

  “So would Andy.” His mother said.

  Charlotte smiled and looked at him. “They are the reason we met.”

  Grace stared at Travis. “Do you get the feeling there is story there?”

  Nicole raised her eyebrow. “I do. And I suspect it is one that we are never going to be privy to.”

  Travis bent down and kissed Charlotte. “I love you, Sweet Baby.”

  “Forever.”

  “That’s not even going to be long enough.”

  The End

  The Playlist

  Radiohead “Creep”

  Pearl Jam “Just Breathe”

  Giacomo Puccini “Sono Andati” from La Bohème

  Def Leppard “Hysteria”

  U2 “All I Want is You”

  AC/DC “You Shook Me All Night Long”

  Iron Maiden “Charlotte the Harlot”

  Peter Gabriel “I Grieve”

  Van Halen “Love Walks In”

  ZZ Top “Sharp Dressed Man”

  Etta James “I Just Want To Make Love to You”

  Cold Play “Fix You”

  Eric Clapton “Wonderful Tonight”

  Outkast “Ms. Jackson”

  Blue Oyster Cult “Burnin’ For You”

  Neil Young & Crazy Horse “Like A Hurricane”

  The Who “See Me Feel Me”

  Social Distortion “Story Of My Life”

  Jimi Hendrix “Foxey Lady”

  Depeche Mode “Never Let Me Down Again”

  Seether and Amy Lee “Broken”

  Johnny Cash “Hurt”

  Heart “Magic Man”

  Acknowledgments

  To my dear friend, Miriam for the years of support and encouragement. Your friendship has meant more to me than I can say and I am a better woman for it. Thank you for being my writing partner for all these years. I look forward to many more.

  To my girls, Rose and Anna. You ladies are rock stars. Rose, thank you for telling me that I need to just "do me." You've helped me shape this book from its very beginnings and have offered me feedback for so many years. You are a true friend. Anna, you help me do me in ways I didn't even know I needed. You light a fire under my ass whenever I need it. You've done a great job. You ladies have meant so much to me. You are a great team, and any writer would be lucky to have your consultations.

  To L.J. of Mayhem Cover Creations, thank you for the beautiful cover you put together for this novel. I couldn't have envisioned anything this wonderful. I cannot wait to work with you again!

  And last but by no means least, Vanessa Booke. Thank you for your openness in helping me navigate the world of Indie Romance publishing. Your advice and marketing know-how have been of incalculable benefit to me. You're a fabulous woman.

  About the Author

  Once upon a time Simone Harlow decided to write a book. She never understood why she had to write a book she just did. She has a great life. A family that loves her. Friends she can mother. And a dog who thinks she’s his reason for living. (No, really, he told her so.) She should be content. But alas she still had to write that book. So, she did, and it was the beginning of an excellent adventure.

  Follow Simone Harlow

  @Simone_Harlow

  AuthorSimoneHarlow

  www.AuthorSimoneHarlow.com

  Join My Newsletter

  Sneak Peek of I Hate Myself For Loving You

  Declan leaned against the stair railing. “C’mon on baby let’s get you upstairs and out of this dress.” The blonde woman giggled and broke from his embrace.

  “Chase me.”

  Declan braced himself against the railing, after a night of drinking he was in no shape to pursue her. He was Declan Shaw, he didn’t chase pussy. He just snapped his fingers and it appeared in his bed hot and ready. She caught his eye and blew him under the table, she earned a night to remember.

  “Third door on the right. I’ll even give you a head start.”

  The blonde giggled again and headed upstairs. She whipped her blue dress over her head and tossed it at him. “If you catch me, I’ll let you do anything you want to me.”

  That was a given. Declan caught the dress, the silky material warm in his hand. He smiled. This never got old, a warm willing woman. He took a step as he watched her naked ass climb the staircase in the mansion. The world spun and he realized he was toasted, but he was going to get his dick wet hopefully get a few hours of sleep and enjoy the rest of his weekend before he had to go back to work being a rock star. Okay, he had a plan. A shoe flew past his head and he ducked almost losing hisbalance. Was she trying to decapitate him?

  “Kitty!”

  He saw his latest playmate sitting on the top step holding Magnolia, Charlotte’s cat in her lap. There was a joke in there about pussy holding pussy, he even took a second to figure it out, but he was too drunk to form it correctly.r />
  “You have a cat. How cute is that?”

  “What the hell?” Magnolia should be in Travis’s and Charlotte’s room with a bag full of food and an assortment of cat toys. Did Travis and Charlotte come home early? The happy couple was supposed to be in Vermont at Charlotte’s gay best friend slash ex-fiancé and his new boyfriend’s B and B having sex fest. Thinking that convoluted thought almost made him lose his boner. “She’s Travis’ girlfriend’s cat. And she shouldn’t be loose.” He reached the woman and took the cat out of her arms and almost crawled to Travis’s room. He found the door open and the room was a mess. Charlotte must have been excited to go to Vermont, she never let Travis be a slob anymore. He put the cat down, pushed her into the room and closed the door. He leaned against the door jamb and glanced across the hall to Shane’s room and noticed the door was open. Same with Malcolm’s and Gavin’s. He didn’t check Vaughn’s room because he didn’t care. Down the hall, he noticed his door was open to. That was strange. Now he was drunk, confused, and creeped out. No one was supposed to be here. They took the weekend off because the family Yorke was having a big blow out and everyone decided a weekend away would do them well. Shane was in Iowa at the family farm. Malcolm and Gavin went to Florida, Gavin to surf and Malcolm to check out this ska band he was thinking of producing. Vaughn had picked up a couple live gigs Texas. Declan was going to visit his mom and Brody in L.A. but his mom had the flu and her doctor didn’t want to stress her out even further. “I’m getting cold.” She walked past him. So was he. He wanted to get lost in between some silky thighs tonight. “I’ll warm you up.” He watched her enter his room.

  “How romantic.”

  “What?” He pushed off from the wall and went into his bedroom and stopped short. Red rose petals were strewn on the hardwood floor. Candles were lit on every empty space. This