AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“What about the other members of your family?” I inquired. “The aunt who came to your dad’s funeral?”
“I remember spending a lot of time with her when I was a little kid. One day, when I was about eight years old, I think, she suddenly moved to Portland with the boys.”
It wasn’t the time to delve deeper. We’d finished our dessert of mango panna cotta and our capsule was nearly at the pinnacle of the ride.
I fingered the box in my pocket, my pulse skyrocketing. Taking in a deep breath, I got down on one knee in front of her. Nothing like doing this traditionally.
She gave a little gasp. “Pierce…”
I stared up at her, at this amazing girl. She was stunningly beautiful, and I loved her with all my heart.
“Hayley Wilson,” I exhaled slowly. “Will you do me the honor of agreeing to marry me? I promise I’ll love you and care for you the rest of my life.”
Without hesitation, she slipped to the floor and wrapped her arms around me. “Yes. Yes. Yes! I love you so much. And I’ll be your woman, in every sense of the word.”
I slid the ring onto her finger, kissed the tears of happiness from her cheeks, then claimed her mouth with mine.
Out of the blue, my cellphone chimed in my pocket.
Fucking bad timing.
I pulled it out and checked the caller ID.
My bloody father. What the fuck did he want? He never called. This must be important.
“Ramos has been released on parole, but has gone AWOL,” Dad came right out with it.
I felt the blood drain from my face. “Thanks for letting me know.”
“Who’s that floozy you’ve shacked up with?” Dad went on to ask in a snide tone. “I saw a picture of you both in Australia.”
How dare he call Hayley that?!
“None of your damned business.”
“Mum asked me to say hello from her,” he ignored my remark. “She couldn’t speak to you as she’s gone out with her girlfriends…”
Typical.
“Listen, Dad. I’ve gotta go.”
He cleared his throat. “Funds are a bit low here. Can you spare us another couple of thousand?”
“Yes. Sure.” I knew if I didn’t cough up, he’d call the press and sell my story. It was an ever-present threat. “I’ll transfer it to your account.”
I disconnected the call and put my arm around Hayley.
“Is everything okay?”
“Absolutely,” I lied. “Just the same old shit from my father.” I kissed her sweet lips. “Don’t want to let it spoil our engagement celebration.”
I heard how flat I’d sounded but I couldn’t help it.
My fucking past had come back to bite me. Just when I’d thought I might finally be able to live with it.
Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.Chapter 21HayleyI was putting the finishing touches to my makeup in Pierce’s dressing room at Singapore’s National Stadium. Vanilla Sky had opened for ChiMera. I’d watched their entire set and almost all of CM’s before high tailing it backstage.
I bit at my lips. The morning after Pierce had proposed, two nights ago, we’d told the band we’d gotten engaged. They’d been happy for us…but Jake had been ecstatic. “I’ll arrange a press conference after the final concert here,” he’d smiled from one side of his face to the other. “Have you set a wedding date yet?”
“We haven’t,” I’d said, and Pierce had interjected, “I’m leaving it to Hayley. We’ll tie the knot when and where she decides.”
I’d have loved him even more for those words if that were possible, but my heart was already overflowing. I only wished he’d tell me what his dad had said. What had darkened his mood at the end of our magical ride on the Flyer. He’d clammed shut like the old Pierce and had brushed off my inquiry, saying it was nothing. I knew that it wasn’t and I’d promised myself I’d extract the information from him eventually. Maybe even after the impending interview, which we’d agreed to in exchange for not having to attend the after-show party.
Warmth spread through me as I stared at the rock on my finger. The diamond was humungous and had cost thousands. I’d felt embarrassed by the extravagance, but Pierce had insisted and had melted me with that puppy dog look of his.
I wriggled my ass on the plush sofa. The past couple nights in bed with him had been beyond amazing. With his help in loosening me up, I’d managed to insert not only my pinkie, but my index finger all the way inside. Not at the same time, that would have been too soon, but maybe one day in the not too distant future, my muscle would relax enough to take two fingers, followed by three, and last but not least, his cock.
The door banged open and he strode into the room… all dirty and sweaty and looking like the rock god that he was. “Hey, babe. You look gorgeous. Are you ready to face the posse?”
