by Codi Gary
Halfway through her speech she’d started crying, but she didn’t try to wipe the tears away; she just waited for him to say something. Anything.
Finally, he stood up and ran a hand through his tousled hair. “Okay. I appreciate your apology and your honesty; I do. And I hope you understand that I need some time to think.”
Gemma couldn’t blame him for his doubts and reluctance, but it still ripped her insides apart. She wanted to beg and plead, wanted to get down on her knees, but she had a feeling Travis wouldn’t appreciate her falling apart on him. “How much time?”
“I don’t know. When I saw you in Vegas, all I wanted was to have you. I was all in; even after I found out about Charlie, I was willing to move on. And you looked me in the eye and told me to leave. So, I need some time to figure out if I have anything left in me that wants to make this work.” Slipping his hands in his pockets, he said, “I’ve decided to settle down in Rock Canyon so I can be close to Charlie, and when I have my next break during the tour, I’m hoping to come see him for a few days.”
Wiping at her nose, she nodded. “Of course you can see him as much as you want.”
“I’m glad to hear it. I’m hoping we can be friends, but if not, at least civil. For Charlie’s sake.”
“We’ve never had any trouble being friends.” Starting for the door, she paused and looked up into his eyes. “Thanks for hearing me out. I’ll tell Charlie you’ll see him soon.”
Turning away from him, she walked out of the door, trying to control the dam that threatened to burst.
“FIFTEEN MINUTES TO showtime, Mr. Bowers,” Kenny said, poking his head into the dressing room.
“Thanks, Kenny,” Travis said as he put his Stetson on his head. Checking his phone again, he wondered if Gemma had flown back home. He kept telling himself he’d made the right move. He wasn’t lying about wanting time to decide whether he was willing to give it another chance, but it had been so hard to let her walk away when she’d been laying her heart out for him.
The last few days, all he’d thought of was what he’d say when he saw her again. When he’d opened his mouth to respond to her heartfelt apology, he hadn’t planned on telling her he needed time. He’d had no idea what was going to come out, but he now knew time was exactly what they needed. Time apart. Time to figure out whether this was something worth saving. No sense in rushing back into things and repeating the same mistakes.
Kenny popped his head in again. “Hey, boss, someone says your wife’s on Music City News right now.”
“What?” Travis grabbed the remote and flipped the TV on, hollering, “What channel is that?”
“Channel 10, I think.”
Travis changed the channel, and sure enough, Gemma was sitting in her living room with a big-haired blonde.
“Gemma, you decided not to tell Travis about your son. Why?” Big Hair asked.
Gemma swallowed nervously. “Why? I used to have a lot of reasons I told myself to justify my actions, but I guess the biggest reason was fear. I was scared that he wouldn’t want us, or that he would eventually resent me and then our son for holding him back. I was terrified of him going out on the road and finding someone better. I guess it just boils down to me being selfish.”
“I think those all sound like rational fears for a pregnant seventeen-year-old,” Big Hair said kindly.
“Rational perhaps, but that doesn’t make it right. He should have had a chance to decide if he wanted to be a part of mine and Charlie’s life, but I didn’t give him that,” Gemma said.
“So, all the stories about you blackmailing him for money . . .?” Big Hair prodded.
“The first time Travis found out he had a son was two weeks ago, right after we were married,” Gemma said.
“Why didn’t you tell him then? You were already married.”
“Well, I didn’t think we would stay married, and with how crazy his life was, I wasn’t sure if I wanted Charlie around all the chaos, but I was wrong again. I didn’t trust Travis to put his son first.”
“That’s a hard thing to admit, I imagine,” Big Hair said. “What was your wedding like? Is it true you were both too drunk to remember it clearly?”
Gemma’s eyes widened, and Travis cursed. If the look on her face was any indication, they hadn’t rehearsed that question.
Then Gemma’s surprise melted into a soft, dreamy smile. “No, that’s not true. In fact, I just received our wedding video in the mail. Would you like to see it?”
