Melody of the Heart (Runaway Train, #4)(22)

Giovanni’s eyes bulged in surprise. “I had no idea that you weren’t with a studio the first go around.”

Shaking my head, I replied, “No, the one that got us the attention we needed to get that first real record deal was from the Challenger.”

Lily reached over and squeezed my thigh. “I really didn’t know if he was going to make it those first few weeks after he sold it. Whenever he would have to go get in the older Honda he’d bought, there would be tears in his eyes.”

I swatted her hand away with a laugh. “That’s not true.”

She grinned. “Yeah, it is.”

Rolling my eyes, I countered, “One time. I cried one time about that car, and she wouldn’t let me forget it.”

Giovanni’s brows lined in confusion. “So if you sold the car when you were twenty one, how does it figure into being the most romantic thing Lily ever did?”

“Well, that’s because my wife is really good at surprises.”





BRAYDEN


The Past



“Are we there yet?” I asked for probably the hundredth time in the last ten minutes.

Lily groaned. “Would you stop? Jeez, I never realized you were so impatient.”

I turned toward the sound of her voice. I couldn’t see anything since she had insisted on blindfolding me. Today was our first wedding anniversary. I’d managed to get a night off the road to fly back home, so we could celebrate. While I couldn’t wait to get my hands on her, Lily had other plans when she picked me up at the airport.

I’d missed her more than just physically. She had only been able to come out two weekends this month to be with me. Whenever she wasn’t with me, I felt lost. But between her job and the pregnancy, she was worn thin. Regardless of how much I wanted her with me, I wouldn’t allow her to do anything to jeopardize her health or our baby’s.

When the car started slowing down, I sat up straighter in the seat. “Is this it?”

Lily giggled. “I bet you used to drive your parents crazy.”

“No comment.”

The car came to a stop, and I held my breath until Lily put it in park. “Okay, I’ll come around to get you.” When she opened her door, I was tempted to jerk off the blindfold. As if she anticipated me, she said, “No peeking, or you don’t get your gift.”

“Fine, fine,” I grumbled.

Tapping my foot, I waited for her to come around the car. She opened my door and undid my seatbelt. Taking me by the hand, she led me out of the car. We took a few steps and then she let go of my hand. “Are you ready?”

“Yes, dammit, I’ve been ready the last thirty minutes.”

She laughed and then pulled off the blindfold. I was momentarily disappointed to see that we were just in our driveway. But then when I saw what was in front of me, I dropped onto my knees, which earned me another laugh from Lily. “Oh. My. God.”

It was a black, 68’ Challenger just like I’d had gotten when I was sixteen. Just like the one I’d sold to fund our first record deal. Staggering back to my feet, I said, “I can’t believe you found another one.”

Lily slid her arm around my waist. “I didn’t find another one. I found the one.” When I stared at her in shock, she said, “That’s your old Challenger, babe.”

I was speechless. She had literally stunned me speechless. “But how?”

“I ran the VIN number through some collectors, tracked it down, then explained to them the story behind the car.” With a teasing grin, she winked at me. “I might have used my feminine wiles a little bit to sway them to sell it.”

“Please tell me you didn’t show them your boobs?”

She smacked my arm. “Honestly, Brayden. I merely tossed my hair, gave them lots of smiles, and then maybe I turned the waterworks on about my dad and the baby.”

I threw back my head and laughed. “You’re terrible.”

“It got you the car, didn’t it?”

“Yeah, it did.” I pulled her to me, wrapping my arms around her. “Baby, this is the most amazing gift I think I could ever receive.” Feeling her tiny bump brush against me, I quickly corrected myself. “The most amazing gift until our baby is born.”

“Good save, Vanderburg,” she murmured, her lips hovering over mine.

“Glad you thought so.” I kissed her deeply, plunging my tongue into her mouth. When I finished we were both breathless.

She smiled up at me. “Wanna take the car for a spin?”

“Fuck yeah. But considering I’m hard as a rock, I think I would rather take you for a spin.”

Lily pulled away from me. Swaying her hips, she walked over to the car and opened the backseat door. “Wanna f*ck me in here like old times?”

Glancing around, I tried to gage if any of the neighbors were home to see us. When I thought the coast was clear, I hurried to her side.

Not taking her eyes off of mine, Lily lay back on the seat, opening her legs invitingly. “You want to know why this car is special to me?” she asked.

Licking my lips, I asked, “Because I love it so much?”

She tsked at me. “No silly.” She then whipped her shirt over her head. “Because I had my first orgasm with a guy in this backseat.”