He shifted the phone away from his mouth and said, “Hey, babe, can you grab my wallet from the table?”
She grabbed his wallet from the dining room table, and it slipped from her fingers, bounced off a chair, and fell to the floor. His credit cards fell out, along with the picture he’d taken from Jilly and the card her mother had given him from the auction. She gathered it all and brought it to him.
“Thanks.” He read the credit card number into the phone and said, “Perfect. The card should read much love, Dixie and Jace.” When he ended the call, he set his phone on the counter and put his arms around Dixie, pressing his lips to hers.
“What was that about?”
“Bear and Crystal have their hands full with their new baby, so I asked Finlay to cater their dinners for the next two weeks.”
Dixie’s heart warmed at his thoughtfulness. “That’s the sweetest gift. Thank you.”
They’d visited with Bear, Crystal, and baby Axel last night. Bear and Crystal couldn’t be happier or prouder. Axel was the cutest little guy, named after their uncle, who had owned Whiskey Automotive and taught Bear everything he knew about mechanics before they’d lost him to cancer. Jace had lived up to his baby-hogging reputation, cuddling the sweet boy for most of the evening.
“Apparently it wasn’t an original gift idea,” Jace said. “When I called, Finlay said she’d planned on bringing lunches over this week. She also fought me on paying for the dinners, but with their baby on the way, I wasn’t going to let her do that.” Finlay had announced her pregnancy the week after Jace proposed. She was due in early January, and everyone was thrilled for them.
“You just earned bonus naughty points.”
He made a guttural, appreciative sound and kissed her. “Can I collect right now?”
“No,” she said, pushing from his hands, although she hoped he never stopped craving her as much as he did now. She leaned against the counter and said, “I wasn’t snooping, but I saw the auction card and picture of me in your wallet. I didn’t know you still had them in there.”
His lips curved up and he said, “My stuff is your stuff, and I’ve got nothing to hide. You can snoop all you want.”
“I wasn’t snooping. I dropped your wallet and they fell out. Why do you still carry them?”
“Because I like having you with me at all times.”
“We’re always together,” she said, but hearing her uber-alpha man say something so mushy made her feel good all over.
“Not while we’re at work,” he reminded her, showing more of his soft underbelly.
Although Jace had delegated away most of his travel, he still had to go away for meetings for a day here or there. They’d traveled together to Mexico for his meetings there and had spent five wonderful, romantic days and four love-filled nights enjoying each other. They’d also decided to tie the knot while they were there. After tearful and joyous calls with both of their parents, they’d gotten their blessings. Dixie and Jace exchanged their vows on a warm summer evening beneath a starry sky, and when they’d come home, her parents had thrown them a huge party. Jace’s family, Maddox, and several of Jace’s friends had attended. Mia had been bummed because she’d been secretly planning their wedding since their engagement, and Jax and Jillian were also not thrilled to have missed out on the chance to design Dixie’s wedding gown and bridesmaid dresses. But their family and friends had all understood that Jace and Dixie were so in love, they hadn’t wanted to wait.
Dixie glanced at Jace’s wedding ring, and goose bumps rose on her arms. It was such a magical feeling to be married to the man she loved with her heart and soul. She’d never forget the day he proposed, the way his whole face had lit up when she’d said yes, or the look in his eyes when they’d gotten married and he’d said, “I do.” She’d also never forget the tears she’d cried at their family’s celebration when the Dark Knights had formed a circle with their motorcycles around her and Jace and each of her brothers had delivered touching speeches. Bones had said he hoped his daughters would grow to be as strong as Dixie and went on to tell tales of when they were young. He wished them all the happiness in the world and lots of babies in their future, adding that his children needed more cousins. Bullet had said that Dixie was her own woman and that he understood that she needed to blaze her own path, but he was glad she had Jace by her side. And Bear had paid tribute to Jace for having proved that when love hit, nothing could stand in its way—not even his ornery sister’s own bullheadedness.
It was the perfect way to celebrate the start of their new life together.
“Hey, beautiful? Where’d you go?” Jace asked, putting his arms around her. “You had a faraway look in your eyes.”
“Just revisiting a few really great moments.”
He touched his forehead to hers and said, “Like that new thing I did with my tongue when I ate breakfast?”
Her stomach flipped, and heat trickled down her spine with that memory. “Among other things.” She pushed him playfully and said, “Go get your shirt or we’ll never get out of here with you talking like that.”
His eyes flamed.
God, she loved him!
She pointed toward the bedroom.
“I’m going,” he said reluctantly. On his way out of the kitchen, he said, “Now I’ll think about that all day long, so you’d better be ready to be devoured tonight.”
A thrill skittered through her. She’d be thinking about it, too, and she doubted they’d make it through the day.
