Lily pulled her arm back and slugged him in the stomach. Gunner’s breath rushed out, and he stopped advancing on her. He rubbed at his stomach, and then started laughing. “Only you, Lily.” He shook his head.
“Only me, what?” She planted her hands on her hips and glared at him. He could gather her close and kiss her intensely in a minute. She had to make sure he knew he was in the wrong. An apology and some more compliments would not be out of order.
“Only you could be feisty enough to slug me instead of kiss me.”
“Well you deserved it. Would it have killed you to give Sutton a personal, touching, heart-stopping message for me?”
Gunner smiled and trailed his hand across her jaw and into her hair. He cradled the back of her head with his palm. “You think Sutton would’ve relayed the message that I ached for you and hated every minute we were apart?”
Lily’s stomach filled with delicious heat. “Of course, he would have. Have you seen how sappy he is with Liz?”
“No.” He stepped closer and wrapped his other hand around her waist. “Forgive me?”
Lily studied his handsome face and dark eyes. “Did you catch her then?
He nodded. “In La Fortuna, Costa Rica. She was hiding in a villa close to the famous waterfall, but she’d flirted with one of the men on the staff, and he’d recognized her and shared it on Instagram.” He smiled grimly. “She’s with the FBI now, awaiting trial.”
“Thank you.” She bit at her lip and though his hands were burning fire into her as he held her so gently, she wasn’t quite ready to kiss and move on. “Why couldn’t I have gone with you?”
His eyebrows arched up.
“You want me to forgive you, Gunner, but what you did hurt me. I’ve been hurting since you walked away at that airport in Idaho Falls.”
“What can I do?” He looked torn and confused like he was hurting as much as she was.
“Never leave me again.”
“That’s impossible. My job …”
“I know what your job is,” she said impatiently. “I can fight, just ask Jon.”
He smiled at that, though his eyes were still uncertain and torn.
“I won’t be a liability for you, Gunner.”
“What are you saying?”
“Train me, Gunner,” she rushed to say. “I haven’t had a purpose in my life, ever. I’ve simply run from my mother and learned how to fight, and read far too many romance novels.” She felt her stomach swirl as she thought about all the romantic scenes she wanted to reenact with him. “I want to have a purpose with you. I want to right wrongs, free children, stay by your side.”
He didn’t respond for a few seconds, but then he muttered, “It would be dangerous.”
“I don’t care.”
“I do. What if something happened to you?”
“I could die in a car accident tomorrow. Don’t do the stupid, what-if-something-happens-to-you thing. I’d rather be with you. I’d take one day with you over a lifetime without you.”
“That was really sappy.” He gave her his irresistible half-grin. “And really sweet.”
“Your turn for sappy. Go.”
He bent down closer to her. “I don’t do sappy, and I’m an amateur at flirting. I’m learning how to give compliments but sometimes they hurt me.”
She smiled, but she wanted some sap and some compliments. “What do you do well, Gunner Steele, besides military ops, fighting, and hunting down evil drama queens?”
“Pash.”
She smiled. Kissing sounded wonderful, but she wasn’t letting him off the hook. If he wanted her, he needed to take all of her.
Gunner framed her face with his hands. His dark eyes serious, and yet, so warm on her face. “Lily Jewel. You are the most impressive, funny, beautiful, and amazing woman I’ve ever met. If you’ll stay with me, I’ll train you how to be a security op, kiss you nonstop, and try to say one sappy thing a day to keep you happy.”
Lily wiped a tear away and clung to his neck. “I don’t need sappy. I need you.”
“Good because I need you too.”
The tears came more fiercely then. No one had ever needed her, and somehow this tough, impressive man needed her. He gently wiped her tears off, and then he tilted her face up to meet his and kissed her thoroughly. Some teenagers walking by started whistling at them and they finally drew apart, both breathing heavily.
“Thank you for finding me,” she whispered, “and agreeing to my demands.”
Gunner chuckled. “Finding you was easy, and I have a feeling I’ll get really good at giving in to your demands.”
