by Lucy Score
“It’s been eighteen months and one wild ride. You were there with me every step of the way through everything my family went through. You were by my side when things seemed like they were at their darkest. You stuck.”
I pressed my fingers against my lips harder as his words hit bullseye after bullseye dead center in my heart.
“You showed me what a partner is supposed to be. You let me in. Let me fix things on occasion. And Shelby, honey, I can’t wait for the next eighteen months with you. The next eighteen years. The next forever. I’m ready. Are you?”
I nodded, blinking back tears. And kept nodding.
“Good, ’cause I’ve got something real important to ask you.” He revealed a small black box, and I held my breath while he opened it.
It was a simple oval solitaire that glittered like a thousand stars on a delicate gold band.
“Dr. Shelby Thompson, would you do me the great honor of being my wife? Running herd on a bunch of loud Bodine kids. Riding through Canada and running through everywhere else. Growing old here so we can cause a ruckus at The Lookout. Would you do all that with me?”
I could barely get my feet off the pedals. I launched myself at him, mostly out of joy but also a little because my legs weren’t working yet.
He caught me. Jonah always caught me.
“Is that a yes?” he asked, his voice muffled by my sweaty hair.
I nodded and kept right on nodding. “It’s the biggest, loudest yes you’ve ever heard in your life.”
We laughed, fumbling in the dark studio for the box, the ring, the kiss.
It was salty and sweet and everything I’d ever dared dream of. And so was Jonah.
My parents were going to be thrilled. Hell, the entire town was probably going to throw a party.
“This isn’t going to interfere with Gibson’s wedding, is it?” I asked.
Jonah laughed. “My brother and I already discussed it. It’s all good.”
“It’s better than good,” I said, watching the diamond wink on my finger. The sparkle blurred before my eyes. “It’s perfect.”
“We’ve got about twenty minutes before my phone starts ringing off the hook with Scarlett demanding to know if it’s official yet and insisting we come over to celebrate. She’s making dino nuggets for you.”
I snort-laughed and covered my mouth. “Twenty minutes? We can get into a whole lot of trouble in twenty minutes.”
“I’ve got a bottle of champagne on ice in the locker room. What do you say we pop the cork and get cleaned up?”
The way those green eyes sparkled, brighter than the diamond I wore, I knew exactly what he meant.
“Jonah, you are going to be everything your father never had the chance to be. You know that, right?” He already was. The good man. The generous neighbor. Now, he’d be the dream husband. The wonderful father he never had.
He cupped my face in his big, warm hand. “That’s the plan, Dr. Bodine. And you’re everything I ever wanted.”
PREORDER THE LAST BOOTLEG SPRINGS NOVEL NOW! Releases on July 24th.
Click here is get Bootleg #6 Highball Rush
Author’s Note to the Reader
Dear Reader,
First of all, let me assure you that your questions will be answered in the next (final) book. I PROMISE YOU AND I WOULD NOT MESS WITH YOU LIKE THAT. I mean, I would in my reader group, but in a cute charming way. Anyway…
I’m so happy/sad right now! I can’t believe my contribution to the Bootleg Springs series is over. The Bodine family and their crazy West Virginia town feel so real to me. I’ve had the best time writing these books with Claire Kingsley and I can’t wait for you to see what she’s got in store for you with Book 6 when all will be revealed!
Family for Jonah, I really wanted him to have a sense of rootlessness. So being accepted by the Bodines is the puzzle piece he’s missing. Shelby, our little independent nerd has family, but also knows what it’s like to be a bit of an outsider. Bootleg adopting them both was the icing on the pepperoni roll. I’m just kidding. There’s no icing on pepperoni rolls! But you get what I’m saying.
Thank you for being on this journey with us. For enjoying the little town that we created for you. Thanks for being you.
Now, if you loved Jonah “Drop It Like It’s Squat” Bodine and Shelby “Is That a Bear” (Lucy Note: literally me anytime I am outside) Thompson, please feel free to tell all of your book-loving friends and write a glowing review that brings tears to my eyes. Now, go off and order Book 6 so we can say good-bye to Bootleg Springs together.
Xoxo,
Lucy
About the Author
Lucy Score is a Wall Street Journal and #1 Amazon bestselling author. She grew up in a literary family who insisted that the dinner table was for reading and earned a degree in journalism. She writes full-time from the Pennsylvania home she and Mr. Lucy share with their obnoxious cat, Cleo. When not spending hours crafting heartbreaker heroes and kick-ass heroines, Lucy can be found on the couch, in the kitchen, or at the gym. She hopes to someday write from a sailboat, or oceanfront condo, or tropical island with reliable Wi-Fi.
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Acknowledgments
Smooshyface Clairebear Kingsley for writing this series with me and being a super cool human.
