by MV Ellis
He’s still every bit the wild, arrogant, impatient, and often inappropriate guy with swag for miles that I fell in love with. Nowhere more so than in the bedroom. He definitely still has the beast in him, and he’s a rock god for life. I guess he’s mellowed a little, and really I think he’s simply showing elements of his personality to our daughters and me that he’d long suppressed after his dad’s death. The truth is that he has the biggest heart of anyone I’ve ever met.
“You’ve opened my eyes, my world, and my heart in ways I could never have foreseen, and the fact that I could ever have been prepared to walk away from that still perplexes me now. You make me make sense. I want forever with you. I want to go to sleep in your arms every night, and wake up on your… side of the bed every morning.” Arlo flashes our guests a shit-eating grin and licks his lips lasciviously. More chuckles from everyone.
“I’m so honored to be the mother of our two beautiful little girls, and to squirt number three, who will be with us next summer. You’re an amazing father, and we’re all so lucky to have you.”
I look at Arlo for a moment. His eyebrows shoot up in question, and I nod my affirmation. His features contort with emotion, and tears hover at the corners of his eyes, threatening to brim over. It’s true—our crazy little family is going to get crazier. I’ve known for a few days but decided to save the information for just the right time, and what better time than this? Arlo looks at me as though I hung the moon after dipping it in platinum and encrusting it in diamonds. If there’s a person on earth who could love me more than he does, I defy anyone to find them.
“I promise to be your lover, and your friend. Your partner in crime. Your comrade in adventure. Your ally against the world. Your greatest fan and a total pain in your ass. I promise to always tell you when you’re being a douche, but to love you regardless. I promise to always want you, anytime, anyplace, anywhere. I promise to always be me, and to love you for always being you.”
I hear sniffs and shuffling from the room, but I dare not look around. I’m holding on so far, but by a thread. If I catch sight of someone crying, especially if it’s Mom or Nic, I’ll lose my ever-loving shit.
Now it’s Arlo’s turn. I study his face again. One thing he’s always said is that he’s an open book to me, and it’s so true. Every day I look at this man, and the love he shows me when he looks back has me questioning what I ever did to deserve him in my life—apart from getting buck nekkid in his shower like a lunatic, of course.
“Hummingbird, Tog, London. You’re the piece of the puzzle I never knew was missing, but now can’t live without. You challenge and frustrate me every fucking day, but in the best possible way. You make me want to be a better man, and I already am through being with you. You make shit make sense.
“I never used to give a damn about spiders, one way or the other, but now I’m thankful for them every day. If it wasn’t for your arachnophobia, we might never have met, so long live arachnids!” Amen to that. I never thought I’d see the day when I’d come to be thankful for the eight-legged devil incarnates, but I am. Long live the spider!
“You make me want things I never even thought were a possibility in my life, and with your love and support, I achieve them. You had me on the ropes from day one in this relationship, and I don’t see that changing any time soon.” He has always said this, but I beg to differ. Case in point: if it wasn’t for his dogged determination and relentless pursuit, there wouldn’t even be a relationship. But once my husband gets an idea in his head, good luck telling him otherwise.
“Already I see Saint and Étienne following in your footsteps. If squirt number three is a girl, I may have to reconsider my life choices, but right now, you got me like stealing candy from a baby. You make me so horny I legit can’t see straight or think straight 95 percent of the time, and I wouldn’t have it any other way. Who knew chronic blue balls could be so rewarding?” I think the tears in the room are of laughter now. Trust Arlo to lay it all out for all—including our parents—to hear.
“I promise to love you, cherish you, worship you, see you, and fight for you and our beautiful squirts 24/7. By the way, I’m down for a football team if you are. Bring it.” Oh hell no! “I promise to give you every ounce of my heart every day, in every way I can. I promise to challenge and reward you. I promise to push and pull you. I promise to hold you and never let you go. You saved me from myself, and I promise to love you and thank you for that in a thousand different ways, today, tomorrow, and I don’t want to think about what comes after that.” Not a dry eye in the house.
There’s no need for James to tell Arlo he can kiss the bride. He’s on me before the last words are properly out of his mouth, and I don’t hesitate to give him my all in return.
I love this man. This clever, funny, brilliant, impulsive, strong, sexy man is my beginning, my middle, and my end.
Other Books by MV Ellis
If you loved Pushing Arlo, you might enjoy the other hot, fierce and fiery stories and books MV Ellis has published.
LIST OF BOOKS
Catching London
Cold, Hard, & Heartless
Pushing Arlo
Catching London
Heartless Few #1
He’s not looking to change his bad boy ways.
