Katie Ashley: Writer of Romance: March 2013

Sunday, March 31, 2013

A Proposition/Proposal Short Story: Baby Noah's First Easter

12:33 PM | Posted by Katie Ashley | Edit Post

A high-pitched squeal broke through the layers of Aidan Fitzgerald’s subconscious. As the wailing persisted, his senses slowly came awake. “Em?” he murmured drowsily. With his eyes still pinched shut, he rolled over in bed to find it empty. Craning his neck, he heard the unmistakable sound of the shower running. Well, he barely heard it over his four-and-a half-week old son’s screams.

“Okay, okay, I’m coming, Noah,” Aidan muttered as he pulled himself into a sitting position.

As he hurried around the side of the bed, Aidan dug the sleep out of his eyes with his fists. By the time he reached the bassinet, Noah was in full-on, pissed-off fit mode. He drew his tiny legs to his stomach while flailing his fists. His face was crimson from his exertions. “Easy Little Man,” Aidan said as he reached over to pick Noah up. While all of their family members loved telling Aidan and Emma that they had been blessed that Noah had such an easy temperament, he could really let you have it when he got going. Of course, the only time he really wailed was when he was hungry or had a dirty diaper.

Kissing Noah’s cheek, Aidan then snuggled him against his chest. When Noah’s tiny brows furrowed in confusion, Aidan grinned down at him. “I know, I know. I’m a poor substitute for Mommy, especially if you’re hungry.” At the sound of Aidan’s voice, Noah popped open his eyes. “Hmm, feels like you’ve got a wet diaper. Let’s get you changed.”

Aidan’s once bacheloresque master bedroom had become baby central. With the nursery upstairs, Emma didn’t want Noah that far from her when he was so small, so he slept in Pack and Play in the bedroom. Aidan wondered with all of Noah’s shit in their bedroom why he needed his own room. But when it came down to it, Aidan actually liked having him close too. Even though he adored and loved Emma with all his body and soul, the love for his son was far greater than anything he could have ever imagined. From the moment Noah had been placed in his arms, Aidan had felt the most amazing, life-altering bond. He hated spending any time away from Noah. He had even taken two weeks Paternity Leave to be with Emma when Noah came home from the hospital, but he’d been forced with a heavy heart to return to work the last week.

Laying Noah back down on the Pack and Play, Aidan then undid his onesie and diaper. It had taken one epic dousing of piss to the face for Aidan to remember to take the proper precautions when changing Noah. While Emma had found it hilarious, he had not been so amused. After he put a fresh diaper on, Aidan tenderly kissed along Noah’s exposed belly, inhaling of the sweet essence that was baby, before snapping his onsie back together. He then popped Noah’s pacifier back into his mouth just in case he wanted to get fussy again before Emma got out of the shower.

He sat down in the glider and began to do one of his new favorite things—rock Noah. He couldn’t get enough of the feeling of Noah in his arms. Emma had teased him that he was going to spoil Noah by holding him so much, but the truth was neither one of them could keep their hands off of their sweet son for long. Aidan loved the way Noah felt nestled against his chest along with the way he would stare intently up at him, as if he were memorizing Aidan’s face.

Emma appeared in the bathroom doorway outfitted in her green silk robe. Just the sight of her wet, tangled Auburn hair and flushed alabaster cheeks from the shower got Aidan’s juices up and running. But they were still two weeks shy of getting back to clockwork in the bedroom, so Aidan quickly doused the fire growing below his waist. He smiled at Emma from his seat in the glider. “Someone woke up while you were gone.”

“Oh, I’m sorry. I thought I better slip into the shower while I could.”

Shaking his head, Aidan rose out of his seat. “I don’t mind getting up with him, babe.” He kissed Emma’s cheek. “I just don’t have what all you have to offer him.”

Emma laughed at his insinuation. “He just ate three hours ago.”

Aidan chuckled. “Yeah, well, he’s got that ‘this pacifier ain’t gonna hold me much longer’ gleam in his eyes.”

“Here I’ll take him,” Emma said. Aidan gently passed Noah over to her. “Is Mommy’s angel hungry again?” she cooed.

Just the sound of her voice made Noah come alive as he waved his fists and snuggled closer to her. She beamed at him as she eased down in the glider. He unceremoniously spit out his pacifier out as Emma pushed open one side of her robe. Once he was nursing heartily, Emma turned her attention back to Aidan. “Are you ready for a full day in the mountains?”

