by Lacey Black
It’s not always easy, but we make it work.
For Trace.
“I’m ready!” Trace hollers as he flies down the stairs and heads for the door.
“Wait right there, mister. Did you finish picking up all those Matchbox cars?” He nods. “Did you make sure your dirty clothes are put in the hamper and not strewn all over the floor?” He nods again. “You made your bed?” Nod. “And you’re ready to have fun fishing and camping with Malcolm?”
“Yes!” he proclaims, so anxious to get out the door he’s practically vibrating where he stands.
“Give me a hug and then go. Malcolm’s ready to pitch the tent.”
Trace throws his arms around me and mumbles, “Love you.”
“I love you too,” I reply, running my hand through his hair. “Go ahead.”
He bolts out the door, leaving me standing in the kitchen, watching. I’m under explicit instructions not to come outside for anything. It’s a boys’ weekend, and since I’m a girl, I’m not allowed. Little does he know, after dinner, I plan on grabbing the new book my sister recommended, a glass of wine, and am hitting the hot tub for a little relaxation.
I stand there, one hip propped against the doorframe, and watch my two favorite people work together. They erect the tent, and Malcolm shows Trace how to build a fire in the pit. Once they have what they need set, they move to the dock to cast their first line. My heart is overflowing as they laugh. Malcolm is so patient and kind to my son, I have a hard time remembering he’s real.
And he’s ours.
I never expected to meet a man like Malcolm Wright, let alone fall in love with him. Now, I can’t imagine my life without him. The way he loves my son, as if he were his own, yet shares him so easily with my ex, says a lot about the man he is.
The one I love.
Malcolm
The moment Trace falls asleep, I sneak out of the tent and go in search of Lenora. I heard her slip out of the house a bit ago and fire up the jets in the hot tub. All I can picture is her there, probably with wine and a book, and water cascading off her gorgeous curves.
I make sure the zipper is closed so no bugs get in and head for the place I know I’ll find the woman I love. As I round the corner of the pergola, I find pay dirt. There she is. The most beautiful woman in the world, and she’s all mine. I toe off my shoes and unbutton my shorts. I slip my T-shirt over my head before rounding the corner and coming into view.
“Enjoying a relaxing evening?” I ask stepping over the side of the tub.
Leni grins, her eyes zeroing in on my crotch, or specifically, to where my boxer briefs stretch tautly over my erection. “You’re breaking the rules, you know. No girls during boys’ weekend.”
I head straight for her, taking the seat beside her and pulling her into my arms. “I missed you,” I tell her, nuzzling my nose against her neck before I place a kiss on that delicate skin.
“I missed you too.” She sets her book down on the side of the tub and throws her arms around my neck. “Having fun?”
“The best. I love spending time with him,” I say, catching a whiff of the lotion on her skin.
“He loves hanging out with you too. It’s the highlight of his day.”
I reach over and take a small drink of her wine, needing something to do with my hand. “No, the highlight of his day is being with you. You’re his mama, and he loves you more than anyone.”
“Except when I make him clean his room,” she replies, taking the glass and sipping the sweet white liquid inside.
“Even then. You’ll always be his number one,” I state, reaching for her left hand and running my thumb over the empty ring finger. My heart thunders in my chest as I prepare to do the one thing I’ve thought about doing since she moved in. Hell, since I met her. I knew we’d get to this place in life, one where we vow to love and cherish each other until death do us part.
The ring I bought her is on my own pinky finger, the delicate pear-shaped diamond turned to face my palm so she doesn’t see it right away. I place my hand on her arm, making sure the diamond gently grazes her skin, and slide my hand up. She must feel the scrape and glances down in confusion. Slowly, I flip over my hand and show her what was rubbing against her arm. Her gasp fills my heart with excitement as I slip the ring off my own finger and hold it up between us.
“Leni, I didn’t realize how shallow and unfulfilling my life truly was until I met you and Trace. Now, I don’t want to imagine a day, a moment without you both in it. You make me a better man just by being you. I want to spend the rest of my life with you, help you raise your son, and maybe give him a few brothers and sisters.”
I shift myself and reach for her hand, ready to slip the ring on it the moment she agrees. “Lenora Abbott, will you marry me?”
She smiles from ear to ear and nods. “Yes. I’d love to marry you.”
I let out a whoop, slide the ring onto her finger, and pull her onto my lap. My mouth finds hers eagerly in a kiss that sets my blood on fire. “I love you, Lenora Abbott Wright.”
She grins and bites down on her plump bottom lip. “Who says I’m taking your name? Maybe I want you to take mine?”
My hands slide to her ass and squeeze, my hips rocking upward, seeking the friction her body creates. “Whatever you want, baby. I’d gladly take your last name as long as it means we’re married.”
Leni rests her head on my shoulder and sighs. “I’ll take your last name. There’s no other name I’d rather have than yours.”
“Soon. I want you to have it soon.”
“Here. Let’s get married in the backyard.”
“Deal.” I hold her close and just breathe her in. “Trace is gonna be pissed.”
She sits up and meets my gaze. “Why?”
“He helped me pick out the ring, and then I didn’t even let him help me give it to you.”
Leni grins softly and returns her cheek to my shoulder. “I suppose we could do it again tomorrow so he’s a part of it.”
“Naw, that’s okay. Now that the ring is on your finger, I don’t even want to see you take it off. I’ll just tell him I was so excited to spend the rest of my life with you and him, I couldn’t wait to put it on your finger. He’ll understand.”
We sit there for several minutes with me toying with the sparkler she now adorns. “Do you know what sucks?” she asks, catching me off guard.
“What?”
“The fact we just got engaged, and we can’t even go upstairs and celebrate because it’s boys’ weekend and I’m a girl.”
