by Megan Smith
We walk up to the door; Cooper kisses me leaving me breathless before opening the door. “Everything is going to be okay. You don’t need to talk to Hunter today if you don’t want to.”
I nod and muster up a smile, “I know. I’ll be fine.”
The second we walk into the house all my fears melt away. This is my family, they love and support me, support us. Everyone is in the living room; my mom is holding Olivia while she drinks her bottle. Mason and Hailey are sitting side by side holding hands on the couch. Hunter and Jackson are on the floor playing with Alex and Ryder. MacKenzie and Chloe are standing off to the side talking, and Andrew and Elle are each holding one of the twins.
“Oh, look who decided to show up.” MacKenzie jokes.
Cooper put his arm around my shoulder and pulls me to his side. “Sorry we’re late.”
Hailey pipes up, “No you aren’t.”
I glance over at her and she’s smiling. I wink at her, she knows the real reason why we’re late. This morning we got home and Cooper pulled me right into his bedroom where we spent a few hours making love.
Cooper chuckles and whispers in my ear, “No we aren’t, are we?”
I blush, thinking of the way I feel when Cooper is inside of me, full and complete. I shake my head and look away.
MacKenzie walks over and links her arm in mine, “I’m stealing her for a little bit.” She tells her brother.
Cooper kisses the side of my head and removes his arm. MacKenzie, followed by Chloe and Hailey, leads the way out to the back deck. It’s a little chilly for early April but with the sun shining down on us it’s comfortable.
The girls’ questions come like rapid fire. Are we finally together now? What did we do for the week? How was the sex? Am I ready for Cooper to leave for weeks at a time?
I smile, taking a deep breath and gave them the run down. We’re together; we’ve talked and are taking it one day at a time. I kept the sex part clean and just gave the basics. What we shared was something I want to keep between me and Cooper.
“I’m not ready for Cooper to leave me again.” I smile as my eyes fill with tears.
“Girl, I’m not ready for Mason to leave either.” Hailey says as the tears stream down her face. “He’s going to miss so much while he’s away.”
I reach over and hug Hailey. I thought I had it bad with finally being a couple with Cooper and then him leaving me again but nothing compares to what Hailey is dealing with.
MacKenzie and Chloe stand up and come over to wrap their arms around Hailey and me. They both promise to be there for us anytime we need.
Hunter, Mason, Cooper and Jackson all walk out and see us hugging and crying.
“Christ and I thought it was just Hailey’s hormones that were all messed up.” I hear Mason say.
The four of us break our hug and turn to glare at Mason.
Cooper bumps his shoulder with Mason, “If looks could kill you’d be dead right now.”
All of us are wrapped in each of our loved ones’ arms just sitting back relaxing and talking about nothing really important. Hunter is the only one really not talking, he’s just watching me. He wants to talk, I’m sure he wants to know what’s going on with Cooper and I but there is something in his eyes that isn’t quite right.
Cooper leans up and whispers, “You still going to talk to him?”
I look over to Hunter who’s watching me and I nod my head. I turn in Cooper’s arms and place a kiss on his cheek. “It’s now or never.”
“I love you.”
“I love you too.”
I look back over to Hunter and nod my head towards the stairs. Hunter nods and picks up MacKenzie from his lap and then places her back in the seat. Hunter and I walk down the stairs and towards the driveway where no one will hear us.
I stand next to Cooper’s truck and cross my arms. I’m nervous as hell about telling Hunter what happened to me. This probably isn’t the best time or place but I wanted to talk to Hunter before Cooper leaves and since he’s leaving at six tomorrow morning this is the only time I really have.
I go to talk but Hunter beats me to it. “Jay, there’s something I need to talk to you about.”
My heart starts hammering and my stomach twists, “Okay, there’s something I think I’m ready to tell you too.”
To Be Continued…
Coming Soon
Finding Ours (Novella, Finding Series) August 11, 2014
Leave With Me (With Me Series) ~ Fall 2014**
Made To Love You (Book 5, The Love Series) ~ 2015
Finding Happiness (Book 2, Finding Series) 2015
Already Released
Trying Not To Love (Book 1, The Love Series)
Easy To Love You (Book 2, The Love Series)
Hard To Love You (Book 3, The Love Series)
Finding Us (Book 1, Finding Series)
**The With Me Series is a spin off to The Love Series.
I have to start with my readers first, you are all out of this world. You took a chance on me over a year ago and have stood by my side ever since. You have no idea how much your love and support means to me and I wouldn’t be here where I am without you. I know you all were patiently waiting for Cooper and Jaylinn’s story and I hope I did them justice. The story wasn’t easy for me and took me out of my comfort zone and I’m so glad that I pushed through and did it.
I have to thank my husband and my little monkey man. I love you both more than I could ever put into words. Thank you for letting me get lost in my own little world.
My beta girls (Heather, Danielle, Debi, Elle and Jennifer), what in the world would I do without each of you? I really have no idea. THANK YOU for taking the time out of your lives to help keep me in line and love my characters as much as I do.
Jen Bradley and Danita Bunce, I don’t think I’d be able to function without your daily help. It’s hard to find people you can trust these days who will have your back and always support your work and always be willing to help me out when I need it. I seriously love you girls, thank you for everything!
Heather Davenport, my rock star, my go to girl, I’m so glad our friendship has grown to what it is now. We can talk to each other out about anything and everything and we keep it real. It’s hard to find that these days but I’m damn glad we found it. I love how you somehow manage to get into my head and say the things I was thinking. You just get me! Thank you for all your promotional support as well; I couldn’t do that part without you.
Heidi McLaughlin, thank your for your support, friendship and encouragement along the way.
Marissa Carmel, thank you for always being there for me and letting me bounce ideas off of you and, most of all, thank you for the friendship that we now have. Love you, Jersey Girl!
Chelsea Landon, I love your stinking guts! Love Gator (I told you I would do it, lol)
Sarah Jones, as always, thank you for the wonderful edits and the super-fast turnaround!
Sommer Stein, thanks again for another breathtaking cover. I wasn’t sure how this one was going to turn out but you made me love it even more then my other covers
My Magnificent’s, thank you for all the pimping, love and support you have shown me. I couldn’t be where I am without you! And, yes, I know you are probably pissed that I’m making you wait for more Jaylinn and Cooper but it will be worth the wait and at least you get more of the Cahills and McCormicks. I figure if I give you Eli this fall it will hold you over until the next release and I’m pretty damn excited about Eli!
USA TODAY bestselling author Megan Smith is a New Jersey native managing purchasing for an award-winning business IT and software development firm - and by night creating the memorable characters her fans have grown to adore. Smith’s The Love Series introduces readers to MacKenzie Cahill - a hopeful young woman who experiences adversity, challenges and the bittersweet triumph of true, authentic love.
Smith is a wife and mother, who makes time for her family, professional life and the creation of the Cahill’s world.
Fans of The Love Series —Trying Not To Love You, Easy To Love You, Hard To Love You—are captivated by relationships, special bonds and family ties pervasive in Smith’s emotional, energized and engaging work. Smith is also the author of the 2014 releases, Let Me Love You—continuations of The Love Series, Finding Us (Finding Series) and a few top secret projects.
Literary Agency: Jamie Bodnar Drowley of Inklings Literary Agency
