Three years later . . .
We’re getting ready to go on the road. I’m excited to go cross-country with the boys. Oh, we’ve grown, by the way. Now Will and I have two sons, Allen and Dylan. They’re three and two years old and they’re maniacs, literally bouncing off the walls most days. Will says we should get them out to see the world, so we’re going to play a few small venues here and there. We have a couple of band members going on the road with us, but mainly it’s a family trip.
When we play music onstage, we give the boys either tambourines or shakers, and then we put big headphones on them so we don’t damage their hearing. We try to play just loud enough to drown out any sounds they’re making at the front. It’s a lot of fun and they’re learning. Will always says, “The family that plays together, stays together.” I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Will’s neuroses calmed a great deal after the births of our boys. He had a few panicky moments, but once he settled into being a father, I knew he would be the best. He changed diapers and burped the babies for those many months in the early stages, and then when the boys got old enough to start on instruments, I saw Will truly light up. He’ll sit at the piano with Allen or Dylan on his lap and sing along to the funny melodies they invent.
There are hard times, don’t get me wrong, but I haven’t forgotten what I learned so brutally a few years back when Will and I first met. I learned that you can’t predict your future, there’s no crystal ball or formula for happiness. You can’t control the weather just like you can’t control the way others behave, but what you can control is how much love you give. Surrendering to this crazy thing called life is hard, but we don’t have to be the soulless sheets of paper tarrying along in the wind. We can find our people, love, respect them, and then hang on for dear life because it’s not where you go on this journey but who you’re with that matters the most.
Letter to Readers
Dear Reader,
Thank you so much for reading. I hope you enjoyed Sweet Little Thing and would consider sharing your thoughts by writing a review on the retailer website. On the last page you can also rate Sweet Little Thing on Facebook and twitter. Your feedback is greatly appreciated.
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Nowhere But Here, releasing May 5, 2014 and available for pre-order NOW.
http://reneecarlino.com/books/nowhere-but-here/
Excerpt from Nowhere But Here
I kicked my shoes off and rolled up my dress pants, then followed him to the edge of the pool where he set two towels down. He rolled up his jeans and sat gracefully before dunking his feet into the water. My fingers twitched with a desire to smooth back the disheveled hair that had fallen into his face. I watched intently as he reached up and ran his hand through it, displaying the flexing muscles in his arm. I couldn’t take my eyes off him. When he handed my wine over, he noticed me staring.
“What?”
“Nothing.” I shook my head. Looking down at my hands, I mumbled, “I just want to forget about everything for a little while.”
“Really?” He looked excited when I nodded. “I have a great idea.”
I dipped my feet in. The water was very warm, like bathwater. It instantly calmed my nerves.
“What’s your idea?”
“Well, curious Katy, I’ll show you.”
He jumped up, ran to the gate, tinkered with something, and everything went off. The lights in the pool and all around the patio area, even the waterfall went off and it was silent. I could see steam pooling on the surface of the water. In the sky a million more stars became visible. I sipped my wine and then heard Will Ryan’s soulful voice funneling softly through the outdoor speakers. Jamie appeared at my side.
“I love this guy. He’s so good,” I said.
“Yeah, he’s awesome. He and his wife are playing at a little local bar on Saturday if you want to check it out with me?”
“I’d love to if I’m still here.” I finally looked up and noticed that gorgeous Jamie was shirtless and undoing his belt buckle. Even in the dark I could see the sinewy muscles of his arms and his defined abs and chest. “What are you doing?” I whispered loudly, fighting to keep my voice low.
He smiled playfully. “We’re gonna get your mind off things and take a little dip.”
“I’m not!”
“No? Come on.” He yanked his jeans off and leaped into the pool, wearing nothing but a pair of dark-blue-and-gray-plaid boxers.”
When he surfaced, he held his boxers above his head, dangling on a single finger, and spun them around like he had done a striptease. He flung them toward me and they landed just to my left.
“Oh my god! I can’t believe you just did that.”
“What? You can’t see me. Anyway, I know you have the crazy in you. You’ll be in here in no time.”
“Oh, how do you know that?”
“The pretty ones are always a little cray cray.”
“You think you’re so smart, don’t you?”
“You have no idea,” he said with no trace of humor. “Just get in here, Katy. I promise I won’t look.”
At that point, it’s fair to say that I was drunk, completely and utterly drunk from the wine, and Jamie’s presence was doing nothing to sober me up. His long, wet hair was leaving little glimmering droplets on his shoulders. I giggled. “Turn around, and you better not peek!”
“I promise.”
He waded to one end of the pool and turned his back to me, at which point I quickly stripped down to my black bra and panties. Looking down, I thought they could easily pass for a swimsuit except that they were silk. Oh well.
As quietly as I could, I slipped into the pool on the opposite end of where Jamie stood. There was at least thirty yards between us. The pool felt amazing. I relaxed for a moment and then realized I was in a pool with a naked man I’d just met, a very attractive naked man.
“Okay, I’m in, Jamie, but keep a safe distance.”
He turned around, grinned from ear to ear, and then disappeared under the water.
Good God, what is he doing?
I was suddenly very nervous; a small part of me was actually frightened. If it weren’t for Will Ryan’s sweet words pumping through the speakers, I would have been terrified. His hands on my hips didn’t startle me at all because I could feel him getting closer. He rose out of the water, his warm hands gripping my waist. He wasn’t smiling; he was searching my eyes. I looked around quickly and then back to his shoulders and rib cage as he lifted his arms and slicked his hair back with both hands. I could see his tensing neck muscles. There was very little stopping me from licking the drops of water off his arms. I closed my eyes as he closed the gap between us. I felt his mouth brush my neck and then move toward my ear. “Baby, open your eyes.”
“I…”
“I know. You have a boyfriend.” One side of his mouth turned up. He moved back a few inches. “We can be friends though, right?”
“Yes.” I sighed.
“You were crying earlier. Why?’
I shook my head.
“Please tell me it wasn’t because of how RJ treated you?”
“No.”
“Then what?”
“Remember, I just want to forget everything.”
He nodded, looking away for a second. “Are you ticklish?”
“Don’t you dare.”
He laughed. “Well there is one thing I know…”
“What’s that, smart guy?”
He put his hands on my hips again and I let him, even though I knew it was crossing the line. It felt so good, like being enveloped by warmth and security.
His mouth turned up into a knowing smile, and then he said, almost wistfully, “Just friends is going to be hard, but I’ll try. It’s just that I like you. You’re witty and sweet and you happen to be the most infinitely beautiful woman I’ve ever met.”
I sucked in a startled breath. He paused, looking all drowsy with desire before opening his mouth to speak again.
“Don’t,” I murmured.
“It’s not hyperbole, Katy. I promise.”
Giggling nervously, I slowly sank beneath the water, thinking Jamie was out of his mind. I never would have described myself the way he had.
But then again, I had allowed Stephen to make me feel like I was barely worth coming home to . . .
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