I take another look out of the eye in the door and watch as she looks around her, twisting her bottle blonde hair around her sharp fake nails.
“Whatever,” I mumble, twisting the cap on the water and taking a large gulp. I reach over and grab two mild pain meds to help take the edge off the pain in my right leg. It throbs with being on my feet too much over the past couple of days. I finish the water and lie back down on the bed.
The room starts to spin so I quickly close my eyes before opening them again. I’m still dizzy.
What’s going on?
I’ve never reacted to the pain meds before.
My body suddenly feels as though it’s on fire while sweat pours from me.
This is swift and sudden, and I’m disorientated. The only other time I’ve felt like this was when I’d had an infection in my left leg.
My phone rings, which is beside my hand.
It’s Violet.
“Babe,” I answer, not sure she will have heard me because of how weak my voice sounds.
“Blake? What’s wrong?” she asks. “You sound so far away.”
I groan. “I am.”
“That isn’t what I meant. Why do you sound weird?”
My vision starts to go hazy while I listen to Violet shouting down the phone. “Blake dammit. You’re scaring me.”
“Call 911.” I drop the phone and have no idea where it lands.
30
Violet
The moment I’d lost Blake on the phone, I’d called his hotel and got them acting fast. By that point I was in the car with Rich who was driving me to New York. He’d happened to walk into my office just as I was trying to rouse Blake by shouting down the phone. In my panic he’d refused to let me drive and I’m so relieved he had insisted.
Coach called me not five minutes ago to let me know that he was still waiting for news of Blake. He wasn’t family so until someone was there they wouldn’t release any information. I got that. But Coach was with Blake.
Rich doesn’t say a word as he pulls up at the entrance; he only nods toward the door. I rush out and straight inside.
I don’t recognize anyone, but as I get closer to the reception desk, I spot Coach off to one side.
“Where is he?” I ask before I’ve even reached him.
He shakes his head. “The paramedics thought he was drugged.” He shakes his head. “They took him through there,” he points, “and they won’t tell me anything.”
“Who do I need to talk to?”
“Anyone I guess. I don’t know.”
Feeling my heart pound in my chest, I approach a nurse who is writing on a large whiteboard. She stops and looks at me. “Can you please find out where my fiancé is, Blake Kelly? The paramedics brought him in a while ago.”
“I’ll go and find out for you.” She disappears through some double doors, and maybe five minutes later she walks back out with a doctor trailing behind her.
“Blake Kelly’s fiancée?” he enquires.
“Yes. Please tell me how he is?” I wrap my arms around my waist hoping the man I love is going to be okay.
“She’s not his fiancée,” a mean voice says from behind.
I sharply turn and blink at the woman, wondering where I’ve seen her before, then it clicks. The ice bunnies that I’d witnessed eyeing up Blake that time when I’d stopped in to see him.
“And you are?” the doctor asks.
Feeling my anger rising, I turn to the doctor. “It doesn’t matter who she is. I’m his fiancée and we live together. You only have to check both of our driving licenses to conclude that as fact. Now, I haven’t dashed all the way from Boston to discuss this, I want to know how Blake is and I want to see him.” I face the doctor and glare until a wry smile appears on his face.
He nods. “Come this way. I didn’t catch your name.”
It’s on the tip of my tongue to tell him he hasn’t asked, but instead, I reply, “Violet Flowers.”
“Well, Miss Flowers, your fiancé is going to be okay. He was drugged with rohypnol, a rather a high dose at that. The paramedics grabbed the opened bottle of water from his room so I’ve sent that for testing. Blake is in and out of sleep, but other than a headache, he’ll be okay.”
“When can I take him home?” I ask, and then I frown and look back toward the waiting area. “You said he’d been drugged?”
The doctor nods.
“I’m presuming the police are involved?”
“They are.”
“Ask them to talk to the blonde who interrupted us. I have a funny feeling about her.” I hold the doctors gaze.
“The officers are still around here somewhere so I’ll go and find them.” He smiles. “He’s in the room behind you.” With that the doctor disappears.
Shoving into Blake’s room, he’s sleeping on the bed, but his eyes drift open and the relief on his face when he sees me has me in tears.
My grief floods my eyes as I dash toward him and after I’ve dropped my shoes and jacket to the floor, I climb into the bed with him, and curl into his waiting arms.
His arms clench tightly around me and he just holds me while I cry, and a little while later, I realize that he is crying too. I cup his face and brush a soft kiss across his lips. “I don’t think I’ve ever been as scared as I was earlier today.”
“It scared me too, babe. Does anyone know what happened?”
“The doctor says you were drugged. You know that much right?”
Blake nods.
“They think it was the water in your room,” I suggest.
“Fuck!” he growls. “That bitch showed up at my door and told me Coach had sent it. I grabbed it off her and slammed the door closed.”
“Blonde.”
“Yes.” He frowns. “How do you know?”
“I told the doctor that I was your fiancé, and she came up behind me saying otherwise. I gave the doctor what for, and he let me in. I did tell him to send the police to talk to her.”