Lily gave him a saucy glare. “I hope for your sake you do.”
He laughed and murmured, “You’re perfect to me, Lily Jewel.” Then, he was kissing her again and even hooting teenagers didn’t pull them apart.
Epilogue
Lily glanced around the gorgeous Cape Cod style house. Gunner’s family home was the perfect spot for Christmas as snow fell gently, and the view of the stormy ocean made her feel like she was in a movie. Gunner’s mother had the house decked out with greenery and decorations. It was Christmas night, and Lily had never known such a Christmas like this existed. This day had been filled with love, laughter, presents, delicious food, beautiful decorations, and acceptance. She felt like she belonged with this impressive and fun family.
Her face hurt from smiling at the brothers’ teasing, Lottie’s over-the-top funny reactions, and Mae and Ally’s sarcastic quips. Gunner was the most serious of his brothers and the least famous. Yet to her, he was the most handsome and amazing. Fame was the last thing Lily Jewel needed in her life.
She squeezed his hand as they sat side by side on the living room couch. Lottie was pressed into his other side. Gunner’s parents, Slade and Mae, Preston and Ally, and Jex were all spread throughout the room as well.
Lily and Gunner had spent three crazy months together. He and Sutton’s other operatives had trained her, and then they’d travelled and been able to infiltrate human trafficking rings, track down drug dealers, and also worked together to protect a Hollywood star who had been the target of some vicious hate crimes. Tomorrow afternoon they were going to meet with one of the Georgia Patriots’ players Mike Kohler who had a desperate fan tracking him night and day. Gunner had surprised her by finding Phil. The reunion had been really great for her; mostly it was important for her to know that he was doing well and have the chance to thank him.
Lottie cuddled into Gunner. “I love my boys,” she said.
“We love you too,” Gunner answered for them.
“Only poor Jex alone now.”
“Poor, poor Jex,” Mae teased. “He only dates three women a day.”
“Ah!” Jex lifted his hands. “Low blow, sis, I limit it to three a week.”
“What a champ, you are.” Ally wrinkled her nose and laid her head on Preston’s shoulder. “I’m glad I got the non-famous brother who doesn’t have women chasing him night and day.”
Everyone roared at that, as Preston was a well-known Georgia Patriots football player and women still tried to come on to him, even though he and Ally were engaged. Ally seemed to handle it well, though she’d made a few comments that revealed she didn’t love her fiancé getting nonstop attention from women.
Lily liked both Mae and Ally and thought she would fit in perfectly with this family. She stopped those random thoughts. It was too soon to go there.
“Just settle down with Pearl,” Slade said to Jex.
Gunner’s mom Sarah smiled wistfully. “I’ve been working that angle for years,” she said. “Pearl would be perfect for you.”
Jex shook his head. “You people are crazy. Pearl and I just flirt for my show. She’s my—”
“Love of your life?” Lottie asked, her eyes wide and a mischievous grin on her pretty face.
“Assistant, sweet Lottie-love, assistant.”
Lottie’s lips pursed. “So it’s like … The Proposal.”
Lottie loved chick f
licks. Mae and Ally had both confided in Lily how adorable it was that the brothers would watch any sappy show with her.
“With Sandra Bullock and Ryan Reynolds?” Mae asked. “Where he’s her assistant, and she makes him pretend they’re engaged, and they fall in love?”
“Yes, yes, yes.” Lottie clapped her hands together then waved them at her head.
“But he’s the assistant, not her, and I don’t need anybody to fake an engagement with me,” Jex insisted.
“Then don’t fake,” Lottie said. “And don’t be so … man-is-boss.” She rolled her eyes. “Doesn’t matter who assistant is.” She pointed. “You find love with Pearl, and then you not be alone.”
Jex shook his head. “I don’t think she’s ready, Lottie-love. We need patience, my girl, patience.”
“No more patience,” Lottie said.
Sarah laughed. “I’m with Lottie on this one. You need to settle down and stop risking your life.”
“How boring would that be?” Jex gave a shudder.
