by K. Webster
“Don’t,” I warn.
“Oops. Already did.” She laughs. “My bad.”
“You gonna spank her ass or am I?” Jace asks.
“I’ll get her later,” I promise.
But first, we have to deal with her oopsie.
“If you all take your shirts off, this will go faster,” Loden says, appearing from the trail beside my cabin.
“Definitely whipping her ass for this,” Jace grinds out.
“Make yourself useful, Lo, and hand me that board,” I bark out.
He grumbles but saunters our way. Jace glowers at him, but Loden laughs, poking his stomach as he passes. Jace nearly drops the beam on his head.
“Yeah, yeah, pet,” Penny says. “I know. I’m in trouble.”
“She likes trouble,” Jordy replies unhelpfully. “Her mouth gets her into a lot of it.”
“Sass for days,” I agree.
“I can hear you,” she calls out.
“That’s the point.”
She flips me off. “Stop talking.”
This fucking girl.
Three hours and one fully assembled swing set later, I abandon my friends to carry my exhausted girl inside. I’m a man on a mission as I shut my bedroom door and undress her. After her fall into the river, she took a shower and she smells like her usual sweet self.
“You going to give me a reward fuck for saving the day?” she taunts, stifling a yawn.
I set her down in the bed and then undress. Once I crawl into bed, I haul her to me, stroking my fingers down her arm.
“I might have to take that reward in the morning.” Another yawn. “Or you can do me while I sleep.”
I grin as I kiss her head. “Stop talking, Penny.”
“Okay,” she murmurs.
“I love you, Zero.”
“Love you too, roadkill.”
We both laugh and then it grows quiet again. I’m almost asleep when I sense Penny tensing up.
“What is it?” I ask, hugging her tighter to me.
“She, uh, she called me Momma.”
My heart squeezes in my chest.
“I couldn’t correct her,” she whimpers. “I couldn’t do that to her.”
Hot tears wet my chest. “I’m glad you didn’t.”
“But I’m not her momma.”
“You might not think so right now, but one day, when you’re older and pregnant with more of my babies, you’ll realize it.”
“Realize what?” she croaks.
“You’re ours. Zella and I won’t ever let you go. Might as well accept it, Momma.”
She laughs. “You’re a caveman.”
“According to Zella, I’m the king. My laws. My rules. You’re ours.”
“Fine, your majesty. I’m yours. Now go to sleep before I find some other bed to crawl into that’s quieter.”
“You’re not going anywhere, woman.”
Her pleased sigh is my only response and then her breathing evens out as she falls asleep.
I can’t sleep, though. I realize that my happily ever after begins right now.
Unlike the storybooks, mine ends with a mouthy knight who slayed the dragon to save a princess for her beloved king. It’s not like how most stories go, but I wouldn’t change a goddamn thing about it.
Penny
One year later…
The English professor drones on and on, but I can’t focus on him. And it’s not because I have one AirPod in as I listen to my white noise, either. It’s because of her.
Charlotte cuts her eyes my way, pausing from her studious note taking. There’s a benefit with taking classes with your nerd sister. Later, you can just copy off her notes.
“What?” she mouths, frowning at me.
I smirk at her. She knows. A smile tugs at her lips before she goes back to taking notes for us. Charlotte is as beautiful as ever, but man is she huge.
Her belly, that is.
Cal calls it super sperm. I call it gross.
Somehow, despite my sister being on birth control, she managed to get knocked up. It wasn’t planned or expected. Certainly derailed her career plans. She assures me it’s only a minor setback that’ll be worth it. One day she’ll eventually become a doctor. I believe her. At least now, she also gets to be a mom. I know, when forced to choose, she’d drop becoming a doctor in a heartbeat if it meant keeping the baby boy in her belly.
Luckily, she doesn’t have to choose.
Cal is one of those super husbands. Literally can do everything without breaking a sweat. In between teaching classes and doting over his pregnant wife, he’s been meeting with builders and working tirelessly to build their home on his dad’s land. If you ask me, it’s creepy to be neighbors with your mommy and daddy, but I think Cal likes shit a little creepy. He calls it built-in babysitting for when he has to knock his wife up again.
Gag.
I know the truth. Cal Hutton is a momma’s boy. Knowing Kate, she’ll probably make him breakfast every morning and wipe his ass if he asked.
“That’s a wrap,” Professor Goldman says. “Don’t forget to study over the weekend. This test will be hard. That means you, English.”
I look at Charlotte, just to watch her face turn crimson. We all know he was talking about me, but it’s fun to fluster my sister.
“I have good notes,” I assure him with an exaggerated wink. “Bye, Goldie.”
He chuckles and waves at me before he hustles out of the room. I stuff my notebook in my bag and then shoulder it before assisting my sister. The baby will come any day. Charlotte’s belly is so big, I’m afraid she’ll topple over.
She’s lucky she has me in most of her classes.
No one else wants this job.
“You think I can skip out?” she asks, wincing.
“Hollis will whine. Do you really want to hear a grown man whine?”
