by Linda Verji
And what a throw it was. Beautiful, like a bullet cutting high over the sprinting players. Misha's heart stopped as she watched the ball soar through the air… over two defenders… She gasped as Danny chased the ball down with those defenders right on his tail.
Almost there… almost there… catch it…
The ball fell right into Danny's arms. The Vaughn-Alexander-Hollis' team roared at the catch. The Ruxton-Hongs reacted by rocketing towards Danny intent on taking him down. A dodge here. A dodge there. Danny twisted right narrowly side-stepping the twins, Sean and Savannah Hong. More defenders rushed toward him.
But Danny was unstoppable. Amazing. Like a surfer emerging from the inside of a massive wave. Misha's pulse leapt as she watched him run. Feet faster than lightning, strides long, he pulled away from the people chasing him down and sprinted toward the end zone. Even before he ran out of field, Misha knew he was going to score as did the rest of their team.
The cheers started, arms went up, jumping up and down; victory was in the air.
Danny had done it.
He'd given them their win.
"We won. We won." Misha and Shakira locked arms as they jumped up and down in rhythm with Jayceon and the little ones. On-field some of the men including Danny tossed off their shirts and started waving them victoriously. Perhaps if she was watching herself though a lens, Misha would've been embarrassed. Here she was screaming and acting a complete fool. But she didn't give a damn. This is what trophies did to people.
She was still jumping and clapping as their triumphant team made their way home. Danny's eyes held hers and his grin widened as he trotted off the field. Misha's heart started a happy dance as her own smile deepened and she took the final steps toward him. He caught her in a hug and lifted her slightly off the ground.
"You were amazing," Misha said as she balanced her hands on his broad shoulders.
"I was, wasn't I?" Danny gloated as he set her back on the ground, his arms still around her waist.
"Big head." She laughed as she lifted up on tiptoes to set her lips on his.
Even before they kissed properly there were shouts of. "Hey, get a room you two." "Oh, my God." "Keep it G-rated." "When is their honeymoon phase ending?"
"You're all just jealous." Misha laughed as she and Danny turned to their family. He kept his arms around her and pressed his chest to her back as he settled his palms over her barely visible baby-bump. Yes, they were adding another member to the family.
She'd realized that she was pregnant a month into their relationship, after she'd accepted his marriage proposal and surrendered to his preposterous insistence that they have a big wedding instead of eloping. These days Mr. Hollis was working hard towards convincing her that they should get married soon, as soon as next month. Apparently, he thought walking the aisle with her baby-bump leading the way while all those people watched her was a good idea.
Hell. No. No way. She wasn't doing it.
Did he know her neighbors or not? She loved them but she also knew them. Those busy-bodies would flood social media with pictures of her bloated body while taking not-so-subtle potshots with their comments. They'd distribute the pictures to their kids too so when her little tyke came into the world they could tease him or her.
Hell. No.
When she got to the altar she planned to be looking her best, slender as Nicole Ritchie. Okay, Ritchie was pushing it, but she was sure that given a year or more she could pull at least a Jordin Sparks.
"Hey?" Danny drew her from her mental wanderings with his arm tightening around her torso. "What’s wrong?"
She turned her head and tilted her face upwards to meet his gaze. "Why?"
"You went quiet all over a sudden."
She smiled. "Nothing. I was just thinking."
"About what?" He dropped a kiss on her forehead.
"You."
He wagged his eyebrows. "Good things?"
"Always." Their smiling eyes met, then slid apart as they glanced over the people around them. No one was watching them. They both smiled as their gazes locked again. He lowered his head, she lifted hers and they met in a quick kiss. The kiss was brief, but it vibrated with promise. Later.
Misha smiled, a tide of happiness welling inside her as she settled back against her future husband, luxuriating in his warmth. He was a vibrant presence behind her, anchoring, protecting and loving her. Through him she'd found peace and in his arms she'd surrendered her fears. Because of him, she could love at last. And she couldn't wait to share that love with their unborn child. She set her own hands over Danny's on her tummy as she turned her attention back to the rest of her family.
The team was hunkered down in front of the youngest members of their family, four year-old Seraphina and five year-old, Mookie.
"It's up to you two." Femi stared intently at the two children. "We're counting on you."
Seraphina and Mooki nodded somberly.
Nathan who was kneeling on one knee added seriously, "You win this three-legged race and the cup is ours. You ready?"
"Yeah." The two children agreed enthusiastically.
"Let's do this." The rest of the team high-fived the tots, before ceremoniously hoisting them over Lewis and Zeke's shoulders as they cheerily jogged towards the race's start line.
This was going to be good. Or bad.
Yikes. Misha winced as her pulse started another nervous beat.
│ THE END │
Seriously, it's really, really over!
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If you haven't checked out Nathan and Shakira's story, Wicked Intentions, then you should. You'll find it right here. Zeke and Tony's stories will be coming soon. Be the first to know when they do.
About Linda Verji…
Linda Verji is the pseudonym for the author of more than half a dozen romance novels. A passionate world traveler, Linda currently lives in Nairobi, Kenya where she spends her days exploring the thriving culture there and her nights finding new ways to torture her characters. For a complete list of Linda's books and to connect with her, you can visit:
Her Website: http://www.lindaverji.com
Her Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/lindasromance
Her Wattpad: http://www.wattpad.com/lindaverji/
Table of Contents
Titles Available In The Wicked SeriesWicked Intentions (#1)Wicked Temptation (#2)
Copyright © 2015 by Linda Verji
‘Should I smile because we're friends, or cry because that's all we'll ever be?’~ Anil Wadhawan ~PROL...
PROLOGUE
CHAPTER 1~ Four Days Earlier ~
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 20The
CHAPTER 21
CHAPTER 22
CHAPTER 23
CHAPTER 24Ring. Ring. Ring.
CHAPTER 25
CHAPTER 26
CHAPTER 27
CHAPTER 28
CHAPTER 29
CHAPTER 30
CHAPTER 31
CHAPTER 32
CHAPTER 33
CHAPTER 34
EPILOGUEMontgomery, Alabama
If you haven't checked out Nathan and Shakira's story, Wicked Intentions, then you should. You'll fin...
About Linda Verji…
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