“Really?” she croaked.
He nodded, squeezed her hand. “Really. I knew I had to come right here and be with you.”
“But I thought— Aren’t you going home to be with your family for Christmas?” Her fingers trembled as they clutched at his.
“My home is wherever you are.” He pulled her to him, slipping his arm around her waist, dipping his head close to hers. “I love you. I can’t believe I didn’t just say this that last night we were together, but I guess I had to be without you to realize the truth. And I know you love me. You’re just scared. That’s how I know you’re crazy about me.”
Tears trickled down her cheeks, and she closed her eyes, letting out a shaky laugh. “The most romantic moment of my life and I look like an idiot with a pink wig on.”
“Here.” He plucked the wig off her head and tossed it over his shoulder, one of the partygoers watching the entire interaction catching it with a whoop. “Now you look good.”
Well, sorta. Her hair was a mess, clinging to her head. But she was still the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen.
“I look terrible.” She smoothed a hand over her head then swiped at her cheeks.
“Not to me. Never to me. Don’t know why you wear these, since you don’t even really need them.” He plucked the glasses off her face, set them on the bar counter.
And then he kissed her, the tension that had filled him since he left her slowly easing as Willow kissed him back. Sweet, simple kisses that sent heat rushing through his veins, made his head spin. “I love you,” he whispered against her lips. “I’m so in love with you I’m never going to let you go again, you got that?”
She laughed. Kissed him again. “You promise?”
“Only if you say the words back to me first.” He squeezed her, pulling her even closer.
“I love you, Nick,” she murmured. “I’m so in love with you. I’m never going to let you go again, you got that?”
He laughed. “Smart ass.”
Grinning, she hugged him close, kissing him again. “You’re so incredibly rude, I don’t understand what I see in you sometimes.”
“My rude qualities are your absolute favorite thing about me. Don’t you deny it, either.” He kissed her again because now that he had her in his arms after being without her for too long, he might not stop kissing her.
Ever.
“I love all your qualities,” she said, her eyes glowing, her voice soft. She smoothed his hair away from his forehead, her gentle touch making him shiver. “I love you, Nicholas Hamilton.”
He grinned. “No one calls me Nicholas unless it’s my mama when she’s pissed at me about something.”
Willow rolled her eyes. “You and your mama stories. When can I meet this brave woman who gave birth to you?”
“Lucky you, I’m flying the entire family to my place for the holiday.” The idea had come to him more than a week ago, and he’d called them up to see if they were willing. Then he’d immediately booked the tickets when they all said they were dying to come to California and see him. Everyone would be at his place in Carmel for Christmas, even his sister and her family.
Willow’s eyes went a little wide and she visibly swallowed. “Are you serious?”
“As a heart attack. You ready to meet my mama, darlin’?” His parents were going to love her; he just knew it.
“Oh, God.” She made a little face. “You think she’ll like me?”
“She will love you,” he said assuredly. “You two have plenty in common, trust me.”
“What? That we both love you and want the best for you?”
“Well, that’s a given.” He shrugged, smiling. “But my mama is feisty and crazy, just like you.”
“What? I should hit you for that remark,” she whispered.
“You won’t. You love me too much.” He murmured the words against her soft, damp lips as he kissed her, wishing they were alone in her hotel room…
So he could have her naked in bed. Do whatever he wanted to her without an audience watching.
She smiled dreamily. “I like how you say that.”
“Wanna hear it again?” He kissed her nose.
“Yes, please,” she said primly.
Chuckling, he dipped his head, his mouth perfectly aligned with hers. “I love you, Willow,” he murmured just before he kissed her. “You’re all mine.”
And for once in her life, she didn’t argue.
Epilogue
“She is the sweetest thing I ever did see, though she has a bit of a mouth on her,” Nick’s mother said, her gaze locked on Willow as she went into his living room and settled on the couch beside his dad.
Nick laughed, shaking his head as he leaned over and pressed a kiss on his mom’s cheek. “She’s just like you, Mama. Likes to argue and tussle and cause a big scene.”
“I can tell. You like her. She’s perfect for you.”
“I’m in love with her,” Nick said solemnly. “I think I’ve been in love with her since I was twenty-one.”
“Took you long enough.” His mom jabbed him in the ribs, causing them both to laugh, and he rubbed the top of her head, ruffling her perfectly curled hair and making her squeal.
It was the night after Christmas, and he had the most important people in his life surrounding him. Jared and Sheridan had just left a while ago after coming over for dinner. His sister and her family had also just left for the hotel Nick had put them up in. Willow was engrossed in a serious conversation with his dad, and he had his other favorite lady sitting right next to him, smiling widely while she stared at Willow as if his mama couldn’t keep her eyes off her.
