the news now, it’s more for my sport or my relationship with the best-selling author of The Two-Week Stand.
A flash of red catches my eye, and I turn my head to see my girl walking into the bar.
My heart speeds up in my chest. It never gets old, looking at her. I get the same reaction now as I did when I saw her walking through the bar three years ago. Granted, she’s not stumbling on drunk legs this time. She’s sashaying confidently toward me, and she’s wearing my favorite red dress. It’s short, showing off her gorgeous legs. It hugs her tits, giving good cleavage. What’s not to like about it?
Well, apart from when other men stare at her in it, which is currently happening right now. That pisses me off. Jealousy—another thing I didn’t know I could feel until Dillon.
Dillon is beautiful, so men are going to ogle her. Doesn’t mean I have to like it. But I love the fact that it’s me she’s with and no one else. And I intend to be with her until we’re old and wrinkly with one foot in the grave.
Reaching me, she slides in between the stool and presses her hand to my chest. “Hey, handsome.”
She kisses me on the lips. When she goes to move back, I cup her face and kiss her deeper, sliding my tongue into her mouth, loving the soft moan she makes, which, of course, shoots straight to my dick.
Down, boy. There’ll be time for that later.
When I release her, she’s breathing a little harder, her face and chest flushed. “Get a room.” She grins, sliding her cute ass onto the stool next to me.
“Got one—with the hottest girl on the island,” I respond.
“Oh yeah?” She picks up her drink and takes a sip from the straw. “Do I know her?”
I love it when we play little games like this.
But I have a feeling that the way I thought this moment was going to happen—the one I’ve been planning out in my head for months—is not at all going to go the way I thought it would.
But from the moment I met Dillon, nothing has gone as I planned. That’s what I love about us. Our life together is constantly full of surprises.
“Probably not. And you probably shouldn’t sit here either. Or kiss me for that matter. She gets real jealous. Like crazy-mad jealous. She’d totally kick your ass.”
She raises a brow, chewing on her straw. “She sounds awesome.”
“She is.” I bring my bottle to my lips and take a drink. “I actually met her on this island. Three years ago today in fact.”
When I look at her, her eyes have softened. “That so? Well, happy anniversary.”
She tilts her glass in my direction, and I tap it with my bottle.
“Yeah … and please don’t tell her this because it’s a surprise.” I lean a little closer, lowering my voice. “But I brought her here to ask her to marry me. I plan on proposing tonight.”
She gasps, and her eyes widen.
She blinks a few times.
Her throat works on a swallow.
And my heart is fucking racing.
I turn in my seat toward her and pull the ring box from my pocket.
Then, I slide off my chair, getting to my feet, and crack open the box. “What do you think of the ring? You think she’ll like it? I had it specially designed with her in mind. Red’s her color.”
The ring is a red trillion cut diamond, surrounded by small diamonds, set in a platinum band. It cost a fucking fortune, but she is beyond worth it.
Dillon swallows and moistens her lips with her tongue, her eyes fixed on the ring in my hand. “I, uh … I think she’ll love it.”
Her eyes lift to mine. I see love and happiness swimming in them, and my heart thumps.
“She’s a lucky girl.”
“I think so.” I grin, and she laughs softly, nudging me with her knee. “But in all honesty, I’m the lucky one. She changed my life. Changed me for the better.”
She sniffles. “I’m betting she thinks the same things about you.”
I stare at her a beat. Staring into those eyes that first captivated me and never let me go. And I never want them to let me go.
“So … do you think there might be a chance that she’ll say yes to marrying me?”
“Oh, I think there’s a one thousand percent chance that she’ll say yes.”
“A thousand percent, huh?”
“Yep.”
“Dillon?”
“What?”
“Will you marry me?”
A smile and then, “Yes. A thousand percent yes.”
I slide the ring on her finger, and then I kiss her.
“I love you,” I say against her lips, my hands cupping her face.
“Love you too.”
I kiss her again, and then I keep kissing her.
Because I plan on spending the rest of my life kissing her.
Dillon and I might have started out as a two-week stand, but we’re forever now.
A real happily ever after.
OTHER BOOKS BY SAMANTHA TOWLE
STAND-ALONE NOVELS
CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE
Under Her
Sacking the Quarterback (BookShots Flames/James Patterson)
The Ending I Want
When I Was Yours
Trouble
ROMANTIC SUSPENSE
River Wild
Unsuitable
PSYCHOLOGICAL THRILLER
Dead Pretty
CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE BOOK SERIES
THE GODS SERIES
Ruin
Rush
THE WARDROBE SERIES
Wardrobe Malfunction
Breaking Hollywood
THE REVVED SERIES
Revved
Revived
THE STORM SERIES
The Mighty Storm
Wethering the Storm
Taming the Storm
The Storm
Finding Storm
PARANORMAL ROMANCE NOVELS
The Bringer
THE ALEXANDRA JONES SERIES
First Bitten
Original Sin
acknowledgments
My husband and children. There are no other three people in this world that I would want to be stuck in a house with amid a global pandemic; we’re three lockdowns in, but we still continue to laugh and have the best time. I know living with a writer isn’t easy. Yet you all still love me. And I love you three like I didn’t even know possible. Infinity and beyond, my darlings.
My Ungodly Hour Team. I owe the completion of this book to the three of you. Tash, for the yelling and sprints. Vic, for the blurbs and teasers. Elle, for the words of encouragement. You three girls are the bomb. I literally can’t write a book without you all now.
My Venga Girls. What would I do without you all? It’s the best feeling to be mates with a bunch of women who share my weird sense of humor!
My Wether Girls. Our group continues to grow but remains the exact same. In there, I am surrounded by wonderful, supportive women, and it warms my heart to see and helps to restore my faith in the human race daily. I’ve needed that reminder even more so this past year.
My editor, Jovana. You put up with my flaky last-minute ways, taking it all in stride. I honestly couldn’t do this without you. So, don’t ever leave me. Please.
My agent, Lauren Abramo. I’m so lucky to have you. You handle my weird writer ways. My change of plans. Take the worry and stress that I’m feeling away with a few calming words. I get to see my books in stores, in foreign print, and hear them on audio because of you. You are fabulous. So, you can’t leave me either. Please. Also, a big thank-you to Kemi Faderin for handling my foreign deals and keeping everything in line.
My cover designer, Najla Qamber. Your help with this cover has been so greatly appreciated. From the last-minute cover change to the rush on teasers and promo material, you and your team have been amazing! I owe you.
Thank you to each and every member of the blogging world, who work tirelessly to help promote books, without ask or complaint. We authors couldn’t do it without you. You are truly appreciated.
And as always, to you, the reader. You are the reason I get to live my dream. And stay home and work in my Oodie! Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
about the author
SAMANTHA TOWLE is a New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal best-selling author.
A native of Hull, she lives in East Yorkshire with her husband, their son and daughter, and three large furbabies.
She is the author of contemporary romances (The Storm Series, The Revved Series, The Wardrobe Series, The Gods Series) and stand-alones (Trouble, When I Was Yours, The Ending I Want, Unsuitable, Under Her, River Wild, Dead Pretty, and Sacking the Quarterback, which was written with James Patterson). She has also written paranormal romances (The Bringer and The Alexandra Jones Series). With over a million books sold, her titles have appeared on countless best-seller lists and are currently translated into ten languages.
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