AFTER A LONG afternoon ride with his beautiful wife plastered to his back, one of their favorite pastimes, Jace drove down the new gravel driveway toward their property. He had a surprise for Dixie, and he’d timed it perfectly. The sun was starting to set as their two-story home came into view. Happiness swelled inside him. He’d never imagined that putting down roots could bring such a sense of peace, and being with Dixie, sharing the smallest of things, making joint decisions as their lives came together, and just being there for each other made life so much sweeter. Jace had begun integrating into the close-knit community, meeting local business owners, spreading the word about the internships and mentoring programs they’d bring in once Silver-Stone’s manufacturing plant was up and running. He was also working to put scholarships into place for the local high school, and he’d even signed up to make a Silver-Stone float for the Halloween parade. He just hoped Kennedy didn’t ask them all to be ballet dancers or something equally feminine this year, because she and the rest of Dixie’s babies had Uncle Jace wrapped around their little fingers.
The exterior of the house was finished, and the glass windows surrounding the crow’s nest reflected the setting sun as beautifully as they’d hoped they would. They’d worked with Jillian’s brother Beau, a custom-home builder and renovations expert, to design a gorgeous four-bedroom home with an open floor plan, a spacious home office, a large deck, and a glassed-in sunroom. Since he and Dixie loved the open road, they wanted to bring as much natural sunlight into their home as possible. They were also building a multicar garage and a workshop for Jace to tinker in.
“This is so exciting!” Dixie said as he grabbed the bag of food they’d bought at Jazzy Joe’s on the way over. “Everything is happening so fast. I’m glad the house will be done before we start traveling for the launch. I can’t wait to see you honored for all your hard work.”
The launch of the Legacy and Leather and Lace lines was about a month away. The calendars had turned out even better than Jace had hoped, and Dixie would be signing them at the launch events. Their families were all planning to attend the launch party in New York City, and Jace was excited to introduce his new wife to his world in a bigger way. He and Maddox were scheduled to do several television interviews, and though Dixie didn’t know it, he was going to reveal that she had been his muse for the Leather and Lace lines. He’d spent years holding back his feelings for her, and now that he could shout it from the rooftops, he planned on doing just that.
Dixie looked
around the yard and said, “It’s hard to believe this is where it all started for us.”
As Jace unlocked the door to the house, he thought of the surprise waiting for her inside. “You think this is where it started? Baby, it all started the minute you stood before me at that rally years ago and said, ‘I’m Dixie Whiskey, and don’t you forget it.’ You cast your spell on me. I was a goner from that moment on.”
“It’s a good thing I have a big mouth.”
“For many reasons,” he said wickedly, and followed her inside.
The walls were framed, but there was no drywall up yet, making it possible to see the entirety of the first floor and right out the French doors in the back. But Jace had set up a movie screen and projector that ran off a laptop. He’d spread out a blanket, pillows, and battery-operated candles, just as he had the night at the drive-in. This time there were rose petals spread out around the blanket and flowers in vases. By the way Dixie’s eyes were lighting up, he knew he’d chosen the perfect surprise.
“What is all this?” she asked excitedly as she went to investigate.
“I promised you I’d watch Pretty Woman, and I figured what better time than now?”
“We’re watching Pretty Woman?” She looked down at the blanket and candles as he set the bag of food down. “Our first movie night!”
He wrapped her in his arms and said, “I told you I’d never let you down again.” He kissed her and said, “Why don’t you get comfortable and I’ll start the movie.”
“You’re amazing,” she said as she set out the food.
They ate while they watched the movie, and Jace couldn’t imagine a better way to spend an evening. She laughed, teared up, and even snapped at Richard Gere when she thought he was being stupid. And after they ate, she cuddled with Jace on the blanket and pillows.
After the movie, she lay on her stomach beside him, running her finger over the tattoo on her wrist, and said, “Now do you see why it’s my favorite movie? Vivian is a badass.”
“You’re even more badass than she is.”
“I don’t know about that, but I do have a cooler tattoo than she does.”
He kissed the tattoo and said, “Have you figured out why that tattoo is special yet?”
“What do you mean? You already told me about how you designed it.”
“Did I?” He rolled onto his back and said, “Or did I leave out one important part?”
“Do tell, Mr. Stone.” She draped her arm over his stomach and put her head on his chest.
He ran his fingers through her hair and said, “I’ll give you a hint. A diamond is a precious stone.”
She looked down at him, her brow furrowed.
He lifted her wrist and kissed it again. “Think about it, Mrs. Stone.”
“Oh my God! You marked me!”
He laughed, and she rose and straddled him, pinning his hands beside his head, grinning down at him. “You were branding me!”
He couldn’t do more than grin.
“What if we hadn’t ended up together?”
“Then my life would suck, wouldn’t it? But that wasn’t going to happen.”
“It could have,” she insisted.
“No way, baby.” He swept her beneath him and said, “Unforgettable Dixie, do you remember what I said to you when you told me not to forget your name?”
She bit her lower lip, her eyes glittering with love. “You said you’d never forget because my name was etched in stone.”
“That’s right. Stone with a capital S.”
“Jace…” she said, a little breathless and awestruck.
“I told you, babe. I hear everything you say.” He kissed her deeply, and when she went soft and boneless beneath him, he said, “And I also hear everything you don’t.” He moved down her body, rolled her shirt up, and kissed her stomach. She closed her eyes, arching beneath him as he dragged his tongue around her belly button. “Like right now,” he said softly. “I hear you asking me to make love to you right here on the floor where we’ll raise our babies.”
