Music of the Soul (6 page)

“Yeah.”

“I sure as hell hope so,” he replied, with a grin.

“Me too.”

“Sweet dreams, Angel.”

“Only of you,” I murmured, before I closed my eyes and fell into a contented sleep.

As the sun streamed in through the wide window panes, it warmed my body under the sheets. I’d been

awake long before dawn. I’d savored the feel of Abby wrapped in my arms. In the quiet, I listened to

her sleeping, the sweet little snores she emitted. There was nothing quite like holding my girl as she

slept—the feel of her soft curves pressing into my body. I don’t think I ever felt safer and more secure

than I have with her by my side.

At the same time, my mind had also been preoccupied. The tell-tale signs of a new song waiting

to be written flickered through my subconscious. It had started out small—a few jumbled words, a

few chords. And then as I came awake, it built and built. In a low voice, I hummed a melody—one

that was now playing on loop through my mind. Beneath the sheet, my foot began tapping out the

rhythm. My eyes snapped open. Now that I truly had it, I didn’t want to lose it. Fumbling with the

sheets and comforter, I threw them off and bolted from the bed.

Abby raised her head and gazed at me with drowsy eyes. “Jake, where are you going?”

“I have to get my guitar.”

“Seriously, I don’t need a wedding day serenade,” came her muffled reply, as she burrowed

deeper under the covers.

I snorted. “Sorry to burst your bubble, but that’s not it, Angel.” I threw open the closet door and

turned on the light. Most of my good guitars, or the ones I preferred, were up at the main house. I

would have to make do with my Papa’s old Gibson.

When I returned to the bed, Abby sat cross legged with the sheet clutched around her breasts.

The sunshine streaked across her body, making her skin glow. “Damn, you’re so beautiful.”

A flush entered her cheeks. “Thank you,” she murmured.

As I eased closer to her, I said, “I woke up to a melody in my head.”

“Really?”

“Mmm, hmm.” I leaned over to open the nightstand for a pen and pad. Then I started scribbling

down some of the chords that had been floating through my mind. Once I had those down, I propped

my guitar on my legs. As I began strumming the melody I’d heard so clearly in my head, I closed my

eyes to let the lyrics that were jumbled in my mind unfurl. I cleared my throat and began to sing.

“When you fell into my life, I was shattered beyond repair.

But as the shining angel of redemption, you didn’t seem to care.

While the tempest swirled around me, you led me to solid ground.

You’re the purest, deepest love a man like me has ever found.

There is a fire that burns within me that only you can ignite.

You’re the light that fills my soul in the darkest, bleakest night.

You’re the balm that cures the wound; the lifeline in the storm.

You are the song of my heart, the music of my soul.”

Abby blinked a few times. “It’s…amazing.”

“You think?”

“No, I know it is. I can’t believe you woke up with that in your head.”

“Let’s just say I had an inspiring night,” I commented, before winking at her.

A flush filled her cheeks as she ducked her head. Even with Abby’s vote of confidence, I felt

there was still something missing in the song. It needed a deeper layer to make it have even more

feeling. And I was looking right at that beautifully naked and disheveled layer.

When she glanced up again, Abby’s eyes widened. “Why are you staring at me?” she questioned

softly.

“I’m trying to decide what your part is.”

Her brows rose in surprise. “I have a part?”

I smiled. “You shouldn’t even have to ask. You have a part in every single thing in my life,

Angel. You’re every word in this song—every note. Only the purest and sweetest melody could be

inspired by you.”

“Oh Jake,” she murmured, as tears welled in her deep blue eyes. Before I knew it, she had

closed the gap between us and thrown herself into my arms. My guitar made a screeching noise as her

warm lips met mine in a frenzied kiss. “I love you so much it hurts.”

“I know. I feel the same way.”

Pushing her hair away from her face, I then brought my lips back to hers. I wanted nothing more

than to stay in that moment forever with the most important things in my life—my love, my guitar, and

my music. But the sound of the front door bursting open caused me to pull away. It took only seconds

for AJ’s booming voice to echo throughout the loft. “Yo, twatcake, are you up and at em? We leave

for the airport in half an hour.”

I groaned. “It’s always an interruption, isn’t it?”

Abby giggled. “Sometimes I think I’m not just marrying you, but the boys, too. I mean, they’re so

much a part of our lives.”

“Yeah, well, just remember you’re mine and only mine, got it?”

She kissed my cheek. “Yes, Mr. Possessive.”

With a wink, I said, “And don’t you forget it.”

AJ bounded over the side of the ladder, causing Abby to squeal and grab for the sheet. “Oh shit,

I’m sorry,” he said, before whirling around.

“It’s okay.” Once she was wrapped as tight as a mummy in the sheet, she hopped off the bed and

ran into the bathroom.

When the door closed, AJ turned around. He held up his hands. “I swear I didn’t know she was

here.”

“It’s okay, man.”

“By the way, her mom is looking for her.”

“Oh shit,” Abby moaned from the bathroom.

I laughed. “You’re about to be a married woman, and you’re still worried about your mother?”

