by Malone, M.
Ridley nodded then paused. Her eyes went to her nightstand drawer. Did she really want to go there?
“What’s wrong? You just tensed up again.” Jackson’s soft question pulled her out of her thoughts.
Before she could change her mind, Ri leaned forward and pulled the drawer open. The crumpled white business card was in the back right corner. She handed it to Jackson without meeting his eyes.
“Oh Ridley. How long have you had this?” Jackson kissed her shoulder. “Look at me baby.”
She rolled over to face him, immediately stung by the look of disappointment on his face. Now that some time had passed and especially after the way they’d just reconnected, she was completely sure Jackson wouldn’t cheat on her. There had to be a reasonable explanation and she was ashamed she hadn’t trusted him from the start.
“I missed you so much and then I saw that card.” She sniffled and wiped away a tear that slipped from her eye. “But I know that’s no excuse for going through your coat.”
He leaned forward and kissed her forehead. “I want to explain something to you but I might mess it up, so bear with me.”
Rolling the other way, Jackson put the mangled up business card on his own night table.
“Alana’s manager reached out to ask if I’d consider producing a song for her. I said no initially but after a little thought, I decided to offer the job to Mac. He’s been trying to grow and branch out and this is a good opportunity for him. I only had the business card because I wouldn’t know how to contact her otherwise. Because I don’t keep tabs on her or stay in touch at all. I’m not interested in what she’s doing or where she is normally. Quite frankly, I don’t think of her at all.”
Ridley bit her lip, ashamed at how pleased that made her. “I know you don’t. I trust you.”
“Good. Now lets get ready for bed. I’ll bring you some tea and give you a foot rub.”
She watched him climb out of bed, her eyes fixed on his perfectly toned ass as he left the room. Then let out a giggle.
Life seriously didn’t get much better than this.
♥
Ridley finally found the energy to get up. If she didn’t wash the makeup off her face, she’d end up with a break out. It didn’t seem fair that she now had problematic skin on top of all the weight gain that came with pregnancy but now that she knew her husband loved her curvy figure, maybe it wasn’t so bad. It was definitely fun to have enough cleavage for several people.
She washed her face and then started the process of toning, moisturizing and then applying an entire cabinet full of skin care products. When she was almost done, her eyes went over her shoulder in the mirror to see Jackson watching her from their bed.
“Hey, you’re back. Sorry it’s taking me so long.”
Jackson just continued to watch her with a curious little smile on his face.
“What?” she asked.
“It’s one of my favorite things, watching you get ready for bed.”
“It is?” Ridley found that a little hard to believe. She didn’t even like going through the long process so she could only imagine how boring it was for someone else to observe.
But Jackson nodded. “I love watching how serious you get selecting just which bottle to use next. Although I guess it doesn’t even matter which one you choose. I just love watching you exist. You’re the best thing that ever happened to me, Ri. Never forget that.”
Ridley’s hand slowly lowered from her face. “You are just the sweetest thing. How could I have ever doubted you?” She flicked off the light in the bathroom and then climbed in bed next to him, cuddling up under his arm.
He propped his head on his hand. “You’re going to occasionally have doubts. Everyone does. You don’t think I have them?”
Ridley glanced at him in surprise. Jackson had doubts? Did he seriously think that she would cheat on him?
“Don’t look so surprised.” He shrugged. “I don’t think you have any idea how amazing you are, Ri. Sometimes I want to hulk smash other men for even looking at you. Because I know that every one of them is wishing for a shot with a woman like you. Not just because you’re beautiful, even though you’re absolutely breathtaking. But because you’re kind. And loving. Before I met you, I was determined to live a good life because the boys needed me but I was just going through the motions. Then I met you and you brought joy back in my life. You made me want to be here. I feel lucky every day to wake up and spend my days with you. I can’t even imagine wanting anyone else.”
Ridley had no words. His words had humbled her, thrilled her and also expressed exactly how she felt about him. So she leaned forward and pulled him down for a kiss.
