by AJ Adams
"It’s a pleasure. Give my love to Persia, and my congratulations."
I put my phone away, fingering the box again. She was my perfect girl.
"Jorge? I wondered where you were hiding!" A fragrance of peaches, rich with promise, and she was in my arms. "Lord, what a night."
A swell of pride and possessiveness. My gorgeous woman. At least, hopefully mine.
"Laura has invited me on her morning show, and the Rampage are offering a fee in return for an exclusive preview of my next line," Persia sighed happily. "It’s a dream come true."
The ring would wait. This was her triumph. I wouldn’t do anything that might overshadow it. "There’s more good news, corazón." I whispered Lord Grandville’s message into her ear.
"So, it’s over." She leaned up against me, shuddering with emotion. "It was all worth it."
As predicted, the lawyers had ripped her apart when she’d taken the stand. The cross-examination had exposed her past alongside her brother’s evil machinations. It had devastated her parents and shocked even the case-hardened judge, so when James applied for an injunction that prevented the papers from printing details, it was granted instantly.
Normally, reporters balk at being silenced but this time they were so appalled that they declared a truce and stopped badmouthing her. From the sound of it, they were now ready to talk her up.
Persia looked up at me, eyes swimming. "Told you they’d do an about-face," she sniffed.
"After all the shit they gave you, it’s only right."
"I’m going to forgive, forget and make hay!"
"Good move, fresa. Make them pay you back."
She held on to my hand. "Let me ring mum and dad."
I waited with her, cradling her as she made the call. After that horrendous day in court, any family might have been torn apart forever but Persia wouldn’t allow it. She’d gone straight home, declaring, "I’m not leaving until this is sorted."
It hadn’t been easy but after a long heart to heart, one that included a lake of tears and more than a few shouting matches, they’d reconciled. There were still problem areas to be addressed, and the brother was implacable in his hatred for her, but at least my girl had part of her family back.
Persia put her phone away. "They’re very relieved. My guess is that they’ll sleep well tonight for the first time in months." And before I could stop her, she dug into my pocket, saying, "God, I need to buy better waterproof mascara. Lend me your – hey!"
The little velvet box was in her hand. At once, all my breath punched out of me.
"Is this what I think it is?" Persia gasped.
My hands were shaking. "Uhm, yes."
Her eyes were locked on mine. "Really?"
"I meant to wait until tomorrow. This is your day, fresa. I should have left it at the jewellers but I just want you so much, and -"
Her arms were around my neck, crushing me into silence. "That is so sweet!" I got kisses, too. "You’re the most wonderful, most thoughtful man, ever!"
She was obviously deluded, but I went with it. "Yeah, that’s me. I’m awesome."
"Plonker," Persia chortled. "May I see?"
"Sure." I remembered girls love romance. "Fresa, wait. Don’t you want candlelight and dinner, violins maybe?"
"And you going down on one knee?" she giggled. "Let’s do that tomorrow, Jorge."
There’s nobody like my girl. She’s unique. I took the little box and opened it, saying, "Persia, corazón, would you do me the honour -"
She squealed and threw her arms around me. "Yes! Ohmigod, yes!"
I held the sweet curves pressed against me, my love overflowing. "You haven’t actually looked at the ring."
"I’ve only got eyes for you." But she let go. "I’m so excited, I’m about to pee myself."
Romantic, that’s her. Stifling my laughter, I took out the ring, "It’s -"
"Gorgeous," Persia gasped. She put out her hand, her voice a whisper. "It that real?"
"Yes." I slid it over her finger. "The ruby is for love, and the diamonds are for eternity. The band is white gold, for purity."
"Jorge," she said hoarsely, "it’s beautiful."
She gazed down at the ring, mouth trembling. My heart skipped a beat. "You sure, fresa?" I had to make certain.
"Yes." Her kiss was instant, her lips soft against my cheek. "Absolutely." She leaned against me, her fingers tangling with mine. Then, with a wicked grin. "I’m in. For life."
"Corazón!"
I swept her into my arms, planted her on the sous chef’s prep counter, and we were about to violate every Health and Safety Code the country had on the books when the kitchen door swung open.
"Hello!" It was the ponytail. Before I could get it together, he had his camera up. "Smile!"
We might have started our engagement with a smack on the nose but for the fact that he bounced back instantly, crying, "Wedding present!"
Today that picture stands on our bedside table and I have a copy in my wallet. It stays private because Persia’s skirt is up around her waist, I look demented and we’re both wearing her super gloss fireman’s rouge lipstick as we’re surrounded by copper bottomed pots and pans. It’s a crazy photo, but it makes me laugh just to see it.
Well, that's about it, really. Persia and I are blissfully happy. Persia is working on her second collection and I'm growing the business base for the seaport. As we're both doing well, I have expanded my team and Persia has taken over an entire floor of Zeta Towers. But we're in and out of each other's offices all the time, and we're off dancing every night.
As for the others, they're doing great. The plaza is practically running itself and although Smith is still dying to get to us, he's currently chasing the Rovers. With the Detective Inspector stalking the cunning Liam, James is pursuing a brunette, Lencho is taking skydiving lessons, and Paco is investing in an art gallery of all things.
In short, we’re all having a good time. Isn't it amazing how things can work out? For a while there, I really thought we’d had it. Sometimes I waken up in the middle of the night and I just lie there, blessing my good fortune.
I don’t deserve my luck, I'm well aware of it. But if a bad man like me can win the girl and live forever happily ever after, there’s hope for us all, right?
See you at the wedding.
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Have You Read All The AJ Adams Novels?
The Bonus, Zeta Cartel series #1
Songbird, Zeta Cartel series #2
Dirty Dealings, Zeta Cartel series #3
Dark Hunter, Zeta Cartel series #4
Twisted, Zeta Cartel series #5
Deliverance
The Degas Girl
Helpless, Belial Disciples MC series #1
All Screwed Up, Belial Disciples MC series #2
Beast, Prydain series #1
The Beast and the Sibyl, Prydain series #2
Fletcher, Prydain series #3
I wrote sweet contemporary romance as Ellen Whyte
&nb
sp; His Competent Woman
His Laughing Girl
Love, Laughter And Lots Of Dogs
I used to write as Storm Chase
Wildcat in Moscow
Murder in Moscow
Pandora
Lost Weekend: An Erotic Romance in Wales
The Gift: An Erotic Romance in Kiev
The Mule: An Erotic Romance in Colombia
Blackmail Bride: An Erotic Romance in Scotland
Chocolate: An Erotic Romance in Siberia
Sold! An Erotic Romance in the Sudan
Flummoxed by the foreign words?
The Zetas are from Mexico, Guatemala, Argentina and other countries in the Americas, so they speak various forms of Spanish. As meanings vary depending on where you are, I've translated the expressions in this book into contextually appropriate English – the British kind!
I learned my Spanish in the pubs of Madrid but am proud to say that I was tutored in the niceties of Mexican, Cuban, Colombian, Argentinean, Guatemalan, Venezuelan and Chilean slang by many helpful friends. Their knowledge of foul language is unquestionably sublime, so if there are errors, they are mine.
I had some Polish tutoring in our local pub in Malaysia. I'm assured that Polish swearing is the best in Europe, possibly the world, just like Polish sausage, Polish vodka and Polish men are the finest. Therefore, if my grammar is incorrect, please take it as my failure.
Spanish expressions
Bruja mala leche Evil little witch
Cabrón Dude, if you're talking to your mate, and bastard if you're not. In ordinary Spanish, it's a male goat.
CachuchaSlang for vagina. For God's sake, NEVER use this unless you're with the Zetas!
Cállate Shut up, rather impolite.
ChiputaTart, prostitute. In ordinary Spanish, a chiputo is a shot, as in a shot of tequila.
CoñoDamn! Fuck!
Claro que siOf course. Well, yeah.
CorazónHeart.
Cuidado Careful.
FresaA stuck-up girl. In ordinary Spanish, a strawberry.
Hija de putaDaughter of a whore
Hijo de putaSon of a whore
Hostia An exclamation of surprise. It's between bloody hell and fuck. In ordinary Spanish, a communion wafer.
Hueco Clueless, a rude word for a homosexual. In ordinary Spanish, a hole.
Huevos Slang for balls. In ordinary Spanish, eggs.
Jefe, jefaBoss, male and female
Joder! Fuck!
Jodido Fucking. This is an adjective. The noun is joder.
LobaBitch, prostitute. In ordinary Spanish, a female wolf.
Mierda Shit
Naco An uncultured man
Patrón Boss, patron, protector.
PincheDamned. Also, an intensifier. So if someone is a hueco, he's an arse but if he's a pinche hueco he's a real bloody arse.
Pobrecita Poor little thing
Porva Short for please
Pucha Slang for vagina
PutaWhore
Qué bárbaro How shocking!
SaleOkay, let's go.
Socio Associate
Te adoroLove you
Tontita Little idiot
Tranquilo Calm
Vamos Let's go
VengaCome on. Go for it.
ZorraBitch. Also, an attractive woman or a cunning woman. In ordinary Spanish, a female fox.
Polish Swearing
Balwan Idiot, cretin
Bzdura Bullshit
Kurwa mac! Fucking pimp!
Skurwysyn Motherfucker
Suka Bitch
Ty kurwo! You bitch!
Russian
Zvezda moyaStar
That’s it! Thanks again for reading this - and tell a friend, okay? See you soon, hugs, AJ
ENDS