Drop Beat (The Heartbeat Series Book 2)

by Ryleigh Sloan

  As we drive through Dean and Blair’s gates, I take everything in again. They moved here about three months ago. It’s a beautiful double-story Tudor-style home with a circular driveway, lush rolling lawns flanked by old oak trees, and colorful bushes and shrubs. It’s perfect for them and suits her more than a fancy villa would. We come to a stop in front of one of three garages. Dean is leaning against the wall of the garage, his feet crossed at the ankles and a welcoming smile on his face.

  When we get out of the car, he strolls over to Blair and pulls her in for a kiss so scorching you’d think they hadn’t seen each other in years. I turn and look at their beautiful brick-faced home when I see more tongue than I want to.

  I feel my arm getting tugged and Dean pulls me into a giant hug. “Madison, I’ve missed you.”

  “I wish I could say the same, Dean but my mom always told me not to lie,” I tease.

  Dean grins at Blair while pointing a thumb at me. “She’s hilarious this one.”

  The truth is I have missed Dean. As much as we love to give each other a hard time, I love him like a brother, even though I won’t tell him that.

  “So you gonna tell me what my surprise is or what?”

  Blair bursts out laughing. “I just love your self-control.”

  Dean pulls one of Blair’s silk scarfs from his pocket and walks toward me, snapping it between his two hands.

  “Close your eyes.”

  I take a step back. “What the hell for?”

  “I want to blindfold you.”

  “Uh-uh, how do I know you’re not going to sell me to some sheik?”

  “Because he’d have you for one day and demand a refund,” Dean deadpans.

  Blair laughs. “Just close your eyes, Mads. I swear you’re going to love it.”

  “You’re gonna be so pissed when you have to be nice to me after you see this,” Dean smirks.

  I close my eyes, and Dean ties the scarf around my head, blindfolding me. Light still peeks through the light blue material, but I can’t see anything.

  Blair puts an arm through mine, and we walk a few steps to my left before she stops.

  “You can take the blindfold off now,” Dean yells in my ear.

  “You’re going to make me deaf, jerk.” I wince as his voice pierces my eardrum.

  I pull the scarf down and gape at the 1963 forest-green Cortina parked in the last garage.

  “What’s this?” I look between them.

  “It’s yours.”

  “What do you mean it’s mine?” I’m gaping, I know I’m gaping. And I’m doing some serious blinking right now too.

  Dean’s shit-eating smile is just about wrapped around his face. “I mean, we got you a car.”

  “Well, actually, Dean got you the car. I wanted to send you on holiday.” Blair laughs.

  “No way! Are you serious right now? Please tell me this isn’t a joke.”

  Dean places a hand over his heart. “I’m wounded you would think me capable.”

  I look to Blair again—she wouldn’t mess with me. “Is this for real?”

  She grins. “It is.”

  I throw myself at Dean. “God, you’re so right. I’m going to hate every second of having to be nice to you for this.”

  His deep chuckle vibrates against my chest. “We wanted to give you something as a thank-you for all you’re doing for us. It’s a fixer-upper, which is what Blair said you’d appreciate more.” He hands me a check. “This should cover any spares you need to get her running and to redo the interior.”

  I hesitantly open the folded check and swallow hard at the number written on there. What is happening right now? I walk into the garage as if in a dream and circle the car, my fingers lightly caressing the paintwork while I take in every single inch of this classic beauty. I open the driver’s door, the hinges squeaking when I do, and I swear it is the happiest sound on earth. I bend to take in the beige leather seats with green stitching. It’s a shame they are so ripped up because given another choice, you never change the original interior.

  But this is way too generous. I straighten and hold the check out to Dean. “I can’t accept this. Any of this.” I indicate to the car. “Dean, it’s too much.”

  “What? Of course you can. It’s already done, Maddie. If you won’t accept it, it will just rust away in my garage because the seller is immigrating to Australia.”

  “And Dean has already arranged to have it shipped to South Africa and contacted a spares dealer who will hook you up with everything you need to get it roadworthy again.”

  I feel the damn stupid tears that have been hovering on the surface the last few days well up again. Geez, what the hell is wrong with me?

