“I’ve been taking care of myself for as long as I can remember. I worked my way through college and have always paid my way. Though it bothered Kyle, I still paid him rent for my room at the house in LA, and I’ll pay rent here too.” He nodded toward the unit he’d stayed in before.
So he wasn’t a mooch. Jess stared at the buttons of his shirt. She’d been wrong about him, hadn’t she?
“I’ve got a very busy job as a graphic designer, so there would be no need for you to support me financially, although you could help with some of the artsy designing stuff.”
Jess looked up at him with her eyes wide. That explained the fancy computer stuff she’d seen in the apartment the first time they’d met.
“It must be very lucrative if you could afford to replace my dress,” she murmured as she started fidgeting with the buttons on his shirt. He hummed his response as he pulled her close, trapping her hands between them.
“I don’t care about any of that, Jess. I care about you more than I ever expected. My so-called acting career was beyond tragic, and I was already considering giving it up before I even met you. I’m so busy with my other work that I haven’t even been going to casting calls. I consider myself lucky to have had the opportunity to chase my dream, but it didn’t work out and I’m okay with that. I have a new dream now,” he ran his hand up and down her back in soothing motions.
Jess had to swallow back the tears that were gathering. Could this be true?
“What is it now?” Jess asked as her heart hammered in her chest.
Nathan put his finger under her chin and raised her face so her eyes would meet his. He held them for a moment before he moved his hand to his pocket. He pulled out a photo and handed it to her.
Jess was puzzled. The photo that Nathan had handed to her was a black and white image from Sadie’s gallery show in Chicago, and she had no idea how this related to his new dream. But then it clicked, and she gasped as she realized what Nathan had seen in the photo. Jess was standing in the background of the shot, her gaze focused on Nathan, who stood in the foreground with Kyle and Sadie, and they were laughing. Jess was the only one in focus, and her face showed all the feelings she remembered having at that exact moment, and a few she didn’t even know had existed.
“This is why I came back, Jess. That look right there told me everything I needed to know about you. It showed me that you aren’t a sugar mama looking for a play thing and that you actually care for me as a person.”
Jess felt embarrassed. Her playful comment about Nathan being her “boy toy” had been taken to heart, but he continued before she could say anything.
“Your eyes in this photo, babe. They show a vulnerability that can’t be faked, and I love you for it. That and so very much more,” Nathan said, raising his hands to her face.
“Can we try?” he whispered.
“It’s too late, Nathan.” His eyes widened, and his mouth opened slightly.
“I already love you too,” Jess whispered before kissing Nathan for all she was worth, and she was worth a lot.
EPILOGUE
6 months later
Nathan was happier then he’d even been. He’d watched his best friend marry his soul mate today, Kyle’s dad had found love again, and now he was sitting here with the love of his life on his lap. They watched Kyle and Sadie sway on the dance floor to their first song as husband and wife. The entire wedding had been beautiful and romantic.
He had watched Jess during the ceremony and listened to the words as if they wove some spell over him. Kyle even nudged him when it came time for the rings. Damn, being with Jess had turned Nathan into a big softie. He playfully squeezed her to him, she smiled, and he remembered all the reasons that he didn’t care what he was.
As the song was ending, Jess and Nathan stood and walked over to join the couple on the dance floor. Miles stepped in for Kyle and spun Sadie away as Katherine stepped in her place. It warmed Nathan’s heart to see Kyle’s dad so happy now that he’d found love again. The three couples exchanged partners once again as another song started. Nathan kissed Sadie’s cheek before twirling her around and breaking into a waltz.
“My my, good looking and a fabulous dancer? Jess is a very, very lucky woman.” Sadie grinned up at him. Their friendship had deepened once Nathan moved to the Bay.
“If I wasn’t in love with your best friend, I’d show you just how lucky.” Nathan wiggled his eyebrows at her, earning him a loud hoot and a smack from the bride.
The reception moved and flowed with elegance and was a celebration of love. Everyone got up and danced during the night, and the air was constantly filled with laughter, just as a wedding should be. Nathan was dancing once again with Jess, when he felt a tap on his shoulder. Looking up over his shoulder, he smiled.
“Don’t think you’re getting away without a dance,” Katherine smiled.
“May I cut in, Jess? I promise to give him back,” she said.
“Oh, I’m not worried about getting him back. I know he’s not going anywhere,” Jess replied with a wink. Nathan chuckled before kissing Jess as she walked away.
Katherine stepped close to Nathan and they moved slowly across the dance floor.
“I like her spunk. Is she a keeper?” Katherine asked with a raised brow.
“Yes, she’s definitely a keeper,” Nathan said, smiling in her direction. Jess was having an animated conversation with her and Sadie’s friend, Evan.
“Good, I’m glad to hear that. Now that Kyle is all settled, it’s your turn. You know how much I love you boys and just want to see you happy.” Katherine was awesome. First she was a mentor to Kyle at work then she and her daughter, Olivia, had taken him and Kyle under their wings. Nathan felt as if they were extended family.
