Miles Apart (The Not So Bad Boys of Rock Book 2) (22 page)

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

Brooke~

When I opened my eyes this morning I was aware
of three things. My wedding was only a month away, I still didn’t have a dress,
and Sebastian was in bed next to me, staring at me and smiling.

"Good
morning, sleepyhead."

"Ahh.
Good morning." My body went rigid as I stretched out my muscles. "How
long have you been awake?"

"Not
long. I've just been watching you and thinking."

"Thinking
about anything specific?" I questioned, sleepily.

"That's
so cute," he chuckled, softly. "I love the way you sound first thing
in the morning." He angled his body so that he was closer to me. "I
can't wait to marry you. I have something I want to give you." He
clambered over me, reminding me of a young child excited about a new toy. When
his feet hit the floor I heard Gibson nose his way into the room. He jumped up
on the bed with me and kissed my face, making me giggle uncontrollably.
Sebastian came back into the room and shook his head. He snapped his fingers
and pointed to the floor. Gibson hopped down and settled on the floor beside
the bed.

"Good
boy," I whispered.

"Brooke,
I love that dog, but I am not sharing my bed with him." He gently
admonished.

"Duly
noted." I replied, fighting to keep a straight face. Gibson's tail thumped
against the hardwood floor, sounding like a beating drum. "You hear that?
I think someone wants to join the band." I giggled, again.

"I'll
be sure to let Travis know." He quipped, sitting down next to me as I
moved to rest my back against the headboard. I could see that his mood had
turned serious and I couldn't help but wonder what was going on.

"Babe,
I've wanted to do this for quite some time. Then, when I finally was able to
propose, I didn't have a ring." He opened his palm to reveal a gorgeous
diamond ring. My heart fluttered uncontrollably. "Sweetheart, I know
you've already said yes, and this is just a formality, but would you do me the
honor or marrying me next month?" He slipped the silver band over my
knuckle where it came to rest at the bottom of my finger. It was a perfect fit.

"Where
did you get this? It's exquisite." I held my hand in front of me, admiring
the way the sun caught the pattern in the band.

"It
was my grandmother's. Dad and I thought that you should have it now." He
stared at me with those soulful sapphire blue eyes. "Dad said that our
love reminds him of the same kind of love that his parents shared. They were
married for forty-five years before she passed away."

"I
don't know what to say. I'm honored to receive this family heirloom. I'll
treasure it always. Thank you." I threw my arms around his neck, pulling
him down to me.

"So
I take it that's a yes?" He laughed, just before I felt the brush of metal
against my lips.

"Oh,
it's definitely a resounding yes." I purred, melting into the kisses that
I loved so much.

"That one is just
as gorgeous as the
other seven you've tried on." Natalie rolled her eyes in exasperation.
"Seriously, Brooke, do you have to look good in everything you try
on?" I laughed at the dig.

"You've
obviously never seen me in white jeans." I quipped. "They make my
butt look huge."

"Everyone's
butt looks big in white, try again." She bit back playfully. "Here,
go try this one on. I'm sure you'll be stunning." She trilled, walking off
to find another dress.

We
had been to three stores already, still trying to find the perfect wedding
dress. I had to find something today. Sebastian knew a seamstress that had
promised to have my dress altered and ready by our wedding, but I needed to
hand it over to her by tomorrow. I had managed to narrow it down to three so
far, but I still hadn't found one that made me feel as special as I did when
Sebastian looked at me. I stepped into the next dress and pulled it up. This
one felt amazing. I loved the way the bodice was strapless and form fitting.
There wasn't a mirror in the small dressing room so I stepped out into the
dressing lounge for Natalie to fasten the back. She wasn’t in the room yet, but
the attendant was. I asked her to attend to the back of the dress. The tiny
buttons seemed to take forever to complete, but once she finished I turned
around and stepped onto the small stage before the five-way mirror.

Wow!
It was perfect.