  “I don’t know what to say?”

  “You can start by telling me how handsome I am,” Dean chirps.

  Blair puts an arm around my shoulders and gives it a quick squeeze before walking over to the car and straightening the side mirror. “Ignore him, he’s being a dork.” She narrows her eyes playfully at Dean. “I signed up to marry a hot rock star, not a super-dork.”

  Dean smirks. “Meet me upstairs in ten minutes and I’ll show you exactly what you signed up for.”

  Blair and I groan, and Dean nods. “Yeah, I just heard it.”

  “I tell you what; I’ll stay out here for half an hour while you go reclaim your woman, Dean. I need some one-on-one time with my new baby to get acquainted anyway.”

  Dean walks toward Blair and scoops her up. She screeches as he waggles his eyebrows. “Told ya she’d have to be nice to me if I got her the car.”

  I laugh as my friends make their way into their house.

  Damn, I’m gonna miss them. I push all thoughts of going home to the back of my mind. I have just over two weeks here, and I plan on making the most of them.

  My phone rings and I fish it out of my jeans pocket. When I see Keller’s name on the screen, my stomach catapults from my abdomen. I told Keller when I planned to come back before he went all radio silent on me, but I’m really surprised he called so soon.

  “I was starting to think I scared you off, Mr. Cannon.” I’m super proud my voice doesn’t come out all breathy.

  “I’m a dick, I know. I’m calling to make it up to you. How would you like to come to a barbeque at my parents’ house tomorrow? You can meet the whole family.”

  Holy effing shitballs!

  “You want me to meet your family?” Crap, now my voice cracks.

  “I do. Mom makes the best potato salad in the state, and it’s the least I can do for not getting back to you this last week.”

  Holy effing shitballs squared. He wants me to meet his family. “Uh…”

  “Say you’ll come, Maddie. Let me off the hook for being a jerk.”

  “Sure. I’d love to come.” Suddenly, I’m happy I’m free tomorrow.

  I swear it’s like he was holding his breath, and I can sense his inaudible sigh of relief.

  “I’ll pick you up at twelve. I’m looking forward to seeing you again, Maddie.”

  God, how those words sound coming out of his mouth. I need to say something funny or intelligent.

  “Me too.”

  Well freaking done, Maddie. Well done.

  Nineteen – Braai, Not Barbeque

  Keller

  What the fuck was I thinking inviting Maddie over to my parents’ for a barbeque? I told her I didn’t want anything serious. Fuck, I even told her I don’t want to be her friend, but then I spent the next month inundating her with stupid-assed gifts, and now I’ve invited her for a family barbeque. She must be reeling with all my back-and-forth. The truth is, I’d like to say I invited Maddie today because I feel bad for ghosting her this last week, but that would be a lie.

  The reality of the situation is I can’t stop thinking about her. Every morning when I wake up I want to send her a text, and every night I’m tempted to send her a good-night, but this last week I was too fucked-up to do anything. In fact, I spent the entire time staring down the nec
k of a bottle of Jack. That was until Sydney came over and found me shitfaced and staged her own version of an intervention by arranging a family barbeque. Sydney can be like a terrier with a rat. She won’t let go, and eventually she got it out of me that Bronson didn’t want me coming around anymore. But when she pressed about why it fucked me up so much, I shot her down and agreed to the barbeque to shut her up.

  Maddie shifts in her seat for what must be the fiftieth time since I picked her up at Dean’s. I told her to dress casually, and she looks gorgeous in black shorts and a dark blue tank, her black flip-flops lying in a heap on the floor and one foot tucked underneath her leg. Every now and again, I see an orange bra strap peek out at the shoulders. It turns me on to know she’s wearing one of the lingerie sets I bought her. I just hope I don’t get fucking hard in front of my parents when I think about it.

  Maddie reaches for the bottle of water I brought along for the ride and drinks about half of it in one go.

  “You don’t have to be nervous, you know. My family will love you.”

  They will love her. Why the fuck am I doing this?

  “Who says I’m nervous?” Her voice squeaks, and she looks out the window to cover her blush.

  I reach for her hand. It’s clammy, and I hide a smile. Not nervous, my ass.

