by Gow, Kailin
So, things were going well with them and I had a feeling that Brandon and Bailey would end up tying the knot somewhere down the road.
John, Bailey, and Brandon had all given testimony about what had happened at the pool house that day, which only helped to further my charge of assault against my dad. I had witnesses to back me up.
Thankfully, we hadn’t encountered any resistance or problems thus far regarding the police department, here, in Henderly. My dad had entered a plea bargain, however, admitting guilt in my assault and that he was having an affair with Rhonda, in exchange for naming Rhonda as Tommy’s actual killer.
Tommy had apparently discovered the affair with Rhonda and had gone to my dad, telling him that he was going to expose him to the media and tell my mom. Unfortunately, he happened to be crossing the street in front of Rhonda to get to his car when she heard the news. In a fit of outrage, she gunned the engine and ran him down, killing him. She confessed the crime to my dad and he helped her disposed of the car. As a result of all this, a full-scale investigation had been launched into the Mayor’s office and everyone who worked for him.
Of course, this meant that my dad might get out of jail sooner, since he hadn’t actually killed anyone. I didn’t really care as long as I never had to see him, again; which, if my mom had anything to say about it, she’d kill him before she would let him anywhere near me. She’d filed divorce papers immediately after hearing about everything.
“What are you thinking about, honey?” she asked, drawing my attention away from the moon in the sky.
Sighing deeply, I moved away from the window, plopping down beside her on the couch. “Six. Dad—everything that’s happened in the last few months—wondering how it’s all going to turn out and wishing there had never been this dang restraining order.”
Setting her book down on the coffee table, she scooted closer and wrapped her arms around me. “I know it’s been hard. And I know you were upset with me for asking that the restraining order remain in effect, but you know what? You’re my little girl, and you only get to be a kid once. There’s no need to be in such a hurry to grow up so fast.”
“He asked me to marry him, Mom. I love him.” I leaned my head against her shoulder.
“And if he comes back and the two of you decide you want to do that, I’ll support your decision. But you have to look at this from my point of view. I literally woke up from surgery to find you gone, supposedly abducted by a strange man I didn’t know. That was terrifying. Then, to find out you weren’t abducted, but you’d been sleeping with this man pretty regularly was quite a shock, too. I didn’t know this person from Adam, and the fact that the two of you were sneaking around behind my back suggested you had something to hide.”
“We weren’t hiding from you. We were hiding from Dad, because he’s psycho. Six wanted to meet you. He wanted things to be legit.”
“I know that now, but I didn’t, then. Plus, I know intense situations can bring people together, but then the relationships fall apart later on. You’ve been through a lot. I wanted you to be able to sort it all out with a clear head, without any influence from Six. It gives you the chance to see what’s real and what’s not—for him, too.”
“I already knew what was real,” I grumbled.
“Well, now you’ll really know.” She squeezed me harder. “Try not to hate me for too long, okay?”`
“I don’t hate you, Mom. Unlike Dad, I know you really care about me and things aren’t just ‘for show’.”
She kissed the top of my head. “You can rest easy about him, at least. His reputation has been completely ruined by just about every television station in the country. The perfect mayor, who beat his daughter and covered up his son’s murder—I’m pretty sure he’ll never be able to show his face in public, again. If we’re lucky, he and Rhonda will have the opportunity to rot in jail for many more years to come.” She sighed, shaking her head. “If I’d had any inkling of what they did to Tommy, I’d have gone to the police immediately.”
“Mom, I’m sorry for everything that’s happened to you in all this, too. I’m not just thinking of myself, here. Are you going to be okay?”
She hugged me tighter. “Oh, sweetie, I’m going to be just fine. We have plenty of money and investments to keep me comfortable. Now that you’re graduated, I’ll probably sell this place and downsize a little. I imagine you’re going to move out after you turn eighteen, so there’s no need for me to have a big ole place like this to myself.”
“I used to want to leave immediately, but that was to get away from dad. I’ll stay if you need me.”
“No, I want you to go out and live your life. You don’t need to stick around for me. I promise I’ll be fine.”
