“That’s fair,” she replied. “We won’t go there. And you’re right, we don’t know one another, so I may be wrong, but maybe you haven’t had a long-term situation because you never took the risk. I mean, I got experience, and some of it tore me up.” Her grin returned. “But that doesn’t mean I haven’t also had loads of fun.”
I had no reply because I knew she was right, and it wasn’t like I didn’t want to admit it, it was just that I didn’t know where to find the courage to go for it.
She got closer. “Nothing is permanent, Alex. Not peace. Not happiness. Not joy. People don’t understand that. They want those feelings all the time. But they’re just not to be had. Also not permanent?”
Her last sentence was a question, an indication she wanted to be sure I wanted her to continue imparting her wisdom on me.
Obviously, I nodded.
She continued, “Heartbreak. Or pain. Or fear.”
Holy crap.
She was right again!
“Once you understand that,” she started to sum up. “Once you get that everything comes and then it goes, you learn to take the leap.”
When I had no reply, she kept going.
“You even learn how important it is to take it.” Dani turned her head toward the bar, looked back to me, and gave me a big, encouraging smile. “Leap, sister.”
She then gave me an arm hug, let me go, and she and her panama hat floated into the bar.
I stared after her.
Then I remembered the way Rix looked when he stopped staring at my mouth, he gazed into my eyes, knew he had me, and he wanted that.
He wanted me.
“Leap,” I said under my breath.
Still totally scared to death, I nevertheless lifted my chin, headed into the bar and straight to our table.
Chloe, Judge, no Rix.
Did he take the opportunity of me leaving the table to hit the loo as well?
I was almost to my vacated chair when I noticed Chloe and Judge were not sitting close, murmuring to each other, like they had been when Rix and I were doing the same.
They were staring across the bar.
And they looked ticked.
Even Judge, who was the single most easy-going guy I’d ever met. His jaw was all tense and a muscle was flashing up his cheek.
Curious as to what was pissing even Judge off, I turned in the direction they were staring and stopped dead.
Rix was at the bar with a blonde, mountain-fresh, tanned goddess. He was also in her space, listening to her with rapt attention.
I could almost hear the propellers lifting up my heart, making it soar, splutter and give out and then it was in a nose dive.
Free falling.
I’d been gone…what?
Ten minutes?
“I gotta go,” I said, again loudly, and both Chloe and Judge’s heads swung my way.
If I wasn’t entirely engrossed in the fact my heart had crashed at my feet, I would have stepped back because Chloe looked like she was about to spit fire.
Instead, I grabbed my army-green hobo bag and tossed the long strap over my shoulder.
Judge started to rise from his seat. “Are you okay to drive?”
Damn it.
I probably wasn’t.
“I—” I began.
But Chloe was now up too. “We’ll take you home, Alex.”
“No, you guys stay…um…” I didn’t know what else to say because I couldn’t drive, and I didn’t want to make them end their night, and I couldn’t catch a thought in order to decide which of my friends to call to ask for a ride home.
It was then, my eyes, without my permission, strayed back to Rix.
My throat tightened.
But my attention was caught by something else.
And I saw Dani was now sitting behind Rix, eyes to me, and when she caught mine, she mouthed, Asshole, then she magnificently frowned.
I wanted to find that funny. I wanted to feel the bolster of female camaraderie.
I didn’t do either.
“We’re taking you home,” Judge decreed. “I just had one beer, Alex, so I’m good to drive. And Chloe and me are ready to roll.”
I bet they were, in their loved-up bliss, perfect for each other, all moved in together, building their family (of dogs, for now).
They were the best couple ever.
If you asked me a year ago, that a gal like Chloe would be it for Judge, I’d have said no.
But she was.
Top to toe, inside and out, she was sophisticated and a city girl and had traveled the world and was super rich, and she worshiped him and didn’t hide it.
She was lucky, she got that back. But that was Judge. When he found the one for him, that would always have been what he’d give.
And he did.
But me?
I was going home alone.
Again.
Having a great day, getting a promotion and a raise, heading into a future working on an amazing program doing good things for kids endowed by one of the richest men in the world, downing some drinks with good people, flirting with a gorgeous guy…and ending all of that crawling into bed alone.
Again.
Way to go Alex.
Awesome celebration.
Yay me.
Ulk.
“You sure?” I asked Judge.
“Absolutely,” Judge answered, his tone flinty.
I nodded.
We headed out, me ducking my head as I trailed behind them.
“I’ll talk to him later,” I heard Judge mutter.
I then heard Chloe reply, “You are not saying a word to him.”
“What?” Judge.
“We’ll talk. Not now.” Chloe.
We hit the door and then the cool air hit my face.
But for the first time in my life, heading outside didn’t make me feel free.
No.
Instead, it cost me a lot…
But when I stepped outside, I just stopped myself from dissolving into tears.
Discover More Kristen Ashley
Wild Wind: A Chaos Novella
By Kristen Ashley
Click here to purchase.
When he was sixteen years old, Jagger Black laid eyes on the girl who was his. At a cemetery. During her mother’s funeral.
For years, their lives cross, they feel the pull of their connection, but then they go their separate ways.
But when Jagger sees that girl chasing someone down the street, he doesn’t think twice before he wades right in. And when he gets a full-on dose of the woman she’s become, he knows he finally has to decide if he’s all in or if it’s time to cut her loose.
She’s ready to be cut loose.
But Jagger is all in.
* * *
Wild Fire: A Chaos Novella
By Kristen Ashley
Click here to purchase.
“You know you can’t keep a good brother down.”
The Chaos Motorcycle Club has won its war. But not every brother rode into the sunset with his woman on the back of his bike.
