Regan stood, fiercely defensive. "Your side? Are you serious? How dare you find true love and not do anything about it?"
"I would have—eventually. In my own time. It's none of your damn business."
I turned back to the door. "No. No, you wouldn't have, and neither would I."
"You two are my business. Ryder, I was tired of watching you fumble around, trying to find your goddam way, and Hannah—you just disappeared."
"You tricked us. You both did," Ryder said, pointing to Summer and Regan.
I looked at both their solemn faces, staring back at me, and I knew why they'd done it. I knew they'd gone out on a limb for Ryder and me, and I also knew neither of us would've ever taken the first step—not without help—a gentle push. Well, in this case, a hard ass shove!
My shoulders slumped, letting out a long sigh. "No, they didn’t trick us. They just did what real friends would've done."
"Which is what—lie?" Ryder asked, still visibly upset. "What did they do?"
I walked over to him and rested my palm on his neck. "They did everything in their power to make sure we found our happy—our forever. Aren't you happy?"
He looked at them both, then back down to me, wiping away the tear which had escaped the corner of my eye and had begun to run down my cheek. "Getting a second chance to love you for the first time has made me the happiest man in the world."
Epilogue
RYDER
A COUPLE OF MONTHS AFTER REGAN’S WEDDING…
The sun, beaming through the window warmed my face as I stared out at the city which was slightly different to me now. It wasn't just a clump of undulating concrete smashed together to form the downtown skyline for my viewing pleasure. Now it was a place where I could take my family sightseeing when I finally had one. It was a place where I could steal a date night with the love of my life.
All those possibilities had always been there, I guess, but I had been blind to them. Whether it be from fear, or from, well—fear. It was the fear. It kept me from enjoying the fullness that love had to offer—the fullness, loving Hannah had to offer.
A knock at the door pulled me from my daydream.
"Yes?"
"It's me."
"Me who?" I laughed.
The door pushed open, and in stepped the woman of my dreams, wearing a black pencil dress, boasting a string of white pearls I'd bought her just the day before.
"You look beautiful today." I smiled.
"Just today?" she asked coyly.
I held out my hand as she gently placed her palm on mine. "Come here you." I sat her on my lap, cupping my palm to her cheek.
"We're working. This is highly unprofessional."
"Well, good thing we're the owners of the company, otherwise, I'd have to fire us." I smiled, leaning in for a kiss, but stopped just short of her supple lips.
"You're gonna have it all, Hannah, and I'm gonna give it to you."
She leaned in the rest of the way, our lips grazing as she spoke. "You already have."
"Not quite, yet."
She pulled back. "What's that mean?"
Pulling open a side drawer, I pulled out a small, black, velvet box. I could feel her chest stop moving the second the box came into her view. Covering her mouth with her fingers, she shook her head, her eyes widening as I opened the box in front of her.
"Tell me you'll make me the happiest man in the world, and be my forever?"
She nodded, throwing her arms around my neck. "Yes, yes, a thousand times yes!"
Sliding my right arm under her thighs, and my left around the middle of her back, I stood, carrying her like a baby.
I couldn't take my eyes off hers. "I love you, Hannah."
"Uh, uh, uh. That's Mrs. Ryder Thorne to you, sir."
A smile washed over my face. "Yes, it is. Isn't it?"
Thank You
We would like to thank everyone who helped make this book possible:
Our wonderful beta readers and friends, who are willing to read anything we throw at them: Fran, Emma, Jackie, Charity, Summer, Vicki and so many others!
xoxo,
Penelope & Tia
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Books by Penelope Marshall
Wrath: A Mafia Suspense (Deadly Sin Series Book 1)
Envy: A Second Chance Romance (Deadly Sin Series Book 2)
Enemy Inside (The Captive Series Book 1)
Depravity (The Captive Series Book 2)
Indecency: A Bad Boy Mafia Romantic Suspense
Betrayed: A Military Suspense
Absolution: (Mr. Black Series)
Unleashed: (Mr Black Series Book 1)
Teach Me: A Bad Boy Professor Romance
Misled: A Bad Boy Mafia Romantic Suspense
Sinful Torment: A Romantic Suspense Novel
Only One You: A Second Chance Romance
Addicted to You: A Last Chance Romance
Taken by Soldiers: A Bundle of Steamy Military Romance Novels
About Penelope Marshall
Penelope Marshall was born in the Philippines, and raised in Southern California.
She picked up writing in early 2016 and instantly fell in love with the craft. Her writing runs the romance gamut from sweet romantic comedies, to tough alpha male military suspense thrillers, with a little young adult, and paranormal thrown into the mix.
A good plot twist is what drives Penelope’s writing, striving for that jaw dropping moment at the end of each book.
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Books by Tia Lewis
Redemption: A Bad Boy MMA Fighter Romance
Revived: A Bad Boy MMA Fighter Romance
Draw Play: A Sports Romance
Stadium of Lights: A Second Chance Romance
Draft Day: A BWWM Sports Romance
Threat: A Blood Riders MC (Book 1)
Reveal: A Blood Riders MC (Book 2)
Creed: A Blood Riders MC (Book 3)
Diesel: A Blood Riders MC (Book 4)
The Hitman’s Possession: A Bad Boy Mafia Romance (Book 1)
The Hitman’s Property: A Bad Boy Mafia Romance (Book 2)
The Hitman’s Duology Series Bundle
Dirty Hacker: An Alpha Billionaire Romance
Dirty Money: A Dark Mafia Romance
Misled: A Bad Boy Mafia Romance
Only One You: A Second Chance Romance
Addicted to You: A Last Chance Romance
Sinful Torment: A Romantic Suspense Novel
The Journalist: A Sexy Contemporary Romance
Zarak: Scifi Alien Invasion Romance (The Mating Games Book 1)
Konkrin: Scifi Alien Invasion Romance (The Mating Games Book 2)
About Tia Lewis
Tia Lewis is an author of erotic and dark erotic romance. She enjoys writing about strong, possessive, dominant heroes and sassy, smart heroines. Her characters range from hot, dominant bikers, billionaires, to powerful gangsters, and all kinds of bad boys in between. You can find her cooking, reading, or traveling when she’s not busy working on her next release.
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