“Jackson, I feel the same way. I’m not sure what I ever did to deserve being an Alexander but I’m so glad I fainted in Raina’s yard that day. What if I’d just turned around and gone back to the bus station? I’d have never met you. I’d probably still be hiding out from a crazy stalker, watching my back every two seconds.”
Just the thought that she could have missed meeting him, loving him, was terrifying.
“Fate isn’t that cruel. It wouldn’t bring you so close to me only to let you get away. This was meant to be. Even if I’m a bonehead and sometimes forget to show you I worship the ground you walk on, know that you are the very best thing in my life. In all of our lives. The boys absolutely adore you. It wasn’t just my life you saved when you chose to hide out here.”
Suddenly Ridley felt a strong thump right under her ribs. “Oh wow, I guess we woke the baby up!”
A slow smile spread across his face. “I think he agrees with me that you’re the best mommy ever.”
Ridley finally gave up trying to hold back tears and just let them flow freely as she pressed her hand on top of his. They’d decided not to find out the sex of the baby, wanting it to be a surprise. But Jackson was sure it was a boy, saying that since Raina had given birth to a girl, the universe wouldn’t task them with another who’d grow up as gorgeous as her mother and aunt.
“I think SHE agrees that mommy and daddy belong together. Forever,” Ridley added.
Jackson leaned down and pressed a kiss to the top of her stomach. A few moments later, another thump pressed right below his lips.
“Of that, I have no doubt.”
* * I hope you enjoyed reading One More Chance and catching up with the Alexanders again. Flip the page for an excerpt of Bennett’s book Just One Thing and find out how many ways a brilliant man can mess up dating!
Bonus Material: Want more Alexanders? There is another very special bonus epilogue available to my VIP list!
Everyone’s favorite anti-social brother, Bennett Alexander, has been invited to the bachelor party of family friend Tank Marshall. If you think Ben's awkward now, imagine how he'll react in a strip club. LOL :)> Also Tank isn’t doing so well because all he wants is to sneak home to the bride.
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Just One Thing (Bennett + Katie)
is available now!
Bennett Alexander is a bonafide genius. He runs his family’s farming cooperative, speaks four languages and is about to apply for his tenth patent. But the one thing he never mastered is how to be cool. His childhood friend Olivia is the only one who “gets” him.
Taking care of her own two kids and her aging mother’s affairs back in Barbados leaves Katie Mason exhausted every day. By the time she realizes her ex-husband left her with a mountain of bills, she has to do something. Fast.
When Bennett hires her, the task is simple: teach him to act normal so he can win the heart of his first love. There’s just one thing: after spending so much time with him, the only thing Katie wants is to teach Bennett how to love her.
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EXCERPT of Just One Thing
© March 2017 M. Malone
Katie pulled out her keys and opened the door. Neither of them said anything. It suddenly struck her as funny. Normally this was when she’d be worried about whether the guy would kiss her or whether she wanted to rush in and slam the door in his face.
“This is usually make it or break it time,” she joked.
“What does that mean?”
“Oh, you know. It's the end of the night and usually you're a little tipsy at this point. So in high school you'd park the car somewhere and make out but as an adult, normally you just kiss goodnight before going inside.”
“Well, that doesn't sound that difficult.”
“Oh, you'd think it would be easy. Just lean in and smooch but you have to be smooth with it. You have to read the signals.”
Bennett sighed. “And you lost me again. Why can't the signal be when she says I'd really like it if you'd kiss me now? That would be so much easier.”
Katie put her hand over her mouth to smother her laughter. Looking at things from his perspective, it was kind of odd that there were all these unspoken rules about something that should be instinctive but it was impossible to ignore that the rules existed, whether they were official or not. She remembered the first time Don had kissed her. It was a little bittersweet to remember it now, being so young and naive that she'd required so little to feel cherished. But all she'd wanted was to feel like someone saw her as special.
