Chapter 1
Blurb
In a town like Whitby, nothing stays hidden… especially not the heart.
Emma Harper Lowe has always written about love—never lived it. Not really. Not fully. Not in the way her lyrics ache for.
Because her heart was never simple.
There’s Bradley Owen—her best friend, her history, the boy who broke her heart without ever meaning to… and the man who would do anything to fix it now.
And then there’s Robert Taylor—the steady one, the quiet strength in the chaos, the man who sees Emma not as something fragile… but something powerful.
One is her past.
One is her present.
And somehow… both feel like her future.
But in a small town built on expectations, there’s no room for a love like theirs. Not one that refuses to choose. Not one that demands more.
As old wounds reopen, jealousy sparks, and lines blur between friendship and something far more dangerous, Emma is forced to face the truth she’s been writing between every line:
She doesn’t want one of them.
She wants both.
And this time… she’s done running from it.
Because love isn’t always a choice between two paths—sometimes… It’s about rewriting the rules entirely.
Chapter One
Emma’s Pov
This morning I was pretty excited about sharing the masterpiece of words that came to me last night. After staying up all night listening to that young man’s vocals and his band’s music, I felt hopeful that this one would be our greatest record yet.
Bradley Owens was one of the smartest men I ever met. Even through school together he out shone the rest of us. I was honoured the day he offered me the job as his main songwriter for the company he started. Owen’s Starlight Studio.
He was a businessman at heart, but music was his passion. He knew how to turn the most out of tune singer into a beautiful songbird. Turn chaotic sounds into beautiful melodies with a swish of his hand.
I was in awe of this rugged talented man. I pretty much worshipped him from the moment we became friends on the first day of highschool.
As for me I had a way with words, able to tell a story through the lyrics I wrote on a daily basis. They would come to me out of nowhere as if the world called to me, wanting its story to be told.
We made the perfect team... so I thought.
I rush out of my front door with such enthusiasm, I nearly trip up on the front step. I needed to get these lyrics to Brad, so he could go over them before the band came in to do practice.
His house was only on the other end of my street. Thank god, we live close. I dash down the long pavement to his house, hoping to god he hasn’t left for the studio yet.
I grip the papers tightly in my grasp as I quicken my pace, huffing and puffing as I struggle to suck in enough air into my lungs. I am so unfit!
I don’t have time to grumble over how out of shape I am. My eyes water as the wind blows into my face and I feel my muscles begin to ache.
Just as I get to his house, I collide with a rather solid form which knocks the wind out of me. I shut my eyes, embracing myself to hit the floor with a painful and embarrassing thud but instead a strong manly arm wraps round me and pulls me into a rather chiselled chest.
I breathe in his scent and straight away I know who my saviour is. I sniff him in and sigh with delight before opening my eyes. Those dark blue eyes staring back at me has my heart pounding, but it’s his gorgeous trademark smile that has me floating on cloud nine. “Brad.”
His name comes out as a soft whisper on my tongue. And for a moment my eyes linger on his lips, as I wonder what his kiss would taste like on mine. Or what it would feel to run my fingers through his silky hair, as I pulled him closer to me. I was so lost in my head that I didn’t hear him calling my name. “Emma”. I love the way my name sounds on his tongue as I look up at him, not wanting this to end.
“Emma, where are you off to in a hurry?” I could tell there was a concern in his voice as he asked me.
As he comes to pick up my music sheets that I had dropped when I bump into him as I tried to catch him before he left for the studio.
“I was actually coming to see you before you left for the studio. I was up all night writing these lyrics for the band and I think you are going to love it.”
I was so excited and nervous for him to see what I had written for the band and what he would think to them too. I watched as he turned each paper and looking through each one, I was terrified at what he was going to say about it.
“Fuck me, Em.” He growls in surprise.
With pleasure!!
Oh nope, I really need to stop these out of bound thoughts, before I find myself acting on them and screwing up my chances of fulfilling my greatest dream.
“This shit is good, mind blowingly good.”
I watch his tongue glide slowly along his bottom lip, making me wish I could lick it too. “Mhmmm” a soft hum leaves my mouth as my whole body melts for him.
