Come On (Coming Together Book 2)

by Poppy Dunne

  “If you don’t try, I’ll have to be on you day and night.” I lean down to flick my tongue across the peak of her nipple. Come to think of it, I’d probably be on her day and night regardless. “Are you nearly done?”

  “Mmmhmm.” She plays with my hair. “I know what the ending is. Spoilers.” She grins. “Roran manages to take the king’s throne. Taisa is declared his captain of the guard, but it’s bittersweet. They can’t be together because of her station.”

  I frown. “No one wants that.”

  She gapes at me. “Suddenly you’re so knowledgeable about fantasy?”

  “I’m knowledgeable about what I think is good.” I roll over and pull her against me, resting my chin on the crown of her head. “You can’t put them both through that much shit and then have her only be his captain.”

  “But it’s realistic!” I feel her giggle, though. “There are rules.”

  “Reality’s exhausting enough. Also, you have magical talking cats and wind wraiths in your book. You can fudge the rules a little.”

  “So, the old cliché then?” she teases, tilting her head as she looks at me. “She becomes his queen, and they ride off into the sunset?”

  “You could buck tradition and have it be a sunrise.” I kiss her. “But making her his queen? That sounds about right.”

  Twenty-Three

  Tessa

  Six months later

  “We could have spent the start of summer in the Maldives,” Rafe grumbles into my hair. We’re seated on a bench in Central Park beneath a tree, dappled, green-filtered light scattered around our feet. In the distance, Gramps is walking up and down slowly while hanging onto John’s arm. The new medication he’s on has been working like a miracle. There’s no reversing the dementia, of course, but he’s much more lucid than he used to be. Behind him, Becca and Gabe are chasing after a model airplane. Looks like Gabe’s outpacing my sister. That kid’s going to be a track and field star one day.

  “The Maldives? And miss family time in the park?” I tease him as I lay my head on his shoulder. Rafe grumbles, but I know he likes this much more than he’s willing to let on. After a lifetime of “family” being an abstract idea, something that causes more pain than joy, both Rafe and John getting adopted into the Snowe clan has been a wild ride. John’s a natural father figure to Gabe, and he loves Becca beyond all reason. Two big things in his favor.

  Meanwhile, Rafe is more the surly uncle who offered to buy Gabe a beer when he turned four to celebrate. He had to settle for ice cream instead.

  “Besides, we just got back from Paris.” Rafe called it our six-month anniversary. When I reminded him anniversary means “year,” he threw me onto the hotel bed and worked until I forgot my own name…and the dictionary definition of anniversary.

  We stand up and stroll along after our collective family. “And before that, it was Hong Kong,” I add. “We can’t keep traveling all the time.” After I got my passport, Rafe made sure I started getting better acquainted with the world. Getting better acquainted with him, as well.

  So far, it couldn’t be better.

  “Hong Kong was business, mixed with pleasure.” He grins wickedly. “A lot of pleasure.”

  True. When we weren’t in meetings, we were in our hotel room. Not a lot of sightseeing on that trip.

  Six months on, and Rafe’s taken McCarthy Pharma by storm. I blush to admit it, but even I didn’t think he’d do as well as he’s doing. At least, not so quickly. Then again, he’s told me I’m his secret weapon, and I’d hate to disagree. Between taking care of Gramps, work, and a lot of wonderful one-on-one time with Rafe, I haven’t had that much energy for anything else.

  Well, not entirely. I did finish my book, as a matter of fact. And I also managed to find myself a literary agent.

  Which is the reason I keep checking my email like a madwoman. Rafe notices.

  “It’s only been two weeks,” he reminds me. He leans down and kisses the back of my neck. “What can I do to distract you?” His voice gets husky, and I bite my lip.

  “Unfortunately nothing that can be done in full sight of our nearest and dearest.”

  “This is a park, Tessa. There are trees. Bushes. The occasional fern. We can disappear for a few minutes.”

  I raise an eyebrow. “A few, you say?”

  “More like fifteen. Minimum.”

  “Should we catch up? Gabe looks like he lost his plane.” Yep, my little nephew and Becca are hunting around in the bushes up ahead of us. Rafe makes a face.

  “I think we should let the younger people handle that.”

  “Becca’s older than both of us.”

  “Tell her from me she looks wonderfully spry.”

