by Leigh Lennon
Her eyes are wide with anticipation, the gray sparkling as vibrant as the evening stars. She’s a vision, more so than any other time I’ve seen her. Maybe it’s because she’s here of her own choosing.
“Yes, chéri, I did mean it. I meant every word.”
She drops her duffel bag and jumps into my arms. I slam the door behind us because now that she’s here—she’s here to stay.
Epilogue
Eighteen months later
Molly
The ring is a ruby to match the color of my hair. It’s elegant and surrounded by diamonds. I’m still staring at it. It’s been a year of commuting from Vancouver to Seattle.
Shortly after we became a committed couple, I’d moved out of my childhood home into a studio apartment where we could experiment with our Dom/sub relationship. It wasn’t anywhere close to luxurious as Marcel’s place, but he’s driven down every other weekend, and we’d cocooned ourselves in my little home.
It’s not going to be easy, not when many would refer to Marcel as my dad. It was a little bit of an adjustment, especially for my mom and brother. But now, with our wedding day on us, everything is forgiven. My mother has accepted Marcel as part of the family, though she often mentions he’s closer to her age than mine. My brother wanted to push the subject, but Leela set him straight, and now Marcel is his golfing buddy.
Leela and her younger sister, Zia, are in the suite with matching ruby dresses, as one of them zips me up.
Zia gasps as I turn around, the strapless dress hugging me extra tight around the waist, today of all days.
“I do look pretty hot. Do you think I’ll knock his socks off?”
“Girl,” Zia begins, “you’re going to cause him to embarrass himself in front of everyone. I sure hope his pants have some cushion in them when his peter comes to attention as he sees you.”
I let out a loud laugh that brings tears to my eyes. “Don’t make me laugh, you bitch. You’ll make my makeup run.”
I give her a slight slug, and my mother barges in the room. “Oh, Molly.” Tears form in her eyes at first sight.
I add my own advice to her. “Mom, you can’t cry. We’ve not had pictures, and your makeup will run.”
“Oh, I’ll cry if I want to cry, watching my only daughter saying forever to another.”
She pulls at my hands, giving me a kiss. “They are ready for you.”
Zia and Leela line up outside the room, and my father gets his first glance at me. And because it seems to be an O’Hennessey ritual, he, too, is crying.
“At least your makeup won’t run.”
He places a kiss on my forehead. “Molly, go and be happy, and don’t ever let go of it.”
The doors open and I’m met with the gaze of my man. And in his dapper as hell suit, my future stands right in front of me.
Marcel
She waltzes through the doors, and I don’t even pay attention to the bridal party. I only see my future wife on the arm of her dad.
Her dress, which of course she’s not let me see until this moment, fits her like a glove. And as it had on the first time I’d laid eyes on her, her fire-engine red hair is swept up and ringlets outline her face. I can’t miss her gray eyes, which reach to my soul.
I can’t breathe, and Kier leans up behind me. “Breathe, man. You can’t get married if you pass out.” I think he’s done, but he’s not. “And if you hurt her, I’ll hurt you.” Of course the brother needs to say these words, but I’d rather hurt myself than hurt her.
As she approaches, her dad places her hand in mine. “Please take care of my baby.”
“Always, Patrick, with my last breath.”
I walk her up the steps to the altar and turn her to me.
“Hello, chéri,” I say, squeezing her hands with mine. “You look out of this world beautiful,” I whisper, where she can only hear me.
“And you look absolutely gorgeous, gramps,” she teases.
“Oh, I’ll show you how young I really am later tonight.”
She gives me a little laugh, and the fact that the whole church is watching us doesn’t affect me. It’s her and me, and it’s all that matters.
“So, guess what?” She doesn’t give me a chance to reply. “I can’t call you gramps anymore.”
“Um, yeah, why is that?”
“Because you’ll have a new name.”
My interest is piqued. “And what is that?”
She points at her stomach for a moment, then turns her attention back to me.
“In about eight months, you’ll be Daddy.”
