by Ashley Lyn
Luke slides the ring on, and it feels so right. I feel complete, and so fucking happy. I jump up and into his arms, kissing the crap out of him. Then I hear and exasperated Paul.
“By the power vested in me by the internet, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride—well, you can keep on kissing her.”
Once he straightens us both, we walk down the aisle and outside to the sounds of You Can’t Hurry Love. We walk through a sea of bubbles, and I look over to my husband’s smiling face. I see my future in his eyes, and it looks damn good!
The End
Acknowledgments
This book was a long time coming. After numerous stops and starts, and many a bad stories, I finally managed to complete a book.
Let's take a second and do a happy dance!
Okay, so my mother, Cindy, has been indispensable to me throughout all of this. She has read everything I wrote. She has supported me, and given me encouragement when I needed it.
Emily Eck (a kick-ass author in her own right) helped me by beta reading some of my early stuff, as well as this book you fine folks have just read.
To Dana Hook, who helped guide me through this, and did a fantastic job editing my book baby.
To my beautiful sister-in-law, Kylie, who was always there to bounce cover ideas off of.
To my amazing Hubs, for listening to me rant and rave about uncooperative characters, and giving me the kick in the ass I needed to keep going.
I hope you loved reading this book as much as I loved writing it, and be on the lookout for book 2 in the Welcome to Spartan series!
Accidental Heiress
Sneak Peak
Chapter One
Music
Of all the things I’ve had the joy of indulging in after moving into Luke’s house is music. The woods, although serene, do not have Beyoncé, or the ‘Single Ladies.’
Ali and Luke helped me move into town almost a week ago, and it’s been the single best week of my life. I was feeling so unsettled and lonely, trying to hold onto the way my parents had lived. Moving to town? People stop by all the time to chat, and bring food. It’s so awesome!
Today will be my first adventure out of the house. I’m due at Bailey’s in about an hour to fill out paperwork. I’m equal parts excited and terrified. For one, I have never had a job, and two, I’m not used to being around so many people.
My limited wardrobe is all in the dryer, so dancing in the nude is on tap for today, until I have to leave for Bailey’s Bar. I'm smiling so wide; I feel like my cheeks might crack. I dance my way into the living room, to RuPaul’s Supermodel.
I attempt to twerk, and suspect I fail miserably.
The front door slams open and smacks against the wall. I scream, and turn so fast, I almost bust my buns.
“MOTHER OF PEARL!” I scream.
Parker is standing in my doorway, covered from head to toe in mud, leaves, and sticks. For a split second, fury mottles his face, until he gets a look at the goods. Squeaking, I drop to the floor behind the couch. My heart is pounding so hard, I think it's going to force its way right out of my chest. Slowly, I put my hands on the back of the couch and peek over, finding myself nose to nose with Parker.
Grabbing the pillow off the floor, I smack him right in the face. Jumping up, I run to the office and close the doors. I lean against it, hands to my burning cheeks, when I hear him chuckle. I glance over my shoulder and realize belatedly that the office doors are clear glass.
Sliding my hands around my back, I cover my buns. Pissed, I stomp my foot to the floor in frustration.
“Get out, Parker!”
“Not happening, darlin’. We’re having a come to Jesus meeting.”
“No, go away. I need to get dressed.”
“All right. I’m going to take a shower, and your cute little ass better be sitting here when I get out. I’m serious, Amy. I’ve spent the last two days in the fucking woods, lost as hell, looking for you. Then, when I find my way back, I hear you’ve been living in town for a damn week!”
“Fine, Parker. I’ll see you later.”
Like heck. My butt will be long gone by the time he gets back. I giggle a little bit, thinking about the look on his face when he gets back here, only to find me gone. I turn around to open the door and head to the laundry room, coming to an abrupt halt.
Parker is still here, and is taking off his clothes.
His abs come into view first, as he pulls his shirt over his head. It’s a glorious sight to behold. My fingers twitch to trace each defined bump. Nipples. The light brown, flat discs have metal bars through them, and my mouth waters for a taste. His hands go to his button-fly, and pop the whole line in an angry jerk. Commando. I can see the head of his dick, and sweet baby Jesus, there is more metal.
I try my best to cross my legs and keep them clamped shut. Do I look ridiculous, trying to stand here with my hands on my hips and my legs crossed? What happened to all the oxygen? My lungs are screaming. I take a deep breath, and a moan of pure want escapes.
He peels his pants all the way down his legs, toes off his boots and stands there. In my kitchen. Completely naked. Hands on his hips, like a proud peacock, he turns and heads to my bathroom.
I watch his ass until he’s out of sight.
Without his overwhelming naked presence, my brain comes back online. I make my way to the laundry room unhurried, and oddly calm. I pull clothes out of the dryer, get dressed, and make my way to the kitchen. I see his keys on the counter and smile. Snatching them up, I wait until the water turns on and make my way outside. I have to jump a bit to get into his truck. Once I’m comfortable, I put the key in the ignition and turn it, starting the engine. I laugh. I have never been happier that Ali taught me how to drive when she "borrowed" Margo’s car when we were sixteen. The police officer in my shower might have a problem with it, though, considering I don’t have a license. Laughing a bit at that thought, I gun the engine and make my way out of the driveway, and head for Bailey’s.
