Love Notes ((Book Two of the Heartbeat Series)) (20 page)

Kent looked at Connor, “Thanks man for helping me get my stuff in, but it seems my lady is eager to get me alone. See you later.”

Connor sat on the sofa and dropped his head to his hands. I walked over and sat closely next to him and placed my arm around him and rubbed his back lightly drawing small, gentle circles. I can’t believe what just went down here. “It’ll be okay. Connor, you have so much love to give. It’ll work itself out.”

“I screwed it up so badly Madison. I lost her then and it looks like I lost her again just now.”

“Connor, you’ll have another chance to talk to her. You know where she is now. But I think Kent is completely in the dark. He has no clue.” I looked up and stopped speaking as Rand was standing there with a surprised on his face. He was quietly watching me rubbing Connor’s back.

“He has no clue? Love, I hope it’s not me you two are talking about,” Rand stated.

“Babe you have no idea what just happened here. Have a seat and we’ll fill you in.”

I was friends with Connor but my loyalty lied with team Kent, but I wanted Rand to know what went down. I knew Rand would listen and be understanding but he would be by Kent’s side until the end. Kent was like a brother to Rand. We both could see the struggle in Connor when he spoke of how much he truly loved her and messed up. We had no idea how this was going to play out. I was just relieved that for once the drama was removed from Rand and me. Rand gave some guy advice back to Connor to try to talk to her and get some closure, but he did add the Kent was a great guy and he didn’t want to see him pulled down through this. As Rand paid Connor his final installment for the construction work he thanked us for listening and for the job. I watched him walk toward his truck at the barn and I saw Cecile standing next to the glass in the new addition. She had one hand pressed to the window like she was saying goodbye to Connor. I watched her, frozen to the glass as she watched him pull away. I knew she and I would be talking about all this, but right now I had something else to focus on.

I needed to take care of this fine man that was lying on the sofa in front of me. Shirtless with his jeans partially unzipped, I couldn’t help myself. I had to undo the rest of his zipper to expose the package that awaited my touch.

Chapter Eleven – Taste of The Big Apple

T
he best way to avoid any unpleasant circumstance is diversion and that is exactly what Cecile had planned. I was so caught up in the remodeling and getting better that I let the calendar creep up on me. We had a weekend date in New York for a meet and greet with the editor and publisher of
Rock Notes
and to possibly engage them in anther book to be written. There were also several writing workshops taking place so she signed us up for one later during our first day. The topic was writing romance. She had booked us in Manhattan and we had picked out a few places to hit for dinner and shopping. I wasn’t sure I wanted to leave Rand so soon after he returned from his travels but it was just a few days. Plus, he said he needed a little time to finish some music he was working on. Since Kent was living here now, he could help him play it out.

Cecile arrived in a very upbeat mood. She honked several times. I don’t know why because I am usually a very timely person and I was ready. She did wake Kent up and the horn sounds brought him strutting over for a round of kisses before we drove off. Rand was sleeping soundly this morning and I didn’t want to disturb him. I had taken care of my man last night and it put him into a mood of sweet satisfaction and off he went to dreamland. I left a note on the kitchen counter and would call him as soon as we got there. So, off we went to The Big Apple. I have only been there for day trips, never staying. I wondered if the noise of the city would keep me up as here at our home there is such a quiet peaceful atmosphere and the only noise is the music that fills the air when the band and Rand practice. That could never be considered noise. It is just awesome collaboration on all their parts.

“Cecile, I need to ask you this. What the hell is going on with you and Kent and Connor?”

“Madison, I can’t do this. I feel so pulled apart. I like Kent so much! He is a sweetheart and I enjoy every moment with him, but I truly loved Cabe. I don’t think Cabe and I can be together again, and I don’t want to hurt Kent.”

“Oh girl, this is so screwed up! Cecile, I want to tell you to follow your heart but I can see that is all scattered right now.” I tried to focus on just being there for her. I hoped our weekend would make her put things in perspective.

Midway through our drive my phone sounded and a very groggy Rand spoke, “Love, I never heard you leave. I was in a dead sleep. Kent had to call the house to wake me since I never answered the front door.”

“Sorry I wanted you to rest, but I hope you guys get some music created this weekend. I’m looking forward to being in New York, I haven’t been here in a long time,” I was sounding excited.

“Well, I hope you bring back that pleasure that I hear in your voice in a few days. Madison, I miss you already.”

“I missed you before I left the house…but right now Cecile is going through some uncertainty with Kent and Connor and I don’t want to go on about it with you but I think she really needs a woman to listen.” I glanced at Cecile and saw her holding the steering wheel tighter. She looked at me and nodded and I knew she was not in control of her life right now.

We hung up after I heard Kent yelling to Rand on the phone, “If that’s Madison, tell her to tell Cecile to have a good time, and I miss my cutie pie darling.” I had put the phone on speaker and Cecile smiled and then a tear escaped her eye as she focused on the road ahead.