“Proposal,” Lottie declared, clapping her hands together. “It’s time, Gunner!”
Gunner smiled at Lily then he stood and tugged her to her feet. Lottie grabbed a permanent marker off a nearby side table and shoved it into Lily’s hands. “You need this.” She smiled happily. “We’re ready, Gunner.”
“What’s going on?” Lily whispered, glancing around at the family who were all staring at them. Mae and Ally smiled, and both nodded encouragingly.
“Mae has this thing for t-shirts,” Gunner said, pointing at Mae. Her shirt today read, “I’ve got a good heart, but this mouth …”
“I noticed that,” Lily said.
“So, she and Lottie came up with this idea.” Gunner looked more nervous than when they’d been with a team of Sutton’s men and burst into a house filled with drug dealers with machine guns. He hadn’t been nervous for himself, but for her. Of course, she’d held her own.
He started unbuttoning his dress shirt. Lily’s eyebrows shot up, and her stomach filled with heat. Nobody else seemed to react, besides sharing secretive smiles.
The room stilled, and everyone seemed to be holding their breath as Gunner got the buttons undone, and then dropped the shirt on the couch. Lily squinted at his gray t-shirt. It read, “Lily, will you marry Gunner?” Then there were a dozen boxes with YES! next to each one.
Lily smiled, fighting the stinging of tears. “No options of no?”
“Ah,” Lottie gasped. “No! There are no nos.”
Gunner chuckled. “I guess you could just not check any boxes.” He looked nervous and vulnerable and so appealing. Stepping in close, he took her left hand in his. Her right hand was clutching the permanent marker. “I love you, Lily. If you’ll say yes, I’ll spend my life complimenting you, being sappy, and doing everything in my power to make you happy. You’re the perfect fit for me, and I would be lost without you.”
“Did that hurt you?” she asked.
“No.” Gunner smiled. “But not knowing your answer is killing me.”
Lily tilted her head to the side as if debating.
“Come on, you tater tot,” Lottie called.
“Lottie,” Sarah reprimanded her.
“Okay, Lottie.” Lily stepped in closer and uncapped the marker. Slowly, deliberately, she put check marks in each and every box. Gunner studied her with a smoldering look as everyone, even Lottie, stayed quiet.
“I love you,” she said. “Of course, I’ll marry you.”
Lottie rushed up to them, took the marker from Lily’s hand and shoved a ring box at her. “It’s pretty. I helped pick.”
“Thank you, Lottie.”
Gunner took the box and popped it open. A glistening, wide silver band with large, inlaid, princess cut diamonds sparkled up at her. It would be perfect to show the world that she was taken but with all the diamonds flush it wouldn’t get in her way when she fought or worked for Sutton. She loved it. He slowly slid the ring on her finger. Lily was tingling from head to toe.
Lottie ripped the ring box from his hand and yelled, “Now kiss!”
Lily laughed. “I don’t think we can tell her no.”
“No nos today,” Lottie insisted, grinning impishly.
Gunner wrapped Lily in his arms, bent his head, and captured her mouth with his. The tenderness of his kiss felt sacred and binding. That this tough, serious man could be fun and tender with her made her love him even more. Everything in her was screaming yes. This was definitely the day of no nos.
Extreme Devotion
Chapter One
Jex Steele adjusted his helmet, said a quick but heartfelt prayer for safety, and pedaled his mountain bike slowly around the parking lot at the top of Kauai’s Waimea Canyon. The parking lot had been cleared of vehicles; the cars lined the winding road below it. His fans were held back by temporary barriers that sectioned off the parking lot, clamoring for a picture of him or begging him to stop and talk or take a selfie. He gave the crowd nothing more than a wave. After the upcoming stunt, which would be broadcast onto the huge television screens set up throughout the parking lot, he’d mingle and mix with the crowd, hold babies, give little boys tips on extreme sports, and fend off the too-aggressive women. His faithful followers knew that he didn’t talk to anyone before the event—except for his closest friend and business manager, Pearl.