“Of course I am. You know I love being with your family.”

“Ah, but you’ve never experienced one of our Anderson Easter Egg hunts.”

Aidan quirked his brows at her. “Should I be afraid?”

Emma giggled. “Trust me, it’s intense. There are probably over a hundred people with a thousand eggs hidden.”

“Holy shit! A thousand?”

“Why do you think I’ve been dying eggs like crazy the past few days?”

“I thought you had an Easter egg fetish. Who was I to judge?”

With a laugh, Emma replied, “Nope, it’s a tradition, not a fetish.”

“If you say so.”

“Oh, we need to leave as early as we can.”

Aidan lifted his brows in surprise. “Don’t tell me you volunteered my services for the massive egg hiding undertaking?”

Emma grinned. “No, it’s more about me helping Grammy. She keeps being so stubborn and insisting that she’s not too old to do lunch all by herself. But then she’s wiped out for days after she does it.”

Aidan smirked at her. “Hmm, so that’s where you and now Noah get the stubbornness.”

“Hey now. There’s plenty of stubbornness floating around in your Fitzgerald DNA,” Emma countered as she propped Noah on her shoulder to burp him.

“If you say so. I better go hop in the shower then.”

“You do that, stubborn ass,” Emma replied, with smile.

He winked at her before ducking into the bathroom. He showered at a lightning quick pace before getting out to shave at record speed. After he wrapped a towel around his waist, Aidan stepped out of bathroom and into the bedroom. Wearing a beautiful green sundress that made Aidan’s heartbeat accelerate, Emma had Noah on the bed, easing him into his clothes. At the sight of the outfit, Aidan did a double take. “What the hell is he wearing?”

Emma glanced up at him in surprise. “His Easter outfit.”

Aidan shook his head wildly back and forth. “It has pink in it.”

“And blue and green.” When he continued giving her a skeptical look, Emma huffed, “These are pastel, Easter colors, Aidan.”

“I don’t want my son in pink.”

Emma rolled her eyes. “Seriously?

“Yeah, I am.”

Lifting Noah into her arms, she pinned Aidan with a hard stare. “You wear pink shirts.”

Aidan scratched the back of his neck. “That’s different. I’m a man.”

“And he’s a little man. There isn’t any difference. Besides, look how adorable he is.” She held Noah out for Aidan to inspect him.

As much as he hated to admit it, Noah looked cute as hell in his gingham outfit. He even had a hat to match that bunny ears sewn on. He exhaled noisily. “Fine, you win.”

Emma grinned. “I win in more ways than one. Patrick picked this out for him.”

Aidan groaned. “Jesus, not Pop?”

“Yes, your father.” With Noah in one arm, she reached over to playfully smack his ass. “Now hurry up and get ready. We need to be on the road in half an hour.”

***

Later that afternoon, Aidan lounged around the giant mahogany table in Grammy and Granddaddy’s dining room. He fought the urge to undo his pants since like always, he had eaten way too much. Between Grammy and Emma’s combined efforts, the meal had been delicious. He was debating eating another piece of cake when Emma crooked her finger at him from the dining room doorway. His brows furrowed in confusion as he rose out of his chair. At the head of the table, Noah slept peacefully in Earl’s arms, so he couldn’t help but ask, “What’s wrong?”

“Come with me,” she said, taking him by the hand and leading him down the hallway. She closed them into Grammy and Granddaddy’s bedroom before she spoke again. “I need to ask you to do something for me.”

Her intense stare caused him to swallow hard several times. “Um, Em, are you asking what I think you’re asking?”

It took her a moment before her eyes bulged, and she shook her head wildly back and forth. “Oh God no! How could you think I brought you into my grandparent’s bedroom for sex?”

Aidan exhaled a defeated breath. “Maybe because I’ve been without sex for years now.”

Emma laughed. “It has not been years. It’s been exactly four weeks and five days.”

“You have it down to a science?”

“Well, it’s all based on Noah’s birthday since I gave you that going away present that sent me into early labor.”

Aidan grinned at the memory. “Oh yeah.”

“Anyway, I brought you in here because we’re in sort of a crisis—an Easter Bunny crisis.”

“Excuse me?”

