Jayden pasted on a fake smile. “Don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Brandi chuckled. “That was actually kind of smart. I can be very stubborn and very unreasonable when I’m angry.”
“You say that like I don’t know. Like you’ve never been mad at me before.”
“Okay, when we met doesn’t really count.”
“Oh, I think it does. That was Brandi 101. I’ve graduated to 201.”
She sputtered a laugh.
An idea occurred to him. “From now on, if we’re mad, we get twelve hours to blow off steam, okay?”
“No.” She shook her head. “You get until evening. So pick your fights in the morning if you want twelve hours. I’m not going to bed angry. I don’t want to do this angry at you for a week business ever again. That’s where I need to grow.”
“Okay.” At this point he’d agree to almost anything.
“So, is that it?” she asked. “Have we said everything we need to?”
“I’ve completely lost my script.”
“There was a script?”
“Yes, I wrote a script.”
She laughed. “Can I see it?”
“No.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes.”
“Fine.” She sighed. “Will you at least kiss me again?”
“That I can do.”
He kissed her, not caring that she was chuckling at him or that it wasn’t perfect. She was there and they had a chance. He held her close and was so damn grateful for this second chance.
She returned the kiss with enthusiasm. Everything about her was warm and right. He knew he should pull back, pump the brakes, but he was hungry for her.
Brandi shifted until she straddled his lap and cradled his face in her hands. She kissed him thoroughly, all the while her heat pressed down on his cock.
He wasn’t sure who reached for whose shirt first, but soon enough they were tangling in clothes as they rushed to strip.
He laid her down on the sofa, their lips never parting as their bodies moved in unison. He slid inside of her and nothing had felt more right in all his life.
She clung tight to him, driving her heel into the back of his thigh, urging him deeper.
Jayden felt her orgasm shudder through her and let go, giving himself over to the pleasure of the moment. They weren’t so broken that they couldn’t do this, which meant there was hope.
“God, Brandi,” he groaned as the tale tell prickling at the base of his spine began.
She raked her nails up his back at the same moment his orgasm tore through him.
Brandi pulled him in close, her limbs wrapped around him.
He pressed his forehead against hers.
“I hope you mean it,” he whispered.
“What? Trying again?”
“Yes.” He opened his eyes and looked down at her. The afternoon light spilling in through the windows gave her a halo.
Once more she cupped his cheek in a tender gesture, he was growing to like. “I’m serious.”
“Good.” He sighed. Why not be completely truthful? If not now, when? “I’m falling in love with you.”
Her eyes widened a hair, but she showed no other reaction. At least not outwardly. Her pussy tightened around his too sensitive cock and he had to grit his teeth.
“No comment?” he asked, ignoring the strain in his voice.
“You say what you mean,” she said in a soft, stunned voice.
“I just think you should know that.”
Brandi nodded. “Okay.”
Jayden bent his head. He intended to kiss her, but Brandi spoke in a rush.
“I think I just fell in love with you.” Her eyes were much wider now.
He remained perfectly still.
The truth was, their insides were battered and bruised. They’d gone a round where there could be no winner. That wasn’t even what it was about. And now they were moving on, hopefully as a team. A couple who had each other’s backs.
“This is big and scary and new,” she whispered.
“It’s okay. It’s new for me, too.” He pressed a kiss to her lips.
If they could get through this, they could do anything. And what was better? They’d grow in love together into the people they wanted to be. He couldn’t think of a better way to start their next chapter.
Day 53: Epilogue
Brandi’s legs were sore as she followed the mass of people through the customs check-point. It was hard to keep her eyes open. Her body thought it was time to sleep while her head knew she needed to fight the urge to pass out. Tomorrow she needed to be up early and at work to take stock of what had or hadn’t happened while she was gone.
A month ago she hadn’t seen this trip coming. Sure, she’d talked about going to India someday. But this soon?
In the end, it was her newfound little sister’s who’d swayed not only her but their father. He was the one who’d worn Brandi down and got her to come join them for a holiday.
The trip had gone by in a blur of laugher, hugs, amazing food and so many nights sitting up talking with her father and step-mother. They were the parents Brandi had always wanted for herself, and now she had them.
