Sabrina exchanged an amused look with Logan. They’d talked about Hailey and Josh and were in total agreement that their frenemy one-upmanship would only end when they either killed each other or jumped into bed. Either way was bound to be entertaining.
Hailey scowled. “Lure me back to his place or have a reason to fight with me, the cad.”
Mad laughed.
“It’s true!” Hailey threw her arm wide toward Josh, but refrained from pointing. “Look at him over there, glaring at me! All he wants to do is fight! He makes me nuts!”
“Breathe, Hailey,” Sabrina suggested.
Hailey took a few deep breaths, composing herself. “Thank you, Sabrina, for the reminder. You ready?”
Sabrina smiled, reaching into her small purse and palming the needed item. “Yup.”
“What’s going on?” Logan asked.
Hailey slipped away, smiling mysteriously.
Logan held Sabrina by the chin, studying her. “You’re looking mighty pleased with yourself.”
“Oh, I am.”
He kissed her. “I love you.”
She beamed. “I love you too.”
Hailey’s voice rang out over the microphone. “Happy Valentine’s Day, everyone! By special request, here is a song especially for Sabrina and Logan.” The song began, Etta James’s “At Last.” Because at last Sabrina had the committed relationship she’d craved with the love of her life.
Logan grinned. “Just us on the dance floor, huh? And here I thought you wanted to avoid the spotlight.”
“I kinda got used to it.” She took his hand and guided him to the dance floor. “I actually like it when it can help other people. In this case, you.”
He pulled her close, one arm banded around her waist, the other holding her hand in a very close waltz position. “And how’re you helping me?”
She held her hand with her surprise behind his back. “I’m ready to commit to you.”
“Yeah?”
“Yes.” She pulled back from him a little and opened her hand, showing him her gift. It was a ring, polished rosewood on a cobalt black band. She met his warm brown eyes. “I want to marry you.”
His smile lit up his gorgeous face. “Sabrina, are you proposing to me right now?”
She laughed. “Yes! Will you marry me?”
“I absolutely will marry you.”
She laughed again and slipped the ring on his finger.
He pulled a diamond ring from his pants pocket and held it up. “Will you marry me?”
“Ah! We double proposed!”
He slid the ring on her finger. “Leave it to a relationship counselor to double down on the commitment.”
Heart in her throat, she choked out, “I doubled down on you.”
He held her jaw and kissed her passionately. She threw her arms around his neck and returned his kiss with all the love in her heart. The place erupted in wolf whistles and cheers. Logan broke the kiss and gestured over to Hailey, who pulled a rope that released red, white, and pink balloons from a net in the ceiling.
Sabrina looked up in surprise. “I didn’t even notice them way up there.”
“I had to do something romantic,” Logan said, bouncing a balloon away. “Guess this means you’re moving back in with me.”
“Absolutely. Guess this means you’re going to be my husband for real.”
He pulled her close again, one hand holding her jaw. “You have no idea how good that sounds.”
“Husband.”
“Wife.” He kissed her long and deep and tender. They pulled apart at the sound of applause and grinned at each other.
Hailey rushed over to congratulate them. “You guys, you have to get married on Valentine’s Day next year. It’s a Saturday and the anniversary of your double engagement, wouldn’t that be great?”
Sabrina and Logan exchanged a look.
“We’d love to,” Sabrina said.
Hailey squealed. Which was the cue for all of their friends to rush over and congratulate them.
Soon everyone was on the dance floor, arms around each other, swaying and singing. The love was palpable in the room with all the couples in love, even Hailey danced with Rose in her arms. Sabrina exchanged a warm loving look with Logan. She’d taken a chance on romance, a chance on him, and been rewarded with the kind of love she’d always longed for.
The single people were otherwise occupied. Josh was back working behind the bar, and Lexi and Marcus were having a low conspiratorial conversation in the corner.
A short while later, Logan pulled her off the dance floor, whispering in her ear, “Come on, Valentine, time for the naked part. I’ve got plans for you. Think red velvet rope, wrists and ankles.”
She grinned and whispered back, “Think multiple orgasms. Mine.”
His hand went to her throat, stroking his fingers down it, his gaze intent. “You’re mine.”
