Music of the Heart Read online

  Music of the Heart

  Stand Alone Book

  Harper Brooks

  •••••••••••••••

  Copyright © Harper Brooks

  Dedication

  To my amazing husband, Christian…

  Thank you for everything.

  XOXO - HB

  Copyright © 2016 Harper Brooks

  All Rights Reserved.

  No part of this book may be reproduced in any manner without permission from the author. Only brief quotations may be used in reviews or articles regarding the book.

  This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, most locations, events, businesses and plot are the product of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to people, places and events are purely coincidental.

  Table of Contents

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Chapter Seventeen

  Chapter Eighteen

  Chapter Nineteen

  Chapter Twenty

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  Chapter Twenty- Eight

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  Chapter Thirty

  Chapter Thirty-One

  Chapter Thirty-Two

  Chapter Thirty-Three

  Chapter Thirty-Four

  Chapter Thirty-Five

  Chapter Thirty-Six

  Chapter Thirty-Seven

  Chapter Thirty-Eight

  Chapter Thirty-Nine

  Chapter Forty

  Chapter Forty-One

  Ashleigh &Cross’s Playlist

  Love Me Like You Do Ellie Goulding

  How Could I Want More Jamie Lynn Spears

  Unconditionally Katy Perry

  Faster Matt Nathanson

  Wanted You More Lady Antebellum

  Speechless Rachel Platten

  Marry Me Train

  Can’t Fight This Feeling REO Speedwagon

  At Last Etta James

  All of Me Ray Boudreaux (from The Voice)

  I Knew I Loved You Savage Garden

  Love Takes Time Mariah Carey

  To Sir With Love Lulu

  Grenade Bruno Mars

  Have You Ever Brandy

  Sam Hunt Take Your Time

  Chapter One

  ASHLEIGH

  “Goodnight Nashville!”

  I can’t believe I’m about to say this but I need a break. Not a day or two but a few weeks. Don’t get me wrong. I love my job and I have lived and breathed it for the last four years but my throat… it’s just getting worse. Why does that matter you ask? Well, when you are one of the top selling country singers, it matters… a lot.

  “Ashleigh, they’re ready for you.”

  “What? Ready for what?”

  “Your encore performance! The crowd is going wild and they need you out there now. The band is waiting on you.”

  “Oh crap, my mind is somewhere else right now. Sorry.”

  Allie, who is my assistant, just looks at me like I’m crazy. I never act like this but it takes all I have to go out there and not show the world how bad my throat is hurting and how very tired I am. As soon as the encore is over, I head straight to my dressing room with Allie fast on my heels.

  “It’s your throat, isn’t it? It’s hurting again. I knew it. I knew something was wrong with you the entire show. Damn it Ashleigh, I told you to go to the doctor. You have got to slow down and get some rest. You are going to end up in the hospital again.”

  “Allie, calm down. I am fine. It just hurts a little more than normal. I’ll rest it on my break at home and I will be good to go.”

  The look she gives me tells me she doesn’t really believe me.

  “Okay, okay. I promise I’ll have it looked at.”

  My throat and voice have been dealing me problems for the past five months. Add to those problems being hospitalized for dehydration and exhaustion twice and you can see why Allie is having a hissy fit right now.

  Bless Allie’s heart, she tries to take care of me and keep me healthy and happy. I couldn’t ask for a better assistant. We have known each other for six years. We both attended Auburn University and joined the same sorority. She is a year younger than me and I was blessed to have her as my little sister in our sorority. When I left Auburn to pursue music, she joined me in Atlanta a year later to become my assistant and yes, she finished college and got her degree at Georgia Tech.

  I can’t get changed and out to the tour bus fast enough. We are headed home to Atlanta for my final show of this leg of my tour. I am actually taking a small break which is very unlike me. I can’t even begin to figure out when my last real break was. I mean, I go home to Alabama to visit and take a two week vacation each Summer but other than that, music is my life. I have my agent and tour manager schedule shows year round. So, going home and taking time for myself for close to two months is unheard of but definitely much needed.

  “I’m calling the doctor first thing in the morning and making you an appointment to have your throat checked when we get home. You should have told me it was hurting. We could have cancelled the last few shows.”

  “Are you crazy? Do you think I would have cancelled shows for a little sore throat?”

  “Your throat and voice hurting are not little things, Ashleigh. Those are your life and your career and they can’t be damaged again. Remember what the doctor told you last time? Watch how much you use and strain your vocal cords or you can damage them for good next time.”

