“It wasn’t a summons, which is why I hot-footed it here.”
He stepped aside. “Come in. We’ll discuss this in private.”
“Fine.” She headed straight for the couch. “Where’s my toaster?”
“I’ll remind you the requirement was to apologize.”
When he sat beside her, she took his hand and blurted out, “I’m sorry I ate the last two blue raspberry Pop-Tarts last night. I didn’t have a case of the munchies, I…” She sighed. “Okay, I did have a case of the munchies and we were out of Cheetos—”
“Because I seem to be the only one capable of grocery shopping in our household.”
“I know. I’m sorry. It’s just you’re so efficient at it. I give you a list, you get the items with no lollygagging around. I…meander and toss weird shit into the cart.”
Liam studied her. “So that’s how we ended up with two cans of key lime pie filling, a bottle of sriracha ketchup, seven bags of Cheetos, and a pig-shaped pot scrubber last time you went to the store.”
“Yes. Stupid, huh?”
“Never stupid.” He kissed her forehead. “Always quirky, which is exactly how I like you, Stirling.”
She touched his face, this incredible man who understood her so well. “I’m sorry. I’ll be a better roommate and throw away boxes and bags after I empty them. I’ll respect our diverse Cheeto needs and not eat yours just because they’re there.”
He smiled. “That’s all I wanted, crazy pants. Apology accepted.” Liam pulled out a cardboard box from under the couch and set it on the coffee table. “Open it.”
Stirling peeled the flaps back and grinned at all the vending-machine-sized bags of baked Cheetos. “You proved your point, but I definitely planned to replace your purloined Pop-Tarts tonight after work.”
“Really? You’ve seen that kind before?” He pointed at the box.
She plucked out the Pop-Tarts box he’d indicated. It felt weird. Too light. She looked at the front and read, “Wedding cake flavored? Hey, I haven’t seen this kind.” Then she studied the image more closely. It appeared to be an official Pop-Tarts label, but they didn’t have labels. Everything was printed on the cardboard. Curious, she opened the tabs and peered inside. What she saw had her dropping the box.
Liam caught it.
Her gaze snagged his. “Liam. Is that…?”
“Before you ask, this is not a prank.” He tipped the cardboard box and a square blue velvet box dropped into his palm. He set it on his knee and curled his hands around her face. “I love you. I never thought I’d find a woman like you. I want to spend my life making you as happy as you’ve made me. So please, Stirling Gradsky”—he kissed her softly—“marry me.”
Her stomach did backflips. Her entire body mimicked a paint shaker.
“We belong together, beautiful.”
Stirling couldn’t find her voice.
Somehow, he recognized that and pressed a gentle kiss to her voice box. “Nod if you’re still with me.”
She did and felt him smile against her neck.
“Nod if you’re ready to see the ring.”
She nodded vigorously and he laughed.
He kissed the corner of each eye. “Close these baby blues and give me your hand.”
Stirling placed her shaking left hand over his heart, only to find it was beating hard and fast beneath her palm. Her eyes hooked his.
“Yes, I’m nervous. I’ve never proposed before and I’m second guessing whether I should’ve chosen a more traditional manner to ask you to spend your life with me.”
Liam’s admission of nerves calmed hers. She slid her hand up his neck and tugged him closer. “This is perfect. Way better than you dropping to a knee with a bouquet of flowers as a violinist serenaded us.” She brushed her lips across his. “You know me better than anyone ever has and I’m grateful for that every day. I love you more every day. Now slip that ring on my finger before I do it myself.”
He smiled and removed her hand from his neck. Keeping their eyes locked, he kissed her ring finger before sliding the ring on.
Stirling held her hand out. The stones sparkled even in a room with no windows. The emerald-cut pale blue jewel in the center of the platinum setting was the size of her pinkie nail. On each side was a cluster of pink stones. Immediately she teared up. “Liam. I…”
“The aquamarine reminded me of your eyes,” he inserted. “And pink diamonds look girly on the surface but beneath it, they are tough and resilient, just like you. Every time you look at this ring I want you to remember I love you for the rare and precious gem you are to me.”
And there was his sweet side. How lucky was she that this remarkable, annoying man with a noble soul and a beautiful heart had chosen her? Tears poured down her cheeks.
He hauled her against his chest, murmuring to her as she attempted to regain control of her emotions.
Finally she said, “The ring is stunning. You have blown me away with this to the point that I can’t think straight.”
Liam tipped her chin up. “May I remind you that you haven’t agreed to marry me yet?”
“Of course I’m gonna marry you, Dr. Doubtful. I love you.” She teased his lips with hers until he opened his mouth, then she kissed him with everything she had—passion, tenderness, hunger, sweetness, and most of all love. When they broke apart, her gaze sought out the ring and she grinned.
“Why the sneaky smile, Miss Gradsky?”
“I wonder if I’ll miss you calling me that when I’m Mrs. Argent.”
The possessive look in his eyes nearly had her tearing his clothes off.