"The rules seem annoying, I know, but it all comes back to one thing. You want to make sure that she's as into it as you are. And everyone isn't good at articulating what they're feeling. So you have to be able to read the signs. Body language."
"So, if I can learn to read body language then I'll know what to do?"
"Most of the time, yes."
"Well, if I could learn German then I should be able to learn this."
Katie laughed softly. "I still can’t believe you know all those languages. Is there anything you can’t do?"
His face fell. "I think we've established that there are quite a few things that I can't do."
In that moment, Katie suddenly understood what a monumental mistake she’d made. This whole thing was so wrong and she was swamped with shame for her part in it.
“I made a mistake agreeing to this.”
“To what? This date? Why?”
Bennett looked slightly hurt so she grabbed his hand before he could pull away.
“Because by agreeing to teach you, I'm participating in the idea that you need to change somehow. That you need to be different for a woman to like you. And that's not true. Bennett, you have everything you need already. You already have the most important thing. This, right here."
She pressed her hand into the center of his chest, relishing the strong, steady beat thumping beneath her palm.
"You have the biggest heart. The way you love your family and care about everyone around you, even your former employees, proves that. You don't need to change a thing. I think you're perfect the way you are."
Without her knowledge, her hand had roamed over his chest, feeling the hard muscles beneath.
“I think you’re perfect, too.” Bennett’s eyes were intense on hers before he looked down. He seemed mesmerized by the motion of her hand. Katie knew she should stop; she was practically pawing him but he felt so good.
“This is the most fun I’ve had in a really long time. I think you are beautiful and fun and I wake up every day excited now because I know you’ll be there.”
“Bennett,” she whispered, completely stunned by his heartfelt words.
“I’m trying really hard to be a gentleman but since you don’t seem to mind honesty, it’s been hard to concentrate on anything tonight when all I wanted to do was peel this dress off and show you just how much I’ve learned about multiple orgasms over the years.”
Katie’s mouth fell open. Of all the things she’d expected him to say, that didn’t even rate. Now she had the image of Bennett studying the Kama Sutra in order to learn the best way to please a woman. Considering how seriously he took education, she had no doubt that he’d been as diligent studying the mystery of the female body as he was with anything else.
And she wanted nothing more than to experience everything he’d learned firsthand.
The hand she’d placed on his chest stopped moving. She clenched his shirt between her fingers, feeling his muscles flex beneath her touch. Then she took a deep breath and made her decision.
“Bennett, I'd really like it if you'd kiss me now.”
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THE ALEXANDERS
One More Day / The Things I Do for You
He's the Man /Christmas w/The Alexanders
All I Need is You / Say You Will
Just One Thing / BAD KING
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BLUE-COLLAR BILLIONAIRES
TANK / FINN / GABE / ZACK / LUKE
the SHAMEless Trilogy & the FORCE Duet
Shameless / Shameful / Unashamed
Force / Enforce
* * Paranormal Romance * *
BROTHERHOOD OF BANDITS
Nathan's Heart / Ian's Fall / Gavin's Curse
NYT & USA Today Bestselling author M. Malone resides in the picturesque Virginian countryside with her three favorite guys, her husband and their two sons. She holds a Master's degree in Business from a prestigious college that would no doubt be scandalized at how she's using her expensive education.
Half a million ebook sales later, she’s appeared on the New York Times and USA Today bestseller lists more than a dozen times. She's now a full-time writer and spends 99.8% of her time in her pajamas.
www.MinxMalone.com
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ONE MORE CHANCE © September 2017 M. Malone
CrushStar Romance
An Imprint of CrushStar Multimedia LLC
This book is a work of fiction. The names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the writer's imagination or have been used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, actual events, locales or organizations is entirely coincidental.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any manner whatsoever without written permission from the publisher except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews. For information address CrushStar Romance, 340 S Lemon Ave #9016, Walnut , CA 91789
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♥