She cupped his cheek, his soft beard a caress against her palm. “And you’re mine. Forever.”
His eyes shiny, he growled, “I love you so damn much.”
“I love you too.” She blinked tears away. “I can’t believe we both proposed.”
He ran his hands from her shoulders to her wrists in one smooth stroke. “That’s because you’re a romance rebel.” He winked.
She laughed at the reference to her upcoming book. “And what’s your excuse?”
He scooped her up, cradling her in his arms. “I can’t wait to start our lives together.”
“Omigod, I’d swoon if you weren’t carrying me.”
“I know.”
They grinned at each other and left for their own private Valentine’s Day celebration. Their first of many wonderfully romantic, super-sexy, committed celebrations.
~ ~ ~
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Dear Readers,
Josh and Hailey as brother and sister? Horror! Will their parents’ newfound love bring these two closer together or will it be the ultimate showdown? Stay tuned! What do you think Marcus and Lexi were talking about in their conspiratorial huddle at the Valentine’s Day dance? Maybe some devious plan. Mua-ha-ha. Would you like an exclusive sneak peek at my next release? Just click to sign up for my newsletter and you’ll receive sneak peeks, excerpts, and subscriber-only giveaways. Next up is Marcus and Lexi’s story, Wicked Flirt, book 9 in the Happy Endings Book Club series. Join the club and get your happy ending!
Wicked Flirt (Happy Endings Book Club #9)
To Lexi Judson it seemed like a simple plan—pretend she’s dating smoking hot Marcus Shepard to get her matchmaking friend off her back. Even better? Lexi’s heart wants nothing to do with the charming player. Been there, got the T-shirt, buh-bye!
Marcus is cool with being studly arm candy. He’s using Lexi just as much as she’s using him, roping her into playing his girlfriend in front of his ailing mother. Zero expectations.
The rules are clear—six weeks, no sexy times. So easy! So convenient! Until Marcus changes the game, turning their pretending into something far more dangerous—
He wants to romance her. Gulp.
Is it possible that the man who’s everything she despises might actually be everything she’s ever wanted?
Lexi Judson had reached her limit of lovey-dovey couples. The only reason she'd shown up for the Clover Park Valentine's Day dance was because her friend Sabrina wanted her there for her big proposal to Logan Campbell. It had turned into a double proposal—Sabrina and Logan had surprised each other with rings, proposing at the same time. Yay for romance and all that crap. She'd put in her time, congratulated the happy couple, and now she'd say her goodbyes to all the other ridiculously happy couples and bail.
She worked her way around the slow-dancing couples on the dance floor, hoping the smile plastered on her face matched her words—I'm having a great time just very tired, thanks, bye! Because it was always loads of fun to be
the only single woman surrounded by couples on Valentine's Day. Of course, her friend Hailey was also single but that didn't count. Hailey was in a relationship with her dog.
Lexi had nearly finished her goodbyes when a masculine voice spoke in a low tone near her ear. “Bailing already?”
She looked up into the dark eyes of Marcus Shepard, one of the honorary brothers glued to the Campbell family. The worst one. A wicked flirt and, if the rumors were true, the lying sort of player who told women he was monogamous when he wasn't. She despised cheaters.
She huffed. “I'm not bailing. I put in my time.”
His lips crooked into a half-smile that said I'm sexy and you know it. Too bad he was a cheater because he was incredibly nice to look at. His nose had a slight bump at the bridge like it had been broken, but other than that he was exquisite perfection—thick black hair, dark eyes with a fringe of lashes women would kill for, chiseled cheekbones, square jaw with a shadow of dark stubble, and a smoking hot body. He was tall and wide with huge muscles, a real hulk of a man. He probably spent all of his time at the gym when he wasn't boinking random women.
“Sounds like a jail sentence,” Marcus said. His hulking body was blocking her path to the exit.
“And who are you, the warden? Move along. I'm sure there's some woman here you haven't flirted with yet. Oh, wait, you already hit on all of my friends.” Not her, though, never her. Like she cared. She would've shot him down in a hot second. “Maybe try for a MILF or a GILF next.” She gestured to her right. “Ooh! There's your next GILF. That grandma looks like a fantastic dancer and you know what they say about movement on the dance floor…” She did a geriatric hip thrust to demonstrate the link to sexy times.
