Violet Addiction (28 page)

“Okay, well, give it to me,” I suggested, giving him a gentle shove.

Cain disappeared down the hall and reappeared a moment later with his guitar. Somewhat relieved it wasn’t a replica baby piano he was going to force me to learn, I watched him warily as he sat on the floor before me.

“This was supposed to be played on a piano, but I guess since I wrote it and virtually composed it on the guitar, it doesn’t really matter.” I simply stared in shocked silence, and when he began to strum, his eyes lifted and locked on mine.

I still remember

You took my breath away

In your eyes I saw beauty

In your smile I saw pain

To be what you needed

My love was not enough

Inside you needed healing

In a place I couldn’t touch

So run to me darlin’

Together we’ll fight this

Run to me darlin’

I want to live, in a beautiful shade of Violet.

Now I've seen your heart

I've touched all your scars

Still I'm right here holding on

I'll keep waiting out this time

Let's take this chance

Hold my hand

I'll be right beside you baby

This is our time

I’m gonna make you mine

Not sure how much more I can take

So run to me darling

Together we'll find it

So run to me darling

I wanna live

In a beautiful shade of violet

We can take

Different paths

Different fates

Striking out

More mistakes

But all along there's one thing that I knew

When the moments fade, all that’s left is the truth

My hearts gon' bring me right back home to you

My hearts gon' bring me right back home to you

So won’t you run to me darling

Together we'll find it

Oh won’t you run to me darling

I wanna live

So run to me darlin’

Together we’ll find it

So won’t you run to me darlin’

My beautiful, beautiful

My beautiful shade of violet

I was incapable of speech, so I simply lifted Cain’s guitar out of his arms, slid off the sofa, and straight into his lap. My mind flew back to that beautiful night where I laid under his warm body as Cain drew on my skin and penned poetry on my stomach. It had been a song, a song for me.

“I don’t know what to say,” I whispered in his ear, my arms wrapped so tightly around his neck I thought I might be choking him. Cain didn’t complain, so I didn’t give an inch.

“Then just say yes,” he breathed. Cain forced a small sliver of space between us, unwrapping my arm from around his neck and turning my hand over, palm up. Dropping his lips to my palm, he pressed a kiss right to the middle, and as he pulled away, in the warm place his lips had just been, Cain placed a ring. It was exquisite in white gold with a halo of clear cut diamonds gracefully curving around a round-cut amethyst diamond in the center. The clear diamonds then extended down the thin band on either side of the center stone. It was exquisite, and its meaning slammed into me with the power of a Mack truck.
Just say yes.
I somehow pulled my gaze away from the stunning ring and looked Cain in the eye.

“Yes.” The word off my tongue had never felt so right. While my free hand had reached without conscious thought to the last piece of jewelry Cain had given me, my necklace, Cain slipped the ring on my finger. Then cupping my cheek, he leaned in slowly to kiss me with an unhurried patience Cain was not renowned for. It was a gentle persuasion of his lips on mine, a silent promise, and a marking of our next adventure. My future had never felt so sure and safe. I had never felt so happy and loved. It had taken a rocky and turbulent lifetime to reach this moment, but being here with Cain now was worth every tear shed, every sliver of pain, and every aching beat of my heart. Through it all though, one thing had remained sure and constant. Our love had been like music, some moments were high notes, some moments were low notes, but always, our love had been completely and irrevocably beautiful.

To hear Cain’s song to Violet, follow this link to the Violet Addiction book trailer on YouTube

A Shade Of Violet

Available soon at iTunes

Every now and again a moment creeps up on me where I doubt myself, I doubt my writing, and my confidence slips. However, I’m surrounded by a circle of family and friends who are always prepared to give me a shoulder to lean on and push me back into the right frame of mind. Those people know who they are, names don’t need to be thrown about. Thank you, always!

To the numerous people I interviewed in preparation for writing V.A., again, no names will be given. I respect your right to anonymity, but you know who you are. Thank you for gifting me with a precious glimpse inside your life and battles. I hope I did your memories and stories justice.

