by Alexis Anne
“What happened to the old sheets?”
“I threw those fuckers away.”
That was easily the oddest romantic thing I’d ever heard. “But we came back and slept on the new sheets.”
He grimaced. “We did. You’re a siren. A dangerous, dangerous siren. You had me hook, line, and sinker after that. Sally didn’t wash those sheets for a week.”
“Romance with you is always going to be a little bit different, isn’t it?”
He pulled me against him roughly, picking me off the ground in the process. “Would you prefer things a little more traditional? Cuz I can do romance any way you want it.”
I shook my head and kissed him. “I wouldn’t change a thing.” There was something so genuine about the ways Greg showed me he loved me. Anything else would feel forced.
“What do you say we give the sheets another try?” He bounced his eyebrows.
“Yes, please!”
He walked us straight into the bedroom and laid me on the bed.
CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN
My first Christmas with the girls was nothing short of life changing. We all flew to Paris to spend it with Brandon and his new girlfriend…and to clear the air. Natalie still wanted to go to that fancy school in Paris, which wasn’t an easy thing to sell when her parents weren’t exactly on speaking terms.
I was so stupidly happy that I decided to be the bigger man and help Natalie patch things up. Brandon was an asshole and I’d probably always hate him for what he said to me, but that didn’t mean we all had to act like children.
“I don’t think we have anything left to say to each other,” he said when I called.
“Oh, we’re just getting started,” I replied.
“I’m Natalie’s father and—”
I cut him off before he could blow any more hot air into the atmosphere. “Just shut the fuck up, you stupid fucktard. I should fly to Paris and remove your teeth one by one, but I’m not going to do that. You know why?”
Funny, the line was silent.
“Fine, I’ll tell you anyway. Because I love Natalie and the last thing I want to do is break her heart. Hurting her dad would break her heart, in case you couldn’t put those two ideas together. Kind of like how you broke her heart when you decided to get rid of me. I got news for you asshole, I’m not going anywhere. I love Marie and I love Natalie. So if you don’t want to hurt the people you supposedly love, I’d get used to the fact that I’m going to be around for the rest of your life.”
Brandon coughed, so at least I knew he was still there. Shocked as shit, but still there.
“You’re sure about that?”
I smiled. “Very sure.”
I could practically see the fire coming out of Brandon’s eyes from across the world. “Fine. But you need to understand one thing, Greg Hamilton. You’ve already used your one chance to fuck up. You do it again and I will make sure you never get up again.”
“I understand perfectly.” There wasn’t a snowball’s chance in hell I’d ever make that mistake.
Once I had things settled with the asshole, I squared things with Marie. But she still—quite literally—grabbed Brandon by the balls and threatened him. It was really fun to see the pain on his face, even if it was completely unnecessary.
He and I had an understanding, and now they did, too.
The trip also gave Marie a chance to see the school Natalie wanted to attend. It was a very good school and we all decided she should go as long as she felt it was good for her, but I was a little sad to know my time with her was already slipping away.
But spending the holidays with the woman I loved in the City of Lights was probably the most fun I’d ever had. We stayed up late, ate ourselves into several comas, drank expensive wine, and made love with the hotel windows open every chance we got.
Unfortunately my Christmas present to her got upstaged by her father. When Edward got word that Marie was thinking of taking the job with the Lightning at the end of the hockey season, he called to give his official final date at Bancroft Sports. According to Edward, he’d been preparing to hand things over to Marie anyway, which was why he was being so overbearing.
It didn’t really matter if that was the reason he was finally stepping down or not, just that he was. Marie was overjoyed.
Everything was falling into place.
All except one last thing.
It was New Year’s Eve. Jake and Eve were throwing a black-tie party at their house and we were dressed to the nines. Natalie had on a dress that made her look like a full blown teenager and it was breaking my damn heart.
I’d given her Jenn’s copy of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, her absolute favorite book, as a Christmas gift, hoping it would be a reminder to her that life was precious and real love was special. Hers were the only hands that book belonged in.
She was going to be dating before we knew it and stepping into adulthood. I hoped one day she would find a good guy who appreciated how wonderful she was.
