by A. C. Grey
“You do?” Zoey asked, never having heard her father admit to loving her fiancée.
“I do. Now let’s go get you married.”
Zoey grinned and nodded and they began to head up the aisle. Zoey immediately locked eyes with her gorgeous fiancée, all other people in the room ceasing to exist. She could see the look of love, of pride on Tess’s face and she no longer felt her nerves. She noticed a sly smirk play across Tess’s lips and wondered momentarily as to its cause. She didn’t have to wonder long, however, as Tess slowly and briefly lifted up the bottom of her formal gown. Underneath her floor length wedding dress, Tess revealed her pink Chucks.
Zoey struggled to maintain her dignified walk up the aisle. She wanted so badly to laugh, to run up the aisle and tease her ridiculous soon-to-be wife. She shouldn’t be surprised. She was marrying the whole Tess – the loving, the generous, the confident, the gorgeous, and the goofy. Zoey didn’t mind. As long as she got to marry Tess, she’d gladly marry those ridiculous pink shoes as well.
* * * * *
Four Years Later
The crowd erupted in cheers. She’d done it. She’d made history. Tess McLeod had become just the second woman in poker history to win the main event of the World Series of Poker. More impressive, she and Zoey had just become the only married couple to both win the event.
Tess looked across the room, meeting the gaze of her gorgeous wife, who head tears of pride and joy in her eyes. Zoey made her way to Tess and wrapped an arm around her. “I’m so proud of you Tess! I knew you could do it.”
Tess grinned. She had won the biggest prize in the poker world. But she knew that there were two bigger prizes, way more important to her than any bracelet or money. The first was her wife. The second was the wearer of the adorable pair of mini pink Chucks cuddled up in her wife’s arms – their eight month old daughter, Stella.
Tess took her daughter, a mini version of her gorgeous wife, all dark hair and eyes, and snuggled up to her. “Hey baby! Did you see Mommy win that tournament? We’ll have to start your poker training soon. We’ve already got your magic shoes. Next year, it’s your turn.” She placed a gentle kiss on Stella’s cheek before hugging them both against Zoey.
Zoey wrapped her arms around her little family. “Next year may be her year, but not until we get her a baby pair of aviators and a leather jacket.”
Tess looked up into her wife’s eyes. “Oh, really, Zoey? Stella told me she loves her Chucks. Don’t make her cry and take them away.” She turned to her baby. “Don’t worry, sweetie. I won’t let your mean old mama take away your Chucks.” Stella babbled in response.
Zoey grinned indulgently at Tess. “You are ridiculous, Tess. Sometimes, I don’t know how I deal with you and your adorable quirks.”
“Oh, you know you love it.” Tess placed a quick kiss on Zoey’s lips.
“Yeah, I do.” Zoey smiled and wrapped her arm around her wife and daughter. Pink Chucks and all, she was pretty damn happy with the hand she’d been dealt. She had poker’s so-called ‘Queen of Hearts’ all to herself. And Tess was the queen of her heart.
Covert Affairs
As a spy working for the United States government, it’s Meg Murphy’s job to protect the American people from threats that they don’t even know exist. She always puts her country first. She’s focused and in control. Except, that is, when it comes to the mysterious woman she needs to help her with her most dangerous mission yet. The mission puts the two women in a perilous situation, where they stand to lose not only their lives, but also their hearts.
Forthcoming: January 2013
About the Author
A lawyer by trade, Annie (A.C.) Grey has loved reading and writing since childhood. After years of writing persuasively for a living, Annie finally decided to try her hand at fiction. She lives in Northeast Ohio with her girlfriend, dog, and two cats.
Visit Annie online at www.acgreywriter.com to find out more about her upcoming books.
You’ll find Annie’s Goodreads page here: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6562508.A_C_Grey
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