“And you’re calling me corny?” I chide with my heart racing against hers, and she laughs and slaps my shoulder a second before I toss her onto my rose-petaled bed.
She giggles until I crawl on top of her, and then she stops laughing, I stop smiling, and I kiss her—I kiss her like I wouldn’t have been able to six years ago even if I wanted to. Because back then, I didn’t realize she was my other half. Back then, I didn’t realize I had another half.
Now, I do, and I wrap her in my arms.
Are you new to Jamie’s super-hot rock stars?
Find out how Adam-freakin’-Everest fell hard for Rowan “Peach” Michaels in MAYHEM . . .
And don’t miss the wild ride that brought Joel Gibbon and Dee Dawson together in RIOT . . .
Available now in print and e-book from Avon Impulse.
But the final member of The Last Ones to Know is still single . . .
Watch for drummer Mike Madden’s story coming soon!
Acknowledgments
WHEN I WROTE the acknowledgments for Mayhem and Riot, those books hadn’t been released yet—which makes this the very first time I’m writing an acknowledgments page as a published author, as an author with readers, and it’s you I want to thank first.
You are the reason I write. Before I was published, I dreamed of you, of strangers who would read my books and hopefully love them. And I just want to say—you’ve far exceeded even my greatest expectations. You put a smile on my face every single day—with your emails, your messages, your fangirling over The Last Ones to Know. Thank you for buying my books and loving my rocker boys. You are why I’m able to continue doing what I love—and why I continue loving it.
Big squishy hugs, especially, to all of the amazing readers in my Facebook fan group, Jamie’s Rock Stars. You guys are freaking rock stars, and you blow me away with your support, your enthusiasm, and your ability to make me laugh. You’re the best fans and friends I could ask for, and I hope you know how much I adore you.
And of course, major love to the readers who make it their mission to support books, authors, and this entire community of readers—the bloggers. Thank you for supporting me, my novels, my characters, and my dreams. You are truly some of the most amazing, selfless people I have ever met. Thank you so much for writing your kick-ass reviews, for pimping my books, and for making me cry from laughing so hard when you’ve fought over Adam, Joel, Shawn, and Mike. You guys rock hard, and I appreciate all that you do.
Thanks, too, to all of the authors who have leant me their support while I’ve learned the ropes of publishing—Jay Crownover, Tiffany King, Wendy Higgins, Megan Erickson, Sophie Jordan, and so, so many more. You have all been so ridiculously encouraging and supportive, with your blurbs and encouragement and advice. I feel so extremely privileged to be a part of this community—and to be able to call you friends.
And finally, to all the people who helped make this book what it is—
My critique partners are my behind-the-scenes crew, who get to know my characters long before they’re ever put into print. They’re the gals in my corner, squirting water in my mouth when I’m about to pass out, pushing me in the right direction when I begin to lose focus, and assuring me I can kick this book’s ass when I begin to feel like it’s the other way around. So thank you, thank you, thank you to Kim Mong, Rocky Allinger, Marla Wilson, and my mom, Claudia. Kim, you were Shawn’s very first fangirl, and it’s for Shawn-groupies like you that I knew I had to write his story. Rocky, you keep me sane while I ride the writer rollercoaster, and I have no freaking idea what I’d do without you. Marla, your enthusiasm for these books is the perfect writing fuel, and I’m so glad you joined my Panera dream team. And Mom, thank you for always being my biggest cheerleader. All four of you are incredible critique partners and friends, and I hope you know I’m never letting you go—EVER. I’m sorry, but you’re mine now.
Mushy love, too, to my rock star literary agent, Stacey Donaghy, who knew even before I did that each of my boys needed their own story. Stacey, you know how much I adore you, and I can’t wait to continue this journey together.
And more mushy love to my editor, Nicole Fischer, for being a freaking saint while I wrote this book. Nicole, you went above and beyond the call of duty for me, and well . . . I’m kind of in love with you for it. Thanks for always being in my corner, and for responding to emails when the rest of the world was sleeping. You’re seriously the best.
And finally, thanks to my husband, Mike, who loves me even when I don’t shower for days, who brings me food when I’m too busy writing to remember to eat, and who I love more than words can say. Everything I know about true love, I know because of you.