by Kennedy Fox
Once we’re in the air, I look over at my beautiful wife with her growing belly and feel so blessed that our lives have led us here. Never in my wildest dreams would I have imagined a road trip two years ago would bring me the most amazing woman I’ve ever met. Spending that year flying back and forth was hard, but it’s safe to say we definitely made up for it during our first year of marriage.
Hours pass and Olivia falls asleep shortly before we land. I can’t wait for her to see where we are. It’s gorgeous here, especially in summer. I haven’t been to the Carolinas in years.
“We’re landing, baby,” I tell her through the headset.
“Where are we?” She looks around for clues. “It’s so green and beautiful.”
“You’ll find out in just a minute.” I smile, feeling anxious and excited.
Once we’re on the ground and the plane is parked, I grab our bags and help Olivia off the plane. She’s looking around, trying to put the pieces together, but it’s not until she sees Vada standing in the hangar that she realizes exactly where we are.
“No way! Oh my God!” Olivia squeals as Vada runs and nearly lunges at her. She pulls back and hugs her again.
“You look adorable!” Vada gushes.
“I can’t believe this!” Olivia turns and faces me. “You brought me to Vada?”
“I know how much you’ve missed her and figured we could babymoon on the beach.”
Olivia closes the gap between us and wraps her arms around my neck as best as she can with her bump in the way. “Thank you. I can’t even express how much this means to me.”
“It’s nice to finally meet you, officially,” I say, holding my hand out to Vada. Instead, she pushes it away and gives me a big hug.
“I’m a Southerner now, and in the South, we hug,” she explains playfully.
“Where’s Ethan and London?” Olivia asks as we walk to Vada’s car.
“Waiting for you at the house. They’re so excited!”
The surprises aren’t over, but I don’t tell her that just yet.
Vada drives us to her house where I meet her husband, Ethan, and their son, London. They give us the tour of their house and property, which is pretty awesome. I love the cozy and modern feel to it.
“I can’t believe you have a rooster,” I say, trying to get the guy to eat food out of my palm.
“That’s Henry, and he’s an asshole,” Vada says dramatically.
“You love him,” Ethan protests.
“I remember the stories you told me when you first got here,” Olivia says, laughing. “I about died.”
“Yeah, it’s all fun and games until a cock is trying to bite your ankles!”
Olivia snorts, and I love watching them together. I wish we were closer so she could have a friend like Vada nearby, but I know she’s slowly been making new friends in LA.
“Maybe we should’ve bought a condo here instead,” I tease.
“I’m afraid there aren’t many modeling opportunities here,” Vada jokes. “But maybe a summer house?”
“Don’t give him any ideas!” Olivia shouts. “He’ll be looking in the homes for sale ads before we go to sleep tonight!”
We all laugh at her outburst, but I don’t deny how right she is. Though I’m not surprising her with a summer house, I did find us an awesome rental for our vacation.
After Ethan and I drink a few beers and the girls set dinner on the table, we have a nice, relaxing evening together. Their son is a cutie, and I had fun playing with him too. It has me even more excited for our little girl to arrive.
“We should get going, babe. The Airbnb is about twenty minutes from here, and I have another surprise for you there.”
“If it’s in your pants, you can save it. I’ve had that surprise, and it’s how I ended up like this,” she says, pointing at her big bump.
“You’re the one who couldn’t fall asleep,” I retort.
Ethan and Vada burst out laughing, and Olivia gives me a look that says she’s going to pay me back for that one later.
“We better see you guys before you leave,” Vada says when our Uber driver arrives.
“You will,” I say with a reassuring smile.
“If you hadn’t already run to Vegas to marry him, I’d tell you to marry that man. He’s pretty awesome,” I hear Vada tell Olivia. They both giggle and hug, and I love seeing her like this.
“So I’m dying to know what else you have planned,” Olivia says as we make our way to the rental.
I take her hand and kiss her knuckles twice. “You’ll see very soon.” I flash her a wink, and she doesn’t push for more. I know it’s hard for her to give up the control sometimes, but I’m actually impressed by how much she’s let go lately. She does so much for her clients that I love being able to spoil her anytime I can.
The driver pulls up, and I watch as Olivia’s jaw drops. “Oh my God, what did you do?”
Laughing at her silly outburst, I grab her hand and help her out of the car. Once our bags are out, I tip the guy and lead Olivia to the twenty-foot-tall deck that leads to the beach house. It’s on stilts and sits right on the edge of a private beach. I can see the waves hitting the sand behind it as the sun is setting.
“Do you like it?”
“Are you kidding me?” She wraps her arms around my waist. “It’s a dream!”
I give her the grand tour, and she kisses me in every single room, thanking me. This getaway was definitely needed for the two of us before the next chapter in our lives begins, which is in less than three months.
