by Lexi Ryan
My head pounds as I gingerly rise from the bed to hunt down my clothes. My breath comes faster and faster, and I start to count the beats of my inhales and exhales to force myself not to panic.
Did we have a clichéd drunken Vegas wedding?
I shake my head, then brace myself on the bedside table when the room spins. I never would have married Marston. That’s a childhood fantasy, and there’s too much at stake to indulge such whims now. And him? No, He wouldn’t risk his fortune on a whim.
Just one band, Brinley. Just an engagement ring. This isn’t good, but it could be so much worse.
I find my shoes at the foot of the bed, my bra and dress on the walnut dining table in the main part of the suite, and my panties . . . my panties are nowhere to be found.
I vaguely wonder if I lost them in the suite or long before we made it back here.
How much did I drink last night? Did someone slip me something?
I wriggle into my dress and loop the straps of my heels on two fingers. I need to get out of here. I sigh in relief when I see my clutch on the desk and find my wallet inside.
Where is he? And why didn’t I get his damn phone number?
But maybe it’s a blessing he’s not here . . . and that I have no memory of last night or his proposal. Maybe it’s easier this way.
I grab a pen and piece of hotel stationery and scribble a note to leave on the dresser.
Marston,
* * *
I’m so sorry. I don’t know what I was thinking last night, but I can’t. We can’t.
* * *
Please forgive me.
* * *
Love,
Brin
When I pull the ring off my finger, I swear something tears loose in my chest, unraveling years of pent-up emotions. I shove them back down and drop the ring on top of the note.
The room spins, and it’s so tempting to go back to bed. Wherever he is, he’ll be back soon.
But my daughter is waiting for me at home, and if Marston knew about her, he never would’ve put this ring on my finger.
Marston
I practically race to the elevator to get back to my room.
I’m not sure I’ve ever seen anything more gorgeous than Brinley tangled in my sheets, naked, with my ring on her finger. Except maybe her smile last night when we said our vows in that quiet little chapel, the way those blue eyes brimmed with happy tears when I said I do.
Alec told me I could skip the meeting this morning, which said a lot, since he knows I never miss out on business. Hell, if he’d known Brinley and I ended up getting married last night, he probably would’ve insisted I skip it. God knows I considered it.
I woke wrapped around Brinley, one leg thrown over hers, one hand between her breasts. She was clinging to that hand in her sleep, and I didn’t want to pull away. But this is who I am now. A man who’s true to his word. A man respected by the best in the business. I need to be that man now more than ever—to prove to her, to myself, that I’m not the screwed-up kid I used to be, that I’m worthy of her and this life we’re going to build together.
The elevator dings as the doors slide open on my floor, and I smile, imagining crawling back into bed. I hate that I had to leave her the morning after our wedding, but making it up to her is something to look forward to.
I slide my key into the card reader and push into the room. The hair on the back of my neck prickles, and immediately, I know something’s wrong.
“Brinley?” I walk through the suite, looking for any sign of her, but even before I see the ring on the dresser, I already know she’s gone.
* * *
The End
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Brinley and Marston’s story continues and concludes in Every Little Piece of Me, the first book in the Orchid Valley series. Please join me back in Orchid Valley for their happily ever after! If you’d like to receive an email when I release their book, please sign up for my newsletter.
I hope you enjoyed this book and will consider leaving a review. Thank you for reading. It’s an honor!
Acknowledgments
I’m so thankful for everyone who helped me as this book grew from an idea to a reality. As always, to my family first. Brian, Jack, and Mary—thank you for believing in me and inspiring me to be my very best. To my mom and siblings—thank you for all of your support and for making me want to write big casts of characters forever.
* * *
I’m lucky enough to have a life full of amazing friends. Thanks to my writing friends who sprint with me and talk me off the ledge when the book looks like a disaster. To my hand-holding, hair-stroking, and pep-talking best bitches, Mira Lyn Kelly and Lisa Kuhne, my eternal gratitude to you and to unlimited texting plans. To the Goldbrickers and the ladies in my Slack group, thank you for helping me remember the power of consistency.
