Rock Me Faster (Licks of Leather #4) - Jenna Jacob Page 0,80
the money the community had saved to pay the taxes. I made a mental note to call my broker later in the day to cover the cost. He explained Harmony’s special empathic abilities—which I found completely fascinating—before skipping down memory lane and telling me heartwarming stories about her childhood on the mountain.
I realized the reason she glowed so brightly and had touched me so deeply. Harmony had been loved, unconditionally loved her whole life. I was so fucking grateful to Bodhi for giving her that wonderful gift.
Like his daughter, Bodhi was so warm and accepting it felt totally natural when I started sharing stories of my dysfunctional childhood.
I told him how Harmony had accompanied me to Sylvia’s and the shit show that ensued. I explained how the band started…about our early days, living in a beat-up panel van, living off fast food as we traveled from coast to coast and back again. I even told him about my addiction—not the reason why I was searching for an escape but about the guys and Quinn’s intervention, my time in rehab, and how I continued to maintain my sobriety.
Stroking my knuckle down Harmony’s cheek, I leaned in close to her ear. “Wake up, princess. Please, wake up.”
Bodhi smiled and pulled a harmonica from his pocket. “You know the lyrics to the song and how to perform. I know how to play. What do you say we sing our girl awake with her favorite song?”
Our girl. Yeah, I liked the sound of that.
Chapter Seventeen
Harmony
Nestled in the lush grass of my mountain home, I leaned against my favorite rock, listening to the stream gurgle as I gazed up at the stars. I was cradling my arm that was throbbing like mad. I’d hurt it somehow. Maybe chopping wood? I couldn’t remember. And though it was painfully sore, for some strange reason I didn’t care. The stars were too enthralling, the air crisp and soothing.
Though there wasn’t a cloud in the night sky, raindrops started falling all around me as the sound of my favorite song filled the air. I smiled as the Kentucky rain spilled over my face. Then I realized Jeb wasn’t singing the song like he always did for me, and it wasn’t his banjo playing the notes.
The music was coming from Daddy’s harmonica, and the lyrics were being sung by…Ross.
He’d found me!
My heartrate tripled, and I jumped to my feet. I whirled around and expected to see him standing there with his wide shoulders, bulging arms, and sinful blue eyes locked on mine…but there was nothing but darkness.
Blindly racing toward the sound of his voice, I tried to push the inky veil aside, but only one arm would work. Still, I wasn’t giving up. The urgency to see him again, to touch, kiss, and hold him, was a living breathing, aching entity inside me. Ross’s deep alluring voice grew louder. The sweet sounds of Daddy’s harmonica grew stronger. Batting at the black curtain keeping me from the two most important men in my life, I finally saw a sliver of light ahead. Sprinting toward the barely there glow, I finally punched through the crevice and my eyes fluttered open.
“Searching for—” Ross froze mid-lyric.
Or at least I thought it was Ross. He was covered in bandages and sort of looked like a mummy. Was it already Halloween? I was about to ask, but when I saw tears filling his eyes as he sent me a watery smile, I couldn’t remember my question.
“Hi, princess. How was your nap?” His voice was thick with emotion.
“Bad. I couldn’t find you. My arm hurts.” My voice was dry and raspy, and my throat felt like a desert.
“I’m here, sweetheart. I’ve been right here waiting for you to come back to me all night.”
Why was he waiting for me? Where did I go?
“Water.”
“Here, baby girl.” I turned to the sound of Bodhi’s voice. As I watched him lift a Styrofoam cup off a tray, bend a straw, and settle it to my lips, I thought I was still dreaming.
“Daddy?”
“I’ve been waiting for you to come back all night, too, my love.”
Something was wrong…horribly wrong. What was Ross doing at Gaia Garden? What room was I in and where was that pungent scent of alcohol and cleaning products coming from?
As I sucked the cold liquid from the straw and let it trickle down my parched throat, I darted a gaze around the room. This wasn’t home.