“Hell, yeah!” Rocky swept her up off her feet and took her mouth in a kiss that was probably not appropriate with her parents only a few feet away, but he didn’t care. Neither did Lita, her lips parting immediately as she welcomed his passion. He tasted, nipped, and drank from her, taking turns and letting her explore his mouth, claiming his as thoroughly as he’d claimed her.
They broke apart, breathless, their laughter joining the off-the-chain cheering and clapping from their friends and family.
“Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you, Mr. and Mrs. Rocky Cardano.”
“I like how that sounds,” he murmured, pressing a kiss against Lita’s cheek.
“I don’t know. I kind of liked it when you were Guy Ritchie,” Lita said.
“Oh really?”
“Yeah.”
“We’ll see whose name you’re screaming tonight.”
Head Over Heels
Series Epilogue
He was a lucky bastard.
Rocky paused on the threshold of Lita’s dressing room and leaned against the threshold as he watched her work her completely unnecessary girly magic. She was fucking gorgeous, and they agreed to disagree on whether she needed any of the expensive crap that commandeered the counter in their bathroom at home. But he was surprised at how much he loved watching her as she worked her mojo in the mirror, and it had to be mystic, dark magic, because she sucked him deeper into her spell every single time.
His wife had him wrapped around her little finger, and she knew it.
His wife.
Four months since he’d made the craziest and best decision of his life, trusting his instincts that Lita was the only one who was ever going to make the demons in his head quiet down. Nobody was more shocked than he was that he’d settled into domestic life, insisting on buying them a house in L.A. and a condo in San Francisco. He wanted a home, and he wanted it with Lita, and he didn’t see any reason to wait. But marriage hadn’t turned him into a lapdog. He’d made sure that just like any pair of newlyweds who couldn’t keep their hands off each other, they’d had a blast fucking in every room of both residences.
Old dog. Same tricks. One woman.
“Hey, Lois Lane. You ready for tonight?”
Lita paused in brushing her hair, turned, and gave him the once over. She liked what she saw, the flash of lust in her eyes making his heart race just a little faster, like one of The Rift’s most frantic, driving drum beats. When she placed the brush down on the counter and rose to her feet, her long, lithe body moving like the supermodel she could have been, his body responded with heat crawling up his spine, his dick protesting the confines of his jeans.
“I’m guessing you’re Clark Kent?” Her full lips parted in a half smile as she trailed her hand over his T-shirt, fingernails causing just enough concentrated friction to make him shift on his feet. “If I get these clothes off you, what will I find underneath?” Lita didn’t stop at his belt, her lips twisting into a teasing, wicked grin when she traced his hardness under his jeans.
“No tights.”
“That would be, ”
“Never gonna happen.”
“Come on.”
She was laughing now, swaying into his body, almost eye-to-eye with her high heels on. She brushed a soft kiss against his mouth, the pleading pout in her words prompting him to lean down and take her mouth, deepening the kiss as her lips parted and let him in. Rocky took his time, knowing they didn’t have time to finish what they were starting but making her a silent promise with the last seeking swipe of his tongue. He gave up her mouth, trailing over her jaw and down her neck where he bit down on her ear lobe.
“I don’t need a costume to make you fly, baby.”
“Big talker.”
“I’ll prove it to you…later.” He turned her around, swatting her ass and earning a glare as he pushed her toward her makeup table. “You’ve got something to do first.”
“I can’t believe it’s finally here.” Lita sat down in the chair, applied her lipstick, and met his eye in the mirror. “I’m not ashamed to admit that I’m freaking out a little.”
“The network practically begged you to do the show. They know you’re going to crush it, and so do I. This is the beginning of your dream, Lita.”
When the interview with him aired, and blew away every rating for the time slot, it was no surprise when the huge cable network had come calling with the offer to take the co-anchor spot on Entertainment Nightly. She’d made them work for it with three meetings before giving her agent the go-ahead to ink the deal. His wife was a badass. And tonight was her debut, and the buzz about her future with the network was louder and crazier than a meet-n-greet line for The Rift.
“I hope so.”
“No worries, baby. I know it, and everyone else does, too.” Rocky gestured around the room at the gourmet food baskets and flowers from her parents, Lori and Dash, Laz and Syd, and the president of the network. The biggest one, from Callie and Jake, was overflowing with champagne and contained a custom designed pair of shoes just for Lita.
A knock on the door preceded the assistant producer popping her head in. “Five minutes, Lita.”
