by Olivia Brynn
Lovin’, Livin’, Leavin’ and Cryin’. A loving life with Adam Nash.
Oh my God.
“Yes. Yes!” She threw her arms around his neck and launched into his arms, almost knocking him over in the process. “Oh, Adam. Oh my God, yes.” She heard her answer echo through the room over the big speakers, and she was only moderately aware of the cheer that erupted behind her. Between kisses, he slid the ring—warm from his body heat—onto her ring finger.
A perfect fit.
Adam stood, bringing her flush against him for a proper kiss. Jade tiptoed up to get closer. Her man—her fiancé. His mouth was so familiar and yet still so damn exciting. He broke away only to spin her around, a big smile on his face.
She squealed, sending feedback through the sound system. “I love you, Adam Nash.”
“I love you, Jade. I can’t wait to start on our forever.”
CHAPTER FOUR
Lance cheered along with the rest of Logan, New Mexico. He’d never seen his baby sister so happy, and the giggle that echoed through the speakers was infectious, and now all of Logan was laughing through tears.
He sat, wishing he didn’t tire so damn easy. Maybe it would be better once he was fitted for a prosthesis. The doctors said with therapy he’d eventually be able to walk without much of a limp. He could even get back to running. He tapped his left leg twice before remembering he had no K-9 charge that would respond.
His heart—so full a moment ago—deflated at the thought. Would there ever be a time he wouldn’t miss J. Edgar?
“Thanks for letting me join you tonight.”
Lance braced himself. Luc sat beside him, but kept his distance. “The whole town is here.”
Luc snorted and then took a long draw on his beer. “Meaning if they weren’t, I wouldn’t be invited?”
“No one’s invited. Or uninvited for that matter.”
“Semantics.”
Lance rubbed his face. The weeks spent in the hospital almost convinced him that he missed Luc’s narcissism, but it was just as wearisome as it had been last month.
“Adam seems like a nice guy.”
Lance watched as his sister and her new fiancé two-stepped to Tommy’s band to the joy of just about everyone watching. “He is. He’d better be.” He growled. No one wanted to be on the receiving end of the Graham boys in defense of their kid sister.
“You coming home tonight? Or did you cave in to your mother’s pampering?” Luc finished off his beer, never taking his eyes off the dance floor.
Lance leaned over, bracing both elbows on his knees. Though he’d told his mother he wanted to go home to his own apartment, he wasn’t sure he was mentally prepared to deal with Luc in this mood. “I don’t know.”
“I took care of J. Edgar’s things for you.”
Lance shot upright. His blood went cold. “What?”
Luc glanced his way, gave a small shrug, and returned his focus to the crowd. “I thought it would bother you to see that stuff.”
It would have been difficult. Lance certainly wasn’t looking forward to seeing the empty food and water bowls. Or the rubber and rope toy that had seen better days. Bits of J. Edgar’s life were strewn across his home like bits of shrapnel, but Lance had always found the clutter comforting. He took a deep breath, shoving his anger down. Luc was just trying to help. But the thought of J. Edgar’s memory being tossed away so callously was a blow. A sharp burning blow right to Lance’s heart. “I…I’m not sure I was ready for that.”
“You never would be. That’s the problem.”
Lance swallowed hard. “I wanted to bury him with that rope toy.”
“It was a dog, Lance.” Luc lifted both hands. “No offense. I mean, I know he was more than just a dog to you. Everyone knew that. You loved that animal more than—”
Everything. Everyone. Me. The unspoken words echoed in Lance’s ear. Still angry about J. Edgar’s things, Lance knew he couldn’t go home. Not tonight. He did not have the energy or desire to go through this well-worn argument with Luc, as well as a new one about J. Edgar’s rope toy.
When Luc didn’t continue, Lance returned to his slouch. “I’ll be home tomorrow.”
“I figured.” Luc stood. “Since the big event’s over, I think I’ll head out and watch the reruns on YouTube. They should be uploading any time now.”
Lance grunted. The Grahams were used to small-town life. Privacy was something they only read about in books, but he certainly didn’t envy Jade’s newfound celebrity. He wondered which of the cell-phone videos taken tonight would be the big winner on the internet tomorrow.
“Call me if you need a ride in the afternoon.” Luc’s hand briefly rested on Lance’s shoulder, but long enough for Lance to stiffen before Luc stepped away. “Talk to you later.”
“Bye.” Lance watched Luc disappear in the crowd, and only then released a long breath. You’re a pussy, Graham. Getting worked up over a dog’s toys. He leaned back over his knees, the position a bit awkward with only one foot on the ground. But J. Edgar wasn’t just a dog. Few people understood the bond between cop and K-9. While human partners go their separate ways at the end of a shift, Lance rarely left a room without J. Edgar.
Nothing would be normal ever again. He’d lost his leg, his best friend, and almost his life in that accident. As desperate as he was to get back on the job, another part of him wondered if he could actually get in his patrol car without J. Edgar. Hell, the force had sent him to specialized training, and since he was the only K-9 officer in the county, chances were they’d find him another four-legged partner.
As if J. Edgar was replaceable. Just like a fiberglass shin and foot will be a sad excuse for a leg, Lance wasn’t sure he could link up with another dog. Not soon anyway.
