Harper and Kevin still talk daily and have a cup of tea together every other night while talking on their iPads. Because of his business and Rita, Kevin will never leave New York, and that’s okay. Harper visits every break, and we’re planning a trip next week to share the news with him. It just feels right to tell her dad first.
Harper places a hand over mine, and I love the feel of the two loves of my life on each side of my fingertips. I kiss her head and look up to Tessa, who’s looking at us with a knowing look while rubbing her own belly. I wink at her and then pull Harper in for a hug.
Tessa walks away, and I know she won’t say anything. And, if she does, Bryce will stay quiet until we share the news ourselves. Now, if it were Austin, I’d fear he’d make a spectacle of it. He did when Bryce and Tessa announced they were having a girl. Everyone at Sexton Media received a pink chocolate cigar. I have no idea what he’ll do when little Marina is born.
“How are you feeling?” I whisper into Harper’s hair.
She looks up at me with loving eyes. “Perfect. Happy, healthy, sated. Life is pretty damn perfect, don’t you think?”
It is. “Even on the days it’s not.”
“Are you ready to be a father?” she asks with a twinkle to her eye.
I know she’s still in disbelief that this is happening. Maybe, once we tell her father, it will settle in.
I tuck a stray curl behind her ear and then wrap my hands around her waist. “I’m ready to be the man of this family. Of our family. I’ve had a lot of lessons in what to do and what not to do. Are you ready to be a mother?”
“No.” She lets out a self-deprecating giggle. “No more than I was ready to be a wife, but you make it easy. You make everything easy. Even leaving my life and following you across the country was the easiest decision I ever made. Do you remember the night we met, what I said to you on the street corner?”
I’ll never forget. “You said, ‘I just want to forget reality tonight. I want to live in your dream.’”
“You made your dream our reality. And I don’t ever want to wake up.”
Some dreams are nightmares. Some, you forget as soon as you wake up. This dream isn’t always perfect, and it has had its share of drama.
It’s sweet.
It’s sexy.
It’s fun.
And it’s ours.
* * *
Thank you for reading The Sexton Brothers series. As a bonus, we've included two FREE books for you to enjoy!! Click below to get one free standalone romance from each of us.
Jeannine Colette
WRECKED
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Lauren Runow
GRAVITY
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About the Authors
Jeannine Colette
Jeannine Colette is the author of the Abandon Collection – a series of stand-alone novels featuring dynamic heroines who have to abandon their reality in order to discover themselves . . . and love along the way. Each book features a new couple, exciting new city and a rose of a different color.
A graduate of Wagner College and the New York Film Academy, Jeannine went on to become a Segment Producer for television shows on CBS and NBC. She left the television industry to focus on her children and pursue a full-time writing career. She lives in New York with her husband, the three tiny people she adores more than life itself, and a rescue pup named Wrigley.
Want to hear about new releases and get exciting emails from me? Sign up for my monthly newsletter!
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* * *
Lauren Runow
Lauren Runow is the author of multiple Adult Contemporary Romance novels, some more dirty than others. When Lauren isn't writing, you'll find her listening to music, at her local CrossFit, reading, or at the baseball field with her boys. Her only vice is coffee, and she swears it makes her a better mom!
Lauren is a graduate from the Academy of Art in San Francisco and is the founder and co-owner of the community magazine she and her husband publish. She lives in Northern California with her husband and two sons.
You can also stay in touch through the social media links below.
www.LaurenRunow.com
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Acknowledgments
At the heart of each Sexton Brothers book is the love of a mother for her sons. This book is dedicated to ours so they always remember that their moms love them more than the sun, the stars ...to the moon and back.
A huge thank you to Wilmari Carresquillo-Delgado, April Wells, Stefanie Pace and Kelli Mummert for beta reading this series. Some read Austin, others started blindly with Bryce or Tanner to ensure each story was a stand alone novel. We appreciate your patience and incredible feedback.
A special thank you to Jovana Shirley from Unforeseen Editing for your impact copy edit. Your attention to detail amazes us and we love having your markings on each of the Sexton books.
A huge shoutout to Autumn Gantz of Wordsmith Publicity for your friendship and guidance. We wouldn’t be here without you and thank you for being a Sexton!
Thank Jolana Gelissen for helping with the jokes for Paul.
When you write almost one hundred thousand words some are bound to be missed and we want to thank Grey Ditto, Dale Gardiner and Carlye Slover for helping us proofread Tanner.
Grey was also amazing enough to make us a Spotify link! Check it out!! https://open.spotify.com/user/greyditto/playlist/3LJmA8Fti39QjKAjMbGXmA?si=wulwhYVAQRmOgCw4w5owmw
As always, we wouldn't be where we are without the bloggers, readers and support of our fellow authors. Thank you for all who liked, shared, commented, reviewed, one-clicked and loved the Sexton Brothers.
Tanner: A Sexton Brothers Novel Page 31
