by Thia Finn
“Let’s go then.”
When we circled the small airport in Amarillo and landed, I saw Timbre standing next to a police car from my small window. God, it rated up there with one of the best sights I’d seen in forever. The attendant opened the door and let the stairs down as Crew and I waited for her.
Timbre moved toward the plane faster and faster until she hit her stride in a dead run getting to the steps. I slipped past the woman in my way and took the steps two at a time.
“Oh, babe. We didn’t know what happened to you. We were all afraid she’d harmed you.” I didn’t stop until my lips devoured hers. When I pulled back, I looked at her from top to bottom. “They didn’t hurt you, did they?”
“No, I’m fine. A little roughed up but fine. Did Crew come, too?” She barely finished the question when he stuck his head out the door of the plane. Leave it to him to allow us to be reunited first. How did I ever get so lucky to have this kid?
“Crew,” she yelled at him. He basically jumped from the top step to the ground, and Timbre let me go to wrap him in a tight embrace. I wrapped them both in my arms. “Let’s go home, guys. Our home.” They both smiled and nodded.
Valentine’s Day
Three Months Later
“Peri, does this look okay to wear to this place he’s taking me?” I came out of my closet where Peri sat in the middle of the bed with Gemma between her legs as Peri read to her.
“You look hot, girl. He’ll love it.”
“Why is she hot, Mommy?” We both looked at each other and laughed.
“Her dress is too tight, and it makes her hot.” Peri looked at me and winked.
“Has Ryan taken you to Jefferies before?” I’d never even heard of the place.
“Yes, we’ve been a couple of times before and after they remodeled it. The food and service are excellent. I think you’ll be impressed. God knows, he will be just staring at you in that dress. He’d like dog food if you were sitting across from him in it.”
“You know that’s not true.” I smiled at her. She’s become my best friend since the ordeal we all lived through. Hayden, Crew, and I all went to counseling to discuss the situation, but after only a few trips, the counselor thought we were all doing fine.
I loved going, though. I wanted to talk about getting my degree and opening my own office. I’ve been accepted to start this summer and can’t wait for the first class to begin. Hayden convinced me to move in with him and Crew and honestly, he didn’t have to talk too hard for me to do it. Living in the pool house alone after the incident, I would never get any sleep worrying. He didn’t want me away from him.
Crew seemed more than happy to have me move in, too. I love that kid more than I ever thought possible.
Peri brought me back to Earth. “So you think he has something special planned for the evening?”
“Well, yes. We’re going to this special restaurant for Valentine’s Day, and then he got us a room somewhere, but he won’t say where. Wants to surprise me.”
“Oh really? So that’s why Crew’s staying here, huh?”
“Yes. I have a surprise for him, too.”
“Good, what is it? I love living your new love life. Not that mine is boring or anything but with everything that happened, I hate leaving the kids.”
“I know you do, and I’m sorry. How about we come over and relieve y’all for a long weekend? Y’all can go some place and enjoy each other for a change.”
“I might take you up on that.”
“Okay, it’s a deal.”
“You didn’t tell me your surprise.”
“Nope, and I’m not going to either.” I smiled at her as I walked back in the bathroom for a last look.
When I came out, they were waiting to leave with me. “Let’s go gorgeous. The guys are here.”
“I don’t know why he wanted me to get dressed here instead of at home.”
Peri just gave me a look. “He’s got a few tricks up his sleeve.”
We walked down the stairs to see Hayden and Crew both standing there in dark suits looking unbelievable. I didn’t know Crew would be going, too, but that was okay. He always acted like a perfect gentleman. His dad had taught him well.
“Wow, Pops. She looks hot,” Crew said quietly.
“Wow is right, dude, but don’t ever refer to her as hot again, or you’re grounded indefinitely.” Everyone laughed.
“Hey, he’s got good taste just like his dad,” I told the group congregated in the family room. “I thought Crew was staying here tonight.”
“He is. We’re going to send him back in the limo.”
“We’ve got a limo?” He continued to impress me tonight.
“Yes, we do. It’s a special night being Valentine’s and all,” Hayden told me as he helped me with my coat. February in Austin turned out to be cold for a change.
We rode in the stretch limo taking the long way from the lake to downtown. I didn’t mind since Crew and I both checked out every inch of the vehicle being a first for both of us. We had a glass of champagne while Crew had ginger ale. When we arrived, the doorman opened the door, and my two guys got out first. Hayden held his hand out for me, and I stepped out feeling like a celebrity on the red carpet.
The doorman opened the restaurant’s door, and I heard music from a live singer. When I stepped through, the place lacked the crowd I expected on the perfect date night. As a matter of fact, only one section had people milling around in it. Beautifully set tables gave the room an extra glow for the special night. My first impression of the place couldn’t be put into words. Perfection. That’s all I had.