Dawn, Jessica, and Amanda for those eyeballs.
Cassy Roop from Pink Ink Designs for Gin Fling’s cover design.
My BRAs for being forever wonderful.
Cleo for shedding all over my desk during edits.
Joyce and Tammy for watching endless Queer Eye episodes with me. Oh and doing all the work, all the time.
My secret street team that came together accidentally and made beautiful magic together.
Winston the free-range patio pillow for turning me into the neighbor other neighbors avoid.
Mr. Lucy for remaining devastatingly handsome.
Panera for feeding us when I’m on a deadline and can’t be bothered to cook.
Tacos for always, always making life better.
Lucy’s Titles
Standalone Titles
Undercover Love
Ashley is given the keys to revenge on her cheating fiancé when she teams up with billionaire Jason Baine to bring him and his mistress down.
Pretend You’re Mine
Harper starts her life over again with a fake relationship with real-life hero Luke. But fake and real and hidden truths soon turn into one unforgettable love story.
Finally Mine
Wounded veteran Aldo wishes for his old life, while Gloria tries to build a new one. Between scars and second chances, these two collide. Will they help each other heal or do more harm?
Mr. Fixer Upper
Gannon King’s on-set clashes with his field producer Paige drag them both further into the spotlight. And as the network pushes for more drama, things heat up behind closed doors.
The Christmas Fix
Cat King arrives in Merry with a camera crew, a big budget, and the intent to put the town back together again after a devastating hurricane. Christmas is just around the corner. Can she convince the surly city manager to trust her?
Heart of Hope
Single mom Bristol begins to fight through her grief with the help of sexy stranger Beau. But Beau has a secret that will affect her entire family.
The Worst Best Man
Business mogul Aiden has never met a woman who can hold his attention for longer than a month or two. Until Franchesca, a smart mouth girl with a big Brooklyn attitude. Can he conquer the unconquerable?
Rock Bottom Girl
What if you peaked in high school a
nd high school sucked? Marley Cicero is 38, broke, and her parents’ new roommate in the town she couldn’t wait to leave after graduation.
The Blue Moon Small Town Romance Series
Where It All Began
Find out where Blue Moon got its start in this prequel. John Pierce is a farmer enjoying his solitude until the grad student he reluctantly agreed to take on turns out to be a woman.
No More Secrets
Carter Pierce is a gorgeous veteran who doesn’t mind getting his hands dirty tending the family farm, but he’s not in the mood to be shadowed by a big city journalist.
Fall into Temptation
Beckett Pierce is the charming mayor of Blue Moon with a soft spot for women who are trouble, especially when they live in his guesthouse.
The Last Second Chance
Jackson Pierce is the returning prodigal son. With a successful career as a Hollywood screenwriter, he has everything. Everything but the girl he left behind.
Not Part of the Plan
Emma’s got her whole life planned out. And that plan doesn’t include a detour with hunky fashion photographer and notorious ladies’ man, Nikolai Vulkov.
Holding on to Chaos
Sheriff Donovan Cardona has his hands full when his town loses its collective mind, not to mention the red-headed disaster who’s keeping secrets and accidentally flashing him every five seconds.
The Fine Art of Faking It
Can two enemies fake a relationship long enough to take down the meddling Beautification Committee? Find out in this new chapter in the Blue Moon small town romance series.
Bootleg Springs Series
Whiskey Chaser
Scarlett is a hell-raising tomboy with a tool belt. She’s only being neighborly when she makes her sexy next-door neighbor her new pet project.
Sidecar Crush
Leah Mae Larkin, crash lands in her hometown of Bootleg Springs to lay low while a scandal threatens her modeling career. There she reconnects with childhood friend Jameson Bodine, a sexy metal working artist in the midst of his own family mess.
Moonshine Kiss
Cassidy is the girl-next-door turned small town deputy investigating Bowie’s father despite their friendly history. Spoiler Alert: She is NOT just like a sister to him.
Bourbon Bliss
When June Tucker’s fantasy football receiver turns into her real life boyfriend she’s not sure she can handle the reality. While George woos her, June does her best to make sense of the latest developments in the Callie Kendall case.
Gin Fling
When personal trainer Jonah and nerdy Shelby are forced to share a cottage for the summer, he has to decide if he’s ready for a steamy fling. But the past and its secrets are about to make things interesting.
Sinner and Saint
Crossing the Line
It’s hate at first sight when Xavier, a by-the-book bodyguard, meets starlet Waverly who is desperate to leave the sparkle and danger of Hollywood behind her.
Breaking the Rules
A dangerous game brings Xavier back into Waverly’s life. He’s the only one who can get her out alive, but will she ever trust him again?