Chaos returns with the story of Dutch Black, a man whose father was the moral compass of the Club, until he was murdered. And the man who raised Dutch protected the Club at all costs. That combination is the man Dutch is intent on becoming.
It’s also the man that Dutch is going to go all out to give to his woman.
**Every 1001 Dark Nights novella is a standalone story. For new readers, it’s an introduction to an author’s world. And for fans, it’s a bonus book in the author’s series. We hope you'll enjoy each one as much as we do.**
* * *
Quiet Man: A Dream Man Novella
By Kristen Ashley
Click here to purchase
Charlotte “Lottie” McAlister is in the zone. She’s ready to take on the next chapter of her life, and since she doesn’t have a man, she’ll do what she’s done all along. She’ll take care of business on her own. Even if that business means starting a
family.
The problem is, Lottie has a stalker. The really bad kind. The kind that means she needs a bodyguard.
Enter Mo Morrison.
Enormous. Scary.
Quiet.
Mo doesn’t say much, and Lottie’s used to getting attention. And she wants Mo’s attention. Badly.
But Mo has a strict rule. If he’s guarding your body, that’s all he’s doing with it.
However, the longer Mo has to keep Lottie safe, the faster he falls for the beautiful blonde who has it so together, she might even be able to tackle the demons he’s got in his head that just won’t die.
But in the end, Lottie and Mo don’t only have to find some way to keep hands off until the threat is over, they have to negotiate the overprotective Hot Bunch, Lottie’s crazy stepdad, Tex, Mo’s crew of frat-boy commandos, not to mention his nutty sisters.
All before Lottie finally gets her Dream Man.
And Mo can lay claim to his Dream Girl.
* * *
Rough Ride: A Chaos Novella
By Kristen Ashley
Click here to purchase
Rosalie Holloway put it all on the line for the Chaos Motorcycle Club.
Informing to Chaos on their rival club—her man’s club, Bounty—Rosalie knows the stakes. And she pays them when her man, who she was hoping to scare straight, finds out she’s betrayed him and he delivers her to his brothers to mete out their form of justice.
But really, Rosie has long been denying that, as she drifted away from her Bounty, she’s been falling in love with Everett “Snapper” Kavanagh, a Chaos brother. Snap is the biker-boy-next door with the snowy blue eyes, quiet confidence and sweet disposition who was supposed to keep her safe…and fell down on that job.
For Snapper, it’s always been Rosalie, from the first time he saw her at the Chaos Compound. He’s just been waiting for a clear shot. But he didn’t want to get it after his Rosie was left bleeding, beat down and broken by Bounty on a cement warehouse floor.
With Rosalie a casualty of an ongoing war, Snapper has to guide her to trust him, take a shot with him, build a them…
And fold his woman firmly in the family that is Chaos.
* * *
Rock Chick Reawakening: A Rock Chick Novella
By Kristen Ashley
Click here to purchase
From New York Times bestselling author, Kristen Ashley, comes the long-awaited story of Daisy and Marcus, Rock Chick Reawakening. A prequel to Kristen’s Rock Chick series, Rock Chick Reawakening shares the tale of the devastating event that nearly broke Daisy, an event that set Marcus Sloane—one of Denver’s most respected businessmen and one of the Denver underground’s most feared crime bosses—into finally making his move to win the heart of the woman who stole his.
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DRAGON REVEALED by Donna Grant
A Dragon Kings Novella
CAPTURED IN INK by Carrie Ann Ryan
A Montgomery Ink: Boulder Novella
SECURING JANE by Susan Stoker
A SEAL of Protection: Legacy Series Novella
WILD WIND by Kristen Ashley
A Chaos Novella
DARE TO TEASE by Carly Phillips
A Dare Nation Novella
VAMPIRE by Rebecca Zanetti
A Dark Protectors/Rebels Novella
MAFIA KING by Rachel Van Dyken
A Mafia Royals Novella
THE GRAVEDIGGER’S SON by Darynda Jones
A Charley Davidson Novella
FINALE by Skye Warren
A North Security Novella
MEMORIES OF YOU by J. Kenner
A Stark Securities Novella
SLAYED BY DARKNESS by Alexandra Ivy
A Guardians of Eternity Novella
TREASURED by Lexi Blake
A Masters and Mercenaries Novella
THE DAREDEVIL by Dylan Allen
A Rivers Wilde Novella
BOND OF DESTINY by Larissa Ione
A Demonica Novella
THE CLOSE-UP by Kennedy Ryan
A Hollywood Renaissance Novella
MORE THAN POSSESS YOU by Shayla Black
A More Than Words Novella
HAUNTED HOUSE by Heather Graham
A Krewe of Hunters Novella
MAN FOR ME by Laurelin Paige
A Man In Charge Novella
THE RHYTHM METHOD by Kylie Scott
A Stage Dive Novella
JONAH BENNETT by Tijan
A Bennett Mafia Novella
CHANGE WITH ME by Kristen Proby
A With Me In Seattle Novella
THE DARKEST DESTINY by Gena Showalter
A Lords of the Underworld Novella
Also from Blue Box Press
THE LAST TIARA by M.J. Rose
THE CROWN OF GILDED BONES by Jennifer L. Armentrout
A Blood and Ash Novel
THE MISSING SISTER by Lucinda Riley
THE END OF FOREVER by Steve Berry and M.J. Rose
A Cassiopeia Vitt Adventure
THE STEAL by C. W. Gortner and M.J. Rose
CHASING SERENITY by Kristen Ashley
A River Rain Novel
A SHADOW IN THE EMBER by Jennifer L. Armentrout
A Flesh and Fire Novel
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Liz Berry, M.J. Rose, and Jillian Stein would like to thank ~
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Chasing Serenity Page 47
