Reckless (Thoughtless, #3)(177)
I was both shocked and not shocked by the interview. We’d suspected that Joey had been paid off. It made me wonder if Sienna had also squashed the release of any of the other sex tapes, since no one else had come forward. Or maybe the other girls just had more self-respect than Joey. It didn’t matter too much to me either way now. Let them be released. I knew my husband in a way that no woman watching erotic, self-made porn ever would.
While Kellan and I looked for a new place to live, I published my book as an ebook. Denny helped me prepare the manuscript and put together a classy, romantic cover that would instantly catch people’s eye. Releasing it was scary as hell. I had no idea how people would react. I had no idea what they would say. But I had to do it. This was my dream, my career, my passion. So, with great trepidation and excitement, I uploaded my baby into cyberspace to be judged, hopefully more positively than negatively.
After the ebook went live, a feeling of relief washed over me. I’d done it. I’d created a story, a piece of my soul, and I’d had the courage to share it. Even if it wasn’t universally accepted, I was proud of myself for following through with it. When I made my first sale, another feeling washed through me—excitement! I felt like I was officially an author after that moment.
While the ebook started gathering a fan base, I put my paperback together. It pained me to have to wait to hold the physical book in my hands, and I anxiously checked for my copies to arrive on my doorstep every day. When they finally did, Kellan intercepted the package. I’d been at lunch with Jenny, Kate, and Cheyenne, and when I got back to Matt’s house, a note was taped to the front door. It merely read, Come find me.
Grinning at Kellan’s handwriting, I opened the door. On the ground were rose petals. Each petal had one letter written on it. I was laughing as I followed the trail that spelled out, I can’t wait for you to find me, so hurry up already. The excessive trail of petals led in a loop through the kitchen and into the living room. Oddly enough, the trail ended at the bathroom. I was hesitant to open the closed door, but I was too curious not to.
“Kellan, what exactly are we doing in here?” I murmured as I pushed it open. He wasn’t in there, though. Instead, I found a huge note taped to the toilet. In large letters it screamed at me, We don’t have time for mind-blowing sex in here. Focus, and come find me!
Turning around, I started laughing. “Kellan, where are you?” A sign near the bathroom light switch pointed down the hall, so I figured he was in our bedroom.
Heading down the hall, I noticed Post-its stuck to the pictures. Are you excited? Are you ready? Would you hurry up and find me? Griffin’s old room that we were using as ours had a bunch of petals taped onto it. They formed a heart. In the center of the heart, a sticky note read, “I think I’m in here.”
Giggling, I pushed our door open. “Kellan? What’s going on?” He wasn’t in there either, though. His guitar case was open on our bed, and the story notes for my next novel were strewn all over it. A bright pink note exclaimed, “Future bestseller!” I laughed harder and looked around for Kellan. When I still couldn’t find him, I looked in the closet. I knew he had to be in this house somewhere. He wasn’t in the closet, though. All I found was a piece of journal paper with song lyrics written upon it. The words were beautiful, and brand new. I could hear Kellan’s flawless voice singing them in my head as I read them. You’ll never know how incredible you are to me, how desperately I love you. I would do it all over again if I needed to. I’d go back to the beginning for you.
My eyes hazy, I again called out for him. He still didn’t answer me. Wondering if his lyrics were clues, I went back to the beginning and headed to the front door. Still nothing. Just when I was sure I’d never find him, I opened the door and took a look outside. Standing on the welcome mat, resplendent in faded blue jeans and his black leather jacket, Kellan was holding a dozen long-stemmed roses in one hand and a copy of my paperback in his other. I didn’t know what excited me more—finally finding him, the electric gleam in his eye, the smell of the fragrant flowers in his hand, or my name splashed all over the glossy six-by-nine cover.
Raising a brow, Kellan spoke before I could respond. “What took you so long?”
Laughing and crying, I flung my arms around him and pulled him out of the frosty air and into the house. I urged his head down to mine and thrilled in the coolness of his lips. Kicking the door shut with his foot, Kellan managed to speak a few words around my eager mouth. “I have . . . something . . . for you.”
I was dying to finally hold my book. Letting go of Kellan, I extended my hands like a small child begging for a treat. Kellan immediately placed the roses in my arms. I frowned at him as he laughed; the roses were gorgeous, but he knew that wasn’t what I really wanted right now. A teasing smile on his face, he pointed to the book I was aching to flip through. “You can’t see it until you promise to sign one for me.”
I pursed my lips, but Kellan shook his head. “Nope. I want a signed copy. I want the first signed copy.”
Groaning, I nodded and shook my free hand at him. “Fine, I’ll sign whatever you want, just let me see it.”
Intrigued, Kellan murmured, “Really? Anything I want?” as he took back his flowers and gave me the book.
I ignored his suggestive tone as I stared at the sexy black and white photo of a woman standing between two men. The title, Irresistible, was sprawled across the top and the pseudonym I was using as my pen name was in big bold letters along the bottom. I wasn’t hiding who I was anymore, but people knew my real name now, and I didn’t want the story to become a success just because I was a rock-god’s wife. Like Kellan, I wanted to make it on my own merits, not because of the hype that surrounded my life.