Beau, who gave me a crash course in song writing and helped write and produce a beautiful song to accompany V.A., thank you so very much!

Rhylee, my stunning cover model, thank you X

One Night Stand Dress Hire on the Gold Coast, for the gorgeous designer dress you so generously loaned me for the cover, thank you.

Fabian from Boyce Avenue, thank you for allowing me to pick your brain and steal segments of your career for my fictional needs! It was so awesome to meet you guys, and thank you for bringing Jess over. I adore the crap out of that lady! And let’s not forget poor Rach who got left at home *sad face*. You’ll get your own hug one day soon, babe!

The bloggers, so, so many bloggers. A Love Affair with Books, Bookslapped, Totally Booked, The Reading Vixens, Forever Me Romance, Eye Candy Bookstore, Books and Friendz, Submit and Devour, A is for Alpha B is for Books, Fab Fun and Tantalizing Reads, Rockin’ and Reviewing, Through the Booking Glass, Rockin’ the Bookshelf, The Lovely Books, Sassy Mum Book Blog, The Danish Bookaholic, This Redhead Loves Books, Magic Within the Pages, Reading Renee, We Art Books, Just One Indie’s Opinion, Sweet and Spicy Book Reviews, Glass Paper Ink (Kristine, thank you times a thousand, lady, and you know why!), Love Between the Sheets, Book Addict Mumma, bloody hell, the list goes on! All of you are totally freaking awesome, and I have nothing but respect and love for each and every one of you.

My fellow authors who I admire the heck out of and can now call friends, thank you for filling my social media with your love of words and craziness that keeps me oh so entertained. Carmen Jenner (I adore the crap out of you honey, thank you for your support and help!), Super Mich, Kirsty Moseley, Michelle Horst, Jennifer Ryder, River Savage, Kylie Scott, Nina Levine, Skyla Madi, Simone Nicole, Angel Steel, David Hamilton, and all the rest, thank you for your friendship.

Susan, Angela, and Lauren, thank you again for keeping my fan page running nice and smoothly; you girls are all sorts of awesome-sauce.

And finally, my fans, you all rock my world. It is your love of my books and encouragement that keeps me focused and helps fuel my passion, thank you.

Many people come into our lives for different reasons, some for long periods of time, some for brief encounters, but so many are taken for granted. It might be a friendship you've had since childhood; a boss who took interest in you and set out extra time in her day to help you with something you wanted to be better at; your soul mate; the cashier at the grocery store who gives a word of encouragement when she sees you're having a really bad day; or maybe a stranger who comes up to you while pumping gas to tell you your tire’s flat, saving you from a horrible blowout on the freeway.

But how many times have we given these people a true and heartfelt thank you for the ways they've touched our lives, no matter how small? How many times do we brush people off with a simple thank you because we know it's expected of us? Or just say the words as an automatic response, not really thinking of the blessings we've been gifted?

Violet Addiction
is the seventh novel of Ms. Dallas’ I've had the honor to edit. With each novel, Kirsty and I have grown closer and closer. I have an absolute blast every time we communicate. She's silly like me, and we’re almost always on the same page—from my wanting to own a kangaroo and wanting to start my own kangaroo clothing line to shopping for the perfect houses and cars online for her characters. Even though every single bit of our friendship has been through email, I've grown fond of her and have the utmost respect for her. Working for her is more than a job; it's fun, and I'm so lucky to be a part of her real and fictional worlds.

So, Ms. Kirsty, from the bottom of my heart, thank you for taking a chance on me. Thank you for being patient with my comments, questions on Aussie lingo, and mini rants. Thank you for being silly with me. Thank you for teaching me about man buns. Thank you for sharing SR with me, and thank you for letting me rant on and on about my kids and/or Deputy Hubby. Thanks for simply asking about my day and encouraging me when it's a bad one, then emailing me a few days later, just to see how I am. Thank you for forgiving me if I miss something in one of your books. Thank you for being such an inspirational writer. Your books have touched my life in many ways. And finally, thank you for sharing Violet’s story.

xoxo,

Ami