Forever In Your Arms

By Diana Forrest

Rock star Fletcher Christian walks away from his life in the spotlight for a much needed break. While hiding out in upstate New York he meets and falls in love with Maddy Prescott, the owner of a Bed & Breakfast. Both quickly realize that this is more then just a summer romance. Dealing with the differences in their lives becomes just a minor problem after Fletcher is accused of murdering a paprazzi who has followed him to New York to dig up dirt on him. While watching Fletcher, the photographer became obsessed with Maddy and attacked her. Maddy becomes suspicious of Fletcher when he refuses to provide an alibi and keeps secrets from her. Romance, suspense, and a little murder make summer in New York risky, but can love overcome

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu.com
• Release date: Feb 3, 2016
• ISBN: 9781329877955

Book preview

Forever In Your Arms

FOREVER IN YOUR ARMS

by

Diana Forrest

This is a work of fiction.

Any resemblance to actual person, places or events is purely coincidental.

All rights reserved, which includes the right to reproduce this book or portions thereof in any form whatsoever except as provided by the U.S. Copyright law, or by the express permission of the author.

Copyright  2008 by Diana Forrest

Library of Congress Catalog number to follow.

Cover art Copyright 2008 by D. Robson

And layout by T. Barnhart

Forever In Your Arms lyrics by D. Robson

Acknowledgments

Special thanks to:

Debbie for proofreading and the amazing cover art, as before you did exactly what I was looking for, I love the pictures.

Thanks also for the song and the title.

Shawn for reading it and loving it and for putting up me asking how far are you? every couple days.

Tyler for creating the look of the cover.

And thanks to everyone who has read my books and loved them, you have no idea how much it means to me that you enjoy reading them so much.

PROLOG

The beat of the drum pounded though his body as the opening band wrapped up on stage. The band was good, he thought to himself, they would make it big, if and it was a big if, they avoided to pitfalls of so many bands before them. The drugs, the booze, the endless parties, the groupies. It would start off with the best of intentions and then it would go to their heads and either they handled it or they succumbed. He had succumbed, and so had the rest of the band, but with hardship had come hard lessons and they had learned from their mistakes. Or at least most of them had.

He sat on the couch in the dressing room with his eyes closed, letting the atmosphere fill him. It was his way of preparing for a concert, he was quiet, and spoke to no one, his voice was put through hell every night he preformed, refraining from talking actually helped. The music swelled and the band ripped into their encore, they would follow this with another song and then it would be time for him to go out there and entertain the crowd at Madison Square Garden. This was the pinnacle of success, having the hottest young bands opening for them at the Garden, but knowing that the fans were really there for them. The chance to see Touchstone live and in concert was still a big enough draw to fill arenas.

He could hear the guys and opened his eyes slightly and looked at them. Davy ‘Spike’ Ranson, keyboards, with his arm around a petite blond, with huge, fake boobs. Alex Mason, lead guitar and back up vocals, downing the bottle of scotch that was disguised as soda, with his wife, the beautiful but cold Brie, looking on in disgust. Eddy Thomas, twirling his drum sticks and randomly beating out a tempo on various objects, including Mick Rafferty, bass guitar, who turned and swatted Eddy up side the head with out missing a beat in his

conversation with a smiling fan who had won a backstage pass.

The girl, who looked no more then sixteen, looked in Fletcher’s direction again and seeing his eyes still closed assumed he was sleeping. She had been dogging him all night and thankfully Mick, who was an old hand at distracting girls from Fletcher, regained her attention. She looked like a sweet kid and Fletcher hoped she got out of here before the opening act came back stage. They were young and still on a power trip, and he could see trouble all over this girl. She might be innocent but she wouldn’t be when they got done with her.

He closed his eyes again and remembered a time when just seeing a girl with that adoring expression meant fair game. He had been young once and had made his share of stupid mistakes. Now the fans were looking younger and younger and the thought of ‘hooking up’, as the younger generation put it, with a girl young enough to be his daughter made him ill. Some guys could pretend they were not twice as old as the girls they took to bed, but Fletcher couldn’t. It made him feel old some days.

The music changed and the beat grew harder and he liked the tune. He stood and stretched and saw that he should have waited, as the girl looked at him with interest the minute he moved. Turning away before she could approach him, he ducked into the bathroom.

