“Melanie, I can’t tell you how happy I am. I’ve been dreading the end of the month and even considered asking my dad to transfer me back to Chicago so I could be with you.”
“You did?” her eyes teared up again.
“Yeah. I never want to say goodbye to you.”
“Dang it, Preston. You make it really hard not to fall in love with you.”
He rolled his fake mustache and gave her an evil laugh. “That was my plan all along. Especially since I’m already in love with you.”
She went on her toes and lightly kissed his lips. “Your plan worked.”
Epilogue
June
Five years later
Melanie
* * *
Melanie bounced Mia, her chubby one-year-old niece, while Marla held Molly, her twin, in the kiddie end of the pool. All the while her nephew, Shane, jumped off the side of the pool trying to splash them.
Holding Mia in her arms, she felt the familiar ache in her chest that she had felt since she and Preston decided to have kids. They had married exactly one year from the day they met and decided to start a family right away. Four years later, they were still childless.
Tears bubbled up thinking about the number of times they looked at a negative pregnancy test and said, “There’s always next month.” Next month turned to next year...now they no longer talked about having one of their own.
Last year, Preston brought up adoption. She had already been thinking about it but was afraid to disappoint him. She hadn’t necessarily given up hope of getting pregnant, but she no longer felt the need to have a baby of her own. She would take any child who needed a loving home.
They began the process of becoming foster parents hoping to adopt from the system. She purposely didn’t renew her teaching contract at the end of the school year hoping that they would have a foster child by the time school started in the fall. If they didn’t, Jerry said the school always needed good substitutes.
“Uncle Preston!” Shane shouted from the opposite end of the pool. Melanie turned around and felt the peace that he always carried with him. She would always be a stress case, and he would be the soother.
As she looked at her handsome husband, it was officially confirmed that three weeks away from each other was three weeks too long.
“Hi, sweetheart.” She moved to the side of the pool, and he bent down to take Mia from her and gave her a kiss. “I missed you.”
Shane was at his side hugging him soaking his expensive suit, but as always, Preston didn’t mind. He looked so natural with a baby in his arms and his nephew talking to him a mile a minute. She pinched her eyes closed to keep from crying. For so long she wanted to give him a family. The first few years, she felt like she had failed him.
“What’s the matter, baby.” He looked into her eyes with concern etched on his face.
Melanie was relieved she didn’t have to say anything when Marla said, “I think it’s time for us to get going,” loud enough to break the connection between her and Preston. He graciously helped Marla pack up the kids’ things while Melanie changed the girl’s out of their swimsuits, then Preston helped her get the kids in the minivan.
Seeing Marla be the one to take care of the kids had taken a while for Melanie to get used to. Two years ago Ron began talking about going back to work while at the same time one of Marla’s biggest competitors made her an offer to buy her company. She had debated for several months, but when she and Ron found out she was pregnant with the twins, the decision was a little easier.
By the time the twins were born, she had sold her business and had moved her family to Arizona where Ron found a job working as a software engineer.
Melanie smiled thinking about the day Gramps had to pay Gran twenty dollars for winning another bet.
The transition for Marla hadn’t been easy, and there were days where Melanie would get a 911 call in the middle of the day because Marla was going crazy and needed adult interaction. But she also said she wouldn’t change a thing. She would have plenty of time to work once the twins were in school.
Melanie walked through the house feeling the spark of life in it whenever the kids were here. She and Preston had spent countless hours talking about kids and what their life would be like once they had them. She had to swallow the lump in her throat. Not once did Preston ever give up hope. He held her up when she wanted to drown in her tears.
She stood on the stoop that was once her grandparents’ but now belonged to her and Preston and waved goodbye to her sister and nieces and nephew. When Marla pulled out of the driveway, Preston gave a wink then a five-second head start before he chased her inside.
She laughed as she ran into the bedroom and jumped on the bed readying herself for his pounce. When he walked in, he had already pulled off his shirt and was yanking on the strings of her bikini. Her top fell off, and his eyes and mouth were on her before she could make a sound. “I missed you,” he moaned as he kissed her from head to toe. As much as she hated him being away, she would never complain about welcome home sex.
He had no idea how much she missed him and how difficult it was to have him be away especially when she had such incredible news. Before Preston could get his pants unzipped, Melanie pulled on him until his body was aligned with hers and she could look him in the eyes.
“I have something I need to tell you.” He kissed her nose, her eyes and then her mouth.
“What is it?” He didn’t stop, and it was beginning to fry her brain. She needed him but couldn’t hold it in any longer. “I need you to stop distracting me so I can tell you.”
He pulled his head up and grinned at her. “I’m waiting.” He braced himself on his elbows but rubbed against her making it more difficult for her to concentrate. She wrapped her legs around his waist to keep him from moving.
