by Shannyn Leah
“I thought you were on the path to redemption.”
His grin widened.
“Whichever path...” His slow, intentional steps started again, around the fire and toward her. “Whichever road...” The closer he got, the hotter she grew. “That I take...is going to have you at my side.”
Quinn stopped in front of her, touching the side of her face. “Why do you insist on running away from me?”
She leaned into his touch and sighed. “You know why.”
“No more, Anya. I can stand here and threaten that if you leave I will follow and never give up, but I don’t want that. I want you to choose to stay here. Stay with me.”
Her eyes fell shut and he lifted her chin and waited until she opened them again. “Thank you for sorting out a deal for my mother.”
“It’s the least I can do.”
“You didn’t have to do it at all. If only you saw yourself through my eyes, through everyone’s eyes. You aren’t the tainted woman you think you are. Every opportunity you get to do something good for someone you take it, regardless of how it affects you. Anya, that’s bravery, selflessness.”
Quinn lightly grazed her lips then stepped away.
“I love you. All of you, including the past that makes you the strong woman you are. But the decision is yours. Stay with me where you belong and let’s live the rest of our lives making decisions together. Or walk away.” He motioned toward the brush where her packed car was waiting for her.
The decision wasn’t hard.
Anya rushed into Quinn’s embrace and his waiting kiss.
When she pulled away, he was grinning at her.
“What?” she asked.
“That was way easier than I thought it was going to be. Was this all a little trick to make me have to work for you?”
Anya smiled at him. “No. I wanted to give you space. To decide if what you really wanted was me.”
“It always has been you. And I would have chased you around the world and lurked in all the woods to make sure you were okay.”
Anya laughed and shrugged. “I would be okay with that. And since we are being honest, I think your brother sees me a little differently than everyone else.”
“He’s the exception, but I plan on changing his view. I don’t think it will be that hard.” Quinn kissed her. “Are you finished running away from me?”
She nodded. “I’m a little bit thirsty.”
Quinn laughed, his strong deep laugh and his hands moved behind his neck where Anya held the pop bottle. “We can fix that,” he said.
“I’m thirsty for you,” she whispered in his ear.
In a quick motion that had her laughing, he lifted her into his arms and carried her to the blanket. He laid her down and settled beside her, taking her mouth in his.
“Well, sweetheart, you won’t go thirsty for the rest of your life,” he said.
That sounded like the best news this year.
Chapter Thirty
“Trust us,” Quinn shouted at Dave.
Dave skeptically looked around at his family and Anya’s, all gathered around the horseshoe pit.
“You are all witnesses,” Dave said. “I mean you all know that Quinn and I have had our moments this year and that he still might be carrying a grudge toward me.”
Quinn chuckled with everyone else then said, “Stop chickening out and step on down.”
Dave grumbled, checking the height of his rolled pants before sticking one foot into the mud pool.
He inhaled deeply. “I think this was an unfair set up,” he grumbled. “There was no warning that Anya was a pro-horseshoe champion.”
“Why do you think we let you team up against her?” Izzy said. “She’s brutally fearless.”
Dave stepped his other foot in and, before he had another chance to object, Quinn tossed the first horseshoe and was quickly followed by the next.
He turned to Anya. “Maybe we should go up against each other and show them that I can whoop you.”
Anya laughed. “Darlin’ I let you win those two times,” she said, giving him a little drawl.
“Oh you!” He scooped her up and twirled her around, enjoying the laughter that followed. “You’re full of it.”
He stopped, holding her in his arms. She looked down at him. “That sounds like a challenge,” she said.
He kissed her. “I would rather be on your team than be your adversary.”
She shrugged. “Sometimes a good rivalry brings out the hottest sex.”
Quinn groaned. “In that case...” He set her down and turned to the family. “I’m playing against Anya to claim the championship,” he announced.
Anya stepped beside him and whispered, “Good luck. You’re going to need it.” She ran her hand over his ass then pinched it before walking away.
She was the best damn distraction he’d ever laid eyes on and she was his, forever.
THE END
Coming Soon:
Sunset Sail
The Caliendo Resort
Book Three, Emma Caliendo
By The Lake Series
Shannyn Leah
Collect them all!
By The Lake Series
The McAdams Sisters:
Lakeshore Secrets (Book One)
Lakeshore Legend (Book Two)
Lakeshore Love (Book Three)
Lakeshore Candy (Book Four)
Lakeshore Lyrics (Book Five)
The Caliendo Series:
Sunset Thunder (Book One)
Sunset Rivalry (Book Two)
Sunset Sail (Book Three)
Sunset Slopes (Book Four)
Sunset Shelter (Book Five)
Shannyn Leah lives in London, Ontario, Canada. She comes from an entrepreneurial family, who all have a passion for developing new and exciting business ideas. When she’s not writing contemporary romance books, into the early hours of the morning, she’s antiquing with her two favorite people, her momma and her sister.
Shannyn has published four books in her series, Love By the Lake, including, Lakeshore Secrets, Lakeshore Legend, Lakeshore Love and Lakeshore Candy. She is currently working on book five, Lakeshore Lyrics and has a new series ready for 2016.
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