Every Heart Sings (Serenity Island Series)
Page 29
Jordan didn’t need Tommy’s words to introduce Josh.
She had her own.
What had he said to her? We’ll never experience our full potential if we let fear keep us from what we want most in life. She knew exactly what she wanted right now and it scared the shit out of her because trusting others had become almost impossible for her over the years.
Until the last six months.
Or, really, a little longer. Since Josh came to Serenity.
“Well, Serenity is no stranger to our next guest. This past summer—as many of you know—Josh Nicodemus came to Serenity. He opened a music venue on the island that almost immediately began to generate income, and more importantly, national interest in the village. Tourism has been up. Our businesses are flourishing. Serenity is alive and vibrant again. All because of one man. So I want to thank, Josh Nicodemus. For having the courage and vision to see what we needed, for pushing us, for becoming a favorite son of Serenity in such a short time, and for becoming one of us.”
The crowd erupted in a round of applause and hoots and hollers.
“Josh once said to me, if you’re going to let fear keep you from doing something, you’ll never know what could have been, you’ll never really live your life.”
Josh walked onto stage at that moment, his guitar strapped around his torso. He shrugged out of the strap and carried the instrument by its neck, as he stalked toward her like a predatory animal with prey in its sights.
She’d never seen a more beautiful man.
“Serenity is vibrant and living because of you.” She spoke directly to Josh now. “And so am I. I can never thank you enough.” She waved a hand across the crowd. “This theater is a reality because of you. I’m fully living again because of you, because you cared about me enough to push me to confront my demons.”
Her heart ached just looking at him. He looked tired. Stubble shadowed his jaw and lines that hadn’t been there before now created tension around his blue eyes and his wide, sensual mouth. His long, muscular legs ate up the distance between them on stage. Clad in worn jeans that hugged him to perfection and a Down Dog Café T-shirt that stretched across his solid chest and biceps, he looked good enough to eat.
The women in the crowd agreed, groaning in female appreciation as soon as Josh appeared on stage. Jordan understood. Really she did. She couldn’t keep her own body from uttering the same cellular moan at his mere appearance.
Josh stood beside her now. He propped his guitar on the stand near the mic. She took a gulp of air and plunged on. “You once also told me that one day, when the right guy came along I wouldn’t be happy living my life as I always have. You’re right. Someday has come. Today is the day. And you’re the right man, for me and for Serenity. Welcome home, Josh Nicodemus.”
A smile, as bright as the sun, broke across Josh’s face. He crushed her to his chest and lifted her, twirling her in circles. His mouth came down on hers in a kiss that took her breath away and made her forget who she was and where she stood.
The crowd exploded into a cheering mass.
She slid down Josh’s body, to find her feet on the stage again. But then, Josh was going down on one knee before her. He fished a ring out of his pocket. A gorgeous, flashing princess-cut diamond in a white gold setting with tiny emeralds clustered around it. She gasped, clutching her thundering heart so it didn’t jump out of her chest.
“I love you, body and soul, Jordan Diane Drake. Will you make me the happiest man on the planet and marry me?”
“I—” She had so many questions about the logistics, how they’d make this work, where they’d live, how they’d maintain a relationship in the eye of the public, but there was one thing she knew for certain, she didn’t want to continue to live her life without Josh Nicodemus at her side. “A stable home is important to me because I never had that growing up.”
He nodded in understanding, tears shining glassy from his eyes. “Serenity is my home, too. If stable is important to you, then it’s important to me. I want to be here with you. We’ll make it work. Just say you love me . . . and you’ll marry me.”
The pleading look and unshed tears in his eyes broke her heart.
She loved him more than she’d ever loved anyone. And because of that he had the power to crush her in ways that no one had ever had, but she wanted him in her life anyway, despite the fear. She chose to live with love.
“I love you Joshua Matthews-Cohen Nicodemus. Yes. You’re it for me. Have been from the moment I first met you, even if I didn’t know it.” She laughed. Joy bubbled up and overflowed inside her. “I will marry you.”
He scooped her up in his arms and spun her around again, kissing her hard. She fell into the kiss and when they came up for air, she turned to the crowded theater. Camera flashes strobbed the theater seating. This would be on YouTube and plastered on every Twitter and Facebook feed within the hour, if not right this moment. So she’d use it to her advantage.
“I’m putting Nicodemus Fan Girls everywhere on notice.” She flashed her engagement ring, then lifted her other hand, pointing her index finger, and schooled her most bossy, intimidating expression. “Don’t even think about it, ladies! He’s mine. And I protect what’s mine. Enough said.”
She glared at the crowd once more for good effect before she turned back to Josh and gave him a huge welcome home kiss.
Nothing had ever felt more right to her in her life.
Josh’s lips brushed hers.
“I’m yours. Forever.” She breathed softly against his lips.
“I know.” Josh growled and cupped her face to deepen the kiss. “Never doubted it. Not for a second, babe.”
Jordan’s heart sang a song that only Josh could hear, and his heart whispered back a song of its own in perfect harmony; the two joined forever in a dance of lyrics that completed the other to perfection.
Also from Soul Mate Publishing and Mackenzie Lucas:
ESSENCE
All Haven Jameson ever wanted was to own a little piece of paradise. Now, she does, having established a successful luxury spa in St. Augustine, Florida. But when the property next door is sold to a mega developer and his pro-golf celebrity brother, who design trendy, bustling playgrounds for the rich and famous, she fears her dream could slip away. Confronted by her late husband’s infidelity, Haven learns everything she believed about her marriage was a lie; so she finally sets aside her grief and opens her heart to loving the widowed pro-golfer who is her biggest professional competition. In the end, Haven discovers that living a safe, loveless life is far worse than embracing passion and taking a chance on a man who’s vowed never to love again. And that, sometimes, the best paradise of all can be found inside our own hearts.
Available now on Amazon: http://tinyurl.com/l9eow4e
COURTING CINDERELLA
Courting Cinderella is a contemporary romance novella set in the village of Granite Falls, Colorado. When a small town is willing to protect the secret of its celebrity sports figure from the prying eyes of an exposé photographer, a wicked stepmother, and a long-forgotten ex, life gets interesting. Courting Cinderella is a contemporary retelling of Cinderella where a women’s Olympic volleyball player takes center stage and a hot exposé sports photographer becomes Prince Charming. True love triumphs in the best way possible, but only after a little sparring and a lot of sparks on and off the court as these two transform from enemies to lovers.
Available now on Amazon: http://tinyurl.com/k2hagc9
“The Dom of my Heart”
part of Soul Mate’s HOT ENCOUNTERS Anthology
Joely Cavanaugh learned a long time ago to stand up for herself, but when Gabriel Burnes, a true dominant who is powerful and sexy as hell, shows her kindness by hiring her after false accusations by her former boss, she can’t resist him. She agrees to work as his executive assistant
to become an integral part of his revenge plot against the one man who has wronged her. Only when Gabe pushes her beyond all control does she realize that her heart is already totally his and that there are worse fates then submitting to a Dom.
Available now on Amazon: http://tinyurl.com/klcbb83