Qualify: A Driven World Novel (The Driven World)
Page 23
I laugh against his lips, tipping back the baseball cap he’s wearing, and stare into those hazel eyes.
“Berkleigh Shaw…” he says, lowering me to my feet.
“Mmm-hmm,” I reply absentmindedly, lost in the scent of his sweat and spicy cologne as I place my lips on his cheek.
“Marry me,” he says, his tone dead serious.
For an instant the crowd dies down to a low rumble and my heart skips a beat. Did I hear him right? No, I couldn’t have. The hottest guy in racing didn’t just ask me to marry him…did he?
He drops down to one knee and I cover my mouth with a hand. The noise from the crowd elevates to levels that could break the sound barrier. But that’s not what I focus on, it’s the man kneeling at my feet.
My perfect, beautiful man is about to ask me the most important question of my life.
“I don’t have a ring at the moment…” he says, taking my hand in his, “…but I also don’t want to wait another second without at least asking if you’ll spend the rest of your life with me. Right here. Right now. In front of your family and thousands of people, Berkleigh Shaw, will you’ll marry me?”
“Yes…” I tell him. “One thousand times yes!”
He stands, takes me in his arms, and twirls me around before setting me on my feet and placing his lips on mine.
“She must’ve said yes,” the announcer says over the loudspeaker. “Let’s congratulate Kye Kingston on not only on winning the race but also on his engagement.”
Kye turns me toward the crowd and lifts our joined hands.
The crowd screams, standing in their seats. I search above everyone, looking for my dad in his VIP seat. When I find him, he’s looking on with my five brothers and they’re all grinning proudly.
It’s a day I’ll never forget.
THE END
Bonus wedding scene in the Epilogue
Epilogue
One year later…
Kye’s grandmother adjusts my veil and the train of my dress. “You really do look beautiful, Berkleigh.”
It took her some time to come around. Kye had forced the two of us to sit down and work out whatever issues it was she had with me. Because he was marrying me whether she approved or not.
Over several cups of coffee, some deep conversations, and maybe a tear or two, we finally got to the root of all her problems with me. Turns out, it was as simple as her being lonely. She’d told me the thought of her grandson, the only family she had left, falling in love—and getting married—would mean he wouldn’t spend time with her anymore.
I’d explained it was just the opposite. She should be careful what she wished for because once my brothers and my single dad come for a visit, she’ll be wishing she was on a quiet beach somewhere.
She scoffed at my honesty, but it wasn’t but a month later when she got a true taste of my family. The first holiday we all spent at her home.
It was exactly what she needed, and from then on we’ve become almost inseparable. That is when Kye lets me out of his bed long enough to visit the real world.
I laugh inwardly at his overly heightened sex drive. I’m not sure how he held out for so long in the beginning.
“Doesn’t she look beautiful, Nolan?” Elizabeth says to my dad.
He pins red-rimmed eyes on me. “She sure does. Are you ready? Kye’s waiting very impatiently for you.”
“You know if you cry it’s going to make me cry and that will just mess up my makeup. I can’t have Kye seeing me with racoon eyes, Dad,” I tell him, sniffling at the same time.
Wiping a stray tear from his cheek he nods, holding out his elbow to me. I take it and he places his hand over mine. Fresh air mixed with a little oil and gas fills my lungs as I take in a deep breath. Letting it out once we start walking.
The venue for our wedding is the practice track back in California. It seemed fitting, considering racing was what brought us together.
None of that matters though, because as soon as I step from the covered tent and onto the black-and-white carpet meant to resemble a checkered flag, I find the man of my dreams waiting at the altar.
Our finish line.
His hazel eyes lock on me and don’t let up, even when I’m standing before him.
Dad pushes back my veil and kisses me on the cheek, whispering, “I love you, sweetheart,” before doing his due diligence and giving me away. Josh offers me a wink when Kye and I turn and stand before him.