Relaxing, Blake pulls me closer. “She was in the bar and wouldn’t leave me alone so I left and went up to my room. On the way out though, I’d asked coach to get me some water from the store he was heading to. She obviously overheard.”
“Hopefully they’ll get to the bottom of it.” I kiss his chest. “When can you leave?”
Blake sighs. “They said tomorrow, but I’ve told them today. We’ve compromised and providing I’m still improving in a few hours then they’ll let me go into your care.” He kisses the top of my head. “I told them you would be on your way.”
“I’d have come to you no matter where I was.”
“Will you marry me?”
I rapidly blink wondering if I heard correctly and looking up at Blake I know I heard him.
“I’m going to do it properly soon, but I … will you marry me, Violet? Will you have my babies?” He wiggles his brows before becoming serious. He cups my face in his large hands. “I love you.”
With tears leaking from my eyes and down my face I nod my head. “Yes,” I whisper. “I love you too. So much.”
Epilogue ~ Blake
My stomach turns with nerves as I check the table setting once more. I’ve remembered everything … dishes, silverware, wine glasses, napkins, candles … matches!
Turning, I quickly head into the kitchen and root around in the ‘junk’ drawer and find what I’m looking for.
On my way back outside, I turn the soft music on and then I light the candles.
I’m not sure why I’m feeling nervous, Violet has already said yes, but I am. I want tonight to be perfect for her. She’s put up with a lot from me from the moment we’d met and tonight I’m going to make sure she knows how grateful I am for her perseverance and love. She’s always been there, even when I was a total asshole to her. I owe her everything.
I’d thought about taking her out to wine and dine her with some dancing afterwards, but I’d changed my mind. I want our special moment to be between the two of us. Something that we can tell our grandchildren.
“Blake,” Violet surprises me.
She’s standing in the doorway looking around at what I’ve done to our back garden. I’d used fourteen strands of battery operated string lights to bring the place alive in the dark. But as I turn back to Violet, it’s the beautiful woman who leaves me speechless.
She’s wearing the dress and shoes that I’d given Rich to give her along with a list of instructions that she had to follow. The pale blue fabric of her dress gently flutters in the slight breeze and her long legs as she moves forward in the strappy sandals, make me lose my train of thought.
“You must have spent all day doing this?” she searches my gaze as I close the gap between us.
“I put the lights up last night when I’d gotten home from work, and hoped that you wouldn’t notice.” I grin. “I did the rest tonight.” I’m so tempted to say hell to it and show her how I feel instead of telling her. I don’t though.
I slide an arm around her back and pull her closer. “Let’s dance first,” I smile, “because I’m not sure I’m going to be able to concentrate on dinner if I haven’t had you in my arms.”
“Anything that involves you touching me, I’m good with.” She reaches up and presses a soft kiss to my lips. “I don’t ever want to forget this moment.”
“Neither of us ever will,” I promise, and slowly coming to a stop. I get down on one knee and pray I don’t get stuck down here.
“I keep my promises.” I wink and holding my hand out, I produce a teardrop diamond embedded on a platinum ring.
“Oh,” she gasps, her hand covering her mouth, tears hovering on her lashes.
“I know you’ve already said yes, but I’m a guy and would love to hear it again.” I grin. “Violet Flowers, I love you, with every breath in my body, will you be my wife?”
Nodding and in tears of happiness, Violet tugs me up from the floor and throws her arms around my neck. “Yes,” she cries, and moving slightly away, she holds her hand out.
The ring is a perfect fit for the woman who will always have my heart.
THE END
Family Tree
Eric and Sylvia
Daisy Francesca
Tabitha Francesca
Dante and Emelia
Emma Lucia
Daniel Joshua
Mateo and Erin
Francesca Maria
Maria Louisa
Jordan Mateo
Aiden and Sarah
Heidi Francesca
Stephanie Francesca
Jayden Emile
Kasey and Felicity
Blake Kasey
Ben Luca
Diego and Rae
Emile Luca
Raine Francesca
Andie and Sawyer
Sophia Louise
Jordan Amy
Blake and Violet
Summer Rose
Autumn Lily
Flora Maria
Dear Reader
If you liked Love in Surrender, I would appreciate it, if you would help others enjoy this book too by recommending it to your friends, family, and book clubs by writing an honest, positive review on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Kobo, iBook Store, Goodreads, etc.
