Love Song (Rocked by Love #2)
Page 15
"He did it to get back at me." His features tightened into an angry mask. "Fucking bastard went too far. He actually bragged to me after the show tonight." Unconsciously, he rolled his wrist and she noticed the swollen knuckles.
This time she wasn't upset Luke had taken matters into his own hands. He'd defended her. But hadn't he been doing that all along? Her knees wanted to give out. Part from relief knowing her stalker was done, and part for Luke's terrible turmoil. "I... I don't know what to say."
"I do. Come back to me. I know some of the fans aren't happy about our relationship, but I'm hoping that what I said on the air tonight will help. Also you've recently gotten a fan club of your own. Look." He held out his phone and she read down the screen.
A group called Audrey's Army had set up a site to shame the haters, comment by comment. "They're defending me."
"The girls we met in L.A. started this for you. Lots more have joined in. Most of our fans are cool, and now they're coming out of the woodwork to lend their support."
"Wow." She swallowed hard to fight back tears.
"That's not all." He brought up Owen's personal web page. A public apology to her filled his screen. "Our fans are sharing it, and a few of the rock news sites are carrying it, too. That asshole's already getting a lot of heat for what he did. And, just so you know, I held my temper when I found out. Sort of. After what he put you—put us—through, I had to get in at least one punch."
"Luke." She reached for him, then dropped her hands to her sides. "I'm sorry I got so scared."
He slipped his phone into his pocket. "There's nothing wrong with being scared. It was a scary situation."
She moved closer, needing to feel his heat, his presence, his solid and steady support. "I want to try again. I love you. I realized that nothing is guaranteed. I don't want to give you up because of something that might happen. I'd rather enjoy every single day that we do have together, however long that will be."
"Sunshine." His eyes closed for a moment. When they opened, they were shiny. He gripped her hands. "I love you. I'll take every single day, too."
He tugged her toward him. His arms banded around her and his hands tangled in her hair. Holding tight, she tucked her face into his chest and breathed him in. She had him back and she was never letting go. They stayed wrapped together for a long moment.
Luke eased back enough to trail his roughened fingers over the outline of her face. "I can't wait to get you home."
She nodded. "Home. As in Hermosa Beach?"
"Absolutely. And here I was thinking I'd have to convince you to move your operation to the west coast."
"We can look for a studio."
"Already found a great space, and it's a sweet commute." He slid his hand into her hair again. "My place. The entire bottom level is yours. The contractor can meet with us whenever you're ready."
Excitement spun through her happiness, making her giddy. She peppered his beard with kisses. "I can't believe you did that for me."
"The idea came to me every time I saw you there. It would be perfect for your studio. I want you to be happy."
"You make me happy."
He drew away even further and reached into his pocket and then held out a ring. "And you make me complete."
Her heartbeat pounded and her knees weakened. The pink heart-shaped diamond set in rose gold was delicate, elegant, and perfect. "Luke, it's beautiful."
"I bought this while we were in California. Remember the day when I went to the music store with the guys while you went shopping with Irisa and Jayne? Well, this was the real destination. I was going to wait until the anniversary of the first day we met to propose, but tonight seems like the perfect time." He grasped her left hand. "The first time I saw you, something clicked inside me, like the entire world had suddenly come into focus. Like I'd been waiting for you to complete what was missing in me. Will you marry me and officially become my other half?"
"Yes." She held his gaze while he slipped the ring in place, then she linked their fingers together. "When we met, my heart recognized you as mine. It took the rest of me a little while to catch up, but I want to spend the rest of my life showing you how much I love you."
He lowered his face to hers. Their lips met, sealing their promise of forever.
Epilogue
Luke lounged on his beach chair and stared at the sunlight rippling over the water. He squinted to the horizon where the ocean met the sky. Waves crashing on the shore in the steady ebb and flow pattern soothed him to near sleeping.
Tired. But he couldn't complain because the reason for his lack of sleep was so tempting when curled up around him in bed.
And every time he looked at her, his heart overflowed.
To his left, Zander manned the grill. Somehow, even though they were at Luke's home, Zander had wrangled grill privileges. Luke didn't care too much—the guy knew how to grill. To his right, Landry and Brendan wrestled with Zander and Irisa's dogs in the yard.
The Fury may have been taking a break, but Furious Records had received countless emails and messages from hopefuls and bands needing a new direction. Still, Luke didn't think it would be too long before the guys began making noises about getting back into the studio. Music was in their blood, too strong to ignore.
Twice in the past week, he'd seen Landry scratch new lyrics onto napkins and scraps of paper, and on one occasion, Audrey's sketchbook.
But this time, things would be better. They'd dictate their schedule. They'd make sure all needs were being met. And after all that had happened, they had a better understanding of themselves too.