The End
The Club Temptation Novella Collection
For more information about The Club Temptation Novella Collection, Click here: https://www.ladybosspress.com/club-temptation
A Note to my Readers
I hope you enjoyed Marcel and Molly’s story. If you loved this book, I’d love for you to leave a review, on Goodreads and Amazon.
Would you like to know more about Leela and Kier in False Start? You can one click today at https://amzn.to/2SEs9yq
Leela’s first seen in Forbidden With Me, my first book in the With Me in Seattle Universe. You can one click Forbidden With Me today at https://amzn.to/3cHE6fc
And as always, all of my books are free in KU.
What I have learned along the way
What have I learned with this book—French terms. My foreign language is two years of German, where I can remember very little. But, I knew in the first couple of chapters of False Start, where Molly and Marcel first appear, they’d be the main characters in my Club Temptation book.
The idea of a man with a faint accent and a story to share of his home country appealed to me right away. And if you’ve read some of my books, you know I love a good age gap.
Another thing you may know about me, I love nicknames. The idea of cherry and chéri being mistaken by Molly was perfect. I couldn’t believe how that worked out.
And when I decided to use the French version for mother, I learned a new word. Ma mère means my mother, and with the long story about how his mother shaped his life, in the way where he couldn’t commit, I knew he’d use his native French to talk about her.
I hope you loved Gramps and his chéri. They were fun to write!
Until the next book,
Leigh
Other Books by Leigh Lennon
The Power of Three Love Series
Foundations
Fahrenheit
Famous
Forgiven
A Love is Love Book
My Only Reason
My Only Regret
Father/Son Duet
Like Father Like Son
Different as Night and Day
425 Madison Avenue Series (Multi Author Series)
Must Love Coffee
Must Love Forever
With Me in Seattle Universe Novel
Forbidden with Me
False Start
Dungeon Elite
Temptation
Corruption
Devotion: Coming Soon July 2021
Fans of Football Series
Color Blind
Rules of Submission
The Jake Davis Novella Series (Now in a Box Set)
The Complete Package
Stand Alone Books
Stockholm
The Last Breath
Lots of Naughty & A Little Nice
It Takes a Village!
Thanks to everyone!
Ashley—I adore you so much and am so glad you’re now part of my team! And you push me to be a better writer! Plus, I consider you a dear friend! Thanks for all you do for me.
Auden—I’m so happy to be on this journey with you and love that we are writing besties! Please know how much I appreciate you!
Jenny Sims—Thanks for the commitment to my books, to make it the best it can be.
Julie— I can’t imagine publishing a book without you! You’re a gem plus so much more!
Kelly—I can’t say enough about yo
u! You’re the best PA ever! And I love that you’re my PA! And you always have my back!
Thanks to my dear friend, Elizabeth—who will listen to every story so many times, you know my characters as well as I do. I love you!
Dawn—You’ve been a part of my life for so long, I don’t remember you not being there for me. You give me so much support in everything I do, and you embrace the fact I write naughty scenes without judgment.
Amie and Miranda—I love the friendship we’ve forged through books! Y’all are some crazy ones and I adore you so effing much.
To Kristen and Lori—thanks so much for letting me be a part of this world. I love it so much!
I can’t say enough to my Facebook group page: Succulent and Sassy Reads! You all are so awesome and I am humbled you follow me and encourage me to continue writing.
Thanks so much to my incredible arc team and to everyone who read an advance copy and posted a review. You ladies are so valuable to me!
I want to thank my readers because without you, this would not be possible!
Of course, none of this would be a possibility without the hubs and our little ones who call me Mom. I love you more than I can express.
~Leigh
About the Author
Leigh Lennon is a mother, a veteran and a wife of a cancer survivor. Originally with a degree in education, she started writing as an outlet that has led to a deep passion, writing twelve books. Now ready to publish all of them, she lugs her computer with her as she crafts her next story. Her imaginary friends become real on her pages as she creates a world for them. She loves pretty nails, spikey hair and large earrings. Leigh can be found drinking coffee or wine, depending on the time of the day.
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