Emma motioned to the bed. Draped across it was a furry, adult sized Easter Bunny costume. “You see every year Henry, the neighbor from down the road, plays the Easter Bunny during the egg hunt. But we just got a call from his wife that he’s in the ER passing a kidney stone.” Emma drew in a ragged breath. “Aidan, we need you to play the Easter Bunny.”

A hysterical laugh escaped his lips. “You’re shitting me, right?”

Emma nibbled her bottom lip nervously before replying. “I wish I was, but we’re in desperate need here.”

Aidan stared at her for several long seconds, expecting that at any minute she would say it was a joke. When she didn’t, he shook his head. “There are about a thousand other men in your family. Why does it have to be me?” he protested.

“All the other men who are your size and could fit into the costume have children in the Easter egg hunt.”

Aidan shrugged. “So?”

“Don’t you see? If their dads are missing, they’re going to think something is up.” Emma tilted her head at him. “You don’t want to ruin the mystery of the Easter Bunny for them, do you?”

“Um, if it means keeping my ass out of a furry bunny suit, then hell yes I do!”

Emma swept her hands to her hips and pursed her lips at him. “So in a couple of years, you would want someone ruining it for Noah?”

Aidan opened his mouth to protest, but the closed it. Deep down the truth was he wouldn’t want some selfish bastard ruining Easter for his kid. “No,” he grumbled.

“So does that mean you’ll do it?”

“I guess.”

The corners of Emma’s lips turned up in a pleased smile. “You know, it’ll make me very happy if you do this.”

He lifted his brows questioningly at her. “Just how happy?” As she closed the gap between them, Aidan’s breath hitched. She didn’t just walk over to him. She slunk. Her full hips sashayed to and fro in the dress.

“Although we still have a week to go before I’m fully operational again in the bedroom department—” He scowled causing her to pause. “Now Mr. Fitzgerald, I’m not finished.”

“Okay, fine.”

“As I was saying, although we still have a week left, I’m sure I could find several ways to reward you for your good deeds.”

“Just what did you have in mind?”

She tapped her finger against her chin in thought. “Maybe lots of oral attention and tender loving care to your most prized possession?”

He couldn’t help the grin that spread across his face. “Hmm, I like the sound of that. But I think I need some further convincing.” Snaking his arms around her waist, he said, “Paint me a more vivid picture.”

Emma laughed. “Do you remember the furry green handcuffs and whipped cream from our honeymoon?”

Aidan’s eyes rolled back in his head as he groaned. “Oh fuck yes.”

“Then I guarantee if you put you on that bunny costume, we’ll reenact that scene tonight when Noah is asleep.”

“Then bring on the fur and bunny ears!” Aidan exclaimed.

“See, I knew you’d see reason when I made you an offer you couldn’t refuse.” Emma kissed him with just enough passion to leave them both breathless. “Okay, we better get you ready.”

Aidan glanced warily at the costume on the bed. “So how do we do this?”

“First, I think you should take your clothes off.”

Aidan couldn’t help the cocky smirk that formed on his face. “You don’t have to ask me to do that twice.”

Emma rolled her eyes. “I’m just thinking that it’s going to be hot enough outside as it is. We don’t want to add to it by keeping on a layer of clothes.”

“Fine,” Aidan murmured. He quickly slipped out of his dress shirt and khaki pants but left his briefs on. Holding out the body of the costume, Emma helped him step inside. When she zipped him up, Aidan couldn’t help the momentary feeling of panic wash over him that he was trapped in the costume. Great, if he was freaking out now, what would it feel like when the giant head was put over him? He drew in a few calming breaths before Emma covered him with the bunny head.

“How’s that?”

Surprisingly he could see better than he thought out of the mesh eyes, and he was getting plenty of oxygen. “Not bad.”

“Good.” Rubbing his furry chest, she asked, “Ready to go wow the kids?”

“As ready as I’ll ever be.”

When she guided him into the hallway, Grammy was waiting on them. “How did you ever talk him into it?” she asked.

“I just appealed to his sense of duty as a father,” Emma replied.

Virginia glanced between Aidan and Emma before crossing her arms over her chest. “Uh, huh...” she murmured skeptically.

Earl appeared in the hallway with Noah in his arms. At the sight of Aidan in the costume, he began snickering. It wasn’t too long before he was howling with laugher. “Wow, son, I do believe you just totally lost your man card!”

Aidan sighed inside the costume. “Fine, fine. Laugh all you want. I’m the one who’ll be reaping the benefits

tonight.”

