All That Glitters

by Geri Glenn

  “Go!” I shout, pointing at her car. “You need to go.”

  Paula’s eyes widen in shock. “You will be hearing from the label about this. This is not professional behaviour at all.” With that, she turns towards her car and rushes down the steps. When the last of the cars pull out of the drive, I throw my head back and scream.

  Chapter Seventeen

  TWO DAYS LATER, I dash away the tears as I drive over to Beau’s clinic. I’d just gotten the results back from my BRCA test. I’d tested as having an eighty percent chance of my breast cancer reoccurring. The doctor had recommended that I have a preventative double mastectomy right away. The surgery is scheduled for tomorrow, since they had a last minute opening in the operating room. They would be doing reconstructive implants at the same time, but somehow, I know that it just won’t be the same.

  I just want to see Beau. He’s been gone for three days now, and had just gotten back this morning. More than ever, I need him to hold and kiss me, and tell me that everything is going to be okay.

  I pull up to the clinic and walk inside, happy to see that there are no clients sitting in the waiting room. I’d sent him a text a little while ago, but he must have been busy, because I never got a response. I walk back to the exam rooms, searching him out, and finally find him in his office, his head in his hands.

  “Hey,” I say with a bright smile.

  He looks up at me, his brows raised, but he doesn’t return my smile. “Hi.”

  My smile falters a little at the hardness in his voice. “What’s wrong?”

  He turns his computer screen so that I can see it, and points his finger at the picture there. “I thought you said that you and Cash had never dated.”

  There on the screen is a picture of me, on my front step, my hands on Cash’s chest, with his lips on mine. I have to give the photographers credit. The timing on the shot is impeccable, because we really do look like a pair of lovers kissing after a long separation. The headline at the top of the picture reads, ‘Country Love, Reunited.’

  “We never did,” I say, moving towards the screen to get a better look. “He showed up at my house the other day and planted that kiss on me before I even saw who it was.”

  Beau shakes his head. “That kiss looks real. It looks just like it says. Two people in love that have just reunited.”

  “Are you saying that I’m lying to you?”

  He raises his brow and shrugs. “I don’t know. Are you?”

  I take a step back and stare at him in disbelief. What is he saying? Why would he think I’d lie about this? I shake my head, fighting back the tears I feel forming in my eyes. “You know what? I can’t deal with this right now. I’ll see you later.”

  I turn on my heel and hurry down the hall. I hear Beau calling my name a couple of times, but I don’t dare stop. I’m tired of crying and of everyone in the world seeing my pain. I just want to be alone.

  Chapter Eighteen

  “ARE YOU SURE you don’t want me to call Beau?” my dad asks as the orderlies prepare to wheel me into the operating room.

  I shake my head. “No. I can’t concentrate on that right now. I’m about to go through a major surgery that is going to change my body forever. I just can’t.”

  He nods sadly and steps aside as the orderlies raise the side rails on my gurney. “Time to go,” one says.

  Dad steps forward and takes my hand. “I’ll be right here, kiddo. I love you.”

  Tears fill my eyes and fear causes my throat to close up. “Love you too,” I choke out.

  The surgery itself takes about four hours. Add to that the time spent in recovery, and it’s five and a half hours before I see my father’s smiling face again. I feel groggy and sore, and I have thrown up several times from the anesthetic.

  “How are you feeling, honey?”

  I smile and take his hand, barely able to move from the pain. “I’ll be okay,” I whisper. My mouth is dry, but I can’t have anything to eat or drink for a while, not until the anesthetic wears off. My eyes fall closed, and for the next little while, I’m in and out of sleep. Every time I take a quick peek, my father is still in the same spot as before, a magazine in his hand, reminding me yet again just how much I love my dad.

  I’m finally awake and attempting to eat a small bowl of Jello when the door flies open, and there stands Beau, his eyes frantic. “Am I too late?”

  “I’ll just go grab a coffee,” my dad says, giving Beau a nod on his way out the door.

  “I missed it, didn’t I?” he asks, his voice laced with pain. “I’m so sorry, Kinsley. Why didn’t you tell me you were having surgery?”

  “How did you know?” I ask, my spoon frozen in midair.

  “Your father called me.” That surprises me. It’s not like my dad to meddle in my life at all. He steps forward and takes my hand in his. “How are you feeling?”

  “Like someone just chopped my boobs off and wrapped them back up in gauze.”

  Beau’s eyes fall closed, and he drops his forehead to mine. “God, Kinsley. I can’t even tell you how sorry I am that I wasn’t here. I should never have talked to you the way I did yesterday. I know that you said the media can tangle the truth with their lies, but I saw that picture and I was ready to kill that son of a bitch.”

  “I know,” I whisper. “I’m sorry that you had to see it at all. It should never have happened.”

  “I promise next time I will ask before flying off the deep end. Do you forgive me?”

