Love Resolution (Black Cat Records series) (33 page)

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.

Everyone was already in the lounge when they boarded the plane hand in hand. Trevor was typing on his laptop. Dwight was having an animated conversation on the phone and Sam and JR were snuggled up on the couch together watching the television.

Suddenly all eyes were on them.

Trevor’s mouth dropped.

“I’ll call you right back, Mom,” Dwight said. “I think Marcus and Avery are back together.”

Sam’s face broke into a huge smile.

“You’re fifteen minutes late,” JR said drolly. “What kept you guys?”

Avery raised a brow and Marcus chuckled, squeezing her hand.

Sam elbowed JR in the ribs. She came over and interposed herself between them. “Y’all really back together?” she asked hopefully.

Avery nodded.

“I’m so glad.” She gave Avery a big hug. “You treat her right this time or I’ll cut you down at the knees,” she declared.

“That’s almost exactly what she said.” He barked out a laugh. “That’s my intention, but I’ll keep your warning in mind.”

“Hey.” Dwight drew Avery close with one arm and clapped Marcus on the shoulder with the other. “I’m really glad you two worked things out.”

“Thanks, bro,” Marcus acknowledged, reaching for Avery’s hand and leading her to the back of the plane. “We’ll be in the bedroom. Unless it’s an emergency, we don’t want to be disturbed.” Marcus shut the door behind him and turned to find Avery toeing out of her sneakers. She pulled back the comforter, climbed in, and patted the space beside her. He sat beside her and looked deeply into her eyes. “Avery, you’re an incredible woman. I can’t get
those lyrics out of my head.” He gently tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “The way that you evoke emotions with your words. You amaze me.”

Cheeks heating, she ducked her chin to her chest.

He tilted her head back with a finger under her chin. “I missed you so much.”

“I missed you, too,” Avery told him with a soft smile. She straightened the pillows behind her and crossed her legs. “I can’t wait to get back to the city. I have so much I want to share with you. We have to get a chocolate dessert at Max Brenner, and go ice skating in Central Park and, oh you have to have a real New York hot dog from a street vendor, and…” She trailed as he stood. “What are you doing?” she asked watching him pull off his shirt and unbutton his jeans.

Holy Crap
. The man had it all going on. Glossy dark hair, clear blue eyes, presently darkened with intent, broad muscular chest, washboard abs, lean hips, and long toned legs.

He raised a brow. “See something you like, Ace?” he asked as he put a knee down on the bed.

“Maybe.” Her eyes returned to his face, sparkling with humor as well as desire. “You’re gonna use the shirtless thing against me a lot, aren’t you?”

“Every chance I get.” His voice was sexy smooth. His lids lowered, and his lips curled into a sensual smile.

“I can live with that.” Her body hummed with approval. “Come closer, handsome. I wanna trace your tattoo.”

“Oh, is that what they’re calling it nowadays?”

She smiled, wiggling out of her jeans and panties.

He reached her, grabbed the hem of her shirt and pulled it over her head. “Trace away then.”

A banging on the door woke Marcus up several hours later. He pulled on his boxers and glanced over at Avery.

“Make them go away.” She pulled the pillow over her face and snuggled down under the sheets.

He slapped her on the rear. “Get up, lazy,” he ordered, peering out the window at LaGuardia’s tarmac as he crossed to the door. Snow was already falling. He unlocked the door and opened it. “What’s going on?” he asked his brother.

“Dude, first off you guys need to tone it down on the next flight, please.” Dwight popped his earbuds out and rolled his eyes. “You were embarrassingly loud.”

“Hear that Ace?” Marcus asked over his shoulder.

“He said guys, as in plural,” Avery reply was muffled by the pillow.

“Ray wanted me to let you know that he’s waiting in the car. Everything’s already loaded up. I’ll see you in an hour. Diverting around the storm’s got us doing the sound check right before we go on.”

Marcus stepped out of the room and closed the door. “Have the others arrived?” he asked in a conspiratorial whisper.

“Just landed before us,” Dwight assured him. “I’m headed over there now.”

“Good.” Marcus slapped his older brother on the back. “Thanks.”