“How soon can we start telling people?” Stirling asked. “Macon should be first. Then we should probably Skype or FaceTime with my parents and let them know.” She kept sneaking glances at her kick-ass ring. “But then again, my mom will start asking things like have we set the date, if we’re having a big wedding, and where we’re having it.”
Liam lifted an eyebrow. “Berlin will hit the planning stage that quickly?”
“You have met my mother, Liam. This could turn into a three-ring circus if we don’t have our own plan.”
“I sweated out waiting for the ring to get finished. I devised a way to propose that was personal to us. I proposed. You said yes. Can’t we just coast for a while?”
Stirling started laughing. “Oh, you’re cute when you’re clueless.”
He groaned. “All of this is making me dizzy. I believe I should lie down.” He stretched out on the loveseat as much as it allowed and brought Stirling down on top of him. “Much better. Now I can breathe again.” He wound three of her dreadlocks around his palm. “Do you want a big wedding?”
“No. Just family and a few friends. How soon do you want to do this?”
“I’d drag you to the courthouse today if I thought you’d agree to it.”
A brilliant, totally off the wall—and totally them—idea occurred to her and she laughed.
“Dammit. That laugh never bodes well for me, crazy pants.”
“But you’ll love this.” She brushed his hair from his brow. “Let’s get married on 4-20. International cannabis counterculture day.”
“I do love that idea. But only if the ceremony is performed at 4:20 in the afternoon, sticking with the traditional time to smoke.”
“Absolutely. And let’s get married at—”
“Mile High Cannabis Church,” he finished. “That is perfect for us. You can wear a hemp dress and carry a bouquet of cannabis flowers in full bloom…”
“And we can write our own vows. Do you, Dr. Liam Argent…toke this woman to be your lawfully wedded wife.”
Liam laughed. “’Til death do we pot.”
“We’re such dorks.”
“That’s why we’re so perfect together.” Liam tugged on her hair until they were almost nose to nose. “I locked the door. I want you wearing nothing but my ring as I fuck you.”
Heat rolled through her like a desert breeze. “Okay.”
�
��So agreeable,” he murmured against her neck.
“Don’t get used to it.”
“Trust me, I’ll never get used to how lucky I am to have you as mine.”
“Perfect answer.” She sat up. “Now strip, hot doctor man of mine, and let’s make this engagement official.”
* * * *
Also from 1001 Dark Nights and Lorelei James, discover Roped In, Stripped Down, and Strung Up.
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1001 Dark Nights story
The First Night
by Lexi Blake & M.J. Rose
Discover 1001 Dark Nights Collection Four
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ROCK CHICK REAWAKENING by Kristen Ashley
A Rock Chick Novella
ADORING INK by Carrie Ann Ryan
A Montgomery Ink Novella
SWEET RIVALRY by K. Bromberg
SHADE'S LADY by Joanna Wylde
A Reapers MC Novella
RAZR by Larissa Ione
A Demonica Underworld Novella
ARRANGED by Lexi Blake
A Masters and Mercenaries Novella
TANGLED by Rebecca Zanetti
A Dark Protectors Novella
HOLD ME by J. Kenner
A Stark Ever After Novella
SOMEHOW, SOME WAY by Jennifer Probst
A Billionaire Builders Novella
TOO CLOSE TO CALL by Tessa Bailey
A Romancing the Clarksons Novella
HUNTED by Elisabeth Naughton
An Eternal Guardians Novella
EYES ON YOU by Laura Kaye
A Blasphemy Novella
BLADE by Alexandra Ivy/Laura Wright
A Bayou Heat Novella
DRAGON BURN by Donna Grant
A Dark Kings Novella
TRIPPED OUT by Lorelei James
A Blacktop Cowboys® Novella
STUD FINDER by Lauren Blakely
MIDNIGHT UNLEASHED by Lara Adrian
A Midnight Breed Novella
HALLOW BE THE HAUNT by Heather Graham
A Krewe of Hunters Novella
DIRTY FILTHY FIX by Laurelin Paige
A Fixed Novella
THE BED MATE by Kendall Ryan
A Room Mate Novella
NIGHT GAMES by CD Reiss
A Games Novella
NO RESERVATIONS by Kristen Proby
A Fusion Novella
DAWN OF SURRENDER by Liliana Hart
A MacKenzie Family Novella
Discover the World of 1001 Dark Nights
Collection One
Collection Two
Collection Three
Collection Four
Bundles
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Blue Box Specials
Rising Storm
Liliana Hart's MacKenzie Family
Lexi Blake's Crossover Collection
Discover More Lorelei James
Roped In
A Blacktop Cowboys® Novella
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Ambition has always been his biggest downfall...until he meets her.
World champion bulldogger Sutton Grant works hard on the road, but his quiet charm has earned the nickname “The Saint” because he's never been the love 'em and leave 'em type with the ladies. When he’s sidelined by an injury, he needs help keeping his horse in competition shape, but he fears trying to sweet-talk premier horse trainer London Gradsky is a losing proposition--because the woman sorta despises him.