She rolls her eyes. “Fine. But I’m leaving early.”
“Fussy,” I chide as I grab her bag for her. “If you feel bad, just go home.”
“I’m starving,” she grumbles. “And Roux will be there with Ellis. I haven’t seen him but once since she had him.”
We make our way to my Jeep—a brand-new orange one thanks to Dad—and I have to assist her into the front seat. She pulls her hair into a messy bun and doesn’t complain about the lack of doors. My sister has come a long way.
As soon as I make it to Hollis and Roan’s I start bitching.
“Your husband needs to learn how to drive! He can’t park that beast wherever he wants!”
She laughs. “You’re just mad because he took your spot.”
“Hollis’s front yard is my spot. He’s my brother. I win.”
I block Cal’s truck in, parking as close as I can to him just to piss him off. Before I can climb out to assist Charlotte, he shows up out of fucking nowhere like a phantom, pulling his pregnant wife into his arms like she weighs nothing.
While they make out, I leave them be to seek out my people. The backyard is loud, buzzing with laughter and squeals. Emilia and Hope sit in the sand box looking cute as can be. I pause to drop kisses on their fuzzy heads and then say hi to Sebban and Zella. Charlotte is getting mauled by Cal, so I sneak in a minute with Ellis. He snoozes, drunk on milk, on his momma’s chest.
“You guys are going to have a million kids, aren’t you?” I ask, lifting a brow at Roux.
She laughs but then winces. “Jordy and I want a big family. But let me recover from having this one before we start talking about more.”
I’m about to steal Ellis to give him love when a pregnant baby hog swats me away.
“Mine,” Charlotte says. “Wait your turn.”
I roll my eyes at her, but a grin forms when Terrence catches my gaze. He’s standing beside Roan at the grill, a beer in his hand.
“Hey, handsome,” I call out. “Better come kiss me now before my boyfriend sees.”
His eyes darken as he sets his beer down and then prowls my way. “Roan, keep an eye on my kid.”<
br />
“Sure, man,” Roan says with a chuckle.
Terrence scoops me up and I squeal, swatting at him. He keeps walking with me in his arms until he reaches the end of the yard where the gliding swing sits. With me in his arms, he sits down and plants a messy kiss on my lips.
“You’re feisty today,” he says, a grin tugging at my lips.
“I’m feisty every day,” I argue.
His touch is gentle as he strokes his finger along my cheek. I get lost in his loving gaze.
“I love you, Penny.”
“I know,” I sass back. “I love you too.”
“Marry me.”
I laugh, but he’s serious. “You’re supposed to ask, not demand.”
“Please?”
“You’re supposed to get on one knee and ask.” I lift a brow, challenging him. “I think you hit your head too hard, Smash. You have it all backward.”
He chuckles and presses a kiss to my lips. “If I got on my knee, your mean-ass would give me shit from now until eternity.”
He’s not wrong. I smirk at him.
His body moves as he digs his hand into his pocket. He retrieves a simple gold band. My heart stutters as he takes my hand and slides the ring over my finger. I may not like the mushy stuff like Roux or Charlotte, but I can’t deny how my heart leaps at the thought of being Terrence’s wife. We’ve been playing house for a while now. It’s about time we make it official.
“Penny, I love you so much. I know we’re a mess sometimes and we have baggage galore, but you’re mine. Mine. I can’t imagine a life without you. I won’t. This isn’t me asking, this is me telling. I need you to be mine. I need you to be a James. If you want me to ask, I will, but your mean-ass better say yes or—”
I cover his mouth with my hand. The gold catches in the afternoon light, making me grin. “Stop talking.”
His brown eyes light up with amusement and affection. I could bask in his stare forever. Rather than answer, I slide my hand away and kiss him deeply.
Terrence knows my answer.
It’s yes.
It’s always been yes.
And it’ll always be yes.
The End
What’s next for this town?
Keep reading for the Note to the Readers and find out!
Note to the Readers
Thank you for reading my Hood River Hoodlums series! I have enjoyed absolutely every second writing them! So much so, that I plan to expand on their world, giving some of the other beloved characters stories too in a spinoff series called Hood River Heroes! Be watching for more in the near future! Thanks for loving my good-hearted bad boys (and Penny ha!)! I can’t wait to give you more!
Listen on Spotify here.
“White Noise” by Badflower
Unsteady” by X Ambassadors
“Pain Told Love” by Tribe Society
“Middle Fingers” by Missio
“Wires” by The Neighbourhood
“Dig the Crazy” by Faith Marie
“Little Pistol” by Mother Mother
“Choke” by IDKHOWTFM
“Writer in the Dark” by Lorde
“Scars” by Boy Epic
“Help I’m Alive” by Metric
“Heart Heart Head” by Meg Myers
“My Heart’s Always Yours” by Arkells
“Sweet Disaster” by DREAMERS
“Like Real People Do” by Hozier
“Lazy Eye” by Silversun Pickups
“Trouble” by Cage the Elephant
“Fake Plastic Trees” by Radiohead
“Work Song” by Hozier
“Pretty Head” by Transviolet
“Nothing Personal” by Night Riots
“Adore You” by Harry Styles
“First” by Cold War Kids
Thank you to my husband. You’re my favorite Hoodlum. Love you, boo.
