“No! Oh God, no. I shouldn’t have lied …”
"But I get why you did it." He gives a sexy half-smile. "I mean, I did kinda harass you into working for me."
"And I repaid you by getting you beaten up." I whisper the words, and reach out a shaking hand to touch the scar by his mouth. He brings his hand up to meet my own, holding it there and then kissing my knuckles slowly, his intense molten gaze never once breaking contact with mine.
"You don't know how glad I am you called," he says, his voice a low growl. "It went to voicemail, but we had a lull so I listened. When I heard your scream ..." Anger flares over his features, then he schools them back to normal. "I needed you to call me, Lia. I would never let anyone hurt you. I'm just sorry I got there too late."
Tears prickle at my eyes as I raise my broken hand and rest it on his shoulder. "Jase ... I'm so sorry."
"Never." He leans in and kisses my tears away, a gesture so sweet and caring that I melt into his hold when his arms loop around my waist and he pulls me to his strong, broad chest. "Lia, I want you. I want you so much, but I can't handle the lies. This isn't a game for me. You're ... you're the most amazing girl I've ever met."
This time the tears flow freely, and I pull back to tell him, "Never. All I have for you is honesty."
And I mean those words with all my being, my very heart and soul.
Maybe it's not just my mother turning over a new leaf.
"I know it might take a while for you to believe it, but if you give me a chance I'll prove it to you. I'll be so honest, you'll always know where you stand. I'll be so honest, you'll sometimes wish I wasn't! I'll be so honest, I—"
"Lia?"
"Yeah?"
"Shut up and kiss me."
And I do. I waste no time in bringing our mouths together, my lips colliding with his in a flurry of passion, of promise, and of truth. I give him all my emotion, all my love, and my honesty in that kiss. Our tongues tangle, and heat rushes through my body as I press myself against him. I want him to have all of me. He's imprinted on my soul.
Beeeeeeeeep
A horn blares, and we pull apart. My face flushes, and Jase turns his head to give Troy a glare. Troy's busy pissing himself laughing in the front seat of the truck cab, his hand still on the horn.
"How embarrassing," I mumble, and Jase grins.
"Nah, he's probably just jealous." His face turns serious once more, and he rests his hand on top of the piano behind him. "So, it seems I missed your eighteenth birthday."
No.
No, he didn't.
"And since it's a big one and all, I thought you deserved a big gift." At this, he steps alongside the piano and gestures up and down its length, in case I'd missed the giant black beauty behind him.
"Jase ..." I shake my head. He can't have. It's too much.
"It's my mother's—"
"I can't take her piano. She's ... no!" I can't imagine there's a lot of her things he still has, and I hate the thought that I'm taking one away.
"She'd want it to go to someone special. Someone who would make it sing like you will." He pauses, then looks at the ground before meeting my gaze again. "Someone I love."
My heart leaps to my throat at those three words. Electricity crackles between us. I can't believe this is happening. How did everything go from oh-so wrong to oh-so right in a matter of minutes?
"It's actually a two-part present," Jase continues, oblivious to the fact that I seem to have left earth and landed on cloud nine somewhere above us.
"Does it come with a really good-looking bar owner?" I try, my head cocked to the side.
"Kind of." He claps the piano once more on the top. His lips straighten to a line. He's serious. "It comes with a second-chance audition for the VCA scholarship. On the condition that if you accept, you let said bar owner visit. A lot."
"What?" I shake my head, not understanding.
"Well, I'll miss—"
"The audition part, smart-arse." I raise my brows, but a smile plays on my lips.
"Oh! That!" Jase over-exaggerates his surprise at the 'misunderstanding'. "Well, I know you couldn't audition, but I called them up and begged for a second chance, explaining the circumstances. And they've agreed to let you try again late January. It's cutting it fine, but you should be healed by then. Or at least, that's what my Internet research tells ... Why are you shaking your head?" He frowns, and I want to wrap him up in my arms again, but I'm rooted to the spot, afraid that if I move, this whole beautiful moment will come crashing down around me. Because how can this one man who I was so horrid to have done so much?
"I ..." I blink back those stupid tears and swallow. "I can't believe how much you've done."
"Believe it, Lia." He steps closer, and unashamed desire roars in his eyes. "I believe in you. I believe in your talent, your amazing way with music. You captivate me—take me to another world." He pauses, and his gaze darkens again. "Every cell in my body sings when you're near me. You don't just make beautiful music—you are the music. And I don't ever want the symphony to stop."
Well, that does it. There's no way I can stop those treacherous tears from falling down my face as I fall deeper and deeper in love with the man standing in front of me. This beautiful soul—this beautiful life.
My heart races in my chest. I’ve never been surer of anything in my life.
"I'm not going to audition."
He steps closer and frowns, placing those giant hands on either side of my face. "Of course you are. I'll come visit. I'll move heaven and earth to get what you desire. And this is what you want."