“When is Miles going to make an honest woman out of you?” he teased. Katherine actually blushed.
“I see. Well you make sure he speaks to me and Kyle.” This earned him an eye roll. He glanced toward Miles as he laughed. Miles signaled to Nathan with his head, and Nathan brought Katherine over to him as Jess walked up.
Nathan and Jess took a step back as Miles flashed a megawatt smile and led Katherine to the dance floor as “Fly me to the moon” came on.
“They are so sweet,” Jess said as she watched the two float across the dance floor. Nathan pulled her out the ballroom’s open doors into the night air. A full moon floated above them in the clear black sky as they looked out over the water.
“I’m pretty smart when I want to be,” he said and kissed Jess soundly, holding her close. Her softness against his hard body never failed to move him.
“You’re always smart, sweetie. You moved here to be with me didn’t you?” Jess said as she smiled up at him.
“I did, and I’m going to marry you too,” Nathan said as he dropped to one knee and pulled a ring out of his pocket. He had picked out a simple platinum band with two square amethyst stones on each side of a large square diamond. Jess gasped and started crying.
“You are the smartest man I know. And yes, you are totally going to marry me!” Jess squealed as she leaned down and threw her arms around him, placing fevered kisses all over his face. Nathan chuckled as he stood. Then he took her face gently in his hands.
“I love you, Jess Dempsey. I want to marry you and spend the rest of my days loving you.”
Nathan slid the ring onto her left ring finger.
“Good, because I can’t think of anything I’d rather do with the rest of my life than be loved by you.”
THE END
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Morgan Emerson wears many hats. She's a zookeeper, a maid, and a chauffeur on top of being a reader, writer, and daydreamer of smut. Morgan lives in the desert on the outskirts of Phoenix, Arizona where she a
nd her husband try to wrangle their three small children. Her passion for reading started as a teenager, leading her to write poetry and short stories as an adult. When inspired by another stay-at-home mom turned author, Morgan decided to write her own stories where the alpha male and sassy woman get it on in explicit detail before finding their happily ever after.
Following the release of the free prequel Sunrise in late 2013, Talk to the Moon was the first book in the Moonlit Night Series released in early 2014. It’s a sweet New Adult novella about reconnecting with the love of your life, featuring Kyle and Sadie. The second book in the series is Moon over the Bay. And there is an upcoming novella, Secrets of the Moon, that tells Olivia and Evan’s story. Stay tuned!
Find Morgan at:
www.morganemerson.blogspot.com
www.facebook.com/morgemerson
www.twitter.com/morgan_emerson
www.goodreads.com/Morgan Emerson
SUNRISE
(Moonlit Nights #0.5)
also from Morgan Emerson
A woman who is scared to trust, and a man who thought he’d never love again.
Katherine Niccoli is a successful accountant with an impeccable reputation. She’s worked tooth and nail to improve her life, so she doesn’t have to depend on anyone again. She learned the hard way that men can’t be trusted—having been a teenage mom and suffering through an ugly marriage. She doesn’t risk getting involved anymore. She’s happy dating young, uncomplicated arm candy.
Miles Chase never thought he'd find love again. One steamy weekend in Cabo changed all that. Away for a weekend of playing golf with friends, Miles blew off his plans and enjoyed a passion-filled encounter with a gorgeous woman. When she was gone the next morning, he was left feeling empty and alone all over again.
When Miles meets Kat again at a charity fundraiser six months later, how can he convince her that she can trust him with her heart?
Available for FREE download at BDP:
www.bottomdrawerpublications.net/Sunrise
TALK TO THE MOON
(Moonlit Nights #1)
Morgan Emerson
When Kyle Chase was eighteen, he had his life all mapped out: a business degree and a long, happy life with his childhood sweetheart. Seven years later, Kyle is still haunted by the girl who declared her everlasting love to him before disappearing without a word as soon as he left for college. With the realization that the memories are stopping him from living his life, Kyle posts an ad in hopes of making contact with the woman who broke his heart.
Sadie Long has finally found her niche in the world as an artist, years after leaving the South and her trailer-trash parents. Every month, her muse drives Sadie to create another artwork featuring a vivid full moon and the boy she left behind, and it's driving her crazy. When she comes across an ad in Craigslist’s “Missed Connections,” she knows it’s from him, and even though she’s terrified of how he might feel about what she did when they were teenagers, she has no choice but to respond to the ad.
When the truth comes out, will Kyle be able to forgive Sadie and move forward, or will they always be stuck in the past?
Available:
www.bottomdrawerpublications.net/TalkToTheMoon
Bottom Drawer Publications
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Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Copyright
Dedication
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Epilogue
About the Author
Sunrise
Talk to the Moon
Moon over the Bay (Moonlit Nights) Page 8