“Let’s go watch the sunset,” I tell her, leading her out to the deck.
We spend the night staring out at the water, and I even talk her into christening the jet bathtub. It’s not easy with her belly, but as a man of determination, I made it work.
“So what are we doing today?” she whispers first thing the next morning.
“I thought you were going to let me surprise you…”
“I am. I was just asking!”
I smile and kiss her forehead. “Let’s get ready and dressed, and then you can have your surprise.”
“Ugh, fine!”
An hour later, I finally manage to get Olivia up and ready while I make sure everything is set to go without a hitch. She has no idea what’s about to happen, and I’m living for the fact that she’s not able to guess.
“Are you ready?”
“Hold on. I have to pee. Again!”
I stifle a laugh, knowing she can’t help it. Though she did just go fifteen minutes ago.
“Okay, I’m ready. This is really what you want me to wear?” She sways her hips and the dress moves back and forth. She’s a goddamn a goddess.
“You look gorgeous,” I tell her for the third time.
She flashes me a deadpan look. “I look like a beached whale.”
I close the gap between us and bring her into my arms. “My gorgeous beached whale.”
“Always the charmer.” She wrinkles her nose and chuckles.
“You ready?” I press my lips to her neck and feather kisses along her jawline, loving the way she tastes. No matter how many times we make love, it’s never enough. She makes me feel insatiable.
“I guess.” She laughs. “What are we doing?”
I pull back to give her a smartass answer, but the doorbell rings right on time.
“Who’s here?” she asks.
“Go answer it.”
She walks to it and opens the door, and the next second she’s squealing.
“Presley, oh my God! What you doing here?” Olivia pulls her inside and wraps her arms around her the best she can.
I walk up behind Olivia and greet Presley. “She’s here to take our maternity pictures on the beach.”
“What?” Olivia looks at me, then turns to Presley. “Really?”
“I knew you wanted them done, and you said it was hard to coordinate with our schedules, so I planned it for you. Presley squeezed us in before her trip to Texas and said she could
meet us here.”
“Why are you so amazing?” Olivia turns and is nearly in tears as she wraps her arms around my neck. “I can’t believe you did all this.”
“When are you going to realize I’m the perfect man?” I tease. “That’s what you get for pegging me as a playboy.”
She laughs. “Ha! You were a playboy!”
“Presley, help me out…”
“I’m not getting in the middle of this. You two are sickly adorable, and it makes me want to throw up.”
“Oh come on! You’d find the perfect guy, too, if you’d sit still long enough to meet someone,” Olivia tells her.
“She is going to Texas next week,” I add.
“Ooh! Find yourself a hot cowboy to ride and then tell me all about it,” Olivia encourages with eagerness. “Seriously, I expect some juicy details. I’ve read some cowboy romances, and if there’s one thing those cowboys are good at—”
“Okay, I don’t need the details.” Presley stops her with a laugh. “I’ll be staying at a B&B on a ranch. If I meet any real-life cowboys, I’ll jump at the opportunity. Happy now?”
“Very.” Olivia smiles victoriously.
“You ready to get your pictures done? The view is amazing,” Presley says.
“Yes, let’s do it!”
The three of us head toward the beach and step in the shallow part of the water. Presley poses us and has us look at each other and facing different directions while she snaps away. Olivia looks so damn happy, I can’t wait for her to see these shots.
My hand is over her bump, and I feel a kick against my palm. “I think she’s dancing in there,” I say, placing both hands over her stomach. “She’s having fun.” Feeling our baby girl inside her never gets old.
I kneel in front of her, and I can hear Presley taking more snapshots. “I can’t wait to meet you, baby.” Looking up and seeing my gorgeous wife with her golden hair blowing in the wind and her eyes bright with happiness causes my heart to burst with the love I feel for her and our little one. “Thank you for marrying me.”
“What?” she asks softly.
“Seriously. I can’t imagine my life without you. Thanks for giving me the chance to prove you wrong.”
“Prove me wrong?” She arches a brow.
“That I wasn’t a playboy just looking to get into your pants.” I wink. “And that you were more than just an uptight, prissy know-it-all.”
“That was almost romantic until you ruined it.” She grins.
I stand and steal a kiss. “I love you.”
“You’re lucky I love you too.”
He smirks. “So fucking lucky.”
Hey readers!
Did you enjoy Maverick & Olivia’s story? We hope so! If you did, please consider recommending it to your family & friends! We also really appreciate reviews!
* * *
RECOMMEND HERE
Wanna hear more about Presley and her upcoming trip to Texas? Will she meet a sexy, hot cowboy after all? You can preorder now and find out January 31, 2019!
Never trust a man who wears nothing more than a cowboy hat and ripped jeans who asks if you’d like to save a horse and ride a . . . well, you get the picture.