I shake my head. "No." Breathe, Lia. Breathe. "I wanted to get away. I wanted to leave behind all the drama and bullshit my life had accumulated, and I thought running was the only way to achieve it. I thought that if I ran, all my problems—Mum and her drinking, my embarrassment, my memories—they'd just go away. They'd solve themselves." Jase's body is tense, as if he's waiting for something. Something big. "But I know now that running doesn't solve anything. And that by standing up for myself, by ignoring everyone else, and letting go of how much I care what others think—that's how I'm going to be able to escape. And I can do that by staying right here."
It's my turn to step closer, and I rest my forehead against his. It feels so right here—like I belong. Like I’m finally home. "I love you, Jason. And I'm not going anywhere."
His lips are all the answer I need in return.
EPILOGUE
Six months later ...
In primary school, our teacher taught us all about alliteration. Then, I was Ladylike Lia, a moniker that now sends shivers down my spine. In recent times, I've also been Lonely Lia. Lia the Liar.
And sometimes, I still feel a little like Lia the Lost.
But more than that?
I'm Lia in Love.
And this is one name that fits.
"You ready?" Jase kisses my forehead, breaking me out of my reverie.
"Sure am." I smile up at him.
"Go get 'em, tiger."
I laugh, and give him a gentle whack to the stomach with my no longer ruined fingers.
"Next up on stage tonight, we have Lia Stanton," the emcee announces, and I give a little jump up and down. Jase grins and gives me a wink.
Applause sounds in the room beyond the stage, and for just one moment, I freeze. I turn to look at my boyfriend once more and lick my lips, uncertain. "Should I ..."
"Go!" Jase's smile could melt icebergs. It gives me all the confidence I need.
I step out of the shadows and into the spotlight that follows me across the stage of the cool underground jazz bar. It's a Wednesday night, their 'New Players' night, and the place is packed, all tables well and truly occupied in the two hundred-pax venue.
When I sit on the stool, my hands poised over the keys, a wolf whistle rings out from somewhere in the venue. The audience swivels to look toward the back of the room to the clearly too enthusiastic cheerer. I giggle, even though my cheeks flame. Bloody Kat.
Of course she has to make a scene.
Still, I've never been so glad to have her and the rest of my friends and family here.
Mum raises her (water) glass at me, and I smile back at her. I love you, she mouths, and my heart warms.
And then, I play.
My hands slowly work their way into the song, a self-composed modern piece that tells the story of life as I know it. It's full of hardships and pain, of love and lust, of happiness and sorrow, and all bleed out of my fingers and echo to life in the space of this club, all of those emotions swirl and build through the room until there's no me, no piano, only this, this greater story that's complex and rich and everyone.
Life might not be a love song.
But it sure can be one hell of a show.
I lose myself in the music, the notes, and when I finally stop, when I finally come down, I exhale, and it's as if I'd stopped breathing because all of myself tension releases from my shoulders, my body.
And then?
Applause.
Claps, deafening claps from everyone in the room. A few people I don't recognise nod and chat, their hands raised in appreciation, and of course Kat, Ellie and Ana are wolf whistling and catcalling to their hearts' content.
I squint against the spotlight and stand, taking a small curtsey.
And up the back of the room, I see it.
A sign on a big piece of cardboard, black text handwritten so big I can see.
I AM INSPIRED
I AM ALIVE
I AM IN LOVE
THAT’S HOW YOUR MUSIC MAKES ME FEEL
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Thank you so much for taking the time to read my book. Whether you loved it or hated it, the book industry wouldn’t be the happening place it is right now without YOU! Never forget that.
Of course, it takes many people to create a book, and I need to thank my lovely editor, Becky, and her fabulous team, for their insight and comments.
Kim, my lovely cover designer, you’ve done it again and created something I truly love. Thanks so much!
Kylie, you and Give Me Books are just the easiest to work with people I know. I’m so glad I tricked you into working with me!
My girls, Kristine, Jenn, Carmen, Simone and Stacey—just wow. You’re all there for me whenever I need you, and with this book, that was a lot. Thank you so much for your time, your support, and your awesomeness. I couldn’t do it without you.
And of course, thanks to my beautiful family and my sexy husband. Who also owns a bar. But has never been to prison. You’re my world, baby.
To all the bloggers who read and review—thank you, thank you, thank you! You’re all so amazing.
Finally, thank YOU, the reader, for picking this book up. You make this journey worth taking. If you enjoyed this book, I’d love it if you left a review, and if you’d like to keep abreast of my latest happenings, please join my street team, Lauren’s Foxes, on Facebook, or sign up to my e-newsletter via my website.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Lauren K. McKellar is the author of romance reads that make you feel. She lives by the beach in Australia with her husband and their two dogs. Most of the time, all three of them are well behaved.
Website: www.laurenkmckellar.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LaurenKateMcKellar
Instagram & Twitter: @LaurenKMcKellar
Books by
Lauren K. McKellar
CRAZY IN LOVE
#1 The Problem With Crazy
#2 Eleven Weeks
#3 The Problem With Heartache
EMERALD COVE
#1 How To Save A Life
#2 The Twenty-One (November 21, 2015)
How To Save A Life (Emerald Cove #1) Page 26
