by Kait Nolan
“I don’t think I could ever refuse you. So yes.”
Zach blinked, the grin sliding into shock. “Really? That’s it? You don’t want to look over the books or talk about business plans or…”
“I want to be with you. I’ve seen for myself that you’ve built a successful business. And you were right at the wedding. I don’t have much of a personal life in Texas. Everything I want is here, with you. So yeah. I accept partnership and everything it entails.”
With a whoop, he scooped her off her feet and twirled. “Hot damn! I can’t wait.”
Wrapping her arms around his shoulders she brushed her lips to his. “Neither can I.”
Epilogue
Thunder rumbled in the distance as the late August storm rolled on through town. Sheets of water fell from the sky, obscuring everything but what lay a dozen feet in front of Zach’s headlights. It was a filthy night to be out, and he couldn’t have been happier. He didn’t even need the computer to tell him that he’d nailed the shots of the storm rolling in over Hope Springs. He’d captured quite the light show before the heavens opened up, drenching him to the skin. Worth it. His gear was protected and he’d gotten exactly the kind of shoot he’d been hoping for. He couldn’t wait to show Lexi.
He was grinning from ear to ear as he pulled up in front of the house and saw her car. It would be their house, as soon as he talked her into moving in with him. She hadn’t said yes yet, but Zach knew it was only a matter of time. They’d taken everything slow on the personal front since things had moved at warp speed on the business side. But their partnership at work had continued without a hitch. Clients loved having options, and wedding season had been a comparative breeze. He’d loved every minute of having her back in Wishful.
Scooping up his bag, he made the dash to the front porch, feeling fresh water snaking down his spine beneath clothes gone clammy in the air conditioning of the truck. Shaking off like a dog, he turned the knob and stepped inside.
“Honey, I’m home!” He toed off his sopping-wet shoes and stripped off his jacket, hanging it on a peg by the door.
Strains of low jazz drifted from somewhere else in the house, and Zach smiled to himself, imagining her in the kitchen with a glass of wine as she fussed with dinner. Eager to show her his work, he grabbed the camera bag and padded barefoot into the living room.
He noticed the boxes first. A small stack of them labeled in Lexi’s bold scrawl were stacked along one wall. A black-and-white photo of a graffiti arrow was taped to the front, pointing toward the kitchen. Dropping the bag unceremoniously into a chair, he followed instructions. In the kitchen, candles flickered in a neat arrangement around a champagne bucket. A bottle of bubbly nested in the ice. Leaning against the front was another black-and-white shot, this one of Lexi, big, dark eyes full of secrets and mischief. One finger pointed toward the hall. Was that significant?
Turning in that direction, he saw that a wire had been strung along the formerly empty hall wall. It had been turned into a sort of gallery, with a whole string of black-and-white shots hung by clothes pins, exactly as they would be in a dark room. Grabbing up the champagne and the waiting glasses, he followed the instructions, making his slow way down the hall.
The first shot was Lexi walking away from the camera, one shoulder bared as her shirt slid toward the floor. His heart skipped a beat before picking up to a gallop as he recognized her signature boudoir style. The next image honed in on the smooth muscle of her bare back as she eased down the straps of her bra. Zach’s mouth went dry. She’d created a striptease in pictures. He moved on to the next picture and his toe bumped something on the floor. Looking down, he saw the black bra. In his hall floor. A little ways further up were jeans.
Holy. Shit.
A part of him wanted to rush straight into the bedroom, but she’d set up something special, and he was going to take his time appreciating her presentation. The sequence continued, each image firing his blood more than the last, until he ended at the closed bedroom door with a print of her looking over her bare shoulder with a come hither expression and a key hanging from a ring on one finger. From his bed.
Heart thundering, he hesitated outside the door, wrangling his own arousal until he thought he had some control. They hadn’t crossed this line yet. He’d waited, letting her set the pace, knowing she’d let him know when she was ready.
She’d picked a hell of a way to announce it.
Zach turned the knob, opening the door.
More candles flickered in the darkness beyond, illuminating the real-life version of the picture on the door. Lexi was stunning, her hair tumbled, her cheeks flushed as she waited in the center of the bed, her pose the only thing offering any modesty.
“A-plus for presentation.” His voice came out like gravel. “I want to know how you pulled this off. But later.”
Her lips quirked. “You’ve been so patient, I wanted to say yes with a little flair.”
“I’d say this is a lot of flair. Which question would this be a yes to?”
She snorted faintly. “That’s not obvious?”
