by Devney Perry
“He’s gonna make it.” Isaiah’s hand shot out, grabbing my arm.
“He’s gonna make it.” I grabbed his arm too.
Time was up but the play was still good and Nico’s blond hair streaked down the field, past the orange pylon.
“Touchdown,” the ref yelled, blowing his whistle.
“Yes!” I fist-pumped, then clapped loud and fast. I grinned at Isaiah as we jogged down the field to meet our team.
Parents cheered as the kids screamed, all of them jumping up and down around Nico.
We regrouped the kids, getting them into a line to shake hands with the other team. We sent the boys to the refs to say their thank-yous. Then Isaiah and I talked to parents—most of whom wanted to make sure we’d be back to coach next year’s team. Finally, the crowd dispersed, and Nico and I joined Presley.
“Good game, bud.” She bent to kiss his cheek.
“Thanks, Mom. Can I go play with Noah?”
“For a couple of minutes.”
Natasha was zonked in her sling. The coat Presley had put on her made her look more like a caterpillar than a baby.
“How’s she doing?” I bent and kissed the baby’s beanie-covered head, then dropped a kiss on Presley’s mouth.
“We’re good.” She smiled at our daughter, then looked up at me. “Good game, Coach.”
I beamed with pride. “Thanks.”
I’d won an Oscar for my performance in Dark Paradise, Cameron had been nominated for best director, and the film had been nominated for picture of the year. That movie had catapulted Valance Pictures to the next level, giving us a name to build upon. Investors had come in droves and our staff had doubled in less than a year. It had all come with growing pains, but after the past five years, it had become a huge source of pride.
Watching my son’s success was far more satisfying than any I’d earned on my own. It wasn’t on the same level as the day I’d married Presley or the days we’d welcomed our kids into the world, but today was a damn good day.
“This is better than any football game I’ve ever played myself,” I told her, picking up the diaper bag.
“This is better than any football game you’ve made me watch on Sundays.”
“Very true.” I chuckled as we started toward the car.
Dash waved as he climbed into his truck, his crew already loaded. Isaiah kissed Genevieve before he closed the door to her car. She’d drive herself and the kids home while he’d ride behind on his bike.
“Let’s go, boys,” I called to Nico and Noah as we walked.
Nico picked up his brother’s coat, carrying it for him as they ran to catch up.
We buckled the kids into their seats and got in, driving across town to our home, the one we’d built on the property where I’d proposed to Presley.
A month after I’d proposed, Presley and I had gotten married in Las Vegas.
She hadn’t wanted to plan a wedding again, so we’d flown to Nevada one weekend, just the two of us, and gotten married. Then we’d gone to California and spent two weeks with my family.
As I’d expected, they’d all fallen in love with my wife.
We’d returned home and lived in my yellow house for nine months while our place in the country was being built. There were times when I missed that little place because it was where our life had started. Every once in a while, when I was in the neighborhood, I’d drive by. But as far as I knew, the day we left Quaker’s Court was the last time Presley had been on that cul-de-sac.
There were too many ghosts for her on that street.
For a while, Jeremiah’s death had nearly ripped Presley and her sister apart, but they’d hung tight and fought for each other.
Scarlett would probably be over later today because her Saturday afternoons were normally spent in our living room, where she and Presley would drink wine and talk.
Mostly their conversations were light. Sometimes, they delved into the past and their parents.
After I’d learned about their father’s abuse, I’d wanted to ruin the man. It wouldn’t have taken much to get him blacklisted in his community and shamed for his actions. I’d hoped for it, planned it even, but in the end, I’d talked myself out of it. Hurting him would only hurt Presley’s mother and that woman was already living in her own personal hell.
Presley’s parents still lived in Chicago and as long as they stayed away from my family, I was content to leave the subject untouched.
There were certain things we didn’t talk about these days. Like her childhood. Like what had happened to Scarlett after Jeremiah’s death.
And the Warriors because, well . . .
That was a different movie.
“So I got an interesting email today,” Presley said.
“From who?”
“Ginny.”
I’d be having a call with Ginny on Monday about boundaries. “Why would my agent be emailing you?”
“She said you shot her down and she’s desperate, so she’s asking me to ask you to reconsider.”
“I’m not changing my mind.”
Cameron had approached Ginny a few months ago, asking if I’d be interested in doing another movie similar to Dark Paradise. He’d come across a script that had spoken to him and he thought I’d be perfect for the part.
I’d given Ginny a flat no. She had other clients to represent these days, but she came to me once or twice a year, hoping I’d changed my mind about retirement.
Dark Paradise was the last film I’d done as an actor, though I’d been part of many since—behind the scenes. I preferred a more active role in Valance Pictures to acting. It worked better with the eight-to-five lifestyle we wanted in Clifton Forge. And I sure as fuck didn’t miss the goddamn paparazzi.
“Are you sure?” Presley asked. “We could make it work. I can bring Natasha to the garage with me during the day. Noah can go to preschool and Nico has school. We’d be fine for a few months.”
I reached across the console to take her hand. “I’m not going anywhere.”
I had no desire to spend weeks on location or leave home for a press tour. Presley had survived two movie premieres, but the flashing lights and the screaming fans weren’t for her.
They weren’t for me these days either.
My legacy wasn’t fame or fortune.
It was in this car, the smiles on my children’s faces and the happiness in my wife’s heart.
This was my legacy.
I intended to nurture it by Presley’s side for the rest of my life.
The Tin Gypsy series continues with Noble Prince.
Noble Prince
The night Luke Rosen met Scarlett Marks was the only time he’s regretted becoming chief of police. One horrific night of blood and death, and now she’s living under his roof—all because he swore an oath to serve and protect.
Scarlett is stubborn and infuriating. She has no respect for the order in his structured life, and she never does anything she’s told. Worse, she doesn’t seem to care that the information she has on a motorcycle gang means she might end up dead. But her unwavering strength, her courage and tenacity and beauty, makes it impossible for him to abandon her.
If Luke is going to keep her safe, he’ll have to make the hardest decision of his life. He can either honor his values as a cop, knowing Scarlett is unlikely to survive . . . or he can break all the rules and protect the woman who’s invaded his home and his heart.
Order Noble Prince
Acknowledgments
Thank you for reading Stone Princess! I hope you loved Presley and Shaw’s story.
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Special thanks to my family and friends for their endless encouragement. I am so blessed to have such an incredible support system.
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Thank you to the amazing women who helped make this book happen: Elizabeth, Marion, Julie, Karen, Judy, Hang and Dani.
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Thank you to each and every blogger who takes the time to read and post about my sto
ries. And thank you to the members of Perry Street, who are the best group of super fans I could have ever asked for. My readers are truly awesome and your support means the world!
About the Author
Devney is a USA Today bestselling author who lives in Washington with her husband and two sons. Born and raised in Montana, she loves writing books set in her treasured home state. After working in the technology industry for nearly a decade, she abandoned conference calls and project schedules to enjoy a slower pace at home with her family. Writing one book, let alone many, was not something she ever expected to do. But now that she’s discovered her true passion for writing romance, she has no plans to ever stop.
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