by Reese Ryan
“But you don’t, Dale,” she said without hesitation. “You never did. And maybe you believe I’m the love of your life. But I’m sorry Dale, you aren’t mine. Now, please go back to your little girlfriend who’s been giving me the evil eye all night…or not. That’s the beauty of it. We get to choose who we love and who deserves our love. For me, that was never you, and it never will be. Honestly, I hope you find whatever it is you’re looking for. Just know that it will never be with me. I deserve better, and I know what love looks like now. I know what love feels like now. So I don’t want what you’re offering, and we need never have this conversation again.”
Lita turned and walked away from her ex, hurrying back to the party. She was furious because he’d pulled this nonsense tonight—at their daughter’s wedding.
“Lita!” Trey called. He jogged over to her. “I’ve been looking everywhere for you.”
“I’ve been looking everywhere for you, too.” She was glad to finally find him. “But it’s been one thing after another and—”
“Hey, Mom, Meeka is looking for you.” Her son Devante called from the tent where the photo booth was set up. We want to take a quick family photo before I have to go.”
“All right, sweetheart. I’ll be right there,” Lita called, then turned to Trey. Her head was still swimming from her conversation with Dale. “I’m sorry, Trey. Do you mind if—”
“I love you, Lita,” Trey said, sounding breathless.
“You…what?” She swallowed hard, her heart racing. It wasn’t that she couldn’t believe it. Because everything Trey did, everything he said felt like love. But he hadn’t ever said the words. They hadn’t ever said the words. And now he had.
Trey swallowed hard and straightened his tie. His heart was pounding in his chest when he took her hands in his. Yet, he couldn’t help smiling, because he’d finally said the words he’d wanted to say to Lita for so long.
“I love you, sweetheart. I have for a long time, but it just felt too fast and too perfect and, if I’m being honest…scary as hell. I haven’t felt this way about someone in so long. I was afraid to trust my instincts. That little voice telling me I’d found the one. But I knew…I have known…that I love you for months now. I’ve just been trying to find the right time and way to say it. Celebrating Jamil and Meeka’s love tonight…it made me realize that I don’t want to let another moment pass without telling you how much you mean to me, Lita. And I realize that for you, it’s probably too soon to—”
“Trey, I love you, too. I’ve felt this way for a while, so I’m not just saying it because that’s what you want to hear. I’m saying it because my heart has never felt so full, and I’ve never been as happy as I am with you.” Her voice broke and her eyes filled with tears.
He took her in his arms and captured her lips in a kiss. They both laughed nervously. He was buoyed by a sense of joy and relief that what he was feeling wasn’t one-sided. Trey kissed her again. This time the kiss was hotter, deeper, and more intense.
Suddenly, there was whistling and applause. When they glanced up, Lita’s friends Mercedes, Jillaine, and Nicole were cheering, as was Meeka. His brother Ford was whistling, and several of the reception guests were clapping and smiling at them.
“Sorry,” he said. “I didn’t mean to cause a scene, I swear.”
Lita grinned, then slipped her hand in his. “We’d better get back to the party. I’m pretty sure it’s poor etiquette for the parents of the bride and groom to make out at the reception.”
“One more thing.” He held her hand firm, not budging. “I’d love it if you moved in with me at the beach house permanently.”
“That’s a big boy move, babe. You sure you’re ready for that?”
His heart squeezed in his chest, and a wide smile spread across his face. “Sweetheart, I’ve never been more ready for anything in my life.”
“Then yes, Trey. I’d love to.” Lita grinned. “Now c’mon. We’re being awful hosts.”
They walked to the photobooth where Lita took a photo with her children—Meeka and Devante. He looked on and smiled. The three of them had become a big part of his life these past few months.
“Dad, c’mon. Get in here.” Meeka said. But when he turned around, expecting to see her father, Dale, she shook her head and pointed at him. Then she called over Jamil and Jason too.
“Now this is a proper family photo.” Meeka smiled at him, and Lita did too.
When he’d met Lita, he’d known there was something about her that had drawn him in. That she was special. The kind of woman he could fall for. And he’d been right.
This was love. This was family. It was all he’d ever wanted and so much more.
Epilogue
Three Months Later
* * *
Lita and Trey huddled together on the sofa in Meeka’s maternity room. The room was dim, and her daughter was sound asleep after a challenging pregnancy and a difficult delivery. Her husband, Jamil, had fallen asleep midsentence in the chair beside her bed. His father had covered him with a blanket, and they were trying to be as quiet as they could so they wouldn’t wake either of them.
Lita held baby Malia in her arms, swaddled in a soft, ivory blanket. A cute, colorful, knit cap with a bow was tugged down over her head.
