This is So Happening (So Far, So Good Book 2)

by Amelia Kingston

  “Well, then just enjoy torturing all those guys in this dress,” Michelle muses, applying lip gloss to my pout. “I’m going through a penis-free phase too. Let them eat their egotistical, idiotic, unreliable hearts out.”

  I’m a mute passenger along for the ride, not paying attention to where the Uber is taking us until we’re already standing in the parking lot. I stare up at the bar’s neon sign and my stomach twists like a pit of angry snakes.

  “Not here. I can’t,” I plead with Elizabeth, shaking my head hard enough that some of my hair escapes the pinned mess on my head.

  “It looks a little rough, Lizbit,” Michelle says next to me. It’s not the dive bar I object to. It’s the fact that it’s Devin’s dive bar that I have a problem with.

  “I swear, it’s not as shady as it looks. It’ll be fun. They have karaoke tonight!” Elizabeth sings.

  “This is where Devin and I had our first date,” I confess.

  Elizabeth’s kind eyes go wide. “I didn’t know. I’m sorry. Austin didn’t say…” Her voice trails off and she pulls her phone out of her purse. “I’ll grab another Uber and we’ll go somewhere else.” She stares at her phone, biting her lip in concentration. Regret fills her eyes and guilt twists her lips. “The closest one is over twenty minutes away.” She blows out a defeated sigh.

  “Should we go grab a drink while we wait?” Michelle asks. I balk, not wanting to go inside. “I’m sure Devin’s not here.”

  I wince at the sound of his name. I look over to Elizabeth, silently pleading with her to wait outside with me.

  “One drink?” she asks.

  I check my watch, then look up and down the dark street. There isn’t anywhere else to wait. I glue a fake grin on my face. “Sure. Why not?”

  Michelle wraps her arm around mine, doing the same with Elizabeth on the other side, and the three of us stroll into the dive bar like a pack on the prowl. I’m thankful for Michelle’s support at my side when my knees buckle at the memories rushing over me. Devin and me, hiding in a dark corner, kissing and touching. Falling in love.

  “I need a drink.” I dash to the bar, flagging down the bartender. “Tequila,” I call out as soon as he makes eye contact. He pours me a shot. I down it without a chaser, gesturing for another.

  “Wow,” Michelle snickers.

  Elizabeth sets a hand on my forearm, keeping me from taking my second shot. “Are you okay?”

  I nod a half dozen times and chuckle like a lunatic. “Yep. Just dandy,” I answer, shooting back the tequila. I clap my hands together, hard enough to sting my palms. The sound is loud and draws attention even in the rowdy bar.

  Elizabeth is furiously typing on her phone, no doubt urging our Uber driver to risk life and limb speeding to get here sooner. Michelle is oblivious to my suffering. “Let’s dance!” she sings.

  “Sure. Why the fuck not?” I answer, my derision coated in sweetness.

  The three of us gyrate on the dance floor, Michelle having fun, me faking it and Elizabeth looking between us with a worried mother-hen expression. I grab her hands and twist her back and forth, forcing her to dance. “It’s fine. Really. You didn’t know.”

  She bites her lip and glances up at the stage with guilty eyes. The music dies out and the place goes quiet. Everyone turns to the stage. I don’t believe it.

  This can’t be happening.

  Devin can’t be standing on that stage, staring down at me. I squeeze my eyes closed, willing away the dream. The waking nightmare.

  I peel them open, but he’s still standing there, looking as beautiful as ever. He’s tall, dark and tortured. I can’t look away. My masochistic heart soars at the sight, aching to be near him, no matter how much it hurts. At my side, Elizabeth mutters about how sorry she is. She doesn’t matter. Michelle doesn’t matter. All I can see is Devin, standing on stage with his eyes burning through me.

  I take in a sharp breath when he steps up to the microphone and his delicious voice bellows, “This song is for Jessica Allen. I love you, JB. And I’m all in.”

  My mouth drops open and tears prick my eyes as Devin begins to sing Nirvana’s All Apologies with sweet soulfulness. He hates talking and loathes singing. I can’t imagine anything Devin Bennett would hate more than being on that stage right now in front of a bunch of rowdy drunks. And yet, he closes his eyes and commits to each and every lyric, singing his apology to me. For me.