  I reach up with one hand and tangle my fingers in the hair at the back of his head, tugging his face closer. “Of course.” I press my lips against his and can practically feel the relief radiating off of him. “And there won’t be a next time.”

  He pulls back and looks at me, his eyes full of questions. “When I first got that contract, I was naïve. I thought that my life would be the stuff that dreams are made of, you know? But I was wrong. In this instance, it’s true what they say—all that glitters, really isn’t gold. I’m sorry that you got caught up in it, Beau, but I’m going to fix this. I’m going to beat this cancer, and take my life back for myself.”

  Beau stares back at me. “I really do love you, Kinsley Brogan.”

  I grin. “I love you too, Beau Weston.”

  Chapter Nineteen

  THE ROAR OF the crowd is deafening as the talk show host get’s everyone in the audience geared up for my guest appearance. My body trembles with nerves as I listen to her tell a few jokes and get the show started.

  “Our first guest today released her first album just a few short weeks ago. Her first three singles have skyrocketed to the top of the country music charts, and her fans scour the internet every day, searching for news on her health. Everyone, please welcome Kinsley Brogan to our stage!”

  The crowd cheers and the music plays. I walk out onto the set like I’m in a dream. I hold out my hand and smile, waving to the crowd as I approach one of the top daytime talk show hosts on television.

  I give her a hug and take a seat on the couch, smiling and waving to different people in the crowd who seem very excited to see me.

  “Kinsley, welcome. I’m so happy that you could be here today.”

  “Thank you. I’m so excited to be here, and to finally meet you and all of your awesome guests.” The crowd screams and hollers as I grin and give them another wave.

  “You were actually scheduled to be here a few weeks ago, weren’t you? But you had to cancel due to some health issues, is that right?”

  I nod and fold my hands in my lap, the crowd quiets as I say, “Yes. I actually had quite a few things to cancel.” For the next few minutes, I tell the audience about my breast cancer diagnosis and about my treatments. It’s not like they don’t know already. It’s been all over the news, but not only that, my hair is just now starting to grow back, and is barely longer than a clean shave.

  I tell them about the chemo, and the mastectomy, making a plea for everyone to make sure to check their breasts regularly, because you’r
e never too young to have breast cancer. I tell them about being home and how great it was to spend time with my Dad, who was my rock through it all.

  “So, are you finished with your treatment then?” she asks.

  I nod and smile widely. “I am, and after a round of tests, I have now been given a clean bill of health.” Applause and cheers roar throughout the studio.

  A picture of my Dad and I from when I was younger appears on the screen behind us, and the crowd goes wild. “Your father is a good looking man,” the host says with a grin. “I know there’s a lot of ladies out there who want to know … is he single?”

  I chuckle and nod my head. “He’s pathologically single. It would take a pretty incredible woman to turn my dad’s head.” That is met with another round of screams and cheers.

  The interview is going great. I am successfully pulling off being charming and funny, and getting my story out there in a way that I’m comfortable telling. When the highly publicized picture of me in a lip-lock with Cash Easton appears on the screen, the crowd goes wild. The host and I had talked a little ahead of time, and I’d told her exactly how I wanted to handle this.

  “So, this picture here was seen on every magazine stand in America the day after it was taken. It went viral online almost overnight. Everyone was excited to learn about your relationship with Cash Easton.”

  I nod as the crowd goes wild. “Yeah, it was crazy how fast it was spread around. But what people don’t know about that picture, is that it wasn’t real.” I give everyone a minute to get out their gasps and murmurs before I continue. “I was actually really sick that day, and I have no ill will towards Cash, but my publicist—who has since been fired—had set this up to ambush me and get that very picture. You can’t see it, but I was not happy to be kissing him at all. The truth is, I barely know him.”

  “Wow,” she says with raised brows. “So you’re not in a relationship with Cash Easton?”

  I shake my head. “I am not. I actually do have a boyfriend though.” I no sooner get the words out before a picture of Beau and I at the beach comes on screen. A lady had taken it with Beau’s cell phone the day we’d been there, before my hair had fallen out. He looks gorgeous in the picture, making Cash Easton look like a teenager. Hoots and hollers ring out through the audience.

  “Who is this guy?” the host asks.

  “This is Beau. He’s from my hometown, and he is just the most incredible man I’ve ever met. He took care of me while I was sick, and never failed to make me feel like the most beautiful woman in the world.” Everyone lets out a resounding “Ahh.”

  “So, is this guy “the one”?” she asks.

  I bite my lip and smile, thinking about our plan to continue seeing each other, even while I tour, and after the tour, getting a small house together. “I think he might be.”

  Just then, everyone starts screaming and cheering, and I watch them in confusion. What the heck? They’re all looking in another direction, and I turn and see Beau walking across the stage, his hair still messy and sexy as hell. When he gets to me, he grins widely and drops down to one knee.

