by T Gephart
Marriage the second time around had been completely different, and not just because Mack was amazing with more integrity in his little finger than Cooper had in his whole entire body. He loved me unconditionally, gave me the space to be myself, cheering me on as I flourished. And I did that for him, though I had to admit that part of me was glad he rarely went out on calls. The idea of something happening to him was terrifying beyond belief. I wasn’t sure how those other women did it, especially knowing Mack wouldn’t think twice about putting his life on the line to save someone else.
I held out my arms, smiling at my good friend. Because that’s what she’d become, adding to the collection of people who had the same title. “Sure, but I have to tell you, having this display is a tripping hazard. The material of the shirts is slippery, making them hard to stay folded. You’re better off hanging them, less chance of theft too.”
“Look at you, talking all fancy.” She grinned. “But you’re right, they probably should be hung. If for no other reason than some poor son of a bitch is going to have to keep folding them. Hey, Brenda,” she called to another khaki, polo-wearing compatriot mindlessly zapping merchandise with a price gun. “Can you grab me some hangers from the storeroom. We’re gonna hang these shirts.”
Brenda looked at her for a full five minutes, her attention shifting to Penny and then the shirts. “Hangers?”
“Yes, you know, the plastic things we hang things on. They’re in the storeroom. Go get some.” Penny rolled her eyes before turning back to me. “Come back to me. I know I can’t pay you what Presley is, but consider it your charitable contribution.”
She was right, Target couldn’t match what I made at Diablo, the paycheck I was bringing home almost double what it used to be. Then again, I earned it, handling all Presley’s inventory, managing her compliance portfolios, and lowering the club’s liabilities with progressive risk assessment. I was still earning my degree through course credits online, but I’d showed enough initiative for her to hire me even without the piece of paper. It gave her time to expand the Diablo brand, a second site in the meatpacking district, already in the works.
I tilted my head, giving it some consideration. “I’d love to but, I’m already having a hard time juggling Diablo and school. Throw in impending motherhood and I’m not sure I’d cope.”
Penny blinked, her big eyes getting wider as she sorted through my words. “Holy Shhhhhhhhhh,” she clasped her hand over her mouth, realizing we were on the shop floor. “Jesus, you two work fast. You’ve been married for what? Three months? Lord, that Uber driver is really earning that five-star rating.”
I laughed, her early nickname for Mack still getting a mention every now and again. “Guess we got lucky. But keep it to yourself, it’s early days.”
“Who am I gonna tell?” She looked around, shoppers filling their carts and ignoring us. “But for the record, it’s awesome and I’m happy for you. Let me know if you want me to help you pick maternity outfits. You know I can deck you out.”
“Yeah, let’s not do that. Those Spanx you made me squeeze into still give me PTSD.” I absently rubbed my tummy even though there was no bump. I knew our little baby was in there, and I was going to enjoy every second of it.
“Fine, fine. But I’ll fight Gayle for a chance to throw the baby shower.” She folded her arms across her chest, looking determined.
“Why don’t you do it together? I’ll even give you both full autonomy. Just promise me there will be lots of food. I swear, most people have their head down the toilet the first trimester, and I can’t stop eating. And you know Mack isn’t helping. I’ve already gained three pounds, and I can’t even blame the baby.”
Mack had suspected I was pregnant even before I had. Not sure if it was wishful thinking or he knew he was packing super sperm, hounding me to take a pregnancy test before I’d even missed my period. He just knew, he’d said, putting the early detection test on the counter and telling me to put him out of his misery. I agreed, figuring it was easier to just get the disappointment out of the way, fully expecting the result to be negative. I’d only come off the pill after the wedding, knowing that a long stint with the hormones could sometimes mess with your cycle. That wasn’t even taking my age into account. Needless to say, I almost passed out when it read positive, Mack smug for an entire week that he’d totally known.
“Pssssh, you look great.” Penny dismissed my concerns, offloading the shirts to Brenda who’d returned with hangers. “And there will be lots of food.”
I hugged her, the pregnancy emotions already in full force as I tried to stop my eyes from watering. “You were a good friend to me. I know I’m older, and I was your employee, and you didn’t have to.”
Penny laughed, hugging me back. “Honey, no one is dying. And I didn’t care how old you were, or if you were my employee. You were worthy of my friendship. And still are.”
And that had been the crux of it. Knowing I’d been worthy.
Of friendship.
Of love.
Of being who I wanted to be.
“I should go.” I pulled myself from her embrace. “I know hugging on the shop floor is frowned upon, and I wanted to go meet Mack for dinner at the station.”
She groaned, throwing her hands up dramatically. “Fine, leave me here to rot. Go, go be with your hot husband, in your perfect life.”
“I intend to,” I waved, smiling to myself as I walked out the door.
The smile didn’t slip as I got into my car and drove to Midtown, parking in the back of the stationhouse and walking inside. I was greeted by hellos and heys as I walked through to Mack’s office, giving everyone a friendly hello as I didn’t stop.
“Hey, sexy.” I rapped on his open doorway, his head snapping up at the first sound of my voice. “Thought I might surprise you for dinner.”
He came at me like a freight train, pushing out of his chair and grabbing me around the waist, kissing me so I couldn’t talk.
I laughed, running my hands along his muscular back. “You know I’m already pregnant. You could probably cool it, if you want to.”
“That’s just it. I don’t want to.” His hands moved suggestively over my hips. “And knowing our baby is inside of you just makes it hotter.”
I swatted at his chest playfully, wondering if he’d still feel that way when I was huge. Or after the baby was born, and my body was different, unable to have sex for weeks at a time because of fatigue and who knew what else. “Just remember this when I’m breastfeeding, and I don’t look the way I used to.”
