by Mazzy King
He pulls me so I straddle his lap. “Well. What do we do with a coincidence like that, Ms. Smythe?”
I capture his lips with mine. “Let me show you, recruit.”
Epilogue
Aidan
Three months later
I look up as Stella rushes into the kitchen, where I’m enjoying an ice-cold beer and unpacking. We’ve been at it for three days now ever since we moved into our new house in the quiet suburbs of Ridge City, and Stella broke off to unpack her office, which used to be one of the three bedrooms in the small house.
Her eyes are shining. “I have something to tell you.”
I set down the bottle and smile. “Okay.”
“Your essay was chosen for publication.”
My eyes bug out. “Really?”
In the aftermath of the shootout, I nearly forgot about my essay. I finished the last round of edits and then was so busy with testimony for the trial and starting the academy that I forgot all about it.
“Yes. And not only that, it’s been nominated for a prize too.”
“No shit!” I sweep her into my arms and spin her around. “All thanks to you.”
“You wrote it!” she protests with a giggle.
I stop spinning and kiss the tip of her nose. “But you saw something, and you believed in me. You didn’t judge me for being an ex-con. You saw past who I was, and you took a chance. Without you, this couldn’t have happened. So thank you.”
Her cheeks are pink as she shrugs, tucking a lock of hair behind her ear. “Well.”
Her modesty—at least as far as her accolades go—always makes me smile. “Way to go, Teach.”
She smiles and rolls her eyes. “This is quite the feather in my cap, I suppose.”
“Well, now that you’re here, want to give me a hand?” I ask.
“Sure. What can I do?”
I nod toward a narrow cabinet next to the microwave. “I stuck something in there, but it doesn’t go there. Can you grab it for me?”
“Uh-huh.” She crosses the composite wood floor and pulls the white cabinet open. Then she freezes.
“Problem?” I ask innocently.
Stella reaches in and pulls out a small, round, carved wooden box I whittled and made myself. She turns around slowly, her hand out, the box resting on her palm.
“What…”
“Open it,” I say softly.
With slightly shaking hands, she pops the lid, and one hand goes to her mouth.
I walk over to her, take her hand, and kiss her knuckles, then slowly lower myself to one knee. “I know we haven’t known each other long, Stella, but you’ve changed my life in the short time you’ve been in it for the better. I never thought I could have all that I have—a new lease on life, and the love of my life. I never thought I was worthy of it. But you showed me otherwise. And almost dying together, well…” I trail off, grinning up at her. “It’s like you said. You’re stuck with me. So I thought, maybe we could make it official.”
Her ring is modest, a singular cushion-cut diamond set into a sparkling platinum band. I got a substantial raise after starting the academy, and I’ll get another one once I graduate in a few months. I wished I could buy her a giant rock, but when I saw this ring, I knew it was perfect.
“Yes,” she whispers. “Yes.”
I rise and slip the ring on her finger. “I’m asking a lot of you, but I know you can handle it. You’re stronger than me. We can handle this together.”
“Yes, we can,” Stella says, and melts into my arms.
I owe her so much. So much she doesn’t even realize. And I will spend every moment I have making sure she knows just how grateful I am—for my new life, and most of all, for her.
About the Author
Mazzy King is the author of short, sexy, romantic suspense. She loves writing about the good bad boys and the women who can’t help but fall in love with them. If you love a sexy, tattooed bad boy with a heart of gold, badass and brilliant ladies, no cheating, and happily-ever-afters with a dose of thrill, you’ve come to the right place. Enjoy reading Mazzy’s stories with your latte or, better yet, a couple glasses of your favorite vino in the bathtub!
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Coming Soon
COLIN: Ridge City Recruits Book 2
Alpha Blue-Collar Cop Steamy Romance
Preorder here!
Colin
Being a police captain’s son has zero perks. After taking the fall for a buddy last year and winding up with a drug charge, I'm the black sheep of the family.
Now, my father wants me to make up for it by joining his top-secret Program as a recruit. The drugs I got in trouble for came from the ritzy country club he and my mother recently joined, and my mission is to go undercover as a maintenance man and find out who's dealing them.
Seems easy enough, until I'm called to the office of the owner's gorgeous daughter, who manages the place.
I’m just supposed to get a job there and keep my ear to the ground for intel.
I’m definitely not supposed to fall for her.
Problem is, I can’t stay away from her…but I’m risking the whole operation if I don’t.
Hendrix
Growing up well-off, I sometimes hate the fancy, stuffy, country-club life. I oversee the day-to-day operations of the club, and being the boss’s daughter definitely has perks, but it's also a huge headache.
When I call the new maintenance guy to come to my rescue, he's not only great at his job, but he’s seriously sexy. He’s just my type—a regular guy who isn’t constantly trying to name-drop or elbow-rub to get close to me.
My family thinks he’s beneath me, but I’m inviting him to our annual members gala as my date anyway, because screw the patriarchy…even if it’s mine.
Colin’s sweet and so sexy and kind of mysterious…and I plan to find out what’s really going on behind those gorgeous green eyes, no matter what.