Left in a Stetson hat, on the steps of the local bed and breakfast, Avery Callimer came into the world on a wing and a prayer. Raised by loving adoptive parents, she's never lacked for love...only the knowledge of her past.
By day she works the Inn, but by night...Avery comes alive as lead singer in a band. Life was good...stable, until new guests blew into town.
Some strangers come with secrets and lies.
Lucas Bennett is one such stranger. Drifting from one mess to another has left him jaded. Doesn't matter the dramas are never his doing. Giving it one last shot to make a fresh start lands him Harmony's Echo, Texas and smack dab in front of the tantalizing Avery.
Despite his best efforts to ignore the burn Avery's ignited within, he's intent to keep his distance. Secrets have followed him. Secrets he doesn't want Avery to know. Each time they're near the other things heat up like a brushfire on a dry Texas prairie. But maybe, after the dust settles and the smoke clears, love can bloom with a fresh start.
The Story behind the story: Baby Stetson
Hi everyone! Glad to see you today. I appreciate this opportunity.
You know, I was all ready to talk about the inspiration behind Baby Stetson, but I thought that it might be better coming from someone else...how about Avery and Lucas? This is their story, after all. I'm just the slave driver that put their thoughts into words. :)
AVERY: Wow...this was a surprise. Nikki, I didn't think you'd let Lucas and I out of your sight after the way he picked on you a few weeks ago. But, I'm glad you did. I like talking to readers. <turns back to audience> Hi everyone! Well, I'm not prepared with a big speech or anything, so I hope I don't drive you crazy or something. I'm much better at singing than I am at talking. So, we'll see how this goes.
I haunted my author for years about my story. See, I live in a small town in Texas, and I love music. I've had a great life, I couldn't ask for anything more except knowing the circumstances of why I was left on the inn's front steps as a baby.
My adoptive parents are wonderful and I'm very fortunate to have been raised by them.
But it always stayed in my mind about my birth parents. I didn't know anything! It took me a long time to realize that it stopped me from fully living. It's like this deep fear that I never knew I had until one day it slapped me in the face. I had this nickname that followed me everywhere. Everyone in town knew me as Baby Stetson. It wasn't easy in school, growing up sometimes....you know how bullies can be. They found a way to get at me, and that was it. Picking on the girl that knew nothing about her birth.
I hid my feelings within the walls of my heart. I didn't want my parents to think I was ungrateful, but there had always been a bit of emptiness inside. I started writing songs in my teen years. I used to sit on the front porch with my best friend Jameson and we would play music together, and perform for his family. It took some convincing, but Jameson finally got me to an open mic night and from there, we started the band, Baby Stetson.
I was so ecstatic when I got Nikki to write my story. There are a lot of emotional moments, but I think they are needed. There are so many things I never expected. Lucas was one of those unexpected, but amazing surprises.
Thanks for listening.
LUCAS: I heard my name. Does that mean it's my cue? I'm not really good at these things....I hope you'll bear with me. I really have no clue where to start and what to say.
I didn't expect to find myself in a story, that's for sure. Avery was the persistent one, I really was more of a surprise. But Nikki didn't take long to create me once I popped in her mind.
I'll admit, I wasn't the best person, especially in the beginning of the story. I thought Harmony's Echo was going to be another stop on the endless ride that was my life. That town and the people changed my life. Especially Avery.
I was a jaded man for the longest time. I didn't have a care in the world. It was like I just roamed aimlessly I never imagined someone like me had a shot at a better life to redeem myself and become a better guy. I think being around Avery helped. We both have a similar history, but with drastically different results. I had a huge abandonment in my life, too, and it took a toll on me. I learned a lot from Avery. To this day, she still has no idea just how much she's been a better influence on me. It took a few mistakes for me to get it right, but I'm finally where I want to be. I think I'm the product of the kind of guy my author has been known to fall for before she finally got it right. It's like the what if scenario, with much better results.
Our story is of two people that share a common history, formed a bond and despite the secrets, the troubles, we managed to find ourselves needing each other more than ever.
Is that good now? I'm getting a little stumped on what else to say <Smiles> I appreciate you listening to my crazy rambling. I hope you'll give our story, Baby Stetson, a chance.
And because I'm a stubborn pain in the butt, our author has more in store for us in Love and Music in Texas, Book 2. Which finally has a name! The Melody in My head.
And no, I won't give away any details about what happens. The book will be out in a few months and you'll find out then. Besides, Avery might kick my butt if I give any spoilers. <Winks> Thanks again!
Cool, crisp air greeted them as Avery and Lucas exited the inn. Not too bad of a night weather wise. Nearby, a twig snapped. Avery jumped. “What was that?”
“Probably an animal,” Lucas guessed. “A little jumpy tonight?”
Avery’s mind went back to that text from earlier. “Maybe a little bit.” She wasn’t fully sure why. A combination of stress and lack of sleep, maybe.
“I’ll protect you from the big bad wolf,” Lucas teased.
“Oh? So what if you’re the big bad wolf? Who’ll protect me from you?”
Lucas halted. “You think I’m the wolf, eh?”
“Well, you haven’t proved that you aren’t yet,” Avery shot back. God how he riled her. She hated how much she enjoyed it sometimes.
“I’m guessing you like the wolves then, because you liked this before.” Lucas reached for her, and his lips met hers. Avery’s heart melted. She wrapped herself into Lucas, leaning into his kisses. He tasted sensational. Each kiss drove her further over the edge.
“Lucas.” Avery groaned. She went in for another kiss, but a strange sound startled her, and she pulled away from him. “Do you hear that? If it’s an animal, it’s nearby.”
Lucas whipped his head to stare in the direction. “I don’t know. Maybe we’d better go, get away from whatever it is.” Lucas put his arm around Avery and pulled her close. They strolled to the house, his arm around her the entire time.
Once they got in front of the house, Avery wasn’t ready to let him go. “Do you want to come in for awhile?” It wasn’t just that she longed for Lucas. The strange sensation that someone was near, watching, the fact that her parents weren’t home ... she just didn’t want to be alone.
“Is that such a good idea?” Lucas asked.
“I don’t want to be alone, Lucas,” Avery pleaded.
“Okay then.” He squeezed her hand. That must have been all the convincing he needed.
Avery fumbled with the keys and got the door unlocked. Once inside, she felt a little safer. She closed the door behind Lucas and flicked on the light.
“You’re so jumpy. What’s going on, Avery?” Lucas asked gently, brushing back loose stands of her hair that had fallen over her left eye.
She swallowed. “I just- I got a strange text earlier. I keep feeling like I’m being watched. Mom and Dad aren’t here. I may be overreacting, but I’m afraid.”
Lucas frowned. “A text?”
Avery pulled her phone from her purse, searched for the text and handed it to Lucas.
“What’s that supposed to mean?” he scowled, handing her the phone back.
“I wish I knew. It came out of nowhere. It may even be a wrong number, but for some reason, it’s got me a bit freaked out.”
“I can understand that. You’ve got a few new people in your life lately.”
“That includes you.”
“Do you trust me, Avery?” Lucas challenged.
“I think I do. Sure, you have your secrets, but something about you makes me feel safer than I have in a long time. I don’t know how to explain it. Maybe the question I should be asking you is can I trust you, Lucas?”
He hesitated. “You can trust me.”
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Thanks for having me over today!
ReplyDeleteGood ole' boy country superstar.
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ReplyDeleteIt's a tough call, but I have to go with Good Ole' Boy Country Superstar
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