Embrace
Page 20
I laugh and bump his hip away from me. “Stop it.”
But I’m already thinking where we should make love first.
The living room? With the large window that overlooks a private, fenced-in backyard?
The kitchen counter?
The bedroom, where our bed isn’t yet set up?
The enormous corner soaking tub?
I want him in all of those places. Eventually.
My cheeks flush at my wild thoughts and James notices.
He leans down, kissing me, and soon we’re practically clawing at each other. Our hands and lips roam over each other’s bodies until we’re interrupted by the sound of a throat clearing.
“Sorry,” Nolan says, yet his smile saying he’s not sorry at all. He jerks his thumb toward Talia. “I think we’re going to head out.”
“Sorry,” I whisper to my best friend.
She laughs. “Don’t worry about it. I have to head back to Denton anyway.”
I leave James’s side to say goodbye to my friend while he does the same to his.
“You okay?” I ask Talia. She’s been quieter today, almost fidgety, and it’s not like her at all.
“Yeah, there are just some problems with the clinic still.”
“I’m sorry.” I pull her into a hug and squeeze her tight. “Let me know what I can do for you.”
“I will. Take care of yourself.”
I kiss her cheek and wave as she walks toward her car. I’ll miss her. Things are changing, and I’m sad I won’t be able to see my friend whenever I want anymore.
But not all changes are bad, either.
Finally accepting help from my parents with finding a job, I was introduced to a friend of my mom’s who runs an adoption agency. It’s well known throughout the state, and they do domestic as well as international adoptions. They needed a marketing and public relations director, and while I wasn’t completely qualified for that type of work, they still thought I was capable.
I start next week, giving me a few days to get our house settled.
It’s not a job I ever thought I would want, but there’s a value in it, something more meaningful than just being a glorified secretary, and I’m excited to start.
With our friends gone, I turn back to James and follow him up our front porch. He stops me before I can get to the front door, bends down, and scoops me up with one arm behind my back, the other under my knees.
“Hey!” I squeal as he carries me inside. “What are you doing?”
“Carrying my woman over the threshold, like I’m supposed to.”
His smile diminishes as he walks me inside. He doesn’t let me down until he sets me on the couch. I expect him to join me, but instead he drops to one knee in front of me.
“What are you doing?” I ask, because this is silly. He looks like he’s proposing…
And then he brings out a small box from his pocket.
“James?” I lick my lips nervously. Tears immediately glisten in my eyes, even though my head is spinning.
My husband is on one knee in front of me.
He pops the box open, and I inhale a quick breath. Inside the box is a wedding band—platinum, just like my current set, and it matches the wedding band I already have, with inset diamonds covering it.
My skin burns hot and my fingers begin trembling.
“The first time we did this,” James begins, clearing his throat, “I was young enough and naïve enough to think we’d never have problems, we’d never have true challenges. When those happened, I didn’t handle them well, and it led to me breaking our marriage vows. For that, I will be desperately sorry until eternity.”
“James.” His name leaves my lips on an emotional gasp.
I want to lean forward and soothe his tortured expression, but I can’t. I’m frozen on the couch, clutching my fingers together.
“With this ring,” he says, biting his bottom lip nervously and lifting it out of the box, “I want to promise you that I’ve learned from my mistakes. I want this fresh start to be a new us, a new marriage, and I want to give you this so you always remember me renewing my promises to you.”
Tears flow from my eyes. I can’t believe he’s doing this.
“Of course,” I sob. I can’t stop the tears.
This is too much, and as James slides the ring onto my already covered ring finger, everything looks perfect. Beautifully shiny and sparkly and new.
“I love you, Laurie. I will never let you down again.”
I throw myself into his arms, almost knocking him off balance, but he holds me tight, not letting us fall.
“I love you, too.”
We’re still working, doing a lot of talking—some days, a lot of crying.
Our issues, our mistrust, and the problems that led to his affair or mine will not be fixed or solved in a day. Or a month. Possibly not a year.
But in the last several months, seeing James’s determination has taught me one thing: when it comes to trials, there is no other man I would rather work through them with than James.
He’s everything to me.
Acknowledgements
Thank you to everyone who helped me during the process of writing Embrace.
To my first readers and betas, thank you so much for your insight to improving this story. Heather Carver, Amanda Maxlyn, Natalie Gerber, and Samien Newcomb, as always your input is highly invaluable.
To my favorite Bad Ass CP’s. I don’t know how I would stay sane (which is already debatable) in this crazy writing world without your friendships and input. I love how we’re all so different and yet so close. I hope our friendships continue to grow stronger.
To Shannon, my PA. Lady…I love you. You completely keep me sane and go well and above any assistant. I think you’re absolutely amazing!
Thank you to Sarah Hansen for your incredible artistic talent.
To Amy Jackson and Emily Lawrence…someday, I swear I will learn all these rules that you constantly correct me for. Thanks for making this manuscript shine.
To my readers: You’re the best. Thanks for taking a chance on me and I hope I can provide you all with many more books for years to come.
To all the blogs, especially The Book Enthusiast for your promotional help. Every review, every cover reveal, I’m amazed with your support. Thanks just isn’t enough but it’s all I have to give you.
Last, but certainly not least. To my family. You’re the best. Thank you for your support and encouragement over the years. You mean more to me than anything in the entire world. Always remember: There’s nothing you could ever say or do that would ever make me stop loving you.
About the Author
S. Layne currently lives in Minnesota with her husband and four children. When she’s not conquering mountains of laundry and fighting a war against dust bunnies and cracker crumbs, you can find her playing with her children, curled up on the couch with a good book, or on the boat with her family enjoying Minnesota’s beautiful, yet too short, summer.
She lives off her daily pot of coffee, can only write with a bowlful of Skittles nearby, and has been in love with romance novels since before she could drive herself to the library.
If you would like to know more about S. Layne, follow her here:
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Twitter: @slaynebooks
Blog: http://staceylynnbooks.blogspot.com
If you enjoyed this book, please leave a review on the site where it was purchased.
And don’t forget to check out Stacey’s other books:
Upcoming Books ~ 2015
Enflame, The Affair Series, book 3 – Summer – Talia’s story - Erotic Romance
Unravel, The Affair Series, book 4 – Erotic Romance
Books Written under Stacey Lynn:
The Nordic Lords Series
Point of Return
Point of Redemption
Point of Freedom
Point of Surrender
Other Books
Just One Song
Just One Week
Remembering Us
Don’t Lie To Me
Try Me – A Don’t Lie To Me Novella