Synopsis
He’s a rockstar with wild secrets.
She’s a broken woman with a dark past.
When Wes Baron‘s sexy rocker antics jeopardizes his position with Muse of Darkness, the band manager books him as the main attraction at a fundraiser. Celebrities and good causes. What could go wrong? Too bad the strict head of the orphanage despises rockstars. Even worse, Wes can’t wait to make her beg … for his help.
Maria Augusto has saved her precious kids before without resorting to groveling. She won’t start now just to please a selfish rock’n’roller. Rumor has it, Wes engages only in the wildest, sexiest parties and Maria has put her unbridled days behind her. She can do without him just fine. If only she could get rid of the attraction as well.
But as their sparks of hatred at first sight transmute into flames of desire, Maria and Wes will discover if their passion between the sheets can last forever. Or if their differences in real life will drive them apart. If they don’t make a decision fast, they will both lose everything they’ve worked hard to accomplish.
One-click this book today to find out what they decide to do.
This reimagining of Sound of Music will make fans of Kylie Scott, Jaine Diamond, and Alexa Padgett swoon. No cheating or cliffhangers.
SNEAK PEEK
Chapter 1 – Maria – Unedited version
2022@ Liz Gavin
I breathe in the salty breeze as I handle a sharp set of curves on Highway 1 just to be rewarded with the breathtaking views of the Pacific Ocean to my right. Despite my brand-new pixie haircut, the wind beats my forehead with the longer locks of blonde hair from my bangs. They bypass the protection of the sunglasses and prick my eyes. I laugh as I fight the stubborn hair, trying to tuck it behind my ears. All I manage to do is knocking the damn sunglasses off. I slide them up my nose, shift gears, and grin as the Ferrari roars down a rare straight portion of the road. Any trip from San Francisco to Los Angeles puts me in a good mood. This one carries even more reasons to do so as I’m meeting with dear friends I haven’t seen in ages.
Thirty minutes later, I park in Ana Oliveira’s driveway. I kill the engine and push a button to close the hard-top. It glides from its compartment and settles in place over my head before I step out of the car. When I do, I take in a deep breath and glance about to admire the privileged spot. My friend’s house perches atop a cliff that allows an unobstructed view of Point Dume, a little slice of heaven in Malibu, California. Down below, the navy-blue waters of the Pacific shimmer under the late afternoon sun.
When I get close to the front door, Ana swings it open and dashes out. Her white sundress sets off her tanned skin, but I don’t have a chance to see much of the dress as she throws her arms around me and hugs me tight. “It’s so great to see you again, hon. It’s been too long.”
Thankful she’s bent her tall frame, so I don’t have my face pressed against her double D breasts, I return the embrace. “I missed you guys so fucking much.”
Moira Romano joins us, encircling our tiny group with her arms. Her long blonde hair bounces off her shoulders as we fill the air with laughter and joy.
When we take a step back, I stare into her amber eyes and whisper, “You look stunning.” The leather miniskirt and silk top she’s wearing favor her short frame to perfection.
I met the two women a couple of years ago when I attended an event promoting their foundation. We hit it off, then became good friends because of our common origins and interests. I support their work every chance I have like today. All that despite the fact they’re both married to rock stars, which is their biggest flaw, in my opinion.
Ana turns to a member of her staff I recognize as the butler. The sturdy man, no older than fifty, is standing a few feet away from us. “Peter, please see that Maria’s luggage be taken to the guest room.”
He nods. “Right away, ma’am.” He turns my way, offering me a wide smile. His green eyes sparkle as he addresses me, “Welcome back, Ms. Augusto. Always a pleasure to have you here. May I have the key to that beauty of a car you drive?”
I return his wink with one of my own and hand him the key fob. “Absolutely. You know, you’re one of the few lucky people I trust to sit behind her wheel. I suppose if you’ve taken care of Noah’s car collection all these years without a hitch, you know what you’re doing, right?”
Peter beckons to a young man standing at the front door who joins him as they deal with my suitcase and backpack.
“Come on in. We’ve got tons to do,” Ana invites us, her red curls reach the middle of her back, swaying as she leads the way.
Moira laces her arm through mine, and we follow Ana inside. “This short hair suits you perfectly. It highlights your high cheeks and heart-shaped face. I love it!”
“Thank you.”
As we cross the threshold, I take a deep breath, filling my lungs with the much cooler air the blasting AC provides. The blazing July sun has heated the temperature today to unbearable hundred degrees.