We rounded the partition dividing the back half, and I saw people I recognized. The Assured Distraction band members and their wives were all there. When we entered, they all looked at us, and I stopped walking in even though I had the most handsome men on both sides of me escorting me in the room.
“What’s going on, Hayden?” I looked between the two who both grinned at me.
“I told you the night would be special in every way.”
Keeton MacDonald, AD’s lead singer, took the mic and asked us to come to the dance floor. Crew took my small purse and put it on a table. The two of us walked on the floor, and I felt awkward with the two of us alone on the wooden floor.
Keeton began singing one of the band’s few slow love songs. I’d heard it many times since it went platinum as a single and as part of the album. Between his beautiful voice and the romantic lyrics, the song seemed made for lovers to dance to. When it ended, everyone clapped. I know I turned red with my face glowing under the dimmed lights. I looked around and thought maybe we should bow or something, but when I turned and saw Hayden on his knee, my mouth dropped open.
I looked around at the crowd all lining the floor—Keeton and Chandler, Gunner and Lily, Carter and Halo, and even Ryan and Peri managed to make it.
“Crew, come here, son,” Hayden called to him, and he walked to his dad and got down on a knee, too.
“Timbre, ever since we met, I knew you were special. Seeing you standing there drenched in street water, you still looked like the most beautiful woman I’d ever met. I never realized how many times it would take fate to put us together before I got the message that I needed you beside me all the time.
“When I saw the way you and Crew took to each other, I knew for a fact that we needed you in our lives. So, tonight, in front of all my Austin family, I’d—”
“No, Pops, we,” Crew threw in.
“Right. We’d like to know if you’d do us the honor of being my wife and his mom? I promise to treasure our every minute together if you’ll only say yes.”
Crew pulled the box out and opened it, and Hayden removed the platinum band holding the emerald cut diamond and looked up at me. I gazed at my two guys and nodded as a tear slowly rolled down my cheek. Hayden slid the ring on my finger and kissed it before he stood and kissed me.
The room erupted in cheers and good wishes as the music began to play, and th
e others joined us on the dance floor.
He held me close as we moved to the music, singing some of the lines to the song he’d written for Assured Distraction. This moment could last forever and I’d die a happy woman, but I had something I needed to say.
The song ended, and everyone clapped again as he led me off the floor to our small table for three. Crew enjoyed drinking his ginger ale from a champagne glass. He wanted to be an adult, but his life waited to unfold before him.
“Are you staying for a while?” I looked at him as he drained the glass.
“Nah, I’m going home in the limo. Dad said I could go alone since the driver’s part of the AD security. I asked him to let me take it for a spin with my friends, but he nixed that idea before I even finished the sentence. Told me to save it until Senior Prom. That’s a long time from now.”
“It’ll be here faster than you think. Your grandma used to tell me not to wish my life away, son.” His dad told him as we sat down with our glasses of actual champagne.
“Can we do a toast before I leave, Pops?” He refilled his glass again from his soft drink bottle.
“Sure. What’ll we toast to?”
“Wait. I have something that we can toast to.” The perfect opportunity just presented itself for me to make my announcement.
“Great, babe.” He handed me the stemmed glass.
“The three of us have a huge job ahead of us,” I began. Both guys looked at me because they had no idea where this was going.
“You want to move already? I like where we live.” Hayden told me when I moved in that we didn’t have to live in his house, we could move anywhere in Austin.
“No, I love our home, but we might need to add on to it.”
Hayden’s eyes leveled on me, and those golden rays came out in full force. I nodded my head. Crew just stared at me having no clue what the reference meant.
“Crew, how would you feel about a little sister or brother to add to our family of three?”
“What? I’m getting a mom and a brother? All at the same time? How did that happen? I can’t believe it. Please tell me you’re telling the truth?” He jumped up, rounded the table, and hugged me from behind. “I can’t believe it. I’m gonna be a big bro. Oh man, just think of all the things I can teach him.”
He couldn’t stop talking and got louder with every sentence. Hayden pulled me to him, and we stood so he could get closer to me.
“She’s telling the truth right, Pops? She wouldn’t lie to us about something so important, would she?”
“No son, you know the rule we have, and so does she. There will never be lies between us.”
He turned to the others, “I have an announcement, and it’s the truth. I’m getting a mom and a brother.” The group came forward to congratulate us again.
I whispered in Hayden’s ear, “He does know it could be a girl, right?”
Final Thoughts
Assured Distraction has taken their fans and me on a wild ride. I hope you’ve enjoyed their lives and antics throughout the series as much as I’ve enjoyed writing them. I want to thank each one of you who stuck with me on this adventure. Assure Her started with a rocky ride that smoothed out with each book in the series. Hayden and Timbre changed the ride to more of a limo than a pick-up.