  “I swear they will love you. Sydney hasn’t stopped talking about getting to meet you since she found your underwear in my washing machine.”

  Maddie turns in her seat, her eyes wide with horror. “Your sister found my underwear in your washing machine?” she screeches.

  “Yeah, it’s no big deal. She was helping me with the glitter bomb incident and found them in there.”

  Maddie covers her face. “Oh my God, your sister found my underwear while washing your nephew’s stuffed cow. Does everyone in your house know about this?”

  “I doubt it.” I scratch my lip to cover a smile.

  “You doubt it?” With every question Maddie asks, her voice goes up an octave. “Turn around. I can’t meet your family now!”

  “Maddie, it’s going to be fine.”

  “Oh my God, this is a disaster. Turn around, Keller. We can tell them I got the screaming squirts.”

  I chuckle. “Too late. We’re here.” I turn into my parents’ driveway and see my nephews kicking a ball to each other. When they see my car, they stop and run for me.

  “I…am…going…to…kill you for this.”

  I smirk. “What? You said I could have them as a souvenir.”

  I get out of the car before she has a chance to say anything and bend to hug Gavin. Maddie gets out of the car, murder in her eyes which she quickly schools for the kid’s benefit, but I hope she holds on to that fire for later.

  Her eyes flick from where she’s taking in my parents’ two-story house with a wraparound porch to Gavin, who is squeezing the life out of me.

  “Say hi to Maddie.”

  Isaac waves shyly and wanders off. He takes a while to warm to strangers, but Gavin raises his arms. “Hi, Maddie.”

  Maddie smiles. “Oh…uh…” She looks to me for permission, then picks Gavin up when I nod. “You must be Gavin. I heard you had a little accident with a glitter ball. How’s Bacon doing?”

  Gavin nods excitedly. “Wanna see him?”

  He scrambles down and reaches for Maddie’s arm. Not waiting for her to reply, he drags her off. Her eyes flick to mine, and I shrug. She’s better off going along with it; the kid won’t stop.

  Maddie gets tugged to the porch swing, and she kneels down to shake Bacon’s hoof. I stare at her while she talks to my nephew’s stuffed cow as if it’s the most natural thing in the world.

  “Now your pissy mood about the underwear makes sense.”

  I turn to face Sydney walking toward me, a shit-eating grin on her face.

  My eyebrows dip. “What makes sense?”

  “The reason you got your balls in a twist. You’ve fallen for her.”

  My throat closes a little, and I wish to fuck I’d brought the water out of the car with me because my mouth has gone dry.

  “You watch too many rom-coms.”

  “I’ve had enough guys fall in love with me to know the look.”

  “Who’s falling in love with you?” Tim, my older brother, asks Sydney as he walks over. What is with my family—are they in stealth ninja mode today?

  “No one. I was saying—”

  I cut Sydney off. “You were minding your own damn business.”

  Tim shrugs. He isn’t one for family drama. “Mom says you’re to bring your girlfriend around the back. She’s dying to meet her.”

  “Yeah, Kel.” Sydney winks. “Let’s meet your girlfriend.”

  “She’s not my girlfriend. And what are you, ten?”

  Sydney kisses me on the cheek. “You know I love you.”

  “You love being a pain in my ass, that’s what you love.”

  Gavin sees a butterfly and hops off the porch after it, leaving Maddie alone. She wipes her hands on her shorts and makes her way to us.

  As soon as she’s within hearing distance, I plaster on a smile. Fuck, what’s with this heavy feeling in the pit of my stomach all of a sudden? Syd needs to get a life and stop with her fucking mind games.

  “Maddie, this is Sydney. Syd, Maddie.”

  Maddie stops in her tracks, then lifts her chin, closes the gap, and sticks out her hand. “Hi, I’m Underwear Girl.”

  I fight the chuckle that’s pushing out my throat. Fuck me with this girl.

  Syd bursts out laughing and shakes Maddie’s hand, then pulls her in for a hug. “I’m going to like you.”