  I can’t breathe. My hands fly up to my mouth as I stare down at this incredible man while he opens a ring box for me to look at. Nestled in the box is a beautiful platinum band, topped with the most gorgeous princess cut diamond in existence. On either side of the diamond is a deep blue sapphire stone, representing both of our September birthdays. It’s incredible.

  “Kinsley, I’ve been in love with you since I was six years old. You have always been the most creative, inspirational, beautiful woman I’ve ever known. Being by your side while you battled cancer was both an honour and a privilege. I watched you fight that disease with everything you had, never once complaining about how hard it was. You are everything I have ever wanted or needed, and if you would do me the honour of marrying me, I would be the happiest man in the world.”

  A tear slides down my cheek, and I watch in awe as he grins back at me, and mouths the word, “Breathe.” I realize then that I’m not breathing at all. I take a deep breath and drop my hands, and let out a tearful, “Yes.”

  Beau’s face lights up in the most brilliant smile I’ve ever seen, and he slides that beautiful ring on my finger. Standing, he takes my face in his hands and claims my mouth in a kiss that makes my heart pound, while behind us, the crowd goes wild.

  Chapter Twenty

  BEAU UNLOCKS THE door to the hotel room and carries our bags inside. I haven’t stopped grinning since he’d slid that ring onto my finger, less than an hour ago, and neither has he. He drops the bags on the couch and walks towards me, taking me in his arms.

  “I can’t believe you said yes,” he breathes, kissing my lips softly.

  “I can’t believe you asked me on national television.”

  “Well, better that goes viral than that damn picture of you kissing that country prick.”

  I giggle and pop up on my toes, wrapping my arms around his neck. “You’re amazing,” I whisper before covering his mouth with mine. He kisses me back, his hands pulling my hips into his.

  My heart races. Even after all these months, Beau and I have never had the opportunity to make love. For the majority of our relationship, I have been too sick to even think about it. Lately, we’d come close, but living in my father’s house made that hard. Beau’s apartment above the clinic is little more than a room, and we never spend any time there.

  Now that I’m feeling better, and find myself alone in a hotel room with the man I can now call my fiancé, my virginity makes me nervous. I’d never made it past third base with a man. Before Beau, I’d only been on a couple of dates, always too focused on my work while I was in Nashville, and before that, nobody had ever asked.

  Taking several steps towards the bed, Beau backs me up until the backs of my knees hit the mattress, and then he lowers me down. My breath catches in my throat as he places a knee on the bed and settles himself between my legs.

  “I love you, Kins,” he whispers.

  “I love you, too.”

  He smiles at me, happiness shining from his eyes and his head lowers, his lips once again taking mine in a kiss that makes my head spin. I run my fingers up his back, enjoying the feel of his muscled body against mine.

  When Beau’s fingers trail up my leg, slipping under the hem of my dress, my skin pebbles under his touch. Slowly he drags his hand up and over my hip, a deep rumble coming from his chest. His lips plunder mine in loving, but insistent kisses. My head swims with my need for him.

  “God, baby. I want you so bad.” His voice is thick and raspy, making my heart race.

  I reach for his shirt, and he lifts up a little, helping me to pull it over his head. I run my fingers over his skin, taking my time to commit every inch of him to memory. Beau’s fingers go to the back of my dress and I feel the zipper slowly come apart.

  His hand skates my shoulder straps and he peels them down slowly. I’m not wearing a bra, and just before he exposes my breasts, I stop him. Suddenly, I’m not so sure about this. “I have scars,” I whisper, terrified of how terrible my breasts look.

  “Hey,” he says, looking into my eyes. “I know you have scars, baby. And those scars are never something you should be ashamed of.” He peels my dress down, and I watch his face as he stares down at my breasts. Slowly, he leans forward and places tender kisses along the scars that run across the front of them, running all around my nipples. “Baby, these scars are beautiful. They mean that you survived.”

  A tear slides down my cheek as I look up at this beautiful man that I love so much. He brings his lips down, covering my body, scars and all, with kisses, worshipping every inch. When our clothes are off and he finally slides inside of me, I finally feel like a woman again. A whole, healthy woman whose man loves her more than anything else in the world. I had kicked cancers ass.

  About The Author

  Geri Glenn lives in beautiful New Brunswick, Canada. She is a military wife, the mother of two gorgeous, but slight
ly crazy little girls, and just recently was fortunate enough to quit her day job to stay home and do what she loves most - write!

  Geri has been as avid reader for as long as she can remember. When she isn't writing or adulting in some other fashion, she can usually be found curled up in a comfy chair, reading on her iPad both day and night. Geri is an incurable night owl, and it's not uncommon for her to still be awake, reading at 4 am, just because she finds it hard to put the book down.

  Geri loves all genres of fiction, but her passion is anything romantic or terrifying; basically, anything that can get her heart pumping. This passion has bled out onto her laptop, becoming the stories that come from her soul.

  Writing her first book has knocked off the #1 thing on Geri's bucket list, and publishing it was an absolute dream come true. She hopes you her stories as much as she does.

  Stalk her!

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