“Do you think you’ll ever remarry?” I asked and she laughed.
“That’s the furthest thing from my mind, right now. If I did, he’d have to be someone pretty spectacular…and not a politician! I think I’ve had enough of that world.”
“I don’t blame you. I’ve had enough of it and I haven’t even had to deal with a quarter of the things you have.”
“Let’s talk about something more fun,” she said, patting me. “What do you want to do for your birthday, next week?”
“Honestly? I’m hoping I’ll get to see Six. That would be the best present I could imagine.”
“And if he doesn’t show? What then?”
“Lay in my room and cry?” I added with a laugh, even though a sick feeling entered my heart at the thought. “Curl up into a ball and stare at the wall?”
“Well, if it makes you feel any better, I think he’d be stupid to not show up, because you’re amazing. And if he’s half the person you made him out to be, I can’t wait to meet him.”
“You’ll love him, Mom. I just know it. He’s so sweet, and so incredibly good looking.”
“I knew that already from the pictures I’ve seen of him. I can see why you’re attracted to him. Brandon and Bailey speak very highly of him, too. I’m sure it was fun for both of you to date friends.”
“It was. Hopefully it will be, again.”
Glancing back toward the window, I wondered if he was out there somewhere, staring at the moon right now, too.
***
Rolling over in bed, I groaned, grabbing the pillow next to me and placing it over my head, but it didn’t help. Nothing was going to drown out the sounds of Brandon and Bailey going at it in the room next door. That, combined with the fact that my birthday was tomorrow—I glanced at the clock, tomorrow officially being here in about five minutes, I couldn’t manage to get back to sleep or stop hoping that Six would reappear for my birthday.
“To heck with this,” I muttered, tossing the pillow back in its place and swinging my legs over the edge of the bed. There was no way I could sleep through all that racket.
Standing, I reached for the short silky robe that went with the mid-thigh length nightie Bailey had given me, and put it on. It would be nice and warm outside in the summer night air. I could lie on one of the padded lounge chairs and stare up at the moon. True, I’d still be thinking about Six, but at least I could ditch the side show going on inside.
Tiptoeing to the sliding glass door that led from my room to the pool deck, I quietly slid it open and stepped outside, closing it behind me. Slowly, I strolled toward a deck chair, staring up at the moon, anticipation filling my heart. I missed Six so badly. I couldn’t wait to see him, again.
Suddenly the gate rattled and my head snapped up. “Who’s there?” I called out in a scared half-whisper, clutching my robe close to my throat.
A man materialized from the shadows, stepping into the moonlight, holding a huge bouquet of wrapped roses in one hand; and for a moment, I thought I was hallucinating.
“Brandon told me you’d be here at midnight when the restraining order ended. I couldn’t wait a minute longer.”
“Six!” I shouted running full speed for him and slamming into him full force. Dropping the roses, he picked me up swinging my aroun
d as he hugged me. His face buried in my hair.
“Damn, I’ve missed you, sweetheart!” Setting me down, his lips descended, capturing mine. Sparks exploded inside me and I wanted him right then and there, as close as we could possibly get—no more space between us.
My hands slid under his shirt and he groaned, stepping forward, and walking me backward into the shadows until I collided with the wall to the house. “I need you,” he breathed out. “Right now.” Already his hands were bunching my nightie up past my hips; then, finding my panties, he literally ripped them off my body. Mouth never leaving mine, he kissed me frantically as his hands left me to undo his pants.
I wrapped my arms around his neck, loving the silky feel of his hair beneath my fingers once more, and he lifted me up. I locked my legs around his waist as he entered me with one quick thrust and I moaned, loving the way he stretched me. “I love you, sweetheart,” he said, thrusting again and again. “Holy hell, I’ve missed this.”
I couldn’t reply; the sensations building inside me were too much. I was building too fast—my body intensely craving what he was doing to me. Both of us were panting, unable to take this slow. Clawing at his back, I felt the tremors starting to wash over me. “Oh! Oh, yes!”
