by V. Kelly
She looks up at me in confusion. I place a small, thin, square box on her lap and wait for her to open it.
My heart is in knots. I’m so afraid of how she will react. She carefully opens the package and pulls out the piece of paper inside. This is big—really big. How will she react to all this?
“What is it?” she asks.
I take the piece of paper away from her, knowing she can’t read, and with tears in my eyes, I tell her.
“It’s your adoption paperwork. It says that we, Everly and Caleb Conaway hereby request to adopt Holly Conaway as our daughter.”
Caleb gasps beside me.
Yup, big fucking step.
The whole room murmurs as I drop to one knee in front of Caleb and take his massive hand. “Caleb, for the past year, I’ve done everything in my power to deny the connection you and I have. You’ve put up with my bitchiness, all of our fighting and bickering, and even chased me when I didn’t want to be chased. You’ve stood by my side and helped me on this journey to adopt Holly. You’ve treated her like any dad would treat their own daughter. I don’t want to finish this adoption unless you are a part of it. I want you to be in our lives. I want that for the rest of my life and Holly’s. I need you, Caleb. Will you marry me?” I pull a ring out of my pocket and hold it up to him. He’s not saying anything. His face is expressionless. Maybe I read our relationship wrong; maybe he doesn’t love me like I thought. Maybe he doesn’t want to marry me.
Next thing I know; Holly drops to a knee next to me. She takes Caleb’s other hand and that’s when I see the tears back in his teal-colored eyes.
“Caleb, will you be my daddy?” she asks. She’s smiling big, and this small gesture seems to break him. Everyone in the room is crying—even the guys.
Caleb collapses, grabbing both of us in a giant hug. Then he pulls something out of his back pocket—a black velvet box.
“I’ve been waiting for the right time to ask you,” he chuckles. “I guess since you beat me to it, now would be the time.”
“Everly,” he says in a flawless English Accent. “Would you do me the honor of being my wife?”
He asked me in an accent!
I swoon.
“Yes,” I scream. I fling myself into his arms and he kisses me. It’s soft and passionate. It’s one-years’ worth of emotions all in one kiss. Then together, we put the rings on each other’s fingers while everyone in the room claps like idiots.
He pulls away from me and grins. “I can’t believe you asked me to marry you.”
“I can’t believe you asked me in an English Accent.”
“Well, I couldn’t risk you saying no. I know how much you love your accents.”
“Caleb, I may love accents, but nothing will ever compare to how much I love you and Holly.”
Caleb goes in to kiss me again, but Holly stops us.
“So does this mean I have a real mommy and daddy now?
“Once everything is official, yes baby, we will be your mommy and daddy.”
“This is so much better than the dollhouse,” she screeches. “Thank you for getting me exactly what I wanted, Mommy and Daddy.”
Just hearing those words brings the tears back. From this point forward, we’re going to be a family. Just me, Holly, and the guy of my dreams . . . Caleb.
I never needed an accent to make me happy, all I needed was that one guy to come along, sweep me off my feet, and just be there.
From the moment we met, that guy has always been Caleb.
He may not have an accent, he may be a pain in my ass most of the time, but I’ve come to realize that when it comes to love—Caleb is, and will always be, my Achilles’ heel.
Book Three and Four in the
It Had 2 B U series
are coming soon!
Keep an eye out for:
Finding the Gray
Maggie and Dashawn’s story
And
May I Have Another?
Tony and Emma’s story
A Note from the Author
The idea for Accent Hussy came from a conversation I had with a former PA Paula. I was watching the Voice and made the remark that guys who have foreign accents are so hot. She retorted with something that made me call her an Accent Hussy. I was in the middle of writing Innuendos at the time, and I was like you know what I’m going to write a book about a girl who is obsessed with men who have foreign accents. Thus, Everly McGowan was born. In the original draft of Innuendos, Everly was named Angel. I can’t imagine her being named that anymore; she will always forever be Everly to me. Both Caleb and Everly have turned into one of my favorite couples to write. I wrote this book only from her perspective because, at the time, Everly was the only one who would talk to me. Now, Caleb wants his chance to talk, so I’m toying with the idea of a novella from his point of view. It could happen, but I have so many books in my head that picking one to focus on often proves to be difficult for me.
So with that said, if you enjoyed Everly and Caleb’s story, make sure you pick up Max and Breezy’s story in Book One of the It Had 2 B U series, Innuendos, (If you haven’t already) and make sure you keep an eye out for Maggie and Dashawn’s story, Finding the Gray, and Tony and Emma’s story, May I Have Another? Coming Soon
Thank you for reading this book. I truly appreciate each and every reader! I hope you enjoyed the story.
As always,
Laugh, Love, and Write
V. Kelly
Acknowledgements
My husband and kids: I love you three with all my heart! Even with all the crazy, you make my stories better, my life more fulfilled, and my smile bigger.
Paula: Without you there wouldn’t be an Accent Hussy, because you’re the original Accent Hussy. If it wasn’t for our conversation while watching the Voice, then Everly and Caleb’s story wouldn’t have even been imagined. So thank you! This book seriously wouldn’t have been written if it wasn’t for you.
Toni: Thank you for helping me edit my book. You’re an amazing editor, and friend and I can’t wait until we get to bum around Disneyworld together. Mickey Mouse won’t know what hit him!
To my Alpha’s: Tisha, Erica R., Erica D., Kaylee, Colleen, DiAnne, Stacy, Laura D. Laura R. thanks for reading the book before it was edited. Some of your suggestions really helped shape the book and make more enjoyable. DiAnne, thanks for letting me steal your spooge and helping me work through that horrible deleted scene that shall remain nameless, I really like the ending of Accent Hussy better now because of our talk!
To my betas: Melinda, EJ, Sierra, Angela, Becky, Tracy, Paula, Kristene, Kris, Sekia, and Danielle. You guys rock! Thanks for all your feedback and reading through Accent Hussy when it needed that extra oomph.
To my Keepers! You’re an amazing group of women, and the lone male Rusty, that I’m glad to call my friends. Thanks for supporting my writing and spreading the word about my books. I really appreciate each and every one of you!
To Kristene: Thanks for being my bitch in Accent Hussy! And Jen thanks for being my nurse! I really appreciate you allowing me to use your names.
To every reader who takes a chance on my books . . . thank you! If it wasn’t for your interest, my books would just be another lonely book on Amazon, or paperback sitting on the shelf. I really appreciate you giving my books a chance!
V. Kelly
About the Author
V. Kelly grew up in Reno, Nevada, but now lives in Watonga, Oklahoma, with her husband and two beautiful kids. Always a writer, it was only a matter of time before the stories in her head escaped and became available for the world to read. She is a lover of frogs, otters, all things green, reading books about compelling relationships, and spending time with her family.
If you like this story, please leave me a review on Goodreads or Amazon! Every review helps.
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