The man he saw reflected in the mirror was still in good shape he decided. Long black hair, the shadow of a beard, and dark blue eyes staring out from under straight black brows. For nearly forty years of age there were surprisingly few lines on his face, his nose had been broken once in a bar fight and was slightly crooked. Pulling off his sweatshirt he picked up the tight black t-shirt that he always wore. His upper body was still in good shape, he worked out four times a week to keep it that way and it showed in the muscled abs and shoulders. It might be a little vain to work so hard at his looks, but in his business it helped to look younger then he was.

He stood six foot four, and weighed two hundred and ten pounds. The workouts kept him in shape. Pulling the t-shirt on, he tucked it into his faded blue jeans. He ran his fingers through his hair and with one last look in the mirror; he took in the hair and the earrings in the left ear and sighed wearily. Even the tattoos that had been so cool when he first got them at the age of seventeen were starting to bother him.

He was so tired of it all. Not the music, but everything that went with it. The crowds, the publicity, the never ending round of parties. The lack of sincerity in the people who crowded around them claming to be friends but really nothing more then sponges, or people looking for a free ride by association.  He wanted, no if he was honest, he needed a break. Opening the door the first thing that his eyes fell on was the girl, she smiled adoringly and he cringed inwardly. He was sick of the fans who thought that because you were a public figure, it gave them the right to expect you to be ‘on’ all the time. She probably thought that he would be so honored with her attention that he would fall into bed with her. She smiled and walked toward him, and he realized that he had been wrong with his early assessment of her. She was not a sweet kid, she was a woman with her sights set on him and if he knew what was good for him, he would run like hell.

With a nod to Mick, who in turn nodded his head to one of the roadies, Fletcher turned his back on the girl and knew she would be gone before they got off stage. Girls like her were trouble and no one needed her brand of trouble. Fletcher her seen it often enough before to know that it led no where but hell.

Ready Fletcher? Spike called out to him. The music had ended and the crowed was chanting Touchstone.

Hell yeah, he is! Alex said his voice steady despite all the scotch he had consumed. Ready and willing, right Fletch? Alex leaned toward his wife who turned her face away from him. Bitch. He said quietly, so only she could hear.

You got it Alex. Fletcher said and stepping out the door into the backstage crush, he headed toward the stage. The hallway was full of groupies and backstage contest winners, and not surprisingly a few celebrities here and there.

Dude, that crowd is killer. The lead singer of the opening band said as he passed Fletcher. He high fived Fletcher and Fletcher returned it. Got um all warmed up for ya.

Thanks man, you guys sounded great. Fletcher said and meant it.

Really Dude? The guy looked at Fletcher and smiled and caught up with his band mates and Fletcher could hear him telling them what he had said. He laughed and shook his head.

The lights were down and exploded in a huge shower of sparks. Fletcher yelled. Hello New York! And when the crowd started to scream and yell he said Are you ready to rock and roll. They went wild and for the next two and half hours he entertained them with old and new music. They gave one of their best performances in years and when it was over, Fletcher slipped away unnoticed and it wasn’t until the next afternoon that his disappearance was noticed by the media.

The question on every headline was. Where’s Fletcher Christian, and is this the end for Touchstone?

CHAPTER ONE

The sound of the motorcycle broke into the stillness of the day and roared up the long driveway to the Prescott Bed and Breakfast. The rider brought the machine to a halt near the front entrance, and killed the motor. Silence returned to the day as he climbed off the bike and took off his helmet. Short black hair was slightly matted from sweat and the helmet. Ruffling his hands through his hair he turned and surveyed the B & B.

Prescott B & B, as the sign read, was a huge Victorian house with a wide porch curving around the side. The side lawns were landscaped into beautiful gardens on the left and a wide sweeping lawn on the right. Less then fifty yards behind the house, the woods began, they looked dense and uninviting to him. Turning to look back the way he had come, he could see roof tops in the village below. Far enough away to ensure privacy and close enough that he would still feel as though he were connected to world, he thought. For a city boy, this was as far away as he could imagine being from the city, the country surroundings were as foreign to him as another country would be.

