And, if someone decides to take the law into their own hands against those sick fuckers, using the information that I provide, who am I to stop that?
“Want to go into town and get some frozen yogurt, Hope?”
Hope starts happily clapping her hands together, grinning at her mom, showing those cute two front teeth of hers.
“Ugh, frozen yogurt?” I complain, getting to my feet.
I take Hope from Carrie and then offer her my hand and pull her up. I walk over to the stroller and strap Hope in.
I turn back to Carrie, who is smiling at me. I know that smile well. I’ve traced it with my tongue a thousand times.
She moves close to me, aligning her body with me. We fit together so fucking perfectly. We always have.
She puts her hand on my chest and pats it. “Yes, frozen yogurt. And, if you’re a good boy and stop complaining,” she lifts up on her tiptoes and whispers into my ear, “I might let you eat it off me in bed tonight.”
My dick throbs in my pants.
“Won’t it have melted by then?” I tease, my eyes staring down at her as I imagine a hundred scenarios of me and Red in bed with a tub of frozen yogurt … hours of fun to be had.
“We’ll take extra to go. And maybe you’ll get lucky, and I’ll lick it off of you, too.”
Jesus fuck. This woman.
I slide my fingers into her thick red hair, cupping her cheek in my palm. “How did I get so lucky to have you?”
“You didn’t get lucky, River. We just found each other. Like we were always meant to.”
I kiss her with all the love I feel for her.
“Dada! Mada!” Hope complains in her stroller, making us both chuckle.
I swear, that girl is way too smart for her age.
I glance over at Hope and then back to Carrie. “Red …”
“River.”
“After we’ve finished with the frozen yogurt tonight, how about we start practicing making a baby?”
“Don’t we do that most nights?”
“I mean, why don’t you stop taking the pill, and we try to get pregnant?”
A smile takes over her face, lighting her beautiful eyes. “Really?”
“Really.”
She takes my face in her hands and kisses me hard on the mouth. “I would love to have another baby with you.”
Another baby. Damn right.
Because Hope is my child. She always will be.
And Carrie is my heart. Forever and always.
“I love you, Red,” I tell her, earning her beautiful smile that she bestows only on me.
“I love you, too, River Wild.”
River and Carrie’s story was one of the hardest that I had ever written. It covered delicate and sensitive topics that I hope I did justice. I feel like I bled this story, and I definitely cried it. But I loved every single moment that I spent with these beautifully complicated characters. River and Carrie’s story touched my soul. I hope it touched yours, too.
As always, my first and biggest thank you goes to my husband and children, who put up with my crazy ways, my long working hours, and my random outbursts of tears while sitting, writing on my laptop. I know living with a writer isn’t easy. Yet you all still love me. And I love you like I never knew possible. Oh, and thank you, husband, for keeping me fed and watered when I slip off for extended periods of time into my imaginary worlds and forget to take care of myself. I would literally die of starvation without you.
My editor, Jovana Shirley—I have the best editor ever. You make my life a million times easier. And you put up with me dropping last-minute things on you and constant delays on delivery and extended deadlines, and you never tell me off. You are an angel. I honestly couldn’t do this without you. So, don’t ever leave me. Please!
My cover designer, Najla Qamber—As always, just simply amazing! Your talent to produce exactly what I want never ceases to amaze me. You took this stunning photograph and made it even more beautiful.
My agent, Lauren Abramo—You continue to bring amazing things to the table. If it wasn’t for you, I wouldn’t be seeing my books in stores in my home country or in other countries all around the world. You helped make my dream come true, and I can never thank you enough for that.
My Wether Girls—Our group is my safe place and my man candy slice of heaven! I adore each and every one of you. Long live Micah Mondays, Happy Tuesdays, Henry Hump Day, Mitch Wick Thursdays, and Free for All Fridays!
As always, thank you to each and every member of the blogging world, who work tirelessly to help promote books without ask or complaint. We authors couldn’t do it without you. You are truly appreciated.
And, lastly, to you, the reader—You’re the reason I get to live my dream. And work in my pajamas! Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
SAMANTHA TOWLE is a New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal best-selling author. She began her first novel in 2008 while on maternity leave. She completed the manuscript five months later and hasn’t stopped writing since.
She is the author of contemporary romances The Storm Series, The Revved Series, The Wardrobe Series, The Gods Series and stand-alones Trouble, When I Was Yours, The Ending I Want, Unsuitable, Under Her, and Sacking the Quarterback, which was written with James Patterson. She has also written paranormal romances The Bringer and The Alexandra Jones Series. All have been penned to tunes of The Killers, Kings of Leon, Adele, The Doors, Oasis, Fleetwood Mac, Lana Del Rey, and more of her favorite musicians.
A native of Hull and a graduate of Salford University, she lives with her husband, Craig, in East Yorkshire with their son and daughter.
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