“Babies…children?” She nodded. “We’ll live wherever you want, Em. And marry when you’re ready and do everything in between.”
“I love you, Jacob Knight.”
“Love you too, baby, let’s go home.” We began to gather our trash and her messenger bag. “I’m thinking against the door, let’s see how that works. Ever since I came back, you have had me wondering about it.”
Her light laugh gave me hope that when I asked the most important question she would say yes. I patted the velvet box inside my jacket pocket, waiting for that moment. Thanksgiving, Christmas, tonight…I’d know when she was ready for it. We were synchronized and had a pretty good idea of what the other wanted.
A KNIGHT’S TALE II
EXCERPT
MITCH
“GET A ROOM,” I said, when I reached the living room and found my brother and sister in-law to be slobbering—sickening was how Liam described them. Emma began to pull the hem of my brother’s shirt, while he started shaking in laughter. The girl had an evil streak. “You begin that and I’ll tape you, Emma Lilian.”
Magically they separated.
“Promise you won’t come back married to some drunk girl, baby?” She touched her fiancé’s cheek. He shook his head and kissed her nose. Whipped. Then she looked at me. “He better come back in one piece and not hitched, Mitchel.”
“Emmy…” annoyed I went to give her a side hug, “what gives you the idea that Vegas is a place where men do so many stupid things? Take a break from the television.”
My brother grinned at her and shook his head, snatching her from my arm and hugging her. “I won’t do anything stupid, babe. Only miss you. If you want, you could come with me, we can get hitched there.” He winked at her.
“Grandpa Judah might shoot you, while Grampy takes you down with his golf clubs,” Emma said playfully, and then began to kiss him again.
“Stop those PDAs,” Liam’s voice came from the front door. “We’re ready to go, Cade’s in the car waiting for us. It’s one weekend, he will be safe, I promise, Em.”
“Sahara desert, Li.”
Jake and I looked at each other trying to understand the sentence, but came up empty. Whatever they had going on wasn’t important. Emma had a great imagination, hence she might have thought about the ways her fiancé would come back with a new bride or not wanting to marry her. The man had to beg her for the word yes. He proposed during Thanksgiving dinner, Christmas and New Year. The yes came when he decided to choose a non-holiday date. In three weeks, Emmy and Mom planned a small wedding in San Francisco, along with the help of her two grandmothers.
Next week my brother would be the first and only Knight marrying, as for me and Liam, we decided to enjoy our twenties single. No girlfriends or other commitments.
“Babe, trust me, and give me a call if you need me.” Emma nodded and gave him what I hopped was the last hug. “As for these two, I can’t promise they won’t come back hitched.” She began to laugh and gave me a stare.
“He’s going to come back hitched,” she pointed at me, “for laughing at me.”
“Want to take the bet?” I asked, and Emma nodded. We shook hands and that was the easiest favor I had gotten in the past months. “Eternal servitude, Anderson.”
“Anderson-Knight,” my brother growled.
“Whipped,” I said, taking my duffel bag and heading to the door. We had planned a weekend of Knight Fun.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS:
Big thank you to everyone that made this book possible, Damon and his team at Damonza for designing an awesome cover; they are the ones responsible to make this book look like a work of art. Karen Crain, my editor who is amazing in all possible senses. Gloria and my other beta readers, for giving me great pointers.
My cybersisters Steph, Taylor, Roberta and everyone that has been supporting me for the past year. Thank you for your faith.
My family, my husband who I neglect sometimes when my muse decides is time to write, and my no so neglected children that make sure to let me know when they are hungry, need to be tucked in and nagged, because that’s what I do best.
Stephanie Conrad, the most patient photographer and supporter.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Claudia lives in Colorado with her family and three dogs. Two beagles who believe they are human, and a bichon who thinks she’s a beagle. While managing life, she works as a CFO at a small IT Company. She’s a dreamer who enjoys music, laughter, and a good story. To find more about Claudia follow her:
http://www.claudiayburgoa.com/
https://twitter.com/yuribeans
http://cyburg.tumblr.com/
https://www.facebook.com/ClaudiaYBurgoa
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Prologue
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Excerpt
Acknowledgements:
About the Author
Table of Contents
Prologue
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Excerpt
Acknowledgements:
About the Author
Getting by (A Knight's Tale) Page 22