Love Notes ((Book Two of the Heartbeat Series)) (17 page)

“Madison, I miss you,” Dahlia came up and hugged me. I had missed her too. We had kept in touch with messages while the band traveled and she appeared to be adjusting to Ron being in the band much better than when they first started dating. I remember in my hospital room seeing all the floral arrangements and I knew without a doubt which ones were from her. She sent me brightly colored Dahlia flowers, it was a dead giveaway.

“Dahlia, I am so glad you came tonight. You really should come by more often when the guys are away. I know you are busy with classes but someday take a break and come spend a day with me.”

“Madison, I would love to,” she replied.

“Who would you love to?” Ron asked as he came up and took her in his arms.

“Oh, Ron I just wanted her to come out and spend time with me,” I stated.

“Madison you have been such a good influence on us all.” Ron turned and hugged me. “And thanks for capturing me in the book with my sunglasses always on,” he laughed.

Rand and I walked around and as we finally made our way to the bar, he ordered us some champagne. Tonight we were celebrating. We were celebrating me and my new book.

I heard Cecile before she arrived. Right away, I also heard Isaac’s roar as he barreled toward me and picked me up. A kiss to my lips startled me and Rand was left laughing so hard. As Isaac set me down he said, “Madison I looked like such an ass in the book! I’m not always that way, but after reading some of my ways, I got to thinking that maybe I shouldn’t treat girls like I was. I think I will respect them a bit more.” This coming from Isaac’s mouth would be a huge revelation. He seemed to take the honesty in my writing of him and want to try to make himself better.

I was beginning to think this book was going to be the how to for all of them to improve themselves. But the book was actually a deep look into how they were in fact already great themselves with their individual strengths in music and these guys were so talented. It came with so much practice and giving up time with their loved ones which I could now relate to so well.

The only band mate that I was missing so far was Raeford. Rand excused himself for a moment and I looked around and saw my mother in conversation with Maxwell. I briefly thought that if my uncle were never in the picture that perhaps Maxwell and my mother would hit it off…that thought left my head quickly as I knew she was married now to my Uncle Jake and very, very happy. So where was Raeford? Up in the loft it was dark except for the illumination on
The Wall
. I saw a couple embracing in the corner, moving in the darkness. I saw the shimmer of the red hair that hung down low. Jillian and Raeford were back together up there locked in one another. I was happy to see them like this after so long. I only hoped it remained like this. I knew they would somehow find their way back to each other’s arms.

I heard a microphone being tested and tapped. “Everyone I would like your attention for one moment. We are here tonight to celebrate Madison and her newly published book,
Rock Notes.
It tells all about the crazy antics of the band.” Rand paused, looked for me. Once his eyes locked onto mine he continued, “She has written a wonderful story, a true story and I along with all of you here this evening couldn’t be more proud.” I think he was actually getting choked up as he stopped his speech. Then he pointed up to the loft and the lights appeared and a spot light shined on an area of
The Wall.
In my corner, was the latest written review on my book and shiny paper stars stuck all around it. I had to laugh. These guys were definitely a great group of characters.

After the applause, I did a make quick bow and said, “Thank you everyone, but the greatest pleasure I took from this story was while I was following the band, I got to know myself. I learned I am a survivor in the world and I got stronger with my life and my love.”

Rand walked up and wrapped his arms around my waist and kissed my head. “I will show you later how proud I really am of you,” he whispered.

“Oh do tell me…” I replied.

I wasn’t sure when Connor showed up. As I made it to the bar to get a drink I saw him talking to Isaac and Ron. He was mentioning that he was doing the construction on the property.

Isaac said loudly, “Man you’re very good I saw what you built.” Connor smiled and they continued to speak. I didn’t see Cecile and Kent for awhile and I knew they had been apart a lot lately so surely they were off in another area making up for lost time.

“Connor, I’m glad you came.” I smiled at him.

“Did Thomas come here tonight?” he asked.

“Yeah he was here. He was a complete ass so I asked him to leave.”

“Madison I know he still has it bad for you, he talks about you a lot.”