Life, in general, was trending upward for her.
Dad was in her life.
She was talking to her grandparents.
The transition at work was finally over, and soon enough they’d begin the move.
And next year she’d start classes in January.
There was only one thing missing from her life.
Brandi pressed her hand against the exterior pocket on her purse. The one she normally used only to hide her condoms. Today it had a much different kind of prize hidden inside. One she’d crafted with the help of her father.
To say they were similar was an understatement. And here Brandi thought she sabotaged relationships. She had nothing on her father. As far as Brandi was concerned, her new mom was a saint.
The minutes dragged on, but eventually it was her turn. The whole thing was a blur. It didn’t help that her head wasn’t there. It was outside, focused on the man who’d taken off the day to pick her up. The man she ached to see. The man who heart wanted.
Dad had talked to her for hours about Jayden and unpacking their relationship. There’d been no judgement from Dad, only acceptance.
In the end, he’d helped her craft the prize she’d stowed in her purse.
The customs officer waved her off and she headed for the baggage claim.
She stepped through the security doors into the public part of the airport and a sea of people met her.
“Brandi? B, over here,” she heard over the noise.
She stretched up on tip-toe, looking over the heads of people until she saw an arm waving at her, and below that the most handsome face in the world.
It was the face of the man she wanted to spend the rest of her life with. She knew that now.
JAYDEN RESISTED THE urge to shove his way through the crowd of people between him and Brandi. He spied her dark topknot of hair bobbing and weaving toward him, but it seemed like he could barely take a step without running into someone.
In the end, she found him.
The crowd parted and she dove at him. He staggered back into yet more people, hugging her tight.
It had only been a week, and yet he’d felt every mile of the distance between them. For some reason, just knowing she was a short drive away eased his mind most of the time. Having her off in India? That was torture.
Next time, he was going. He didn’t care if he was invited or not, he didn’t want to do this much time apart. Not for a long while.
“Oh, my God, I missed you,” Brandi squealed.
“You have a good flight? Everything go okay?”
She leaned back, but didn’t let go of him. “Yes. I’m so happy to be home, but I’m also so glad I went.”
“It sounded like you were having a blast every day.”
“I was. I did. It was amazin
g.”
A chime dinged at the luggage carousel.
He nodded to where other people were gathering. “I think that’s going to be your bags.”
“That can wait.” Brandi tugged him over to one side by the wall, then dropped his hand and dug in the side pocket of her purse. She pulled out a small envelope and handed it to him. “This is for you.”
Jayden took the envelope and turned it over.
Jayden D. Fullilove was written on the front in a delicate script.
“It turns out Mom’s hobby is calligraphy. So, she taught me a few things,” Brandi said.
“Did she now?” He flipped the envelope open, glad it wasn’t sealed. Ripping something with script that pretty would be a crime.
“Yeah.”
Brandi clasped her hands in front of her and bounced on the balls of her feet.
He got the feeling whatever was inside the envelope was important.
He held his breath and pulled out a piece of thick, linen like paper that had been folded in half. He smoothed it out and for a moment could only stare at all the swirling, gold accented letters.
“Wow,” he muttered.
And then he began to read.
To Jayden D. Fullilove,
You once had me write you an invitation. It seems fitting to write a second. The last few months have been a rollercoaster, haven’t they? Without you, everything would be different. I realize now that we’re apart, I don’t like being away from you. And, if I’m being honest, I want more. So, this is my fancy, gold-foil invitation.
What’s it going to be?
Love,
Brandi Cooke-Mann
Jayden lifted his head and stared at Brandi.
There were dark circles under her eyes, no doubt from the day and a half of travel it took for her to just get home. Her hair was pulled back and messy. The travel clothes she wore were some of her most threadbare clothes. No fighting with her had convinced her to leave them at home. She’d still never looked more beautiful to him than she did now.
Brandi was everything he’d never known he wanted in his life.
He didn’t just want to date her, he wanted to marry her. But that would come later.
“Well?” she asked, still bouncing.