But it was Marie who kept distracting me. The makeup was heavier than normal, but it was that sexy, sultry, “I’m up for anything” kind of makeup. Her hair was down in a tumbled mess of waves that begged to be fucked. And the dress? Oh, the dress…the perfect shade of blue to compliment her eyes, cut to hug every curve, and strapless, with a deep V between her breasts.
She. Was. Hot.
And all mine.
“You look like you want to eat me,” she purred into my ear as we walked inside.
“I do,” I replied. “Until you come undone.”
She took a shaky breath and let it out. “Well then.”
I nodded. Oh yeah. Tonight all the pieces were finally coming together.
We found Jake and Eve in the backyard. Those twinkly lights had been strung up everywhere and the backyard looked like a fairytale or something. A bunch of people were mingling around with cocktails and a band played on the porch.
“Hey you two,” I interrupted what appeared to be some sort of silent conversation of smiles and ridiculous looks.
“Hey! Glad you two made it.” Eve hugged us both. “Hot damn, woman. Can I borrow that dress one day?”
“Yes, can she? Like tomorrow?” Jake chuckled.
I pulled Marie against me. “Buy your own damn dress. This one’s mine.”
Marie rolled her eyes. “You two look really happy.”
They grinned at each other again and I got the feeling there was more there than they were letting on.
“You two don’t look too bad yourselves,” Eve smiled at me.
“Thanks.” I kissed Marie’s temple. “We better hit the bar before you two run out of booze.”
“Not happening. We’re stocked for an apocalypse. But yeah, get some drinks and have fun!” Eve called as we walked away.
Honestly, I didn’t care where we were, what we were wearing, or what we were drinking. As long as Marie was with me, I was happy.
As we hopped into the short line I caught sight of Grace walking in. And holy shit, her date. I tugged on Marie’s arm. “Hey, baby…Grace came with her mystery man.”
Marie craned around me and I watched for her reaction. Her eyes went wide and her jaw fell open. “Oh my God.” She clapped her hand over her mouth. “She’s dating Kyle Rogers?”
“Apparently.” It made sense in a way. They had hit it off really well the night they met. And that was right around the time that Marie said Grace started acting funny.
“I guess the Saison Grille is a magical place for everyone!” she said.
I couldn’t argue with that. “Go say hi. I’ll get us all some champagne.”
Marie kissed me on the cheek and ran off. I watched as they all smiled and hugged. I could live with Kyle hanging around. He seemed like a good guy from what I could tell.
We mingled and drank until it was almost midnight. Everyone gathered in the backyard with the band and flutes of champagne for the big midnight toast.
But instead of joining everyone else,
I brought Marie back inside.
“Where are we going?” she giggled. She was a little tipsy, but not drunk. Neither of us were.
“To the front door.”
“Are we leaving?” she whispered loudly.
“No. We’re just going to the front door.” I stopped on the tiled floor just inside the door. The house was dim and lit by only candles. The Christmas tree still glowed in the living room, giving everything that magical holiday feel.
It was perfect.
I turned her to face me. “We met at the bar. That was the first time you changed my life—just by walking into it.” She looked up at me and I could tell she was wondering what the heck was going on. “Then the next night at the restaurant you changed my life again by agreeing to spend the night with me. Then of course, you ran me over.”
“With a grocery cart,” she qualified with a smile.
“And I knew after that weekend I needed you in my life. I didn’t know who you were or where you worked. I didn’t know where you lived or anything else about you. All I knew was that your name was Marie and you were what I needed.”
“Greg…” she whispered.
“But it was right here, in this foyer, that you really entered my life. You walked into my heart and you never left. I finally knew exactly who you were and that we’d been one degree away from each other for so long. We had the same friends, the same little world. I love you, Marie. And I want to start the new year with a new life.”
The crowd in the backyard started chanting the countdown. I pulled out a beautiful diamond ring and held it up. Then I kneeled down with her left hand inside of mine. I felt like I had the whole world in my hand.
Mine to protect. Mine to lose.
“Marie Eloise Bancroft, I love you and I want to spend forever with you. No one can ever love you the way I do, and no one will ever love me the way that you do. Will you please be my wife?”
