by Ember Leigh
I throw my head back and laugh wildly, some mixture of insane, profound glee and happy tears. I am equal parts shocked and not surprised at all. I throw my arms around him and squeal. Applause erupts around us, and I can hear my family cheering from the video call.
“Oh, my God, I forgot the ring!” Weston exclaims. He digs in his pocket and produces a simple silver band with glittering green inlaid stones. He slides it on my ring finger, his hand shaking slightly. “It matches our necklaces.”
“I love it so much,” I whisper as he kisses every square inch of my face. “I love you so much.”
I relish it all. The love, the attention, the way our lives fit together like puzzle pieces now. Because this is a big love. This is the type of love I never thought I’d find in my life. This is the type of love that even I was ready to write off.
Until Weston came along and reminded me that I could dream bigger.
“You didn’t technically answer after I asked you,” he tells me, scooping my hands into his between our chests.
“Oh, was I unclear?”
“No, I just want to hear it again,” he says, expelling a deep breath.
“Yes, Weston. I will marry you. Gladly. Over and over again.”
“Can we not get married on a beach, though?” He asks with a laugh. “I feel like I’m a little burnt out on beach weddings.”
“Let’s get married in the Himalayas,” I say offhandedly. From behind us, a champagne cork goes POP. Everyone around us is celebrating and chattering and whooping. For us. For our love.
“Or what about Australia?” he asks.
“Mmmm. Sub-Saharan Africa?”
He grins and then presses a kiss to my lips. “Actually, I take it back. We can get married on the beach. Hell, we can get married in a trash can. I don’t care. I just want it to happen. With you at my side, I know it’ll be epic.”
“Careful, this is starting to sound like a Dr. Seuss rhyme,” I tell him, before snagging another juicy kiss from his lips.
“We can hammer out a few stanzas for the graphic novel,” he says. The graphic novel that he’s been adding to slowly over the past year. And if that wasn’t the sign that this man was for me—beyond owning the same gorgeous necklace for no apparent reason—then I don’t know what would be.
Dominic appears at our sides, holding two champagne flutes, which he presses into our hands. “You two ready to join your own damn party? Or are you just going to be stuck in your own world all evening?”
“Probably more the latter than the former,” Weston says with a laugh.
And isn’t that just how it goes? From day three onward, Weston and I have been living in our own world. Full of our own jokes. Our own sunrises. Our own bliss.
“Don’t worry,” Dom admits in a low voice. “I get it.” He squeezes his brother’s shoulder. “I’m happy for you two. You both look insanely happy. And that’s all that matters. I wish you both a thriving, happy future.” Dominic squeezes my arm. “Sister-in-law.”
Weston’s eyes are shining as he looks back at me. More tears are coming now, and I can’t even stop them. Because this is so much more than just finding the most amazing man. He comes with a great family. I now have new people to turn to. More amazing people that constitute my trusted network of awesomeness.
Because holy hell. I found the life of my wildest dreams.
No, scratch that.
I found a life better than my wildest dreams.
THE END
Need more Daly moments? We’ve got one last brother to meet in MAKE ME HOT: a friends-to-lovers rom-com featuring the youngest brother Maverick as he joins a cutthroat food competition with his best friend, the aspiring silks performer Scarlett.
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Make Me Lose
The first Bayshore novel
Grayson Daly and I aren’t just rivals. We’re enemies.
Born minutes apart on the same day in the same hospital, our parents thought this meant we were somehow destined to be together. We knew were we just destined to beat each other.
Competition boiled over until junior year, when the cold war turned into an unexpected peace offering. Maybe my hormones allowed me to notice his broad shoulders, stormy gray-blue eyes, and soccer star’s chiseled frame. But after I fell for him…he stomped all over my heart.
Ten years later, I’m at the top of the realty game in Bayshore and Grayson is just a distant memory. Until he shows up from NYC, his ego bigger than a skyscraper, and asks me to sell the house he recently inherited.
It’s easy to say no. Even though I want to climb him like the jungle gyms we used to dangle from in strong arm battles.
But I forgot that Gray doesn’t take no for an answer. And that he isn’t content unless he’s defeating me.
He butts into my evenings on the boat. Ropes me into water skiing battles. Even shows up at the bar and creates a scene when I’m scouting a date to the upcoming Bicentennial Ball.
It’s almost like he’s gunning to win me.
But if he wins, that means I lose. And I’m not ready to cede victory just yet.
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Make Me Fall
The 2nd Bayshore novel
There’s one rule in my family.
Stay away from the Daly brothers.
We were raised to know them as users. Manipulators. But I only ever saw Connor as the enigmatic senior hottie who dropped into fifth period to teach us about the perils of drunk driving.
So when my first big girl job out of college ends up with us working at the same company, it’s heart throb city all over again. Except he’s way ahead of the game. Successful, talented, put together. I’m just a frumpy twenty-something in a quarter life crisis who doesn’t know a glue stick from a makeup highlighter.
He would never want me, even though he’s all I ever wanted in secret. So when we cross paths one night at the bar and one drink leads to another, he slaps me with an offer I can’t refuse.
Accompany him back to Bayshore, flight included.
Only stipulation? Pose as his girlfriend.
Our families will flip, but I’m not strong enough to say no to those baby blues, especially if it means I’ll have a chance to spend the next two weeks with my adolescent heart throb.
We’ve got two weeks to prove we’re head over heels for each other. Which is just enough time to make me fall.
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Make Me Yours
The 3rd Bayshore novel
As one of the best matchmakers in the industry, I could find a rotting stump its Prince Charming.