He had left Manhattan at three in the morning and had stopped only once, for breakfast, a hair cut, and gas. His guitar was strapped to the bike and with the saddle bags stuffed, he was set to remain hidden for as long as he needed to. And at this time he wasn’t sure how long that would be. Until he could figure out what he wanted to do with the rest of his life, at least. He would be close enough to Brookfield to be there when he needed to be and far enough away to separate himself from everything that place held that mattered to him.

Everything had built up until he felt like he would explode. The band pulling him one way, the manager throwing in all kinds of new projects he thought they should consider, and Fletcher wasn’t into any of it. He was tired and he needed a break, he needed to think. Not to mention the other the inner voice telling him that he needed and wanted more in his life, and that pulled him in other directions then the music and the band.

Fletcher stretched and hung the helmet on the handle bars and unzipped the leather jacket. The cool air felt good on his body after the long ride. For May it was a little on the hot side, but up here on the mountain, the air was cooler. Seeing the vacancy sign hanging below the ‘Welcome’ sign, he headed for the front door, carrying the saddle bags and his guitar.

Through the screen door he could hear someone humming off key. Opening the door he set his guitar and bags down outside the office and looked through the doorway. The source of the humming was here. In the form of a tall, slim brunette. Her hair was long and curly, nearly reaching her waist; she wore tight jeans and a pink t-shirt and was busily dusting the shelves behind the desk. She stretched up on tip toe to reach the top shelf and her shirt rose exposing smooth tanned skin.

Fletcher watched her for a moment and couldn’t remember the last time he seen a woman’s butt that had affected him so quickly. Her waist was small and she had the nicest ass he had seen in a long time. The faded jeans hugged her body and as he enjoyed the view she turned around, the humming stopped. This was a relief, because she really wasn’t very good.

Excuse me, can I help you. Her voice startled the hell out of him and he jumped guiltily. Caught staring at a woman wasn’t a common occurrence for him.

Sorry. He said and then was speechless again. She had the face on an angel. Ice blue eyes, looked at him from a face that was as fine and delicately carved as the finest of china. Her bangs framed a face that was tanned from being outdoors and bare of makeup. Thick lashes and finely arched brows above a small, slightly pointed nose and soft, lush looking lips. And a body that looked more Victoria’s Secret then angelic, full breasts that he just knew were real, unlike the many he had seen in the last few years, and a flat stomach. Her legs seemed to go on forever.

Can I help you? The woman repeated and Fletcher realized he’d been staring again.

Um, yes I’d like a room. Please. He pulled his wallet from his jeans pocket and started to slip a credit card from the slot. Then the thought of the paparazzi finding him through credit card records, made him put it back and he took several bills out instead.

How long did you plan to stay? She asked, and flipped open a register on the counter. Turning the book so he could sign in, she indicated the place she wanted him to fill out. Name, address, driver’s license, and credit card.

Um, two weeks to start I think. He said with a smile. I don’t have a credit card on me, but I can pay cash in advance for two weeks and here’s my license.

She looked at him for a moment and then she smiled. Ahh, all right, I’ll let it slide this time. He looked tired and she thought he looked safe enough and after looking into his deep blue eyes she would have let him stay for half price. Of course she wouldn’t tell him that. She handed him a pen and took his license.

Thanks. He looked at her hand and saw a ring on her right hand but her left was bare. I hope you won’t get in trouble with the boss.

I’m sure I’ll understand. She said with a smile and held out her hand. I’m Madeleine Prescott, owner, but please call me Maddy.

Fletcher took her hand and said. Nice to meet you Maddy, I’m Fletcher Reed.

Nice to meet you too, Fletcher. She said and took down the information on his license while he filled out the register. She looked down at the license and saw a man with long black hair and a cocky grin. She looked up at him and he grinned at her in the same cocky way. She liked the grin and the earring in his left ear; it gave him a reckless bad boy image. And Maddy liked it, he was very attractive.

Got a haircut this morning. He explained as she handed the license back to him.

I see. Maddy looked him over and nodded. Look’s good.

Thank you. His blue eyes seemed to burn into her. And Maddy noticed that he didn’t look thirty-nine, which is what his birth date said, January fifteenth, 1969. When he smiled his eyes crinkled at the corners and Maddy thought as she looked at him that he was ‘Hot’ as her niece’s would put it.