He chuckled. “Fine. What do you need to tell me?”
“I got a call from Janice, the social worker, and she said they have two little girls whose parents just gave up their parental rights and they are looking for a permanent family.” Just like that, he pulled back onto his knees with tears streaming down his face. “Does this mean…”
“Yes. I told her I needed to talk to you, but I want to…” He pulled her against his chest, and he sobbed. “We’re going to have our family.”
The urgency of their lovemaking changed to a sweet, slow burn. The way he kissed her and made love, she felt the years of their hopes and dreams coming to fruition.
Life had never been so perfect or so sweet until here, with him.
* * *
THE END
* * *
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Acknowledgments
Love Machine. Thank you for always scratching my back and asking if I need anything when I get stressed out while I’m writing.
My kidlets. Maddog, Spotted Eyes, Bunny Girl and Bub, I love you x’s Chuck Norris!
Carrie. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Etc. Seriously. Not enough thank you’s in the world to tell you how much you mean to me.
Erica and Nick Heuer. Thank you for agreeing to be my models for the cover. I love you two so much!
Elaine York. You are my hero! I can’t thank you enough for editing this on short notice. I’m still smiling from your comments.
About the Author
When I’m not writing, I’m riding on the back of my husband’s motorcycle or hanging out with my four kids. I love my family, reading, writing, napping and sunshine. Not always in that order.
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Books in the Until Series
Until Now- Until Series Book 1
When a pregnant girl shows up at a diner alone with very little money, she changes her life and that of the owner.
* * *
Then: Sixteen‑year-old Bridget Larson was no stranger to heartbreak. When she found herself pregnant and alone, a flashing neon sign changed her fate. Bridget discovered the love and belonging she craved in strangers at a fifties‑style diner.
Twenty-four-year-old Billy Hall struggled with his own grief. He was wandering Europe in search of his purpose in life when he received a call that would leave him saddled with his family’s diner. It was a noose around his neck until a pregnant teenager stumbled in hungry and scared. Inexplicably drawn to the girl, he had no idea the purpose he traveled the world to find was simply waiting for him to come home.
Now: After spending years repressing their feelings for each other Bridget and Billy's life is about to change again. The baby who brought them together is leaving for college today. Is she taking their last reason to stay in each other’s lives or giving them a reason to finally admit their love?
* * *
Until Us- Until series book 3
In one day, her life changes forever. He will always be the man she can lean on. Will these friends find true love in each other?
* * *
In the last year, Katie Larson's life changed dramatically. She left home for college, met the father she had never known and fell in love with Mr. Wonderful.
What she didn’t know was that the hardest year of her life was just ahead. After terrible accident she’s forced to discover the inner strength she didn't know she had and will find out Mr. Wonderful wasn’t Mr. Right.
Tyler Marshall had a close loving family, good friends and a job he loved. As much as he wanted to find love, he was content with his life. That was until she needed him.
Will Katie let go of what she lost and give her heart to the man that would love nothing more than to make them an us?
* * *
Until You- Until series novella book 4
He assumes the beautiful blonde is just like his ex. She’s tired of being judged for the way she looks. Will they ever be able to move past their first impressions to find love in each other?
Jason, a single dad, spent his days running his coffee shop and doing his best to dislike a beautiful blonde he couldn’t seem to avoid.
But at night, once his son was asleep, he became Belakor, an online gamer. His only concern was keeping up with his strongest competition, his friend Nysterie.
Alexis spent her days attending college, modeling to pay for it and avoiding the grumpy coffee shop owner. It would've helped if she hadn’t found him so attractive.
At night, once she finished her homework, she became Nysterie in an online game. A place where it mattered less what you looked like and more how quickly you could take down a boss.
What happens when the lines between real life and the fantasy world aren’t as clear as they thought? Will they let go of old hurts to finally see each other for who they are?
Preview
Until Us
Katie
August 2014
* * *
Katie yawned into the back of her hand and leaned back on the bench seat between her new roommate Alexis and her roommate’s older brother Eric. The only sound came from Eric’s old pickup rumbling as it shook its way over the empty Portland streets.
Today had been the longest day of her life, and yet, when she looked over at Eric, she wasn’t sure if she were ready for it to end.
“If you’re tired, you can lean against my shoulder,” he offered, quickly glancing at her with a small smile. She returned it with a blush as the butterflies in her stomach took flight.
They were returning home after having a late night dinner with his and Alexis’s friends. The party started out as a welcome for Katie, which turned into an intimate evening between her and Eric. They’d sat at one end of a long table, unintentionally ignoring everyone else, while they spent hours getting to know one another.