  “I know, I know. I promise, after tomorrow night’s show, I will have them checked. Now, I am really tired and just want to sleep. Good night Allie.”

  “Night, Ash.”

  I head to the back of the tour bus to my bedroom. Only Allie and I are allowed on this bus. We had it changed up some to allow a larger sleeping area for Allie as well. No one wants to sleep in those small bunk beds.

  Home sounds so good right now. I can’t wait to sleep in my own bed and see my best friends. Although, all they are going to do is harp on me about finding a man and someone to settle down with. I keep reminding them my career doesn’t really work well with dating and settling down right now. I’m not ready to give up any of my work for a man. And when they hear my throat is hurting again, I will not hear the end of it.

  CROSS

  “Oh, that feels so good. Right there… perfect. Oh my God, Cross, you are amazing!”

  I almost have her over the edge and then I can be on my way. Well, that is after I am done as well. Why do I keep having one night stands? I really need to find a good girl but the thought of settling down doesn’t seem appealing to me. Maybe I’m just not the settling down type or maybe I haven’t been with a girl that’s worth settling for. I’ve always been labeled as the stereotypical bachelor by the media, by my friends and by my family. Although, lately I ‘ve been wondering if that’s really how I want people to see me.

  “I’m almost there Cross! Oh. My. God! That was amazing.”

  I start pounding quickly into her to get my own release. When I finally get there, I roll off of her and discard the condom. I turn to tell her thanks and see you later and she is already snuggl
ed up in bed waiting on me to join her.

  “Come lay down with me Cross and let’s go to sleep.”

  Oh hell no. I do not do sleepovers. Ever. I need to get my stuff and get the hell out of here and fast. I don’t even want another round with her which is unlike me.

  “Haley, you were great and all but I really need to leave. Now. I already texted Thomas to come and get me.”

  “What?! You’re just going to screw me and run out? I want you to stay the night with me. Let’s just lay down and go to sleep. Besides, we need to rest up for another round.”

  She just winked at me and licked her lips. Does she honestly think that is going to change my mind? I really need to go so I can clear my mind and get some sleep. Thomas, my driver and friend, texts back that he is on his way.

  “Yes, Haley, I’m leaving. I have to be at work early in the morning and I need some sleep. Besides, I don’t do sleepovers. Ever.”

  Obviously, she is not happy with me and stomps back into her room and slams the door. Guess I will just see my way out. I grab my jacket and practically run out of her apartment before she changes her mind and tries to get me back in her bed.

  Thomas pulls up and the look on his face is one I see often. It is the look of disapproval. Thomas is in his early fifties and feels like a second father sometimes. He, too, believes I need to find a nice girl to settle down with.

  “Early night? You never go home before midnight. “

  “I guess. I just wasn’t into hanging out with Haley tonight. I have an early morning of meetings before I leave for Sweden plus I think I may be getting too old for one night stands.”

  “Excuse me, did I just hear you correctly? No more one night stands? That would be a nice change and good for you. You need to find you a nice…”

  “Don’t say it! I hear it enough from my family and friends. If Merritt had her way, she would have me married off to one of her friends.”

  We arrived at my condominium complex. I live in the penthouse condo on the top floor of one of the nicest buildings in Buckhead. Luckily, I have my own private elevator so I don’t have to be around everyone else who lives in the building. It is the stereotypical bachelor pad for the bachelor who is rarely home. Some would say I work too much. Some may say I am rude, I’m mean, I’m harsh… an asshole even. I say I live for my job. I own one of the most prestigious and well known world wide commercial real estate and development companies. I also have the title of Atlanta’s most eligible bachelor for four years running. So many women have tried to win me over and call me their own. They all want to own the title of taming the bachelor but it’s not going to happen… or so I’ve always said. Lately, thoughts keep running through my mind that maybe I should settle down. Maybe it’s time. I’ll be thirty-two years old in a couple of months. Both of my brothers are settled down and my mother drives me crazy wanting me to find the perfect woman. Add to that every single one of my friends has found the perfect women and are headed to the altar sooner than I could imagine. I’ve just never been interested in being tied to one person. I’ve never even thought about it until recently.

  I take a quick shower to get her smell off of my body and then crawl into bed. I need to sleep but sleep cannot find me. I am wide awake and can’t stop thinking about my lifestyle. Should I change my ways? Should I find the perfect girl? Am I really done having fun and one night stands? Ugh, I just need sleep right now. I am still deep in thought about my life as I finally drift off.

  Chapter Two

  ASHLEIGH

  “Good morning, sunshine! Time to get up!”