He narrowed his eyes. “I'm beginning to understand why you didn't dance with anyone tonight. You move like an awkward duck. And you know what they say about movement on the dance floor…” He smirked.
She clenched her teeth. She did not move like an awkward duck. She'd spent most of the night ducking, err, avoiding Sabrina's drunk uncle, a close talker who kept accidentally spitting in her face. “I didn't see you on the dance floor either. Too busy strutting around, sniffing out your next lay.”
He glowered down at her. “Man-hater.”
“Man-whore.”
Someone pinched her ass and she jumped. It wasn't Marcus. She turned, face-to-face again with drunk Uncle Spitty. She'd forgotten his real name.
He leered at her. “There you are, girl! Let's go to my place for a nightcap.” Apparently he'd forgotten her name too.
“Don't touch me again,” she bit out.
Marcus's arm dropped over her shoulders. “She's with me and we're about to leave.”
She froze, shocked at Marcus's gentlemanly move, saving her from Uncle Spitty.
Uncle Spitty leaned close. “What about us?” Spittle sprinkled her cheek. Gross. She was about to back up a step when Marcus used his grip on her shoulder to turn her away, guiding her toward the exit.
She didn't appreciate the manhandling, but what the hell. She'd wanted to leave anyway.
“Don't go!” Uncle Spitty hollered belatedly.
She took a few steps away with Marcus before glancing over her shoulder. Uncle Spitty was making his unsteady way back to the bar.
She halted in her tracks, and Marcus stopped too, looking down at her in question. Like he was waiting to follow her lead. Curious. She'd figured him for the large and in charge kind of guy. “Thanks for calling off Uncle Spitty,” she said. “I got it from here.”
Marcus dropped his big hand from her shoulder. “No problem. Uncle Spitty?”
She nodded. “He's a close talker. He's been accidentally spitting on me all night.”
He laughed, a rich deep rumble of a laugh.
She laughed too. This whole night had been ridiculous. She'd felt like a lone antelope—the last single woman on the savannah—fleeing Uncle Spitty's close conversations and dodging Hailey's matchmaking. Lexi had been very firm with Hailey about the matchmaking, but the woman wore rose-colored love goggles and it was no use. Lexi was the last single woman in their formerly all singles Happy Endings Book Club, a romance book club that Hailey had started with the goal of helping every last one of them find their very own happy ending. Lexi had only joined the book club because two of her friends were members. Now she had a big ol' bull's-eye on her forehead with a perky strawberry blond hunter closing in.
“Hey, Lexi! Hey, Marcus! You leaving?”
Speak of the devil and she appears with her dog. Hailey approached, wearing a deep red off-the-shoulder dress with red ballet flats in honor of Valentine's Day. Little Rose's white furry head peeked out of Hailey's pink doggie purse.
Marcus poured on the charm for Hailey, saying in a deep honey voice, “Hey, sweetheart, how's it going?”
Hailey sped up. “Great!” Her pale blue eyes were huge, taking them both in. Rose's big dark eyes seemed equally surprised. Rose had a pink bow with red hearts on her white tuft of a ponytail perched right in the center of her head. The bow matched her dog sweater. Give the poor dog some dignity. “I just need to borrow Lexi for a minute.”
Next thing she knew Hailey had dragged her several feet away. Lexi braced herself for the third degree leading to some serious Marcus matchmaking—nail that guy down—but Hailey surprised her.
“What're you doing with Marcus?” Hailey whispered. “Are you guys together? Rumor has it, he's a player.”
Lexi glanced over at Marcus, standing a distance away, waiting for her. Maybe to shield her from Uncle Spitty? He did make a good shield, being a hulk of a man. She turned back to Hailey. Suddenly Marcus as a human shield made even more sense. If Hailey thought they were together, it would get Hailey off her back about being single. And Marcus would be a safe bet as her arm candy since her heart was already closed against him and his cheating ways. Men like that couldn't help it. Like her dad and her older brother and her stupid ex.