Travis sucked in his breath.
As the feed cut to the wedding video, Travis watched with a heavy heart and a knotted stomach. Everything he had felt during the ceremony came flooding back.
The clip lasted a few short minutes, and when it was over, Big Hair said, “That was beautiful. Thank you for sharing it with us. You both look like you were very happy. I understand your hometown is putting together a reception for you. Did you ask them to do that?”
“No, but I appreciate their support. Our first wedding was spontaneous and romantic, but it wasn’t right,” Gemma said.
While Travis digested that, Big Hair pounced. “What do you mean, it wasn’t ‘right’? Do you mean you shouldn’t have gotten married at all?”
Gemma looked right into the camera. “No, I’m not saying that. I love Travis. He’s the only man I’ve ever loved. I meant it wasn’t right because we should have waited until there were no more secrets. We should have been married in our hometown church, surrounded by our friends and family. I wanted to have our son walk me down the aisle and share in our vows. Afterward, I’d laugh as I watched everyone do the chicken dance, and we’d cut the beautiful cake my best friend Gracie would make. Travis would pretend like he was going to smash some cake into my face, but in the end he’d be sweet. And when it was all over, we’d head off on our honeymoon. That’s how we should have done it.”
Travis watched, mesmerized, as Big Hair asked, “Where would you honeymoon?”
“In Stanley, at this little log cabin in the mountains.”
“Time to go, Mr. Bowers,” Kenny said.
“Shhhh.”
“Of all the places in the world, why there?” Big Hair asked.
“Because it’s where I realized that I’d never love anyone else,” Gemma said.
Gemma had gone on national television and told them everything, including about her feelings for him. If she had stood in a crowd with a homemade I LOVE YOU sign, it couldn’t have been more romantic or clearer.
Turning to the open door, Travis handed Kenny his cell phone. “I need you to do something for me.”
GEMMA HAD BEEN back home for two days and hadn’t heard a thing from Travis. That morning she’d gotten up early to open the shop. Charlie had headed back to Boise with her mom for a visit, and in all honestly, Gemma was glad for the time alone. Except she would be a little sad to go home tonight to that big house by herself. Maybe she would invite Gracie over for a slumber party.
Picking up a stack of books that needed shelving, she went to the romance aisle and started searching the author names.
Just as she was finishing, the bell on the front door jangled.
“I’ll be right with you,” she called, slipping the last book into place before standing up. As she walked around the corner, she froze.
Standing in the doorway with his guitar in hand was Travis, looking tired, rumpled, and so damn good she wanted to run to him.
“Hey.”
Taking a slow step toward him, she said, “Hey, yourself.”
He swung up the guitar and strummed the strings. “So, I’ve been working all weekend on this new song, but it didn’t feel right. I was hoping you could give me a second opinion.”
Gemma swallowed hard before answering. “Why don’t you play it for me?”
The smile he flashed her made her hold onto the bookshelf, her legs were trembling so bad. “I thought you’d never ask.”
His fingers worked over the strings as he sang clearly:
“It couldn’t be real, falling that young,
That’s what I was told by everyone,
But there was something about you,
That stayed with me through,
My lonely nights and months on the road,
And when I saw you again, I couldn’t let you go.”
Gemma’s eyes filled with tears, and she covered her mouth with her hand.
“I love you, I know you; don’t want to forget you,
’Cause you’re the one I want, yeah I always knew,
No other woman in the world could
ever make me feel the way you do.
You got to me. Oh darling, you got to me.
And I just can’t shake you.”
As he finished the song, he walked toward her, taking his time until he stood right in front of her. Gemma was crying so hard she could hardly see, and she stood perfectly still as he reached out to wipe a tear from her cheek.
“What did you think?”
“Oh, Travis, it was so lovely, I . . . does it mean—”
“Gemma, I’ve had some time to think.” His hand cradled her cheek. “I’ve decided that if you’re in this, then so am I.”