He knew which yes he was thinking, but he’d messed up so many times with her, he didn’t want to risk it. “In my defense, all the blood left my brain somewhere around the beginning of the hallway. Maybe you should spell it out for me. In small words instead of just visual aids.”
“All the yeses. To crossing this line. To moving in. To everything. I love you, Zach. I think I always have.” She held out a hand to him, a real-life siren with acres of soft, golden skin. “Be with me.”
She was everything he’d ever wanted, and he knew that for the rest of their lives, this image would be burned into the gallery of his brain. Yet another first in an endless line of firsts, with the woman he knew would be his last.
“Did I mention I love you, too?”
Her eyes shimmered with emotion. “I don’t believe you did.”
“Maybe I’d just better show you.” Smile spreading slow, he set aside the champagne and shut the door.
Want More Wishful?
Have you blown through the entire series? Don’t worry. There’s more to come. In the meantime, have you checked out my spinoff series, Wishing For A Hero? This series is a slightly darker take on the Wishful you know and love, with a string of light romantic suspense stories that kicks off with Leo and Eli’s brother Judd and his best friend Autumn.
He has one mission
* * *
Since they were children, career cop Judd Hamilton has built his life around taking care of his best friend, Autumn Buchanan. While he might once have dreamed of a different future for them, everything changed the day her father tried to kill them both. Determined to keep her safe, Judd put his feelings aside and turned his focus to protecting her, always.
* * *
She leads a double life
* * *
Nobody in their small town would ever dream that Autumn, Wishful's friendly librarian, is really successful erotic romantic suspense author, Rumor Fairchild. No one knows that the swoon-worthy hero of her series is based on her best friend, Judd. He's been fulfilling her rescue fantasies for years, and now she's ready to catapult them out of the friend zone to make her real life romance come true.
* * *
Their nightmare returns
* * *
But when the past comes full circle and Autumn's father returns to Wishful, even the power of Judd's badge isn't enough to keep her safe from the madman. If he wants the chance at a future with the one girl he's always loved, Judd may have to toss everything he's worked for aside to do the one job that matters.
Grab your copy of If I Didn’t Care, Wishing For A Hero #1 today!
Other Books By Kait Nolan
A complete and up-to-date list of all my books can be found at https://kaitnolan.com.
The Misfit Inn Series
When You Got A Good Thing (Kennedy and Xander)
Once Upon A Wedding (Misty and Denver)
Those Swe
et Words (Pru and Flynn)
Stay A Little Longer (Athena and Logan)
Rescue My Heart Series
Baby It’s Cold Outside (Ivy and Harrison)
What I Like About You (Laurel and Sebastian)
Wishful Series
Once Upon A Coffee (Avery and Dillon): Available for FREE!
To Get Me To You (Cam and Norah): Available for FREE!
Know Me Well (Liam and Riley)
Be Careful, It’s My Heart (Brody and Tyler)
Just For This Moment (Myles and Piper)
Wish I Might (Reed and Cecily)
Turn My World Around (Tucker and Corinne)
Dance Me A Dream (Jace and Tara)
See You Again (Trey and Sandy)
The Christmas Fountain (Chad and Mary Alice)
You Were Meant For Me (Mitch and Tess)
A Lot Like Christmas (Ryan and Hannah)
Dancing Away With My Heart (Zach and Lexi)
Wishing For a Hero Series (A Wishful Spinoff Series)
If I Didn’t Care (Judd and Autumn)
Watch Over Me (Nash and Rowan)
Can’t Take My Eyes Off You (Ethan and Miranda)
Can’t Stand The Rain (Sean and Delaney)
Meet Cute Romance
Once Upon A Snow Day
Once Upon A New Year’s Eve
Once Upon An Heirloom
Once Upon A Coffee: Available for FREE!
Once Upon A Campfire: Available for FREE!
Once Upon A Wedding
Once Upon A Rescue
Summer Camp
Once Upon A Campfire: Available for FREE!
Second Chance Summer
Acknowledgments
As ever, to my fantabulous editor, Susan Bischoff of The Forge Book Finishers, I couldn’t do it without you. I’m happy this one gave you joy kittens.
To the members of my Squee Squad, my ever faithful and enthusiastic cheerleaders. You’re the reason I do what I do.
And to Ben, for being a dumbass in high school and giving me story fodder all these years later.
About Kait
Kait is a Mississippi native, who often swears like a sailor, calls everyone sugar, honey, or darlin', and can wield a bless your heart like a saber or a Snuggie, depending on requirements.
You can find more information on this RITA ® Award-winning author and her books on her website http://kaitnolan.com. While you’re there, sign up for her newsletter so you don’t miss out on news about new releases!