“I think she’s going to fit in real well,” his mom finally declared with a finality that spoke of no arguments. “You picked a fine woman to be with you, Nick. I can tell.”
Relief flooded him. Thank God his parents liked Willow. Bad enough he had to deal with Walter Cavanaugh.
Which he could handle. He wasn’t scared. It was just a pain in the ass, knowing the woman he wanted to marry had a father who really didn’t like him.
“Well, we best get to bed, considering you’re going to have to haul us to the airport bright and early tomorrow morning.” His mom patted his knee affectionately. “Good night, dear.”
They all bade one another good night and went to their respective rooms, Nick turning out all the lights as they headed down the hall, his gaze locked on Willow’s perfect ass as she walked ahead of him.
He should be shot. Here she was, hugging his parents in front of their bedroom door, wishing them good night, and all he could think about was jumping her naked bones the minute he got her behind closed doors.
Which he did. For long, inventive hours he took his time with Willow, making her sweat and writhe and moan and gasp. Those soft little gasps were some of the best noises in the world. And the way she clutched at his shoulders while he buried himself deep inside her…
Yeah. He couldn’t get enough of that either.
“If we keep up this sort of pace, I’m going to be dead by the time I’m thirty,” Willow panted those many hours later as she lay on her back beside Nick.
He grabbed her hand, interlacing their fingers and giving her a squeeze. “What a way to go, though, right?”
She laughed, the sound quiet. He straight wore her out, didn’t he? “I like your parents.”
“I know.” She’d said it often enough since she’d first met them, which pleased him to no end. “They like you too.”
“Do they really?”
She seemed to really sweat that. He ought to ease her worried mind and make this official and all. Finally. “Of course they do. They adore you. My mama thinks you’re just like her at her age.”
“I’m hoping that’s a compliment,” Willow said wryly.
“The best sort of one.” Releasing her hand, he reached over and opened the bedside table drawer, pulling out a small box. He handed it over to her, dropping the black velvet box into Willow’s open hand and giving
her a nod. “Open it.”
“W-what is this?” Her voice trembled, her hand was shaky as she slowly opened the box. “Oh God.”
Inside sat a simple princess cut three-carat diamond. Fitting, since she was his princess, his queen, his everything. “What do you think it is?” he teased.
She shook her head slowly. “No way I—”
“If you say no, you’re going to send me straight into total despair.” He rolled over so he was on top of her, the ring box nestled between them, her hand trapped against his chest. “I want you to marry me, Will. Be my bride. Be my wife. Let’s have six kids and grow old together. What do you say?”
“Six kids? Are you crazy?”
“Fine. We’ll have five,” he said, compromising.
“Four,” she countered, her gaze still locked on the ring within the tiny box.
He slowly shook his head. “Always arguing with me, aren’t you?”
She glanced up, her eyes shiny with tears, her lower lip quivering. “You wouldn’t have me any other way.”
“You got that right.” He bent his head, delivering a soft kiss to her lips before he pulled away slightly. Reaching between them, he plucked the ring from the box and reared up on his knees. He grabbed her left hand and slipped the ring on her finger, pleasure piercing his chest when he saw how perfect that ring looked on her finger.
“It’s beautiful,” she whispered, holding out her hand, her fingers splayed.
“You’re beautiful. Marry me. Say yes.”
Willow smiled so brightly it damn near stole his breath. “Fine. I’ll give in. Yes.”
He thought he might explode with happiness. Leaning in, he kissed her again. Deep, hot, wet kisses that left him dizzy, left her whimpering. “I plan on making you scream that particular word for the rest of the night.”
“How about for the rest of my life?” she murmured against his lips.
“Deal.”
Acknowledgments
To my editor, Stacy Abrams, and to Heather Howland—I love writing for Brazen, and I’m thankful you both believe in this series. To all the amazing authors I’ve met since I started writing for Entangled—I’ve made a lot of new friends and I feel incredibly lucky that I have those friendships. To my family, who’ve had to put up with me becoming pretty much nonexistent this entire year, locked away in my office, typing typing typing, writing writing writing. Your patience is beyond appreciated, and I love you all.
And to all the readers and bloggers and reviewers—I would be nothing without you. Seriously. Thank you for all of your support. It means the world to me.
About the Author
USA TODAY bestselling romance author Karen Erickson writes what she loves to read—sexy, contemporary romance and sensual, historical romance. She has been digitally published since 2006 and when she’s not busily writing on deadline, she enjoys reading, hanging out with her family, and traveling. A native Californian, she lives in the foothills below Yosemite with her husband and three children, the dog, and too many cats. She is the author of the Lone Pine Lake series, Jane’s Gift and Tempting Cameron, and she’s also known as New York Times bestselling author Monica Murphy. Visit her at www.karenerickson.com.
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Game for Trouble Page 17
