Travis wasn’t content with the chaste kiss she’d planted on his cheek and pulled her up to lie on top of him, their skin deliciously pressed together. “Wow. You’re like the energy bunny,” she said as she felt evidence that he was ready to get better acquainted again. “You just keep going and going…”
“That’s not a complaint, is it?” he asked and nuzzled her neck.
“It’s just an observation.” She tilted her head to the side to give him better access, closing her eyes and enjoying the feeling of his touch. His scent. His…everything. Another smile tugged at her mouth. “An observation based on…what was it you said? My wit? Intelligence?”
“Are you fishing for another compliment? I should have added how stubborn and controlling you were.” But she felt him smile as he said this.
“Is that right?” She sat up, careful to wiggle just the right amount to cause him discomfort. “And those are bad things?” She leaned down and bit his bottom lip, pulling back as he tried to deepen the kiss. “Maybe you just don’t have enough experience with women in control to realize how good that can be.”
She moved again, and he groaned.
“I’m sorry, did you have something to add?” she asked sweetly.
“Not at all. Just keep doing what you’re doing.” But his eyes were open now, and he was grinning again. “Because I know one thing about you. You never will fail to amaze and surprise me, Meredith Sanders.”
She squeezed her knees, earning another groan, and laughed. “You’d better believe it.”
Then she proceeded to show him just how amazing and surprising she could be.
She maybe even surprised herself.
Epilogue
Travis watched as Meredith fought back tears as she said good-bye to her daughter. Something she seemed to give herself permission to do a lot more these days. “You’re going to call me the minute you arrive.”
“Yes, Mom. And I’ll call or email you every night. I promise.” Darcy let Meredith wrap her arms around her and squeeze her like a python as she leveled a look at him. “If she’s this bad when she drops me off at Wellesley in two weeks, I’m canceling her plane ticket.”
“Smart-ass,” he said and chuckled.
“I mean it,” Darcy said, pulling back. “I’m only camping with Cassidy and her parents for four days. Two hours away.”
But he could see that despite her objection, Darcy was secretly pleased by her mom’s overwhelming and constant stream of love and affection. As Meredith had told Travis, she was never going to let anyone doubt her love for anyone she cared about. Particularly when it came to her daughter. And him.
“Lord help you, Travis, if you’re still letting Mom spearhead the opening of your security company’s Salt Lake branch.”
“It’s temporary,” they said at the same time, even though he might be the only one who meant it.
Having Meredith know everything that was going on, every case he was on, was making him bat-shit crazy. As was the way she had of distracting him, from keeping his eyes on his target while doing a job, what with her various disguises—like last night’s surveillance, for instance, which had seen her outfitted in fishnet stockings and a leather skirt that was more like a headband than an item of clothing. It had taken every iota of strength for him not to rip through those stockings and have her mount him right there during a job. Now later…that was another thing.
The Tuckers honked, and Darcy turned to go. “Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do, you guys,” she called over her shoulder.
Meredith grinned and came to stand next to him. He slid his hand familiarly down her ass while they waved good-bye. They stood another moment on the porch until they couldn’t see the Subaru any longer, and he whispered down into her ear, “Are you sure I can’t convince you into a little detour from tonight’s plans? You know that trapeze arrived from Amazon yesterday. I have it hidden under your bed—you just say the word.”
She turned to stare into his eyes, her brown eyes warm and filled with mirth. “Nice try, buster. You’re only saying that because it’s my turn to drive.”
She had him there, although he couldn’t deny the diversion could be interesting. He followed her to the Rover, watching her ass sway under the flowing, almost sheer dress. She’d worn that on purpose. He climbed in and buckled up as she started the car.
The stereo was kicked up high, playing one of his favorite Cake songs. Then he realized something.
“Wait. You were driving the Rover last. I thought you hated my music.”
“Yeah, well, it’s like you. It grows on me. Now…where are we going?”
He sat back in the seat and stared at this woman. The memory of her had tormented him for so long. Beautiful, strong, smart, and loyal. And unpredictable enough to make him wonder what she had in store for him next. “You tell me. You’re the one who spoke to Jace this morning.”
“Which reminds me,” she said and threw the car in reverse and backed up, “I might have let the bag out on our little secret. But I think my question of whether spousal medical expenses should include weekly yoga classes is a pertinent one. I’ve met some of your coworkers, and they’re sexy as hell. It’s only a matter of time before they’re all engaged. These benefits will really be helpful. I let him know, of course, I’d be happy to take the lead on research.”
“I bet you did.”
She looked over at him and put the car in drive. Pausing. “Have I mentioned how sexy you are and how much I love you? That you make me happy each and every day?”
“Not for the past ten minutes.”
She pulled the car to the curb. “Well, maybe I have a few more minutes to spare,” she said and slipped the seat belt off and leaned over.
But he held back. “A few minutes? You wound me.”
“I say a few minutes only because Bill Thomas should be returning from work in the next seven minutes, and he might have a stroke if he saw the moves I’m about to lay on your ass.”
“Then you’d better hurry.”
Life was good. And it was only going to get better.
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Acknowledgments
Thanks, as always, to the amazing Entangled crew, especially my editor, Alycia, and copy editor, Sara Brady, for all their efforts to help make this book the best it can be.
To the readers who have so many choices out there and were wonderful enough to give me a chance to entertain them.
And always and forever the biggest hugs and kisses to my family, for always being my most ardent fans.
About the Author
Ashlee was thirteen when she discovered her first Kathleen E. Woodiwiss book hidden away in her mom’s closet. After two days of staying home “sick” from school to finish it, she was hooked. Her rabid love for romance has continued ever since, and after a misadventure in the world of law, she is finally settling into her dream job of writing about people finding their happily ever afters.
Whether writing sweet contemporary romances or light romantic suspense, she always aims to create down-to-earth heroines and heroes with small-town heart who will make you laugh and fall in love all over again.
You can find her on the web at AshleeMallory.com or lurking on Facebook and Twitter (@ashleemallory). Follow, friend, or drop her a line! She’d love to hear from you.
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