Arlo Jones is a bad boy billionaire rock star with the world at his feet. He lives the “sex, drugs and rock ‘n’ roll” lifestyle to the max, and believes in working hard and playing harder. He’s a man who always gets what he wants, especially when it comes to women. Until he meets London.
She’s a damaged dancer not looking to fall.
All London Llwellyn wants is to rebuild her life following the tragic car accident that robbed her of her fiancé, and ended her career as a professional ballet dancer. She’s working two jobs to scrape together the cash to set up her own studio, and reinvent herself as a photographer. The last thing she wants is to get involved.
Arlo promises to always be there to catch her, but can London trust him enough to let herself fall?
KINDLE UNLIMITED
Amazon US: http://amzn.to/2BxohWf
Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/2kb4ZBM
Amazon AU: http://amzn.to/2Af15h4
Amazon CA: http://amzn.to/2AmE9e6
Cold, Hard, & Heartless
Heartless Few (#2 novella)
Billionaire rocker Arlo Jones is Cold, Hard, and Heartless, and he's all yours in MV Ellis's latest novella. Get up close and personal as he learns to live, love, and give a fuck.
Cold. Hard. Heartless.
If I don’t rise, I can’t fall. If I don’t give, I can’t take. If I don’t love, I can’t lose. If I don’t break, I can’t heal. If I don’t care, I can’t hurt.
And if I don’t expose my heart, it can’t get broken.
As a boy, Arlo Jones learned that hearts could literally be broken. His shattered into a thousand tiny pieces when his dad died, and he vowed to never let that happen again. He had to be cold, hard, and heartless.
As a man, he has his shtick with chicks. He's never been in love, or even in lust. He gets horny, fucks, and sends them on their way. Rinse. Repeat. It ain't broke, so no need to fix it.
Until London. Meeting her is the start of something big, like the first bump of coke or hit of the pipe. From day one, the only way forward is deeper in, and there is no easy way out.
If this is love, he's never going to be the same again.
He vowed to protect the broken shards of his heart, until she etched herself on his soul.
KINDLE UNLIMITED
Amazon US: https://amzn.to/2NjbtI0
Amazon UK: https://amzn.to/2mlSFMX
Amazon CA: https://amzn.to/2urum4u
Amazon AU: https://amzn.to/2JsnYih
About the Author
Thanks for reading Pushing Arlo. I do hope you enjoyed seeing him chase his happy ever after, as much as I enjoyed writing it. I appreciate your help in spreading the word, including telling a friend. Before you go, it would mean so mu
ch to me if you would take a few minutes to write a review and share how you feel about my story so others may find my work. Reviews really do help readers find books. Please leave a review on your favorite book site.
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Acknowledgments
There are so many moving parts involved in turning a book from an idea in an author’s head to a story in the hands of readers. So many people, and so many processes that help make those little black squiggles on the page into something enjoyable for readers. Yes, it all starts with the author, and the idea, and the ability to translate that idea into word after word after word, but the fact is, without the other moving parts, there would be no book. An author cannot survive on words alone.
To that end, I’d like to thank the team of editors, beta readers, cover designers, publicity and marketing, and all the other ‘moving parts’ at Hot Tree Publishing who are instrumental in helping me share my words with the world—I couldn’t do it without you.
To my personal ‘moving parts’—the people who help keep me on track, whether by being my cheer squad, my advocate, my drinking buddy, my personal barista, or simply a listening ear, again, I couldn’t do it without you. A thousand thank-yous to you all.
I’d like to thank the industry and community I’m increasingly starting to feel part of. The writing industry is vast, but I’m feeling my way around, and finding my place with fellow authors, bloggers and other related professionals. Everyone has been wonderfully welcoming and supportive, for which I’m eternally grateful.
Last but never least, I’d like to thank my lovely readers. Every time you purchase or borrow a book, you’re helping make my dream come true, and keeping the dream alive. Every time you share a review, or reach out to me with your thoughts or feedback, you give me a reason to carry on doing what I do. Gratitude doesn’t even begin to cover it.
Thank you.
xMV
About the Publisher
Hot Tree Publishing opened its doors in 2015 with an aspiration to bring quality fiction to the world of readers. With the initial focus on romance and a wide spread of romance subgenres, we envision opening up to alternative genres in the near future.
Firmly seated in the industry as a leading editing provider to independent authors and small publishing houses, Hot Tree Publishing is the sister company to Hot Tree Editing, founded in 2012. Having established in-house editing and promotions, plus having a well-respected market presence, Hot Tree Publishing endeavors to be a leader in bringing quality stories to the world of readers.
Interested in discovering more amazing reads brought to you by Hot Tree Publishing? Head over to the website for information:
www.hottreepublishing.com