That should’ve been enough for me to walk away.
I’ve been warned on several occasions about southern men—with their sexy accents, charming manners, and the ability to easily get any woman in bed—which is something I’ll be avoiding.
Being a professional photographer has many perks—traveling around the world, calling all the shots, and working with subject matter that isn’t bad to look at—but Colton Langston with his washboard abs and baby blue eyes, could care less about my current project. He’s trouble, I know it, and he’s determined to make me work for every single photo. When I’m forced into riding lessons, I get way more than I ever bargained for, and by the time my trip is over, I’m in too deep.
Being with him was thrilling, but falling for him was unpredictable.
And ignoring him will be impossible.
* * *
PREORDER AVAILABLE HERE
Brooke Cumberland and Lyra Parish are a duo of romance authors who teamed up under the USA Today pseudonym, Kennedy Fox. They share a love of You’ve Got Mail and The Holiday. When they aren’t bonding over romantic comedies, they like to brainstorm new book ideas. One day, they decided to collaborate under a pseudonym and have some fun creating new characters that’ll make your lady bits tingle and your heart melt. If you enjoy romance stories with sexy, tattooed alpha males and smart, quirky, independent women, then a Kennedy Fox book is for you! They’re looking forward to bringing you many more stories to fall in love with!
Find us on our website:
kennedyfoxbooks.com
Subscribe to our newsletter here
Subscribe to our blog here
Join our reader group here
AN ENEMIES-TO-LOVERS DUET
TRAVIS & VIOLA
Checkmate: This is War
Checkmate: This is Love
A FRIENDS-TO-LOVERS DUET
DREW & COURTNEY
Checkmate: This is Reckless
Checkmate: This is Effortless
A SECOND-CHANCE ROMANCE DUET
LOGAN & KAYLA
Checkmate: This is Dangerous
Checkmate: This is Beautiful
BISHOP BROTHERS SERIES
Taming Him
Needing Him
Chasing Him
Keeping Him
BEDTIME READS SERIES
Falling for the Bad Boy
Falling for the Playboy
Falling for the Cowboy
FIND THE ENTIRE KENNEDY FOX READING ORDER HERE
Coming in 2019
The Roommate Duet Series
We’re so excited for our upcoming series featuring one of our favorite tropes—roommates! Each duet will have an underlining trope as well, so you know it’s gonna be a fun, angsty series! Both are available for preorder now!
BABY MINE and BABY YOURS is an angsty, emotional, slow-burn romance duet wrapped up in a heartbreakingly delicious love story. It's about Hunter and Lennon and their meet-cute that turns into a very unique situation. (Read the blurb for book 1 below)!
TRULY MINE and TRULY YOURS will interconnect with the first duet, but feature new main characters about roommates who don’t meet until the day they move in together. It’s a friends-to-lovers theme and will have a lot of fun, angsty, frustrating moments weaved in! We TRULY think you’re going to fall head over heels in love with them!
ROOMMATE DUET #1 - HUNTER & LENNON
Baby Mine
Book 1 - April 2019
Add to your TBR here
Baby Yours
Book 2 - May 2019
Add to your TBR here
ROOMMATE DUET #2 - MASON & SOPHIE
Truly Mine
Book 1 - July 2019
Truly Yours
Book 2 - Aug. 2019
BABY MINE SYNOPSIS
I saw her first.
Blonde. Gorgeous. Feisty.
I was smitten.
But it didn't matter because she chose him and he was my best friend and roommate. I'd never be able to compete with that, so I pushed her away instead. It was easy when she lived hours away, and I didn't have to see her every day, but then she moved in with us.
Now, I'm screwed.
To her singing in the shower every morning, dancing in the kitchen while she makes coffee, and doing yoga in our living room, I can't stop thinking about her in all the wrong ways. She's not mine and never will be, but that doesn't stop me from wanting to push her against a wall and claim her mouth.
She's constantly on me for making messes, bringing chicks home every weekend, and being a smartass when their PDA gets on my nerves. Considering neither of them know how I feel, it's not fair for the way I act toward them. I should move out so I can get over her for good; however, the selfish part of me can't let go.
But then the unthinkable happens...
When my best friend dies in a motorcycle accident, the two of us are left to grieve our loss together. Instead of pushing her away, I pull her closer.
Just as we come to terms with our new reality, she finds out she's pregnant with his baby.
And I'm left to make the hardest decision of my life...
* * *
ADD TO YOUR TBR HERE
PREORDER LINKS HERE
Starting in January 2019, we’re sending a new chapter of a never before published novella called FOREVER MINE every Friday to our newsletter subscribers! This can be read as a complete stand-alone and nothing is required of you except to enjoy the story!
Subscribe here to get weekly chapters of this second-chance romance!