by Jess Bryant
“Yeah. I’ll meet you. Give me a few minutes.”
Connor rattled off an address and Nick hung up. Kady was already chewing her bottom lip apart and he headed for her instead of back to his chair. She turned, letting him pull her into his arms, and buried her face against his neck.
It didn’t matter how many years passed; his job would always worry her. But she was a good wife and a great mother. She stood by his side and always had his back.
“Sorry baby. I have to go. Connor needs some backup.” He plucked her bottom lip from her teeth, “Don’t worry.”
“I always worry.”
“You always say that.”
“I know.” She smiled when she pulled away from him a little. “And you always say…”
“There’s nothing to worry about. I always come back to you, don’t I?”
“Always.” She confirmed and he kissed her hard.
He still loved the way she sighed into his mouth. Still loved the way her hands found their way into his hair. Would always love the way she fit against him. He only pulled back when girly laughter and oohs and ahh and gross, cooties, reached his ears.
Kady hid a giggle against his chest, “Girls, tell Daddy you love him. He has to go back to work for a little while.”
“Love you Daddy.”
“Love you!”
“Love my girls.” He gave each of them a quick kiss on top of the head and then turned back to his beautiful wife, “All my girls.”
“Love you too.”
He gave Kady another long hug and didn’t even pretend that he wasn’t copping a feel. She giggled again and he smiled. He nipped at her earlobe playfully.
“The girls will be asleep by the time I get back. Wait up for me.”
“Yeah?” Kady’s eyebrows rose knowingly.
“Yeah, and be wearing that little pink teddy I like so much.”
“Nicholas Sloan, are you thinking about making another baby girl?” Kady whispered conspiratorially and he chuckled because she always knew him so well.
“What can I say? I’m a man in blue that loves a girl in pink.”
Acknowledgments
I want to thank all of the readers that supported the Cop Tales Anthology and helped us raise money for the Officer Down Memorial Page. If you’re reading this and the previous sentence applies to you then you have all my love and thanks for also reading this extended verso of my story that was featured in the Cop Tales Anthology. I hope the extra insights into Kady and Nick’s life made the story more well rounded and fun for you. I know writing them was fun for me.
Maren & Tarrah - you’re the best sounding boards a girl could ask for. You keep me motivated and on my toes and you listen to me complain when the words aren’t coming. I hope everyone has a girl gang like you in their life because I don’t know what I would do without you.
T.R. Cupak - Thank you for inviting me to be part of the Cop Tales Anthology. If not for you, this story may never have been written. I am so proud and honored to have been a part of a group of authors that could help support such a meaningful cause. Check the Dedication doll, because this one is for you.
Special thanks to Becca, Judy and Vic who helped give Nick Sloan his name. You BB’s are my babes for life.
I would also like to extend thanks to the Duncan Public Library because without the ability to come and take over a comfortable little nook in the corner of the Sci-Fi section, I may never have finished editing this little novella.
And now for the people behind the scenes.
Vixen Designs:
Thank you for the beautiful cover
BeMyBookBoyfriend:
Thank you for your marketing expertise.
And to my ARC Team:
I love you all.
About the Author
Jess Bryant is an avid indoorswoman. A city girl trapped in a country girl’s life, her heart resides in Dallas, but her soul and roots are in small town Oklahoma. She enjoys manicures, the color pink, and her completely impractical for country life stilettos. She believes that hair color is a legitimate form of therapy, as is reading and writing romance. She started writing as a little girl, but her life changed forever when she stole a book from her aunt’s Harlequin collection, and she’s been creating love stories with happily ever after’s ever since.
Jess holds a degree in Public Relations from the University of Oklahoma and is a lifetime supporter of her school and athletic teams. And why not? They have a ton of National Championships! She may be a girlie girl, but she knows her sports stats and isn’t afraid to tell you that your school isn’t as cool as hers… or that your sports romance got it all wrong.
For more information on Jess and upcoming releases, contact her at [email protected] or follow her on her many social media accounts for news and shenanigans.
A Note from the Author
The Fate, Texas Novels are not a series. They are a set of standalone novels that all feature the small (imaginary) town of Fate, Texas. These books can be read in any order or on their own. Some characters will appear in more than one of the novels as secondary characters and often a secondary character in one novel will end up being featured in their own novel. My Fate is a small town and as such, everyone knows everyone, so expect to see familiar names and locations throughout these books, however, each book features one couple and a guarantee of a Happily Ever After. Welcome to Fate, y'all.
xoxo, Jess
Also Available From Jess Bryant
The West Brothers Series
Crazy Little Thing Called Love
Something To Talk About
Too Good To Be True
Fate, Texas Stand-Alone Novels
It Had To Be You
Call Me, Irresistible
Stay A Little Longer
Should’ve Been Us
Bomar Boys Series
No Regrets
No Apologies
No Fear
Fated Mates Duet
Unbreakable Bond
Unbelievable Faith
Holiday Novellas
Once Upon A December
Should’ve Been Us
A Fate, Texas Novel
It’s a destination wedding, Fate, Texas style, and the thermo- stat isn’t the only thing about to hit its boiling point.
Lulu Nichols has lost the love of her life.
Her best friend, Derek, proposed to someone else. He’s marrying someone else. And oblivious to her feelings, he’s asked her to play best man at his wedding. She can’t say no, not without admitting her secret and ruining everything, so she pastes on a smile and heads to Mexico to watch the man of her dreams get his happily ever after, even if it isn’t with her.
Connor Shaw is finally ready to claim the love of his life.
He wants Lulu. He’s always wanted her. Even though she’s slightly crazy and seriously delusional about her relationship with Derek. Connor is the one that brings out her fire and matches it with his own. He’s the one that drives her just as crazy as she drives him and it’s way past time for her to admit that all their fighting is really just foreplay.
Together they’re like gasoline and a match; a powder keg destined to blow, but oh how satisfying an explosion it will be.
But is their spark the kind that burns fast and then out? Is the heat going to Lulu’s head or is there more to Connor than she’s ever real- ized? Could they possibly be meant for forever or are they destined to always be a should’ve been?
Call Me, Irresistible
A Fate, Texas Novel
Impulsive. Irresponsible. Impossible.
Lemon Kelly lives in a world that is fast, loud and a little bit crazy. She left her small hometown for the bright lights of Nashville and has been living her dream ever since. She's traveled the world and plays her music for crowds of adoring fans. She has everything she ever wanted. Only the wants of a 17-year-old girl vary greatly from the needs of a grown woman. Is it selfish to want something more, something like the love she writes
songs about?
Can a girl have two dreams? Or will she have to give up one to get the other? And if so... which? Fame or a family of her own?
Stable. Solid. Safe.
Shane Lowry likes his quiet, controlled life. The always responsible small town deputy is a father to his three daughters first and foremost. Nothing comes before them. He had to grow up fast and early and he's long since stopped letting silly things like lust control his actions. He doesn't even date. So why does he find himself so drawn to the lively girl next door turned country music superstar that is the complete opposite of what he should want in a woman?
If he lets her in, she'll shake up his entire world. He knows it. But is that a good thing or a very bad thing?
The sparks between them are undeniable. The pull irresistible. And if they take a chance they just might find what they've both been missing.
Stay A Little Longer
A Fate, Texas Novella
Where do you go when there’s no place to hide?
Country music superstar, Trent Thorne, is on the run. The secret he’s kept hidden from the world is no longer a secret at all. He trusted the wrong person, a man he’d thought he was in love with, and instead of a happily ever after, all he’d gotten was outed. Unwilling to sit around and watch his private life get plastered all over the news, Trent hits the road and somehow ends up in his best friend Lemon’s small hometown of Fate, Texas.
He only intended to crash there for one night, but in Fate, one night can change everything.
Lance Nichols knows a thing or two about hiding. He’s so deep in the closet he can’t even see daylight. The former womanizer finally admitted the truth to himself a few years ago, but he never thought he’d be able to say the words out loud, not his family, not to his friends, and certainly not to his secret celebrity crush when the guy stumbles awkwardly into his life.
But the words come easily with Trent. Everything comes easily with him. Talking, touching, and even opening up about all the things he’d never told a soul.
Fate brought these two together, but will it also tear them apart? One newly outed man refuses to go back in the closet. The other can’t imagine coming out of his. The world is closing in on their little bubble, but before it does, can they figure out how to coexist and be part of each other’s lives? Can Lance stop hiding and take a chance on love? And what happens if Trent decides to stay a little longer… maybe even forever?
It Had To Be You
A Fate, Texas Novel
Austin Evans is a playboy, a flirt and a charmer. He’s dated half the female population of Fate, Texas and figures he’ll get around to the other half before he ever decides to settle down. Fate, however, has other ideas. Because one night with the prim and proper town doctor isn’t nearly enough. He can’t get her out of his head, doesn’t want her out of his bed and if he can convince her to give him half a chance he’ll keep her in his life forever.
It was supposed to be one night. One night of passion. One night of scorching hot, mind-blowing, earth-rocking fun. It was a one night stand that somehow turned into two nights, then three and four… and Victoria Sands knew better. Of course she knew better. She was a good girl, a smart girl. She knew better than to continue seeking him out, knew better than to keep falling into his arms, knew better than to let her heart get involved, but when it came to Austin her logical, rational brain never stood a chance to her body’s desire.
They’re complete opposites. She’s the town princess and he’s the boy from the wrong side of the tracks. She grew up in the mansion on the hill and his mother is the woman that cleans it. She thinks everything through and he goes with his gut instinct. The one thing they have in common is that they’ve never felt anything like the sparks that flare between them.
But is that enough to build a life on? A family on? And what about forever?