“I’m in this, I swear, I’m in this all the—”
Cutting off her vehement assurances with his kiss, she could do nothing but wrap her arms around his waist and return it. The kiss continued for several minutes, neither of them wanting to let go. Finally, Travis took her shoulders in his hands and laid his forehead against hers.
“I thought I blew it. I thought . . .” she gasped.
“I love you. That’s all I know, all I’ll ever know.” Sliding down to his knees, he held onto her hand and kissed her knuckle as he reached into his pocket to pull out the diamond ring he’d bought her in Vegas.
“Gemma Anne Carlson, you’ve put me through the ringer, there’s no doubt about it. Our life will never be simple or easy, but I’m ready to take on every obstacle it wants to throw at us, as long as I get to spend the rest of it with you.” Slipping the ring onto her finger, he continued, “We share a bittersweet past and a roller-coaster present, but I have a good feeling that the future is going to be a smoother ride. So, I’m down on my knees, asking you for the second time if you’ll marry me. What do you say, Gem? You in?”
Squeezing his hand hard, she said, “I’m in.”
Epilogue
* * *
Four weeks, six days, and eight hours later
It’s a Royal Wedding in Rock Canyon!
Ladies and Gentleman, today we celebrate as Travis Bowers (Country Music’s King of Rock), sweeps our very own Gemma Carlson off her feet (again) as the two recommit to each other in front of God, their friends and family, and the eye of SAURON (AKA Mrs. Marcie Andrews). I will be there, cheering them on, in a red and black dress . . . Or will I? LOL! Come on, folks, like I’d make it that easy for you? Congratulations to Gemma and Travis! Oh, and as for our favorite neighborhood barista and bartender . . . I’ll be watching you two! ;-)
GEMMA SAT IN the little antechamber of the church, waiting anxiously for the vow renewal ceremony to begin.
“Will you hold still, for Pete’s sake?” Gracie said irritably, holding Gemma’s veil as Katie Connors put the last pin in Gemma’s hair.
“I’m excited, what can I say?” Gemma smiled in the mirror. Gracie stood behind her and slipped the veil below the cascade of brown curls.
“Excited, good. Lopsided hair, bad,” Gracie said, as Katie laughed.
The door opened, and Callie, Gemma’s mom, and her sister Dawn came into the room.
“They’re getting ready to start,” Callie said, sounding a little nervous.
Gemma was happy that Callie had agreed to be one of her bridesmaids. Big crowds tended to make her nervous, but she’d been a real trooper, and Gemma reminded herself to ask Travis about that interview. They’d been so wrapped up in each other and Charlie the last month, they hadn’t had time to think of anything else.
As Gemma stood up, the women around her gave a collective gasp.
“Oh, Gemma, you are beautiful,” her mother said, giving her a hug.
“Thanks, Mom,” Gemma said happily. She was so excited about all of the work the people of Rock Canyon had put into the ceremony and reception, and she almost started giggling when she thought about her mother and Mrs. Andrews nearly coming to blows over the bouquet flowers. She hadn’t cared one wit about the flowers, the food, or even the dress. All she’d cared about was standing up in front of the people she loved and remarrying Travis.
After his song, he’d stayed two days with her, and they’d needed the time to themselves to talk. Gemma had never been so honest in her life, except maybe with Gracie, but it had been such a relief to open up to Travis and feel his love and acceptance.
The makeup sex hadn’t hurt either.
A loud knock sounded on the door, and her brother James walked in, covering his eyes with one hand. “Are you decent?”
“Yes, you dork,” Gemma said.
James dropped his hand and whistled. “Not bad, baby sister. Mom, it’s time to start the parade.”
Her mom went to take James’s arm and they left the room quietly.
Gemma turned to look in the full-length mirror. Travis had insisted on a new wedding dress, even though she’d protested, assuring him that the dress from their first wedding was wonderful, but he’d wanted a fresh start. She’d ended up finding the perfect strapless, champagne taffeta wedding dress on eBay, and Travis had teased her about being a penny pincher. Wearing the teardrop diamond necklace he’d bought her, she’d paired it with her sapphire studs for her something blue and the silvery heels she’d saved from their prom as her something old.