Jayden wrapped an arm around her waist and tilted her back. She gasped and hugged him close, but that gorgeous smile of hers never faltered.
She trusted him.
He’d hurt her, betrayed her, and somehow they’d healed.
“I love you,” he whispered.
It was time to move forward, side-by-side.
WANT TO KNOW MORE ABOUT the rest of the Fullilove clan? Stay tuned for The Coffee Shop Crush! To stay up to date on all the Fullilove action, join Sidney’s New Release Newsletter.
BOOK LIST
Aegis Group
Dangerous Attraction
Dangerous in Training
Dangerous Games
Dangerous Attraction
Dangerous Protector
Dangerous Secrets
Dangerous Betrayal
Dangerous Heat
Dangerous Connections
Dangerous Exposure (coming soon)
More Soon!
Aegis Group Alpha Team
Dangerous in Love
Dangerous in Action
Dangerous in Transit
Dangerous in Motion
Dangerous in Charge
Aegis Group Lepta Team
Dangerously Taken
Dangerously Involved
Dangerously Deceived
Dangerously Broken
Dangerously Entwined
Aegis Group Task Force
Stolen Risk
Forged Risk
Technical Risk
Necessary Risk
Intercepted Risk (TBA)
Targeted Risk (TBA)
Hard Risk (TBA)
Burned Risk (TBA)
Final Risk (TBA)
Dangerous Ladies
Just Business
Just Friends (TBA)
Just Casual (TBA)
Fullilove in the House
The Wrong Perfect Match
The Coffee Shop Crush (2020)
Book 3 (2021)
Texas SWAT (Ransom, Texas)
Fighting Redemption
Stolen Redemption
Forbidden Redemption
Reckless Redemption (coming soon)
The Love Barn (Ransom, Texas)
Give Me Back My Man
Summer of Love
Party Out of Bounds
Gone Geek
Beauty and the Geek
Mr. Purr-fect and the Geek
The Jock and the Geek
The Gamer and the Geek
The Adorkable Girl and the Geek
The Fake Boyfriend and the Geek
Twisted Royals
Alpha Prince
Her Prince
Bad Boy Prince
Noble Prince
Tarnished Heroes
Spy Games
Assassin Games
Traitor Games
Hot Rides
Drive
Shift
Chase
Bayou Bound
Picture Her Bound
Duty Bound
Bound Memories
Bound & Tamed
Other BDSM Titles
Committed
Bound with Pearls
Collar Me in Paris
Festive Seduction
Electric Engagement
So Inked
Under His Skin
The Harder He Falls
His Marriage Bargain
Fighting His Desire
Standalone Titles
Falling for His Best Friend
Dream Vacation (free read)
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
IT CAN NEVER BE SAID that NYT & USA Today Bestselling author Sidney Bristol has had a ‘normal’ life. She is a recovering roller derby queen, former missionary, and tattoo addict. She grew up in a motor-home on the US highways (with an occasional jaunt into Canada and Mexico), traveling the rodeo circuit with her parents. Sidney has lived abroad in both Russia and Thailand, working with children and teenagers. She now lives in Texas where she splits her time between a job she loves, writing, reading and fostering cats.
You can find Sidney here:
Website: www.SidneyBristol.com
Twitter: @SidneyBristol
New Release Newsletter: http://sidneybristol.com/newsletter/
Facebook Page:
www.facebook.com/Sidney.Bristol.Romance.Author
Facebook Profile:
www.facebook.com/Sidney.Bristol.Author
Copyright © 2020 by Sidney Bristol.
Cover design by Charity Hendry.
www.CharityHendry.com
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law. For permission requests, write to the publisher, addressed “Attention: Permissions Coordinator,” at the address below.
Sidney Bristol
www.SidneyBristol.com
Publisher’s Note: This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are a product of the author’s imagination. Locales and public names are sometimes used for atmospheric purposes. Any resemblance to actual people, living or dead, or to businesses, companies, events, institutions, or locales is completely coincidental.
Book Layout ©2013 BookDesignTemplates.com
The Wrong Perfect Match / Sidney Bristol. – 1st ed.
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