I shot her a tightlipped smile. Em grabbed my hand and squeezed. Lunch was fun and exactly what I needed after all the stress from the past few weeks. I had the best friends a girl could ask for, and my amazing boyfriend was safe and sound, resting in our home. Life was good.
Stephen’s arm wrapped securely around my waist. I glanced up at him and was rewarded with a breathtaking smile. My fingers tangled in his hair and I kissed him soundly.
“Can you guys get a freaking room?” Gage joked. "I'm sick of seeing it."
“Shut up,” Stephen said against my lips. I flipped him off and continued kissing Stephen.
“Seriously, it’s been like three months. Can’t you two just get over it already?”
I snapped my head back towards Gage and he held his hands up in defense. “I was kidding!”
“I’ll cut you asshat," I said, trying not to laugh.
He grinned. “Bring it on, kid.”
Violet brought the last of the food outside and set it down on the table. She had a very red face and Jaxon looked like the cat that ate the canary. I didn’t want to know what they had just been doing in my kitchen. Stephen met my gaze and pretended to gag. My giggle caught their attention.
“So is everyone here yet?” Vi asked.
I glanced around the table. Amanda and Sophia were sitting and talking quietly together. Sophia’s baby bump was absolutely adorable. Connor had sat down by Jaxon and Gage and they were discussing going golfing. It hadn't ended very well last time since Gage had somehow gotten a head injury of some sort, but they all wanted to go again. Idiots.
“Rhys didn’t make his flight, so he’s not coming,” Amanda chimed in. I shot her a look, and she flushed. There was more to that story than she was letting on.
“Well, we have some news,” Jax announced, getting up and standing next to Violet. “We’re pregnant.”
Everyone starting talking all at once, congratulating them and asking a ton of questions. I stared at my sister. She was glowing again. It was the same glow she had when she was pregnant with Harper.
“We would have told you guys sooner, but we found out the day after Stephen’s accident. With everything going on,” Violet trailed off.
I walked over to her and wrapped her up in a big hug. My hand moved down to her stomach. Now I understood why she had been wearing loose clothing so much lately.
“I’m so happy for you,” I said kissing her forehead.
“You get to be an aunt again.”
“I know. And you get to be a mom again.”
Jax put his arm around Vi’s waist and I moved on to him.
“Congratulations Jaxon.”
I kissed him on the cheek and stepped back from my sister and brother-in-law. They looked happy. This is what I wanted my relationship with Stephen to be, not like every other fucked up one I had ever let scare me away from what made me happy. Stephen hugged Jax, then Violet. We stepped back to let everyone else have their turn talking to them. My eyes misted over as I watched our friends step up one by one to congratulate them.
I sat down in Stephen’s lap and laid my head on his shoulder.
“Are you okay, baby?”
“Yeah, I’m just really happy.”
He kissed my forehead, and I cuddled into him. I was never taking a second for granted with him again. Now, I needed to figure out how to convince him I was ready for the next step.
"I can't wait until we get home and can try to make some babies of our own," he whispered in my ear. I leaned back and looked at him in shock. His eyebrows were raised, and I blushed as his fingers trailed down the inside of my thigh under the table.
I turned over in bed and looked at Stephen. He was laying on his stomach reading. He peered up from his book and smiled at me when he sensed I was staring at him.
“What’s up, baby?”
“I love you.”
“I love you too. What do you want?”
“Why do you automatically assume that I want something when I say I love you?” I said in mock outrage.
He chuckled. “Because you normally do.”
“Your words hurt.”
He rolled his eyes and smiled as he went back to his book. I rubbed my hands up and down his back gently.
“If you want sex, just ask Taylor.”
I smacked him lightly on the shoulder. “I don’t want sex. Well, I do, but not right this second. I want to talk to you about something.”
He laid his book down and sat up, staring at me expectantly.
“What do you think about getting married?”
I watched as his eyebrow raised and his lips parted.
“Don’t tease me.”
I sat next to him and took one of his hands in mine. Instead of looking into his eyes, I played with his fingers. “I’m not teasing. Stephen, I almost lost you. Once because I was a fucking idiot, and the second time,” I sucked in a deep breath. “I want to get married.”
His other hand cupped my cheek, and I looked up at him. “Are you sure you’re ready?”
I nodded, biting my bottom lip.
“Well then, I guess you’ll just have to wait for me to ask you.”
“What?” Disbelief sounded in my voice.
“You didn’t expect to go to Vegas tomorrow, did you?”