From the moment she met him there was a connection. He was good-looking for sure, in a sexy lumberjack sort of way, but it was more than that. He had a friendly smile and an easy laugh. He chuckled along with his friends when they teased him about his scruffy beard and hermit lifestyle. He was unapologetic about who he was, and nothing was sexier than that.
She was tempted to accept the offer of his shoulder, and not just because her eyes were growing heavy. She wanted nothing more than to be close to him, but the little voice inside her head was loud. You just met him, and he’ll only be here a few weeks.
Instead of scooting closer, she leaned her head against the back window and closed her eyes.
When she first met the brother and sister, Alexis had mentioned Eric was just visiting, and Katie hadn’t thought much of it until a few hours later. It had been nearing midnight when they shared a plate of waffles, and she listened to him talk about his job as a biologist in Alaska. His face lit up, and he spoke with his whole body.
Disappointment lodged in the pit of her stomach when she realized nothing could come from whatever was happening between them. But she also wasn’t about to let it stop her from spending as much time with him as she could before he returned to his life.
Her eyes grew heavy and her head lolled to the side until she felt a hard surface. The smell of old vinyl and engine oil along with the vibrations of the old pickup reminded her of long drives with her Billy. Wondering when she would get a chance to do that again her chest tightened.
The past twenty-four hours had passed in a haze of goodbyes, hugs, tears, airplanes, cabs, and hellos. It was hard to believe it was just last night she was partying with her girlfriends excited about her future and now… It wasn’t until the cab driver dropped her off in front of her new home in Portland, Oregon that the tears came back around. She hadn’t thought about how much she would miss everyone.
Standing on the curb looking up at the condo Katie would share with her new roommate, she realized the small apartment she had shared with her mother in Flagstaff, Arizona would only be a place she would visit.
Raised by her single mother, Bridget, Katie had never known her father. But they made a family with Billy, the diner owner who’d taken her mother in when Bridget was a pregnant teenager with no place to go and helped her raise Katie.
Chuck and Diane worked in the diner and rounded out their family. She thought the overwhelming homesickness would swallow her whole, but after only a few minutes with Alexis and Eric, the sadness eased and she knew everything would be okay.
Katie drew in a deep, ragged breath as she felt the wave of sadness hit her again.
A large warm hand landed on her knee and squeezed. She sighed and smiled as the warm tingle from his touch spread through her whole body. Suddenly she realized the hard surface she was leaning against was Eric’s shoulder. Shocked awake, she lifted her head and rubbed her tired eyes.
His brows pulled in when he glanced at her before turning back to the road and asking in a quiet voice, “You okay?”
Verifying Alexis was still asleep against the passenger door before answering, she whispered, “Yeah.” But Katie really wasn’t. She missed her mom and Billy, even though she’d talked to her mother after arriving, but nothing compared to them lying on her bed at the end of the day talking about anything and everything.
He rubbed his hand up and down her thigh until he had to move his hand back to the gearshift between her thighs. It was the negative part of riding center in an old pickup and yet…the positive. His touch did nothing to ease her rambling thoughts; he just added to them.
Katie pulled out her phone to check the time. It felt like only minutes instea
d of hours since she said goodbye to her mother at the airport.
Eric made a right-hand turn that seemed slightly exaggerated. She slid on the vinyl seat until her body pressed against his. He smiled and his deep chuckle caused a warm blush to cover her cheeks. Again. She was pretty sure he did it on purpose. Instead of moving back to her spot, her bare leg remained against his denim thigh. His touch, along with his kind smile, made her belly do funny things.
When he parked in front of hers and Alexis’s condo, he leaned past her and nudged Alexis awake. It took Alexis a moment to realize they had stopped and another few seconds to realize that neither Katie nor Eric, were exiting the truck.
Alexis gave them a knowing smile. “I’ll see you in the morning, Katie.” She jumped out of the pickup and slammed the door before running up the stairs to the condo.
Eric and Katie sat in silence, neither moving. The air between them grew thick with nervous energy. With the engine no longer running, the silence became awkward, and she began to wonder if Eric was waiting for her to let herself out.
With a voice so low she could barely hear, he said, “I’m not ready to say goodnight.” She didn’t bother hiding her grin.
To her disappointment, he opened his door and held out a hand to help her jump down. Neither of them let go. Instead, his hand tightened around hers.
Katie’s cheeks began to hurt from smiling so big. When she lifted her eyes to look at him, she noticed he had the same sexy grin he had been giving her all evening. When she first met him, she had thought it to be a little cocky but soon found out that his smile was as genuine as him. She followed Eric up the stairs, still holding his hand and when they reached her door, he faced her. “It was nice meeting you, Katie Larson.” She wanted to melt when his smile widened. It was going to be her Kryptonite. Mix it with the way he made her feel like the only person in the room and she was a goner.
Until Here Page 9