“Well, in time I am sure he will move on and see that I have done that already.”

“Madison, congratulations on the book. I have an early start with the crew here so I am going to head out.”

As Connor turned to leave he hugged me and I caught sight of Rand across the room smiling. Not a threatening look or glare, just a simple smile. He wasn’t even gone a few minutes when Cecile and Kent appeared. Cecile’s face was red and her lips stripped of any lip gloss. Kent was smiling from ear to ear. “Hey Cecile, you just missed Connor! I wanted you to meet him. He is doing the build out here on the barn. You may see him here a lot for a while.”

“Next time I will meet him, but tonight I can’t get enough of these huge arms.” She was beaming at Kent and he was tightening his hold around her.

Everyone was enjoying themselves. I remembered I had a few signed copies of the book back at the house that I wanted to give out and so I excused myself for a moment and walked out across the path to our house. In the darkness I saw a shadow coming off the front porch. As I walked up cautiously I saw it was Connor.

“Hey, are you okay?” I asked as I approached him.

“Yeah Madison I didn’t mean to scare you, I was actually putting an envelope of some of the additional wiring and changes that we need you to approve at your door. I didn’t want to hand it to you in the party.”

“Thank you Connor, I’ll look it over tomorrow.” As I stepped up on the first step on the porch in the dark, I tripped and fell forward. Connor lunged and caught me but only after I hit my leg on the step. Before I thought to try to stand up, Connor was next to me holding me in his arms.

“Madison, are you okay?”

“Yeah, I can’t believe I tripped on my own feet!” I was so clumsy. I sat there and rested my head on his shoulder as he was still holding me up.

“You know Madison, you make me so comfortable being around you. Tonight was hard for me to stay in the party as it was the anniversary of the night I screwed up my life with the best girl I ever could have had.”

“Don’t be so hard on yourself, you will find her again or someone just as great one day.”

“Well it seems the best girls are all taken.”

“Yes they are!” was said in a deep gruff voice. Rand stood there in the dark staring at us both as we were seated so closely together.

“Babe, this is not what you think, I tripped and Connor caught me.” Rand simply extended his hand to me and helped me up.

“Connor, thank you for making certain nothing happened to her.”

“Goodnight Connor,” is all I could say as Rand’s mouth came over mine while he pulled me through the front door. Up against the wall near the stairs he pressed his body into mine. He was in a take control of his fiancé mood. I loved it. He peeled my dress off quickly and his eyes took sight of me left in front him in only my red lace panties and boots. I didn’t have on a bra under the dress. We took off up the stairs, my dress was dropped on the first step and my boots were abandoned several steps later. Rand laid me down in our bed and placed his hands on my hips and slowly pulled my panties off. I could feel the anticipation rising. I had wanted this all night long.

It was in our glances across the room this evening. Those looks spoke of possession and our need for each other. I hear the sound of his zipper peeling open. I feel his hard shaft against me, I love this man. “Rand, please take me now.”

“Madison I want to take you every way I can, that red dress blew my mind. I thought of ripping it off all night long.”

“Rand, what took you so long?”

“Well, I actually saw you leave the party and took that as my invite to follow you back here.”

“Babe, I am sorry about Connor sitting there with his arms around me, it was really innocent.”

Rand paused, he took a deep breath and said, “Madison you didn’t have to explain about Connor, I trust you, I need you to believe that.”

“From the tone of your voice, I just thought you may have thought it looked like something else.”

“Madison the only thing that’s going to be going on, is me moving here closer to you…trust me Madison, I trust you. I guess I just felt a little possessive.”

“Rand I do, I do,” and I felt him fill me, I trusted him, completely. We lay in each other’s arms after we slowly made love.

“Madison, I love you,” Rand said as he stroked my stomach with the tip of his finger.

“I love you too, so much,” I whispered as I traced my finger over his.

“Then let’s set that date, let’s get married. I want that piece of paper declaring you are mine…forever.”