Yeah, I did.
“I guess not.”
“We’re doing this right. I will ask you, then you can plan whatever kind of wedding you want, but I’m not telling our kids that Daddy didn’t actually ask Mommy to marry him.”
“Kids?” I asked huskily.
“Yep. Tons of them. A whole houseful.”
My mouth dropped open, and he laughed. “Well if you want that many, we should probably get started soon.”
His lips were on mine in seconds, cutting off my laughter.
I tapped my foot as I waited impatiently for our friends to show up. We hadn’t told them exactly what we were doing, but I still expected them to be on time. Emmy stood next to me and she shot me an encouraging smile when she noticed my nerves.
“They’re coming,” she assured me.
I sighed. “I know, but I just want this to happen already. Distract me, what's going on with you and Mase?"
She scrunched up her nose. "Anything but that."
"Please," I begged.
"Things are," she paused. "Difficult."
"They always are with you two," I said rolling my eyes.
She shot me a look. "If you want me to talk about this, don't be a smart ass."
"Sorry, keep going."
"I love him, but I don't know if I can trust him anymore. He's changed."
"So have you. You might not realize it, but New York is good for you. It helped you grow up and not rely on Mason so much."
"Whatever you say. I'll go see who we’re missing.”
“Okay," I said drawing it out. She was done talking about it and I knew better than to push. Em was a tough cookie and she was someone you didn't want pissed off at you.
She squeezed my hand and slipped into the large ballroom to look around. Where we were wasn't much more than a walk-through coat closet, but it worked well for what we needed. The door on the other side of the small room cracked open, and I ran over to keep whoever it was out.
“Taylor?”
Shit.
“Stephen, don’t come in here. You can't see me in my dress!”
“I’m not, but I wanted to tell you that I love you.”
“I love you too, and I can’t wait to be your wife.”
“Think everyone will be surprised?”
“That we made them fly to Vegas and didn’t tell them why? Who knows?”
“It’s not like we’re having our wedding in a chapel, so they might not get it.”
We chose Joël Robuchon to have the wedding. Everyone would probably think we were announcing our engagement at the beautiful French restaurant. Instead, we would get married in a place that looked like France in the 1930’s. I couldn’t fucking wait.
“Everyone’s here except Stephen,” Emmy said as she reentered the room.
Oops.
“It’s okay. I know where he is.”
“Hey, Em.”
“Stephen! Get your ass in there,” she hissed.
“I’m going. Don’t get your panties in a wad. Love you, Taylor. I’ll see you in a few minutes.”
I started to say it back, but he was already gone. Emmy was positioned at the other door, watching to see when he came into the private room we had reserved.
“Are you ready for this?” she asked with a huge smile.
“More than you know.”
She blew me a kiss and walked out into the room. I took a deep breath and let it out slowly.
I was ready to go marry my man.
Romance writer. Wife. Mother of two. Avid reader. Queen of multitasking.
Originally from the south, Alyson likes to incorporate what she knows into her books. She's lived not only on the east coast, but the west coast and a few places in between. Alyson loves sharing stories about her crazy family to anyone who will listen. Her guilty pleasures consist of coffee, country music, brunch, breaking the rules, and pedicures. And she will always be a daddy's girl.
When Alyson isn't chasing around her two kiddos, she's normally writing. Or reading. Her Kindle library is out of control. Alyson writes mainly contemporary novels and novellas with a bit of new adult mixed in.
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www.authoralysonreynolds.com
More people were in on this book. So I wasn’t secret agenting quite as much. So for that fact, I have more people to thank.
My parents. Surprise. Your daughter is a writer. And not only does she ghost write, she pens smutty romance novels. I love you both. Thank you for loving and supporting me. It means more than you know.
My Beta readers: Ashlie, Cori and Dawn. You girls are amazing and you keep me going when I’m so frustrated I’m ready to throw in the towel.
To Kim at Ebook Korner Kafé, thank you for taking my messy manuscript and making it shine. I can’t wait to work with you again!
For all the bloggers that have helped me find a voice in the indie community, I can express my gratitude enough. You ladies are phenomenal and I love spending my time talking with you day in and day out.
Kristi Webster, you rock. Thank you for answering my insane questions and letting me vent when I’m about to explode.
Last but not least, my wonderful husband. Robert, you probably won’t read this, but I want you to know I appreciate everything you do to support me. Staying at home was such an adjustment. Thank you for encouraging me to write. It’s helped me feel sane again.
Restless (Relentless Series Book 2) Page 17