She opened her eyes, looking happy and beautiful as she reached for him.
He gazed into her eyes and said, “I hear something else. Do you hear it?”
She tilted her head and said, “That depends. Did you hear how much I love you?”
“I always hear that, my love.” He kissed her tenderly and cradled her in his arms, whispering, “Close your eyes and listen. Maybe you can hear it, too.”
She closed her eyes, and he dipped his head beside hers and said, “You once said that better men than me had tried to tame this Whiskey.”
“They weren’t better,” she said anxiously.
“I know, babe.” He kissed her and said, “They weren’t good enough for you, because they didn’t see what I’ve always known. You’re perfect just the way you are, wild and mouthy and so fucking brilliant, you tamed me and I never even saw it coming.”
Ready for More Whiskeys? How about the Wickeds?
If this is your first Whiskey book, each of Dixie’s siblings’ books are available for your binge-reading pleasure! Below you will find information on those titles, as well as details on the next book in the Whiskey series, THE GRITTY TRUTH (featuring Quincy Gritt), and A LITTLE BIT WICKED (featuring Justin Wicked), the first book in The Wickeds: Dark Knights at Bayside series. Don’t worry, The Whiskeys series is not ending! The rest of our Whiskey-world friends will also be getting their own love stories, and you’ll soon meet many more Whiskey relatives. But when I met the Wickeds, I knew they needed a world of their own. I cannot wait for you to get to know them.
THE GRITTY TRUTH
Quincy Gritt has fought his demons. He’s confessed to his crimes and conquered his addictions. But when his past comes back to haunt him, can he learn to live with the gritty truth, or will he spiral back into the darkness? Come along for his sexy, emotional ride and fall in love all over again.
Buy THE GRITTY TRUTH
Get ready to fall hard for the Wickeds!
What do a cocky artist/biker and a businesswoman who has sworn off dating bad boys have in common? According to Chloe Mallery, not much. But Justin Wicked has had his eye on her for a long time, and he is sure the inescapable heat between them runs far deeper than just physical attraction. Could their difficult pasts be drawing them together, or will Justin’s protective nature be too much for Chloe’s independent heart to accept? Find out and fall hard for the Wickeds in A LITTLE BIT WICKED, a Dark Knights novel.
Buy A LITTLE BIT WICKED
The following Whiskey books are waiting for you at all book retailers:
Tru Blue (Truman and Gemma)
Truly, Madly, Whiskey (Bear and Crystal)
Driving Whiskey Wild (Bullet and Finlay)
Wicked Whiskey Love (Bones and Sarah)
Mad About Moon (Jed and Josie)
Taming My Whiskey (Dixie and Jace)
And don’t miss out on River of Love, the book that first introduces readers to the Whiskey family. River of Love features Sam Braden, from The Bradens at Peaceful Harbor series.
Remember to download your Whiskey/Wicked family tree here:
Whiskey/Wicked Family Tree
Love Melissa’s Writing?
Discover more of the magic behind New York Times bestselling and award-winning author Melissa Foster. The Whiskeys are just one of the many family series in the Love in Bloom big-family romance collection featuring fiercely loyal heroes, sassy, sexy heroines, and stories that go above and beyond your expectations! See the collection here:
www.MelissaFoster.com/love-bloom-series
Free first-in-series ebooks, downloadable series checklists, reading orders, and more can be found on Melissa’s Reader Goodies page.
More Books By Melissa Foster
Love in Bloom Romance Collection
LOVE IN BLOOM SERIES order
Love in Bloom books may be read as stand alones. For more enjoyment, read them in series order. Characters from each series carry forward to the
next.
SNOW SISTERS
Sisters in Love
Sisters in Bloom
Sisters in White
THE BRADENS (Weston, CO)
Lovers at Heart, Reimagined
Destined for Love
Friendship on Fire
Sea of Love
Bursting with Love
Hearts at Play
THE BRADENS (Trusty, CO)
Taken by Love
Fated for Love
Romancing My Love
Flirting with Love
Dreaming of Love
Crashing into Love
THE BRADENS (Peaceful Harbor, MD)
Healed by Love
Surrender My Love
River of Love
Crushing on Love
Whisper of Love
Thrill of Love
THE BRADENS & MONTGOMERYS (Pleasant Hill – Oak Falls)
Embracing Her Heart
Anything for Love
Trails of Love
Wild, Crazy Hearts
Making You Mine
Searching For Love
BRADEN WORLD NOVELLAS
Daring Her Love
Promise My Love
Our New Love
Story of Love
Love at Last
A Very Braden Christmas
THE REMINGTONS
Game of Love
Stroke of Love
Flames of Love
Slope of Love
Read, Write, Love
Touched by Love
SEASIDE SUMMERS
Seaside Dreams
Seaside Hearts
Seaside Sunsets
Seaside Secrets
Seaside Nights
Seaside Embrace
Seaside Lovers
Seaside Whispers
Seaside Serenade
BAYSIDE SUMMERS
Bayside Desires
Bayside Passions
Bayside Heat
Bayside Escape
Bayside Romance
Bayside Fantasies
THE RYDERS
Seized by Love
Taming My Whiskey Page 32