“But we were still lucky we were never threatened,” Brian muttered.
“Yes. They had to eventually know you went into the Army. It might have taken a few years to find you, but they probably figured if you would have really seen anything, someone would have shown up at their doors. We think the basement downstairs was a meeting place, and that’s why they were gathered together on the pier that night.”
“Really?” Brian asked. “That makes sense after the fact, with the clothing, furniture and television that we saw ten years ago.”
“But you always had people watching us, didn’t you?” Ashley asked.
“I did,” Jake answered. “I’ve actually had eyes on all four of you for years.”
“I hope that we don’t have any more trouble,” Jeff said, laying his hands over Michelle’s shoulders where she sat at the island.
“So do I,” Jake confessed. “There’s always the possibility that we’re wrong, but I think not. Anyway, your parents said they’re done hiding. So, here we are.”
Ashley nodded her agreement. “My parents are getting to know each other again, and so are Brian’s.”
“And then everyone’s coming here to stay with us from Thanksgiving through Christmas.” Brian grimaced. “We’re supposed to help them decide how to move forward.”
Jeff grinned. “That should be interesting.”
Ashley smiled. “I think it’ll be fun.”
Brian stood up. “Well, I say let’s drop the subject for now, and try and go on with our lives.”
“I’ll second that,” Jeff murmured, holding up his coffee mug.
“And I think I’ll get out of your hair and let all of you continue with your celebration,” Jake said, standing and walking toward the door. “I’m sure I’ll see everyone soon.”
“Thanks for everything, Jake,” Ashley said as Jake walked through the door.
Peeking back inside the kitchen through the doorway, Jake looked grim. “I still have my work cut out for me, finding the local traffickers. I only wish I could give all of you back the last ten years.”
Brian said reassuringly, “But thanks to you, all of us, along with our families, at least have a future to look forward to.”
Everyone murmured their agreement as Jake held up his hand in farewell.
Epilogue
Three Weeks Later.
They’d had their usual lunch at the Dragonfly Pointe Inn, and despite the fact that it was rather cool today, Brian had insisted on taking Ashley for a walk to the top of Crystal Rock. He was acting kind of strange, Ashley thought, but she’d dressed a little warmer than usual and had gone along with what he wanted.
Despite the whipping wind and brisk cool breeze, he’d taken her into his arms and kissed her rather thoroughly.
And that had been that. He’d escorted her back down to the beach and they’d continued across the beach toward the parking lot, where he’d opened the passenger door of his truck for her before walking around and slipping behind the wheel.
Ashley looked at him curiously. “Is something wrong?”
When he laughed, he sounded nervous. “No. Why would you ask that?”
“You’re acting kind of weird.”
“I had to stick with tradition,” he murmured, speaking so softly, she could barely make out his words.
He was nervous alright. What in the world was going on?
She’d try some attempts at normal conversation. “Thank you for coming up with that money for remodeling those two bathrooms.”
“It’s nothing. I didn’t spend very much when I was on my own in the service.” He looked at her with a grin. “Our parents would have had to use our bathroom when they were visiting.”
“It’ll be nice to have them out of the way, because most of the other work involves things that we can do ourselves to save money, like stripping wallpaper. It would have taken me months to do what the guys have nearly finished in three weeks with the bathrooms.”
Brian looked surprised. “You can do plumbing and tiling too?”
“I sure can. But doing it on your own when you’re working another job can be really difficult. As a matter of fact, I did most of the work in our bathroom, but it was over a six-month time period, and I wasn’t living in the house yet.”
Reaching the access road, Brian turned into the driveway and into the open barn.
“I suppose we’re going to have to start keeping it closed during the day. Soon, we’re going to get snow,” she murmured.
“I wonder if we could rig some kind of auto opener?”
“We should probably build a garage someday.”
“Especially if we use the barn for business or special events.”
After Brian slid the barn door closed, he wrapped an arm around her shoulders as they headed toward the house.
“Close your eyes,” Brian murmured, when they reached the back porch.
“Okay,” she muttered. “What’s going on?”
* * *
Brian had to peek inside the kitchen to make sure that Michelle and Jeff had already come and gone, and he breathed a sigh of relief, grinning when he saw everything that they’d done.
“Alright, keep your eyes closed,” Brian said, guiding her into the kitchen. “I’ll tell you when you can open them.”
“It smells like a flower shop in here.”
“Alright,” Brian murmured. “You can open your eyes.”
Her eyes sprang open, and when she looked around the room in wonder, she suddenly began to cry.
Besides the balloons floating through the air, there were vases of flowers everywhere, and Brian couldn’t figure how they’d managed to get a hold of so many roses, especially the lavender ones, which Ashley had confessed were her favorites.
“Oh, Brian. They’re so beautiful,” she murmured, covering her face with her hands. “I love you so much.”
Brian stilled, before pulling her into his arms. “Say that again, Ash?”
