by Emily James
“See, that’s better. There’s my funny Joanie. You’ll be okay, honey.” Melinda puts her hand on mine and my eyes fill up with tears. “Oh, shit, now stop that, right now. We’re going to have fun. Oh goody, look, the Karaoke is starting.”
“Yay,” I deadpan. “Kara-fucking-oke!”
“I’ll be right back.” Melinda smiles and nips to the bathroom. I utilize the time by downing my drinks and heading to the bar for more. I have to shout my order to the barman as a drunk, tone deaf giant with a strong German accent destroys Kings of Leon’s, Sex On Fire.
When I return from the bar with a tray full of drinks, Melinda has returned from the bathroom. I ask her when she intends to start dating again.
“Uh-uh, no way. I’m done. By the time the kids are in bed, I barely have enough energy to take care of my own hygiene let alone take care of business. I’m off men, completely done.”
“Mel, you’ll change your mind. Perhaps you could enrol in cookery classes. They seem to be the new speed dating if Mikey’s luck is anything to go by. Or maybe Mikey and I could put our heads together, come up with a new dating strategy for you and give us a chance to get our own back, huh?” I laugh but Melinda is too preoccupied checking her phone to respond.
“Hmm... Listen Joanie, I’ll just pop to the bathroom. Be back in a sec.”
“But Melinda, you just went...” I call after her, but Melinda dashes out of her chair as if her sex really is on fire, and is soon out of my line of sight.
I glance around the bar, which really wouldn’t be so bad if they added a few soft furnishings, maybe a rug here or there and some grey paint. Most of the other customers sit on wooden chairs and sing along with their friends. A few brave folks even stand near the edge of the stage and bop to terrible renditions of classic songs.
The German giant’s torture of our eardrums is replaced by a loud ear-piercing squeal and the DJ announces that the next singer is ready.
I wonder how awful this one will be.
I take a sip of my drink and look for Melinda, wondering too late if I should plug my ears. The opening bars to John Legend’s All of Me starts, and I say a little prayer that the singer doesn’t desecrate my favourite love song.
I freeze.
I recognise that voice.
My head spins and my eyes widen in shock.
Ryan is singing on the stage.
My mouth is wide open, as I look around, trying to work out which of the other women, who also sit and stand with their mouths agape, is his date.
I can’t tell because he is looking at me as he croons. He smiles as I look behind me. He points his index finger at me, to clarify that he is in fact singing to me.
Ryan starts walking towards me, off the stage and across the small wooden area of flooring until he’s right near my table. The other people in the pub are looking from him to me as he sings right at me, his eyes unfaltering and beautiful.
Six takes one of my hands in his and pulls me up. He sings the last few notes and wipes away tears that I didn’t realise had fallen.
The crowd whistles, cheers and literally goes nuts for Ryan. But I don’t see them. It’s like they’re a far away distraction because all I see is Ryan with his dark, mesmerising eyes pinning me still, sucking me in.
Ryan looks nervous as he assesses my reaction.
I’m still in an utter state of shock. Then he leans in and whispers, the heat of his breath sending shivers all down my body. “Joanie, I do. I’m in love with you. I don’t want to see you with Chris or anyone else for that matter, and I don’t want you to move, unless it’s in with me. I love you.” I stare into his eyes, wondering if this is some kind of dream, almost certain that I have not been drugged because the feeling is a million times better than any drug. “Joanie, no pressure but it’d be really great if you kissed me about now. If you want to that is, or else I might have just made a complete Wally out of my...”
I cut off his words as I literally fling myself at him. He takes two steps back and braces my weight as I part his lips and slide my tongue all the way home.
Ryan takes ownership of the kiss and my hands grip his shoulders, letting out a groan into his mouth. It’s then that I hear the wolf whistles in the crowd. Ryan gently puts me back on my feet and grabs hold of my hands. He has a sheepish grin on his face as he asks, “Shall we get out of here?”
“Yes. No, wait. Melinda?” I look around, but she’s vanished.