“Rand, we will, soon, very soon.” I made myself a mental note that I would certainly be buying more red attire. I had to pull out the calendar tomorrow and look at wedding dates. For some reason, at that point I remembered I intended to get those signed book copies of
Rock Notes
. That would have to be done another time. There was no way I was breaking free of my man or this bed tonight.

The next few weeks flew by. Construction crews were here on the property early each day finishing our expansion. I greeted them with coffee most mornings and some homemade muffins. I felt it got them started well in the mornings. Rand was in the studio a lot with writing new music and still putting songs to his first solo album. The band was real supportive of him doing this as they would still be highlighted on the instruments that he so needed to accompany his music. From time to time I would stand outside the barn door and open it slightly to hear the music being carried out to my ears. His new material was blowing me away. As I stood there, I was interrupted by Maxwell.

“Are you musically eaves dropping?”

I nodded, “Yes it sounds so great.”

“Well, Madison you are his inspiration.”

“I came to tell him that I lined up a few shows in New York over the next few weeks, and I want him to play a few of his new songs to get a feel and reaction from the audience.”

“I wish I could go to the shows, but Cecile has booked me on a mini book tour/launch so I am committed to that.”

“We’ll be fine, Rand will be fine. He always knows he is coming home to you.”

“Thank you Maxwell.”

“Madison, don’t worry. That man is head over heels for you. He sees no other women, trust me.”

I was hearing the trust word again. “I do.”

Just then I heard Rand say to his band mates, “Let’s play the next tune I wrote, guys it’s called Uncertainty.” A chill ran through my body. Maxwell entered the barn and I stood at the door and had to listen to this next song.

“Dude you sure you want to get into this tune?” I heard Isaac ask Rand.

“Yeah let’s do it once through,” Rand shouted. I stood unable to move worrying that he could be uncertain about us. I wasn’t sure I wanted to hear the song. As the cords began to play I didn’t move away. I had heard Rand practicing this piece of music for awhile but never with the words. I opened the door a bit wider to take in all the lyrics even if I thought they may be bad news.

Rand began to sing into his microphone. I could picture him even though I couldn’t really see him, and I hung on every word.

Uncertainty –

We have passed all our pain.

See where we are now.

Some casualties will remain.

But uncertainty is wiped from my brow.

I know you need to heal.

I trust you totally and completely

I know we need to feel,

I am certain you complete me.

We were once defeated,

Helpless and alone

You once turned inward retreated

But see how you’ve grown.

Uncertainty, I have none

Doubt, I remove

Uncertainty, I have none

Together inside we move.

Love, don’t look back

Take me and be sure.

You I am certain of

And I’ve never loved more.

Uncertainty, I have none

Doubt, I remove

Uncertainty, I have none

Together inside we move.

Uncertainty, I have none

Doubt, doesn’t exist

Uncertainty, we have none

Nothing haunts us when we kiss.

Oh, I am certain, Oh yes I am

Oh, I am sure, I know we can.

Uncertainty, I have none,

Uncertainty, you have none,

Uncertainty, we have none.

But I’m certain of what we’ve begun.

When he finished I felt relieved. He is certain of us. “Great song!” Maxwell exclaimed.

“Yeah, I thought it was pretty good. I reworked it a bit, it used to be a real downer,” Rand replied.

After having him home here for a nice stretch of time, when he knew he would be leaving for New York for a few shows, I was totally at ease. This was becoming routine for me. He was here and I would love the time with him and then as his work took him traveling, I dove into my writing and kept my mind busy.

As I sat in our sunroom that had darkened with the nighttime sky I was thinking that the guys were, right now, performing so I decided to fire up my laptop and see if I could catch a video of the New York performance. A few moments later I was watching the show like I was seated in the front row. It was streaming live in front of me. The band just finished up one of their popular tracks that left them breathless for a few moments. As they regrouped and drank down some waters, Rand removed his soaked shirt, exposing his tattoos for all to see. As he leaned over to grab a towel, his jeans riding way down low on his hips, my name was exposed in his permanent proposal ink. A fan screamed, “Rand say it isn’t so, are you married?”