Where You Least Expect
Page 16
His gaze searched hers, and he prayed she felt the truth of his words. “You’re an amazing woman, Verna, the best I’ve ever known. I love you.”
“Did you just…?”
“Yep.”
He smiled and dropped his hands, but she just stood in seemingly shocked silence.
“Okay. I’m dreaming.” She turned a complete circle before facing him again. “I just got a loan to buy La Femme. I’m going to run my very own clothing boutique, and Joe fuckin’ MacDermid just said he loves me right in the middle of Maple Street.”
“You’re gonna buy La Femme? That’s wonderful!” he said, genuinely proud and happy for her.
“Fuck the store for a minute. If you’re fucking with me…” she whispered, tears again in her eyes.
“I’ve never declared love before, but tears were not what I expected,” he said, trying to make light of the moment.
“I don’t believe you,” she said faintly.
His breath caught in his throat, but he pushed on.
“Well, I don’t believe that you don’t believe me,” he said. “But I’m willing to try and convince you for as long as it takes. Starting right now.”
He pulled her close and lowered his head to hers, capturing her lips in a kiss, one that he poured himself into. A kiss could never prove how much he loved her, he knew, but he tried, held her as close as he could while staying decent and kissed her with all his heart. When he lifted his head, he looked down at Verna, her eyes cloudy, but this time with happiness, and her lips puffy from his kiss.
“You’re kind of an asshole, Joe, but I love you too,” she said, that bright, shiny smile lighting her entire face.
It took a few moments for him to hear the cheers and clapping, and when he looked around, he saw that they’d gathered a crowd, one that included Poole and Blakely, who nodded what he took as approval at him. Verna looked around and saw it too, and he tried to imagine how this felt for her, someone who’d spent her entire life with these people.
“Is this okay?” he asked.
She smiled and then let out a boisterous laugh.
“Are you serious? Best fuckin’ day ever!”
••••
Verna had been serious when she’d proclaimed very unexpectedly, very publicly, that this was the best day ever. She’d only been proven more right as Joe had driven her home in his truck, his eyes bright with lust and, though she could still barely believe it, love. Save for the memory of the look in Joe’s eyes, the ride had been a blur, as had the desperate way that they’d undressed each other and fallen into his bed, passion and true affection a potent combination that only enhanced their lovemaking.
As Joe lay atop her, moving inside her with urgency but also whispering sweet words of love and caressing her softly, almost worshipfully, Verna couldn’t ignore the fleeting wonder that had her asking what had driven his change of heart. But then, as her climax hit her, she wondered no more, sucked into the passionate wave created by this man that she loved so dearly.
Later, when their breathing had evened and their bodies cooled, Joe lay looking at her naked form and at her eyes, his own revealed to her. His scrutiny made her feel bare, exposed, and on instinct, she reached for the sheet but in an instant changed her mind. There’d be no hiding anymore, physically or emotionally.
“Joe, why are you looking at me like that?” she finally asked.
“I’m just so happy to have you here; I wanna take all of you in.”
“Are you afraid you’re going to forget or something?”
The words were half serious, half joking. Declaration notwithstanding, Joe hadn’t said what he wanted from her, nor she him, and they both needed to be clear.
“I’ll never forget, Verna. Ever.”
The soft earnestness of the statement, the fact that Verna knew Joe was a man of his word, had Verna’s heart soaring and seizing at the same time. He really meant what he’d said. All of it. She hoped he could accept more, because, no matter how much she loved, and she did, truly, deeply, irrevocably love him, she’d cut out her heart and live life without him if the alternative was continuing as they had been. She wanted him, all of him, and she wanted him to want all of her. As painful as leaving him would be, she’d accept no less.
“So that kiss on Maple, that was a pretty prominent display; no doubt everyone from here to Charlotte has heard about it by now.”
“Good,” he said.
“Being publicly linked with me is something you’re okay with?”
“Verna, I feel like you need to get something off your chest, so please do.”
The words were direct, firm, as Joe so often was, but only that lust and affection burned in his eyes.
“Why, Joe?”
His eyes hooded, some of the spark fading. “Because I’m an asshole. I shouldn’t have done that, Verna, and I’d give anything to take it back. I was scared and stupid and I’ll do whatever it takes to make you trust me again.”
She saw the sincerity in his eyes and heard it in his voice but it wasn’t enough. “I want everything, Joe. You’re going to hold my fuckin’ hand as we walk down the aisle at the grocery store, and you’re going to tell everyone that we’re together and you’re going to be super nice to me all the time.”
“Deal.”
Verna smiled, relief lightening her and a streak of mischief rising in the wake of the sadness that had left her.
“And you’re going to stop correcting me when I say you’re in the Army or call you Jojo.”
“Not a chance.”
They both laughed and then caught each other in a fierce embrace.
Epilogue
“Dammit, Verna!”
“Well, if you’d just hold still, I could finish,” she said.
He looked down at her, the smile that seemed permanently etched on his face coming back full force.
“How can I hold still when my beautiful fiancée is on her knees with her head buried in my crotch?”