“Yeah, um about that.” Ryan’s eyes house a mischievous sparkle. He pulls me close. “I asked her to bring you here. I’m date ten, your last blind date, I hope. If you don’t mind that is? Six and Four do make ten after all...”
I bite my lip to stop from leaping on him again. “Six and Four do indeed make ten. What are your plans for me, now that you’ve taken me hostage?” I ask.
“Whatever your heart desires, my beautiful, Joanie.”
A devious plan formulates in my mind.
“I still have that crossword at home to finish. Six across and seven down are still waiting for our attention, you know...”
Ryan’s lips part to form an ‘O.’
“Exactly, let’s go.” I giggle.
Ryan doesn’t need to be told twice. He flings me up onto his shoulder and jogs towards the exit.
Trust Ryan to be excellent at crosswords.
Epilogue
6 MONTHS LATER
MIKEY PULLS THE ROAST beef out of the oven and my mouth salivates. Lately it seems to do that often.
“Here babe, let me get that for you.” Ryan grabs the tray of glasses out of my hands and places them down on Mikey’s dining table. He plants a kiss on my head and pulls out a chair at the table. “Sit and rest.”
“So, tell me all about this engagement. Go on, I know you’re dying to,” Melinda says and pulls out my left hand to admire my ring as I sit beside her.
Chef slices the meat and Mikey puts huge trays of potatoes, broccoli, Yorkshire Puddings, and carrots onto the table.
“Well, we were in London on the London Eye, overlooking the city, and Ryan just asked me. No premeditation. No big fanfare. Just two people in love, making a deal.”
Ryan sits the other side of me and smiles a mega-watt grin.
“Joanie said yes!” Mikey claps and does a little dance. “This calls for a celebration! We’ll have a party; I’ll do the food.”
“I’ll organise the music and guest list,” Melinda chimes in.
“Hang on,” Mikey says and my stomach drops, wondering if he’s guessed. “What’s your new surname going to be?”
“Jones,” Ryan says proudly.
“Wait, your new name is going to be—Joanie Jacinda Jones?” Melinda smiles, though I know she’s dying to crack up laughing.
“You’re J-J-Joking!” Mikey spits with laughter. The whole room can’t help themselves but laugh, including Ryan.
“Hey—Joanie Jacinda Fox Jones!” I defend.
“It’s a beautiful name, baby,” Ryan reassures.
“Besides, we want to do it before the baby arrives...” I casually drop into the conversation.
Mikey drops the plate he is holding onto the table and Melinda jumps up in triumph!
“Oh my God, when, how?” Melinda asks, with beaming smile.
“You of all people should know how,” I laugh. “I’m four months pregnant, we just found out it’s a boy.”
Ryan’s arms reach around me from behind. He does that a lot lately. My eyes start to fill up. They also do that a lot lately.
We eat a wonderful lunch and I consider how blessed I am, sitting here with my best friends, the people I’m fortunate to have found.
As Mikey and I do the dishes, we plot a revenge that has been a long time coming.
“She’ll never go for it,” Mikey says.
“That’s why we aren’t going to tell her.”
“How are we going to set her up on ten dates without her even realising that she’s on a date?” Mikey asks.
“With very
careful planning.” I smile and wink to Mikey who high fives me.
“I think that is a brilliant plan!” His eyes are alight with mischief.
Ryan walks towards me and wraps his arms around my waist, planting a kiss on my neck. Even though I’ve enjoyed a thousand or more such kisses, they still set off fireworks in my belly.
“What are you guys whispering about,” Melinda asks as she brings some dirty plates out into the kitchen.
“Trying to talk Joanie out of calling her son Tennyson,” Mikey says with a giggle.
“Hey, I like that name,” I say.
“Ryan?” Melinda checks.
“Well, it’s basic math. Four and Six do make Ten,” he jokes, though his eyes are sincere as they gaze down at me, holding me in a caress.
“I love you,” I whisper a breathless reply, enamoured by his intense, kind eyes.
Ryan kisses me and rests his hand on my tummy and whispers, “I love you too and our little Ten, forever.”
Trust Ryan to make loving us forever be all I ever wanted.