“Have you eaten? Would you like some lunch before we sit down to discuss the fundraiser?” Ana offers when we reach the sunporch overlooking the bay.
“I’m fine, thanks.” I smile as I lower myself to one of the wicker chairs at the end of the room.
The beautiful white set, consisting of two couches and four chairs, contrasts with the brick floor, which articulates a sense of rustic elegance between the seating area and the dining table on the opposite end.
“Did you have time to study that?” Moira gestures to a brochure on the coffee table in front of me.
I reach to grab the copy identical to the one they sent me last week.
I pull it onto my lap, keeping my stare on my friend. “I did.” I pat the glossy cover. I’ve worked with Natalia Todeschini and Steve Clark from Stiletto-C&P Event Management on multiple events to provide funds for my foundation, Welcoming Hills. I knew what to expect from their team, yet they wowed me with this presentation. “They included all the necessary information and then some. Natalia outdid herself.”
“Speaking of the devil.” A throaty voice sounds behind me as Nat joins us, her sky-high stilettos click on the floor as she goes around kissing us on the cheek and greeting us in our native language, “Ola, meninas.”
“Hello to you as well,” I return the salutation with a wide grin. “Brushing up your Portuguese?”
She takes the spot on the couch beside Moira, smooths her khaki pants, and nods. “I’ve got to stay sharp. You three lucky ladies hail from such a gorgeous country. I love working on Knight’s Edge tours because I always get to go to Brazil.”
We laugh as we accept the glasses of orange juice a maid brings us. I welcome the icy sensation under the pads of my fingers as I take a swig. Settling the glass on a coaster on the coffee table, my gaze follows a bead of condensation as it trickles down the chilled goblet.
On a chair beside me, Ana rubs her hands together, a gleeful spark in her eyes. “Please tell me you’ve secured the venue, Nat.”
“Sala Sao Paulo is magnificent and the perfect place for our fundraiser,” Moira interjects.
“Absolutely and it’s ours,” Natalie informs us.
I wave the event’s proposal in front of me. “If you’ve described it here accurately, this is going to be unforgettable.”
Ana squeezes my forearm. “It’s going to be great. So many people are supporting this event, I’m touched.”
“That’s because Hidden Scars has assisted, as well as empowered, thousands of women since you guys started it,” I comment, bouncing my stare between Moira and Ana.
Moira nods. “True that. However, we wouldn’t be able to do much without people like you.”
I shrug and blow her a kiss to disguise the emotion gripping me by the throat. A sensation I’m all too familiar with whenever something reminds me of my late husband. To this day, I choose my causes based on the principles he taught me over a decade ago. Although Ken never met these ladies, I’m sure he would have done as much as I have, if not more, to ensure their foundation got the necessary visibility and the money to continue their mission.
The two women share a painful commonality in the fact both suffered in the hands of abusive men in their first marriages. Being badass though, they battled evil and won. With the encouragement of their current husbands, they decided to lend a hand to others in similar situations and created a foundation to that end. They named it after a song Ana’s better half wrote for her, Hidden Scars.
I shake my head to dismiss the painful thoughts and ask, “Is it true that the band has donated the rights to the song Hidden Scars to your non-profit?”
Before the musicians’ wives have a chance to answer me, Nat jumps in. “Oh, my fucking stars. These guys are amazing or what?” She pauses as if expecting me to share her enthusiasm for the members of Knight’s Edge. Since I respectfully disagree with her star-struck point of view, I offer Nat my best impression of Mona Lisa’s smile. She goes on stating, “They not only donated those rights but also regularly contribute with a percentage of their overall profits.”
I must admit that this information puts a tiny dent on my concept of celebrities. Just an itsy-bitsy dint though.
She adds, with a smirk, “I’m sorry. I realize I’ve just sounded like a crazy fan or something. In my defense, I’ve known half of the band for forever and Noah is my hero. He did help me through a shitty phase back when I was in high school.”
“Don’t sweat, lovely. We won’t tell Steve,” Moira assures her with an exaggerated wink.
“Good one!” Ana guffaws. When I furrow my brow, she clarifies, “Steve’s the reason Nat needed Noah.”
“But aren’t you and Steve married?” I ask Natalie.
She nods, a smile as wide as the horizon gracing her tanned face. “Yes, but that’s a long story for another day.”
“Agree. I understand you and Steve aren’t charging for your services?” I ask.
