by Trixie More
“I found it when I was putting away his socks,” she said. Derrick was due back any minute. He and Ben had been in Switzerland for the last week, visiting there with Rob, his robotics friend from England. Robert was introducing them to some contacts at a company whose name was all A’s and B’s and unpronounceable as far as Allison was concerned. Regardless, since the fire, Derrick had been focusing his robotic time on figuring out how to rebuild Christopher Robot and was Ben finally trying to get someone to listen to their ideas. It was a course of action she fully backed even if her man wasn’t going to ever leave the union. She was pretty sure her long hours and use of open flames weren’t Derrick’s favorite ideas either.
“And you know it’s for you?” Angelo was surely messing with her now.
“Angelo, seriously, if you lived with me, tell me you would have the cajones to bring a ring for someone else into the house?” She put her hands on her hips and looked at him.
“Boss, if I lived with you, I’d be saving up for my own place.”
Allison laughed.
“Sorry, Poppie. If you lived with us, I’d be loaning you your first month’s rent.”
Allison spun around. How much had he heard? She looked up at Derrick’s face, so beloved to her and she knew.
“You heard?” Her heart sank. Derrick had that placid look on, the one she hated and hadn’t seen in months. Her mouth had spoiled things again.
“You, bossy, are one big pain in the ass,” Derrick said. He looked around and found a napkin, tearing a strip off and twisting it into a ring. He sighed. “I’m gonna have to do this now, aren’t I?”
She felt terrible. And wonderful. And terrible. The man’s suitcase was still next to his leg.
“You’re going to be sorry, bossy, because, with this ring on, dishwashing is going to be very difficult.” Derrick sunk to one knee, bowing his head and sighing. Then he looked up at her, his eyes warm and loving, approving and accepting, appreciative and supportive. Everything a woman like her needed and she couldn’t wait.
“Yes!”
“I didn’t ask you yet.” He smiled.
She got down on the floor and took his face in her hands. “You are my construction god, my wrecking ball, the love of my life and the only male on the planet who can stand me.”
Derrick shook his head.
“You wait for me, work with me and rescue me. I could live without you, but it would be absolutely too much work and not one bit of fun.”
“Did you practice this?” He looked suspicious.
“Can you stand please?” Allison gave him a little push.
He appeared to be reluctant to stand while she was kneeling. First time ever. Allison smiled up at him. It was a long way. She reached into her back pocket and pulled out a platinum ring, holding it up so he could see it.
“You’re kidding,” he said.
“All of what I said before is true, but that’s not why I want to marry you.” She felt a few tears start to build up.
“No.”
“No?”
“Not like this.” He reached his hand down to her. “If I’m standing for this, so are you.” Her heart soared. This is why she loved him. She sprang to her feet.
“Derrick Moss, I love the man that I see when I look at you, a brave, generous, magnificent king of a man and I want you all to myself, for the rest of my life, to have, to hold, to worship and boss around.”
“Allison Walton, you are the biggest pain in the ass, and have the biggest ass …”
She laughed. He cradled her face.
“Allison Walton, before I met you, I hadn’t even met me. You introduced me to myself, and for that, I owe you. You’re the strongest, finest person I’ve ever met. You’re it for me. Will you marry me?”
She gave him her absolute best smile for good luck. “Will you marry me?”
He opened that stubborn, stubborn mouth, took a breath and …
She had one more thing to say. “Before you say yes, I’m warning you …”
“Don’t say it,” he said, laughing.
“It’s gonna be tough going.”
Coming Soon,
the stunning conclusion
to the Tough Love series…
T r i x i e M o r e
Tough
Enough
She’s the most stunning woman in any room.
He couldn’t care less.
He’s a man willing to break any rule.
She’s a woman in love with justice.
When he finds she’s more brains than beauty?
It’s game on.
Can you guess which of them needs to be -
Tough Enough?
Shameless Begging ~ Promises of Free Stuff
If you’ve read this far, thank you—or as Allison would say, “What do I owe you?”
If you missed the first book, you can find out more about Dorothy and her wild ride in “Tough Sell.” If you’ve read both books in this series (OMG - big hugs!) and are reading this before the third book in the series is out, there is really only one thing for you to do—head over to my website at www.TrixieMore.com and check out my “free stuff” page.
While you’re there, sign up for my email list.
Please do, the pre-launch contests are epic & great fun.
https://trixiemore.com/new-releases/
If you didn’t know it, reviews are the best thing an author can get. If you wouldn’t mind, could you please pop over to the site where you got this book or your favorite reader site, and put up an honest review?
The reviews for Tough Sell just floored me. Thank you so much, far less than one in a hundred people leave a review or click a star, so you are in the top one percent of readers—amazing, right?
