covered with sequins and lily cutouts along the hem, and with her height in those sexy heels, she’s a freaking angel come to life. I half expect white wings to pop out behind her.
She walks down the aisle…to me…to me…to me.
Pent-up emotion that’s been building breaks through, and I feel wetness on my cheeks. I don’t care if people know that Z Morgan cries.
What did I ever do to get this girl? To have a love like this? To have this kind of hope in my life?
I can’t catch a good breath, not until she’s right in front of me. Our eyes meet, mine grey and hers that mesmerizing blue-green color. Her hair is up in an elaborate style with curls and a braid and I…I…
I drop to one knee in front of her. It’s not part of what we’re supposed to do, not what we practiced last night, but I’m in awe of her. She wants me. I can’t wrap my head around it most days.
I stare up at her and grasp her hands and brush my lips across them.
She’s everything.
She’s mine.
She’s a symbol of me getting life right.
My love, my hope. Always.
Dear Reader,
Thank you for reading Boyfriend Bargain. I hope you enjoyed Zack and Sugar’s story as much as I loved writing it. If you want more passion and angst, take a peek at the first chapter of Maverick and Delany’s book I Dare You, or just head straight to the Amazon store to get the entire full-length standalone novel. It is currently FREE in Kindle Unlimited!
Enjoy!
Ilsa Madden-Mills
P.S. Please join my FB readers group, Unicorn Girls, to get the latest scoop as well as talk about books, wine, and Netflix:
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Welcome to Magnolia, Mississippi, where locusts are as big as your hand and iced tea comes with a double helping of sugar.
It’s also home to the best damn annual bonfire party at prestigious Waylon University, which is currently happening right now in the middle of a cotton field.
But…
I shouldn’t even be at this party.
It’s mostly for Greeks and jocks and popular people, yet here I am, a mere freshman, hanging out with my bubbly redheaded roommate, Skye.
“See?” she says as we take in the bonfire. “Isn’t this better than watching cat videos on a Saturday night? What do you want to do first?”
I sigh, feeling nervous. Ever since I moved here from North Carolina, I’ve been pushing myself to try new things. Might as well put a crazy college party on that list. “Let’s get a drink.”
She claps and excitedly replies, “Done. Alcohol at two o’clock.” We weave through the crowd, headed in that direction, and eventually we reach the bar, which is really just a long collapsible table someone set up. On top are various bottles of alcohol, and I grab the Fireball to pour shots. I’ve just tossed mine back and set down my cup when a prickling sensation washes over me, giving me goose bumps.
My gaze moves across the crowd, stopping on a tall guy with dark blond hair, broad shoulders, and a cocky smile. Aha. He’s been staring at me, and now that he’s caught, he raises his glass as a half-grin crosses his face.
I blush wildly as I adjust my black cat-eye glasses. I’m not used to such blatant male attention.
Skye—who’s followed the trajectory of my gaze—spits out part of her drink. “Oh my God, do you know who that is?”
“Obviously I should,” I say dryly.
Her mouth flops open. “You really need to get out more.”
My eyes drift back to him but keep moving as if I’m not staring. “So who is Mr. Hottie McParty Pants?”
“If you don’t know him, you don’t deserve to know. But, he’s H-O-T—like Chris Hemsworth hot. I dare you to flirt with him.” She wiggles her eyebrows at me, knowing full well that for some reason, I can’t resist a dare. Normally rather reserved, a dare gives me permission to be someone I’m not.
So does Fireball. I sling back another shot.
“I’ll bring you a donut every day for a week if you flirt with him,” she adds, watching me.
My ears perk up. “The ones with edible glitter?”
She nods, and I toss a quick glance back to him. Our eyes collide again, and a zing of connection fires between us. He has a strong, handsome face