“That’s it, sweetheart,” he said in short breaths. “I’m right there with you.”
Wave after wave of intense pleasure swept through me and I moaned loudly, hanging on as he grew even harder, shouting right before warm fluid shot inside me, pumping over and over and coating us both. Giving a short laugh, I leaned my head against the wall as I tried to catch my breath.
“Does it count if I have condoms in my pocket?” he asked, continuing to rock inside me. “I’m sorry. I couldn’t make myself pull out.”
“Good thing I got on the pill while you were gone, isn’t it?”
He laughed. “Well, that’s a huge relief, at least.” Balancing me against the house, he reached for one of my arms, and pulled it away from his neck. Bringing my hand to his mouth, he kissed it. Lowering it slightly, something hard slid against one of my fingers, and I glanced down to see a beautiful diamond ring there.
Immediately, my eyes welled with tears.
“I had this big romantic proposal all planned, but we kind of got sidetracked. By the way, I should get an award for not dropping that thing during sex.” He grinned. “Will you marry me, Brooklyn?”
It started as a giggle, but I couldn’t hold it back, releasing a full-blown laugh attack. I couldn’t stop.
“What?” he asked, still smiling but looking confused.
“I really can see it now. ‘Mom, how did dad propose to you?’” I said, gasping for breath. “‘Well, honey, he was screwing me outside against a wall….’” Images of the two of us together in the shower, the first time he asked me, flitted through my mind.
His laughter joined mine. “I do have pretty sucky timing, don’t I?”
I shook my head, growing more serious. “No, you don’t. It’s perfect. I love that I’ll always remember how amazing this moment was.”
“Is that a yes? That sounded like a yes,” he said, echoing our past conversation. His eyes glittered with happiness.
“Yes, that was a yes,” I answered, again. “I’d even go so far as to say that was a hell yes! I love you! Can I shout it from the rooftops, now?”
“Sweetheart, you can shout it to whoever you want to.”
“I’m getting married to Six Jagger!” I yelled, my voice bouncing off the concrete.
He laughed loudly. “We might ought to carry this party inside before someone comes to investigate and catches us like this.”
“Good idea,” I replied, giggling. “I love you. Have I told you I loved you?”
“I love you, too,” he replied. “So much.” His lips captured mine once more, and I closed my eyes; but not before I caught a reflection of the moon shimmering in the pool.
I will forever swear it was smiling at us.
###
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Acknowledgements
I’m going to say it straight. This book tested me to the limits. I never intended for this story to be as steamy as it turned out, and honestly, I had a few freak out sessions over it. So thank you to my best friend, author Belinda Boring, my daughter, author Kamery Solomon, my husband, James, and my editor, Kim Swain, for talking me off all my ledges and encouraging me to stay true to the characters and let them tell their story. It has taken a lot of sidebar discussions for me to reach the point where I can “be brave.”
In spite of all my nerves, I did fall madly in love with Six and Brooklyn, just like I’ve done with all my characters. I hope you enjoy the story too.
Thanks to everyone for all your support! I think you’re amazing!
Lacey
About the Author:
USA Today Bestselling Author Lacey Weatherford resides in the beautiful White Mountains of Arizona, where she lives with her family. When she’s not out supporting her children at multiple sporting/music events, she continues to love writing and reading. To learn more about this series, or to contact Lacey, you can visit the official websites at
www.laceyweatherfordbooks.com
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AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE:
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Also Available from Lacey Weatherford:
The Of Witches and Warlocks series
The Trouble With Spells
The Demon Kiss
Blood Of The White Witch
The Dark Rising
Possession of Souls
The Chase Walker Series
Chasing Nikki
Finding Chase
Chased Dreams
The Crush Series
Crush
Smitten
Love
The Fringe Novels
Tell Me Why
Anthology:
A Midsummer Night’s Fling
Coming Soon:
Fall For Me Aug. 24, 2014
Smolder Oct. 12, 2014
Let It Snow Dec. 7, 2014
Coven Feb. 8, 2015
Stix & Stones April 5, 2015
Craft June 14, 2015
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