by Lucy Score
“Aren’t you happy to see me, sexy?”
“What the hell are you doing here?” he demanded. But Gannon wasn’t looking at her. He was looking for someone else. “What part of stay the hell away from me don’t you understand?” he demanded.
Meeghan sidled up to him again. “Don’t tell me you don’t want to play,” she purred.
Gannon’s face was a mask of anger and revulsion. “I told you before, I want nothing to do with you so you’d better get used to that fact.”
The voiceover began again. “Paige, I know we talked it through, but I needed you to see, really see that there hasn’t been room in my life for anyone but you since the day I met you. And that’s why I did this house for you.”
Paige brought her hands to her mouth, shaking her head.
“I saw it, and I knew it was yours.” He gave a little half grin. “Ours.”
“Oh, my God.” It all made sense now. He’d asked her opinion on every room. She’d chosen half of the finishes in the house and had zero suspicions. How had she not seen it?
“I know it’s a lot to take in,” the Gannon in the video said. “But the first few times I told you I loved you didn’t go well. So I wanted to make sure that I got it right this time.”
Paige’s tears weren’t silent anymore.
“Paige?”
She turned at her name and saw Gannon, in the flesh, standing behind the couch. She swiped at the tears that just wouldn’t seem to stop falling.
“I love you, Gannon.” She blurted out the words with no preamble, no buildup. But there was no keeping them locked in anymore. “I’m in love with you, and I didn’t realize it until I saw your dining room wall.”
“Our dining room wall.” He smiled and strolled around the couch, his hands in his pockets.
“You’re insane. This can’t be happening.” Paige shivered, wanting to reach out and melt into his arms.
“Here. Catch,” he said. He slipped one hand from his pocket and threw something to her.
She caught it out of midair and held it up. It was a keychain with keys on it. “For the house?”
He nodded, silent and waiting.
She could barely see through her tears. The keys were warm in her hand. She brushed her thumb over them and felt something other than key. Holding the keychain up again, Paige gasped.
The diamond was a fat solitaire with a halo of smaller diamonds on a simple band. She bent at the waist, desperate for breath and not believing her reality.
“I’ll get down on one knee if you want me to,” Gannon offered. “But we both know it’s not my style. So how about I tell you what I want, and you tell me if it’s something that fits.”
She nodded, not trusting her voice.
“I want you to be my wife. I want us to work really fucking hard. I want to have kids with you. I don’t know how many, but they’ll probably be loud and stubborn like us. I want to call you first whenever I have news. I want to spend the rest of my life just trying to keep up with you.”
He shoved a hand through his short hair. He was nervous. Gannon King was shaking in his boots. “You’re the best person I’ve ever known in my life, and if you tell Nonni that, I’ll call you a dirty liar. But you are the best, Paige. You’re smart and driven and so damn sexy and strong. You put up with me without crying all the time—except for right now. And I can’t think of anyone in the world I’d rather share my life and this house with.”
Paige tried to mop at the tears with the sleeve of her sweater still clutching the ring in her hand.
“And just so you know,” Gannon said, “the house is yours. Even if you say no. But I hope the memories of sex on the kitchen counter would haunt you forever if you go that route. So what do you say?”
“You propose to me by showing me footage of another woman kissing you, and then you call me a dirty liar and threaten to haunt me if I say no.”
“Well, if you’re gonna overlook all the good stuff, then yeah.”
The smile felt like it would split her face. “I was just making sure before I said yes.”
“Yes? You’re saying yes?” Gannon stared hard at her.
“I’m saying hell yes.” She threw herself into his arms, and he caught her, swinging her around.
“Thank fucking god. I thought I was going to throw up.”
She cupped his face in her hands and kissed him. “Please tell me the bedroom is finished.”
His gaze warmed. “Let’s go look,” Gannon said, carrying her toward the stairs.
“Wait! I want the ring on.”
“I’ll put it on when you’re not wearing anything else,” he promised, jogging up the stairs with her in his arms.
“Gannon? Thank you for not putting this on camera.”
He squeezed her a little tighter. “They’ve had enough pieces of us. This is just for you and me, princess.”
EPILOGUE
“I hate wearing these things,” Gannon scowled at his reflection in the hotel mirror as if he was in pain. His fingers were trying to loosen the tie he’d just tightened.
“But you look so good in them.” Paige stroked her hands over the broad shoulders under his black suit jacket.
He snagged her wrist and pulled her around to face the mirror in front of him. “Speaking of looking good.” He nibbled at her neck.
“Do not leave a mark,” she ordered. “We’re not going to a wedding with me sporting a hickey.”
“What if it’s in a place that no one else will see?” Gannon asked, his fingers edging the wide strap of her blush pink dress off her shoulder.
“Why are we going to a wedding again when we could be spending the afternoon in bed?” he asked tasting her skin and drawing a crop of goose bumps to the surface.