He’d offered to be our wedding officiant and I’d instantly said yes. Surprisingly, he’s been asked before and already had all the credentials, so it was a given he’d be performing the ceremony at what is somewhat of an untraditional wedding.
I hand Elliot my bouquet and glance over at my other brothers standing where bridesmaids would be. They didn’t hesitate when I’d asked each of them if they’d stand up for me at my wedding.
And shit, if they don’t look beautiful in their deep blue tuxes.
Dante nods toward Kye, reminding me why I’m here. I turn to the man with the pretty eyes and a hold on my heart.
Josh goes through his spiel, then asks for the rings. Kye turns to Grady who was a shoo-in for his best man. Of course, the wedding party wouldn’t be complete without Robert, Eric, and Davis.
Once Kye hands me his ring, he takes my left hand and slides on the diamond-accented wedding band as he’s saying his vows.
The ring is modest, designed to match the small carat engagement ring we picked out together the same day he proposed.
I speak my vows and slip the gold band with three diamonds across the top onto his finger.
Holding each other’s hands, we search the other’s eyes, waiting for the one thing we’re both so excited about and it’s not the kiss.
“You may now kiss your bride,” Josh instructs.
It’s a tender, lingering kiss that isn’t overly sensual but not rated G either. Once we turn to our guests and we’re introduced as Mr. and Mrs. Kingston, everyone stands and claps as we run past them.
Our destination… Sylvia.
She’s sitting on the track along with ten other expensive sports cars parked right behind her, one for each of the wedding party.
They may be along for the ride, but this is our victory lap.
Once around the track.
Our love is what takes us across the finish line.
Want to keep up with all of the other books in K. Bromberg’s Driven World? You can visit us anytime at www.kbworlds.com and the best way to stay up to date on all of our latest releases and sales, is to sign up for our official KB Worlds newsletter HERE.
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Acknowledgments
First, I want to start by thanking Kristy for allowing me this amazing opportunity to write in her Driven World. I’d read Driven long before this world had been created and when I was accepted as a participating author, I decided it was time to finish reading the series.
OMG! Why did I wait so long?
The Driven series has ALL THE FEELS. Rylee and Colton’s story is an emotional rollercoaster. A ride you never want to end. If Qualify is your first look into the Driven World, I highly recommend your next read is the Driven Series.
Next, I want to not only thank my family, but also apologize. For the late nights where dinner was fast food or ordering in. For our constant sink full of dishes and for the house always being a mess. They’re the reason I was able to bring life to Kye and Berkleigh and the reason I love this story so much.
Lastly, I want to thank my beta readers. Without their input and positive suggestions, I’m not sure I ever would’ve finished. Thank you, ladies! You rock!
Also by TL Mayhew
Belong
(Romantic Suspense - Novella)
midwest sins duet
(Dark Romance)
Taken
Found
Wicked Lady T
(Dark Romantic Suspens
e - Novella)
Never Lost
(Dark Romantic Suspense – Novella)
About TL Mayhew
TL Mayhew is a Contemporary and Dark Romance writer from Nebraska. Her love for reading started back in elementary school when her favorite books, The Black Stallion, Black Beauty and Misty of Chincoteague all seemed to have one theme... a horse as the leading character. It's fair to say that since then her reading tastes have changed and now, instead of a horse as the leading character it's a hot alpha.
It wasn't until she married and had two kids, that TL put any thought in to writing. And even then, it was close to a year before any words were put on paper. Amazingly those words were the direct result of a question, "Do you want to give it a try?" from an Author TL idolizes. If it weren't for that question, she may never have realized her love for writing and wouldn't have released her first work in January 2018.
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Also Written By K. Bromberg
Driven
Fueled
Crashed
Raced
Aced
Slow Burn
Sweet Ache
Hard Beat
Down Shift
UnRaveled
Sweet Cheeks
Sweet Rivalry
The Player
The Catch
Cuffed
Combust
Cockpit
Control
Faking It
Resist
Reveal
Then You Happened
Hard to Handle
Flirting with 40
Hard to Hold
Hard to Score
Hard to Lose