“It means, that if you’ll have me, I want to come home with you.”
“So I can help out with Eliza for a while?”
Amber shook her head. “No. So we can be a family. I don’t want to take it slowly, I don’t want to see how things go. This last week, being so close to you yet not together has been worse than all those months apart. I want to be with you. You and Eliza.”
Jake looked excited and with the light shining from his eyes, even more gorgeous than usual. “That’s what I want too,” he replied. “But I also need to say I’m sorry for not telling you about Abbie. I should’ve trusted you.”
Amber shook her head. “No, you were right it wasn’t your secret to tell.”
“Yes, but I could’ve told you something to put your mind at rest. I understand how it must have sounded – my telephone conversation with her – but you still should’ve stayed and talked to me.” Jake looked at Amber earnestly.
“I know.” She swallowed hard. “And I’m sorry too; for not telling you about Eliza earlier. I would’ve done, I promise, I would never have kept you from her forever. You do know that don’t you?” Her eyes pleaded with Jake, desperate for him to hear the truth in her words.
“Yep, I do.”
“Really?” Amber asked.
Jake nodded without hesitation. “Really I do, Freckles. I can see why you would think Abbie and I were together. What with the phone call you overheard, and the stuff in the press.”
“If I could redo everything I would,” Amber replied. “I should have stayed and I certainly shouldn’t have lied about Daniel.”
Jake gave a humourless laugh. “Less said about that dick the better. All I know is that being around you again and not being able to touch you sent me crazy. Then when you said we should take a step back from each other...I felt as though my heart had been ripped from my chest. It hurt so much.”
Amber leaned forward and touched his cheek. “God, I am so sorry. It wasn’t really what I wanted. I just thought it was the right thing to do.”
“It doesn’t matter now. None of it does.” Staring into her eyes, Jake took a strand of Amber’s hair and curled it around his fingers. “I wish I’d just told you about Abbie, and then we wouldn’t have wasted all this time.”
Amber shook her head. “No, Jake don’t. We’ve both made mistakes, but they’re in the past.”
“So,” Jake cleared his throat, “What about your future? Is it with me?”
Amber’s chin trembled as she gazed at him with a huge smile. “Yes, as long as that’s what you want,” she said shakily.
Jake reached forward across the bed and pulled Amber to him. His mouth found hers and he gave her a soft and gentle kiss, his fingers caressing her neck.
Finally pulling away, Jake stroked Amber’s cheek. “I’ve missed you so fucking much.” he said his voice breaking. “Don’t you ever leave me again, okay?”
“I won’t, I promise. I love you.”
Jake got up onto the bed and wrapped his arms around Amber, holding her tightly. “And I love you too. So, are we going to do this? Are we going to be different than Scarlett and Rhett and get our shit together?”
Amber laughed remembering Jake’s words about her favourite film. She nodded and snuggled into Jake’s hard chest.
“Good,” he replied. “No more secrets or running away without talking to each other. Is that a deal?”
“Yes, Mr Hughes it’s a deal.” Amber replied.
“Good, but one thing, Freckles,” Jake said as peered down Amber’s nightgown at her nursing bra. “Once Eliza is on the bottle, that ugly thing has to go.”
Amber followed Jake’s gaze and laughed. She held his face between her hands. “Anything for you baby. But, for now, don’t forget I need to be kissed and often, and by someone who knows how.”
“I do know that.” Jake grinned
“Well shut up and do it then.”
Not needing any further encouragement, Jake held Amber tightly and kissed her like only he knew how.
Epilogue
Jake thought that his heart would burst with pride as he took his beautiful wife into his arms. As she looked up at him with her big silver eyes, he knew he’d never been happier. Today, their wedding day, had been the best day of his life, apart from the birth of Eliza two years earlier.
Amber had taken his breath away as she’d walked down the aisle on Luke’s arm. Her ivory lace gown that had a vintage feel to it was backless with a small train. It accentuated her curvy figure and it had taken all of Jake’s willpower not to stride towards her, throw aside her bouquet of coral coloured roses and take her in his arms. She looked beyond beautiful with her hair taken up at the sides, away from her face, showing off her beautiful eyes and cute freckles.
