Free The Bride Star by Tracey Jane Jackson Page A

Gwen telling him once that the woman who captured his heart would surprise him. At the time, he’d laughed at her observation, but now he realized his friend may have been more right than she could have ever known. He shook himself and forced himself back to the business at hand.
    * * *
    Rayne followed Victoria to a rare secluded area of the city that Victoria promised would afford them some privacy. They walked into the shelter of the small forest in their skirts and then removed the hoops to give them more range of movement. They wore breeches underneath and short-sleeved shirts. They pushed each other for over a mile, until it was time to pace themselves and start for home. They slowed to a jog, and as they got closer to where they left their clothing, they walked.
    “That was awesome.” Rayne stretched her arms over her head.
    “I know! Quinn hates it, but he’ll come on occasion if I’m really stressed out. If I could do this a few times a week, I’d be a much nicer human being, I think.”
    “I’ll run with you.” Rayne laughed. “I’d hate to be the reason you’re a bit—” Without warning, Victoria grabbed her arm and pulled her behind a tree, causing Rayne to trip. “What’s wrong?”
    Victoria held her finger to her lips. “Shhh. People.”
    The girls hid as a man and woman walked past them, obviously looking for some seclusion. Waiting until the couple was out of sight, Rayne followed Victoria to where they hid their undergarments and got dressed. They walked from the trees, composed and appearing to be two ladies on a leisurely stroll.
    “Do you know how to ride?” Victoria slipped a pin into her hat as they walked.
    Rayne raised an eyebrow. “Ride what?”
    “A horse.”
    “No.” Rayne laughed. “I’m more comfortable on two wheels.”
    “Bicycle?”
    “Motorcycle,” Rayne whispered. “I own a couple.”
    “Seriously?” Victoria’s mouth dropped open.
    “Yes. It drove my mom crazy.”
    “I’ll bet. How long have you been riding?”
    “Years. It started as rebellion and turned into something I really enjoy. I love my Harley.” Rayne’s eyes turned wistful. “It’s a total biker bike, and people don’t always realize a chick’s riding it.”
    “How much of what the tabloids write about you is true?”
    “Some of it.” Rayne let out a quiet snort. “Most of it’s ridiculous. They write that Shaunessy is my lover and then that we’re fighting. They wrote just last month I was having his baby. I’ve only met the guy once, and although he’s gorgeous, he’s also a jerk. He treats women like crap, and I’m not interested in someone like that. Not again, anyway.”
    “He’s got such an incredible voice.” Victoria glanced over at her. “As do you, of course.”
    “Thanks. He definitely has pipes. Not that you would know with all the Auto t une on his vocals.”
    “Autotune?”
    Rayne scowled. “It’s a ‘tool’ used in the studio to help singers with their pitch. They used to use it to polish turds mostly, but now it’s used as an effect, and it’s everywhere. I refuse to use it. I just keep doing the take until it’s right, but Shaunessy thinks it sounds cool…he’s wrong.”
    “Oh! Is it that echo kind of thing?”
    Rayne nodded. “Sort of. When I listen to singers who aren’t particularly good, I hear almost a gulp sound. It’s annoying to me now. Country musicians are the worst offenders.”
    Victoria giggled. “Could it be that you’re just biased because you’re a rock girl? I happen to love Trisha Yearwood and she’s country.”
    Rayne raised a finger to drive home her point. “Ah, but she doesn’t over use auto tune , if she uses it at all , because she can really sing.”
    “Martina McBride?”
    “She can sing.” Rayne laughed. “Don’t keep going, because then I’ll tell you that some of your favorite artists suck and use auto tune, and you’ll never be able to hear them again without it being ruined for you.”
    “Um, he-loh,