“That’s correct. Like I said, we’ve been organizing Knight’s Edge’s tours for so long. We feel like they’ve paid us enough that we can contribute our expertise to this fundraiser free of charge.”
“How about the staff you need to put the event together? Are they volunteering their time as well?” Moira inquiries.
“We’re planning to work with as many volunteers as possible to keep costs at the low end.”
I raise a hand as if I were still in school. The other women laugh, and I join them before saying, “Count me in. I’m great at giving orders and getting things done.”
Ana holds Nat’s gaze and points her thumb at me. “Don’t let her small frame and delicate demeanor fool you. This lady is tough as nails.”
Natalie replies, “Oh, I’m aware of that. I’ve had the privilege of working with Maria in a couple of fundraisers for Welcoming Hills. Those kids are so lucky to have her in their lives.”
My cheeks burn with the sudden influx of blood creeping up my neck and face. I change the subject to move the focus of the conversation away from me and the orphanage. “I’m curious as to why you guys are holding this event in Brazil. If it were in California, I could bring an army of volunteers on board.”
“You’ll have other opportunities to do that, don’t worry.” Moira chuckles. “This one is special because July marks the anniversary of Knight’s Edge first stadium concert. Their first sold-out tour kicked off with a show in Brazil.”
“Not to mention Sala Sao Paulo, the concert hall we’ve chosen, is considered one of the best in the world because of its acoustic and elegance,” Ana comments.
“And the band will be playing with a local orchestra,” Nat adds. “But don’t worry. We’ve got a lot of local non-profits contributing with their staff as well.”
Relief washes away my apprehensions. I sigh, “That’s good to hear.” I thumb the brochure to a page about the celebrity auction. Among the entertainers, the picture of a man with a mop of light brown hair and hazel eyes stands out. I drag my stare up to meet the women’s eyes before asking, “Are you sure this is a good idea? I grew up with a bunch of musicians around and I can say, from first-hand experience, that they tend to be such selfish pricks. Rockers in particular, like this Wes Baron.” I pause and glance again at his image, smiling at me. It makes the hair on my body stand, not in a creepy way, and blood rush through my veins. And those two things combined raise all my red flags as the alarms in my head blare. “I’m sure this guy doesn’t give a rat’s ass for Hidden Scars. He’s in this for the publicity stunt.”
Moira shakes her head. “Not Wes. He’s been a supporter from the get-go.”
I narrow my eyes at that notion.
Ana adds, “That’s right.”
Nat concedes, “I agree with Maria in the sense that many celebrities use good causes for their benefit, but Muse of Darkness and Knight’s Edge don’t. They’re really invested in this cause.”
I consider their arguments as I lean to grab the glass of orange juice. I take a sip and the refreshing liquid soothes my parched throat. Still, the bitter taste of bad memories lingers in my mouth. I don’t know the members of these rock bands well enough. I know these women and their loyalty, though. Maybe their judgement has been colored by their love for their husbands, or their youth heroes.
My personal experience has been much different than theirs, so I choose to table this subject because it isn’t important for this meeting at all.
I raise my hands in surrender. “My bad. Guess your rock stars are the exception,” I chuckle, and they laugh.
Ana’s husky voice sounds excited as she claps her hands. “I’ve got an idea for the auction.”
As she details her suggestions for the proceedings, I struggle to focus on the discussions. My mind travels back twelve years, to the moment when my junkie mother signed a paper allowing a twenty-six-year-old billionaire from Silicon Valley to marry her sixteen-year-old daughter. Remembering that crushes my chest like a vise. I take a couple of deep breaths to ease the pressure.
“That’s brilliant!” Moira’s excited voice hurls me back to the sunlit room.
I smile and take another swig from the glass I’m still holding. Since I can’t contribute anything useful to the meeting, I decide to keep my mouth full of something.
I lean back on the chair and my mind wanders again. Against all odds, Ken turned out to be a perfect gentleman, a wonderful husband, and the love of my life. My heart thuds against my ribs, a painful sign of what’s to come, of where my mind is going.
Shaking my head, I try to return to the present, but the darkness from my past always hovers too close. As the shadows creep up around the corners of my mind, I concentrate on my friends’ voices. Instead, I hear cruel taunts and toxic insults from a couple of so-called celebrities as they stole my life away and robbed me of the possibility of having my own kids.
Wes and Maria’s story releases on Jun 29th.
Pre order Book #3 – Muse of Darkness series now – Wes.