  We walk around the house, and Mom of course is the first to rush over. She’s wearing an apron that she let Gavin paint for her. It looks more like baby shit has been spread all over it and dried, but you won’t see her in anything else. She tucks her gray hair, styled in the bob she’s had since I was a kid, behind her ear and smiles at Maddie, her eyes shimmering with delight.

  “Maddie, it’s so good to meet you. We never get to meet Keller’s girl—”

  “Mom,” I warn. I didn’t think this thing through, did I?

  “What? I’m only speaking the truth. Come give your mom a big hug,” she orders, spreading her arms wide. I wrap my arms around my mom, squeezing her till she tickles me to let go, which I do. A huge smile on my face.

  Maddie smiles at my mother. “You have a lovely place.”

  My mom looks around the yard, pride in her bright blue eyes. “All my babies were born here, you know. Home births. No hospital nonsense for me. Not that I judge anyone who chooses that route, so please don’t worry about that if you two…” Mom realizes what she’s doing and trails off, squeezing Maddie’s hand.

  Fuck my life! Now my mom has us having kids together.

  I rescue Maddie from my mom, grab us a couple of drinks, and introduce her to my dad and three brothers: Jayden, Tim, and Mason. We spend the next fifteen minutes chatting with my dad and brothers, and I almost forget how fucking messed up I was over Sydney’s off-the-cuff comment and everything else. They pull out all the stops with every embarrassing thing that’s ever happened to me, and Maddie laps it up. The way she’s laughing with my brothers, it looks like she may have even forgiven me for the underwear incident.

  “Say something in your language,” Mason requests as I snag the barbeque tongs out of his hands and start flipping the burgers. He’s been so enthralled by Maddie that he’s about to turn the burgers into charcoal.

  “Sure.” Maddie smiles sweetly. “Hi, how are you?”

  My dad bellows out a laugh, and we all join in. Mason tips his beer in Maddie’s direction. “Well played. I meant say something in one of your other languages. Don’t you have eleven official languages over there?”

  “We do. I can speak Afrikaans, but that’s about it.”

  “Okay, say something in Afrikaans.”

  I take a sip of my beer. The way he says “Afrikaans” doesn’t sound anything like the way M
addie does, and I’m enjoying the exchange between my second-eldest brother and Maddie.

  “Baie dankie vir die uitnodiging na julle braai. Ek is so dankbaar en bly dat ek julle almal kon ontmoet vandag?”

  Fuck me! She sounds so fucking sexy even though I have no idea what she just said.

  “What does it mean?” my dad asks.

  “It means, ‘Thank you very much for inviting me to your braai. I’m so glad I got to meet you all today.’” Maddie smiles sweetly.

  “Maddie, Maddie, come see what I found! I found a cwab in the pond,” Gavin interrupts.

  Maddie turns to look at him; crouching down she grins. “You did, is it a big one?”

  He spreads his arms wide. “It’s maswiv!”

  “Yeah? This I’ve got to see.” Maddie stands and takes his hand.

  I watch her walk away, and Dad bumps shoulders with me. “I like her.”

  I take another sip of my beer. I do too.

  Too fucking much.

  Twenty – Studio 69

  Maddie

  I can’t fight the smile stretching across my face as Keller drives us back to his place. What a fabulous day. It’s easy to see why he is such an outstanding human being. His family are all so incredible and grounded. Geez, could I get more poetic with my adjectives, but it’s been so long since I’ve had such a good day that I can’t help feeling a little gushy.

  I was so nervous to meet Keller’s family. I mean, I don’t even know where things stand with him, and the mixed signals he’s sending me are giving me whiplash, so I didn’t really know what to expect. Throw in the tidbit of information about Sydney finding my underwear and you can imagine how nervous I was. But it all worked out in the end.

  After checking out Gavin’s crab, which was indeed massive—almost the size of the kid’s head to be exact—I helped his mom, sister, and sister-in-law, Teresa, in the kitchen. His mom and I swapped some recipes, and I got to hear more about Keller when he was growing up. Especially his obsession with drumming on anything handy. I have to say the image of Keller banging on Tupperware with two wooden spoons was too cute to bear. Most of all it’s clear as day that his family love him very much. Can’t say I blame them, if truth be told. There’s a lot to love.