He stares at me with curiosity. Shit, did he hear me.? His eyes latch onto mine, he stares deeply into them as if trying to read my thoughts.
Oh my, if his eyes could hold such power, it would be to pull out my deepest lust filled fantasies from the depths of my imagination and watch them as some amature porno movie.
I dare not even blink as I try to be unfazed by his domination and oozing sexiness. I must give nothing away, so I straighten myself up and smile with confidence.
“You like them, then?”
He watches me intently for a few more seconds before allowing his husky voice to melt me some more. I must be dripping like a frosty the snowman that got a little too much sun.
“You are an incredible lyricist, Em. You will go far and outgrow me one day.”
My cheeks turn bright red with his words. A little nervous giggle leaks out of my mouth, making him grin at me.
“Thanks, Brad. But I am quite happy staying with you. We make a great team. Don’t think…”
Suddenly his long thick index finger is placed firmly against my lips, silencing me in an instance. He looks like the deadly serious businessman, when he is about to grill one of the band members.
“Don’t you fucking dare finish that sentence, Miss Lowe. When the day comes for you to spread your wings, you fly and never look back, you hear me?”
Yeah he is back to his dominant music manager role and not my best friend. How the hell is he able to switch so easily from fun lovin Brad to badass Mr Owens, the manager of the century?
He is every woman’s wet dream. Tall, dark and handsome, with so many raw talents. He can play several different instruments, which include, piano, drums and any kind of stringed instrument. As well as a talented singer. Man, his voice is so beautiful and powerful, he could put us all in a trance. Make us worship him like a musical god.
I always wondered why he never wanted to take the spotlight, he could make it big with how talented he is. But instead he just simply stays behind the scenes so others can take the fame he so rightly deserves. I have tried many times to persuade him to take a different path but he always shuts me down and changes the subject. He was never the one to talk about his feelings and you never see him open up to anyone.
See that is what the difference is between us, I was never the one to keep my mouth shut. If someone did something to piss me off I would give them a mouthful and what a thought. My mouth has always gotten me into a lot of problems but it was who I was and I’m not about to change that.
“Ok, let’s go show the others your masterpiece. We will go in my car.” Brad says as he hands back my music sheets.
“Yeah, ok.” I responded to him.
As we walked over to his brand new Porsche Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid, definitely a businessman sort of car. Brad has always loved his luxury cars, and I remember when we were kids that he had a collection. From old classic sport cars to the very luxury sports cars he loved them, and he still has them in their boxes too.
I have an All-electric Fiat 500 car and the colour red, and I really love my little car because I think it is better for the environment. You don’t need a big car because where we are from, which is a small town called Whitby. So my car is ideal for a small town where we live. I was pulled out of my thoughts when I felt the car slow down, so I looked over at Brad, who was now looking back at me.
“We are here, Em.” He tells me, as he turns off the engine.
He smiles sweetly at me, warming my heart instantly. He grips my hand and gives it a little squeeze. “It will be ok, they are going to love it just as much as me.”
I guess he can see how nervous I am. This is a big deal for us. If done correctly he could get a great deal with this band. If they are happy with his expertise to help revamp them up, he will get a great deal of money through them.
I am worried I might ruin this for him.
I try to smile back at him and nod my head. Then he finally releases by hand, before getting out, walking round to my side and opening my door. I giggle.
“Really? You’re going to laugh at me for being a gentleman for you.”
“Sorry, just not used to it.”
I unbuckle myself and stare at the hand he is now offering me.
“Well get used to it, princess.”
I am not sure why he is behaving like this but I quite like this side of him. But it is not helping me to stop my heart beating for him, though.
I feel a flutter of butterflies in my tummy the moment I take his hand in mine and allow him to pull me out of his car. I see a twinkle of mischief in his eyes, as he keeps me steady.
He shuts the door behind me, before taking my hand in his, interlocking our fingers together. I am lost in the mystery of this hunky man.
I allow him to drag me towards his music studio that he bought years back. Soon as we enter, he keeps his grip on my hand, despite me trying to pull away. I didn’t want to give the wrong impression to the band.