"Brooke,
I can't seem to find another strapless with a decorative bodice. I think this
one will--." She stopped dead in her tracks, staring up at me with her
mouth hanging open. Her eyes blinked a few times, and her mouth tried to form
words, but she said nothing.

"Do
you like it?" My eyes pleaded with her. "I think this is the one. Don't
you?" I couldn't contain my happiness. Tears slipped over my lashes and
landed on my cheeks. Natalie came over to me and hugged me, squeezing tightly.

"I
was wrong. Your butt doesn't look big at all in this white dress." She
gushed, also crying. "I don't think I've ever seen anyone more beautiful, and
I was a gorgeous bride."

"I'm
sure you were even more beautiful." I smiled. Nat held my hands in front
of her and looked down at the ring on my finger. Travis had given her an
engagement ring that had belonged to Tracy's mother.

"I'm
so happy that he gave this to you. Now we'll both carry on the families history
of life long love." She wiped her eyes and smiled at me. "I think
this is definitely the one."

"I'll
take this one." I told the attendant, who was also crying now.

"Excellent
choice. Let me know when you've taken it off and I'll prepare it for
transportation." She turned and left the room.

"Transportation?
She makes it sound as if it's going to drive off somewhere." We both
laughed, then I turned to allow her to help me take it off.

"Tell
me about you and Travis. What was it like when you first met?"

She
sighed, dreamily, and began unfastening the first tiny button.

"He
was so shy. I first laid eyes on him during our freshmen year of high school.
We lived in different neighborhoods so we never went to the same school until
then. I remember it was in Mr. Bishop's health sciences class. We sat next to
each other, and I thought he was so cute, but he wouldn't speak to me. He was
always so quiet. Anyway, that class went on to be one of my most favorite
because every time we learned something embarrassing about the human body I
would naturally giggle and he would scoff at me like I was an immature little
girl." She smiled at the memory.

"Why
would that be a good memory? It sounds like he was rude to you?"

"You
would think so, but it was just his way of trying to act cool around me. I
found out three weeks into the class that he thought I was cute. He didn't tell
me directly, but I found out from one of my friends who was friends with one of
his friends. Once I knew he kind of liked me, I milked it for all it was worth.
I flirted shamelessly with him. Then, one day he asked me to the homecoming
dance. We went out on a few dates that year, but nothing really happened
between us. We were both too young and couldn't drive, but we would talk at
school. Then, summer came and I didn't see him or hear from him."

"That
must have been hard."

"It
wasn't too bad, really. I spent most of my summer at the beach with friends and
by the end of that summer we were all completely boy crazy. I also had gotten
my driver's license and my parents had given me a car for my birthday. I
remember driving my car to school on the first day back. I pulled into the
parking lot and when I tried to park I accidentally hit the car parked next to
me. The guy jumped out to yell at me and it turned out to be Travis. Now
remember, I hadn't seen him all summer, but I'd thought about him an awful lot
during that time apart. He stepped out of the car and what I saw took my breath
away. He'd grown at least four inches, and his muscles had filled out in all
the right places."

"So
it was a great way to kick off the school year." I jumped in.

"Exactly.
I remember our eyes met and anything he may have been about to say was cut
short. He never said a word about the dent. We started dating three days later.
We've been together ever since." She sighed again. By now we were sitting
in a restaurant, getting ready to enjoy lunch.

"How
did he ask you to marry him?" I propped an elbow on the table, resting my
cheek against my palm.

"We
were twenty, and he was so nervous. I'd been away at college and it had been
hard being away from each other. The band had just started to play gigs in nearby
towns and they were beginning to get recognized and make some money. One night
after a performance he drove to my dorm and got down on one knee, right there
in front of my suitemates. It was the bravest thing I'd ever seen him do. He
was always painfully shy. The minute I agreed to marry him all shyness seemed
to disappear. From that point on he exuded this confidence that I found so
appealing. I remember I couldn't wait to marry him. He was, and still is, my
best friend. I would be lost without him."

"Were
you ever nervous about getting married? I mean, did you ever have second
thoughts?" I asked, pushing the contents of my Caesar salad around on my
plate.

