What Once Was Mine
Page 18
“Aren’t you going to acknowledge—”
“That I love you? Sure. You looked like a wounded puppy and I couldn’t handle it any longer.”
“What you really meant to say was, ‘I love you, Cole, and I can’t wait to live with you’.” She punches me in the gut and I grunt.
“Ouch.”
“Stop being dramatic. It didn’t hurt.”
“If I say it did, will you move in with me?” I flash a hopeful look and she responds with an exasperated sigh.
“Jeez. Isn’t it enough I declared my love for you?”
“Never.” I press my mouth to hers, kissing her hard and deep. When I pull away she looks dazed.
“How about now?”
“I won’t be swayed by your lip acrobatics.” Her glassy-eyed expression says something different, so I kiss my Marley, over and over again until she caves.
“Give me another three months,” she mumbles, as I nip at her bottom lip.
“Two,” I breathe, sucking on her neck.
She moans.
“One and a half.”
“Deal. Now, as much as I would like to tear off your gown and do dirty things to you, I won’t. Your dad might walk in and it would be awkward.”
“Why Cole Alexander, when did you become such a prude? I distinctly remember our first meeting. You stole me from my girlfriends without so much of a hello.”
I shrug. “I was claiming what was mine.”
“Yours, huh?”
“Yeah.”
“You sure? I’m a little flawed.”
“Sparkle, there’s no place else I’d rather be.”
“Good. Now, please get off. I have to pee.” She scowls cutely.
“Is this your idea of romance?”
“Shut up, Cole.”
“I love you.”
“Me too, but your words won’t change the state of my bladder. Keep it up and I’m never moving in.”
She’s lying, but I allow it. I love her so much and I’m fucking elated she’ll be safe. I never expected to see Marley after our night together, and thank God I did. From day one, I knew she was special, and if it takes my entire life, I make her see the great person she truly is. I’m her protector. The thought fills me with joy, giving me a purpose I never believed I was capable of before I met her.
Before Marley, I was a selfish bastard. She makes me whole, her laughter and smile giving me the tools to be the better man my parents raised me to be. I’m one hundred percent certain we have staying power.
My woman no longer has to fight to get to the front of the line because I’ll always be here to clear her path to happiness.
Epilogue
The Town Speaks, Part 2
Cole Alexander used to be a player and a heartbreaker. It took an outsider to tame him. Each time he and Marley are out and about, he holds her close, shielding her from everything and everyone. I suspect his protectiveness comes from the happenings with her and the kidnapping, but whenever he gets too clingy, she sets him straight. With one smile from her, he loosens the reins, allowing his woman to just be. Their love is a beautiful thing.
Speaking of love, Marley’s adoptive father loved the town and how we took care of his daughter so he’s considering a move here to be close to her. Her mother and the guy who says he’s her real father left town. I suspect they won’t return anytime soon. Some big-city types can’t handle what Falls Village has to offer. They’d rather have their fancy lifeless apartment filled with maids, while our town thrives on friendships and family.
On that note, Taylor has become a fixture in Marley’s life. They’re seen together around town often. I guess saving someone’s life has a powerful impact on a person. Thank heavens, she’s no longer lusting after Cole. In fact, I have it on good authority she has her eye on someone else. A certain detective. Who knows if it will work out, but this is Falls Village and stranger things have happened.
The crazy man, the one who took Marley, was transferred to federal prison. Interestingly, he’s a suspect in some unsolved murders in the Midwest. I guess when you’re touched in the head, nothing is off-limits.
Oh, and poor Dr. Hughes. It worked in his favor he tried to help Marley in her time of need, but he didn’t get off scot-free.
Besides being severely injured, his license to practice was revoked, he received a year in jail, and became more of a town pariah than Carson Ingram.
Cason Ingram...
Such a sordid tale, the feud between the Ingram and the Charleston families, but that’s a story for another time.
Thank You
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Falls Village Collection
The Falls Village Collection is an anthology hybrid, including myself and various RomantiConn authors. Each story will be released as its own book and focus on a resident of the community.
Want more of the Falls Village residents?
Start the series from the beginning!
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Now Available
The Rest of Forever Book #1 by Kitty Berry
(Callan Black & Jordan Collins)
Puppy Love Book #2 by MJ Santangelo
(Lucas Hart & Jenny Collins)
From Then Until Forever Book #3 by Kitty Berry
(Teyler Walker & Colleen Hamilton)
What Once Was Mine Book #4 by Krystyna Allyn
(Cole Alexander & Marley Bishop)
Coming Soon
Finding Carson Book #5 by Rae B. Lake
(Carson Ingram & Frances Huffman)
Promise Me Forever Book #6 by Kitty Berry
(Matthew James & Olivia Lancaster)
Where Forever Leads Book #7 by Taylor Delong
(Graham Lowden and Avery Abbott)
Authors in the Falls Village Collection series are
Cara Wade
Kitty Berry
Krystyna Allyn
MJ Santangelo
Nicole Banks
Posey Parks
Rae B. Lake
Taylor Delong
Please support their work.
If you’d like to see how the story of Falls Village began, you can read about it in The Compatible Companions Trilogy (You Are My Reason, My Forever Maybe, After You) by Kitty Berry.
Where to find the Author
FB Group => http://bit.ly/FBKittyDen
Newsletter => https://www.krystynaallyn.com/newsletter
Website => https://www.krystynaallyn.com/