by S. Nelson
I almost broke down and told her what her father did to me, to give her some inclination as to what was going on with her family, but I just couldn’t do it. Maybe someday when I’m further along in the healing process.
“We’re going to take our seats,” Emily said, giving me a good-luck kiss before she disappeared.
“And I’m sure someone is looking for me.” Nick laughed, squeezing my hand before he disappeared into the crowd of models and stylists.
Moments later, I stood facing the side of the stage, doing a last-minute check of the dresses before the first of the models stepped out onto the runway. Deep breaths left my lungs, and a calmness spread through me. Ten minutes remained before my pieces would be shown, some of the most influential people in the industry sitting twenty feet away.
Amid the quieting chaos, I heard the chime of my phone. When I turned around to go back and check the notification, my eyes collided with the sight of someone I never expected to see again.
Ford stood near the doorway with flowers in his hands, a nervous smile kicking up the corners of his mouth. He was dressed in all black, sans shades, and he sported more scruff than I’d seen him wear before. He looked virile. Rugged yet elegant. And I hated that my lust returned full force from a simple glance.
So many questions and memories bombarded me that I had no idea what to say, if anything, or what to think.
Recovering from the initial shock, my feet propelled me back toward the table where my phone was placed. As I approached, I wanted to look away from him, but I couldn’t. I devoured the sight of him and all I wanted to do was crawl into his arms and stay there for the rest of my life.
I wanted to feel his embrace.
I wanted to taste his kiss.
I wanted to share my incredible moment with him, but it was too late for any of those delusions.
For as much as I hated to admit it, my heart slammed against my chest when only a few feet separated us.
“Hi, Cara.” His deep voice prickled my skin, his velvet tone smoother than I remembered. “I wanted to wish you good luck and congratulate you on your show.” He handed me the bouquet of red, orange, and white lilies. My favorite flowers. “Your sister told me how much you like them.”
“Emily knew you were coming? She didn’t tell me.”
“I asked her not to because I wasn’t sure I was going to go through with it or not.”
“I see.” I tilted my head. “Are you regretting your decision?” Hurt and doubt sliced me apart while I waited to hear his answer.
“What? No.” He reached for my hand, but I retreated a step. “I meant, I wasn’t sure if I should show up here and distract you or not. But believe me, I was going to see you either way.”
“Cara, we’re starting in five minutes,” someone shouted from near the stage. I had no idea who it was because all my attention was on the man in front of me.
“Why are you here?”
“I told you why.”
“No, why are you really here?” He frowned, then licked his lips, then shifted from foot to foot. “Tick-tock, Ford. I don’t have much time left.” Crossing my arms over my chest spurred him to part his lips and finally answer me.
“I came here to apologize for the way we left things. For the way I left things between us. I should’ve never let you leave my room that day. And I sure as hell should’ve chased you down the hallway, naked or not.”
The more intently he stared at me, the more my heart rate spiked.
“Go on,” I prompted.
“I miss you.” He crept closer.
“So.”
“You’re not gonna make this easy on me, are you?”
“Should I?”
“No.” He shook his head. “You shouldn’t make this easy on me because I’ve been a fool to let you get away. Do you think there’s a possibility that you could give me another chance?”
I’d dreamt of hearing him say something like this for the past six weeks, and here he was giving me what I wanted, but I was skeptical. I didn’t trust that he meant it.
“A chance for what?”
“To make things right again. To be with you. To figure things out.”
As I stared at him, the words to form my answer eluded me. Of course, I wanted to scream yes, but my pride wouldn’t allow me to react that way. Instead, I squinted and pursed my lips. In the end, I knew I’d choose to be with him, but I wanted to make him work for it first.
“You said you missed me.”
“Yes, I did. I me… mean, I do.” To hear Ford falter, even the slightest, tickled my heart. It meant he was willing to put aside his stubbornness for something he wanted, and apparently that something was me.
“What do you miss about me?”
His eyes darkened. “Your sass. Your attitude. Your mouth.” He pulled me into him before I even saw him raise his arm. “Your passion. The way your eyes light up when you talk about designing. Your vulnerability because it reminds me to embrace that part of myself from time to time.”
The heat of his body warmed me in ways I couldn’t describe. My heart felt lighter, my mind clearer than it had been recently. He cradled my face in his hands.