"Never.
Travis is my best friend and soul mate. He completes me. Why?" She leaned
toward me and whispered. "Are you having second thoughts?"

"No.
No. Not at all. I guess I'm just afraid that Sebastian will." I set my
fork aside. "I don't know. He's gone out of his way to assure me that his
world revolves around me, but ever since I heard Rachel talking about him… I
guess it just made me realize how easily someone else could take him away from
me. You know, I caused him a lot of pain. Maybe that is a hard thing to let go
of."

"I
don't think you need to worry about Rachel." She assured me.

"What
makes you so sure?"

"Because,
he doesn't look at her the way he looks at you. He treats her more like a
sister. You know, maybe Nikki being away has something to do with that. I know
he misses her." She stated with authority.

"I
know. You're probably right. I'm just being paranoid."

"Yes,
you are, and once he gets a look at you in that dress… He'll think that he died
and went to Heaven."

"Thanks
Nat. I truly hope Sebastian and I will be as happy in our marriage as you are
with Travis."

"Sweetie,
something tells me you don't have anything to worry about."

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

Sebastian~

Brooke and I were standing in our bedroom. She
had been in the shower so I had taken it upon myself to sit on the counter and
keep her company while she washed her hair. The conversation centered around the
wedding, as per the usual discussions we'd been having lately. Now that she had
a ring on her finger, and her dress had been sent for alterations, all we had
left to do were the customary bachelor and bachelorette parties before we
finally stood before God and everyone we loved to profess our undying love and
commitment to one another.

If
anyone would have told me a year ago that I would be getting married I would
have told them they were crazy. Before my stint in rehab I had spent nearly
three years being a womanizer. And then I met Brooke. Many times I find myself
thinking back to the day we first met, and the way my heart beat faster when I
touched her hand for the first time. Hell, who am I kidding, my heart still skips
a beat whenever she's near.

When
the topic moved to seating arrangements at the reception, I let it slip that
Dek had made plans for us to go on a quick adventure. I didn't want to pass it
up.

"You're
going skydiving with Dek?" She stuck her head around the fabric curtain,
and her voice was elevated just a touch.

"Well,
yeah. It's just a quick jaunt. There's a skydiving school right here in L.A.
We've been there before and it's an easy jump." She turned off the water
and stepped out of the shower, wrapping a towel around her.

"I
thought that was something you only did before a show. Why do you have to go
now? We're so close to the wedding. What if something happens to you?" She
stuck her bottom lip out and pouted, turning away from me. I know I probably
shouldn't have laughed, but I couldn't help it. She looked so damned cute, with
soaking wet hair and dressed in nothing but a towel. "It's not funny
Sebastian."

"You're
right. I'm sorry. Why don't you come with me?" I came up behind her and
settled my hands firmly on her slender hips. "You know, we were supposed
to do this a few months ago. I have to admit, the thought of you strapped to my
body, falling out of the sky together, gives me a warm feeling." I nuzzled
her ear.

"I
remember our plan," she hummed as I trailed my tongue along the outer
shell of her ear. "I suppose if something happened at least we would go
out together." She conceded.

"Yeah,
that's the spirit." I chuckled, turning her around to face me.

"So,
when is this jump going to take place?"

"This
afternoon." I cringed.

"That
doesn't leave me much time to try and talk you out of it." She hooked her
index fingers through the belt loop of my jeans.

"Afraid
not."

"Then
I guess we're going skydiving," she smiled.

I had been waiting
for months to experience
this rush with the woman that I loved. In fact, I'd dreamed about it for years.
Now that we were in the air, and Brooke sat across from me with a look of
terror on her face, I was starting to second guess my crazy idea. We'd sat
through the instructional class before suiting up, and she seemed to pay
attention. She was a willing participant when the instructor had asked for a
volunteer. I watched as she slipped into the harness and was strapped to the
instructor for demonstration purposes. She laughed as he grabbed her hips and
mimicked soaring through the air, her arms stretched out like an airplane. When
we were in the locker room suiting up I could sense her nervousness. I reached
over and zipped up her flight suit, before kissing her lightly on the lips.
"You're sure about this?" I had asked her. She'd nodded and gave me a
jaunty wink. Dek teased us about no foreplay being allowed in the locker room,
and I'd chased after him, breaking the moment. Now I wished I had spent a
little more time making sure she wasn't having second thoughts.

