Broken

“I want you to be my wife, especially now that you’re carrying my baby.” He reaches out to rub my belly. “I want to make you happy, I want to spend the rest of my life making you happy because you deserve it. I was us to be together forever, you know.” He holds the box out to me again. “So what do you say? Will you be my wife?”

“Yes,” I reply with utter certainty. “Of course I will.”

He leaps up to push the princess cut diamond ring onto my finger and then he wraps his arms around me to hold me close. As he does the tears roll free, but I’m happy crying. This is the happiest that I’ve ever been in my whole damn life. Me and Kian, Kian and me, we’re the real deal. Me and him forever more.

“We might have to get married soon,” I warn him. “Unless you want my mother to visit twice.”

He groans and rolls his eyes, before laughing at me. “You know what, you’re worth it. I suppose I can put up with her. Just because I love you.”

I press my lips against his and kiss him softly. “I love you too, Kian. Forever and always. This is just the start of yet another journey and I cannot wait to share it with you.”

The Valentines Day Proposal

Blurb

Nothing changes in the life of Lola Boots. She works on the farm, does the occasional singing gig, and looks after her sick father. Her small-town life isn’t growing and she doesn’t expect it to anytime soon. That’s why she spends so much of her time daydreaming...

That is until a handsome stranger turns up in town, ready to change everything.

Brandon Heath-Smith always wants to impress his father, and while he isn’t pleased about taking on this small-town property development job, he knows that it’s his shot to prove that he’s worthwhile. And he’ll do it too, as long as he doesn’t get distracted.

But that’s easier said than done, especially when he sees the sexy red head playing at the bar and sparks fly. How is he supposed to resist when the temptation is so strong? He should stay away, because there’s no way this can end well, but he can’t. She’s luring him in and he fears that she might not let him go.

Chapter 1 – Lola

I kick my red cowboy boots together anxiously as I stare up to the stage. It might only be a small little bar in a tiny little town at the moment, but I always imagine myself in Madison Square Garden with hundreds of people cheering my name as they love my music. Maybe it’s a bit of a far-off fantasy, but I always have been a bit of a dreamer. Plus, I don’t think that I’ll ever get anywhere in life if I don’t visualize where I would ideally like to be. What’s the point of doing anything if I don’t give it my all.

“You got your guitar there, Lola Boots?” asks Doreen, the friendly faced older bar maid that practically loves in this joint. I don’t think she helps my super star fantasies since she already treats me like I am on. “You look good today, girl. Those denim hot pants are going to kill the crowd. You’ll drive them all wild.”

I smile ironically at that comment. It’s been a long time since anyone looked at me like I’m someone desirable. I did have a long-term boyfriend in school, someone who was supposed to become my husband, but when the time came around for us to go off to college together, for me to do music and him business, my mother got diagnosed with life threatening cancer and I just couldn’t leave. We were supposed to stay together but despite that, I got overwhelmed with caring for my dying mother and he got sucked in by his brand new world. It just couldn’t work. We drifted apart and became two different people. It was sad, but not shocking. We both knew that it was coming for a long time b

efore it did.

Still, we split up four years ago now, there’s no reason for me still to be alone. I’m sure Rory moved on a long time ago, but I’m still stuck here in the small town where nothing else changes. No new guys move here and everyone my age has pretty much gone. Maybe I should be gone too, but despite the fact that my mother died a while back I still have responsibilities here. I cannot leave at the moment, so I just need to accept my life as it is.

“Yeah, I think I’m just about ready. Should be fun, right?”

“Ooh, it always is.” Doreen grips onto my arm and she gives me an intense look. “We all enjoy your sets, you know that. Everyone says you should be on the big screen.”

“Maybe if I could afford to leave,” I joke, blaming it on my lack of funds rather than anything else. “Fingers crossed, hey? Maybe one day I will be.”

“Well, I suppose you spend most of your days so busy at the farm, it’s hard to find time for yourself.” Doreen knows why, but thankfully she doesn’t voice it. I don’t need that distraction while I’m just about to sing. “But I have to say you do a great job.”

“Yeah.” I nod enthusiastically. “That’s true. It is hard, but I’m trying my hardest.”

She rubs my arm and smiles reassuringly at me. “You’ll get there. I don’t know when, but you will do one day. We all believe in you, you know that, right?”

“I hope so.” I don’t know if it’s just a dream, it probably is. I can’t really imagine myself leaving this town and doing anything amazing, but I also can’t let go of the idea completely, just in case. “We’ll see. I appreciate all your support anyway, it means a lot to me.”

Doreen claps her hands loudly and grabs the attention of the few people scattered around the bar. They all turn to look at her, knowing what’s going to happen. Like I said, nothing ever changes in this town, it’s the same routine every single week.

“Right everyone.” Her commanding voice rings through the bar, grabbing everyone’s eyes. “It’s time for Lola so shut your ugly mouths and listen, will you?”

Everyone cheers and claps, making me feel amazing. This is why I do this, because it’s a boost. It allows me to live out just some of my fantasies without leaving my responsibilities. I step up onto the stage and smile around at everyone. The usual faces look back at me, the lonely old men who have lost their wives, the families out for dinner, the younger crowd out for a drink after a day on their own farm… the same people in the same bar, waiting for the same show…

Oh! As I scan my eyes I spot a brand new face. Any new people stand out a mile, but this guy is particularly attention grabbing. Not only is he tall, dark, and very handsome, he’s in a crisp business suit that doesn’t belong here. It makes him look a big city business man which we just don’t get here. Something about this new, exciting person causes a thrilling bolt to race through my system. I haven’t had anyone to be interested in for a very long time, so this is fun. I can almost feel my cheeks heating up as he stares into my soul.

“Right everyone,” I say into the microphone with a bit of a stammer. He’s making me nervous, even though I don’t know him at all. It has to just be his new face. “It’s good to see you all again.” Someone whoops. “Thank you, Lenny,” I say gratefully, especially because it breaks the ice and makes me feel a little less uncomfortable. “It’s good to see you all again, I appreciate your support as always. So here we go.”