Love Resolution

Sitting up, her back resting against the headboard, Avery stroked a hand through his thick hair. Mesmerized, she drank in the sight of his hard masculine frame spread out across the white hotel sheets. The early morning sun filtered in through a crack in the heavy curtains and fell like an arrow across his broad muscular shoulders.

“Mmm,” he mumbled, turning over, lips curving up in that dangerously sexy way of his. “How long have you been up?”

“A while.” She returned his lazy smile, eyes twinkling. “Totally lickable.”

“I knew you remembered.” He laughed, sitting up and pulling her into his side.

“Um, yeah.” She lowered her head and ran her tongue lightly across the tight tan coin of his nipple.

“I was a little afraid you might not be here when I woke up.”

“This is not a onetime deal for me.” Her expression serious, she tilted her head back and looked into his eyes. “You ever try to shut me out again or look at another woman, even for pretend, and I’ll kick you in the shin.”

He winced.

“And then I’ll sic Ray on you.” She traced her fingers over his tattoo. “I know we still have issues to work out, but I also know that we can’t work through them if we’re not together.”

“I’m never letting you go again,” he promised, stretched out his free arm, and reached for something on the nightstand. His expression intense, he turned back to her, his arm tightening around her shoulder. “Words aren’t a strong point for me, but I’ll tell you again and again, every single day and never ever get tired of saying it. I love you. I want you in my life. I want to see you smiling at me every morning, calling me out on my BS every day, and I want you tucked into my arms every night.”

He took in a deep breath and opened his hand.

When she saw what he held her eyes misted. The square cut diamond and white gold ring looked so small and delicate in the palm of his masculine hand.

“I wanted to give this back to you last night.” He seemed nervous as he plowed ahead. “I know you’re probably worried I’ll screw up again. With good reason. You don’t need me half as much as I need you, but I was hoping…”

“I do need you.” She put a finger over his lips. “What I said before, well, it wasn’t true. And for the record I’ve done my fair share of messing up on this tour.”

“Yeah.” He moved aside her bangs, touching a finger gently to the healing wound on her forehead. “But your screw-ups didn’t end up with someone getting almost killed.” He shifted, his hands moving to frame her face, his eyes searching hers. “Ace, I believe in you and me for the long haul, and whether we take the easy or the hard way, the short road or the long, together like this is the way we belong. Who I am with you is who I always want to be. And however messy life gets, whatever crap gets blown our way, I know we can handle it if we have each other. You are the words, Avery Jones, to the music in me.”

“Not good with words, huh?” She beamed a radiant smile. “I’ll wear your ring.” She held out her hand and he slid it on her finger, and then he kissed her, a long, possessive celebratory kiss during which he managed to shift her so she was on top of him.

And then there was no talking anymore for a long, long time.



Murmuring voices from the other room woke him up for the second time that morning. He scooped his watch off the nightstand and checked the time. Shit. They were supposed to be at the airport in forty-five minutes and it could easily take at least twice that long to get there.

He got out of bed, pulling on the terry cloth robe Avery must have laid there. He walked down the short hall and smiled recognizing the voices before he saw them. Arms folded, he leaned back against the wall and watched.

In her usual jeans and t-shirt combo, Avery had a piece of toast between her lips, and was dragging a suitcase to the door where Ray was waiting.

“You need to go ahead and wake him up.”

“No, Ray.” She straightened, her hands going to her hips. “Not yet. I want to give him a few more minutes. We were up late and…” She trailed off, spinning around as they became aware of his presence.

“She’s a bossy thing, isn’t she?” Marcus grinned, crossing over and pulling Avery into him.

“Not as bad as some,” Ray quipped, bending over to grab the handles of both bags. “You two better hurry. Everyone else already left. There’s a winter storm headed for New York City and the pilot is saying we have a very narrow window to get in.”

Avery turned in Marcus’ arms. “I’ve got something I want to show you first.” She took his hand and led him to the piano. Her journal was lying open on the bench. She picked it up, sat down and gestured for him to sit beside her. “Could you play ‘Shelter’?”

“Ace, I need to get dressed.” He glanced at his watch. “I have a digital copy of the song. You can listen to on my laptop.”

“Please.” She batted her lashes at him. “It’s still my birthday.”

“I realize that, you minx. You’re planning to play that card for all it’s worth today, aren’t you?” He took a seat, flexed his fingers, and began to play.

She shifted in beside him and sang.



We set sail with so much promise

Seeking treasures on some shore

But soon the whirlwind was upon us

I couldn’t reach you anymore.



Drowning in a sea of silence

Lost in the depths of my despair

Way past time I paid my penance

Harder still cause you’re not there.



Let your arms be my safe harbor

In them I’ll be free from harm

And my kiss will be your shelter

When life is cold to keep you warm.



What the hell must I be thinking?

I hear your voice above the fray

You clutch me, I’m no longer sinking

Your lonely beacon lights my way.



The easy or the hard way

The short way or the long

No matter where the wind may take us

It’s with you that I belong.



I know now what we failed to understand

Before things all went wrong

Our treasure wasn’t in some foreign land

It was between us all along.



Let your arms be my safe harbor

In them I’ll be free from harm

And my kiss will be your shelter

When life is cold to keep you warm.

When life is cold I’ll keep you warm.