“Thanks, Maree.”
“Knock them dead.”
Lita nodded as she rose to her feet, her expression changing like quicksilver from nervous to professional journalist. When she turned to look at him, her eyes blazed with the fire that had sucked him from the first time he met her. Lita didn’t do anything halfway. Rocky walked over, cupping her face with his hands and pressed a kiss on her cheek to avoid messing up her makeup.
“I love you, Mrs. Cardano.”
“I love you, too, Mr. Cardano.” She paused, reaching up to grab a strand of his hair and twist it around her fingers. It was something she did when she was nervous or thinking hard about a problem. He had a good idea what was occupying her mind a mere three minutes before she started her new job, and she confirmed it when her expression turned into one of concern for him. “Are you ready for this?”
“Like I told you already, as long as I’ve got you, I’m good.”
“It’s just that this is huge.”
“I’ve done huge before, and you’ve got to go. I’ll see you after.”
“But…”
“I love you, babe, but you’ve got to go to work.”
She gave him one last look as he pushed her out the door, walking behind as she grabbed her ear monitor from the production assistant walking right along side her and getting all the last-minute info on the show. Lita was in professional-mode now, ready to dive in and take over this show, and eventually, this network. It was inevitable. They might as well just give her the front row parking spot and the keys to the place now and save themselves a lot of trouble.
Someone shoved a chair at him just off-stage, and he lowered himself into it, smiling at people and returning a wave when someone passed by. The staff was almost frantic with the activity of the final countdown to launch a live TV show, and it reminded Rocky of the final few moments before The Rift hit the stage at a concert. Next week, they would begin recording the new album, and he was itching to get his hands on his drumsticks and work with the guys again. They’d all loved the songs he’d written, and the excitement was building with every text, email, and phone call between them. It had been too damn long, and he missed it, the energy of the music, the pulse of a crowd responding to every note, the high that accompanied the sway of ten thousand fans in an arena. It was time.
And it was long past time for the huge change that was coming. But they were ready for it. His phone buzzed in his pocket, and he fished it out, glancing down to see a text. It was Jake.
Here we go, guys. Followed quickly by Dash: Brothers first.
Brothers first. Laz’s echo response popped on the screen as Rocky hit send on his own: Fucking-A right.
“Silence on set. We go live in three, two, one.”
Rocky returned his attention to the studio when the voice of the assistant producer
died as a hush fell over the crowd, and the cameras focused on Lita and her co-anchor, Brad Jensen, who opened the show.
“Welcome to this edition of Entertainment Nightly. I’m Brad Jensen, and this is an exciting night because we welcome Lita Matthews as co-anchor. I’m so glad to have you here, Lita.”
“Thanks, Brad.”
“I understand you’ve got an exclusive about your favorite band to kick off your first show.”
Lita turned her gaze to the camera, and from the monitor near him, Rocky knew she owned the audience. Everything about her was compelling, even through the buffer of the camera. He transferred his gaze to the live show in front of him, and she caught his eye for the briefest of seconds before plunging in with the words that would change his life, their life. Out there, Dash and Lori, Laz and Sydney, and Callie and Jake were watching this, and he’d bet his favorite sticks their hearts were pounding, too.
“The Rift is everyone’s favorite band, and fans are already buzzing about the fact that they are heading back to the studio next week to begin recording their next album. But our show’s exclusive is that after four long years apart, all four original members—Jake Mitchell, Lazlo Stone, Rocky Cardano, and Dash Mills—will be playing on this album, and plans for a summer tour are in the works.”
A photo of the four of them flashed up on the screen behind her, a pic taken this summer in Montana a few days before his wedding, arms around each other. Brothers first. As long as they remembered that, they’d be all right.
Lita’s voice brought him back to the present, and he was man enough to admit that her final words gave him the chills. The good kind.
“So stand by, Rifters. The band is back!”
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Acknowledgements
Thank you Alethea Spiridon-Hopson for sticking with me on this crazy ride!
Stephen Morgan – you were a trooper. I hope I didn’t make you drink too much.
Liz Pelletier and everyone at Entangled Publishing – how did I get so lucky to get to work with the dream team?
Avery Flynn and Kimberly Kincaid – My protons.
To the Sizzlemongers – you are the absolute best supporters anyone could ask for. Thank you so much for walking to this journey with me. Xoxoxo
To Little Man and Lulu – thanks for loving your mommy and being my biggest fans.
Patrick – I love you.