Gracie handed her the round bouquet of orange roses and Gerbera daisies. Gracie, Callie, and Dawn all wore tea-length, sea-foam-green dresses they’d gotten off the sales rack, and the color complemented each of them.
“You ready?” Gracie asked. “Or do I need to go get the escape mobile?”
Gemma smiled. “I’m ready.”
Following the other women out to the entryway of the church, Gemma saw Michael, who was one of Travis’s groomsmen, looking very handsome in his tux, and gave him a bright smile. Returning her smile, he covered his heart with his hands and acted like he’d been shot. Things had been getting better between them, especially since Travis and he had rekindled their friendship with a late night of drinking and a couple of thrown punches. They never would tell her why they’d fought, but considering both men had been thick as thieves ever since, she didn’t press it.
Charlie came running up to her in his tux, his hair slicked flat with gel and beaming. “Hey, Mom!”
“Hey, honey.” The processional started, and two by two, the couples entered the church until Charlie and Gemma were the only ones left. Slipping her hand through her son’s crooked arm, she asked, “Are you ready?”
“Yeah!” he said, moving forward a little fast at first, but a quick squeeze of his arm slowed him down. They entered the church, and the rest of the room melted away when Gemma saw Travis waiting under the arbor.
They seemed to float down the aisle in slow motion until they stopped at the bottom of the three-step stage. Gemma held her breath, unable to look away from Travis’s face. A combination of love, wonder, and happiness shone from his deep blue eyes, and tears started falling down her cheeks before she could stop them.
“You’re going to ruin your makeup,” Gracie hissed from the top step.
Ignoring her, Gemma waited as Travis came down the stairs and cupped her cheek, bringing her to him. Leaning down, he gave her a long, soft kiss that only broke when Pastor Edwards coughed. “Eh, not time yet.”
Smiling as they held each other, Travis said, “I love you, Gem.”
“I love you, too, Trav,” she replied, one arm around his waist as they faced the pastor and started up the steps.
Pausing briefly, Travis grabbed Charlie from her other side and pulled him between
them.
As the trio reached their place under the arbor, Travis said, “We’re ready now.”
Sixteen minutes and a lot of laughter later, Pastor Edward’s gave Travis permission to kiss the bride. Again.
www.mobilism.org
Want more Rock Canyon romance?
Keep reading for an excerpt from Codi Gary’s
THINGS GOOD GIRLS DON’T DO
and a sneak peek from her upcoming novel,
BAD GIRLS DON’T MARRY MARINES
Coming June 2014 from Avon Impulse!
An Excerpt from
THINGS GOOD GIRLS DON’T DO
For Katie Conners, being a good girl just isn’t worth it anymore. One evening, after a bad day and one too many mojitos, Katie starts making a list of things a girl like her would never do . . .
When local tattoo artist Chase Trepasso finds Katie’s list in a bar, he’s determined to help Little Miss Uptight check off a few items. Especially the ones on the naughtier side . . .
KATIE FINISHED HER last appointment and headed to the grocery store to do some shopping. She drove past The Local Bean and Chloe’s Book Nook, and looked to the left at Chase’s place, Jagged Rock Tattoo Parlor. She was still fuming about him coming into her salon and playing with her, even if he had apologized. Telling her he could help her out with anything on her list. Of all the conceited, high-handed, jerky things to say. He obviously hadn’t been too sorry, since he made that outrageous proposition. And after she had just started to think he wasn’t that bad of a guy.
Who did he think he was, Iron Man? That he could just ooze charm and she would fawn all over him because he was handsome, successful, and single?
Like she would ever really do anything on that list, and for him to suggest it made her feel cheap. Like he had no respect for her, or maybe it was just women in general. Was he one of those guys who thought all women were easy prey, just waiting for some big, handsome guy to move in with a few suggestive ideas and they would just drop their panties and say, “Come on, big boy . . .”?