Emma’s eyes widened before she smacked his bunny arm. “Watch it!”

Grammy giggled behind them. “Like we didn’t know some sort of favors had to be promised to get him into that costume.”

As Emma died of mortification next to him, Aidan waved his furry paw at Earl. “Bring Noah over here, so he can see me—I mean, the bunny.”

Earl closed the gap between them. Noah peered around, happily sucking on his pacifier. But the moment

Aidan leaned over Earl, Noah’s tiny face crumpled. He began screaming in what could only be fear.

“I’d say he’s not a fan of the Bunny,” Earl mused over the wailing.

“Great, now I’ve scarred my kid for life,” Aidan moaned.

Emma took Noah from Earl. After kissing his cheek reassuringly and rocking him back and forth, he began to quiet. “It’s all right, sweetheart. Mommy won’t let that mean bunny get you.”

“Babe, that’s so not funny,” Aidan muttered through his bunny head.

“All right then.” She grinned at him before glancing down at Noah. “You should be very proud of your daddy today. Although he was swayed by the idea of getting something he really wants, he made a great sacrifice because of you. He loves you enough to make an absolute fool out of himself. So don’t be afraid of the bunny, sweetheart. Love him as much as he loves you.”

Although she couldn’t see it, Aidan beamed inside the costume. “That sounds much better.”

Emma leaned up and kissed the cheek on his bunny head. Happy shrieks and children’s laughter came from out in the yard. “Well, I think that’s your cue,” she said.

“Let’s get this show on the road.”

And with that he waddled down the front door and out into the sunshine.

Tuesday, March 26, 2013

The Essential Music of the Heart Playlist #2

4:48 PM | Posted by Katie Ashley | Edit Post

Here's the Music of the Heart playlist Part 2

For her first song with her brothers, the boys of Jacob's Ladder, Abby sings a cover of The Band Perry's If I
Die Young

At his sister, Allison's, Sweet Sixteen, Jake sings Chrissy Hynde's Forever Young for her.

At the Sweet Sixteen, AJ and Abby dance to Paula Rubio's Dame Otro Tequila to show how the kids how it's done

One of the most important song is Aerosmith's Angel that Jake sings to Abby on stage

Susan asks Abby to sing the old hymn Angel Band for her.

With her brothers, Abby sings Pink's Beam Me Up at Susan's Benefit Concert

She also sings Pink's Great Escape, which she dedicates to Jake

At the benefit concert, Jake and Abby do a duet to Tim McGraw and Faith Hill's I Need You

They also sing Paul McDonald and Nikki Reed's All I Ever Needed

The Essential Music of the Heart Playlist Part #1

4:02 PM | Posted by Katie Ashley | Edit Post

So here's Part One of a playlist/video list of the songs and music referenced in Music of the Heart.

Abby sings an acoustic guitar version for the boy of Adele's Someone Like You. Here's a good guitar version...

Abby gives Jake a run for his money by knowing how to play AC/DC's Highway to Hell

AJ and Abby dance to the La Tropa Vallenata version of Los Caminos de la Vida

AJ and Abby sing a duet to Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton's Islands in the Stream

Abby proves Jake wrong singing Madonna's Like a Virgin

Abby tries to get Jake to keep song writing by mentioning Eric Clapton's Tears in Heaven

Then Alter Bridge's In Loving Memory

And Dolly Parton's I Will Always Love You

And singing in codes like in the 60's with The Byrds Mr. Tambourine Man

Abby is dancing to Michael Jackson's Beat It while cleaning the bus when Jake interrupts her!

Jake helps Abby prepare for her duet with Garrett to Jason Aldean and Kelly Clarkson's Don't You Want To Stay

Jake and Abby hang out together and jam to duets like Conway Twitty and Loretta Lynn's Louisiana Woman, Mississippi Man

And Ozzy Osbourne and Lita Ford's Close My Eyes Forever

Thursday, March 21, 2013

A Compilation of all things Music of the Heart

9:10 AM | Posted by Katie Ashley | Edit Post

So, we're just a few short days away from the release of Music of the Heart. SQUEE!! I'm excited and scared and nervous and hyperventilating because I'm hoping and praying you all love it.

In case you've missed some teasers or the first two chapters, here's a blog post with the links!!