“I don’t know this ‘beautiful fiancée’ you speak of, but Verna Love is down here and she’s got needles, so you best hold still,” she said, glancing up at him quickly before returning to her task.
A few minutes later, she said, “All done.” Then she stood up to admire her handiwork. “You’ll do,” she said with an approving nod.
Joe pulled her in a tight hug and pressed a kiss against her lips as she giggled and pulled away.
“You’re gonna wrinkle your uniform, and I’m not pressing it again before tomorrow.”
“Fine,” he said. “But what say you lock the door while I get out of this thing and then we can finally christen the new Threads of Love.”
“What, Mr. SEAL-teacher extraordinaire? You wanna show me some new maneuvers?”
“Always,” he said, pulling her even closer.
“Nope,” she said. “We still have thirty minutes, and I wouldn’t be a good owner if I didn’t set and maintain my hours, now would I?”
“I see your point,” he said with a deep sigh.
“Aww, don’t be so dramatic, Josiah. Besides, with the big day tomorrow, I thought you’d want to preserve your energy.”
He removed his jacket and pressed a hand against Verna’s hip.
“Oh, I always have energy for you,” he said suggestively.
“So I’ve learned,” she said on a laugh. “Are you nervous?”
“No.” He looked at her skeptical face. “Yes.”
“You shouldn’t be. You’re gonna be the best damn instructor those guys could hope for.”
He was heartened by her confidence, not that she’d ever shown anything but. Joe still hadn’t quite adjusted to the idea of the new job but he was looking forward to the challenge with an excitement he hadn’t felt for years. But not nearly as much as he was looking forward to the next phase of his life, one sure to be loud and bold and fun and full of love.
Just like the woman he’d share it with.
••••
I hope you en
joyed Verna and Joe’s story. Look for the next book in the series, Who You Least Expect, coming in 2015. For the latest information on new releases, join my newsletter.
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Playthings Series
Look for the first three books in the Playthings series:
Devil’s Plaything-Playthings Book One
A dangerous man. A simple woman. A love neither ever expected.
They call him Devil, the name he was born to and one that he’s more than earned. Devil has no misconceptions about who he is and what he deserves. At least he didn’t until he met her…
Despite hardship, Julie Manchin has managed to make her way in the world, and while her life isn’t glamorous, she’s satisfied with her uncomplicated existence. But when she crosses paths with Devil one fateful night, her small, orderly universe is upended.
Swept up in a whirlwind of passion that she doesn’t quite know how to handle with a man she never imagined, can Julie break through his tough exterior and become something more than Devil’s plaything?
Demon’s Plaything-Playthings Book Two
The things she’ll do for love…
Dr. Shayla Rodgers has dedicated her life to helping people, which is why she never expected to find herself skirting the edges of the law. But her sense of right and wrong is only eclipsed by her love for her family, so when her brother once again finds trouble, she’ll do whatever it takes to rescue him.
Demon is all for having a good time, and the money and excitement that came with the underground-fight scene used to be just that. But things are changing, and he’s willing to admit that the once-good times have gotten pretty stale. Yet when the lovely Dr. Rodgers arrives, his interest is sparked and he finds that the scene might not be quite so boring after all.
Though Shayla struggles to keep her distance, she’s pulled deeper into the darkness—and her desire for Demon—and as she tries to protect her brother, she finds that all she holds dear: her career, her family, and her heart, are at risk…
Elah’s Plaything-Playthings Book Three
Can love be born of hate and revenge?
Criminal. Business mogul. Saint. Sinner. Self-made billionaire Elah Avakian has been called them all, but labels and opinions are of no consequence to him. All that matters is his lifelong quest for revenge against his hated enemy, a man who happens to be one of the city’s most revered politicians. After decades of planning, Elah is finally ready to get the justice he seeks. His first step? Taking his enemy’s most treasured possession: his beloved daughter.
Lottie Trufant knows that her father is an honorable man, so when Elah threatens to send him to prison and destroy his hard-earned and well-deserved reputation, she can’t believe it. She also can’t believe Elah’s price for her father’s freedom: her hand in marriage. Desperate to protect her father and convinced she can make Elah understand how wrong he is, Lottie agrees to his terms and finds herself married to a stranger who hates her father, a man who only sees her as a means to an end, a man she finds herself drawn to more and more each day…
Devil’s Plaything, Demon’s Plaything, and Elah’s Plaything are available now. If you’d like to be informed when my next book is released, sign up for my newsletter here.
Lydia’s Books
Thornehill Springs:
Where you Least Expect
Two Weeks in Geneva:
Book One
Playthings:
Devil’s Plaything
Demon’s Plaything
Elah’s Plaything
Beneath the Boss:
Book One
Omnibus
Stand-alone Short Stories:
Feel and Obey
Guardian’s Heart: Omnibus
Copyright
Where You Least Expect
Copyright ©2015 by Lydia Rowan. All rights reserved.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, businesses, and incidents are invented by the author or used fictitiously. Any similarities to real people, living or dead, businesses and business establishments, places, or events are entirely coincidental.
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Where You Least Expect
Welcome to Thornehill Springs!
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Epilogue
I Hope You Enjoyed the Book!
Playthings Series
Lydia’s Books
Copyright