"You
doing okay there darlin'?" Dek slid in next to her.

"About
as okay as one can be before hurling themselves out of a perfectly good plane
that's 13,000 feet in the air." She gave a nervous laugh.

"Honey,
it's not too late to change your mind. You don't have to do this if you don't
want to." I reminded her.

"No.
I'm doing it. I'm here and I want to be able to say that I soared through the
sky with Sebastian Miles strapped to my back. Besides, how many girls get to
say that?" She replied with a cocky grin.

"Only
you baby!" I stepped over and gave her a reassuring kiss.

"Guys,
how many times do I have to tell you there's a time and place for all of that
mushy stuff, and it's not now." Dek chastised, playfully.

"Admit
it, you're just jealous that Jade isn't here to be strapped to you." I
teased.

"I've
got news for you, you'll never get Jade up here. That girl is terrified of
heights." Brooke stated with certainty.

"She
would do it for me. She's crazy about me." He smiled the famous smile that
had won many girls over.

"Now
that
I would love to see." She shook her head.

"Okay,
first jumper on deck." The instructor announced. There was only one other
jumper on the plane so we motioned for them to go before us. Brooke watched as
he launched himself through the opening and immediately went into position,
with his arms out in front of him and his knees bent.

I
stood and held my hand out for her to take. "We need to lock our harnesses
together. Don't worry, I've done this many times." She raised an eyebrow
in question. "I've had new jumpers tandem with me, none of them were
girls." I gave her a quick kiss. "I'll make sure to have the
instructor double check the connections before we jump." She stood and
turned her back to me. I locked in the side hookups first, then snapped the
shoulder set in place. When I was finished, I motioned for the instructor to
inspect it.

"Looks
good." He gave a thumbs up and patted me on the shoulder.

"You
ready?" I spoke against her ear.

"Ready
as I'll ever be. Let's do this Miles."

We
stepped over to the mark on the floor and I held her waist.

"I
love you." I yelled.

"I
love you too baby!" She screamed back.

"Go!"
The instructor called out, and I stepped off with my right foot. Brooke's
screams echoed around me for the first five seconds before she started
laughing.

The
sky was clear blue and I watched with fascination as a scared young woman literally
transformed before me. She pointed out patches on the ground and squealed with
delight as we tucked our bodies and increased our speed. I pulled our chute and
time seemed to stop as we floated 5000 feet above Los Angeles.

"Get
ready baby." I yelled, as we approached the landing zone. I pulled on the
handles, slowing down our descent, and we touched down with a slight swish as
the chute settled around us. I immediately started removing the harness
connections. My heart was racing, and when I reached around to press my palm
against her chest I could feel her rapid heartbeat. She turned and jumped into
my arms, wrapping her slender legs around my waist. Our lips crashed together
and I felt a jolt as our tongues touched. The energy pouring from our bodies
and mixing together was enough to set me on fire. Mini explosions of fireworks
sparked from every nerve in my body. I went to my knees and lowered her to the
grassy surface below. The chute billowed around us as we clung together, still
locked in an all-consuming kiss.

"That
was amazing." She whispered, breaking our connection. "I take it this
is the thrill high you've talked about?"

"Yeah.
Pretty awesome, huh? Let's go home." I laughed, taking her bottom lip
affectionately between my teeth.

"You
two finished in there?" Dek chuckled, lifting a corner of the chute.
"I swear someone would think you were getting married or something crazy
like that." He joked, playfully.

"I
guess playtime's over," she shrugged her shoulders.

"Not
yet." I laughed, tugging the chute from his grip and kissing her silly.

"Lord
help me." I heard Dek mumble.

