by KB Winters
“Okay…”
We walked in silence—well, plodded, would be a more accurate description—and when I abruptly stopped in the sand, Gemma turned to face me. “Are you all right? Do you feel dizzy?”
I shook my head. “I’m fine, Gemma. You gotta stop fussing. I just wanted to get to this spot.”
She looked around, as though trying to place the significance. We were standing in the middle of the beach, halfway between the surf and the waves, where the sand was packed down and easier for walking.
“I like the view of the bluff from here,” I offered, jutting my chin over her shoulder. She turned again and stood by my side.
The fog was clearing away as the late morning sun made its arrival, but it still clung to the sides of the bluff, casting an almost ethereal air around the place. From our spot on the sand, the museum wasn’t visible, but my father’s house was there, on the edge, looking down on us.
“It’s beautiful. I bet you’re happy things are back up and running,” Gemma commented.
We’d been able to get the museum up and running. Although the official re-launch party was still in the works, it was starting to look like it wouldn’t even be necessary. Thanks to the coverage of O’Keefe’s death and deceit, the business had kicked into high gear with very little effort. Everyone wanted to come and see the museum and talk to the person who caught him red-handed.
I didn’t mind, as long as they paid for their tickets at the door just like everyone else.
“It’ll be nice to get back to normal,” I agreed. “Although, there is one change I’m gonna make—a big one.”
“What’s that?” Gemma asked, raising an eyebrow as she glanced at me out of the corner of her eye.
“Well, after everything that’s happened, I think I need to change my name.”
“Oh really?” A grin tugged at her lips. “Why’s that?”
I took a deep breath and then dropped to one knee, right there in the sand. Gemma’s hands flew to her mouth. “Oh my God, Aaron!”
“Gemma Henderson, you are the most beautiful woman in the world, inside and out. I never thought I’d be doing this—like really, what is going on here?” She laughed as I dropped a dramatic look down at myself, kneeling in the sand. “But it feels right. I don’t want to be Player anymore. I only want to be with you. That is if you’ll have me.”
Before she could reply, I pulled a small Tiffany blue box from the pocket of my favorite leather jacket and popped it open to reveal the rather stunning, vintage inspired diamond ring perched inside.
“Gemma, will you marry me?”
My breath hitched in my chest, waiting that split second for her reply, thinking back to her rejection in the hospital, but it was a quick lived panic attack, as a heartbeat later, she was nodding and squealing. “Yes!”
Grinning like a fool, I took the ring from the box and slid it onto her finger just like in the movies and then—with some assistance—got back up and took her into my arms. With her hair whipping around us in the breezy sea air, we sealed the deal with one helluva kiss.
“So, I guess it’s game over then?” Gemma asked, laughing.
“Oh, baby, I got plenty of games we can play.”
Epilogue
Six Months Later…
“Well, shit! How in the hell did Aaron The Player Rosen beat me to the jewelry store?”
I grinned at Boomer’s reaction. It was perfect. Just as I’d expected.
“Damn. I better step it up, or Holly’s gonna be after me with a frying pan,” he continued with a laugh.
“She’d probably just sic Hunter on your ass,” I quipped, leaning back in the weather worn Adirondack chair overlooking the ocean below. “How is that rascal anyway? Chewed his way through Germany yet?’
Boomer laughed. “He’s all right. Still chewing, but Princess keeps him in line. Seriously though, I’m so happy for you. And Gemma too, although she and I should probably have a little talk before she goes picking out a dress. I need to make sure she’s got the full story on you.”
I twisted at the sound of the back door sliding open. Gemma stepped out; her body showcased to perfection in a sexy turquoise bikini I’d picked out for her a few weekends ago when we’d gone shopping in town. My mouth watered at the sight of her and the tent that popped up in my shorts let me know I needed to cut the call with Boomer short.
“Hey baby, Boomer wants to set up a meeting with you so he can make sure you know what you’re getting into, before the big day,” I called over to her.
On the other end of the phone, Jack laughed in my ear.
“Tell him thank you for his concern, but that I already know all your dirty little secrets, and I’m confident I can handle anything you throw my way,” she tossed back with a sassy smile. She winked at me before she slid on her oversized shades.
“You hear that, Boomer? She thinks she’s got me all figured out,” I said, smiling at Gemma.
He just chuckled. “I can’t wait to get a front row seat for this.”
“Well, I was planning on asking you to be my best man, but that’s a little hard to do when you’re on a different fuckin’ continent.”
“Not so fast, Player. You just might be in luck,” he replied. I could almost hear the smile coming through the phone. “We’re gonna be stateside this summer and if all goes according to plan, we’ll be staying.”
“What?” I jerked upright in my chair. “Are you serious?”
“Yeah. Holly doesn’t know yet. I don’t want to get her hopes up until I know for sure, but I have a big meeting with the powers that be and they might be pulling me back early. So, instead of a month in August, we may be moving back permanently.”
“Wow! That’d be amazing!” I looked over at Gemma, my eyes following the lines of her long legs as she reclined back in her seat. She turned her head at my exclamation and I could see the arch of her brow over her dark shades. “Hey baby, what would you say to an August wedding?”
The smile she gave me was all the answer I needed.
“She’s on board. So you two get your asses back stateside and we’ll have a summer showdown. The war of the weddings.”
Boomer laughed. “I swear—I’m tempted to call you on video chat just to make sure I’m actually talking to Aaron Rosen.”
“It’s me, man. I promise.” I laughed and dropped my head back against the polished wood frame of the chair. “Would it make you feel better if I said I was mostly excited about the open bar and the chance to look badass in a suit?”
Gemma’s laugh chimed in the same time as Jack’s and I looked over to catch her shaking her head to herself.
“That’s more like it,” Jack replied. “Listen, man, I gotta run, but seriously, congrats. Gemma’s a lucky woman. You make one hell of a best friend, pilot, son, and business man. I see no reason why husband won’t be another great role for you to fill.”
A sudden swoop of emotions swelled in my chest at Boomer’s words and I tried to shrug it off before it got to me too much. I may be getting married and changing my ways, but I wasn’t gonna start crying at the drop of a hat. I had to draw the line somewhere.
“Thanks, Boomer. Tell Holly hello from both of us and we’ll see you this summer.”
“The war of the weddings.”
“Game on!”
I hope you LOVED Gemma and Aaron’s story. Coming up is Carly and Nick! Don’t you just love Holiday Cove? Such a sweet small town. *swoon*
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KB xoxo
Thank You So Much!
Thank you so much for reading my books! It means the world to me and I appreciate
all of you!
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A huge shout out to the fam bam who has to put up with me at all hours of the morning.
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KB xoxo
About the Author
KB Winters is a Wall Street Journal and USA Today Bestselling Author of steamy hot books about Bikers, Billionaires, Bad Boys and Badass Military Men.
Just the way you like them.
She has an addiction to caffeine, tattoos and hard-bodied alpha males. The men in her books are very sexy, protective and sometimes bossy, her ladies are...well...bossier!
Living in sunny Southern California, this embarrassingly hopeless romantic writes every chance she gets!
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