* * *
To everyone who provided me feedback on this story along the way—especially Heather Carver, Samantha Leighton, Tina Allen, Lisa Kuhne, Dina Littner, Nancy Miller, and Janice Owen—you’re all awesome. I appreciate you all so much!
* * *
I have the best editorial team. It truly takes a village. Lauren Clarke and Rhonda Merwarth, thank you for the insightful line and content edits. You push me to be a better writer and make my stories the best they can be. Thanks to Arran McNicol at Editing720 and Theresa Kohler at Oxford Comma Editing for proofreading. I’ve worked hard to put together this team, and I’m proud of it!
* * *
Thank you to the people who helped me package this book and promote it. Sara Eirew took the gorgeous cover photo and Hang Le did the design and branding for the whole series. Nina and Social Butterfly PR, thank you so much for all your work! I love working with you and your awesome assistants! To all of the bloggers, bookstagrammers, readers, and reviewers who help spread the word about my books, I am humbled by the time you take out of your busy lives for my stories. My gratitude will never be enough, but it is sincere. You’re the best.
* * *
To my agent, Dan Mandel, for believing in me and always believing the best is yet to come. Thanks to you and your team for getting my books into the hands of readers all over the world.
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Finally, the biggest, loudest, most necessary thank you to my fans. Because of you, I’m living my dream. I couldn’t do it without you. You’re the coolest, smartest, best readers in the world. I appreciate each and every one of you!
* * *
XOXO,
Lexi
Other Books by Lexi Ryan
Orchid Valley
Every Little Promise (Brinley and Marston’s prequel)
Every Little Piece of Me (Brinley and Marston’s story)
Every Sweet Regret (Stella and Kace’s story, coming late 2020)
And more to be announced later!
* * *
The Boys of Jackson Harbor
The Wrong Kind of Love (Ethan’s story)
Straight Up Love (Jake’s story)
Dirty, Reckless Love (Levi’s story)
Wrapped in Love (Brayden’s story)
Crazy for Your Love (Carter’s story)
If It’s Only Love (Shay’s story)
* * *
The Blackhawk Boys
Spinning Out (Arrow’s story)
Rushing In (Chris’s story)
Going Under (Sebastian’s story)
Falling Hard (Keegan’s story)
In Too Deep (Mason’s story)
* * *
LOVE UNBOUND: Four series, one small town, lots of happy endings
* * *
Splintered Hearts (A Love Unbound Series)
Unbreak Me (Maggie’s story)
Stolen Wishes: A Wish I May Prequel Novella (Will and Cally’s prequel)
Wish I May (Will and Cally’s novel)
Or read them together in the omnibus edition, Splintered Hearts: The New Hope Trilogy
* * *
Here and Now (A Love Unbound Serie
s)
Lost in Me (Hanna’s story begins)
Fall to You (Hanna’s story continues)
All for This (Hanna’s story concludes)
Or read them together in the omnibus edition, Here and Now: The Complete Series
* * *
Reckless and Real (A Love Unbound Series)
Something Reckless (Liz and Sam’s story begins)
Something Real (Liz and Sam’s story concludes)
Or read them together in the omnibus edition, Reckless and Real: The Complete Series
* * *
Mended Hearts (A Love Unbound Series)
Playing with Fire (Nix’s story)
Holding Her Close (Janelle and Cade’s story)
* * *
OTHER TITLES
Hot Contemporary Romance
Text Appeal
Accidental Sex Goddess
* * *
Decadence Creek (Short and Sexy Romance)
Just One Night
Just the Way You Are
About the Author
Lexi Ryan is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of emotional romance that sizzles. A former academic and English professor, Lexi considers herself the luckiest girl around to make a living through storytelling. She loves spending time with her crazy kids, weightlifting, ice cream, swoony heroes, and vodka martinis.
Lexi lives in Indiana with her husband, two children, and a spoiled dog. You can find her on her website.
