I turned and looked up at him, too shocked to say anything. And too afraid that it might shatter the moment, to be honest. Finally, I found my voice. “Don’t play with me. Is this for real? Don’t let me think it’s real if it’s not.”
He kissed me, and before he even explained, I knew the answer. It was real. I felt it in his lips. Everything about the kiss said that his mind was made up; the words he said after he drew back just confirmed it. “It’s absolutely for real. You’re the most important thing to me, Bran. You hit me like a bolt of lightning the first minute I saw you, and your electricity has never stopped knocking me off my feet. Not for one minute since.”
I turned to face Clay and slipped my arms around his neck as I straddled him. He wrapped his arms around my waist and held me as we kissed. “I love you, too, Clay. So much.”
Perfect. Life was completely and utterly perfect in that moment, and whether it would stay that way or not, I felt lucky. After all, moments like that were rare and fleeting, and some people never got any. Whatever the future brought, I’d always have this moment, and I would cherish it.
But, I was blessed, because I knew that I wasn’t going to have to settle for just this one, shining, brief moment of utter perfection. Because I had Clay, and I knew that, with him in my life, I didn’t have to worry. Whatever challenges life threw at us, there was one certainty I could hold on to—he’d be bringing me many more perfect moments, for many years to come.
Epilogue
Brandy
“You know you can’t pack that much. One backpack. That’s it,” Clay reminded me yet again, amusement in his voice as he eyed all of the clothes and toiletries I’d laid out on my bed.
My plan when laying them out all over the mattress was to choose which to take, but all I’d been doing for the past fifteen minutes was stare at them.
“I just don’t know,” I fretted. “I’m trying to predict what I might need. A lot can happen during a three-month long road trip on a motorcycle. How will I know what’s going to come up? How can I possibly limit the things I’m taking to what will fit in just one backpack?”
Clay laughed and wrapped his arms around my waist from behind. “Baby. Trust me. It doesn’t matter what you take.”
I turned around and gave him an “are you crazy?” look. “And how do you figure that?”
He grinned and waggled his eyebrows. “You and me, alone for three months? The last thing you’re gonna need is clothes.”
I kissed him, felt his strong arms around me, and realized he was right. This summer was about us, about spending time together, and about having adventures—of both the clothed and naked variety.
But the most important thing was that it was about trusting Clay, trusting myself, and trusting the universe. Everything would be fine, whether I packed the right hoodie or chose the right two pairs of jeans to put into my backpack.
The only thing that mattered was that Clay and I were together. That was the only thing that would ever matter again.
The End
Someday Series Continues with:
Chasing Perfect
Chasing Perfect (Book 4)
They’d been best friends since elementary school, knew each other’s secrets, and supported each other in times of need…Sandy Cooper and Hunter Blakely were there for each other no matter what…until one epic graduation night changed everything…
For Sandy, her sexy best friend knew too much of the life she wanted to get away from. She wanted to start fresh but also keep the one constant in her life; his unwavering friendship and support. And she was willing to push her growing feelings for him down in order to protect their special friendship.
Hunter always knew that the gorgeous blonde was all he wanted, and even though her rejection hurt, he was willing to do whatever it took to prove to her that they belonged together in every way.
When it comes to Chasing Perfect, sometimes you don’t have to travel very far.
The Someday Series
Note: The first three books are a trilogy and intended to be read in the following order:
Cat & Jace’s Story
Someday Girl (Book 1)
One Day His (Book 2)
Forever Us (Book 3)
Sandy’s story
Chasing Perfect (Book 4)
Brandy’s story
Embracing Reckless (Book 5)
Book Boyfriend (Book 6)
Other Series by Melanie Shawn
Crossroads
Each Crossroads romance is a stand-alone with HEA and plenty of heat along the way
1. My First – Jason & Katie
2. My Last – Riley & Chelle
3. My Only – Alex & Jamie
4. My Everything – Seth & Amber
5. Tempting Love – Haley & Eddie
6. Crazy Love – Krista & Chase
7. Actually Love – Jesse & Zach
8. Fairytale Love – Becca & Brian
Novella: My Love – Bobby & Sophie
9. All He Wants – Billy & Maxi
10. All He Needs – Ace & Stephanie
11. All He Feels – Dax & Ginny
12. All He Desires – Nate & Eliza
13. Just One Night – Josh & Bailey
14. Just One Kiss – Bea & CJ
Wishing Well
Each Wishing Well romance is a stand-alone with HEA and plenty of heat along the way
1. Teasing Destiny
2. Convincing Cara
3. Discovering Harmony
4. Taming Travis
5. Claiming Colton
6. Trusting Bryson
7. Seducing Sawyer
8. Unwrapping Jade
Hope Falls
Each Hope Falls romance is a stand-alone with HEA and plenty of heat along the way
1. Sweet Reunion
2. Sweet Harmonies
3. Sweet Victory
4. Home Sweet Home
Novella: One Sweet Day
5. Snow Angel
6. Snow Days
7. Snowed In
8. Let It Snow
9. Perfect Kiss
10. Secret Kiss
11. Magic Kiss
12. Lucky Kiss
Novella: Christmas Wish
13. Fire and Love
14. Fire and Foreplay
15. Fire and Romance
16. Fire and Temptation
Valentine Bay
Each Valentine Bay romance is a stand-alone with HEA and plenty of heat along the way
1. Protecting My Heart
2. Rescuing His Heart
3. Rocking Her Heart
4. Playing By Heart
Whisper Lake
Each Whisper Lake romance is a stand-alone with HEA and plenty of heat along the way
1. Whisper of Love
2. Whisper of Surrender
3. Whisper of Attraction
4. Whisper of Temptation
Steamy Weekends
Each Steamy Weekends romance is a stand-alone with HEA and plenty of heat along the way
1. Charming Cupid
About the Author
Melanie Shawn is the writing team of sister duo Melanie and Shawna. Originally from Northern California, they both migrated south and now call So Cal their home.
Growing up, Melanie constantly had her head in a book and was always working on short stories, manuscripts, plays and poetry. After graduating magna cum laude from Pepperdine University, she went on to teach grades 2nd through 8th for five years. She now spends her days writing and taking care of her furry baby, a Lhasa Apso named Hercules. In her free time, her favorite activity is to curl up on the couch with that stubborn, funny mutt and binge-watch cable TV shows on DVD (preferably of at least eight seasons in length – a girl’s gotta have her standards!).
Shawna always loved romance in any form – movie, song or literary. If it was a love story with a happy ending, Shawna was all about it! She proudly acknowledges that she is a romanceaholic. Her days are jam-packed with writing
, being a wife, mom aka referee of two teens, and indulging in her second passion (dance!) as a Zumba instructor. In the little free time she has, she joins Melanie in marathon-watching DVDs of their favorite TV programs.
They have joined forces to create a world where True Love and Happily Ever After always has a Sexy Twist!
You can keep up with all the latest Melanie Shawn news, including new releases and contests, at:
melanieshawn.com
and
facebook.com/melanieshawnbooks
Embracing Reckless Page 20