Paige dropped her head back against his shoulder and smiled. “Not everyone wants to elope like we did, Mr. King.”
“Mmm. Mrs. King. I still like the sound of that,” he murmured, slipping one hand into the deep V at the front of her dress.
“You should be getting used to it by now,” Paige teased, spinning in his arms to wrap hers around his neck. “It’s been ten months. I think we can spare a few hours outside the bedroom.”
“You’re not going to make me feel guilty about wanting to spend as much time with you as I can before you have to take off on your screening tour.”
Her documentary, shot over an intense three-month period, was finally wrapping up in post-production and due to debut in a month’s time. Her baby was being brought to life, and it was better than she’d ever dreamed. And her directorial debut season of Kings of Construction had the highest ratings so far that the show had ever seen.
“It was my understanding that you’d be accompanying me on my tour,” Paige said, biting at his bottom lip.
“Of course I’m going. But it’s going to be like shooting Kings all over again. I’ll never have you all to myself.”
She laughed and pulled him closer. “We made do then. We’ll make do again.” She felt his fingers at the zipper of her dress.
“Don’t even think about it,” Paige warned. “We’re already late.”
“Where are you going?” he demanded when she made a dash for the door.
“Upstairs to my office. I just wanted to check my email again before we go.” Gannon had outfitted one of the bedrooms on the fourth floor into a state-of-the-art office for her and Becca. They’d nicknamed it heaven and had spent hours and hours up there filming interviews and reviewing footage.
“Don’t even think about it,” Gannon teased. “We’re already late.”
––—
They arrived just before the glossy white doors to the Portland Unitarian Church closed and scooted into a pew next to her sister. “It’s about time,” the ever-punctual Dr. Lisa St. James said pointedly.
“Good to see you, too, Lis,” Gannon said, pressing a peck to his sister-in-law’s cheek before slinging his arm around Paige’s shoulders.
“He looks happy,” Paige said, no
dding at the groom who beamed like a beacon at the front of the sanctuary.
“He’s got a lot to be happy about,” Lisa nodded.
Paige dug into her clutch for her tissue stash and offered one to her sister. Lisa shook her head.
“Softy,” Gannon whispered in Paige’s ear, his thumb caressing the bare flesh of her shoulder.
“Weddings always get me. And if memory serves, you got a little misty-eyed at ours,” she pointed out.
“Allergies,” he claimed.
The music rose and the doors to the back of the church opened. Malia, in a flouncy pink dress and a tiara that sat on her fuzzy new growth of hair, strutted down the aisle. Her pink high tops visible under the miles of tulle in her skirt. She skipped and then ran, jumping into the arms of the man at the end of the aisle.
Gannon cleared his throat, and Paige elbowed him in the gut. “Yeah, try not to tear up, tough guy.”
“Crap.” Lisa snatched one of the tissues from Paige and dabbed at the corners of her eyes.
“Just think, Lis. This wedding wouldn’t be happening if it weren’t for you,” Gannon whispered.
“All I did was match a patient to a trial.” But there was a slight curve to her lips.
The church doors opened again, and this time they all rose as Carina, resplendent in yards of ivory, floated down the aisle. The designer gown was fitted to her lean frame as if it had been sewed onto her body. Miles of veil trailed behind her. She was a breathtaking bride with eyes only for her daughter and soon-to-be husband, the man who had saved Malia’s life.
She was so happy. There wasn’t a person in the building that couldn’t sense the radiating joy.
Paige didn’t even bother trying to stem the happy tears.
––—
“Gannon! Paige!” Malia barreled across the dance floor and jumped into Gannon’s waiting arms.
“Hey there, pipsqueak.” He spun her around, lifting her toward the tulle and light draped beams above their heads and she squealed.
“I’m so glad you guys are here. Did you see my shoes? Aren’t they awesome?”
“They are awesome,” Paige said, returning Malia’s one-armed hug. “How’s school going?”
“Good! I’m playing baseball! I’m really good,” she announced.
“I bet you are,” Gannon said, setting her back down. “So what do you think of your new stepdad?”
Malia looked over her shoulder where her parents were posing in front of the bar. “He’s kind of the best. And he’s super smart. He says I can be a doctor like him if I want to but that I shouldn’t make up my mind too early.”
Paige laughed. “He sounds like the best.”
Carina and Dr. Singh waved in their direction. “I’d better go,” Malia said. I want to make sure I get a good piece of cake.” She dashed off, her pink sneakers squeaking cheerfully on the wood floor.
Gannon took Paige in his arms again, moving to the music. “God, I love that kid.”
“You’d be a horrible human being if you didn’t,” Paige pointed out.
“Maybe we should have some,” he said, his face serious, but eyes dancing.
“Kids?” Paige clarified.
“Yeah,” he said, guiding her in a slow spin. “Maybe three?”
Paige grinned, her heart swelling in her chest. “Three kids. That’s a lot.”