Her devious brain took it to the next level—turning the tables on the meddling matchmaker. While Lexi was safely part of a couple she could throw Josh in Hailey's path. The plan hinged on the fact that Josh and Hailey were frenemies to the death (or bed, whichever came first) and, equally as juicy, their parents, Joe and Brandy, were currently dating. Joe Campbell was Josh's dad, Brandy Adams was Hailey's mom. Maybe soon Joe and Brandy would get serious and send Hailey in a tailspin, which would make her ripe for the Josh picking. Muah-ha-ha.
“Yup, we're together,” Lexi said. With absolutely no sex. It's the perfect fairy-tale love! Birds singing as we frolic through a meadow. Rated G for goofy.
“Wow, I had no idea.” Hailey lowered her voice. “Just be careful, okay? I don't want you to get hurt.”
Obviously Hailey meant well. She was a good friend. It was just that she'd stepped one too many times into aggressive territory with the matchmaking. “I'll be fine,” Lexi assured her. “You know me.” She could hold her own with any man.
Hailey smiled, gave Lexi's arm a squeeze, waved goodbye to Marcus, and headed back to the dance.
Lexi crossed to Marcus. “I've got a proposition for you.”
He jerked his chin. “What's that?”
She leaned close, speaking in a conspiratorial tone. “I'm in Hailey's crosshairs—the last single woman in our group. So what do you think about keeping up the pretend couple thing? You know, a relationship of convenience. Just to put Hailey off the scent. You show up with me a few times at parties here or at your bar.” He owned his own bar, The Burrow, in nearby New York City. She'd been there for a party before. “Maybe for eight weeks or so, what do you think?”
~ ~ ~
What did he think? He thought she was nuts.
He'd met Lexi a few times at parties, a petite brunette who gave off a don't-fuck-with-me vibe. At least with men. She was a prickly man-hater from what he'd seen, more likely to bite his head off than flirt back, which was why he'd never bothered flirting with her before. He'd only tangled with her tonight because he
'd been in a mood, watching all of his friends stupid-happy with their women. Even Ethan—a tough hardass cop—had found someone who adored him and only him. Meanwhile Marcus stuck out like a lone lion hungry for a satisfying meal.
Up close Lexi's brown almond-shaped eyes gleamed with intelligence. Her sleek dark brown hair was up in a twist, her light tan skin smooth, her smile devious. That was who she reminded him of—the love of his life, Bitty. Sleek and soft with sharp claws. He still missed that cat.
Lexi's skin-tight dark blue dress—low cut, ending mid-thigh—had caught his eye. Any man would appreciate a beautiful woman showing a lot of skin. Didn't mean he wanted a relationship with her. He was looking for a woman who adored him. He figured if Ethan could manage it, then Marcus could too. A prickly man-hater did not fit the bill. She was the last single woman for a reason. And it didn't count that he was practically the last of the bachelors among his friends. He had relationship intentions. He'd just been too busy to do anything about it between work and his mom's illness.
Lexi looked up at him expectantly. She was a good foot shorter than his six foot four, and he valiantly tried to keep his gaze on her face and not the tempting display of cleavage. He hadn't been with a woman in months, his choice. He'd gone a little nuts after his divorce sowing his wild oats—at one point he'd been seeing three women at the same time—but it hadn't made him happy. Now he was clear on what he wanted, and Lexi wasn't it.
“I think…” He stopped himself from being too honest because he didn't want to hurt her feelings no matter how nuts she was. He went with a little advice instead. “You should just tell Hailey to back off and go on with your life.”
“Pfft. I've tried that many times. It's no use. I'm the lone antelope and she's on the hunt! Trust me, this is very necessary.”
Didn't lions hunt antelopes? That would mean he—nope. It must be the lioness. He glanced over at Hailey across the room, all puckered up for doggie kisses from homely little Rose. Yup. Right on the mouth. He kept his mouth shut. Nothing wrong with loving your pet.
“You in or not?” Lexi asked.
Bossy woman. Another strike against her. He never followed orders; he gave them. He was the boss at work, owner and manager of The Burrow and with his size—tall and bulky with muscles from his hard-core workouts—most people showed him respect.
Chance of Romance (Happy Endings Book Club, Book 8) Page 20