Just One Wish (The Kingston Family #4.5)(25)

Axel had made miracles happen. He’d arranged for the Original Kings to play a benefit concert to raise money for Norah’s Ark in order to keep the shelter open and get some of the pets adopted.

While he had his plan, Tara had hers. She’d gone behind his back and taken care of something very important before it was too late, and she had the surprise waiting for him when he came off stage. From the moment of his return, he’d been all about giving to her. It was time she did something for him.

Norah joined her at the moment the band struck their opening chord. Around her, the Kingston family mingled with each other, excited to see Dash in his element. Just like Tara couldn’t wait to see Axel in his.

Watching him play, sweat gleaming on his strong muscles, his talent on the drums bordering legendary, she couldn’t be prouder. She would have been a fool to push him away and was so grateful she’d come to her senses. When it came to loss, the past was difficult to overcome, but this man and the life they could have together were worth it.

Later, after the band played their final encore and Dash encouraged the crowd to donate to the shelter and to adopt, not shop, the guys laid down their instruments and walked off stage to a standing ovation. Well, the audience was already standing anyway, she thought, smiling.

“Tara?”

She turned at the sound of her name. A woman who resembled the Kingston siblings and had to be their mother walked over to her. “Hi. I’m Melly Kingston.”

“Hello! I’ve heard so much about you.” Tara smiled at the other woman. “Axel has told me how you’ve treated him like family since he joined the band and his sister married Dash. It’s so good to meet you in person.”

Melly met her gaze. “Can we hug? I feel like you’re family now, too.”

Tara hugged the woman who had treated Axel like a son.

“I’m glad you two are together now,” Melly said. “It wasn’t that long ago he was climbing the walls, wondering how to convince you he was serious about you.” Melly’s warmth made her impossible not to like.

“Well, we had our challenges,” Tara admitted. “Mostly mine.”

“But she came to her senses, and now they can live happily ever after,” a familiar voice said as her mom wrapped an arm around Tara’s shoulders.

Tara turned and kissed her mother’s cheek. “Mom, this is Melly Kingston.” Tara performed the introductions, and the women started talking. “If you two don’t mind, I have something important I need to do.” Tara left them alone, sensing the two would get along well.

She headed toward the stage at the same time Axel, still in his sweaty T-shirt, came bounding toward her, obviously still amped up from the performance. “I’d say we rocked the house,” he said with a pleased grin.

“Yes, Mr. Ego, you did.”

He swept her into his arms and sealed his lips over hers. He kissed her long, hard, and deep, and totally too much for a public place, but she got lost in him anyway.

By the time he let her up, she was breathless. “I love what you did for the shelter. I can’t thank you enough.”

“No need to thank me. It’s a worthy cause.” He hooked an arm around her waist. “Besides, I’d do anything for you.”

“And I’d do anything for you. Which brings me to my surprise for you.”

He narrowed his gaze. “You can’t have a surprise for me. I have one for you.”

She shook her head. “Nope. You aren’t going to one-up me, Axel Forrester.”

He lifted his shirt and wiped the sweat from his face with the material.

Her gaze fell to his six-pack, and she was surprised she wasn’t drooling. “Stop trying to distract me,” she said.

He laughed and whispered, “We could leave now. Nobody would know.”

She shook her head. “Not yet. Surprise, remember? Come on.” As she led him to the parking lot, she began to explain. “Since we are together…” They were alternating staying in the gatehouse on her family’s property and in his empty house that he still refused to decorate. Neither of which was ideal, but that was a discussion for another time. “I figured that I would add to your stability factor.”

They reached the lot where Norah and her volunteers had the puppies who were available for adoption. Nobody could just take a dog home today, but they could meet the dogs, fill out an application, and be vetted afterwards. Then someone would call them if they were approved as a pet owner.

“Stability factor?” He came to a halt. “I thought we were past those issues.” Panic seemed to invade his expression.

“We are. Relax.” She put a hand on his chest to reassure him. “This is a good surprise. I just meant that we’re living together, and I’m around to take care of a pet when you’re on tour. No upheaval involved.”

“I don’t understand.”

“You will.” She led him around the booth and paused where a large crate sat alone with a black and white dog inside who appeared disinterested in everything going on around him.

“Walter?” Axel asked, excitement in his tone.

The dog’s ears perked up at the sound of his name.

Smiling, she watched as Axel walked over and the dog’s long tail began to wag as he pawed at the kennel gate to get to Axel.