They were all angry at me initially and rightly so. Not for my initial lies; when they heard the entire story they completely understood my desire to want to keep that buried. No, they were irritated that I didn’t tell them that Adam had arrived at the meet and greet and had threatened me in the lounge room. They had thought that I would have been able to trust them to help me and it hurt them. Telling Nixon, Henley and Rocco what happened was hard, but somehow through my tragedy then and now, it brought us all even closer. Telling Jace and Rick was also difficult. I knew there were many questions and assumptions that demanded my response. I spoke privately with Jace first. Jace jested that I had a lot to learn about what an agent will do for his clients. And I guess I do though I never want to become a diva and hopefully will not need him to intercept and cover for me personally. Despite his enthusiastic support and kindness, he was unable to guarantee what Rick would say or do. In fact, my anxiety about Rick’s disposition was heightened when Jace told me he could likely find another label if needed given my talent. When he said that, I thought I would vomit. Given Jace’s honesty, I was confident Rick would be so angry that he would fire me on the spot. I also worried about the potential legal and financial repercussions such as returning any prior paid earnings, filing for me to be responsible for any damages – both my physical ones and anything real or perceived to the band. There was a lot at stake and I realized and accepted my ownership.
Jace was present when I spoke to Rick, ready to advocate as feasible, but it wasn’t necessary. Rick couldn’t have been kinder. Apparently, when the media caught wind of the story, it was handled perfectly. Ever the businessman, Rick saw the fan generated sympathy as an opportunity, and having garnered such favorable reviews for our first concert the situation with Adam didn’t hurt whatsoever. The media painted Adam as the crazed and mentally unstable person he was, though they only depicted him as a fan, nothing more. Rick or Jace let it be known that he was someone who knew me from my past to protect themselves so it would never appear they lied, and were withholding details. They anticipate that more information could come out when Adam goes to court, but the general consensus is that his attorney knows that hearing of his past would only tarnish him and potentially result in an even stiffer penalty. So, least said, best said. Speaking of Adam, he’s in jail for attempted rape, resisting arrest, and I can’t remember what else. Eventually the case will go to trial, but until then, I’d rather forget he even exists and am placing him and that whole event in the same cubby hole in my mind I reserved for his other past deeds.
Britt freaked the hell out when she found out what happened. She was by my bedside for days taking care of me driving Maddox crazy. I think she would still be here in all honesty if it weren’t for a surprise visit she received from a man in her past. She seemed shocked and happy by the surprise, and while I know their story, I haven’t met him yet. That was a week ago and to my knowledge he’s still with her staying in our apartment.
A week ago, Maddox came into his room where I was resting – which wasn’t surprising given his unwillingness to leave my side at all over the weeks – and started pulling my clothes out of the drawers. Momentarily, I thought he might be preparing to send me home. But instead, he said, “I need to swing by your place and get a few things. Where will I find your swimsuits?”
“My swimsuits? What do I need them for? Are we going swimming in the pool?”
“What about hats? Do you have a sun hat somewhere? You know what, never mind, we’ll order you new ones. Or arrange a private shopping jaunt – a short one. That will be fun. I’d enjoy that very much.”
“Maddox, what is going on?” He finally turns to me and I laugh. He’s holding my underwear in one hand and a scarf in the other. He looks hilarious. “Tell me why you look like a personal shopper.”
“We’re taking a little vacation,” he says and smiles widely.
That was almost a week ago. A couple days after that, Maddox whisked me off to Tahiti for a week long vacation. He wanted us to relax together with our toes in the sand claiming the ocean would do the rest of the healing I need. Then, we have to get back so our tour can continue. To say this vacation has been amazing is an understatement. It’s been restful, but romantic. Maddox has pulled out all the stops to make it perfect – a secluded, private villa with daily chef and maid service, excellent nutritious food. And the weather has been perfect.
“Your skin is getting very tan,” he tells me now running a hand down my thigh distracted it seems from making the sandcastle with me. We’ve been enjoying the personal hut, the water and sand literally right outside. I’ve loved having him to myself, no interruptions.
“So is yours.”
“You know what I like best?”
“What’s that?”
“The fact that you don’t have any tan lines,” he tells me with a wicked gleam in his eyes.
“That’s because you’ve hardly let me put on any clothes.” It’s a good thing these huts don’t have any close neighbors because they would all get an eye full of Maddox and me this past week, that’s for sure.
“That’s true,” he says standing and smashing the sandcastle I was making.
“Hey!” I protest.
He laughs and pulls me back down the sidewalk and into our hut. He pulls the strings of my swimsuit and takes the top off. “Take your bottoms off,” he tells me and I obey.
“You are insatiable.”
“It’s true,” he smiles. “But I really want to see you naked, except for one thing.”
“What?” I giggle, “You?”
“Yes, definitely. But first,” he smiles and before my eyes he holds up a huge diamond ring. “I was thinking you could put this on. Just this.”
My eyes widen, the breath in my lungs leaving me. “Maddox,” I say in a whisper when I can find my voice.
His eyes soften, “Sailor, you’ve been the biggest surprise of my life. I think I loved you right after you threw water on me,” I laugh at the fond memory, “But it’s really impossible to know. There were so many times that I have fallen in love with you since. Each day, I fall in love with you again. I tried to look up how many music notes exist. I wanted to tell you that I love you more than all the music notes in the world, but I found out instead that sound is infinite, and that seems perfect, because just as music is infinite, Sailor, so is my love for you.” My breath catches at his words. “At one time I thought the melody within me was broken, but it turns out I was just waiting for you and your love to make me whole again. Together, we make beautiful harmony. You’re the song I feel compelled to write, you’re the song that plays from my guitar and the song of my heart. I want to spend every minute, of every day, with you. “Be my wife,” he whispers reverently, “Will you marry me?”
“Yes,” I tell him with tears running down my face. “Yes, Maddox. I would love to marry you.”
He kisses me in happiness and then pulls away from me to wipe a tear from my cheek. He brings his finger to his lips and kisses it making my heart burst. “I love you so much, Maddox.”
He smiles the most beautiful smile I’ve ever seen, and spends the rest of the day making me sing high notes of ecstasy over and over again.
Stay tuned for more Maddox and Sailor – COMING SOON!
Thank you so much for reading, Broken Melody! I hope you enjoyed the first part of Sailor and Maddox’s story. If you’re a reader that’s been with me for a while, thank you for continuing to support me along my writing journey. I would be nothing without you. If you’re a new reader, thank you for taking a chance on me! I hope you will check out all the other books in my backlist and will find another book to read and enjoy. I never take your support for granted - it means everything to me.
To my husband and girls, thank you as always for enduring my crazy schedule and a messy house while I worked to get this book finished. You always smile at me, cheer me on, give me lots of hugs and support my caffeine habit. I love you.
Mom, what can I say? Here’
s yet another book you’ve taken the time to delve into. Thank you for always having my back and knowing me better than I know myself sometimes. I may not always say it, but I appreciate you more than you could possibly know.
Georgia – thank you as always for being my brain-storming partner, my cheerleader, defender, encourager… I could go on. Fact is I’d be lost without you. Don’t ever leave me! LOL! Unicorns forever.
Angela Corbett, Jen Domenico, Meg Anne, Glorya Hidalgo, Mayra Statham – thank you for always being there to support and encourage me. I am a lucky girl to have your friendships in my life. I will treasure them always.
Robin Harper and Elaine York – you girls are my team! I’d be lost without you both. Thank you for making my books look beautiful.
Sarah Hershman – thank you for everything you do. I’m excited to continue expanding my reach and exploring new opportunities with you!
Kellie Montgomery with Eye Candy Bookstore – thank you for all your promo work and support. I’m lucky to have you!
Miller’s Killer Reader Group and Jennifer’s Unicorns – thank you for all your support and your willingness to share and read my releases and for always entertaining me!
Pretty Little Lies Series
Pretty Little Lies
Pretty Little Dreams
Pretty Little Vows – A Novella
Perfect Little Plan
Deadly Sins Series
Fighting Envy
Fighting Wrath
Fighting Lust
Fighting Pride
Whispering Wishes
Charming – A Modern Day Cinderella Story
Hope Falls: Sparks Fly – A Novella
Strike Out – A Novella in the Beer Goggles Anthology
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Author Jennifer Miller was born and raised in Chicago, Illinois but now calls Arizona home. Her love of reading began when she was a small child, and only continued to grow as she entered adulthood. Ever since winning a writing contest at the young age of nine, when she wrote a book about a girl with a pet unicorn, she’s dreamed of writing a book of her own. The important lesson she learned about dreams is that they don’t just fall into your lap – you have to chase them yourself. Most importantly, she is a wife and mother, and is very lucky to have a family that loves and supports her in all things. She also has an unhealthy addiction to handbags and chocolate covered strawberries, neither of which she cares to work on. For more information about Jennifer Miller, please visit www.jennifermillerwrites.com.
Table of Contents
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Epilogue
Acknowlegements
Other Books by Jennifer Miller
Connect with Jennifer Miller
About the Author
Broken Melody (Graffiti On Tour Series) Page 26