by Laura Kaye
Kim gave her two thumbs-up and a big smile as she looked over her shoulder. Behind her, Pete stood wearing a satisfied smile.
It was so much to take in, but most of all Marco. Her beautiful, damaged man. Along with her brother, her biggest hero. And the love of her life.
As Marco hit the second chorus, Alyssa’s legs finally acted on the command to move and she walked down the tiered entranceway to the wide aisle that ran down the middle of the venue parallel to the stage. She made it partway across when a spotlight fell on her. She froze as everyone turned, but then Marco’s gaze found her, too. And the love shining out of his gorgeous eyes beckoned her to come to him.
People reached out and shook her hand or called out enthusiastic cheers as she passed, but all she could really focus on was Marco. He missed a few notes and sang half a verse a cappella with his left arm resting in his lap. But what he’d done for her was completely, utterly perfect.
As she approached him, her heart thundered in her chest and her feet barely touched the ground. When her hand landed on the edge of the stage, Marco finished the line asking her to always be happy with him, and then he hopped off the stool, propped the guitar against it, and was down off the stage and in front of her in seconds.
Alyssa jumped into Marco’s arms and kissed him until she couldn’t breathe. She was vaguely aware of the crowd’s applause.
“I love you, Alyssa. I’m only sorry it took me so long to tell you.”
She shook her head. “You’re right on time. I can’t believe you did this, you silly, wonderful man.”
He smiled and looked more at ease than she could remember seeing him. “It’s good to be silly sometimes, right?”
She nodded. “God, I love you.”
He set her down and sank to one knee. Alyssa gasped, utterly blindsided by the sheer force of the joy that flowed through her.
Marco held up a stunning diamond that glittered in all the lights from the stage. “Alyssa Scott, I am so in love with you. Will you please be my forever and marry me?”
Alyssa nodded, then found her voice. “Oh, Marco. Yes.”
“You make me so happy, Aly.” Marco slipped the ring on her finger, rose, and pulled her in for a long, deep kiss.
“She said ‘yes!’” a man sitting in the audience near them yelled. The crowd erupted into applause and whistles.
When the kiss ended, Alyssa marveled at the band of gold surrounding her finger. The biggest of all her dreams had come true, and it felt like anything was possible. Which reminded her…
Grinning, she wrapped her arms around Marco’s neck and pushed onto her tiptoes. “So, does this mean I’ll finally get to drive Betty?”
Marco burst out laughing, and the sound was so carefree and wholehearted. He squeezed her tightly against him. “I’m in so much trouble with you, aren’t I?”
Alyssa gave him her most innocent smile. “Not if you give me everything I want.”
He shook his head, his own smile carving that sexy dimple she loved into his cheek. “That’s the plan.”
“Good. Then kiss me again.”
The kiss that followed was filled with joy and laughter, tears, and murmured words of love. After all this time, they’d found peace and love and security in the arms of the one person who had known and cared for them forever. It was more than she’d ever hoped for.
It was everything.
Acknowledgments
Sometimes characters demand to be written, and that was the case with Marco Vieri, who first came to me through the image of him sitting in the near-dark and struggling to play the guitar. Afterward, I couldn’t get him out of my mind, and he clearly had no intentions of leaving. I’m so glad he’s as stubborn as he is. Huge thanks to Lea Nolan, Stephanie Dray, and Christi Barth, who had nothing but encouragement and support to offer, though they all knew I already had eleventy-billion projects on my plate. And, as always, mad love for Heather Howland, the best editor a writer could ask for, who excels at whipping my words into shape, hand-holding, and pulling me in off the ledge, all with incredible good humor and unwavering support. Plus, she totally gets my adoration for the BDB, which makes her a worthy female indeed. Thanks, too, to my husband and girls for cheering me on. And, as always, I have complete love for my readers—the best readers a writer ever had—who welcome characters into their hearts and minds and let them tell their stories over and over again. ~LK
About the Author
An author of paranormal, contemporary, and erotic romance, Laura Kaye writes hot, heartfelt stories all about the universal desire for a place to belong. Voted Breakout Author of the Year in the 2011 GraveTells Readers’ Choice Awards, Laura is the best-selling and award-winning author of over a half dozen books. Hearts in Darkness is the 2012 EPIC eBook Award Winner for Best Novella and the 2012 VRW HOLT Medallion Award of Merit Winner for Best Romance Novella. Forever Freed won the NJRW Golden Leaf Award for Best Paranormal of 2011 and is a finalist for two 2012 GDRWA Booksellers’ Best Awards. North of Need, the first book in the Hearts of the Anemoi series, was named GraveTells’ Best Book of 2011 and won their 5-STAR Gold Heart Award, and won Sizzling Hot Read of the Year at Sizzling Hot Books. Laura lives in Maryland with her husband, two daughters, and cute-but-bad dog, and appreciates her view of the Chesapeake Bay every day.
Find out more about Laura at
www.LauraKayeAuthor.com
