Harmony, p.22
Harmony, page 22
“So that makes you okay with this plane trip?”
“It takes about a third of the time, and because it’s a chartered flight, I don’t have to worry about them losing my luggage.”
She chuckles at that one.
“Yeah. I know I was an asshole those first few days.”
“And just think, Jesse, if you had taken Brock up on his offer to upgrade you in the first place, it probably never would’ve happened.”
“They could’ve still lost my luggage.”
“But they may not have. When you fly first class, your luggage gets priority.”
I don’t even reply. I didn’t know that, of course. Not that it would’ve changed my mind at the time.
“Whatever,” I say. “You ready? Here’s the limo.”
Emerald Phoenix brings all their own equipment on tour. As the opening act, we didn’t have that luxury. We’ve been renting equipment at each venue. Jake did bring his guitar. But Cage and Dragon—the first night—both said that the keyboard and drums we rented in the UK were better than the instruments we have at home.
I suppose I have to get used to traveling without my guitar. Feels weird being just a vocalist, but Rory and I singing together was what made Emerald Phoenix first take notice of us, so that’s the way we will do it from now on.
Brock, Rory, David, and Maddie climb into the limo, and then Brianna and I do.
Of course, Cage and Jake are nowhere to be found. Jeez. They clamber out of the venue, both looking a little haggard.
“Hey, you guys—” Then I stop.
They’re here. No reason to give them shit for almost being late.
“What?” Jake darts me a gaze.
“Nothing. So, are you ready to rock Paris?”
“You know it,” Jake says. Then he nudges me. “What’s with David and Maddie?”
“I’m trying not to think about it,” I say back.
We reach the airport, get through security, and head to the gate where the plane is ready.
The plane Emerald Phoenix chartered isn’t overly luxurious. But the seating is all wider than a normal plane, and there’s only one pilot, one copilot, and one flight attendant.
It’s just the band and our guests and significant others.
We get herded on, take our seats, and the flight attendant does her safety spiel. She distributes champagne to anyone who wants it, but Brianna and I just take water.
Ten minutes later, we’re taking off.
Once we’re airborne, Brianna turns to me and smiles. “I love you, Jesse. I’m so happy to be here with you.”
“On such a late flight?” I squeeze her hand.
“On a chartered flight with the man I love. And Emerald Phoenix.”
“I love you too.”
The air is turbulent, and the plane bounces through the sky. I’m not a frequent flyer, so my knuckles go white around Brianna’s hand.
“Easy,” she says. “This is normal.”
“You don’t fly a lot either.”
“Not a lot, but I’ve been on turbulent flights. Going over the Rockies is often like this.”
I draw in a breath and let it out slowly. She’s no doubt right, but I look across from me to where Brock and Rory are sitting. Rory looks a little green.
“You okay, sis?”
She doesn’t reply. Simply nods, her hand clamped onto Brock’s.
The air smooths out after a moment, and I breathe a sigh of release.
“See?” Brianna says. “Everything’s cool. We’re flying over the English Channel, which are some of the roughest waters in the world. The air pressure is probably a mess.”
I have no idea if she knows what she’s talking about or whether she’s making it up as she goes, but her words soothe me. Slightly.
I take the last drink of my water and look for the flight attendant to ask for another. Where is she? Then I see her up front, buckled into her jump seat.
Okay… Not a great sign.
But the air is smooth, until—
My heart drops to my stomach when the plane falls. Or seems to. It’s like that feeling when you’re on a roller coaster going straight down.
The turbulence begins again, and—
Brianna lets out a frantic scream as the plane rocks and sways.
I’m trapped. My seat belt restrains me. It’s tight. So tight.
A drop.
The roller coaster again.
A shrill sound pierces my ears, and the yellow oxygen masks descend.
Brianna is shaking and screaming. I grab the mask, get it on her as quickly as I can.
Then I panic.
The plane drops, and the overhead luggage compartments fly open. Suitcases drop, one barely missing my head.
Time is fucked up.
Seconds fly by, but I see in slow motion. A haze of debris flying around the cabin, clothes tumbling from carry-ons. Vomit from mouths. Screams. Sobs. Shrieks.
I turn to the woman I love, raise my voice above the commotion. “Don’t be scared, Brianna. Wherever we’re going, we’ll be together.”
Then I put on my oxygen mask, grab her, and close my eyes.
Continue reading the Steel Brothers Saga with
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Message from Helen Hardt
Dear Reader,
Thank you for reading Harmony. If you want to find out about my current backlist and future releases, please like my Facebook page and join my mailing list: http://helenhardt.com/signup/. I often do giveaways. If you’re a fan and would like to join my street team to help spread the word about my books, you can do so here. I regularly do awesome giveaways for my street team members.
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Also By Helen Hardt
The Steel Brothers Saga:
Craving
Obsession
Possession
Melt
Burn
Surrender
Shattered
Twisted
Unraveled
Breathless
Ravenous
Insatiable
Fate
Legacy
Descent
Awakened
Cherished
Freed
Spark
Flame
Blaze
Smolder
Flare
Scorch
Chance
Fortune
Destiny
Melody
Harmony
Encore
* * *
Blood Bond Saga:
Unchained: Volume One
Unhinged: Volume Two
Undaunted: Volume Three
Unmasked: Volume Four
Undefeated: Volume Five
* * *
Misadventures:
Misadventures of a Good Wife (with Meredith Wild)
Misadventures with a Rock Star
* * *
The Temptation Saga:
Tempting Dusty
Teasing Annie
Taking Catie
Taming Angelina
Treasuring Amber
Trusting Sydney
Tantalizing Maria
* * *
Daughters of the Prairie:
The Outlaw’s Angel
Lessons of the Heart
Song of the Raven
* * *
The Cougar Chronicles:
The Cowboy and the Cougar
Calendar Boy
* * *
Collections:
Destination Desire
Her Two Lovers
* * *
Non-Fiction:
got style?
Acknowledgments
You know how I love my cliffhangers, and this one is a doozy!
I really loved writing this particular volume of the Steels for a few reasons.
First and foremost, Jesse Pike and his love for Brianna. Jesse is a hero like Talon and Dale—one who loves with a raw passion that isn’t always nice and pretty. It’s downright animalistic sometimes, but it’s also ardent and pure and perfect. I hope you love him as much as I—and Brianna—do.
Second, I cried while writing the story of Ennis and the fire diamond ring. He never loved again after Patty was so cruelly taken from him, so he gave his heirloom ring to his friend Daphne Steel. It found its true owner in Callie Pike.
And third…I’ve introduced a new pairing—Dave Simpson and Maddie Pike. Encore, the third book in this trilogy, will be a bit different. Maddie and Dave will take center stage, and you’ll be surprised where they take us.
Thanks as always to the amazing Waterhouse team—Audrey Bobak, Haley Boudreaux, Jesse Kench, Jon Mac, Amber Maxwell, Michele Hamner Moore, Chrissie Saunders, Scott Saunders, Kurt Vachon, and Meredith Wild.
Thanks also to the women and men of Hardt and Soul. Your endless and unwavering support keeps me going.
To my family and friends, thank you for your encouragement. Special shout out to Dean—aka Mr. Hardt—and to our amazing sons, Eric and Grant. Special thanks to Eric for helping with Harmony before I handed it in to Scott at Waterhouse.
Thank you most of all to my readers. Without you, none of this would be possible. I am grateful every day that I’m able to do what I love—write stories for you!
Peace and Harmony to you all!
About Helen Hardt
#1 New York Times, #1 USA Today, and #1 Wall Street Journal bestselling author Helen Hardt’s passion for the written word began with the books her mother read to her at bedtime. She wrote her first story at age six and hasn’t stopped since. In addition to being an award-winning author of romantic fiction, she’s a mother, an attorney, a black belt in Taekwondo, a grammar geek, an appreciator of fine red wine, and a lover of Ben & Jerry’s ice cream. She writes from her home in Colorado, where she lives with her family. Helen loves to hear from readers.
For more information, please follow Helen Hardt at:
www.HelenHardt.com
Helen Hardt, Harmony