Chanel is the first to greet us. Her bubbly personality radiates positivity that I could do with right now.
“Em, Brad, so glad to see you both.”
Her french accent is tinged with excitement as she beams at us. She comes over to me first and does that air kissing each cheek that she likes to do. Then she does the same to Brad, beaming at the both of us.
“About fucking time. We have been waiting for ages…”
My eyes fall on Zachary, my least favourite band member, he oozes arrogance. Plus I hate how he looks at me as if he could devour me with one bite. He is lent against the entrance of the music room, he scowls at Brad.
“Now behave, Zachary. We weren’t waiting that long.”
She gives him a dirty look, a warning to be on his good behaviour. Not even sure that is possible for him, since he is nothing but a rebel playboy.
His eyes look over us, falling on mine and Brad’s hands connected. His expression is unreadable, but it still unnerves me.
“Whatever, frenchie. Let’s get this over and done with.”
He pushes himself off the wall, a hint of disgust on his face, before he walks into the room, where the rest of the band are waiting. He has been the only member that was not happy about giving this deal a chance.
“Sorry.”
Chanel gives us an apologetic smile. I can’t help but feel sorry for her. She is such a talented singer, she doesn’t need a jerk like Zachary to ruin her chances to fulfil her dream.
**************
Once the awkwardness was out of the way we all got into action. Brad worked his magic so he could get my words displayed on the tv screen. The beautiful music I was listening to last night floods the room, and I start to sway to it.
But nothing prepared me to hear my own words being sung to me by an angel. Chanel moulds the words into breathtaking notes that give me tingles down my spine. I find myself transported to a happy place, the same place I went to when I wrote the words.
The unspoken words between me and Brad, those little moments of innocent touches to lingering tension. Blended perfectly in one breathtaking song.
I close my eyes and hum along to her sweet voice, mixed with the boy’s gruff backing singing. That’s when I feel his warm body stand behind me, his scent invading my senses. Brad wraps his arms around me and pulls me into him. I gasp at the sudden contact with his muscled form.
“Beautiful.”
He growls against my ear, before breathing hot air along the side of my neck.
“Brad..”
I breathe out his name, lost in the moment. Which I am sure I must be only imagining all in my head. No way this crazy shit is happening, right?
“Say my name again, Em.”
He softly bites down on my neck, while his hand cups my pussy with delicate care. He rubs his palm against my swollen bud. Despite the barrier of fabrics between us I can feel every soft rub and squeeze.
“Say my name!”
He growls against my flesh, before biting down harder. Making me moan out his name.
“Bradley!”
His tongue soothes the spot he just bit down on. Which then turns into a sensual kiss, while he presses his palm into my pulsing clit.
“Aaagh.”
“Say you will be mine, Em. Be my girl.”
I am lost in a sensual daze, unsure if what is happening is real or not. But I don’t care, I wrote the song for him, I have always been his the moment he turned up all sweet and passionate in that classroom.
“Yes, I am all yours.”
“Good, now turn around so I can kiss the sweetness out of you.”
The music is still playing as I turn round and see his sexy face and the desire burning in his eyes. He presses me against the glass of the one way window. Thank god, I really would not want the band to see us like this.
I wrap my arms around his neck as he devours my mouth with hunger and desperation. My whole body burns for him as I kiss him back, he has one hand on my hip and the other cupping my face.
This is a side of him I have never experience before. This doesn’t even come close to the dreams I had of him. He slowly grinds his erection into my sweet spot, making me moan into his hot mouth. His tongue entangles with mine, when the music stops completely.
He pulls away hesitantly, I am out of breath and panting, as he runs his thumb tenderly against my rosy cheek. With his eyes trained on me, he presses a button on the wall so he can speak to the band.
“Nice work, how did you feel about the words?”
“It was beautifully written. It was perfect.”
I hear Chanel’s excited voice and he smiles at me. He releases the button so he can just speak to me. I see the pride and love gleaming in his eyes.
“Told you they would love it. But I love the woman who wrote it way more.”