  I listen to his deep and tender song, gravitating towards the stage. Leave it to Devin to use his actions instead of his words. His apology isn’t a rehearsed speech about how much I mean to him or a blurted-out confession of his deepest feelings. He’s showing me what he’ll do to make me happy, to keep me. And it’s enough. It’s everything. Tears are streaming down my face when he stops. He opens his eyes again, searching for me. They flash with panic when he doesn’t find me where I used to be standing.

  I smile up at him from the edge of the stage. “Down here, Big Man.”

  Relief washes over his features and he jumps off the stage, sweeping me into his arms. The room erupts in applause and I can’t help but let out a self-conscious laugh. Devin doesn’t bother looking up or acknowledging his fans. He’s cupping my face, wiping away my tears that don’t seem to be stopping any time soon.

  “I’m sorry,” he murmurs against my lips.

  “I got that.”

  “I love you,” he adds quickly, ignoring my sass.

  “Took you long enough to say it.”

  His eyes sear into me and a growl rumbles in his chest. “Where you go, I go.”

  “You mean that?” I’m almost afraid to ask.

  He nods with a slow smile. I seal my lips with his, accepting his apology and everything else he’s willing to give me. The bar erupts in hoots and cheers, but I don’t care. I love this strong, complicated, brooding man. And he loves me.

  I break the kiss and drop my forehead against his and chest, overwhelmed by the joy filling my heart.

  I slide my hands to his chest and grab two handfuls of his shirt, my lips twisting up in a teasing simper. “So, guess we should get married then, huh?” I ask, expecting him to laugh. Or run.

  Devin’s face goes stoic and he pushes me away. My heart skitters to a stop.

  “I-I was just kidding,” I stammer, kicking myself for ruining the moment with a stupid joke.

  “I’m not.” A devious grin appears on that beautiful face when Devin drops to one knee in front of me. He fishes a small diamond ring out of his pocket and holds it up. “Told you. I’m all in, hummingbird.”

  I gasp, at a complete loss for words except for “Holy shit!” My hands are shaking and my tears have started to fall again.

  Devin chuckles before swallowing hard. “That a yes?”

  I nod, speechless, and he slides the ring onto my trembling finger.

  Devin stands, wrapping his arms around my waist and spinning me in the air while I giggle into his neck, inhaling the mouth-watering scent of citrus, gas and man.

  He sets me down on weak knees. I shake my head, still in shock. I went from brokenhearted to engaged in the length of a single song. It’s fast, but it’s right. I stare up into those soulful black eyes and smile. “See, I told you, Big Man. This is so happening.”

  Epilogue

  Jessie

  Seven years later

  “Robbie, no!” I shout at my trouble-seeking two-year-old, who’s reaching for a screwdriver, eager to poke his own eye out. Dark hair and darker eyes, he’s the spitting image of his dad. Good thing too, because he’s got so much energy I’d have abandoned him at a Chuck E. Cheese if he weren’t so damn cute. Rob, the man he was named after, snatches the tool away in the nick of time, causing a torrential downpour from my little one’s eyes.

  Hearing my exasperated sigh, Grandpa Rob sweeps up the dramatic toddler. “How about we play with a carburetor? A nice, safe, no-pointy-edges carburetor?” Robbie giggles and grabs for the salt-and-pepper push-broom on Rob’s lip. The old man lets out a warm laugh
. “I’ll take that as a yes.”

  “Thank you,” I mouth, reminding myself to petition for sainthood for him later.

  Mandy and Becs sneak into the shop, giggling like schoolgirls.

  “Everything all set?” I ask them.

  “The sign’s up, balloons and everything,” Mandy muses.

  “Balloons?” I ask with a laugh.

  “I know, he’s going to hate them!” Becs adds with sinister little-sister amusement.

  Mandy tips her head towards the shop. “You going to go get the man of the hour?”