Well follow me and I’ll show you around. Straight across the hall from the office was a door that opened into a large living room. You are welcome to come and go as you please, this room is for guests. There’s a television, satellite dish, and plenty of movies.

Leading him back out into the hallway, she showed him the kitchen and dining room and downstairs bathroom. You are free to use the kitchen at your convenience, it’s fully stocked. Breakfast is at seven in the morning, if you want it just let me know the night before. Lunch is at one everyday and dinner is at six every night, in the dinning room. For any of those meals, just let me know the night before and it will be there for you. If you don’t show up leftovers will be in the warming drawer under the oven.

Maddy turned and headed for the stairs. Waiting for him to pick up his bags, she led him to the upper floor. The stairway curved around and opened onto a large landing. To the right was a closed door marked private.

That’s my room and the only room that is off limits. The bathroom is here. Leading him to the other side of the landing she opened the door furthest from the stairs. This room is the one with the best view, and it’s on the west side of the house, so no early morning sun. Extra blankets and pillows in the closet, towels are in the bathroom, and there are guest robes there as well. I do have a washer and dryer in a room off the kitchen that you are also welcome to use. Maddy stepped back and let him pass her into the room.

It was a large room, done in dark blues and grays. A queen size bed stood facing the view through the large picture window. There was a desk and a dresser, and an old sea chest at the foot of the bed. Fletcher set his guitar on the bed and the bags on the chest and walked to the window.

Looks perfect. He said and looked back at her. I guess I missed lunch today, but I would like supper if it’s not too much trouble.

Not at all, I like to cook so I always enjoy having guests. She looked around and with one last smile said. Well if there’s anything you need, just let me know.

Thank you. Fletcher said as she tuned and walked out. He leaned back and watched her walk away and sighed. As she disappeared down the stairs, he whistled softly. Wow. She was beautiful, and had a body to go with the face.

Forget it Fletch, no women, just some good clean relaxation. He shut the door and stripped of his clothes and dropped into bed. He was asleep immediately. No dreams, no tossing and turning, just a deep sleep which he had needed badly.

Maddy worked in her garden for most of the afternoon and saw not a sign of her guest. This was good considering that when she had been with him earlier she had babbled like an idiot. Yes he was hot, but she had been around good looking men before. There was something about him though that made her feel like she had seen him somewhere before. She shook her head, no if she had ever met a man that looked like him she would not have forgotten. Those blue eyes the color of the sky before a storm, dark and mysterious. Then as she pulled weeds she knew who he had reminded her of, Fletcher Christian of Touchstone. It had been years since she had seen them, but she thought Fletcher Reed might look like him, and she thought that was bizarre that their names were the same. She laughed at her imaginings and sat back and looked at the sky.

Speaking of dark, the sky had taken on an ominous look. Hearing a rumble of thunder in the distance, Maddy picked up her gardening tools and returned to the house. As she came around the corner to go in the front door, she saw Fletcher’s motorcycle still parked out front. His helmet hung from the handle bars, and of him there was no sign.

This was the time when she wished she had installed phones in the rooms. She climbed the stairs and knocked on his door. Nothing, maybe he had gone somewhere without his bike. Knocking again, she said. Mr. Reed. Are you in there? She raised her hand to knock again and heard a muffled thud.

She waited and soon the door opened. Fletcher Reed stood before her in a pair of jeans, zipped but not buttoned and socks and nothing else. His chest was bare and smooth and tan. It was obvious that he worked out regularly; there was not an ounce of fat on him anywhere. His chiseled abs nearly made her reach out to touch him.

Yes? He asked, rubbing his eyes, Maddy saw that he had been sleeping. His hair stood up and when he stretched, his jeans slid slightly lower showing the definition of his lower abs.

I’m . . . um . . . I’m sorry to disturb you, but it’s going to storm and your bike is still out front. Maddy explained dragging her eyes from his chest, but then meeting his sleepy eyes didn’t help her forget his undressed state. He had a tattoo on his left bicep, a dragon wrapped around a Celtic dagger. I thought you might want to put it in the garage.