She poked her head out the door. “I’ll never be too old or too married not to worry about my

mother.” She glanced at AJ. “Quick, get me a pair of Jake’s sweats and a T-shirt.”

“Why?”

Abby rolled her blue eyes. “Because I’m going to pretend I went out for a walk this morning to

clear my head. The last thing my mother, least of all my father, needs to know is that I just spent the

night with Jake.”

“Got it,” AJ replied, before heading to the closet. When he returned, he thrust some clothes at

Abby.

“Thank you,” she replied, as she slammed the door.

“You don’t think they’re going to wonder why you’re wearing my clothes that are about two

sizes too big for you?” I asked.

“I’ll say it’s because I missed you and wanted to be close to you. That also covers us if they

smell you on me,” came her muffled reply behind the door.

AJ grinned. “She’s good. If we ever need an alibi, she’s our girl.”

Then Abby appeared from out of the bathroom. Her former bed hair had been tamed into a

ponytail. She leaned over the bed to kiss me. “I love you, and I’ll see you this afternoon.”

“Yep, sunset on the beach. You’ll be the one in the veil, and I’ll be the one forced to wear a pink

vest.”

“Hey, at least you don’t have to wear a full tux or suit,” she argued.

“Guess you’re right. But damn, Angel. Did you really have to choose pink?”

She gave me a teasing wink. “I’m a true steel magnolia, so of course, I wanted some blush and

bashful in my wedding.”

My brows furrowed. “What the hell are you talking about?”

“Don’t worry about it. See you later.” She grinned and blew me a kiss before hightailing it down

the ladder.

When the door slammed behind her, I tossed the notebook at AJ. “Got us a new hit.”

As he glanced over the lyrics, he bobbed his head. “Abby inspired, I presume.”

“Oh, yeah.”

“Brayden will be glad to hear it. He’s feeling the pressure of the new album.”

“I have a feeling I might get even more inspired on my honeymoon.”

AJ grinned. “I say go for it. Just make sure you take the time to enjoy yourself.”

Throwing back the covers, I started for the bathroom. “Oh, I plan on enjoying myself several

times a day,” I replied with a wink.

The main suite of the island’s house teemed with people. As nervous energy hummed through every

fiber of my being, it took everything I had to sit still in the chair in front of the mirror. It still felt

surreal that I was even here—that after hopping a plane and then taking a boat, I was in my own

island paradise. I’d been dreaming of this day my entire life, and now it was finally here.

To combat my nervousness, I’d been tapping my foot restlessly while Marion, the band’s

makeup and hair stylist, went about transforming me. When she started in with the eyeliner, she gave

me an exasperated look. “Would you stop with the tapping, or you’re going to look like some Goth

chick.”

“Sorry.”

She grinned. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen you this nervous before.”

I sighed. “Yeah, there’s a reason for that. I mean, today’s the biggest performance of my life—

my wedding day.”

“Oh honey, you’re going to be just fine,” my mother’s reassuring voice said from behind me.

When I glanced into the mirror, she appeared behind me. “I can’t believe it’s really happening. My

baby is getting married.” Tears glistened in her eyes, causing her to wave her hand in front of her

face. “No, no, today is a happy day. No tears,” she said to herself.

“I agree. Plus, I don’t want to have to redo your makeup,” Marion said with a smile.

Leaning over me, Mom thrust a granola bar, along with a Coke, into my hands. “You need to eat

that, sweetheart. We don’t want your blood sugar acting up on today of all days.”

Even though I was too nervous to be hungry, I appeased my mother by unwrapping the granola

bar and taking a bite. As I chewed, I couldn’t help the smile that formed on my lips. The day I had met

Jake my hypoglycemia had reared its head. How could I ever forget passing out right after seeing AJ,

Brayden, and Rhys and realizing I wasn’t on my brothers’ bus? Of course, it was the moment

preceding that when I had found myself in Jake’s bed that meant the most. Our worlds had collided in

that moment, and neither one of us would ever be the same again.

Once I finished eating, I took slow sips from the Coke out of a straw. Marion checked my lips to

make sure I hadn’t smudged the liner or color while eating. “Okay, make-up is done. Now for the

dress and veil.”

I eased up from the chair and came to stand in the middle of the room. My mom and Mia brought

the dress out of the closet and then out of its massive bag. It was satin and strapless with a heavily

beaded bodice. It fell into yards of satin. It was a little impractical for a beach wedding, but I didn’t

care. The moment I had seen it, I knew it was the dress of my dreams. I took off my robe, leaving me

in a bustier and underwear.

Once I stepped into the dress, Mom went about zipping up the back. I loved the fact that a row of

intricate buttons covered the zipper and gave the effect that I had been buttoned in. Jake would

probably freak when he saw it, thinking he had to undo all the buttons to get me naked. I laughed at the

thought.

After I was secured into the dress, I realized it was going to be tough breathing for the rest of the

day between the bustier and the tight bodice. “Oomph,” I muttered, as I smoothed my hand over my

chest.

“Little snug, huh?” Mom asked behind me.

“Yep, just a bit. I probably overdid it last night at dinner.”

Mom laughed. “I don’t think so, sweetheart. They altered it to fit that way, remember?