When we got to the city, I wanted to have a taste of what I remembered from other trips here. First, we had an easy hotel check in and I was sticker shocked at the price of parking your vehicle even though you were staying at the hotel. It was not included. We were in walking distance of practically every place you could want to go. As we unpacked and settled, we ordered some lunch from room service to hold us over because after the romance workshop we were heading to the publisher’s office. I had taken the liberty of making us a late dinner reservation at one restaurant I loved. It is called Becca and it is located on restaurant row, where the buildings on the entire street are bistro type eateries. Thomas and I came to this restaurant often when we were married. This wasn’t an unpleasant memory for me because the homemade pastas were so good.

“Madison, do you think I will ever have what you and Rand have together?”

“Cecile you can have it all. I know that you will make a decision eventually. Your heart is so big and you don’t want either guy hurt.”

“Madison, when I saw Cabe at your house, I nearly died. I thought my heart stopped. And then it pained so bad from the hurt he caused me. I had to get away from him.”

“Cecile, he has called me and asked how you are. He is keeping himself away so he doesn’t hurt you, but I think you should talk to him and see what’s there between you both and if you need to walk away after that then you will at least have some closure.”

“But Madison, I still love him.”

I took her hand into mine and held onto it. My heart hurt for her as only she could figure this out and who she wanted to be with. Cecile I knew driven and even as she was torn with her men, she seemed to have tucked it away for now and picked up the pace to why we were both here in New York.

Our workshop we attended went well and it reaffirmed that my next writing project would be a romance novel. I had been thinking about a storyline for quite some time. I even had it outlined before taking on
Rock Notes
, but at that time a romance was not what my mind wanted to explore in the wake of my divorce. Those wounds were still open and I couldn’t bring myself to dive into love. But now, I am in love and want to write all about it.

I mentioned it to Cecile. I even brought a long synopsis to show the editor and publisher along with some sample chapters and a cover design. It was titled
Mask of Rade
. As we sat in the office of the publisher and editor they gave me rave reviews on the progress of
Rock Notes
. Cecile was in such high spirits. But then, the room got silent as they looked over the sheets that I prepared for the romance novel. I felt tense. It seemed like time stood still as I waited for their response. I had hoped they would consider the storyline. They each got up and walked to Cecile and whispered into her ear and patted her on her back. She was pleased. I knew they liked it, but what they then announced is that they loved it and Cecile was representing a gem of a writer. I was floored. I guess I now knew that I would be quite busy for the months ahead to get this storyline completed and I would welcome being able to do the work I so love.

I was so thankful for that one chance moment when I met Cecile while having coffee. She has helped me realize a level of success with my writing that I could only dream about. She is petite but a business powerhouse. By the time we left their offices, she told them she would review with me their submitted proposal for a signed deal in the next few days. I sent Rand a text in case he was practicing.

You are not going to believe this! The publisher wants to offer me a deal to write my book, Mask of Rade that Contemporary Romance I told you about. I wish you were here to celebrate this news. But chill a bottle and I will celebrate with you when I get home. I love you. I hope you are getting your creative music juices flowing too.

Seconds passed and a message hit my phone.

I didn’t want to bother you Madison as I know you need this time up there, I am so happy for you but know that you are so talented and all this will keep coming to you. I will be waiting in our bed with a chilled bottle of champagne when you tell me you are close to home.

I didn’t want to keep texting him in front of Cecile and make her relationship dilemma seem any worse, so I suggested that we move along for a celebratory dinner at Becca. First we had to return to our hotel to freshen up. We gained a few whistles on the street as we later walked in our high heel black boots and our little black dresses to hail the cab to take us to dinner. Cecile was packed pretty snug in her black dress and her chest was very perky. Sometimes I don’t think she knows just how adorable she is. I had gained a lot of confidence in my appearance this past year and was branching out into different styles of clothes. Tonight I wore a black halter dress but definitely needed a jacket even though we were going from the hotel door to the cab and then right to the restaurant. It was cold out.

As soon as we entered the restaurant the chill was gone and the warmth of the atmosphere and aroma of food took over. We had a great table and the waitress was so kind. Our meal was just as I remembered it here, wonderful. When the waitress returned with the check, she asked, “Are you the author Madison Tierney?” I looked confused but nodded that I was. “Well, your check has already been settled,” she told us. I thought perhaps the publisher did this as we mentioned we were finishing up the night having dinner here, but then the waitress pointed to the table on the other side of the brick wall. There sat Thomas and Connor.

Cecile had her back to them as they both walked toward our table. I wasn’t quite sure what words were going to fly out of my mouth. I counted in my head to calm myself. Why on earth would they be here?

“Hello ladies,” Thomas spoke. Cecile snapped her head around.

I started the conversation, “Thank you for dinner but please do tell me why you are both here?”

Thomas spoke, “Well, Madison you always know that I have your best interest in mind and this time, I just wanted to help my man Connor here with seeing his girl Cecile for a moment away from the band guy.”

“I am not his girl!” Cecile barked. Connor already took the liberty of pulling a chair from an empty reset table next to her.

“Thomas this is not cool. I can’t believe you would do this!” I told him as he too thought he could just join me, join us. So here we sat and didn’t talk for a long time to either of them. Then they suggested that we all be grown ups and enjoy being in New York. Thomas had heard mention of this from Connor when I told him weeks back that she and I were heading here but Connor didn’t know then that Cecile was his old love.