  “Go away Allie! I need to sleep. “

  “You can sleep later. We’re back in Atlanta and you need to get up and get in the car. You can go home, take a shower and get in your own bed all day if you want to. “

  “Ugh! Fine! Wait. Do I smell coffee? Give me that coffee. I need coffee to function today. “

  “You need coffee to function every day. Come on, up and at ‘em. You better get home and sleep today because tonight’s show will be huge. It sold out in the first thirty minutes. Plus, you know the girls are going to be at your house the minute they hear you are home.”

  “I know, I know. I’m up, but first, coffee. Now. “

  To say I am happy to be back in Atlanta would be an understatement. I miss my home, I miss my bed and I miss my friends. Again, don’t get me wrong. I love my job. What kid doesn’t dream of being up on a stage singing music for a living? A small break is all I need and then back on the road. Do I enjoy being alone? Not really. Do I want to find my future husband? Who knows. I’m only twenty-four, well almost twenty-five. I’m still young and have time but all my friends have found their future husbands. Maybe I need to sit and really think about my life and what direction I want it to go in. But that will all have to wait until after my show tonight. I love shows in Atlanta. All of my closest friends and family will be there who I haven’t seen them in months. It always feels like a big family reunion.

  I head to my bedroom the minute I get to my house. I just know I will be out the minute I hit the mattress. Of course, that doesn’t happen. Sleep. Where are you, sleep? All of a sudden I’m not tired at all. I decide to go through all my mail and catch up on some of my shows from the DVR. It’s only 8:30 in the morning so I have about 7 hours until I head to the venue for the show.

  I hear a noise at my kitchen door and know exactly who it is. Merritt, my best friend, comes waltzing through my front door with her arms full of bags. I have missed her so much. We’re so much like sisters, most people think we are.

  “Thank God you’re home. I have missed you so much. Word on the street is you are staying around for a couple of months this time. Tell me the rumors are true. I could stand to have my best friend home for a while. “

  I shake my head at her and laugh a little. I walk into the kitchen to help her unload all the bags she brought in.

  “Did Allie even wait until I got off the stage last night to call you? Yes, I am home for a couple of months and I expect to see y’all every single day.”

  “Well, I’m glad to hear that and of course, you will be seeing us every day but first things first, what’s up with your voice?”

  “Just a little hoarse is all. I do sing for a living, remember? Besides, I’m going to the doctor Monday morning.”

  “I know that but… wait. Going to the doctor? Why? It’s worse than you’re telling me, isn’t it?”

  “Merritt, I’m fine. Grant just feels like I should be checked out before I continue on tour in November. “

  Grant is my amazing tour manager. He helps keep me in line. His wife, Claire is also my publicist. They make a great team and work so well with me and my crew.

  “Ash, you know I’m just looking out for you. I know how hard it was for you last time your throat and voice got damaged. I just don’t want anything worse to happen this time. I know exactly how it feels to live for your work and how it would feel if it were taken away from you.”

  “I know and I love you for it. So, what’s with all the bags and is that coffee from the Sweet Peach Cafe I see?”

  “The bags are full of groceries for you and of course it’s coffee from the Sweet Peach. Would I bring you anything else on your first day home? I also got you one of their amazing chicken and bacon croissants you like so much.”

  “Thank you, thank you, thank you! You didn’t have to get me groceries though. I could have gone to the store later. Although, I am glad you brought them so I didn’t have to order in food.”

  “That’s what I’m here for. Come on, help me unload everything and then we can catch up before you and I have to start getting ready for tonight.”

  CROSS

  I am exhausted. I could not fall asleep last night and then had to be up at 4:00 a.m. to head to the airport. Now, here I sit on the longest flight ever to Stockholm but cannot seem to take a nap. We’ve been in the air for a couple of hours now and they are about to serve breakfast. Thank God I am in First Clas
s because I could not tolerate all the craziness in coach. Two hours down, ten more to go.

  Breakfast has been served and cleared and I am begging sleep to come. Every time I start to drift off, thoughts of work and my future invade my head. I really need to get my mind off of my life and future. I should take that flight attendant into the bathroom and ask her to join the Mile High Club with me. She looks good enough but I have no desire to do anything but sleep.

  She won’t stop flirting with me so I just fake sleep. No one would believe I am turning away a hot girl. Thankfully, I don’t have to look at her or think about her anymore because sleep finally finds me and I am out for a few hours. I spend the rest of the flight going over all the paperwork and proposal to land this property. Jason, my right hand man at my company, flew over with one of my assistants yesterday to get everything ready for the big meeting.