“I want to make us work. I know it will be challenging with my job and yours, but I’m willing to put in the effort. I won’t take a job longer than a week at a time if it’s not close by. And if the detail is local, I’ll make sure it’s not a live-in job. I’ll make time for us because I want to be with you.”
“No more female clients.” He looked hesitant, so I clarified, realizing I couldn’t ask him to decline business. “No more young, female clients.”
He looked entirely too sexy when he arched his brow. “And why’s that?”
“Because I know firsthand what happened the last time you were assigned to one.”
“That I fell in love with her?” he asked without an ounce of hesitation. I swore my jaw hit the floor.
“You what?” I was barely able to get my words out I was so stunned. Never in a million years did I ever expect him to say that to me. I knew Ford had feelings for me, as I did for him, but was it truly love?
I couldn’t stop thinking about him, even when I tried. The image of him alone set off butterflies in my belly and made my heart race. I smiled at the memories we shared, even though I was angry with him for tossing me aside. I hated waking up every day for the past six weeks knowing I wasn’t going to see him, or to argue with him, or to share my excitement with him. I missed the strength he offered when I needed him the most.
Did I love Ford Massey?
I absolutely did.
“I’m sorry it took me so long to figure it out, Cara, but I do love you.” He picked me up and placed me on top of the vanity, not a care in the world that there were people all around us. He tipped my head upward and leaned down to kiss me. As soon as his lips brushed over mine, I knew we’d be all right. We had what it took to make our relationship work, and I had to trust our feelings for each other would be enough to push us past any trials we encountered, starting with my dad. There was no other man I’d want by my side for this next chapter in my life.
Although we’d been brought together under false pretenses, as it turned out, I’d never been so grateful to Emily for doing what she did; otherwise, my life would be completely different. I’d still be lost in the shuffle of life. Lost to my past and the need to mask what happened with drugs and alcohol. And even though Ford and I clashed from the gate, I’d needed him, even though I didn’t know it at the time.
I snaked my arms around his neck and drew him closer.
“I love you, too,” I whispered against his lips. The smile on his face and the glint in his beautiful eyes told me that he heard me loud and clear.
The End
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If you are a new reader of my work, thank you so much for taking a chance on me. If I’m old news to you, thank you for continuing to support me. It truly means the world to me.
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Thank you to my husband for allowing me to forget about everything else while I lost myself to finishing Ford and Cara’s story, not coming up for air until it was finished. I love you!
A huge thank you to my family and friends for your continued love and support.
Becky, you continue to push and challenge me. The direction I thought I wanted for this book altered because of your insight. Ford and Cara’s story is more polished because of it. Thank you for everything!
Clarise, CT Cover Creations, the covers for this duet are beyond amazing! You hit it out of the park again, woman. Thank you for indulging me whenever I have one of my many last minute requests. Love you!
To all of the bloggers who have shared my work, I’m forever indebted to you. You ladies are simply wonderful!
To all of you who have reached out to me to let me know how much you love my stories, I’m truly humbled.
And last but not least, I would like to thank you, the reader. Without you, I’d just be some crazy lady with a bunch of characters in my head. I hope you enjoyed the conclusion to Ford and Cara’s story.
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S. Nelson grew up with a love of reading and a very active imagination, never putting pen to paper, or fingers to keyboard until 2013.
Her passion to create was overwhelming, and within a few months she’d written her first novel. When she isn’t engrossed in creating one of the many stories rattling around inside her head, she loves to read and travel as much as she can. She lives in the Northeast with her husband and two dogs, enjoying the ever changing seasons.
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Standalones
Stolen Fate
Redemption
Torn
Blind Devotion
Massey Security Duet
The Assignment
The Addicted Trilogy
Addicted
Shattered
Wanted
The Knights Corruption MC Series
Marek
Stone
Jagger
Tripp
Ryder
Knights Corruption Complete Series (all 5 MC books in one: Marek, Stone, Jagger, Tripp, Ryder)
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She intrigues him. She challenges him. She threatens the secret he’s been hiding for years. Will a promise make long ago be the very same thing that destroys their chance for happiness?
Grab your copy of Addicted today
With the weight of the club on his shoulders, Cole Marek, president of the Knights Corruption MC, had only one choice:
Turn their livelihood legit.
Everything was falling into place until one unexpected, fateful night. With an attack on his fellow brothers, Marek had no choice but to retaliate against their sworn enemy.
Swarming their compound, he comes face-to-face with the infamous daughter of his rival club, making an astonishing decision which would change his life forever.
Grab your copy of Marek today