Monday, March 11, 2013

Teaser Tuesday: The Fountain Scene

9:39 PM | Posted by Katie Ashley | Edit Post

In this scene, Jake and Abby have sneaked out of a formal party and are lounging out by a massive fountain in the courtyard.

I winced as I crossed my leg so I could massage one of my aching feet. “Ugh.”

“Here let me," Jake offered.

“Seriously?”

A sexy gleam burned in his blue eyes. “You know I would never pass up the opportunity to touch you—even if it is your nasty, sweaty feet.”

“Hey now,” I replied as I scooted back on the cement foundation. I swung both my legs up to rest my feet in Jake’s lap.

After he began the massage, he asked, “Feel good?”

My eyelids fluttered before I closed my eyes. “Mmm, you have magic fingers.”

Jake chuckled. “You have no idea, babe.”

I squinted one eye at him. “Watch it.”

When he dug his hands into the arch of my feet while working the sole as well, I forgot all about his comment. “Oh God,” I moaned, throwing my head back.

Scooting over, Jake’s body pressed closer against mine. His breath came scorching against my neck. “Damn, Angel, if I get that kinda response from just massaging your

feet, I can’t wait to see what happens when I—”

“Don’t even go there, naughty boy!” I cried, shoving him away.

Not realizing my own strength, Jake wobbled before flailing backwards and crashing into the fountain. I held on to the sides for dear life so I wouldn’t go in with him. At the horrific splash, I covered my mouth in horror. His legs, that still hung over the concrete side, were the only things dry. He spewed water out of his mouth from where his head had momentarily gone beneath the water. “Oh my God!” I murmured behind my hand.

Propped on his submerged elbows, a stunned Jake stared up at me for a few seconds. Then a smirk stretched across his drenched face. “Besides nailing me in the balls, I think that is the second most epic cock-block you’ve ever given me, Angel!”

I held up my hands. “I’m sorry. I so didn’t mean to do it!”

“You’re just too sassy for your own good. I think you need some cooling off.” A wicked gleam flashed in his clear blue eyes.

I wagged my finger at him. “Oh no. Don’t you dare!” I cried, trying to scramble away.

The next thing I knew Jake’s strong hands were gripping my waist. “No don’t!” I screamed futilely before he hoisted me up and dragged me over the side. I squealed as the first deluge of icy fountain water pricked over my exposed skin like tiny little knives.

Huffing and puffing, I tried to adjust to the temperature as water cascaded down the front of my dress and other areas. “You bastard!” I cried, splashing Jake in the face.

He chuckled as he rubbed his eyes. “You pushed me first.”

“But I didn’t mean to get you wet.” I glanced down at my dress. “Ugh, I’m soaked through.”

He waggled his brows. “I like you wet.”

I rolled my eyes. “Of course you do.” On wobbly legs, I pulled myself to my feet. “I’m sure this dress is practically see through now.”

Jake’s hungry gaze roved over me. “Almost.” Taking my arm, he jerked me back down next to him. Cupping my face with his hands, he stared into my eyes. “You’re so fucking beautiful, Angel.”

Leaning in, he kissed a trail across my wet cheek before hovering precariously over my mouth. Tenderly, his lips pressed against mine. Pulling away, he stared into my eyes to gauge if I was okay with what he was doing. “Please,” I whispered before bringing my mouth to his.

This time his lips were hungry as they worked against mine. When I gasped with pleasure, he thrust his tongue in my mouth to swirl around my own. The world around me began to spin in a dizzying flurry. I couldn’t get enough of him. My fingers raked through the wet strands of his hair. When I tugged them, a low growl came from the back of his throat, causing me to jerk away.

“Did I do something wrong?” I asked.

Jake’s hooded eyes opened, and he gave me a crooked grin. “No, baby, that wasn’t wrong. I liked it.”

Heat warmed my cheeks. “Oh, I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be sorry for doing something hot.” When I started to protest, he shook his head.

“You’ll learn, Angel, and until then, nothing you could possibly do would ever make me not want you.” His teeth grazed against my bottom lip. “Mmm, you taste sweeter tonight than before.”

With my chest heaving under his intense gaze, I panted, “It must be the chocolate covered strawberries.”

His thumb rubbed back and forth across my lip. “Regardless of what you’ve had, I always like the way you taste.” He then replaced his thumb with his tongue. I couldn’t help the whimper that escaped my lips.