I run my hand over her curves. “My favorite girl,” I correct, kissing the back of her neck. “You know, I do have room in my sleeping bag for two.”
“Really? But won’t you get in trouble in the morning?”
“Oh, definitely,” I reply with a laugh, “but it’ll be worth his wrath.”
And it was.
When Trace woke up the next morning and found his mom sleeping in the tent beside me, I took him outside so we could make her breakfast over the fire. Then, I told him I asked her to marry me, and she said yes. Trace cried, throwing his arm around my neck and telling me he loved me.
It was the start of something new.
The rest of our lives.
Who’d have thought it began with her bursting into my office bathroom. Well, that and the night at Pony Up. The one with the perfect kiss.
She changed my life, that’s for sure.
And I can’t wait to see what’s in store for us for the rest of it.
The End
Thank you for reading Perfect Kiss!
Up next in the Mason Creek series is
Perfect Mess by Fabiola Francisco. Grab your copy here!
****
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Mason Creek Series
The Complete Mason Creek Series
Perfect Risk – C.A. Harms
Perfe
ct Song – Lauren Runrow
Perfect Love – A.M. Hargrove
Perfect Night – Terri E. Laine
Perfect Tragedy – Jennifer Miller
Perfect Escape – Cary hart
Perfect Summer – Bethany Lopez
Perfect Embrace – Kaylee Ryan
Perfect Kiss – Lacey Black
Perfect Mess – Fabiola Francisco
Perfect Excuse – A.D. Justice
Perfect Secret – Molly McLain
Books Also by Lacey Black
Rivers Edge series
Trust Me, Rivers Edge book 1 (Maddox and Avery) – FREE at all retailers
Fight Me, Rivers Edge book 2 (Jake and Erin)
Expect Me, Rivers Edge book 3 (Travis and Josselyn)
Promise Me: A Novella, Rivers Edge book 3.5 (Jase and Holly)
Protect Me, Rivers Edge book 4 (Nate and Lia)
Boss Me, Rivers Edge book 5 (Will and Carmen)
Trust Us: A Rivers Edge Christmas Novella (Maddox and Avery)
~ This novella was originally part of the Christmas Miracles Anthology
BOX SET – contains all 5 novels, 2 novellas, and a BONUS short story
With Me, A Rivers Edge Christmas Novella (Brooklyn and Becker)
Bound Together series
Submerged, Bound Together book 1 (Blake and Carly)
Profited, Bound Together book 2 (Reid and Dani)
Entwined, Bound Together book 3 (Luke and Sidney)
Summer Sisters series
My Kinda Kisses, Summer Sisters book 1 (Jaime and Ryan)
My Kinda Night, Summer Sisters book 2 (Payton and Dean)
My Kinda Song, Summer Sisters book 3 (Abby and Levi)
My Kinda Mess, Summer Sisters book 4 (Lexi and Linkin)
My Kinda Player, Summer Sisters book 5 (AJ and Sawyer)
My Kinda Player, Summer Sisters book 6 (Meghan and Nick)
My Kinda Wedding, A Summer Sisters Novella book 7 (Meghan and Nick)
Rockland Falls series
Love and Pancakes, Rockland Falls book 1
Love and Lingerie, Rockland Falls book 2
Love and Landscape, Rockland Falls book 3
Love and Neckties, Rockland Falls book 4
Standalone
Music Notes, a sexy contemporary romance standalone
A Place To Call Home, a Memorial Day novella
Exes and Ho Ho Ho’s, a sexy contemporary romance standalone novella
Pants on Fire, a sexy contemporary romance standalone
Double Dog Dare You, a new standalone
Grip, A Driven World Novel
Bachelor Swap, A Bachelor Tower Series Novel
Perfect Kiss, Mason Creek Series #9
Burgers and Brew Crüe Series
Kickstart My Heart, book 1
Don’t Go Away Mad, book 2
Co-Written with NYT Bestselling Author, Kaylee Ryan
It’s Not Over, Fair Lakes book 1
Just Getting Started, Fair Lakes book 2
Can’t Get Enough, Fair Lakes book 3
Fair Lakes Box Set
Boy Trouble, The All American Boy Series
Home To You, a second chance novella
Acknowledgments
What an absolutely amazing project to work on! First off, THANK YOU to my friend CA Harms for inviting to write in the Mason Creek world. It was so fun, and I’ve met some incredible authors along the way.
Thank you to all the authors in this joined world for making it a fun experience! Plotting residents, businesses, and character interaction was a huge part of what made this project so neat. I truly enjoyed working with each and every one of you and hope our paths cross again very soon!
My editing team – Kara Hildebrand, Sandra Shipman, Joanne Thompson, and Karen Hrdlicka. Thank you!!
The book team - Cover Designer, Opium House – Sarah Paige; Graphics Designer, Gel with Tempting Illustrations; Formatting, Brenda with Formatting Done Wright; and Promotions by Give Me Books and HEA PR. You are all the best of the best!
Kaylee Ryan, Holly Collins, Lacey’s Ladies, and my ARC team, you are always right by my side, and I appreciate your help and guidance SO much!
To my husband and kids, thank you for not getting too mad when I lock myself in a room to write. It’s not always easy, but we make it work!
To all the bloggers and readers, thank you, thank you, thank you. I hope you enjoy this story as much as I loved writing it.
About the Author
USA Today Bestselling Author Lacey Black is a Midwestern girl with a passion for reading, writing, and shopping. She carries her e-reader with her everywhere she goes so she never misses an opportunity to read a few pages. Always looking for a happily ever after, Lacey is passionate about contemporary romance novels and enjoys it further when you mix in a little suspense. She resides in a small town in Illinois with her husband, two children, and three rowdy chickens.
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