by Molly E. Lee
I took her hand after we’d lost sight of him. “Come on.” I tugged her off the rock and back down the path toward the cabin.
“Where are we going now?” she asked, holding her left hand out and gazing at the ring on her finger.
It looked damn good there. A wonderful seal that claimed her as mine. Forever. My soul filled with a replenishing drink I didn’t know I’d craved until it was satisfied.
“Home,” I said, pulling her up the wooden porch steps of the cabin.
She tilted her head as I fished the key from my pocket and slid them into the lock. I pushed the door open before sweeping an arm underneath her legs, cradling her to my chest as I stepped over the threshold. Realization clicked in her eyes before more tears glittered in them.
“How long have you lived here?”
I glanced around the place as I carried her to my bedroom. Our bedroom. “This has been my home base since the first paycheck I ever earned from the show.”
Her perfect pink lips popped into the shape of an O. “That’s how you knew about Brownie,” she said as I set her on the king-size bed that took up half of the room.
“Oh yeah, we go way back.” I settled myself between her thighs, kissing her over her clothing, up her stomach until I reached her lips.
“I love you, Compass.”
“I love you, Raindrop.”
We both laughed, our past, present, and future combining in one overwhelming flood of emotion. And I buried myself in Rain, her scent, her lips, her touch, finally claiming the most priceless treasure I’d ever sought—the find of my life—her heart.
I LIKE TO always start with you first, my dear reader. Thank you for taking a chance on this book, and on me. You are the breath behind my characters and the pulse behind their journeys!
Thanks must go to my incredibly supportive and intensely passionate husband, Daren. Without you I would not be able to create the heroes I do, or write as much as I like. I can’t thank you enough for your constant belief in me, even when I can’t see it for myself. You’ve given me the two most beautiful children in the world, and one awesome bulldog, and there aren’t enough words in the world to tell you how much I love you.
To my family:
Dad, I dedicated this book to you for many reasons—one of which is you introducing me to some of my favorite movies of all time. You unknowingly set the bar in which I hold my own heroes accountable, and I really appreciate that. I also can’t thank you enough for your belief and support of this dream of mine, and how you never flinched when I sent you a bad story. You’re constantly in my corner and I’m beyond lucky to have a dad like you.
Mom, thank you for never denying me books, at any age. Thank you for our Friday night trips to Barnes & Nobel that we conducted for years, and for going to midnight book release parties for novels you’d never read, for standing in line with me for hours . . . just because. You are the most amazing mother—and LaLa—in the entire world.
Sister, thank you for all the work you’ve put in behind the scenes for the Love on the Edge series. Thanks for always spoiling my babies, and for making sure I have the best accessories for signings.
To Rebecca, Golden Goddess, for giving me a crash course on the business, and for creating books so wonderful I’m always striving to be as good as you! For the phone calls, the vent-sessions, and the unbelievable times we have at signings . . . I can’t even with how much I love you!
To Sam, for reading books on short notice, and catching things I’d never see! Thank you for your unflinching support, for naming Easton’s show, and for letting me read your work before anyone else does :) It’s a treat!
To Esther, the hot-mama of all hot-mamas . . . my life was enriched the day I met you and I don’t know how I got so lucky to have a BFF like you! Remember, gnocchi is spelled with a G!
To Mindy Ruiz, Brenda Drake, and the #PitchWars crew! Because of the competition, I’ve met some of my very best friends :)
To Cora Carmack, for the endless advice I cherish, the amazing insight, and for encouraging me to constantly fight for my dreams. I heart you so hard!
To Molly McAdams, for taking a chance on a stranger’s book, and for being utterly awesome. I’m so honored to have met you, and can’t wait to take an epic Molly Squared photo soon!
To all the authors who continue to inspire me to be a better writer, to push my creative mojo past its limit: Kimberly Derting, J.K.Rowling, Cora, Jay, Molly, Sam, Mindy, Rebecca, Lizzy, Cindi, Rachel, Megan . . . the list could go on and on!
To the Mayhem Members and all the amazing bloggers out there, thanks for being awesome and making releases and takeovers so much fun! I heart each and every one of you! Micalea, Imani, Amber, Ashley Elizabeth, Katie, Becky, Brandy, Tina, Christi, Lindsay, Natasha, Vilma, and so so many more . . . thank you all for going out of your way to make a release feel nothing short of an overdue party!
To my awesome and genuinely badass PR team, Sassy, Savvy, & Fabulous: Linda . . . I have a question for you . . . and you always have an answer! I’d still be lost in production without you!
To Karen Grove, my editor extraordinaire, a thousand thanks to you for helping make this novel (and its title) the best it possibly could be. Without your sharp eyes, insightful notes, and general epic advice, I have no clue where this would be :)
To Nichole and Christine at Perfectly Publishable, thank you for making this sparkle in ways no one else could! You are both incredibly talented and consistently create amazing things!
To Regina Wamba and Yuli over at MaeIDesign, I don’t even know where to start. You are both such fantastic human beings, wicked talented ladies, and I’m beyond lucky I get to collaborate with you both! This cover . . . well, I gasp every time. Y’all are that good! And thank you to Noah and Lauren for playing the roles of Easton and Rain perfectly!
And once more, with feeling, thank you, reader, for picking up this book and giving my characters a chance to live their journey through your eyes.
MOLLY E. LEE is an author best known for her debut novel EDGE OF CHAOS. She writes New Adult Contemporary featuring strong female heroines who are unafraid to challenge their male counterparts, yet still vulnerable enough to have love sneak up on them. In addition to being a military spouse and mother of two + one stubborn English Bulldog, Molly loves watching storms from her back porch at her Midwest home, and digging for treasures in antique stores.
Read the first book in the Love on the Edge series here!
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