Brooke~

"I can't believe you went skydiving. You'd
never catch me jumping out of a plane. That's just insane." Jade shook her
head at me.

I
had just picked her up from the airport. She was going to spend the next two
weeks in California . My bachelorette party was all set for tonight. Jade and
Natalie had been planning it for weeks. I told them I didn't need a big fuss,
so I had no idea what to expect.

"Yeah,
well, I was a skeptic at first but it was so amazing. We were thousands of feet
off the ground and I was strapped to a hot musician. I'd say the thrill was
definitely worth the minor panic attack I suffered in the bathroom before we
got on the plane." We giggled at the image of me sprawled out on a public
toilet with a case of the sweats.

"What
are the guys doing for Sebastian's bachelor party?" She asked.

"Chris
got tickets to a hockey playoff game. I think Sebastian would have been
perfectly content hanging out in the man cave and playing foosball. But, the
guys really wanted to get him out of the house."

"Dek
also mentioned something about going to watch a local band play a gig. I guess
they're talking about a collaboration on a song or something." Jade
shrugged her shoulders.

"Yeah,
I heard Sebastian talking about that last week. So, what fun things do you two have
in store for me?"

"You'll
have to wait and see. But, you'll want to dress in something sexy."

"Now
I'm really curious. Can't wait." I grinned.

Later that afternoon, I
was standing in
the bedroom, looking over the dresses
I had spread out over the bed. I had a red one that made me feel sassy, a pink one
with a flared skirt that made me feel pretty, and a black number with a low
neckline that made me feel sexy. I couldn't decide what mood I should be
projecting at my bachelorette party.

"Hey
gorgeous." Sebastian came up behind me, picking me up in his arms and
spinning me around. He planted a wet kiss on my lips. "What's all this?
Did you go shopping?"

"No,
I've had these forever. I'm just trying to decide what to wear when I go out
with the girls tonight."

"Hmm,
let's see." He put a finger to his lips, thinking hard. "I like the
pink one. You look pretty in pink."

"Not
the black one?" I held it up to me, twirling around.

"No."
He replied, immediately.

"Why
not?" I asked innocently.

"Because
that neckline doesn’t leave enough to the imagination. But, if you really had
your heart set on that one you could stay here and model it for me." He
smiled, seductively.

"Sorry
buddy, no can do. You've got a game to go to and I am being whisked away to
parts unknown. Did Travis give you any idea where they're taking me?"

"No,
but I'm sure that as long as Natalie is planning it there will be wine
involved. Promise me you'll be careful."

"I
promise. We have a designated driver so I'm pretty sure there won't be a
problem. Are you okay with me having a few drinks? I mean, I don't want it to
make you uncomfortable." I took his hand in mine and held it to my face.

"Of
course I'm okay with it. Being around it doesn't really pose a problem for me. The
guys still have a few drinks in my presence. Just try to have a good
time." He placed a quick kiss on my temple. "I've got to grab a
shower before Travis picks me up. Care to join me?" He wiggled his
eyebrows.

"Ha
ha, nice try. Maybe next time." I winked.

"Promises,
promises." He mumbled as he stalked off to the bathroom.

While
he was in the shower, I slipped on my dress and touched up my makeup. I had
just finished stepping into my Jimmy Choo's when he entered the room. He had
one towel wrapped around his narrow waist, and another in his hand, drying his
hair. I turned around to face him.

"Whoa."
He stopped drying and stared with his jaw hanging open.

"Do
you like it?" I twirled around, allowing him to fully appreciate the
flared bottom.

"You're
stunning. I'm glad you went with the pink one." He sauntered over and
pulled me against him. His hands settled just below my hips, while his lips
found mine. He kissed me fiercely, leaving no room for doubt that he was
staking claim. My hands played up and over the damp skin on his back.
 
I blindly traced the tattoo that covered
most of his back, before my fingers toyed with the edge of the towel, teasing
back and forth.

"Let's
just stay home tonight. I can promise we'll have much more fun here." He
trailed light kisses across my neck.