  I nod and peer through the window to see Devin and Avery, thick as thieves as usual. Avery looks like me, blonde hair and bright green eyes. But she is most definitely her father’s daughter. She’s quiet and contemplative, with more patience than I’ll ever have. At five, she’s more at home under the hood of a car than she is on a playground. I used to dress her in skirts and pretty frilly shirts, but gave up when they all came back torn to shreds or covered in grease. I’d be mad, except it’s just too adorable. Mandy made a tiny pair of overalls for Avery and now she wipes her hands on her pants, just like her daddy.

  Devin and I had a nice long engagement, waiting over a year until Becs could come back from her Freshman year at Notre Dame to be my maid of honor. We also had a couple busy honeymoon years traveling around while I worked on my grant. But he didn’t waste a minute getting me pregnant once we moved back home. Avery was born six months after we moved into our new house. Devin refused to put her down for the first few months and I thought she’d never get the chance to learn to walk. I’ve never seen him happier than the day he found out he was going to be a dad. Both times, he grinned so wide I thought he was going to hurt himself.

  “What’cha workin’ on, babe?” I call out to the duo.

  “Mommie!” Avery chirps, dashing over to me. I wrap her in a big hug, grease stains be damned.

  Devin strolls over, looking as sexy as the first day I saw him—tall, dark and devastatingly handsome. Only this time he’s not scowling. He’s smiling at me, holding our daughter. He leans down and kisses the tip of my nose.

  “You look tired,” he scolds.

  I let out a sigh at the familiar chiding. “I know. The reopening for the flower shop isn’t going according to plan. But once they’re up and running, I’ll take a week off. I promise.”

  He groans at my side, accepting my compromise. With Professor P.’s help, I was able to start up a permanent program here at home to help small businesses like our auto shop. It keeps me busy, with every new client bringing a new challenge. Plus, I’m helping people, keeping our community thriving. I love it. But some weeks are longer than others. I still try to do too much at once. I still have trouble saying no. But Devin keeps me balanced, making sure I take time to enjoy our family too.

  I hold out my hand to him and try to control the grin. “I’ve got something to show you.”

  He growls low and annoyed. My Big Man still hates surprises, but I don’t care. He’s going to like this one. I drag him out front of the shop, making sure to keep him facing me so he doesn’t see the sign until I’m good and ready.

  “If the alternator’s gone in that piece of junk, I’m getting rid of it. I don’t care—”

  Mandy, Rob, Becs, my brothers and parents, Sean, Mikey, Shelley and a couple of new guys pop out from behind the cars in the parking lot. We all shout “surprise!” at him in unison.

  I spin him around and Devin stares up at the new sign that reads ‘Bennett Auto and Repair’. His mouth drops open and his forehead wrinkles in confusion.

  “We bought it,” I tell him, setting Avery down and letting her run to Auntie Becs, her favorite person in the world after her dad. I do a double take at how close Jamie is standing to Becs and he steps away. I make a mental note to grill them both about that later.

  “What?” Devin asks again, dumbfounded.

  I wrap my arms around my sexy husband. “We own the shop. Or we will, after a few more years of payments. Rob’s retiring, and it’s all ours now.”

  “How? Why?” he asks, a wide smile letting me know it’s starting to sink in.

  “The how is a very intricate and complicated story that involves me being a little nefarious and keeping secrets from you, so let’s not go there. The why is simple. Because it’s home.”

  Devin shakes his head in disbelief. “I love you,” he coos.

  I giggle. “Yeah, I figured.”

  A few hours of fun and congratulations later, and our new shop has gone quiet.

  “Let’s go, kiddos,” Mandy’s voice calls from the shop door.

  Avery cheers from Devin’s lap, “We’re spending the night with Grandpa and Grandma!”

  Devin tucks a strand of her golden hair behind her ear. “Is that so?”

  I glance over at Devin. His eyes dance mischievously when I answer, “Yep.”

  Hugs and goodnight kisses complete, Devin and I are alone. He pushes his sleeves up his arms, leans against the hood of a car and smiles at me. I go weak at the knees at the sexy sight.

  “Well, Big Man, what did you have in mind for this evening?” I saunter over to him, stepping between his thick thighs and wrapping my arms around his neck.

  He slips his arms around my waist, dipping to my ass as he kisses along my collarbone, sinking lower and lower into my chest. “Well, JB. I was thinking, to christen our new shop, I could fuck you on the hood of this car. For old times’ sake. “

  “Aren’t you sentimental.”