“You heard me,” she growled, burying her face against his chest. “Now it’s your turn.”
Brian answered hoarsely, “I love you Ashley. I always have and I always will.”
As she cried softly, he continued to hold her for several more minutes.
He cleared his throat. “There’s one more thing. But I kind of need for you to look at me while I’m asking.”
As he reluctantly let her loose, he awkwardly bent down on one knee, grimacing. “Shoot. My knee’s a little stiff with the cold weather.”
But with tears running down her face, Ashley looked like she was in shock when Brian pulled a box from his pocket.
“You had to know this was coming,” he murmured.
Ashley punched him in the shoulder and grinned. “Out with it.”
“I think I knew from the moment we met that I was going to be asking you to marry me someday.” He sighed. “I hope you will, Ash?”
“It took me a while to figure it out, but I think I’ve always known it was you, Brian,” she said softly. “Of course, I want to marry you. Can I see the ring now?”
Brian laughed, and then opened the box.
“Brian. Oh, my God.” Ashley began crying again. “It’s so beautiful. How in the world did you ever find a purple diamond? Come to think of it, how did you know it’s what I’d love to have?”
“Remember what I told you once Ash? I know you, and I listen.” Taking the ring from its box, he slipped it over her finger.
Ashley cleared her throat. “Brian? What would you think about the two of us getting married during the holidays?”
“I’d marry you tomorrow if you wanted me to.” He looked at her quizzically. “Why so quickly?”
She was looking at him uncertainly, nervously running her hands across her stomach. “I’m not one-hundred percent certain, of course. I’ve been using birth control and I’ve never been pregnant before, but…”
A slow smile crossed over his face. “Oh, Babe. You mean we might be having a kid? I can’t tell you ho
w happy that makes me.”
“Really?”
“Come here,” he growled, picking her up and lifting her high in the air.
“Brian. Be careful. You’ll hurt your leg.”
“How about sealing that with a Spooktacular kiss?” he murmured softly, after resting her back on the ground, bending over and kissing her deeply, passionately.
Until they started hearing a strange popping noise in the background.
Brian broke away to see what was going on.
“Spook,” Ashley cried. “Stop popping those balloons.”
Brian couldn’t believe his eyes, watching the cat bouncing through the air, hopping after balloons and ribbons as if he was springing from a trampoline.
When Brian’s eyes met Ashley’s, he pulled her into his arms, and they both started laughing, supporting and holding each other steady.
Now, and for the rest of their lives.
A Note from the Author
I hope you’ve enjoyed That Incredible Kiss, the third story in my Kissed By Fate series.
I’ll be releasing Restoration, my second Tale From Dragonfly Pointe, during the next few months, which is Michelle and Jeff’s story.
My mean girl, Ashley, and the love of her life, Brian, were introduced in Two Hearts’ Christmas Wish, my fourth Two Hearts Wounded Warrior romance. I’m pretty sure that anyone reading that story would be surprised to see how Ashley transformed into a sensitive caring individual. But she always had it in her, and after a few hard knocks in life, she finally grew up. One of my favorite writing challenges is to create characters who seem to be totally unlikeable, but have a inner strength and depth that ends up surprising you.
Be sure to watch for each of my latest wounded warrior romances introduced in the Irresistible Romance collection featuring NYT & USA Today Bestselling Authors. The Irresistible Boxsets are a new addition to the Authors’ Billboard Collection and are only going to feature brand new stories.
Happy Reading!!
Tammy
Want to do something to make sure our men and women wounded warriors are never forgotten? Why not donate to The Wounded Warrior Project?
Your generous, tax deductible donation to Wounded Warrior Project® (WWP) will change the lives of over one hundred thousand injured warriors, caregivers, and family members. You will help bring independence back to our nation’s most severely wounded veterans.
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About the Author
Writing steamy yet sweet compassionate stories of fate that are wonderfully romantic, Tamara Ferguson is the multi-award winning, #1 international and USA TODAY BESTSELLING AUTHOR of the Tales of the Dragonfly Romance Suspense Series, the Kissed By Fate Series, the Two Hearts Wounded Warrior Romance Series, the Daydreams & Dragonflies Sweet Romance Series, and the Tales From Dragonfly Pointe Short Story Series.
Since 2015, she’s earned more than 30 awards in the multiple genres of mystery, romantic suspense, short story fiction, novellas, women’s fiction, new adult romance and military fiction for her series titles, including the Bronze, Silver and Gold Medals from Readers’ Favorite and 12 awards from the Independent Authors’ Network, including the 2019 OUTSTANDING FICTION NOVELLA WINNER For Two Hearts Under Fire.
A member of the RWA, the Authors' Billboard and the Independent Authors' Book Network, her stories have been included in several #1 bestselling anthologies.
