Music's New Release Date & Peace Offering Snippet

So, as much as I HATE, LOATHE, DESPISE, etc doing this, it's a necessary evil. I'm going to have to move the release date of Music of My Heart to April 1st, rather than the 25th of March. It's just one week, so I hope this won't be too much. It's just I've been slammed with a lot of issues at once. I found out I would be attending the Boston Author Event(SQUEE), which will take about four days out of my schedule, not to mention I have a big hometown signing this weekend. I've also been dealing with some health issues, which I'll be having minor surgery for in April(if you've dealt with fibroids ladies, you have my sympathies & pain medicine isn't conducive to writing sometimes). In the middle of all that, I was hit with several business aspects that as the Executor of my late grandmother's estate I had to handle.

Sure, I could rush Music out, but I really want that extra week for revising and editing, not to mention getting ARCS out to bloggers. So please, please accept my apologies. As a peace offering, I give you another snip.

As we wound around through the darkened back tunnels of the arena, I snickered. “Hello Cleveland,” I murmured under my breath.

“What?” Jake asked.

“I was just thinking that we seem kinda lost, and I was totally having a This Is Spinal Tap moment.”

Whirling around, Jake’s mouth dropped open. “You actually know that movie.”

“Of course I do. I used to watch it with the boys all the time.”

He shook his head slowly back and forth. “How is it that you’re actually real?”

“Huh?”

Jake smiled. “You just don't get it, do you? You’re like a rocker's epic wet dream.”

Wrinkling my nose, I replied, “Ew, thanks for the disgusting compliment.”

He stuffed his hands in his jean pockets and gave me a sheepish look. “Okay, that didn’t exactly come out like I wanted it to.”

“I’d hope not, especially since the first night I met you I was wowed by the fact you could quote Shakespeare.”

Pursing his lips, he appeared lost in thought for a moment. I just meant that you’re a musician’s dream girl—a complete and total package. You understand what it’s like to deal with the industry and what a gift and a curse the Muse can be. Plus you know all about music and singing. You're all that, and then to to top it off you’re someone a guy could just hang out with and watch stupid comedies like This Is Spinal Tap."

I nudged his shoe with my boot. "I didn't know I was such a rare gem," I teased. 

"I'm serious. It's the most amazingly intense feeling in the world to have a beautiful girl in front of you who totally gets you.”

Oh God. Had he actually just said that? Breathe, Abby, just breathe. My cheeks flamed at his words while I fought to keep the wildfire burning over my body from devouring me. When I could finally find my voice again, I murmured, “Thanks."  After he stood there just staring at me, I finally said, “By the way, that was much better on the compliments.”

He gave me a sly grin. “You’re welcome.” He took my hand. “Now come on. I have a big surprise for you.”

“But I don’t really like surprises,” I protested as he dragged me further back stage.

“You’ll like this one.”

Finally, we stepped through the wings. Instead of stopping, Jake pulled me right on stage. I gazed out at the empty, but huge arena. Tilting my head, I spun around and took it all in. A shudder went through me. “Wow, this place is intense.”

“I love it when it’s like this,” Jake said, motioning to the crew who were rushing around with equipment. “It’s like the calm before the storm.” He bounced on the balls of his feet, and his whole body hummed with excitement.

“The storm that is Hurricane Jake?” I teased.

He laughed. “Nah, sort of Tropical Storm Jake and more like Hurricane Runaway Train.”

I smiled. “I love the fact you never leave the other guys out of the equation. No Adam Levine and those other dudes in Maroon Five kinda thing.”

Jake shook his head. “The label tried that crap for a while right after we hit. But it’s me and the boys, or it’s nothing.”

Reaching over, I tapped the left side of his chest. “Such a good heart in there.”

His hand closed over mine, and he pressed it flush against his shirt. “You don’t know what it means to me that you’re able to see that through all the bullshit.”

“I see you a lot better than you’d ever imagine.”

“And?” he prompted.

I swallowed hard under the intensity of his stare. “I like what I see. A lot.”

He then brought my hand to his mouth and tenderly brushed his lips across my knuckle.

“I’m glad to hear that.”

My heartbeat thumped like a cannon blast in my ears, and I was sure Jake could hear it. Just when he leaned  in so close that his breath warmed my cheek, a voice behind us said, “We’re ready when you are.”

Jake's eyes momentarily closed. “Worst fucking timing ever,” he grumbled before turning back to the guy. “

*And in case you've never seen This Is Spinal Tap, here's the scene Abby's referencing,lol