Lips On My Heart
Page 34
Jim and Stella look doubtfully at one another. Stella clears her throat. “We admit we liked Jacob, but we had no idea how manipulative he was. Even after Josephine told us what he did to her at the firm, we had a hard time accepting it. He called us constantly, filling our heads with these lies, and it was easy to believe him, especially after Josephine quit her job and came back home. She wasn’t acting like herself, and she would hardly talk. When we started questioning her why she would just quit without notice, without another job, and asking how she was going to start a company with nothing…”
Stella shakes her head before continuing. “She got so angry and accused us of not supporting her when we were only concerned. And then she was gone the next day, moved out to Fort Collins. She refused to answer our phone calls or texts. For the longest time, we didn’t even know where she lived. We talked to Jacob because she didn’t talk to us, and we believed him over her. How is she ever going to look past our mistake?” Stella turns to Jim and cries into his shoulder.
“I’m not saying it’s going to be easy and I’m not saying there aren’t going to be hurt feelings. If you want a relationship with your daughter, you’ll find a way to get through to her. I will do what I can on my end to see she at least gives you a chance. You have to understand your daughter truly believes you had no faith in her ability to start her own company, or to find a decent man. She’s under the assumption you believe she’s inept, or doesn’t deserve a fighting chance. You have to be prepared for backlash,” I confess.
Her parents both nod, and I hope they follow through. Josephine deserves to have her family’s love.
“I would like you both to come to our wedding, Simone as well. We’re getting married the first Saturday of October. If you could come maybe a week beforehand, I think that will give you enough time to get comfortable with each other before the big day. I’m hoping that by then, we will have gotten Josephine to hear you out. But please, let me talk to her first before you guys show up—she has been through enough, and if she’s really adamant against this, I’m not going to force her to go through a family reunion.”
Stella’s eyes go wide. “Married this October? Why so soon?”
Eager for the big day, I smile down at Josephine’s mother. “I know it seems like it’s happening fast, but we’ve been waiting for each other forever. We’re ready to start our lives together, give you some grandkids,” I say, winking.
Stella’s hands fly to her face and she turns to beam up at her husband. “Grandbabies!” She coos enthusiastically.
“I’ve got plenty of land up in Colorado. I can have Josephine build you guys a cottage on the property. You can visit as often as you want,” I offer with a smile.
Stella is bouncing like Josephine does when she gets excited. Jim shakes his head and smiles at his wife adoringly.
Looking at both of them, I know I’ve done the right thing. Josephine is going to see my actions as treacherous and make me beg for mercy. But this is her family. As much as they may have screwed up, I don’t believe they meant her ill.
“I should go,” I say. “My VP and I need to head back before my future bride has my head.”
“You and your friend should stay for dinner. I’ve been working on a brisket all day and it will be done soon,” Jim offers. “Stella makes a great cornbread, too.”
I smile at them because I can see a bright future ahead of us. I head to the door and whistle to Gauge.
“My in-laws invited us for dinner. Come meet the family,” I say with a cocky-ass grin.
Playlist for Lips On My Heart
Maceo
1. Frank Turner—Photosynthesis
2. Lenny Kravitz—Again
3. Harry Styles—Adore You
4. Bruce Springsteen—I’m On Fire
5. Bon Iver—Skinny Love
6. Ben L’Once Soul—I’ve Got You Under My Skin (Frank Sinatra Cover)
7. Depeche Mode—Enjoy The Silence
8. David Gray—Please Forgive Me
9. Teddy Swims—Let Me Love You (Mario Cover)
10. Local Natives—When Am I Gonna Lose You
11. Wild Cub—Thunder Clatter
12. Ian Smith—The Man Who Can’t Be Moved (The Script Cover)
13. Cold Play—Fix You
14. Kings of Leon—Wait For Me
15. Mumford and Sons—Woman
16. Kaleo—I Want More
17 Vance Joy—I’m With You
Josephine
1. Billie Eilish ft. Khalid—Lovely
2. Young the Giant—Superposition
3. The Gaslight Anthem—The Queen of Lower Chelsea
4. James Bay—Let It Go
5. LP—Tightrope
6. Vance Joy—Fire and Flood
7. The Noisettes—Cheap Kicks
8. Of Monsters and Men—Slow and Steady
9. Sara Bareilles—Gravity
10. The Chainsmokers—Inside Out
11 The Rolling Stones—Wild Horses
12. Peter Katz—Halo (Beyonce Cover)
13. Brandon Flowers—Crossfire (Acoustic)
14. Florence + the Machine—All This and Heaven Too
15. The Killers—Some Kind of Love
Enjoy on YouTube.com or purchase on iTunes.