Maybe not ever.
He watched Jade and Adam, so obviously in love. The twinge of regret that he couldn’t have something like that lingered longer than usual. Proof the accident had turned him into a sentimental sap.
“You look tired, son.”
Lance looked up to find his parents flanking him.
“I am. I wish I could get my energy level back.”
Marcie picked a piece of fuzz off Lance’s shoulder. “You’ve been through a lot. Just remember how you felt the day after surgery. You’ve come a long way.”
He grunted. The most energetic he’d been in the first twenty-four hours was when a nurse came in with a catheter. After all he’d been through, there was no way he’d let her stick that tube up his dick. He only won the argument after an hour of struggling to piss into a bedpan finally paid off.
That night on the phone, Luc had laughed at the story and then enlightened Lance about the world of “sounding” and “urethral play”. Lance shivered at the memory.
“Let’s get you home. I’m sure your sister will understand.” Lance’s father handed him his crutches and stood aside while Lance again got to his feet.
Foot.
“Oh Dean, I’m so glad you could make it.” Marcie reached behind Lance.
Dean. Lance took a deep breath, hoping to catch the man’s scent without being too obvious.
Dean stepped through the row of chairs to give Lance’s mother a kiss on the cheek. “I wouldn’t miss this for the world. Luckily we’ve got some great people working at Earth Scents now, so Jade and I can afford a couple days away at the same time.”
“Well it looks like Adam’s plan came together.” Scott thumped Dean on the back. “He just about wore out the old telephone lines getting all the details right.”
Dean laughed. A warm chuckle that rumbled through Lance’s clothes. Lance took in Dean’s dark hair, cut and styled immaculately, his muscled forearms that gleamed with just the right amount of hair and sun-kissed skin, down to his square-toed leather shoes.
Lance tightened his grip on his crutches.
“I’m still in shock that Jade didn’t figure it all out. I guess she was pretty focused over the past few weeks.” Dean turned to Lance. “How are y
ou doing, by the way? Jade said you were going stir crazy in there.”
“That’s an understatement.” Lance tried to stand as upright as he could. Not that he was posturing for his little sister’s best friend. “Good to see you.”
Before Dean could answer, Jade emerged from the crowd in order to give Dean a hug. “You knew about all this?”
“Of course I did.” Dean squeezed her tight. “I’m always one step ahead of you. Never forget that.”
“I’m so glad you were here. Can you believe this? I’m getting married!” She squealed, then hugged each member of her family before tugging Adam closer.
“Congratulations, brat. Just wait until I figure out how to walk without crutches before I have to stand there in a tux for you.”
“Keep calling me ‘brat’, and I won’t even invite you.”
“Good. Saves me from buying a gift. I won’t miss the bachelor party though.” He raised one eyebrow Adam’s way.
“Oh, I almost forgot about that part. Strippers and booze…” Adam grinned.
“Hey!” Jade slugged Adam. “Mom!”
“Lance, leave your sister alone.”
Some things never changed. Including Jade’s smug little nose wrinkle when their mother took her side.
He shook his future brother-in-law’s hand. “We’ll talk later.”
“Dean, do you need a place to stay? We’ve got plenty of room.” Marcie shifted the purse on her shoulder. “I can get Jasper’s bed ready for you.”
Jasper’s old room shared a wall with Lance’s. If Dean Chambers slept next door, Lance swore he’d be up all night talking down his inappropriate crush on his baby sister’s best friend.
“Oh, no.” Dean said. “I’m all checked in at the Travel Inn.”
Lance breathed a sigh of relief.
Marcie gave Dean a motherly pat on the head. “Then don’t drink too much and try and drive out to the motel. If you need a ride give me a call.”
“Thanks, Mrs. Graham.”
As the band began another George Strait classic, Adam pulled Jade back onto the dance floor and Lance followed his parents to the door to climb into their back seat, wishing he didn’t feel as pathetic as that sounded in his mind.
He didn’t even look down Sixth Street to see if Luc’s light was on.
Lance sighed. He had a long road ahead of him. He may as well get used to the idea of walking it.
THE BEGINNING
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Olivia Brynn is the very saucy alter ego of romance author Alanna Coca. Olivia was the one who lured Alanna into trouble as a child. She also would have been the one to get her mouth washed out with soap. Since controlling Olivia wasn’t as easy as she thought, Alanna decided to set her alter ego free with Olivia’s first book, For a Price, a story about one woman’s journey to sell her virginity. Other books followed, earning five-star reviews and bestselling status. Alanna realized what fun Olivia had writing sexy romances without censor. Olivia writes contemporary erotic romance near a window where the view of the Rocky Mountains beckons her to run naked through the tall foothill grasses. Except when it snows.
MORE BOOKS BY OLIVIA BRYNN
AT EASE
COVER STORY
FALLING STAR
FLIPPED
FOR A PRICE
LAST CALL
POSITION SECURED
TAKING HER THERE
TESSA'S PRIDE
CONNECT WITH OLIVIA ONLINE
Twitter: twitter.com/OliviaBrynn
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Website and Blog: OliviaBrynn.com
Table of Contents
Copyright
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
About the Author
More Books from Olivia Brynn
Connect with Olivia