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Read about Melinda’s hilarious antics in
** TEN DARES** here: http://mybook.to/TenDares
What to read next
TEN DARES
MELINDA SPENCER HAD everything but now her life has fallen apart.
Her two best friends are worried. Melinda’s been acting even more highly strung than usual so they stage an intervention. Something to help her lighten up and take her mind off things: 10 crazy dares. After all, they say laughter is the best medicine...
Never one to squelch on a dare, Melinda accepts her challenge. The dares look simple enough ... and if it gets Joanie and Mikey off her back, it’ll be worth it. But with a sexy vet, a troublesome ex, and a village full of nutters hot on her trail, has Melinda finally bitten off more than she can chew?
Ten Dares is a hilarious romp about a strung-out single mum trying to hold everything together when life is throwing her lemons as curve balls. This standalone romantic comedy has a happy ending, no cliffhanger, and can also be enjoyed as part of The Power of Ten Series.
HERE’S THE LINK: http://mybook.to/TenDares
Books by Emily James:
The Love in Short series
Operation My Fake Girlfriend (OMFG) Book 1
Sexy With Attitude Too (SWAT) Book 2
You Only Love Once (YOLO) Book 3
Leaving Out Love (LOL) Book 4
The Power of Ten series
Ten Dates - Book 1
Ten Dares - Book 2
Ten Lies - Book 3
The Faking It series
Faking It in The Kitchen
Faking It as The Maid
Mistakes of My Past (A New Adult Romantic Suspense Novel)
About the Author
EMILY JAMES IS A BRITISH author who lives on the south coast of England. She loves to travel and enjoys nothing more than a great romance story. On the rare occasions that she hasn’t got her nose in a book, Emily likes to spend time with her beautiful family and friends.
You can be notified of Emily’s future projects via her mailing list:
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Or email her at:
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Acknowledgments
TO EVERYONE WHO READS my books, a heartfelt thank you.
To Randie my editor—[email protected]—who took a punt on the underdog and worked her socks off to make this novel better. You are an absolute professional and a total babe. I salute you (and probably owe you some wine and Sangria)!
To my cover designer, Daqri Combs @ Cover by Combs – your vision is incredible, your attention to detail kind of frightens me, but I absolutely adore your work.
To Gayle Williams, you championed me from the start, even when I lost belief in myself. You have become a true friend.
To Gina Putvain, who can spot a typo or misplace word from ten paces. More than that, you are beautiful inside and out. Can’t wait for the premiere with Channing ;0)
To Saleena Chamberlain, oh my God, I adore you. You were my baptism of fire into the book world and welcomed me with open arms. I always get excited when I see I have mail from you.
To Lucy, you are always my bestie.
To Christina Gamboa who worked tirelessly to support me and thankfully found more right than wrong with this novel. Thank you for your encouragement.
To Jodie Cook, who reads as fast as lightening and always has something important to say, thank you. Check out her blog: https://forthenovellovers.wordpress.com). To Jennifer Bradley, you make awesome effortless and I’m so thankful to have met you—I bloody adore you.
To Felicity Thornwall, who’s comments always made me laugh and were right on point (even if I do say so myself ;) you seriously ROCK as a beta and as a person! To Niki Roge @ Romance Filia (check out her blog too!). I love our time zone and pop culture chats. You just ‘get’ reading and writing. Never stop!
To Jackie Pinhorn, who just loves romance and spurred me on to get to the good bits already ;0)
To Ellen Montoya, I am so grateful you took the time to help me improve, thank you.
To Andree Schuler, who despite being the busiest lady I know, still found time to help a struggling author—you are a classy and yummy mummy :0)
To Julie Saunders, Nidhi Upadhyaya, Karen O’hara and Sasha Elle.
The kindness you have all shown in supporting and cheering on a new, Indie author like me blows my mind. I thank you for your time and grace, and I promise to always pay it forward. I truly hope that I haven’t forgotten anyone. I tend to go a little bonkers after I finish a new book and type those closing words, but please know—I send my absolute love and adoration.
To John Stephens, Tony Gad and John Legend for writing, producing and singing my all time favourite song.
XXX