No way in hell am I going to be there when he gets out.
****
Parker
Stepping out of the shower, I know without even looking that my little woodland sprite has fled the coop. Grabbing the bag I left by the back door, I get dressed and take my dirty clothes into the kitchen. Sticking them in the washer and starting it up, I sweep up the mess in the kitchen and turn around to grab my truck keys. Looking at the counter and not finding them, I look around on the floor, and the living room. No keys.
Jerking open the front door, I stand in stunned silence. I cannot believe that brat stole my truck!
My palm starts to itch with the thought of how I want to use it on her pert little ass. Hands on my hips, dropping my chin to my chest, I can’t help the grin.
Pulling out my cell phone, I text Ali, thinking it’s the one place she would have gone.
Parker: Any idea where my wayward sprite is?
Ali: Why would you ask me where your soda is? I’m not the babysitter of your carbonated beverages!
Parker: Amy. I’m looking for Amy.
Ali: Why would you call her a sprite?
Parker: That’s not important right now, Ali. Is she at your house?
Ali: I’m not at home.
Parker: Ali, please.
Ali: Such lovely manners!
Parker: Please.
Ali: I don’t think I want to tell you.
Parker: She stole my truck.
Ali: LMFAO!!!!
Parker: Not funny.
Ali: She’s at the bar, filling out paperwork for a job.
Parker: Fuck!
Ali: Good Luck.
Bailey’s is too far to walk to, so it looks like I’m settling in for a wait. After two days of sleeping in a sleeping bag, a little nap in her bed sounds great. No way in hell am I leaving.
Lying on my back with my hands behind my head, I think about when I first met little Miss Amy. I moved here and took the position of Sheriff about four years ago.
I was hoping that this small town would help quiet my demons, and then she walked into my office. Her clothes had so many holes, there was hardly anything to them. Her pale blonde hair was pulled up into a messy bun on top of her head. The grief and desolation in her beautiful blue eyes was overwhelming. The tears sliding down her dirty cheeks left white lines, and to this day, the image makes my stomach turn.
When she told me that her father had committed suicide, and she wasn’t sure what to do, my heart just broke. I rushed to the office and got her some water, wet wipes, and tissues. When I asked her for her address, I was shocked when she told me she would have to show me, because her and her father lived at a campsite.
We drove to the edge of the forest, where we had to take a two-hour hike to get to her campsite. When she stopped abruptly, I had to put my hands on her shoulders, and was shocked at how slight she felt under my hands. She jerked away from me and put her back to a tree, waving her hand in a general direction. She slid down the tree and buried her head between her knees.
Carefully, I made my way through the mostly empty site. The tents were old and patched, pots and pans dented and worn, and hardly any food. I found her father just outside of the main camp, sitting up against a tree, chin on his chest and a hole in his head. When I took this job, I was running hard and fast from the image of my girlfriend in this same position. It was so eerily familiar, that my mind kept flashing to the image of Tes.
Tes and I had only been dating for a couple months when I came home and found her on my couch, chin to her chest, and my 9mm on the floor.
Not once in the short time I had known her did I ever sense something was wrong. For months, I felt so freaking guilty. At the urging of her parents, I started seeing a counselor. It was one of the best things I ever did for myself, and continue to do today.
After that night, I no longer saw the image of Tes, but of Amy, with her handmade clothes and muddy, tearstained cheeks.
I tried so hard to get her to come home with me or someone else in town. She finally agreed, and I breathed a sigh of relief. Then, while I was busy with the coroner, it was like she melted back into the forest. One minute she was there, and the next she was gone. It was months before I caught sight of her again.
Over the past two years, that ragged looking girl has turned into an unbelievably sexy woman; one that I intend to marry. Letting my eyes drift close, I briefly wonder if sleeping in her bed will backfire on me.
Amy
Never in my life have I been so exhausted. I was just supposed to go fill out paperwork and get a tour. It turned into an all-nighter when Ali called and begged Cleo to bring her and Luke dinner.
Jerking open the door I stumble inside, I strip as I make my way to the laundry room and pull my favorite pajamas out and get dressed for bed on autopilot. I fling Parker’s Keys on the side table and make my way to my bedroom, I fall face first on the bed and get a face full of dick.
Parker jackknifes off the bed and cups his wounded crotch. I’m trying to work up a good mad at finding him in my bed, but I just can’t. Pulling the comforter over my head, I snuggle down and attempt to drift off.
I say attempt because before I can slip into dreamland Parker is sliding into my bed. He pulls me over and snuggles up to my back.
“First thing in the morning I will find my mad and we are going to fight this out, right now I’m too tired.”
I wiggle back into his warmth, his hand comes around to cup my boob, and it's lights out.
Parker
After the pain in my gut from her nailing, my nuts with her face subsided. I was shocked to find her dead asleep next to me in the ugliest pajamas in history, thick flannel and flowered. Big purple and green flowers covered her from head to toe. Lifting up the comforter I peek down at the beautiful woman next to me. Laughing when she jerks the blanket back over her head. How she can sleep with her head completely covered is beyond me.
Rolling her over I tangle my legs with her, she stuffs her face under my chin. I kiss her forehead and consider cupping my dick when I think about her waking up in my arms.