My next books will be stand-alone college football stories of guys, but there will be more to the story than sports just as the AD series was more than a band on the bus. They will come with hot covers I hope you’ll love as much as I do.
I will be at many author events this year so watch for my name to appear in the banners. I love talking and getting to know each one of you. First-hand feedback from you on my books helps guide me in the right direction, so if you get an opportunity to attend one, please come see me! If you follow me on my two Facebook pages, you’ll know when and where each time.
Thanks!
Thia
Thia’s Tarts recommended music for this playlist!
Miranda Bly
“Love Don’t Die” by The Fray
“Demons” by Imagine Dragons
“Playing for Keeps by Elle King
“Concrete Blond” by Still in Hollywood
“Second Chance” by Shinedown
“A Girl Like You” by Smithereens
“Feel Invincible” by Skillet
“Disturbed” by Sound of Silence
Martina Luella Arguijo
“Fix” by Chris Lane
“Me Too” by Meghan Trainor
Dale Gardiner
“Body Say” by Demi Lovato
Deb Carroll
“Love of a Lifetime” by Firehouse
“Heaven” by Warrant
“I Live My Life for You” by Firehouse
“Waiting for a Girl Like You” by Foreigner
“Sweet Child of Mine” by Guns and Roses
“Love Shack” by B52s
“It’s My Life” by Bon Jovi
Jonny James
“45” by Gaslight Anthem
Thia Finn
“Why’d You Only Call Me When You’re High” by Arctic Monkeys
“Love in a Bar” by Ryan Hurd
“Rock On” by Tucker Beathard
Mayas Jamarla Sanders for being the most awesome of all beta readers. She is amazing at keeping me straight on characters, time lines and all things connecting!
Kim Ginsberg, reader extraordinaire, I appreciate all you’ve done in such a short amount of time! Your skills are amazing!
As always I am thankful for the friendship and understanding Chris Genovese gives me when I need it the most. He knows my weirdness and helps keep it in check.
Thank you to my family, Steve, Lacy and Kyle, and Teale, for allowing me the time to do what I do. Y’all don’t always get it, but you let necessities ride until I can take care of my characters first.
Thank you to Kyle Hendricks for making me one happy mother-in-law! In the midst of launching a new book, my daughter married an awesome guy that we all love.
Thank you to Jason Anderson of Jason Lee Photography for making me an outstanding cover! He listened and changed and changed and changed to make me happy. He’s been my friend for a long time and I’ve valued that friendship. I look forward to many more to come with new adventures ahead in 2017.
Thank you to the Wander Photography team, Wander, Andrey and Jenny for providing me with beautiful pictures, fun times, and friendship. It’s been a wild ride and 2017 is going to add to the adventures.
Thanks to Theresa, Elaine, Dale, Cindy, Trudy, Darcy (Beer, Bobs and Books) and all the readers out there who have supported my books. I hope to continue to entertain you with the new direction this year.
Thanks to those of you who are members of Thia’s Tarts. Those of you who offer me help, I do appreciate you!
I’ve purposely saved the best for last. Deb Carroll is the best of the best. She is outstanding at her job of PA. She anticipates what’s needed when I have no clue. She comes to my rescue when I need it. I can’t begin to express the gratefulness I have for all she does. I certainly don’t deserve her and hope I don’t have to know what it’s like to do this without her.
Click here to join Thia’s Tarts.
Goodreads Links
Click on the links below to add to your TBR list.
Assured Distraction Series
Assure Her (Assured Distraction Book One) – Keeton’s Story
His Distraction Assurance Distraction Book Two) – Ryan’s Story
His Assurance (Assured Distraction Book Three) – Gunners Story
Distracted No More (Assured Distraction Book Four) – Carter’s Story
Amazon Links
Assure Her (Assured Distraction Book One)
His Distraction (Assured Distraction Book Two)
His Assurance (Assured Distraction Book Three)
Distracted No More (Assured Distraction Book Four)
Website
http://www.thiafinn.com
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Facebook
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Goodreads
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14206242.Thia_Finn
Growing up in a small town Texas, Thia Finn discovered life outside of it by attending The University of Texas, only to return home and marry her high-school sweetheart. They raised two successful and beautiful daughters while she taught middle school Language Arts and eventually became a middle school librarian. After thirty-four years, she retired to do her favorite things like travel, spend time off-roading with family and friends, hanging out at the Frio River, reading, and writing.
She currently lives in the same small town where she grew up with her husband and the boss, Titan, the Chihuahua. She can often be found stalking on social media, watching Outlanders, Vikings, or Game of Thrones to name a few on Netflix.