Nicolas leaned over and kissed her cheek. “You’ve got this. Just look at me when we sing and it will be easy.”
They were sitting on a makeshift stage by the altar in the only church in Pueblicito. The place was completely packed and it felt like every person she’d ever known was staring at her, waiting for her to perform.
“Easy?” She squeaked. “What if I mess up my father’s wedding?”
“That guy?” He pointed toward her dad, who was standing at the front of the church. “Look at him. He won’t even hear us.”
He was right. Dad had the biggest smile on his face as he rocked back and forth on his heels, waiting for Angel to come down the aisle. He couldn’t stand still. Like a kid waiting to go to Disneyland. Matt and Jeff stood beside him in their matching tuxedos, patting him on the back and grinning like two fools. How could she be nervous at a time like this? Her family was together and happy. Even Mom. Claire, who was sitting right up front so she could get a good view, waved her kerchief. Chloe waved back.
They were all here because of her dad. Because Angel had convinced him to seek redemption, make amends and forgive himself.
In fact, RW’s plans had worked for everyone. In the end he got his family back, and each one of them had found love.
Chloe let her gaze fall over her extended family. Julia’s baby bump was showing now. Chloe couldn’t wait to throw the baby shower. Henry was at the back of the church, excited to do his bit as the ring bearer. Michele actually sat next to Claire. The two of them seemed to have buried the hatchet, and Claire sang her praises about the best chef on the West Coast. Her mother seemed content now that she was welcomed back into the family. Her two brothers were happy in their jobs and lives. Everything was perfect except...
“Ready?” Nicolas asked her.
“No. Never. Not in a million years,” Chloe said. She was never going to be comfortable singing in front of crowds. The recording studio, okay, but on a stage? No way.
“One and two and three...” Nicolas started strumming his guitar and she quickly joined him. His voice lifted over the crowd, richer and deeper than ever. She couldn’t believe that he’d written a song for her, about her. Currently it was sitting at number three on the charts. She had no doubt it would hit number one. It was amazing. When he sang the haunting, emotional ballad about being lost at sea and going down for the last time, her chest squeezed. He was on his last breath, lost in darkness, when the pirate girl plucked him from the deep and taught him about light and love.
My Pirate Girl.
Chloe sang the chorus, which ended with, “I’m here. Just breathe. Just breathe.”
They finished the song together, gazing into each other’s eyes. The look he gave her made it hard to catch her own breath.
“I love you, Chloe.”
“I love you, Nicolas.” She leaned over and kissed him.
Applause erupted in the church. Chloe blinked, remembering where she was.
Lightness and love flowed through her. Her sacral chakra was wide-open, just like her heart. Nicolas had healed her, made her feel better about who she was and let her sing. He was a dream come true.
No, better. He was hers.
Keep reading for an excerpt from His to Claim by Brenda Jackson.
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