He was damn lucky for all that he had.
Laughter drifted from the house. The sliding glass door opened, and Irisa, Jayne, and Audrey emerged. Luke met his new fiancée's gaze and grinned. The barbecue to celebrate Audrey's official move to California was underway.
He glanced up to the top level of the house and the master bedroom's balcony. Waking up with Audrey and going to sleep beside her made him alternately grateful and filled with excitement for the future. His other half—his better half—was with him. For good.
Her furniture had arrived the week before and now, little touches of hers wound throughout the house. Mirrors, area rugs, vases, framed pictures, and lots of throw pillows. Instead of his, it blended with hers, and had become theirs. She'd brightened his home the same way she brightened his life.
And every day, he thanked fate for being about to bask in her sunshine.
As their friends celebrated behind them, Audrey slid onto his lap and linked their fingers together. "The girls love my studio."
The renovations to the lower level of the house to match Audrey's design space needs hadn't taken as long as anticipated. She had a warm, inviting, functional space. And plenty of incoming orders to keep both her and Renee busy. Audrey's assistant remained in New York, managing the second location of Audrey Pierce Designs.
Messages of support continued to flow in like a tidal wave, obliterating the negative comments, along with several musicians and fans reaching out to both him and her with their own stories of being bullied. Luke was proud of her for the caring and compassionate way she responded to each message, and for the work she was doing with the anti-bullying program. She'd dressed musicians from every genre for a few of the program's public service announcements and her Spread Love t-shirts to benefit the campaign were a nationwide sensation. Luke's love for her gentle, strong spirit grew every day.
"I'm glad you're officially moved in. Now, there's one other thing we need to make official." He rubbed his thumb over the band of her engagement ring.
She kissed his cheek. "I can't wait to marry you. Ready to pick a date?"
"There's only one date I can think of as being perfect for our wedding."
Her smile warmed, brightening the day even more, as she linked her arms around his neck. "The first day we met."
"That's the one." He wrapped his arms around her and brought her even closer until his heart lined up wit
h hers.
They'd come full circle and he couldn't wait to see what life had in store.
"I love you." His heart swelled with how much.
Her hands guided his head down until his lips hovered a breath away from hers. "I love you, too."
Their lips met, soft and warm and perfect together.
As gulls cried overhead and waves crashed on the shore and sparkling sunlight danced over the sea, Luke drew Audrey against his side. True happiness and peace flowed between them.
No matter how long and winding the road had been, he'd finally won Audrey, and that was all that mattered.
Thank You!
Thank you so much for reading Love Song! I would appreciate it if you would help others enjoy this book too! Please recommend to others and leave a review. It really helps others find my books.
More Rocked by Love stories to come!
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Brendan's story, Love Struck, is coming in Autumn 2016. And Landry's story, Love Lyrics, will be here in Winter 2016.
Read about Zander and Jayne's romance in Love Notes. Available now!
Also coming soon:
More Holiday Hearts series! Aidan's story, More Than Words, will be here in July 2016 and Damon's story, All I Want, will be here in December 2016.
More Game of Love series! Liam's story, Enamored, is on deck next. Look for a Summer 2016 release.
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Acknowledgements
Thank you to my beta reader/brainstorming team, my clutch group who I can always count on, who I am also lucky to call my friends: Jackie, Beth, Kate, Chantal, and Tina. You guys are the best! Really, I love your brains! Brilliant women, all of you!
Thank you to Scott, my husband and best friend, who creates my beautiful book covers and provides endless inspiration. It's never easy writing through illness and injury, and during the writing of this book, I was felled by both. Your support was the reason I succeeded.
And, finally, thank you to my readers, you make my day!
About The Author
For as long as she can remember, SUSAN SCOTT SHELLEY has been in love with Love and all the sweeping grand gestures, heart-sighing moments, and quiet comforts it entails.
In addition to writing romances, she is also professional voiceover artist and enjoys lending her voice to a wide range of projects.
An unapologetic optimist, she believes life should be lived with laughter and a sense of wonder. Her favorite things include running, sports, hard rock and old Hollywood movies.
She lives in Philadelphia with her very own Superhero and spends her days writing about tough heroes, smart heroines, and love being the strongest magic there is.
Susan’s Books
Kiss Me Again (Holiday Hearts series)
More Than Words (Holiday Hearts series) - coming next!
Love Notes (Rocked by Love series)
Love Song (Rocked by Love series)
Rekindled (Game of Love series)
Captivated (Game of Love series)
Enamored (Game of Love series) - coming soon!
Other Novellas
Simmering Ice
Flirting on Ice
Tackled by the Girl Next Door