Acknowledgments
Cover Design: Robin Harper, Wicked by Design
Editors: Abigail Higson
BETA Reader: Emma Clifton, Kathrin Magyar, Lynne Garlick, Nadine Winningham, and Sonya Covert
Other books by Lexi Buchanan
Bad Boy Rockers
Book 1: Sizzle
Book 2: Spicy
Book 3: Sultry
Book 4: Savor
Book 5: Sinful
Book 6: Silent Night (Novella)
McKenzie Brothers
Book 1: Seduce
Book 1.5: The Wedding (Novella)
Book 2:Rapture
Book 3: Delight
Book 4: Entice
Book 5: Cherished
Book 5.5: A McKenzie Christmas (Novella)
De La Fuente Family (McKenzie Spinoff)
Book 1: Love in Montana
Book 2: Love in Purgatory
Book 3: Love in Bloom
Book 4: Love in Country
Book 5: Love in Flame
Book 6: Love in Game
Book 7: Love in Education
Book 8: Love in Surrender
McKenzie Cousins
(McKenzie Spinoff)
Book 1: Baby Makes Three
Book 2: A Business Decision
Book 3: Secret Kisses
Book 4: Kissing Cousins
Book 5: If Only (coming 2018)
Jackson Hole
Book 1: From This Moment
Book 1.5: When we Meet (Novella, in the back of From This Moment)
Book 2: New Beginning (coming soon)
Romantic Suspense
Lawful
Stryker
Whispers in the Wind (coming 2018)
Standalone Novella’s
One Dance
Educate Me
Pure
Holiday Season
Kissing Under the Mistletoe
A Soldier’s Christmas
Written as Rona Jameson
Come Back to Me
Summer at Rose Cottage
Twenty Eight Days
Stryker, MMA Romantic Suspense
written as Lexi Buchanan
When my childhood friend, Cora, dared me to write a sexy novel about a martial arts fighter, I agreed, albeit under the influence of alcohol. It was something for me—something different and exciting.
It was supposed to be research, pure and simple. But then I met him—a six-foot-six mountain of a man with no name. The way his muscles flexed and rippled when he trained made my belly quiver. The way his dark hair flopped over his forehead made me want to brush it back from his strong face. His nose had been broken, but it made no difference, he was still a handsome man. He had eyes dark as the night that would land on me the minute I entered his gym…Every…Time.
He was their star fighter, the one that brought in the big money. At first I feared him because of his size and the way he would look at me. But then I discovered that I was his biggest distraction, and no matter what my head told me, my heart told me to fight for the man who didn’t know how to live outside of the octagon.
Available at online retailers.
Come Back to Me
written as Rona Jameson
A whispered plea transcends time.
When Esmé Rogers meets Luke Carlisle in 1987, she never expected to end up on board the Titanic for its maiden voyage from Southampton to New York in 1912. But what started with confusion and questions turns into the greatest love of her life.
As the date of the ill-fated sinking of the ocean liner approaches, Esmé questions whether or not she should try and change history. However, one question keeps coming back to haunt her: Does she survive?
With frigid waters and a predestined collision on the horizon, can she change the fate of those she loves?
Available at online retailers.
Summer at Rose Cottage, Cozy Romantic Mystery
Written as Rona Jameson
Set in the beautiful coastal town of Cape Elizabeth, Maine, ‘Summer at Rose Cottage’ explores two love stories—one lost in time and the other flourishing in the present. McKenzie (Mack) Harper needs to get away and the small cottage just outside of Cape Elizabeth is the perfect location to unwind and bond with her six-year-old nephew, Lucas. It’s here at this quaint summer rental that Mack discovers a diary dated March 4th, 1947, which pulls her into a world of love and heartache.
Each entry into the diary is brought to life through the words written by nineteen-year-old, Rose Degan, who falls in love with a man her parents disapprove of. Her heart knows what and whom it wants, Jacob Evans, a fire fighter in Cape Elizabeth. He hasn’t been in town long when they meet on the cliffs while she watches the rescue of a crew from a collier ship that went aground during a fierce storm.
Back
in the present, Mack discovers that Jacob is still alive and tries to find him. She leaves a message that falls into the hands of Jacob’s grandson, Dean Evans. With his curiosity piqued, Dean decides that the mystery woman, along with her diary, is an excellent excuse to slip away from home, earning a break from his mother’s matchmaking shenanigans—a grandchild being her sole focus.
All these characters come together in a story of love and friendship. It shows that love and family can transcend time.
Available at online retailers.
Twenty Eight Days, Romantic Suspense
written as Rona Jameson
Sentenced to death…
All hope gone…
Until he receives a visit from victim #6
Condemned for a crime he didn’t commit, Quinten Peterson sat on death row praying for a miracle. He just never expected his angel of mercy to be the girl he fell in love with so long ago.
The press called her a victim, but Saige Lockwood was a survivor. And she had twenty-eight days to discover the truth about what really happened to her that fateful night, eight years ago.
With time running out, Saige desperately needed to unlock her memories … before it was too late.
Available at online retailers.
About the Author
Lexi Buchanan is the pseudonym of Rona Jameson. Lexi is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of romance.
She’s a wife and mother who moved with her family to Ireland, in 2010.
Her love of reading sweet romance is what eventually drew her to writing and self-publishing her first book in 2012. Since then she has self-published more than thirty books.
Her first signing was in New York in 2013, and since then she’s been to signings in: Belfast, Boston, Dublin, Las Vegas, London, Los Angeles, and Nashville, to meet readers. This is one of her favorite parts of being an author and she tries to attend at least three signings a year, with at least one, in the United States.
Thank you to each and every one of you for your continued support.
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