“You’re delusional. Thinking anything could change the way I feel about you.” He put the debate to rest, kissing me again and pinning my body against his office wall. Had to admit his insatiable appetite was doing wonders for my ego. And my hormones were totally on board.
“Ewwwwww, Mom and Dad are making out.” Riley laughed from behind us. “Pretty sure there’s regs against that. And if there isn’t, there should be.”
“You need something to do, North?” Mack lifted his head, smirking at Riley.
Riley rolled his eyes, reaching for the door. “Nope, but how about I close the door so you don’t traumatize anyone else. Thank God you can’t get her pregnant twice. And just so we’re clear, I’m still the favorite.”
“Leave, and I’ll think about it,” Mack chuckled.
Riley looked horrified, screwing his face up into a scowl. “Fine, I’ll share being the favorite. As you were.” He waved his hand, pulling the door shut.
“You heard the man,” I tilted my chin, my lips parting, ready for his kiss.
Mack’s hand trailed along my jaw, sending shivers up my spine. “Yeah, I sure did. Let’s see if we can really break some regulations.”
THE END
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A massive thanks and big love goes to my family—Gep, Jenna, Liam and Woodley. One of these days one of you is going to see these acknowledgments and all my thanks, but until then I’ll just have to tell you every day. Not a hardship!
Again, thanks to Kelly Elliott, who was there from the inception of this series and whom I think I spoke to every single day while writing this book. I tried not to spoil any of it for you, act surprised if I did. P.S. Love you, thank you for those daily chats, especially when I was sick. P.P.S. I hope you’re still laughing.
Thank you for all the love, support and understanding from my extended family and friends. I’m trying to be better and not turn into a bitter recluse who doesn’t wear pants. Thanks for all the walks, movies, dinners, coffees, foodie dates, makeup dates, random outings and basically dragging me out even when I wanted to make excuses for not being an active human. You complete me.
Thanks to Gayle Williams for the check ins, messages, scheduling, chasing up and basically putting up with the hot mess that I was/am trying to write this book. I keep telling you it’s gonna get easier, I promise it will one of these days. Love you.
Thanks to Penny Rudge—SNOOP FOR EVA!!! Dude, I’m so glad we found each other. You better be back reading; it’s been too long. #FYMForever #TellYourFriends
Thanks to Team Brower—Kimberly, Aimee, and Caroline. Are you sick of my 5,000 emails yet?! LOL Love you guys, dream team.
Thank you to Nichole Strauss from Insight Editing who pushes me to do better. See, not all of my stories are ridiculous. Thanks for all your hard work so my books are the best they can be.
Thank you so much to MK—THE BEST BETA EVER. I love all your little notes, insights and feedback. You honestly see things from a different perspective and I love it. Don’t change, girlfriend. You’re amazing.
Thanks to Elaine York from Allusion Graphics LLC, Publishing and Book Formatting. I am absolutely in love with my pages. Love working with you and seeing my words looking beautiful after you’re done with them.
A bazillion thanks to the amazing HANG LE! My covers, teasers—there just isn’t anyone who gets me like you do. Everything you do for me is stunning, and I have cherished every single email, text message and inbox we’ve ever shared. Friends for life. Ninja hugs!!
Thank you to my eagle-eyed proofreaders, Elaine and Lisa, for finding those typos that I miss despite reading this thing a million times. You’re both amazing!! Special thanks to Elaine York for stepping in at the last minute. Lord—you are a super star.
Special thanks to my author friends who will often get random messages from me and ignore the crazy. Sometimes I honestly have to pinch myself and remember acting like a lunatic is not cool. I’ll always be your fangirl though, even if we do hang out. And P.S. I still squeal in delight when you send me your ARCs. #FriendsInHighPlaces.
SO MUCH THANKS, love and adoration for all the bloggers, reviewers, bookgramers, group admins and promoters who read, promote, review, and share my work. I will never take any of it for granted and am so thankful for all your LOVE.
Thank you, Liz, MJ, and Jillian at 1001 Dark Nights.
THANK YOU TO THE T GEPHART REVIEW CREW AND ENTOURAGE. I haven’t been as active as I would like to be, but am thankful you guys have stuck by me, supporting each book with such excitement. Don’t underestimate what it means to me, you all are in my heart.
And lastly, as always, thank YOU. Yep, you the person reading this. You rock my world, thanks for letting me a part of yours.
T Gephart is a USA Today and International bestselling author from Melbourne, Australia.
With an approach to life that is somewhat unconventional, she prefers to fly by the seat of her pants rather than adhere to some rigid roadmap. Her lack of “plan” has resulted in a rather interesting and eclectic resume, which reads more like the fiction she writes than an actual employment history. She’d tell you all about it, but the statute of limitations hasn’t expired yet. But all those crazy twists and turns have led her to a career she loves—writing romantic comedy.
When she isn’t filling pages with sassy and sexy characters with attitude, she’s living her own reality show in the ‘burbs of Melbourne with her American husband, two teenage children, and her fur child—Woodley.
She loves adventure, to laugh, travel, and strives to live her life to the fullest.
tgephart.com
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Books by this Author
The Lexi Series
Lexi
A Twist of Fate
Twisted Views: Fate’s Companion
A Leap of Faith
A Time for Hope
The Power Station Series
High Strung
Crash Ride
Back Stage
The Black Addiction Series
Slide
Sticks
Stand
#1 Series
#1 Crush
#1 Player
#1 Rival
#1 Lie
#1 Muse
#1 Love
Collision Series
Train Wreck
Car Crash
Hot in the City Series
Send Me Crazy
One Click Love
Yet to be titled #3
Yet to be titled #4
Standalones
The Fall
One-Night Stand-In
Viral