London is humiliated when her boyfriend dumps her for a rodeo queen. What makes the situation worse? She’s forced to see the lovebirds on the rodeo circuit every weekend. In an attempt to save face, London agrees to assist the notoriously mild, but ruggedly handsome Sutton Grant with his horse training problem on one condition: Sutton has to pretend to be her new boyfriend.
But make believe doesn't last long between the sassy cowgirl and the laid-back bulldogger. When the attraction between them ignites, London learns that sexy Sutton is no Saint when that bedroom door closes; he's the red-hot lover she's always dreamed of.
The more time they spend together, the more Sutton realizes he wouldn’t mind being roped and tied to the rough and tumble cowgirl for real…
* * * *
Stripped Down
A Blacktop Cowboys® Novella
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Never challenge a cowboy to a little naughty competition…
A flirty game of sexual truth or dare between best man, Wynton Grant, and maid of honor, Melissa Lockhart during their BFF’s wedding reception results in a steamy hookup.
But their plans for a one and done change when a family crisis leaves Wyn shorthanded at the Grant Ranch. Experienced horsewoman Mel volunteers to help out and gets way more than she bargained for living under the same roof as the sexy rancher. Playing house has never appealed to Wyn…until now.
But the feisty redhead is keeping secrets and Wyn’s not above stripping her bare—body and soul—to get to the bottom of it…
* * * *
Strung Up
A Blacktop Cowboys® Novella
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From New York Times bestseller Lorelei James…
Rancher Creston Grant retreats from the world after he loses the love of his life... Can his former flame, rodeo cowboy Breck Christianson prove he's a changed man who can give Cres a second chance at love?
Unbreak My Heart
Rough Riders Legacy Book 1
By Lorelei James
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Check out the following excerpt from the New Adult Contemporary Romance UNBREAK MY HEART, the first book in the Rough Riders Legacy series, featuring the star crossed teen couple Boone West and Sierra McKay from the Rough Riders novel, GONE COUNTRY, who are all grown up and finally get their happily ever after…available now from Lorelei James!
* * * *
“How do I know that you’re not a shitty dancer who’ll tromp on my toes or embarrass me with disco moves?”
I braced my forearm on the bar and leaned in, losing my train of thought when I caught a whiff of her sweet perfume and, beneath that sweetness, the earthier musk of her skin, Brushing my lips across her ear, I murmured, “Only one way to find out if I’ve got the moves like Jagger, McKay.”
She laughed. “Okay.”
I clasped her left hand in my right, towing her behind me until we reached the farthest edge of the dance floor.
Sierra brought our clasped hands up and rested her left hand on my right shoulder, keeping our bodies a proper distance apart like we were in fifth grade gym class.
“Nice try, but you belong here.” I circled her arms around my neck. Then I placed my hands in the small of her back with my forearms resting on her hips. “Much better.”
“Says you. But if your hands migrate toward my ass, you’ll get a knee to your nuts, West.”
I chuckled. “Tough talk.”
“Try me.”
“If you want to touch my nuts all you’ve gotta do is ask, no need to get violent about it.”
She had no response for that.
Conversation was the dead last thing on my mind as I finally held this woman in my arms. She matched her rhythm to mine. Even our breath synchronized as I felt the rising and falling of her chest and her exhale across my neck.
I bit back a groan. I’d always known we’d move together like this—which is why I’d never allowed our bodies to touch during those months we first got to know each other. I’d even lied about why I planned to skip prom, claiming I didn’t have the money or the right transportation. But the truth was if I’d seen Sierra dressed to the nines and then spent the entire night body to body like this? I would’ve had her stripped bare as soon as we were alone and I never would’ve
left Wyoming.
“What are you thinking about?” she demanded. “Because you’re making some Neanderthal noises.”
“I’m thinking about the real reason I didn’t ask you to prom.”
“Is this the ‘I wouldn’t have been able to keep my hands off you excuse’?”
“Not an excuse, Sierra, and you damn well know it.”
Her disbelieving snort vibrated against my neck. “I’m so glad you were able to keep your virtue and my hymen intact when you took off a month later.”
I wasn’t falling for her attempt to rile me, which in turn would rile her and give her an excuse to stomp away mad. “That’s the only time in my life I’ve come close to being virtuous.”
“I think you had ‘virtue’ confused with ‘self-interest’,” she retorted.
Sliding my left hand up past the nape of her neck, I sifted my fingers through her hair until I had a good grip. “You’re going there? Good. We need to get this shit out in the open, so we can move on from it.” I felt the ferocity flicker in my eyes, knew she saw it and didn’t bother to try and hide it. “I secretly ate it up that a girl like you had a thing for me. That you saw me beyond the bullshit. But goddammit, don’t pretend you didn’t know how I felt about you that whole time.”
“I didn’t know,” she said hotly.
“Bull. You were the only person I spent my nonworking hours with. I didn’t hang with the guys. I didn’t have any friends at school besides you, Sierra.”
Tripped Out: A Blacktop Cowboys® Novella Page 19