Gripping my waist, he pulled me over to straddle him in the water. His hands ran up my back and tangled into my wet hair. Something took over within me, and I began to move my hips. I rose up and then fell back against him. “Oh Angel,” Jake groaned into my mouth as he bucked his own hips against mine.

I sucked my bottom lip between my teeth as the friction started to get to me. But I was brought out of my haze of desire when out nowhere beams of water and light shot all around us. On the hour, the fountain put on a show, and we were right in the middle of it. I squealed as the hard streams beat against my back and head.

“Son of a bit-” Jake started before he was drowned out by a spray of water to the mouth.

It was then that I began to laugh at the absurdity of the situation. As the water sprayed around us, I bent double, shaking from amusement. When I peered up at Jake through my drenched strands of hair, he was wiping his eyes both from the water and from laughter. “I think you can mark that as your third most epic cock-block!” I said.

“Fucking fountain!” he shouted with amusement while kicking up his leg and splashing waves around us.

Thursday, March 7, 2013

Music's New Release Date & Peace Offering Snippet

10:40 AM | Posted by Katie Ashley | Edit Post

So, as much as I HATE, LOATHE, DESPISE, etc doing this, it's a necessary evil. I'm going to have to move the release date of Music of My Heart to April 1st, rather than the 25th of March. It's just one week, so I hope this won't be too much. It's just I've been slammed with a lot of issues at once. I found out I would be attending the Boston Author Event(SQUEE), which will take about four days out of my schedule, not to mention I have a big hometown signing this weekend. I've also been dealing with some health issues, which I'll be having minor surgery for in April(if you've dealt with fibroids ladies, you have my sympathies & pain medicine isn't conducive to writing sometimes). In the middle of all that, I was hit with several business aspects that as the Executor of my late grandmother's estate I had to handle.

Sure, I could rush Music out, but I really want that extra week for revising and editing, not to mention getting ARCS out to bloggers. So please, please accept my apologies. As a peace offering, I give you another snip.

As we wound around through the darkened back tunnels of the arena, I snickered. “Hello Cleveland,” I murmured under my breath.

“What?” Jake asked.

“I was just thinking that we seem kinda lost, and I was totally having a This Is Spinal Tap moment.”

Whirling around, Jake’s mouth dropped open. “You actually know that movie.”

“Of course I do. I used to watch it with the boys all the time.”

He shook his head slowly back and forth. “How is it that you’re actually real?”

“Huh?”

Jake smiled. “You just don't get it, do you? You’re like a rocker's epic wet dream.”

Wrinkling my nose, I replied, “Ew, thanks for the disgusting compliment.”

He stuffed his hands in his jean pockets and gave me a sheepish look. “Okay, that didn’t exactly come out like I wanted it to.”

“I’d hope not, especially since the first night I met you I was wowed by the fact you could quote Shakespeare.”

Pursing his lips, he appeared lost in thought for a moment. I just meant that you’re a musician’s dream girl—a complete and total package. You understand what it’s like to deal with the industry and what a gift and a curse the Muse can be. Plus you know all about music and singing. You're all that, and then to to top it off you’re someone a guy could just hang out with and watch stupid comedies like This Is Spinal Tap."

I nudged his shoe with my boot. "I didn't know I was such a rare gem," I teased.

"I'm serious. It's the most amazingly intense feeling in the world to have a beautiful girl in front of you who totally gets you.”

Oh God. Had he actually just said that? Breathe, Abby, just breathe. My cheeks flamed at his words while I fought to keep the wildfire burning over my body from devouring me. When I could finally find my voice again, I murmured, “Thanks." After he stood there just staring at me, I finally said, “By the way, that was much better on the compliments.”

He gave me a sly grin. “You’re welcome.” He took my hand. “Now come on. I have a big surprise for you.”

“But I don’t really like surprises,” I protested as he dragged me further back stage.

“You’ll like this one.”

Finally, we stepped through the wings. Instead of stopping, Jake pulled me right on stage. I gazed out at the empty, but huge arena. Tilting my head, I spun around and took it all in. A shudder went through me. “Wow, this place is intense.”

“I love it when it’s like this,” Jake said, motioning to the crew who were rushing around with equipment. “It’s like the calm before the storm.” He bounced on the balls of his feet, and his whole body hummed with excitement.

“The storm that is Hurricane Jake?” I teased.

He laughed. “Nah, sort of Tropical Storm Jake and more like Hurricane Runaway Train.”