After a bad break-up forces me to uproot and start over, I’m feeling a lot like a rotting stump in need of a spa day. So when I find my dream gig in a new city, this is a chance for me to wipe the slate sparkling clean—professionally and romantically.
But this new gig has a few problems. The biggest one being that the man I have to match off is someone I went to high school with. Not only that, he’s less Prince Charming and more King Asshole.
Varsity baseball star turned rock star cardiologist. One of the hottest guys you’ve ever seen in the flesh. But also one of the most untouchable men ever, because five minutes around this man shows m
e he stops for nobody.
The holier-than-thou eldest Daly brother, who is only looking for a wife-of-convenience, even though his ice-blue gaze and chiseled jaw could send a woman to the ER.
Worse yet? There’s more to King Asshole than I thought. I know his perfect love match…and it looks a lot like me.
Except I’m not falling for the ‘dating in the professional pool’ trick again. So this thing between us? Just once—er, twice…nope, thrice—and done.
Even though the longer this goes on, the more I think Dom is trying to make me his.
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READ THE BREAKING SERIES
Breaking The Rules
Book #1 in The Breaking Series
Travis Holt never expected the one person who could throw him off his game to roll back into town. As the successful owner of Holt Body Fitness, he was sure he would win his upcoming MMA fight…until his best friend’s little sister showed up.
For Travis, there's only ever been one rule: stay away from his best friend's sister. But Amara Valenzuela has transformed from meek and sweet to a woman that Travis can’t keep his eyes—or hands—off of. Before long, however, Travis learns that being with Amara isn’t just breaking the rules. She’s a dangerous distraction.
In a room full of hot, hard, sweaty bodies, these two have more than fitness on their minds. Will the undefeated MMA fighter be strong enough to resist the charms of his best friend's sexy and sweet little sister…or will trying to win her heart be the showdown of his life?
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Changing The Game
Book #2 of The Breaking Series
A half-cocked hellion and a woman looking for safety both have secrets that could ruin their second chance.
Even though the only woman Lexington Olivo ever loved walked away five years ago, fate has brought her back. Now he’s on the road to redemption, determined to prove he can be a better man than he was before…but is the darkness of his past really gone?
After a tumultuous relationship with Lex ended five years ago, Lila knows her safest bet is to keep her distance. But Lex is clean, sober, successful now…and as sexy as he ever was. So when he wants a second chance, her heat and body crave the intensity he ignites within her, and she can’t refuse.
But this time, Lila’s the one with a secret. One that’s been five years in the making and will change the game for both of them. And while Lex is busy proving himself, the past comes pounding on his door. The gang he used to fight for wants him back. This time, they won’t take no for an answer.
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Breaking The Sinner
Book #3 of The Breaking Series
She picked the name Gen.
As a religious exile who fled her community only to land in LA, Genevieve couldn’t be greener. Armed with a list of experiences she’s eager to live, she’s diving headfirst into the choppy waters of normal society. Then she meets Cobra. There’s nothing normal about the resident gym bad boy who struts around like he could undress her with his eyes alone.
And he goes by Cobra.
Cobra knows better than to believe in blessings. Snagging this stable job at Holt Body Fitness is the only break of luck he’s had since his life took a nosedive as a teen, but it’s just a matter of time before this goes downhill too. Which is why when ultra-innocent Gen stumbles onto his bleak path, he’s eager for the distraction provided by the oblivious bombshell. He can help her live her list—but only so far. Because Cobra’s only good at being temporary.
They both have lives they left far behind them.
Setting three months to wade through Gen’s list of sins, the two of them plunge headfirst into something equals parts sizzling and intense. As Cobra inches nearer to securing his permanent spot at the gym, he comes even closer to a scary new reality. One that might be too good to be true. One that will force him to choose between the only family he’s ever known, and the one thing he swore to never need: love.
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Breaking the Habit
Book #4 of The Breaking Series
He’s on a war path to fame.
And Levi Swain doesn’t care who knows it. The more people that know him, the better. As the hottest MMA rising star, opportunities are materializing out of thin air. When a wealthy sponsor approaches him, looking to have Levi cause a tabloid-worthy scandal, Levi only knows how to say yes. He didn’t come to war to lose.
Except he never counted on meeting Riley. The glam-shy bombshell who won’t touch fame with a ten-foot selfie stick. Levi planned on her ending up another notch on the bedpost, where every girl ends up. Instead, Riley is everything he wasn’t looking for.
Out here in Hollywood? He can have fame, or he can have true love.
But he can’t have both.
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Breaking The Fall
Book #5 of The Breaking Series
In the live music industry, Eddie Valenzuela’s seen enough bands to know what good really sounds like. During one wild night out, he collides headfirst with an up-and-coming singer who puts ‘good’ to shame. She’s got the voice, the look, and holy hell, the body too. But after a sizzling week together, the singer who seemed like Mrs. Right turns out to be Mrs. Not Quite Right when she disappears without so much as an Instagram handle.
Fiona Frank’s only goal in life was to make it big doing what she loved: playing music. And her hard work paid off, in the form a big-time record deal that has her doing TV shows, radio spots, and even her first international tour. Her career is built on spurning love and staying single, though she’s never been opposed to the occasional lover. As long as they don’t last. And she’ll do whatever it takes to make sure that the world falls in love with The Sin Girl.
But she wasn’t ready for the positive pregnancy test on her first international tour. There’s only one man that could be the father: Eddie. While Fiona grapples with the next steps, Eddie goes gung ho being the family man she never asked for, and the pressure from the label is mounting. If they discover her secret, she can kiss her contract goodbye.
Which means she has to figure out how to break her fall.
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