Malia Hampton had been an impatient little thing. Scheduled to arrive on Christmas Eve, she’d arrived two full weeks ahead of her due date, instead. But she’d taken her time making her debut to the world, putting her mother, who’d insisted on a completely natural birth, through sixteen hard hours of labor. But baby girl was here now, and every moment they’d waited for her had been worth it.
Malia was both Lita and Trey’s first grandchild. And they’d already gone overboard buying everything they thought she might possibly need.
Lita had convinced the kids to spend the first few weeks back at the pool house so she could help with the baby. They’d already set the space up with a darling little bassinet.
Trey leaned down and pressed another kiss to his granddaughter’s forehead. Baby girl stretched and yawned before falling back to sleep. His arm was draped around Lita’s shoulder as they both watched Malia sleep. “I’m so grateful for this little girl,” Trey said with a soft smile, his voice filled with emotion. “Without her, I might never have met you.”
Lita’s eyes got misty. She nodded, adjusting the baby’s blanket. “I often think about that too. Because I can’t imagine my world without you in it.”
Suddenly, Trey’s eyes looked misty too. He lifted Lita’s chin and dropped a soft kiss on her lips. “That’s exactly how I feel.”
Trey reached into the pocket of his jacket, laying across the end of the couch. “I got you something.” He opened a ticket wallet, so she could see its contents.
Her eyes widened. “You booked that European tour we talked about. Oh, honey, this is amazing. Thank you.” Lita’s eyes filled with tears. She tried to brush them away before they fell onto the sleeping infant.
“Actually, that’s Part Two of my surprise.” Trey flashed a giddy grin. Then he retrieved a black ring box from his coat pocket and popped it open. “I was hoping that trip to Europe would be our honeymoon.” His grin deepened and his dark eyes shone with emotion. He held her free hand. “You are everything I’ve ever wanted in a woman, Lita Woods. I’m so grateful to have you in my life. That you’re already a part of my family. But it would make me the happiest man in the world to have you as my wife and partner for the rest of our lives. Please say you will, because I can’t imagine my world without you in it, either.”
Lita nodded wildly, tears flowing down her face as she said yes again and again quietly so she wouldn’t wake Meeka, Jamil, or Malia. She leaned into Trey, and he kissed her lips, then the top of her head as she cuddled against him.
Trey was her soulmate and the love of her life. The man she was meant to be with. One day they’d tell their granddaughter the story of how she’d been the guiding star that had brought the two of them toget
her.
Acknowledgments
Thank you to the team at Rose Gold Press— Sheryl Lister, Sherelle Green, Leslie Wright, and Angela Seals—for inviting me to be one of their inaugural “roses,” and for giving a home to this story of grown folks finding their soulmate in this next chapter of their lives.
Thank you to all of the readers who buy, read, review, and share stories of Black love. Your continued support means so much.
May we all be brave enough to live our very best lives. Because we deserve it.
About the Author
Reese Ryan writes sexy, emotional romance with captivating family drama, surprising secrets, and complicated characters.
A panelist at the 2017 Los Angeles Times Festival of Books, a two-time recipient of the Donna Hill Breakout Author Award, and a finalist in the inaugural Romance Writers of America Vivian Awards, Reese is an advocate for the romance genre and diversity in fiction.
Connect with Reese via Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or at ReeseRyan.com. Join her VIP Readers Lounge at http://bit.ly/VIPReadersLounge. Check out her YouTube show where romance readers and authors connect at https://bit.ly/ReeseRyanChannel.
Also by Reese Ryan
Indie Standalones:
Playing by the Rules
The Rival Bid
Candidly Yours
Pleasure Cove Series:
Playing with Desire
Playing with Temptation
“His Holiday Gift” in Never Christmas Without You Anthology
Playing with Seduction
The Complete Pleasure Cove Collection
* * *
Bourbon Brothers Series:
Savannah’s Secrets
The Billionaire’s Legacy
Engaging The Enemy
A Reunion of Rivals
Waking Up Married
* * *
Texas Cattleman Club:
Secret Heir Seduction (Texas Cattleman’s Club: Inheritance)
Off Limits Lovers (Texas Cattleman’s Club: Houston)
His Until Midnight (Texas Cattleman’s Club: Bachelor Auction)
Ours Is A Story That Needs To Be Told
We hope you enjoyed this Rose Gold Press Romance!
Romantic. Original. Sexy. Expressive.
Some dream in black and white, but we dream in color. Our mission is to publish quality Black romance and women’s fiction novels and novellas. As a culture, ours is a story that needs to be told and this is our contribution to the many black and brown readers who have been clamoring for stories about us and for us.
To receive exclusive sneak peaks, bonus content, news about our latest releases, and sign up for our newsletter, visit us at rosegoldpress.com.