  I kiss him; he has no objections, if the clandestine grab of my ass is any indication. “Fine. We won’t help the crying child. Should we go over all the excruciating details of your meeting tomorrow? The new blood pressure drug’s about to be tested, and we need to discuss—”

  “Let’s go find the plane, you monster.” He stops me first and kisses me again, harder. God, it really would be heaven just to slip off into the bushes. I don’t even mind that a bunch of kids playing soccer kick the ball past us, yelling at us to get out of the way. I could be mistaken, but I think Rafe flips them off. Ah, the joys of childhood. “We can discuss business later, when we’re suitably undressed,” he murmurs. It’s true; we conduct our best meetings while sweaty and naked. Once he’s had a couple of orgasms, Rafe McCarthy is ready for any briefing you care to give him. He might fall asleep in the middle of it, but he’s ready.

  Business is much better without Scott and Brad. They don’t speak with Rafe anymore. Apart from John, all the McCarthys have cut him dead, which is the way he wants it. Last I heard, Scott was thinking of getting into politics.

  I shudder at the thought, but I try not to worry. With Brad around, Scott’s ambitions will likely be hampered. It’s hard to get anywhere with a belligerent moron at your side.

  While Rafe and I catch up with the others, I whip out my phone. I’m a bit guilty as I check my email for just this one last time. After this, I swear I’ll put it away and forget it. Enjoy family time. Enjoy Rafe. Enjoy—

  An email from my literary agent. An email that reads CONGRATULATIONS in the subject line. I stop dead; I nearly fall over. In fact, I think those kids whack me with their soccer ball, but I don’t feel it. Much.

  Hands trembling, I open the message.

  Tessa—

  Del Rey wants to buy OF THORNS AND SHADOWS. Offer’s better than expected, but I can get more. They want two books. Can you do a sequel? Are you free to talk this afternoon? We’ve got a lot to discuss.

  Congratulations!!!!

  “What’s wrong?” Rafe’s noticed my sudden impersonation of a living statue. My legs don’t work. My hands are numb. I think my lungs have deflated.

  If this is what dying feels like, it’s better than I could have dreamed.

  “My book. They’re publishing. Look. My.” I’m not speaking correct English, but I’m so damn happy I don’t need to.

  Well, pretty sure I need English to write my next book and holy shit I’m going to have two published books. Roran and Taisa will have to postpone their honeymoon for another adventure.

  Rafe reads the email, swears colorfully, and lifts me up. He kisses me hard, his stubble a scrape against my skin. Sharing the news with him is the only thing better than getting that email.

  Being able to share every single moment with him is better, really. Nothing beats that.

  “I think we should tell the others.” He kisses my neck and sets me down. His eyes gleam with excitement. “I’m so damn proud of you.”

  “It wouldn’t have happened without you.” We walk to the others, hand in hand. “You pushed me to finish and find an agent. Plus, you’re a very helpful model for Roran.” The sex scene, especially. My agent, Candace, told me she got hot and bothered reading it. Practice makes perfect, after all.

  “See? I was right.
People love a good happy ending.” He pulls me close and kisses me again.

  He’s right. Happy family? Vanquished evil king? Hot sex? True love?

  You don’t get a more perfect ending than that.

  Books by Poppy Dunne

  Fun Love Series

  Extra Credit

  Room Service

  Breaking Rules

  Coming Together Series

  Come On

  Come Again

  Come Over

  Acknowledgments

  I’m most appreciative to Lauren Blakely for reading this book and giving me the confidence to publish it. It’s wild that so much grace, wit, and talent can fit in such a wee frame, but there you have it. It’s a wild world.

  To all the authors, bloggers, readers, and friends who keep my spirits up on social media, and some in real life. You know who you are: if I laugh at your memes, love pictures of your pets and kids, and cheer on your accomplishments, thank you.

  Melissa Gaston created this sexy cover and promotional graphics for Come On, and I'm so appreciative for her creativity and professionalism.

  Thank you to Candi Kane PR for help in releasing and promoting this book. You make it easy and fun.

  I’m very glad this book found a home at Paige Press. It’s so cozy here, and chock full of kick ass ladies. I’ve loved working with you.

  Lastly, thank you to everyone from neighbors buying neighbors groceries to sexy duos exposing ruthless corporate executives. Smile by smile, kindness by kindness, espionage by espionage, you make the world a better place. And if I bump into you in a bodega in Queens, the gummy bears are on me.

  About the Author

  Poppy writes books with relatable heroines who speak their minds and whose riotous inner dialogue reflects their complex characters. Her goal is to deliver a story that has equal parts heart, romance and humor. She loves writing characters who are relatable, especially heroines whose inner dialogue remind readers of themselves. Her heroes are swoon worthy, yet hold on to your suspension of disbelief, because they pick up their own socks and cook.

  In her free time, she looks for hobbies other than Netflix and rage-tweeting. She lives in Los Angeles with her husband and children.