Hot Alphas
Page 33
He held the box for a moment without opening it. “Your father gave this to me the night before he died. He said it was your mother’s. We walked out here that night so he could ask her for permission to give it to me to give to you.” He chuckled softly and added, “So even if you turn me down, you still get the ring.” He opened the box, and if she hadn’t been crying again and laughing at the same time, she might have been able to see it better when he slipped the ring on her finger. She could tell it wasn’t a diamond. Blinking away the tears, Cass held up her left hand. It was her mother’s ring, a deep, wine-red ruby set in a wide gold band.
It was absolutely perfect.
“Yes,” she said. “Nathan James Dunagan, yes. I will marry you.”
He stood and drew her into his arms, rocking her slowly as she laughed and cried and tried to see her ring through the tears.
“Good. And soon, I hope. Before harvest. I’m going to be really busy during harvest.”
He hugged her and she hugged him just as tight. “I’m free whenever you are.” And she kissed him there in the vineyard. She was positive her parents approved.
* * *
A few hours later, Nate remembered the envelope Marc had given to him for Cassie. They were in Cassie’s small cottage, Cassie in his lap in the big overstuffed chair in the front room, each of them having a glass of wine when she opened it, read the official-looking documents inside, and burst into tears.
Nate took the papers out of her hand as she clung to him, shaking. He had to read it twice before he raised his head in disbelief.
“It’s a deed, Cassie. I asked Marc last week if there was any chance of him selling the house and the old vines, about three acres total, to us. I can’t believe this—he’s given you five acres of property—the cottage, the original family home, an acre and a half of five-year-old trellised Zinfandel and the two acres of old vines.” He raised his head and laughed. “Your dad would love this—the old vineyard is listed on the deed as the ‘Mac and Melinda block.’”
“You told me he was a good guy.” She kissed him. “But he’s still not as good as you.”
He held her close, kissed her, and thought of how both their lives had changed in such a short time. How much the two of them had to look forward to. “That works for me.”
He stood with her in his arms, and headed down the hallway to the bedroom. “Where do you think you’re going?”
He kissed her again. “Why, to celebrate, what else?”
“The deed?”
“No, silly. The fact that Cassie Phillips said yes.”
ABOUT THE AUTHORS
#1 New York Times bestseller LORA LEIGH is the author of the Navy SEALS, the Breeds, the Elite Ops, the Callahans, the Bound Hearts, and the Nauti series. You can sign up for email updates here.
LAURELIN McGEE is the pseudonym of Laurelin Paige and Kayti McGee. Laurelin Paige is the New York Times bestselling author of the Fixed trilogy. Kayti McGee, when she isn’t writing, loves to make up recipes. You can sign up for email updates here.
SHILOH WALKER is an award-winning writer and avid reader. You can sign up for email updates here.
KATE DOUGLAS lives in California and loves happily-ever-after endings. You can sign up for email updates here.
OTHER ANTHOLOGIES FEATURING LORA LEIGH
Real Men Do It Better
Honk If You Love Real Men
Real Men Last All Night
Men of Danger
Legally Hot
Taken
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CONTENTS
Title Page
Copyright Notice
Erin’s Kiss by Lora Leigh
Dedication
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Epilogue
misTaken by Laurelin McGee
Acknowledgments from Laurelin Paige
Acknowledgments from Kayti McGee
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Burn for Me by Shiloh Walker
Dedication
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Tangled by Kate Douglas
Dedication
Acknowledgments
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
About the Authors
Other Anthologies Featuring Lora Leigh
Copyright
These novellas are works of fiction. All of the characters, organizations, and events portrayed in these novellas are either products of the authors’ imaginations or are used fictitiously.
HOT ALPHAS. Copyright © 2015 by St. Martin’s Press.
“Erin’s Kiss,” by Lora Leigh. Copyright © 2015 by St. Martin’s Press.
“misTaken,” by Laurelin McGee. Copyright © 2015 by St. Martin’s Press.
“Burn for Me,” by Shiloh Walker. Copyright © 2014 by St. Martin’s Press.
“Tangled,” by Kate Douglas. Copyright © 2015 by St. Martin’s Press.
All rights reserved. For information, address St. Martin’s Press, 175 Fifth Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10010.
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Cover design by Crystal Ben
Cover photograph of man © Curaphotography/Shutterstock
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The Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is available upon request.
ISBN 978-1-250-06688-6 (trade paperback)
ISBN 978-1-4668-7198-4 (e-book)
e-ISBN 9781466871984
First Edition: May 2015