About the Author
Robin Covington loves to explore the theme of fooling around and falling in love in her bestselling books. A Night of Southern Comfort, her debut novel was nominated for the RT Book Reviewers Choice Awards for Small Press and was touted by RT Book Reviews as bringing a “fresh, modern feel to the genre while still sticking to the things that get our adrenaline pumping — sex and danger”. Her books were also nominated for the Bookseller’s Best Award and the National Reader’s Choice Awards.
When she’s not writing sexy, sizzling romance she’s collecting tasty man candy, indulging in a little comic book geek love, and stalking Dean Winchester. You can find Robin at her website (robincovingtonromance.com), Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest.
Don’t send chocolate . . . send eye candy!
Robin lives in Maryland with her hilarious husband, brilliant children (they get it from her, of course!) and her beloved furbabies.
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About the Head Over Heels novels
From the outside, the guys in the rock band The Rift seem have it all: hit records, loads of cash, and mad sex appeal.
But one thing none of them has is a good woman to come home to. That is until a song, a recipe, and a camera send the bad boys of rock falling head over heels…
Also in the Head Over Heels series…
Resisting the Musician
by Ally Blake
When Lori Hannover agreed to guitar lessons in exchange for Dash Mill’s help, he thought she was the only one in for a challenge. The more he deals with this sexy spitfire, the more tempted he is to play her—in more ways than one. But if he’s not careful, Dash might just forget why he left behind the rock and roll life so long ago, and then, not even Lori will be able to help him.
…But who will get burned?
Reforming the Rock Star
by Christine Bell
Sydney Metcalf is catering her bestie’s wedding, but when best man and rock god Lazlo Stone wants her to cater the bachelor party too--with a cake shaped like boobs--she refuses to screw it up by being a prude. Syd isn’t the type of girl Laz normally goes for, but he wants to make music with the Plain Jane. Too bad she’s the bride’s best friend. But after a kiss between them blazes out of control, he can’t stop thinking about sweet little Syd. If only rock and roll mixed with love.
Other books by Robin Covington
Sex and the Single Vamp
Sweet Southern Betrayal
a Boys are Back in Town novel
His Southern Temptation
a Boys are Back in Town novel
A Night of Southern Comfort
a Boys are Back in Town novel
Playing the Part
a Playing Around novel
Secret Santa Baby
Discover more category romance titles from Entangled…
Her Hot Number
by Talia Hunter
Mathematician Caylee Reynolds has just arrived at an Australian resort with no luggage and no reservation, only to find that the guy who made her teenaged years a nightmare-not to mention he was a thief and a liar-owns the resort. But Blake Sampson isn’t who he used to be. When he shares his suite with Caylee, something ignites between them. Exponentially. Now Caylee is torn between the Blake she remembers, and the man he’s become. And if she’s wrong in her calculations, it could add up to disaster...
The Movie Star’s Red Hot Holiday Fling
by Christine Glover
Determined to qualify for the fire department’s grueling physical, former marine Jessie Sullivan needs to concentrate. And not on the tall, incredibly hot action movie star sharing her gym. But Blake Johnston is more than just a Big Screen Sex Machine, and he’s willing to prove it. When a harmless dare leads to sizzling fireworks, however, Jessie and Blake’s workout ends up between the sheets. But flings don’t last forever. And in two weeks, Jessie will have to say goodbye to her red-hot Christmas fantasy...
The Marriage Agenda
by Sarah Ballance
Senate-hopeful Knox Hamilton needs to lose his playboy reputation and gain a wife--and there’s only one woman for the job: Chloe Lochlan. Her career as a reporter is on the line and she needs a big story, but Knox’s offer of marriage chills her to the bone. He already crushed her heart once and she has no intention of letting it happen again. But the offer could help land her the story of a lifetime. When the truth she uncovers threatens to destroy the man she still loves, will she bury the story...or his career?
Kidnapping the Brazilian Tycoon
by Carmen Falcone
Brazilian millionaire Bruno Duarte’s plan was simple: return to Brazil and marry to fulfill his father’s dying wish. But when his engagement crumbles, and he’s then stranded with an idealistic woman so hell-bent on saving a tribe of people on his land that she kidnaps him, he sees the perfect solution. If his feisty and passionate abductor, Addison Reed, agrees to a bogus marriage, he’ll relocate the tribe. But with the growing heat of their desire, will Bruno and Addison abandon their respective plans and give in to each other, or will their differences tear them apar
t?
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