If you would like to see your review in the front of my next book, just email me at [email protected] and let me know.
You are, seriously, the best reader ever.
~ Acknowledgments ~
Back of the Book Stuff
I know one thing: the only person who really matters in all of this crazy stuff, is you.
Because you are the reader.
I’m an independent author.
I work for you.
Thank you so much.
You are, seriously, the best reader ever.
My husband is feeding the dogs as I write this. Today is Monday, and he’s dressed and ready for work. I’m in my bathrobe, typing like crazy so I can finish and walk the dogs. He spent the weekend caring for them, tidying up, working an extra shift and wondering if any jointly attended meals would happen. They didn’t. He is my one and only. My strong, silent type. My love. He also is looking forward to me finding a way to have a weekend again.
This book had a lot of fathers and grandfathers in it. I don’t see men getting the full recognition they deserve for all they give to their children and families. When I see our son with his daughter, I see a man dedicated, heart and soul, to one thing: providing a loving, safe and supportive environment for his wife and child. He is all in, every day.
He’s not the only one. Thank you to all the fathers who give it all they’ve got.
I am blessed with two fathers, my natural father, whom I adore, taught me to tell a ripping good story, and to love to work really hard. I’m so lucky to also have a step-father, whom I also adore, who taught me how to hike far and wide, and that stepchildren are loved equally. Full stop.
There is nothing better than having a brother. It’s the deal of the century. I put in unwanted advice and receive back love. He is a tech head who would do anything under the sun for his wife. In a complete alter-ego moment, he once went all caveman on the streets of NYC in defense of my parallel parking skills. Thanks, Bro, for fending off the horn-blowing hordes. My hero.
Deb, thanks for being insanely interested and supportive of this crazy writing shit. When I grow up, I want to be the kind of friend you are.
Street team! Can I tell you how utterly grateful I am that I can even say I have a s
treet team? You are the. Best. I’m amazed daily at how generous you all are, and I love getting to know you. Thank you so much for making this job so fun!
Indie Authors - I have a fantastic crew of people who help me, you should totally hook up with these folks. I mean, hire them. You know.
Olivia, Editor, www.CallOfTheWord.com… Thank you for not telling me to shred this book. Because of her, many, many plot threads were tied up, and as always, she ruthlessly rid this book of as many ghosts in the machine as I would allow. Thank goodness Mr. Whiskers made it. Any undone threads are mine, any errors are mine. She tries her best to get our readers the story they deserve. Olivia, they really are our readers. You are a fantastic partner.
Adrijus, www.RockingBookCovers.com… my friend, thank you so much for your cheerful reworking and tweaking—I adore the covers you create and all the author resources you post. You are an example of a man who gives his customers more than just an awesome cover. You, sir, really do rock.
Marla, Editor, www.ProofingStyle.com…OK, so you have to know this, thank you for giving up your Super Bowl Sunday to add thousands of commas to Tough Sell. You went above and beyond and gave me double my money. Thank you so much for pointing out when my heroines aren’t tied up correctly—so helpful! You worked your ass off on that book and, since I’m writing this before you’ve done the line edit on this one, I truly hope this is in better shape for you. You make me want to be a better grammar person. Ha!
Vicki Rose -Publicist…Platinum Book Reviews & Promotions … If it weren’t for your awesome author parties on Facebook, I would still be sitting at my desk wondering how in the world anyone was going to find my books. Who knew this stuff was so hard? I have loved every minute chatting with your guests, giving away free stuff, and just working with you. I adore that you are always game for a challenge. You are all in, every week, every month. Anyone reading can find fun author events to attend at Vicki’s site on Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/platinumbookreviews.
If you’ve read this far - you, person, are a glutton for punishment. Please know, I’m busy working on book three. See you then!
Totally grateful,
Trixie
7/09/2018
About the Author
Why anyone would want to know more about me, flummoxes me. But, I do like to read about other authors, so here goes. I live in New Jersey, a state that is way more beautiful than TV makes it out to be. I work a day job and my favorite kind of weekend comes when one of the authors I love, releases a new book. I come home relishing the idea that from Friday night until hopefully very late on Saturday, I will be off living another life, having adventures and hot romance.
My house is never clean, and my office looks like a recycle bin of old bills exploded in there. When I’m writing, I’m listening to a loop of sexy songs. If I’m not reading, writing or working, then if I’m lucky, I’m out hiking with my crew. Otherwise, I’m with my family or playing with our dogs—a pair of Doberman Pinschers. And yes, they sleep on the bed.
Connect with me ~ Why not?
[email protected]
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/trixiemorewrites
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Trixie_More