“Well, we’ve got all those bedrooms at home,” he teased.
He leaned her back for a dip.
“It’s a good thing because I found out this morning that we’re going to need one of those bedrooms.”
She saw it, the question followed immediately by the spark of joy. He pulled her upright faster than necessary, and she fell against him laughing.
“You’re not fucking with me?”
Paige shook her head, more happy tears clouding her eyes. “Nope. You’re going to be a daddy.”
He hugged her to his chest and then cupped her face in his hands. The music and lights and laughter faded into the background.
“God, I hope it’s a girl,” he said, sealing his wish with a kiss.
Author’s Note to the Reader
Dear Reader,
OMG, let me tell you, that shower scene from this book has been in my head forever. Haunting me! Not just the sexiness part, but the whole vulnerability thing. I love writing couples who push each other’s buttons so when they do finally let down their guards it’s even more intense.
I also loved how Paige and Gannon helped each other grow in necessary and interesting ways. That to me is the definition of a solid couple.
And, of course, then there’s proposal. He bought and designed an entire house just for her? Yeah, that’s hotness.
Paige’s work issues were partly inspired by Jennifer Lawrence’s essay in Lenny Letter about her male co-stars making a buttload more money than she was and the responsibility she felt for not fighting harder for herself. I think it’s an issue that many of us can relate to (not negotiating for millions, but being afraid to tell the world what we want because of the labels we’ll face).
Anyway, thanks for picking up Mr. Fixer Upper! It’s my tenth book. Can you believe that? ME NEITHER. If you loved it, please feel free to leave a review. Think I’m a fiction-writing genius? Sign up for my newsletter and stay up to date on all new releases. And I love talking to readers on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, so find me and we’ll chat!
Thank you again, amazing reader, for spending your time on a book I wrote!
Xoxo,
Lucy
About the Author
Lucy Score is the author of the Wall Street Journal and #1 Amazon bestseller Pretend You’re Mine. She grew up in a literary family who insisted that the dinner table was for reading and earned a degree in journalism. She writes full-time from the Pennsylvania home she and Mr. Lucy share with their obnoxious cat, Cleo. When not spending hours crafting heartbreaker heroes and kick-ass heroines, Lucy can be found on the couch, in the kitchen, or at the gym. She hopes to someday write from a sailboat, or oceanfront condo, or tropical island with reliable Wi-Fi.
Lucy’s Titles
The Blue Moon Small Town Romance Series
Where It All Began
Find out where Blue Moon got its start in this prequel. John Pierce is a farmer enjoying his solitude until the grad student he reluctantly agreed to take on turns out to be a woman.
No More Secrets
Carter Pierce is a gorgeous veteran who doesn’t mind getting his hands dirty tending the family farm, but he’s not in the mood to be shadowed by a big city journalist.
Fall into Temptation
Beckett Pierce is the charming mayor of Blue Moon with a soft spot for women who are trouble, especially when they live in his guesthouse.
The Last Second Chance
Jackson Pierce is the returning prodigal son. With a successful career as a Hollywood screenwriter, he has everything. Everything but the girl he left behind.
Not Part of the Plan
Emma’s got her whole life planned out. And that plan doesn’t include a detour with hunky fashion photographer and notorious ladies’ man, Nikolai Vulkov.
Romantic Suspense Titles
Pretend You’re Mine
Harper starts her life over again with a fake relationship with real-life hero Luke. But fake and real and hidden truths soon turn into one unforgettable love story.
Sinner & Saint: Crossing the Line
It’s hate at first sight when Xavier, a by-the-book bodyguard, meets starlet Waverly who is desperate to leave the sparkle and danger of Hollywood behind her.
Sinner & Saint: Breaking the Rules
A dangerous game brings Xavier back into Waverly’s life. He’s the only one who can get her out alive, but will she ever trust him again?
Undercover Love
Ashley is given the keys to revenge on her cheating fiancé when she teams up with billionaire Jason Baine to bring him and his mistress down.
Other Titles
Mr. Fixer Upper
Gannon King’s on-set clashes with his field producer Paige drag them both further into the spotlight. And as the network pushes for more drama, things heat up behind closed doors.
Heart of Hope: Hope Falls (Kindle Worlds)
Single mom Bristol begins to fight through her grief with the help of sexy stranger Beau. But Beau has a secret that will affect her entire family.
Acknowledgements
Mr. Lucy for your tireless dedication to details that would annoy, bore, and distract me.
Dawn Harer and Amanda Edens for their ability to know what I meant to type.
Jaycee of Sweet ‘N Spicy Designs for this all-spice, all-the-time cover.
Inspiration, that fickle bitch, for bringing Gannon King to life on the page, already full formed.
Netflix for “House of Cards,” “The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt,” and “Arrested Development.
Taco Bell for the Cheesy Gordita Crunch.
My readers for always being enthusiastic cheerleaders.
Where’s Lucy?
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