Sure, Thanks. He said and leaving the door open he turned and walked back into the room and stuffed his feet into a pair of boots. She could see another tattoo on his back, a cross between his shoulder blades, slightly below where the neckline of a t-shirt would fall. Snagging the leather jacket he pulled it on.

Maddy jogged down the stairs ahead of him and said at the bottom. The garage is around back, I’ll open the door for you.

Okay. Fletcher stepped out the front door and as the wind nearly whipped the door out of his hand he heard thunder in the distance. The sky to the west was dark and threatening.

He hadn’t made it around the side of the house when the rain started, and it didn’t just rain, it poured. Maddy stood inside the garage next to a pickup and a small blue sports car. Fletcher pulled the bike inside and shook the water out of his eyes.

I’m sorry. She said. If I had known it was going to rain I would have told you about the garage earlier.

Fletcher sat on the bike with his leather jacket hanging open his chest glistening. He climbed off and his jeans were molded to his thighs. He shrugged out of the jacket and stood there in his wet jeans; with water running off his bare chest in tiny rivulets that Maddy wanted to touch. Maddy did her best not to look, but he was hot and she felt things looking at him that she hadn’t felt in a long time.

Don’t worry about it. Fletcher told her, he could see her looking at him and had to admit it felt nice to be looked at for who he really was and not the celebrity the public saw. As far as he knew, she hadn’t a clue as to who he really was. The rain won’t hurt the bike, and the helmet didn’t get too wet.

He stood next to her and watched the rain come down. Thunder rumbled and lightning streaked across the sky, causing Maddy jump. She was scared and he nodded toward the house, he handed her his jacket. Put this on and run for it, I’ll shut the door.

She started to protest and he put the coat around her shoulders. Go. He said and gently pushed her in the direction of the house. He pulled the door shut and taking her arm he pulled her along. They ran up onto the porch and Maddy pulled the door open and darted inside.

Wow, that’s some storm. Fletcher said and looked out the window as the rain beat against the side of the house. They stood in the kitchen and the windows here faced the woods.

Yeah. Maddy said and she handed him a dish towel. I know it’s small but it will help dry you off.

Fletcher took the towel and wiped his head and then his arms. Turning to say something to Maddy he saw that she had taken off his jacket and the pink t-shirt she wore was wet and now nearly see through. He could see the white lace bra and darker circles where her nipples were pushing the fabric out. He stopped and stared and when Maddy saw him looking at her she too looked down.

Excuse me. She blushed and hurried away.

Fletcher leaned back against the wall and groaned. Been here all of one afternoon and you’re already lusting after the woman.

She was beautiful and wet she was enough to make him horny as hell. He dried off and went to his room. Staying there until six, he returned to the kitchen and saw that she had dinner done and on the table.

She jumped as thunder clapped again and the lights flickered. She smiled nervously at him and sat down waving him to a seat. Please sit, and enjoy before the lights go out.

It smells delicious. Fletcher sat and saw that she had made steaks and salad and mixed vegetables. You shouldn’t have gone to so much trouble.

No trouble, I had to eat anyway and I haven’t had steak in a while.

They ate in silence for a few minutes and then Fletcher let his curiosity get the best of him. So, how long have you had this place? It’s nice.

Maddy sipped her wine and smiled, she loved talking about her accomplishment with the Bed and Breakfast. Well, this was my parent’s house, and they left it to me and my brother. He was set in his own life and he offered his half to me. I had to have a way to pay for the house and this seemed the best way to live where I have always wanted to and not have to worry about how I was going to make a living.

This is a nice part of the state. I’ve been in the area before and always liked it here. He said and ignored the glass of wine and picked up the glass of water instead.

Would you rather have a beer? Maddy asked, seeing him grimace at the water.

Thought you’d never ask. He said with relief, and took the ice cold bottle she handed him.

I’m sorry; I just think every one likes wine. She said and looked at him. He was really too good looking. They talked about the business and he asked her about the local area and if there were any interesting places he could visit while he was there.

Not that I plan on doing anything for a few days. I need to sleep, I’m exhausted. I’ve needed a break for a while now. He said and as he did so he yawned. Sorry.

No problem. She said and noticed he didn’t offer anything about himself. So what do you do for a living?

He paused while he with the fork halfway to his mouth and she could see him thinking. He lowered the fork and looked at her as though he was