I smiled. “I love the fact you never leave the other guys out of the equation. No Adam Levine and those other dudes in Maroon Five kinda thing.”

Jake shook his head. “The label tried that crap for a while right after we hit. But it’s me and the boys, or it’s nothing.”

Reaching over, I tapped the left side of his chest. “Such a good heart in there.”

His hand closed over mine, and he pressed it flush against his shirt. “You don’t know what it means to me that you’re able to see that through all the bullshit.”

“I see you a lot better than you’d ever imagine.”

“And?” he prompted.

I swallowed hard under the intensity of his stare. “I like what I see. A lot.”

He then brought my hand to his mouth and tenderly brushed his lips across my knuckle.

“I’m glad to hear that.”

My heartbeat thumped like a cannon blast in my ears, and I was sure Jake could hear it. Just when he leaned in so close that his breath warmed my cheek, a voice behind us said, “We’re ready when you are.”

Jake's eyes momentarily closed. “Worst fucking timing ever,” he grumbled before turning back to the guy. “

*And in case you've never seen This Is Spinal Tap, here's the scene Abby's referencing,lol

Saturday, March 2, 2013

Smexy Saturday Post and AJ's Muse

5:44 PM | Posted by Katie Ashley | Edit Post

I know I disappointed a few people by not doing a Teaser Tuesday this past week, so I thought I'd make it up to you with a Smexy Saturday Snip. This scene also highlights AJ Resendiz who will be getting a book of his own on down the line tenatively titled Ensnare My Heart. My muse for him is the very sexy and sweet Niko Vazquez. Go show him and his page some love. http://www.facebook.com/nikovazquezweb

Rhys and I were elbowing each other for mirror time when music suddenly blared throughout the bus’s speaker system. He and I exchanged a glance before both groaning in unison. “AJ, not that Mexican shit again!” I shouted.

From time to time, AJ insisted on torturing us with the Banda type music he grew up on until we gave him enough hell to turn it off. I poked my head out of the bathroom door. “Dude, seriously, I can’t take—”

Before I could give him anymore grief about the music, the sight of AJ dancing with Abby stunned me silent. Well, it wasn’t your traditional dancing or the dry humping kind I was used to at clubs or concerts. It was the kind I used to see when I went to AJ’s family parties. AJ could seriously put the dudes on Dancing with the Stars to shame. He’d been born with a natural rhythm that enhanced his drum playing. Not to mention that when he danced, he had that whole effortless Latin hip swishing and swaying thing that made women’s panties melt. But at the moment, I wasn’t so concerned with AJ’s moves as I was with Abby’s. Leaning against the doorway, I watched as she danced as effortlessly as AJ. Even with the trickier steps, she kept up, matching his fluid movements. I was treated to quite a floor show considering the hem of Abby's dress twirled provocatively back and forth, giving me a great view of her killer legs.

Scratching the stubble along on my jaw, I couldn’t help wondering if she could do that with her hips standing up just what all she could do flat on her back.

AJ caught my eye and winked. “She’s a natural, isn’t she?”

“Oh yeah, she can move.”

Forgetting about fixing my hair, I stepped closer to them. “Where did you learn to do that, Angel?”

Without missing a step, Abby replied, “Over the years, we lived in several places in Mexico---Guadalajara, Mexico City. I was just a kid then, but I went to lots of parties. Everyone wanted to teach the little blonde Gringa how to dance.” She giggled. “And since my brothers were older than me and wanted to impress the chicks, they recruited me as a partner. So in the end, you pick up on things.”

I crossed my arms over my chest. “I’m seriously impressed. You’re a true triple threat—you sing, you play guitar, and you dance."

AJ shimmied Abby across the grungy bus floor. “She’s a quadruple threat because she’s fine as hell too!”

Abby rolled her eyes, but she still let AJ spin her around and then dip her low as the song came to a close.

As she lay reclined in his arms, I asked, “Tell me, is there anything you can’t do, Angel?”

“Hmm, pass my nursing exams or find a decent guy?”

AJ groaned. “You got one right here, mi amor! Say the word, and we can reenact this entire scene later…in the bedroom.”

Abby swatted his chest playfully. “You promised to stop with the sex stuff. A gentleman, remember?!”

“Yeah, yeah,” he muttered glumly as he pulled her back up.

And the song AJ and Abby are dancing to Los Caminos de le Vida, which has some significance for Jake later on.....

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