Music of the Heart

Music of the Heart

Stand Alone Book

Harper Brooks

•••••••••••••••

Copyright © Harper Brooks

Dedication

To my amazing husband, Christian…

Thank you for everything.

XOXO - HB

Copyright © 2016 Harper Brooks

All Rights Reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced in any manner without permission from the author.  Only brief quotations may be used in reviews or articles regarding the book.

This book is a work of fiction.  Names, characters, most locations, events, businesses and plot are the product of the author’s imagination.  Any resemblance to people, places and events are purely coincidental.

Table of Contents

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Seventeen

Chapter Eighteen

Chapter Nineteen

Chapter Twenty

Chapter Twenty-One

Chapter Twenty-Two

Chapter Twenty-Three

Chapter Twenty-Four

Chapter Twenty-Five

Chapter Twenty-Six

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Chapter Twenty- Eight

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Chapter Thirty

Chapter Thirty-One

Chapter Thirty-Two

Chapter Thirty-Three

Chapter Thirty-Four

Chapter Thirty-Five

Chapter Thirty-Six

Chapter Thirty-Seven

Chapter Thirty-Eight

Chapter Thirty-Nine

Chapter Forty

Chapter Forty-One

Ashleigh
&
Cros
s’
s Playlist

                            Love Me Like You Do                            Ellie Goulding

                            How Could I Want More                            Jamie Lynn Spears

                            Unconditionally                                          Katy Perry

                            Faster                                                        Matt Nathanson

                            Wanted You More                                          Lady Antebellum

                            Speechless                                                        Rachel Platten

                            Marry Me                                                        Train

                            Can’t Fight This Feeling                            REO Speedwagon

                            At Last                                                         Etta James

                            All of Me                                                        Ray Boudreaux (from The Voice)

                            I Knew I Loved You                            Savage Garden

                            Love Takes Time                                          Mariah Carey                           

                            To Sir With Love                                          Lulu

                            Grenade                                                        Bruno Mars

                            Have You Ever                                          Brandy

                            Sam Hunt                                                        Take Your Time

Chapter One

ASHLEIGH

“Goodnight Nashville!” 

I can’t believe I’m about to say this but I need a break.  Not a day or two but a few weeks.  Don’t get me wrong.  I love my job and I have lived and breathed it for the last four years but my throat… it’s just getting worse.  Why does that matter you ask?  Well, when you are one of the top selling country singers, it matters… a lot.

              “Ashleigh, they’re ready for you.”

              “What?  Ready for what?”

              “Your encore performance!  The crowd is going wild and they need you out there now.  The band is waiting on you.”

              “Oh crap, my mind is somewhere else right now.  Sorry.”

              Allie, who is my assistant, just looks at me like I’m crazy.  I never act like this but it takes all I have to go out there and not show the world how bad my throat is hurting and how very tired I am.  As soon as the encore is over, I head straight to my dressing room with Allie fast on my heels.

              “It’s your throat, isn’t it?  It’s hurting again.  I knew it.  I knew something was wrong with you the entire show.  Damn it Ashleigh, I told you to go to the doctor.  You have got to slow down and get some rest.  You are going to end up in the hospital again.”

              “Allie, calm down.  I am fine.  It just hurts a little more than normal.  I’ll rest it on my break at home and I will be good to go.”

              The look she gives me tells me she doesn’t really believe me. 

“Okay, okay.  I promise I’ll have it looked at.”

              My throat and voice have been dealing me problems for the past five months.  Add to those problems being hospitalized for dehydration and exhaustion twice and you can see why Allie is having a hissy fit right now. 

Bless Allie’s heart, she tries to take care of me and keep me healthy and happy.  I couldn’t ask for a better assistant.  We have known each other for six years.  We both attended Auburn University and joined the same sorority.  She is a year younger than me and I was blessed to have her as my little sister in our sorority.  When I left Auburn to pursue music, she joined me in Atlanta a year later to become my assistant and yes, she finished college and got her degree at Georgia Tech.

              I can’t get changed and out to the tour bus fast enough.  We are headed home to Atlanta for my final show of this leg of my tour.  I am actually taking a small break which is very unlike me.  I can’t even begin to figure out when my last real break was.  I mean, I go home to Alabama to visit and take a two week vacation each Summer but other than that, music is my life.  I have my agent and tour manager schedule shows year round.  So, going home and taking time for myself for close to two months is unheard of but definitely much needed.

              “I’m calling the doctor first thing in the morning and making you an appointment to have your throat checked when we get home.  You should have told me it was hurting.  We could have cancelled the last few shows.”

              “Are you crazy?  Do you think I would have cancelled shows for a little sore throat?”

              “Your throat and voice hurting are not little things, Ashleigh.  Those are your life and your career and they can’t be damaged again.  Remember what the doctor told you last time?  Watch how much you use and strain your vocal cords or you can damage them for good next time.”

              “I know, I know.  I promise, after tomorrow night’s show, I will have them checked.  Now, I am really tired and just want to sleep.  Good night Allie.”

              “Night, Ash.”

              I head to the back of the tour bus to my bedroom.  Only Allie and I are allowed on this bus.  We had it changed up some to allow a larger sleeping area for Allie as well.  No one wants to sleep in those small bunk beds. 

Home sounds so good right now.  I can’t wait to sleep in my own bed and see my best friends.  Although, all they are going to do is harp on me about finding a man and someone to settle down with.  I keep reminding them my career doesn’t really work well with dating and settling down right now.  I’m not ready to give up any of my work for a man.  And when they hear my throat is hurting again, I will not hear the end of it.

CROSS

              “Oh, that feels so good.  Right there… perfect.  Oh my God, Cross, you are amazing!”

              I almost have her over the edge and then I can be on my way.  Well, that is after I am done as well.  Why do I keep having one night stands?  I really need to find a good girl but the thought of settling down doesn’t seem appealing to me.  Maybe I’m just not the settling down type or maybe I haven’t been with a girl that’s worth settling for. I’ve always been labeled as the stereotypical bachelor by the media, by my friends and by my family.  Although, lately I ‘ve been wondering if that’s really how I want people to see me.

              “I’m almost there Cross!  Oh.  My.  God!  That was amazing.”

              I start pounding quickly into her to get my own release.  When I finally get there, I roll off of her and discard the condom.  I turn to tell her thanks and see you later and she is already snuggled up in bed waiting on me to join her. 

              “Come lay down with me Cross and let’s go to sleep.”

              Oh hell no.  I do not do sleepovers.  Ever.  I need to get my stuff and get the hell out of here and fast.  I don’t even want another round with her which is unlike me. 

              “Haley, you were great and all but I really need to leave.  Now.  I already texted Thomas to come and get me.”