Melody of the Heart (Runaway Train, #4)

“In that moment, I didn’t think I could love you more, but I had no idea.” She cupped my face in her hands. “My love for you grows each and every day.”


“As does mine.” I brought my lips to hers for a tender kiss. When I pulled away, my heart did a funny flip-flop in my chest like the first time I ever saw her or kissed her or made love to her. We were coming full circle from the horny teenagers who had romped in the backseat to a married couple with a baby on the way.

And as the car rocked back and forth with our exertions, we made new memories in the Challenger with all new orgasms.





LILY


THE PRESENT


After shifting in his chair, Giovanni gave me a wry smile. I couldn’t help bracing myself for his next question. The twinkle in his dark eyes told me he was about to pose a question that he really wanted to get some dirt on—something potentially salacious. I couldn’t imagine where he planned on going since he’d already gotten the dirt on Brayden’s and my first time, not to mention our R rated Challenger shenanigans. “This question shifts forward just a bit, but I think it will help tie everything together from your high school days to the days of Runaway Train.”

“Okay,” I said.

“Everyone is under the impression that the women of Runaway Train get along very well together.” He cocked a brow at me. “Is that the truth or a very carefully constructed PR fa?ade?”

“No, we really do all get along and like each other. We’re so very lucky that we’ve become best friends, especially since we’re all so very different. Abby, Mia, and now Allison feel more like my sisters, than just my friends or bandmates wives. Over the years, I’ve really leaned on them, and they have me. I can’t even imagine how awful it would be if we hated one another.”

When Brayden snickered, I cut my eyes over to him. “What?” I demanded.

He held up his hands in surrender. “Nothing. I was just thinking myself how thankful I am that you girls all get along because there’s nothing scarier than one pissed off female, least of all four.”

Giovanni and I both laughed at his response. Brayden then winked at me before looking at Giovanni. “It really is the truth that the girls get along well. Any bitchy attitude is usually given to their men, not each other.”

“That is true. Although I would add that the men usually deserve it,” I replied, with a smile.

Brayden laughed. “I would agree with that, too.”

After smoothing my fingers over my skirt, I sighed. “In the end, it isn’t easy being a rock star’s wife. The somewhat nomadic life on the road with all the endless touring, the overeager female fans…it’s an emotional landmine. I really don’t think I could have survived if I hadn’t surrounded myself with supportive women like the girls.

“But you didn’t always have them to fall back on. You two were together before Runaway Train, or what would become Runaway Train, formed.”

“Yes, that’s true. Two of the guys in Brayden’s first band had girlfriends, but we were all so busy with school and jobs that we really didn’t get to be together that much except at shows. The Benders didn’t do any touring either.”

“I can only imagine it was hard being the only female with the four very different men of Runaway Train,” Giovanni remarked.

I nodded. “Very hard.

“Now that brings me to the question I really wanted to ask. What was it like the first time you met Brayden’s bandmates?”

“Oh God,” Brayden groaned, burying his head in his hands at the same time a flush entered my cheeks.

Giovanni’s eyes flashed like he had hit the jackpot. “Hmm, so it wasn’t all fun and games in the beginning?”

As the different memories of meeting Jake and AJ flickered through my mind, I gave an embarrassed laugh. “I guess you could say that although they were hours apart, my first introductions to the men who would become my brothers were quite interesting.”





LILY


THE PAST


The summer I turned twenty one was the first birthday I had to spend away from Brayden since we had become a couple. I had been accepted into a summer internship program that I received college credits for. It was a camp for troubled teens up in the North Georgia Mountains. I would only have every other weekend off, and I didn’t know how Brayden and I would get through our first real separation. The day I had to leave him, I cried the entire hour trip to the camp, and I didn’t stop until the next day.