“I’ll let her know, and thank you.”
He nodded, and the doorbell rang again. I opened it to see Vinny, Tessa, and their two kids, Colton and Riley, in tow.
“Welcome,” I greeted. “Cassie is in the kitchen.”
They walked in, and Vinny pointed his finger at me. “I knew you were next.”
I rolled my eyes and didn’t respond. I might have gotten out of the escorting business and had a serious girlfriend, but I wasn’t proposing. I wasn’t officially a part of The Fallen yet.
Nick and Galen arrived a few minutes later, and everyone made themselves at home by sitting outside next to the pool with me or in the kitchen chatting with Cassie. I didn’t know what they were talking about and didn’t care because the smile on her face was enough for me. She finally had friends, and slowly we were checking everything off of her never have I ever list.
“Doing okay?” I whispered into Cassie’s ear as she sat with the women.
She looked up at me and smiled. “Yep.”
“Good.” I kissed her briefly. “Can I have everyone’s attention?”
Autumn gasped as though she knew what I was doing.
Everyone came into the kitchen area and waited for me to begin. “Thank you all for coming to Cassie’s housewarming party. She’s officially agreed to move in with me.” No one seemed surprised, so I continued. “The night the guys and I met Cass, she bet against me to be next, and I was happy because I never thought that I would be next, but here we are. I’m out of the game and …” I paused. I hadn’t planned on making the speech to propose to her, but something inside of me was screaming for me to do it. To make it official.
I held up a finger. “One sec.”
Turning, I sprinted up the stairs and dug into my sock drawer for the velvet box my mother gave me before we left Tennessee. It was my grandmother’s engagement ring—gold with a pearl in the center of a halo of diamonds. It had been in my family for decades, and when my mother gave it to me because she swore Cassie was the one for me, I knew she was right. A pearl signified purity and innocence, and that was exactly what Cassie was. Well, before I got my hands on her.
I made it back down the stairs a few moments later. Everyone hushed as I came back into the kitchen area. “Sorry, I didn’t plan for this, but”—I got down on one knee in front of Cassie—“something is telling me that this is right. That this is the time. I was going to announce that whoever bet I’d be the next to join The Fallen won the bet because one day soon, I was going to ask you to be my wife. I was going to tell them that you’re a part of the Saddles & Racks family, even though most of us no longer work there. I was going to tell you that you have a family again, but then I swear I heard my mother yelling at me that I should make it official. That this is the perfect time.” I opened the black box. “So, Cassandra Davidson, will you marry me?”
Tears rolled down her cheeks, and she nodded with a smile. “Yes, of course. I’m not going anywhere.”
We kissed in front of everyone as they cheered for us. When we broke apart, my gaze met Nick’s, and I pointed at him.
“You’re next.”
* * *
The End.
* * *
Yep, Nick will be next in Paradise & Vodka!
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* * *
Gabe – Angels & Whiskey
Paul – Tequila & Lace
Seth – Champagne & Handcuffs
Vinny – Rum & Coke
Brad – Gin & Jewels
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Mr. Knight, our life is about to change and I couldn’t be more happy to start a family with you. Thank you for supporting my dream of being an author even when I feel upside down. I love you, you know?
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To Candi Kane: Thank you for your hard work and everything you do to make each release amazing.
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To my alphas: Leanne Tuley, Kerri Mirabella, Stacy Nickleson, Kristin Jones, and Melissa Mendoza. This one was a rush, wasn’t it? Thank you for understanding and having my back.
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To all the bloggers and authors who participated in my cover reveal, release day blitz, review tour, and release day party: thank you! I can’t tell you how much I appreciate each and every one of you who are willing to help me spread the word about my books. Without you, I wouldn’t be living my dream.
And finally, to my readers: Thank you for believing in me and taking a chance on my books again and again. Without you guys, I wouldn’t still be writing and bringing you all the stories that captivate my brain on a daily basis.
Club 24 Series – Romantic Suspense
Perfect Together – The Club 24 Series Box Set
Halo Series – Contemporary Romance
Saddles & Racks Series – Romantic Suspense
By Invitation Only – Erotic Romance Standalone
Sensation Fantasies – Erotic Romance Novellas
Dangerously Intertwined Series – Romantic Suspense
Burn Falls – Paranormal Romance Standalone
And more …
Kimberly Knight is a USA Today Bestselling author who lives in the mountains near a lake in California with her loving husband, who is a great research assistant. Kimberly writes in a variety of genres including romantic suspense, contemporary romance, erotic romance, and paranormal romance. Her books will make you laugh, cry, swoon, and fall in love before she throws you curve balls you never see coming.
When Kimberly isn’t writing, you can find her watching her favorite reality TV shows, binge-watching true crime documentaries, and going to San Francisco Giants games. She’s also a two-time desmoid tumor/cancer fighter, which has made her stronger and an inspiration to her fans.
www.authorkimberlyknight.com
Gin & Jewels Page 17