Coming Soon
Lips On My Soul—A Mercy Ravens MC Novel 2
Their love story continues…
Maceo and Josephine have overcome so much in their new romance, but their challenges are far from over—if anything, their troubles are only starting.
The headstrong and independent Josephine Holland is a former shell of herself after surviving her stalker, plagued by night terrors and uneasiness of something—someone—lurking in the shadows. Josephine can’t help but feel she is losing her grip on sanity, fearing the worst is yet to come.
The love of her life, Maceo Tabares, refuses to sit back and watch her shrink inside the recesses of her mind—he takes command and helps her rebuild herself into someone stronger than she could have ever imagined.
However, Maceo has not made it this long in his life without listening to his instincts. Taking a page out of Josephine book, Maceo follows the illogical route, taking Josephine’s fears seriously, and digs to discover the root of her worries is far more serious than her imagination.
With Josephine’s estrange family back in the picture, wedding preparations, unplanned build projects, Mercy Ravens missions, spies creeping, leaked personal files, and a hacker causing all kinds of headaches—life throws Maceo and Josephine lots of hilarious curve balls and heart-shattering moments. And of course there’s always Esteban Moreno to worry about.
But a threat closer to home may be their biggest obstacle—Mafioso Don, Lorenzo Bianchi. Lorenzo’s unhealthy attachment to Josephine is only growing by the day, and he has no intention on backing off, no matter how many threats Maceo makes.
Will Josephine be able to overcome her own personal fears and be able to use the safety techniques that Maceo has taught her to protect herself from all those who wish to harm her? Will Maceo be able to help Josephine to heal emotionally so she can move forward? Are they doomed to fall apart at the hands of their enemies, or will love, once again, triumph?
Acknowledgments
I’d like to take a moment to personally thank some very special people who helped me in my writing journey.
First, my husband, Matthew. Thank you for your never ending love, support, and encouragement. You were the real driving force for me taking the leap into self-publishing. You are my #1.
Second, my three boys. Thanks for always being excited about your mom becoming a published author and keeping the volume down when I needed to work.
Third, my parents, Paul and Darrell. Even though you may be slightly embarrassed by your daughter’s choice of writing, thank you for encouraging me to not give up.
Fourth, my sister, Sam. Thanks for being the first to read my story. Your enthusiasm was my drug of choice. You will always be my go-to person when I h
ave new material.
Fifth, my grandma, Dorothy. Thanks for always sharing your personal stories with me. You made me want to be a writer.
Sixth, my girlfriends. Sarah, Laura, and Serena. Whether you supported me by reading and correcting my book, or offering words of motivation—you have inspired me.
And seventh, my editor, Christa Desir. I know it needed a lot of work when I sent you my manuscript, but you didn’t back down. Your suggestions and corrections were over and above what I could have hoped for in an editor.
About the Author
M.J Marino—lover of great stories and putting pen to paper. She lives in Waukesha, Wisconsin with her husband, Matthew, and their three boys. Walking away from her career as a chemist, she has plunged herself into writing, pursuing a lifelong dream, and has no regrets. She writes what she wants and makes no excuses for it. Aside from writing, M.J. loves to read, garden, listen to music while singing along, organize her home, coffee, and bourbon—lots of bourbon.
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