Troublemaker - Lisa B. Kamps Page 0,69
my toes for one last kiss, then stepped away as our guests filed into the kitchen. Not just Dylan's family, but Jacqui and Addy and Nathan as well.
Addy stopped and inhaled, a small smile curling her mouth. "It smells delicious in here."
"I have to agree. I think you may have outdone yourself this time, cher." Jacqui reached for one of the small crab balls I'd made as an appetizer but I was faster and smacked her hand away. She stared at me with a kind of combined horror and amazement that made everyone else laugh.
"And there's that sass I love about you, cher."
"It's not sass."
"It is. Now own it." She stepped back and surveyed the array of drinks I'd set out on the far counter, then proceeded to create some kind of concoction for everyone. I'd had the foresight to ask her to oversee that part of the gathering, since I was still out of my league when it came to anything more complicated than opening a bottle of beer.
Thirty minutes later, everyone was gathered around the table, eating and complimenting me between bites. I finally relaxed enough to enjoy my own meal, convinced I'd done the best I could.
I glanced around the table, surprised at the deep contentment settling over me. It wasn't something I had ever expected to feel. Not just the contentment, but this sense of belonging. Of family.
My gaze slid to Brandon and I wondered again how different things might have turned out if I hadn't run away the morning of our wedding. If we had gone through with it, would he have found his happiness with Brad?
Would I have found my own happiness with Dylan?
I didn't know but I liked to think that maybe we would have, that we were each destined to find the ones we belonged with.
I shifted on the bench and caught Dylan's gaze, not surprised in the least to find him watching me. I hadn't been looking for love, had never really believed in it, let alone thought it was possible.
But it was. I felt it in the way my heart staggered and raced every time Dylan looked at me. I felt it in the heat of his gaze and the promise of forever in every one of his touches and kisses.
I'd been running away that morning a little more than a year ago, convinced I'd be better off on my own. Dylan had shown me differently, in ways I couldn't even begin to name. My days of running were over because I knew now that running away never solved anything. At least, not usually. I just happened to be lucky enough to run in the right direction that day.
And the love in Dylan's eyes when he stared at me said he felt the same way.
I still didn't know what the future held but it didn't matter. I had my friends, my new and unconventional family, and Dylan.
And if my hunch was right, our family would soon be getting a little bigger.
~ The End ~
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HEARTBREAKER
New Orleans Bourdons #3
Meet the men of the New Orleans Bourdons! A brand-new hockey team is in town and their sizzling antics are turning up the heat. The ice won't be the only thing melting in this exciting new series from USA Today Bestselling author Lisa B. Kamps.
Payback has never been sweeter...
Tristan Holland, the heartbreaker. That's me. The damn nickname followed me to New Orleans and my new teammates haven't let it go. Maybe I deserve it after last year's scandal but at least I learned my lesson: never get involved with your teammate's sister.
Then I meet Kaitlyn Shore. There's just something about her I can't ignore. Something that goes deeper than her pouty smile and secretive eyes. Something more than those drop-dead curves that haunt my dreams.
She's another teammate's sister. Getting involved with her is the last thing I should do but I can't help it. And you know what they say about karma--something tells me that this time, I won't be the one walking away unscathed...
Don't miss Heartbreaker, the next title in this sizzling new series, now available for pre-order at your favorite vendor!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
USA Today Bestselling Author Lisa B. Kamps writes steamy romance with real-life characters and relatable stories that evoke deep emotion. She likes her men hard, her bed soft, her coffee strong, her whiskey neat, and her wine chilled...and when it comes to sports, hockey is the only thing that matters!
Lisa currently lives in Maryland with her husband and two sons (who are mostly sorta-kinda out of the house), one very spoiled Border Collie, two cats with major attitude, several head of cattle, and entirely too many chickens to count. When she's not busy writing or chasing animals, she's cheering loudly for her favorite hockey team, the Washington Capitals--or going through withdrawal and waiting for October to roll back around!
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Other titles by this author:
COVER SIX SECURITY
Covered By A Kiss, A CSS Novella, Book 0
The Protector: MAC, Book 1
The Guardian: DARYL, Book 2
The Defender: RYDER, Book 3
The Warrior: DERRICK, Book 4
The Rescuer: WOLF, Book 5
The Savior: COLTER, Book 6
The Hero: ROMAN, Book 7
THE NEW ORLEANS BOURDONS
Rule Breaker, Book 1
Troublemaker, Book 2
Heartbreaker, Book 3
Risk Taker, Book 4
THE YORK BOMBERS
Playing The Game, Book 1
Playing To Win, Book 2
Playing For Keeps, Book 3
Playing It Up, Book 4
Playing It Safe, Book 5
The York Bombers Boxed Set 1
Books 1-3
Playing For Love, Book 6
Playing His Part, Book 7
Playing It Cool, Book 8
THE BALTIMORE BANNERS
Crossing the Line, Book 1
Game Over, Book 2
Blue Ribbon Summer, Book 3
Body Check, Book 4
First Shot At Love, A Baltimore Banners Short Story
Break Away, Book 5
Playmaker, A Baltimore Banners Intermission Novella
Delay of Game, Book 6
Shoot Out, Book 7
The Baltimore Banners: 1st Period Trilogy
Books 1-3 Boxed set
The Baltimore Banners: 2nd Period Trilogy
Books 4-6 Boxed set
On Thin Ice, Book 8
Coach's Challenge, A Baltimore Banners Intermission Novella
One-Timer, Book 9
Face Off, Book 10
Game Misconduct, Book 11
Christmas Interference, A Baltimore Banners Intermission Novella
Fighting To Score, Book 12
Matching Penalties, Book 13
THE CHESAPEAKE BLADES
Winning Hard, Book 1
Loving Hard, Book 2
Playing Hard, Book 3
FIREHOUSE FOURTEEN
Once Burned, Book 1
Playing With Fire, Book 2
Breaking Protocol, Book 3
Into the Flames, Book 4
Second Alarm, Book 5
Feel The Burn, Book 6
Coming Soon
STAND-ALONE TITLES
Emeralds and Gold: A Treasury of Irish Short Stories (anthology)
Finding Dr. Right
Time To Heal
Dangerous Passion
Dangerous Heat
Illicit Affair
Coming Soon