  He spins us, gripping the outside of my thighs and propping me up on the hood of the car, sliding his hand into my hair and claiming my lips with a devastating kiss. I grab his wrist, holding on for dear life while his kiss consumes me. He tangles his tongue with mine, teasing me with a promise of the pleasure it’s going to give me when it heads farther south. Devin moans into my lips, hunger growing within him.

  He kisses along my jaw, nipping at my neck with a rough tenderness that makes me love him with every inch of my soul.

  “I love the hell out of you, Devin Bennett.” I kiss him with everything I have. Everything he’s given me. “How about we work on making baby number three?”

  “Oh, this is so happening,” he groans.

  Want to see more like this?

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  Beautiful Sinners:

  Secrets, Lies and Vegas

  Pamela L. Todd

  Excerpt

  Excitement fizzed in my stomach as I followed the girls, who talked a million miles a minute and barely paused to take a breath. We walked into the restaurant…or was it a circus tent? Soft, floaty material of all colors was our ceiling and the wall panels displayed vintage art from the big tops of days gone by. In fact, the only clue that we hadn’t stepped into a 1940s circus was the window that overlooked the world-famous fountain display. It took my breath away even in daylight, but now, lit up against the backdrop of darkness, I could barely tear my eyes away.

  Hayley introduced us to the hostess, who led us to our table, the most central in the restaurant. Eve scanned the room, her hunter instincts on full alert as she surveyed her prey. Beth looped arms with hers, giggling in her ear.

  The moment our waiter appeared, Hayley ordered a bottle of champagne.

  “Well, I think we should make a toast,” Hayley announced once our glasses had been filled.

  “Here, here,” Eve said, raising her glass. “To Marley! For without her, I would never have met that cute investment banker from Chicago.”

  Hayley rolled her eyes. “Yes, Eve, that was exactly what I was thinking.”

  Beth giggled, flipping her long, shiny black hair over one shoulder. “Yeah, because it should be about Ken from Kentucky.”

  I snorted a laugh. “You do remember that his name wasn’t actually Ken? And the fact that he only put up with the nickname was because you left your bra pinned to the wall in Coyote Ugly and he could see your nipples through your dress?”

  Beth wagg
led her eyebrows. “Well, I do have very nice nipples.”

  “You should send that to Hallmark,” Hayley said. “Okay, in all seriousness guys, I really do want to make a toast to Marley.”

  Beth and Eve raised their glasses, eyes on Hayley as they waited for her toast.

  “Marley, you know we love you,” Hayley said with a smile, “and I think it goes without saying that this trip has been ridiculously overdue. So here’s to our last night, and going as hard as we can.”

  “To Marley!” Beth and Eve chorused, chinking their glasses at mine.

  I forced a smile and took a gulp of champagne, which tasted sour on my tongue. That toast, whilst heartfelt, felt like a needle in my heart. It was just another reminder of how different I was from my friends.

  Eve tossed back the remainder of her drink. As she placed the empty glass on the table, her eyes darted between us all when she noticed us staring. “What are you all looking at? You said go hard.”

  “I said hard, not sloppy,” Hayley said, shaking her head, the small smile pulling at her lips, ruining any scolding she may have intended. She tugged on the end of Eve’s shoulder-length blonde hair. “You might want to pin this up before bed, because no one will be holding it back for you.”

  Eve leaned closer to Hayley, pursing her glossy red lips. “Honey, I plan on burning all the alcohol out of my system with vigorous exercise.”

  Beth laughed. “Let’s make a toast to that!”

  We ordered our food when the waiter returned, Beth and Eve still sizing up their potential prey. I circled the rim of my glass with my fingertip and felt a set of eyes on me. Hayley studied me with her curious blue eyes, a tiny crease between her eyebrows.

  Out of everyone, it was Hayley I was closest to, the first out of this group of girls I’d met. They pulled me into their orbit in a blur of cocktails and club music. Beneath the man-eating exterior of these women were big hearts and kinder spirits. I adored them all, but Hayley was the one I felt the deepest bond with. But like any close relationship, it had its perks and its downsides. Like right now, when I knew she could see more than the others.