We had never talked about marriage. Not once. I had no idea how she felt about it, but I knew I wanted to take the chance. I wanted to marry her and officially be a family. I wanted to prove my love to her and make her my wife.
If she said no, I’d live. It was fast and hard for both of us, so I wouldn’t be surprised if she wasn’t ready.
But I was also completely sincere. Life was short and when something special comes along, you have to grab ahold of it with two hands and hang on with all you have—give it everything.
“Happy New Year!” The shouts echoed through the house.
Marie stood there with her mouth open and her eyes on mine. She was completely expressionless and I had absolutely no idea what she was thinking.
Then she closed her mouth, took a deep breath, and smiled. “Yes, I will be your wife.”
“Happy fucking New Year,” I whispered and slipped the ring on her finger before I stood up and plastered her back to the front door. “It’s gonna be a good year.”
“A damn good year,” she agreed, grinding against me and kissing me until I forgot who I was. “They have a guest room, you know.”
I ran my hand down the curves of her body and hooked her thigh around me. That was when we heard a little giggle.
It seemed we had an interloper.
“Natalie?” I growled. Marie grinned.
She popped up from the couch ten feet away. “You’re getting married?”
I would have stepped back from Marie, but I was sporting a rather impressive erection at the moment. I didn’t want to chance it, even in the dark.
“Yep,” Marie said over my shoulder. “I thought you might be okay with me keeping this guy around for a little longer.”
“About time!” she grinned.
“Go spy on someone else,” I growled.
“Okay, okay. I guess you two love birds should be allowed to make out.”
Well, no matter how old she looked, at least she still had an innocent little mind—because we were so not going to make out.
“She’s gone,” Marie whispered after a moment.
“Good. Fancy a celebration fuck?”
She shook her head and grinned. “Only if you keep talking like that.”
“Oh baby… the things you do to me.” Mind, body, and soul. She had all of me.
And I couldn’t wait to see where life took us next.
Thank You
I have a couple of people I specifically want to call out and thank because writing books like this is really hard on your emotions. I think writers in general are more sensitive people and if you add in introvert on top of that, it gets to be a hard road to travel without some hope and encouragement along the way.
So I’d like to say thank you to Tracie Puckett. It is because of her business advice and friendship that I’ve been able to reach as many readers as I have. I don’t know how many times I’ve sent her a message that started with, “Can I pick your brain?” She always responds with advice and heart.
Julia Kelly has diligently read and critiqued all three Storm Inside books. She sends me the most insightful questions and notes about my stories. She forces me to rethink what I’m doing and ask myself if I can do better. She makes me a better writer and I am forever grateful.
Anne L. Parks passionately suggested (demanded) that I rewrite the last third of this book. She is the perfect storm of encouragement and tough love. I don’t know what I’d do without her notes! (Answer: rock in a corner debating instead of publishing)
Mary Chris Escobar is the one I turn to when I want to read a book that makes me think, or when I need someone to talk to. We babble about life, industry, and the big picture. She keeps me sane, and even went as far as opening her home to me for a retreat. I don’t think she knows how much of my sanity I owe to her! From that first cup of coffee to the beers we electronically cheers through the phone—thank you so much!
Eternal thanks to Nate for everything. I don’t think there’s a better word for what you do. It’s everything. Thanks for sending me on vacation, for reading, and for all the inspiration.
And finally, thank you to every reader. The Storm Inside series is here because you kept asking for more.
>MWAH!<
More from Alexis Anne
The Storm Inside (Free)
Reflected in the Rain
When Lightning Strikes
The Tease Series
Tease: Volume 1
Tease: Volume 2 ~ Tease: Volume 3
Tease: Volume 4 ~ Tease: Volume 5
Tease: The Box Set
Stripped: down (#1) ~ Stripped: away (#2)
Stripped: apart (#3) ~ Stripped: bare (#4)
One Week in Wyoming (an anthology)
Filter
Polarized (Filters #1) ~ Grayscale (Filters #2)
Focus (Filters #3)
Short Stories
Kissing Owen: Volume 1 ~ Kissing Owen: Volume 2
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