A huge thank you to my Krazy for K Webster’s Books reader group. You all are insanely supportive, and I can’t thank you enough.
A gigantic thank you to those who always help me out behind the scenes. Elizabeth Clinton, Ella Stewart, Misty Walker, Holly Sparks, Jillian Ruize, Gina Behrends, Wendy Rinebold, Ker Dukey, J.D. Hollyfield, Nicole Blanchard, and Nikki Ash—you ladies are my rock!
Misty, thank you for always encouraging me no matter what! Love you!
A big thank you to my author friends who have given me your friendship and your support. You have no idea how much that means to me.
Thank you to all of my blogger friends both big and small that go above and beyond to always share my stuff. You all rock! #AllBlogsMatter
Emily A. Lawrence, thank you so much for editing this book. You’re a star!!
Thank you, Stacey Blake, for always making my books so pretty! You’re an angel and I love you!
A big thanks to Nicole Blanchard with Indie Sage PR for being there for me every step of the ways! Love ya, lady!
Lastly but certainly not least of all, thank you to all of the wonderful readers out there who are willing to hear my story and enjoy my characters like I do. It means the world to me!
K Webster is a USA Today Bestselling author. Her titles have claimed many bestseller tags in numerous categories, are translated in multiple languages, and have been adapted into audiobooks. She lives in “Tornado Alley” with her husband, two children, and her baby dog named Blue. When she’s not writing, she’s reading, drinking copious amounts of coffee, and researching aliens.
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Psychological Romance Standalones:
My Torin
Whispers and the Roars
Cold Cole Heart
Blue Hill Blood
Wicked Lies Boys Tell
Romantic Suspense Standalones:
Dirty Ugly Toy
El Malo
Notice
Sweet Jayne
The Road Back to Us
Surviving Harley
Love and Law
Moth to a Flame
Erased
Extremely Forbidden Romance Standalones:
The Wild
Hale
Like Dragonflies
Taboo Treats:
Bad Bad Bad
Coach Long
Ex-Rated Attraction
Mr. Blakely
Easton
Crybaby
Lawn Boys
Malfeasance
Renner’s Rules
The Glue
Dane
Enzo
Red Hot Winter
Dr. Dan
KKinky Reads Collection:
Share Me
Choke Me
Daddy Me
Watch Me
Hurt Me
Play Me
Contemporary Romance Standalones:
Wicked Lies Boys Tell
The Day She Cried
Untimely You
Heath
Sundays are for Hangovers
A Merry Christmas with Judy
Zeke’s Eden
Schooled by a Senior
Give Me Yesterday
Sunshine and the Stalker
Bidding for Keeps
B-Sides and Rarities
Conheartists
Cocksure Ace
No Tears with Him
Paranormal Romance Standalones:
Apartment 2B
Running Free
Mad Sea
Cold Queen
Delinquent Demons
Hood River Hoodlums:
Hood River Rat (Book 1)
Little Hoodlum (Book 2)
Campfire Chaos (Book 3)
Hood River Zero (Book 4)
War & Peace Series:
This is War, Baby (Book 1)
This is Love, Baby (Book 2)
This Isn’t Over, Baby (Book
3)
This Isn’t You, Baby (Book 4)
This is Me, Baby (Book 5)
This Isn’t Fair, Baby (Book 6)
This is the End, Baby (Book 7—a novella)
Lost Planet Series:
The Forgotten Commander (Book 1)
The Vanished Specialist (Book 2)
The Mad Lieutenant (Book 3)
The Uncertain Scientist (Book 4)
The Lonely Orphan (Book 5)
The Rogue Captain (Book 6)
The Determined Hero (Book 7)
2 Lovers Series:
Text 2 Lovers (Book 1)
Hate 2 Lovers (Book 2)
Thieves 2 Lovers (Book 3)
Pretty Little Dolls Series:
Pretty Stolen Dolls (Book 1)
Pretty Lost Dolls (Book 2)
Pretty New Doll (Book 3)
Pretty Broken Dolls (Book 4)
The V Games Series:
Vlad (Book 1)
Ven (Book 2)
Vas (Book 3)
Four Fathers Books:
Pearson
Four Sons Books:
Camden
Elite Seven Books:
Gluttony
Greed
Royal Bastards MC:
Koyn
Truths and Lies Duet:
Hidden Truths
Stolen Lies
Books Only Sold on K’s Website and Eden Books:
The Wild
The Free
Hale
Bad Bad Bad
This is War, Baby
Like Dragonflies
The Breaking the Rules Series:
Broken (Book 1)
Wrong (Book 2)
Scarred (Book 3)
Mistake (Book 4)
Crushed (Book 5 – a novella)
The Vegas Aces Series:
Rock Country (Book 1)
Rock Heart (Book 2)
Rock Bottom (Book 3)
The Becoming Her Series: