Chloe bounced on her toes. “I’m so excited to see it.”
“As excited as you were when I had your name tattooed on a ribbon on my back?”
“Yes!” He’d added more than just her name. Tank had tattooed three dragonflies buzzing around the tree and one perched on the ribbon with her name on it.
“I couldn’t have done this without you, babe. I hope you like it.”
He whipped off the sheet, and the impact of the lifelike faces looking back at her took her breath away. Unlike his other artwork, there was nothing sad or broken about the piece. The faces were intricately carved and instantly recognizable. She walked around the gorgeous sculpture, taking in the nuances of his family’s eyes, smiles, dimples, beards, and so many other small details, like the beauty mark beside Reba’s left eye and Zeke’s furrowed brow. He’d even captured Zander’s playfulness in the laugh lines around his mouth. She ran her fingers along the deep, winding grooves he’d carved between and around the faces. She could feel the energy he’d hoped to convey.
“Justin, this is magnificent.” Her gaze dropped to the base of hands cradling the pillar from which all of the faces and energy bloomed. The hands were just as recognizable as the faces—defined by tattoos, thick or narrow fingers, aging knuckles, the shape of their fingernails, rings, and the bracelets Madigan so often wore. Chloe walked slowly around it, admiring every detail. Her eyes caught on a familiar hand, one with a dragonfly engagement ring. She moved closer, unable to believe her eyes.
“Justin…? Why am I on here?”
He went to her, his gaze soft and loving. “This is the first year I’ve been able to face this event without feeling like I’m that lost little boy walking into my mother’s bedroom again.” He put his arms around her and said, “That’s because of you, baby. You helped me realize that I can’t change what she did, and I can’t keep carrying the guilt of not saving her. Your idea of focusing on the people who helped pull me through was exactly what I needed to find closure. I went to see Preacher and Reba this morning, and I told them everything.”
He told her that Preacher and Reba had already known because Preacher had gone to see his father in the first few weeks he’d moved in with them. Today Justin had filled in the blanks for them.
She knew that couldn’t have been easy. “I would have gone with you.”
“I know you would have, but I woke up before dawn with you cuddled against me and the pups sleeping near us, and I knew I had to get the last of my secrets out if I was going to give us everything I had moving forward. I needed to do it alone.”
“I understand. But, Justin, you always give us everything you have, and then some.”
“No, babe. I try to, but I’ve felt her ghost chaining me down. But now, because of you, this event will no longer throw me back to that awful morning. It will carry me forward, reminding me of all the good in the world and the strength love can bring.”
“I don’t know what to say. I love you so much. I’m just so happy for you.”
“You freed me, baby.”
“We freed each other.”
He kissed her softly and said, “Yeah, but now I’m ready for a ball and chain, sweet cheeks. How would you feel about a Christmas wedding?”
Her heart leapt. “The same way I’d feel if you said let’s go to the courthouse on Monday and get married. I want to be your wife no matter when, where, or how we do it.”
“There’ll be no courthouse wedding for you, Ms. Mallery. I promised my girl that all her big days would be celebrations. You, my beautiful future wife, are going to get the white wedding you never dreamed of.”
Tears dampened her eyes and she said, “That sounds perfect. Do I get a honeymoon that’s a little bit wicked, too?”
“Baby, our honeymoon will last the rest of our lives.” He brushed his lips over hers and said, “And there’s nothing little about your Wicked.”
Ready for More Wickeds?
Grab your next Wicked novel below, and then continue reading for information on more Dark Knights and Bayside Summers novels, including one for each of Chloe’s Bayside friends. You’ll also find details on Daphne’s love story, TEMPTED BY LOVE, the first book in the Steeles on Silver Island series.
Fall in love with Tank and Leah
When the person you blame for your grief is the only one who can save you from the pain… An emotionally gripping story of love, loss, and hope, with a rich and entrancing happily ever after.
Tank Wicked lost his sister and has since vowed to save everyone else in his path. He lives by the creed of the Dark Knights motorcycle club, sworn to protect and respect his community, and he selflessly saves lives as a volunteer firefighter. He treats the men and women who work for him at his tattoo shop like family. But life isn’t a balance scale where good deeds negate bad things to come, and one foggy night life guts Tank once again. When a car careens over the side of a bridge and into a river, Tank springs into action, plunging into the water to rescue the passengers. Four people go into the river, but only three come out alive.
Leah Yates is just trying to make it through each day. When the man she blames for her grief becomes the only one who can pull her from the depths of despair, she discovers that even hope comes at a price. Maybe this time she won’t have to face it alone.
Buy THE WICKED AFTERMATH
Ready for more Dark Knights?
The Dark Knights at Peaceful Harbor novels are waiting for you at all book retailers, starting with TRU BLUE.
There’s nothing Truman Gritt won’t do to protect his family—Including spending years in jail for a crime he didn’t commit. When he’s finally released, the life he knew is turned upside down by his mother’s overdose, and Truman steps in to raise the children she’s left behind. Truman’s hard, he’s secretive, and he’s trying to save a brother who’s even more broken than he is. He’s never needed help in his life, and when beautiful Gemma Wright tries to step in, he’s less than accepting. But Gemma has a way of slithering into people’s lives and eventually she pierces through his ironclad heart. When Truman’s dark past collides with his future, his loyalties will be tested, and he’ll be faced with his toughest decision yet.
Buy TRU BLUE
Remember to download your Whiskey/Wicked family tree here:
Whiskey/Wicked Family Tree
Fall in love on the sandy shores of Cape Cod Bay
Follow Chloe’s sister, Serena, and each of their friends to their happily ever afters in the BAYSIDE SUMMERS series, starting with Bayside Desires.
Desiree Cleary is tricked into spending the summer with her badass half sister and a misbehaving dog. What could go wrong? Did I mention the sparks flying every time she sees her hunky, pushy neighbor, Rick Savage? Yeah, there’s that…
Buy BAYSIDE DESIRES
Fall in love with the Steeles on Silver Island!
Settle in on the sandy shores of Silver Island, home to coffee shops, boat races, midnight rendezvous, and the sexy, sharp-witted Steeles.
Enjoy heart-meltingly beautiful and toe-curlingly sexy romance in Tempted by Love, an emotionally riveting story about a man who has lost it all and carries a torturous secret, a divorced single mother who has everything to lose, and the little girl who helps them heal.