“You happy Mrs Hughes?” he asked dropping a kiss onto Amber’s full, pouty lips.
Amber nodded and clutched at Jake’s shirt as she stood on tiptoe to give him a deeper kiss.
He smelled divine and looked even better. He’d been more than happy to wear a black, slim fitting suit, white shirt and coral tie, when she’d suggested it. Amber had expected a bit of a fight, but Jake agreed that he probably needed to think a little more conservatively for his wedding attire. Amber was pleased, but knew he’d have looked magnificent whatever he’d worn. Today had been magical and perfect, although Amber had thought nothing could be as perfect as Jake’s proposal.
The band and Jake’s sister, Abbie, were all spending New Year together at Jake and Amber’s house. Once they’d got all the kids to bed they decided to sit down and watch Jools Holland’s New Year’s Eve show. It had been recorded at television centre earlier in the week, and Dirty Riches were playing two songs. When their second performance of the show came on, Jake started getting restless on the sofa next to Amber; his bouncing leg annoying her. However, as soon as they began to perform, Amber understood why; Jake, not Luke was singing. They performed a rock version of Bruno Mars’ ‘Just the Way You Are’, adding a thumping drum beat and guitar riff, which although not to Jake’s standard was played extremely well by Luke. Jake’s voice wasn’t perfect, but it was rich and deep bringing a whole new sound to the song.
“Wow,” Amber said. “You kept that a surprise.” Everyone turned to stare at her and smiled.
“Ssh,” Jake replied taking her chin in his thumb and forefinger, and turning her head back to the T.V.
As the song drew to a close Amber clapped her hands, her eyes still fixed on her gorgeous boyfriend on the T.V. Then as Jake sang the last note, his bandmates each held up a sign behind him that read out – ‘Freckles. Please. Marry Him.’. Amber turned to Jake, who was holding out a beautiful ring that he’d designed for her. It was a clear, emerald cut diamond with two baguette rubies either side, and Amber adored it. Obviously she said yes, and that was when the party really began.
Breaking Amber from her reverie, a pair of hands suddenly prised them apart and Tom’s head pushed in between them.
“Hey, you two, it’s speech time,” he said with a laugh, knowing that his speech as best man was going to embarrass Jake – something that had never happened before.
Jake stared at him with narrowed eyes. “You dare say anything that either you or I regret,” he warned. “And if you upset Freckles there’ll be trouble.”
“Me?” Tom shrugged and walked away still laughing.
“Don’t worry,” Amber said as she pinched Jake’s backside. “I think I know every sordid little detail of your single life. I was on tour with you for nearly a year don’t forget.”
“Erm yeah, I guess so.” Jake turned away not wanting Amber to see the fear in his eyes.
“So, when Jake finished the farmer said to him, “She enjoyed that, you can come back,”. Tom turned to Jake amidst the roars of laughter for his speech and grinned. After all Jake’s years of piss taking and shit stirring, Tom knew that he had finally brought down the great joker.
“You’re dead,” Jake mouthed to Tom before turning to Amb
er. “Seriously Freckles, I was pissed as a wheel and had no idea; it was dark.”
Amber tried to look angry, but this was Jake and she wouldn’t change him for anything. Her smile was a mile wide and full of love. “You can apologise and grovel later,” she whispered seductively into Jake’s ear. “And maybe show me some of those moves Tom was talking about.”
Jake blew out a sigh of relief. God he loved this woman, but he was still going to kill Tom.
“Seriously though,” Tom cried above the laughter. “You will never meet a man as good as Jake, well you probably will but he wouldn’t agree. He’s a pain in the rear most of the time, but when he loves you, he loves you with passion and will protect you with his life. That’s why poor Amber is saddled with him. He loves her and Eliza more than anything in this world, and lucky for Jake she seems to feel the same about him. So ladies and gentleman, can we please toast the bride and groom…Jake and Amber.” Tom raised his glass and smiled over at Jake’s sister, Abbie, she knew exactly what a good man Jake was. “Now, I do believe it’s time to hear from the great man himself. I give you Mr Hughes.”
Jake gave Amber a kiss on her cheek and then got to his feet. He’d performed in front of millions of people over the years, but he didn’t think he’d ever felt so nervous. He looked over at the table where the rest of Dirty Riches sat and was instantly calmed. Martha and Stacey looking stunning in their coral bridesmaid dresses, both gave him a thumbs up. Skins made some lewd hand gesture to indicate that Jake’s backside must be twitching, while Luke pointed to his own groin and mouthed “your zips undone, we can see your junk.” Jake shook his head and took a deep breath.
“Okay, so this is pretty scary,” he said into the microphone.
“You should see the view we’ve got,” Luke called earning himself a slap on the arm from Martha.
Jake shook his head and relaxed as Amber’s tiny hand suddenly grabbed his and squeezed it tightly.
“Well, first of all, and it pains me to do so, I have to thank the bunch of idiots that make up the rest of the band. I love you guys, you’re my best friends, my family and without you and yours I’d be nothing and still messing around with my life.” Jake kissed his fisted hand and banged it twice against his chest as he looked in their direction. “Special love goes to Martha and Stace, you pair of interfering witches knew from the start that Freckles and I were made for each other. You were determined that we’d figure it out too and I’m pretty sure that you were the brains behind ‘Project Knob Head’, and not as he likes to make out, Luke.” Jake grinned at his bandmates and wives and then turned to Amber. “Whoever had the idea though, it doesn’t matter. I just thank God we did figure it out. Also, much love to Ethan and Rocco, you little guys are best buddies, but you always make sure that Eliza has someone to play pirates with, even though she’s a girl.”
Jake’s gaze landed on the kids all smiling back at him; two miniature rock stars with their spiky hair and his blonde haired, blue eyed princess. Their table was full of party food, cars, toy pirates and wrestling action figures, not a single doll in sight. His baby surely was a tomboy. Even though she was only two, she’d really battled with Amber over wearing a bridesmaid dress today. Eliza had finally agreed as long as she could wear her cute little pair of purple Doc Martens as well – she was definitely her father’s daughter.
“To my sister Abbie, we may not have found each other until we were adults, but I love you heaps sweetheart. I’m so proud of you.” Jake’s voice cracked as he looked over at Abbie, also in a coral bridesmaid dress. She looked, happy and radiant, but most of all healthy and he was proud to think he had helped with that.
“Tom, my buddy and best man,” he continued. “Thanks for your kind words - I think. I love you Sugar Tits, I really do, but, you have to know that I am actually going to kill you. Probably in your sleep, so I’d be careful if I were you.”
“Just letting everyone know the truth, Jake.” Tom cried as everyone laughed again recalling Tom’s speech.
Jake shook his head and then turned to Amber. “Finally, to my beautiful wife, Freckles.” Jake paused as he blew out a breath. “Shit, how do I say this without losing my reputation as a bad ass rocker…ah shove it, I don’t care? I love you so much that sometimes it physically hurts to breathe, and to quote the great Mr Jerry Maguire ‘you complete me’. I can’t imagine my life without you, not for one minute. We didn’t exactly hit it off at first, and to be honest you scared the shit out of me, but we got there in the end, and God I’m so glad we did. I never want to be without you, Freckles. I promise to keep kissing you often, as only I know how, as long as you promise to never ever leave me.”
“Jake,” Amber gasped but couldn’t help grinning. “You idiot.”
“I know, I’m sorry, but I’m your idiot. You and Eliza are the best things to ever happen to me, and life is only going to get better now that we’re in it together. So please everyone join me in a toast to my gorgeous, kind, loving, sometimes angry, sexy, wife Freckles. To Mrs Hughes.”
Everyone stood and followed Jake in the toast to his wife as Amber stood and snaked her arms around his neck and kissed him passionately. Finally, as cheers and jeers rang out, Amber pulled away, a shy smile at her lips.
“Sorry,” she said taking the microphone from Jake. “I got a bit carried away, but as I’m up here on my feet, I’d like to say something.”
“Oh shit,” Jake groaned. “You’re not going to tell everyone our bedroom secrets are you?”
“No baby, I’m not.” Amber ran a hand down Jake’s cheek and turned towards their guests. “I know it’s not normally tradition for the bride to speak, but then not every bride marries one of the hottest rock stars on the planet.” Jake coughed making Amber giggle. “Sorry, the hottest rock star on the planet. I just want to thank all of you, especially my mum who has always done her very best for me. But the best thing she ever did was tell Jake where to find me when I stupidly thought that we shouldn’t be together. Thank you, Mum.” Amber smiled over at her mother sitting at a table with her family: Auntie Lucia, Gabriella, Dom, Noah and Betty. Thelma wiped her tears from her face and blew a kiss to her daughter. “I also want to say how great all my family are, and not just those who are related by blood and marriage, but Skins, Stace and Tom too. You are my family now, as well as Jake’s, and I can’t thank you enough for everything you’ve done for him, and for us. I would also like to thank Hugo, sorry Luke.” Amber laughed as she looked over at Luke.
Luke shook his head and took a long gulp of his drink while everyone else in the band roared with laughter at their private joke.
“If it weren't for him, I wouldn’t be stood here now having just married Jake, so wherever you are Hugo, thanks, buddy.”
“He’s in Luke’s room,” Tom shouted earning a flip of the finger from Luke.
Amber smiled and continued once the laughter had died down. “Steph and Marnie, my two wonderful friends who helped me through one of the hardest times.” Amber smiled at them both grinning widely. “Thank you, I love you girls.” She sighed and then turned to Jake. “Finally, my beautiful, sexy, kind husband. I love you baby and don’t think I can ever express how much. You are my life, you and Eliza, and every day I say thanks that you love me back.” Amber wiped the tears from her cheek and stooped to kiss Jake’s cheek. “Anyway, Eliza has a little present for you. Come on baby, give Daddy his present.” Amber held her hand out to Eliza, who came running towards her.
Amber bent down and retrieved a small, package wrapped in silver paper and gave it to Eliza. As she took the parcel in her tiny hands, Amber whispered something into her ear. Eliza nodded, her golden curls bouncing against her shoulders. She moved to Jake with her arms out and laughed as he whisked her up into his embrace, pulling her tightly against his chest. Amber then handed the microphone to Eliza.
“You gonna speak, Princess?” Jake asked tweaking his daughter’s nose.
Eliza nodded and then kissed Jake’s cheek, causing an en masse ‘a
h’ from everyone.
“I wuv you Daddy. You the best daddy in the world.” Even with the microphone her tiny baby voice could barely be heard.
Jake drew in a shuddering breath as his tiny daughter filled his heart with joy. “Thank you, Princess, and you’re the best little girl in the world. I love you too.”
“Here pwesent.” Eliza pushed the parcel against Jake’s chest and then flung her arms around his neck and squeezed tightly. “I go now,” she said pushing out of Jake’s arms.
As the guests all watched her, Eliza skipped back to Ethan and Rocco to carry on their play. Jake sat back down and blew out a breath as their guests continued to chatter and drink again.
“You not opening that?” Amber asked as she plonked herself on Jake’s knee.
“Oh yeah, sorry.” Jake looked up at her and frowned. “Am I going to like it?” he asked.
Amber nodded. “Oh yes, I think so.”
Reaching his arms around Amber’s waist, Jake ripped at the paper. Inside was cream tissue paper that he unfolded carefully. As the gift was revealed, Jake roared with laughter. Inside, along with a matching thong, was a pretty, delicate, pale pink bra, with thin shoestring straps.
“Wow,” Jake said. “You know exactly what I like Freckles.”
“There’s a note inside.”
Jake searched through the paper and found a small, hand-written note from Amber.
I hope that this one is pretty enough for you, because I know how you rock stars hate ugly bras. If you’re a good boy, I’ll wear it for you later.
I love you today, tomorrow and always,
Freckles xx
“Well?” Amber asked. “Is it pretty enough for you?”
Jake nodded and pulled her into a deep, passionate kiss. Pouring every bit of the love he had for her into it. At that moment, he needed Freckles to know exactly how deep his feelings for her were. He wasn’t a poet like Luke, he couldn’t write a song to tell her, all he could do was show her, just as she’d said, and just as their matching tattoos that they both had running down their ribs said – today, tomorrow and always.
Rock Stars Don't Like Ugly Bras Page 24