Pearl was the only one in the parking lot, besides the camera and safety crews. Today only some drones and his helmet camera would be recording because of the dangerous route. He never wanted to risk anyone else’s safety as he did stunts or adventures for his YouTube channel and social media posts.
He pedaled up to Pearl. The cameras were rolling, and it was time to tease and flirt with her. The crowds loved their interactions as much as they loved his stunts. He couldn’t blame people for loving any view they could get of Pearl, but he didn’t flirt with her for better ratings. He flirted with her because he’d fallen in love with her over the past six years of working together, and he kept praying that someday, somehow, she’d move past friends and co-workers and fall for him. Every other woman seemed to fall for him. Why not Pearl?
“I love you, Jex!” a woman yelled from the crowd.
“Marry me, Jex!” someone else yelled. Then there were so many shouts that he couldn’t even try to distinguish them.
He waved, but his smile was only for Pearl. She was tall, almost five-ten, and she always wore heels. He still had her by several inches at six-three. He adored her for wearing heels, even though he teased her about it too, especially when they were in some primitive spot where her heels were sinking into the mud. Then he’d get the opportunity to pick her up and carry her. He teased her mercilessly on those days, but he would never complain about any chance to touch her.
As he approached her, he saw that she was dressed impeccably, as always. Today she wore a blousy polka-dot black-and-white shirt with a red pencil skirt. Whew. He had to pray hard to keep his focus on her gorgeous face. Her highlighted brown-and-gold hair was twisted in a funky updo, and her unique teal-colored eyes lit up as she said, “Hey, boss.”
“Hey, beautiful.”
Her cheeks turned pink. Man, he loved her. The shouts of brazen women in the crowd now begging to have his baby were drowned out as he drank in Pearl’s sweet smile.
He climbed off the bike, propped it against a nearby fence, and eased closer to her. The crowd finally quieted in anticipation as his mic picked up his and Pearl’s exchange.
“Is today the day?” he asked.
She arched her eyebrows, pretending he hadn’t asked the same questions before each stunt for almost a year now. “The day?”
“The day you agree to change your last name to Steele? One syllable has to be an appetizing offer.” He hoped he was an appetizing offer, not just that she’d go from Pearl Davenport-Jacobsen to Pearl Steele and save hand cramps when she wrote thank-you cards.
She smiled, and he awaited her answer. His questions rarely changed, but her answers
varied day to day. Sadly, none of them had been anywhere close to an acceptance … yet.
“I might consider it …” Her teal eyes sparkled at him.
His eyebrows were the ones shooting up now, and his pulse started racing. She’d never “considered” before, usually just shot him down with a cute little grin. “If?” He licked his lips and stepped in closer. The crowd was so quiet he could hear his shoe scuff the asphalt. Everyone loved their interludes—part of the experience, he supposed—and since he had a mic on, everybody could hear it. He didn’t care about fans, his producers, or money right now; all that mattered was Pearl and her response.
“If you take me to JoJo’s for shaved ice tonight, it might be a start to warming me up to the idea.”
His stomach lifted and his blood ran so hot he felt like he was on fire. He could fling himself off a two-thousand-foot cliff in a wingsuit and not experience the adrenaline rush and excitement of this moment.
He tried to play it cool, but that was an almost impossible order. His dream woman was maybe agreeing to marry him. “I could arrange that,” he said in what he hoped was a smooth, calm, confident voice.
She grinned and ducked her head slightly in the sweetest, most attractive gesture ever made by womankind. It was her signature move, and he loved it almost as much as he loved how such a professional, with-it woman could also be innocent and fun and absolutely perfect for him.
“Does that mean …” The answer to his other question, which she always responded to in the negative, might just change today. Forget riding a bike on the ledge of a two-thousand-foot drop-off on each side. If she’d say yes to his other standard question, he was going to focus on kissing the beautiful Pearl Jacobsen-Davenport. This could be the most important moment of his life. The stunt could wait all day, for all he cared.
Steele Family Romance Collection Page 36