Since she remains a full-time caregiver for an autistic son (along with a bunch of adopted pets!), you can usually find Tammy working at home, where she spends a lot of time not completing her numerous home improvement projects, because she's writing or helping author friends promote their books on twitter.
That Unbelievable Kiss
Kissed by Fate Book 4
Get It At Amazon Soon
An Excerpt
Coming in 2020
Chapter One
As Matthew Lancaster, Jr. sat behind his desk, he stared at her dispassionately. “As you know, with so much more competition for construction jobs around town, we’re not acquiring the number of contracts we used to, so we’ve had to begin downsizing. I’m sorry, but we’re going to have to let you go.”
Staring dumbly at her boss, Karen Andres couldn’t believe what she was hearing. “I don’t understand. You’re laying me off?”
“Sorry,” he answered, turning his attention to the paperwork on his desk.
But he didn’t look sorry at all.
“I’m the bookkeeper,” she answered. “Your father promised, no matter what, this job was mine for as long as I needed it.”
Junior shrugged. “Dad has handed over the reins of the business to me, and my brother Scott is supposed to help run things when he opts out of the Army, so I’ve decided to make some changes. We’re no longer in need of your services. My wife can handle the books.”
His wife? Geez, what a joke. Bunnie barely knew how to use a computer, let alone manage the books.
Suddenly, Karen knew why she was probably being let go. Matt Lancaster, Jr. had been running his father’s construction company into the ground, and since Matt Lancaster, Sr. had retired two years ago, everything had gone from bad to worse.
Karen’s heart sank. She and her younger brother Ben were going to be in deep trouble financially. Ben was diabetic, and without the insurance, what would they do? He had problems with low blood sugar episodes of hypoglycemia, so he had to be monitored continuously.
Karen bit her lip before asking, “What about our health insurance?”
He looked into her eyes and frowned. “You probably know more about the requirements than I do.”
“Yes, I do. But I would have to pay quite a bit into the program to be able to retain it. Please don’t let me go. My brother is diabetic, and I’m his legal guardian. I don’t know how I’m going to manage without this job.”
For a moment, Junior squirmed uncomfortably as Karen stared into his eyes.
Spinning his seat around and staring through the window, he answered, “I’m sorry. There’s nothing I can do.”
“Alright,” Karen said, standing up. “It’ll take me a little time to pack up the things in my office.”
“That’s fine,” he answered. “Take all the time you need.”
Taking in a deep breath, Karen opened the door leading into the outer office, giving Matthew Lancaster’s secretary a sad smile as she passed by her desk.
Lisa’s mouth gaped open momentarily. “No—not you too Karen?”
“I’m afraid so. I’m off to pack up my office.”
Lisa glared at the closed door leading into Matthew’s office. “I suspect there won’t even be a company anymore at the rate he’s screwing things up. I might not have a job very much longer either. I can’t figure out why Sr. doesn’t do something about it.”
Karen became thoughtful. “You know what, Lisa? I can’t figure it out either. I’d better get moving. Jr. said I could take my time but knowing him and the way he’s been behaving, he’ll call a security guard to escort me out.”
Lisa glanced at her watch, hesitating. “Have you got a second, Kare? I’ve got a break coming up. I didn’t expect him to lay you off, so there’s something I think I should tell you about.”
What was up? Lisa had a strange look on her face.
Opening the d
oor leading into the hallway, Karen swept her hand through the air. “Why don’t you walk along with me to my office?
After strolling down the corridor, Lisa followed her into the office, sitting on the chair in front of Karen’s desk. “There was something Jr. was saying the other night that was puzzling me.”
But Karen was slightly distracted, as she took a seat behind her desk. Although she wondered if it was worth the effort, maybe she did owe something to Matthew Lancaster, Sr? He’d been really close to Dad and had hired her as a high school student simply because she was a whiz with computers.
When Lisa’s words finally registered, an alarm went off in Karen’s head.
Karen’s eyes met Lisa’s.
Lisa bit her lip and sighed. “I’m pretty sure I wasn’t supposed to hear the conversation, because Jr. quit talking when I brought him the paperwork he requested. But when I opened the door, right before I walked inside, I hesitated and couldn’t help listening.”
Not too concerned, Karen rolled her eyes. She was more worried about how she and Ben were going to make ends meet. “What did he say?”
Lisa said, “I could swear he said that he was going to have an audit done on the company records.”
“But why would he do that? The records would just get him into trouble. Unless…” Karen’s mouth gaped open.
Lisa looked uncertain.
Karen’s mouth finally closed, and she spoke. “No? He wouldn’t be that much of a scum ball. Would he?”
Lisa shrugged. “He did lay you off mid-month.”
“Which would give him time not only to adjust all the records, but possibly accuse me of absconding with funds. Although something like that would be hard to prove if anyone looked at my bank accounts. But then again, I do have direct deposit, so the company has my banking information. He’d be able to deposit a large sum of money into my account without me being aware of it.”
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