by Morgan James
“How will that help? I could just open my eyes if I really wanted to know.”
Mia paused, and her hands lifted away from me. I could just imagine her gesticulating wildly as she spoke. “Whatever. You know what I mean. Baby brain.”
A low chuckle met my ears, and my eyes popped open as Jack approached. “Don’t let her fool you. That started long before she got pregnant.”
I pressed my lips together to hide my smile as Mia leveled a haughty glare at her husband. “Are you intentionally trying to pick a fight?”
“Never.” His expression never changed, but I could see the teasing glint in his eyes as he stared at her.
Mia lifted one brow at him. “Mhmm.”
He stepped close as if to pass us by, then dipped his head and spoke low in her ear. Mia’s cheeks turned pink, and she licked her lips as Jack straightened. He took her chin between his thumb and forefinger, then looked deep into her eyes for several long seconds. Finally, he released her and nodded toward me.
“Try to keep her in line.”
I shrugged helplessly, a smile pulling at the corners of my mouth. “No promises.”
“You’re telling me,” he murmured. With one more meaningful look at Mia, he turned and strode down the hall. My gaze drifted toward Mia as she watched her husband, a hungry look of longing etched on her face.
It was always interesting watching those two interact. Mia was perpetually bubbly while Jack was so intense. And yet it just... worked. I could feel the desire, the love crackling between the two of them, despite the fact that they were rarely—if ever—affectionate in public. I knew part of that was Mia’s choice. Since she was partial owner of her late father’s company, Hamilton Construction, I knew she felt she had to try twice as hard to be taken seriously in what people still considered a man’s role.
“If you’d rather wait...”
Mia’s head snapped toward me, and her eyes cleared. “No! I’ve been waiting all day for this.”
I barely suppressed a smile. “It’s barely eleven o’clock.”
Pretty blue eyes rife with mock condescension glared at me. “You know what I mean.”
I laughed, and she cracked a smile. “Seriously, this kid’s killing me. I’m tired and hungry all the time, and I swear I’d forget my head if it wasn’t attached.”
“I’m sure that’s normal,” I assured her. Playing along with whatever scheme she’d concocted, I turned around and closed my eyes. “All right. I’m game.”
Her hands fell to my shoulders once more, and she guided me forward. “No peeking.”
“Okay, okay.” Curiosity tugged at me as we passed the kitchen, the sounds of clanging pans giving away our location. Another minute later, Mia pulled me to a stop. “Okay... Open!”
I blinked my eyes open and came face-to-face with... A door? “Ummm...”
Mia moved to my right side and tipped her head toward the plaque hanging on the wall which read “Special Events Coordinator.”
I whirled toward her. “What is this?”
A huge smile lit her face. “Your new office.”
I turned back toward the oak door, emotion clogging my throat.
“I know we haven’t talked about it,” Mia spoke up, “but I wanted it to be a surprise. Even if you don’t want the position, the office is still yours.”
I swallowed hard and blinked away the tears of gratitude that had formed while she spoke. “Mia, I... I don’t know what to say.”
She lifted her hands and spread her fingers wide. “I’m not an expert, but “yes” seems as good a response as any.”
I covered my face with my hands, grinning like a fool. “Yes!”
“Yay!” Mia’s arms came around me in a huge hug, and I held on tight.
Never in my life had I felt happier, more accepted than I did here. Months ago I’d arrive in Pine Ridge alone and scared, and badly in need of funds to keep me going. Eric found me on the side of the road when my car ran out of gas, and he’d called in a favor to Jack to hire me on. Now I had a man who loved me and friends and coworkers whom I adored.
Life truly didn’t get any better than this.
Want more of Eric and Jules? Preorder the epic conclusion to the Deception Duet, Beautiful Deception, coming September 29th!
Also by Morgan James
Quentin Security Series
The Devil You Know – Blake and Victoria
Devil in the Details – Xander and Lydia
Devil in Disguise – Gavin and Kate
*Each book is a standalone within the series
Frozen in Time Trilogy
Unrequited Love
Undeniable Love
Unbreakable Love
Bad Billionaires
(Novella Series)
Depraved
Ravished
Consumed
*Each book is a standalone within the series
Deception Duet
Pretty Little Lies (July 2020)
Beautiful Deception (September 2020)
Standalones
Death Do Us Part
Escape
About the Author
Morgan James is the bestselling author of contemporary and romantic suspense novels. She spent most of her childhood with her nose buried in a book, and she loves all things romantic, dark, and dirty.
She met her own husband when he crashed a friend's wedding (Just kidding. Kind of...) and they've been together ever since. They currently live in Ohio with their two kids and an adopted mutt that sheds like crazy.
Here are a few fun facts: She can swear like a sailor. She loves to bake but hates to cook. She loves a man in uniform. She pulls inspiration for her stories from real life. Her husband is the absolute best, supplying her with infinite one-liners. Like her characters’ dialogue? There’s a good chance that those conversations have really happened!
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