Tight Ass! (Panty Dropper Series Book 3)
Page 9
“It does. I cancelled all my upcoming contracts.” She bit her lip. “I want to come along, if you’ll still have me.”
“What about Fang?”
“Dean is going to take care of him until we come back.”
“That’s why he pulled out of housesitting?” She nodded as he continued, “I thought you said you couldn’t afford to take time off?”
“Well, you took the blinkers off a bit. I did some research and found I can get online work. The pay is awful but between that and my savings, I can make it work.” She took his hands and squeezed. “More important than all that, you were right. I was scared. I wasn’t living my life the way I told everyone I was. I want to have an adventure and I’m not going to let the fear of what could happen forty years from now ruin my life.”
The grin that split his face made her brave and she reached up to kiss him lightly on the lips. He didn’t move as her lips brushed against his, then all of a sudden, his hands let go of hers and clasped both her cheeks. His eyes bored into hers, the heat from his stare searing right down to her toes. Someone giggled in the assembled crowd but Nate ignored them as he pressed his lips against hers. She melted against him as he held her tight, kissing her with a passion that had been sorely lacking from her nights these past few weeks. With a small nibble on her bottom lip, he finally pulled away. She smiled up at him and he leaned his forehead against hers.
“If things go badly we can always try to get us some free accommodation in return for work. What skills do you have besides counting money?” Her words made him laugh, but not for the reason she thought.
“I’m a qualified scuba diver instructor.”
“What? You’re kidding me, aren’t you?” She pulled away and slapped her head. “Oh man. You can find work all over the place with an actual skill like that. I was only joking!”
“I’m also a yoga instructor.”
She stared at him with her mouth open. “Who are you? Where did you learn that and why am I just finding out now?”
“Two years ago, I had a quiet mid-life crisis when I hit thirty. I thought I might quit the bank and start my own business. So, I went to a course and got certified. I never used it, but I could.”
She slipped her arms around his neck and pressed herself close. “My big, burly, sensible Nate can teach yoga.” She winked at him and kissed his chin. “How about we try out some of those yoga positions, now that I know I’ve been missing out?”
“Ewww, you two need to stop that right now! We’re all still standing here, you know!”
Kelly’s hands dropped to her sides and they laughed as the group crowded around them again. Samantha made choking sounds as she came up to them. “What the hell was that last bit about? You took a yoga course and never told us?”
Nate grinned before he answered. “I might have told a little lie when I said I wouldn’t have abandoned you all unless I was pushed. For a few months, I thought my own business was a great idea. Then reality took over and I let myself retreat into my cave instead.” He took Kelly’s hand and kissed the back of it as Dean approached them. “I intend to make up for it now.”
“Aww… look at you two,” Dean laughed as he pushed Nate’s shoulder. “You’re all loved up. It’s enough to make a man believe in love.”
“One day you’ll meet the right girl, Deano.”
“I very much doubt that. I enjoy my freedom too much. You two make it look easy, though, so who knows. Sorry I couldn’t tell you why I couldn’t house sit. I didn’t think you’d appreciate Fang chewing your cupboards to pieces.” Dean laughed as Nate’s eyes widened.
“Thanks again for taking him. Can I drop him off tomorrow?” Kelly’s smile was huge as strangers crowded around and congratulated her.
“Of course. I’ve already prepared his room. It’s completely child proofed and there’s not a piece of furniture inside he can eat.”
Nate laughed and slapped his friend on the arm. “Oh man, you have no idea what you’re in for. That dog is the devil.”
“Nah, he’s fine. He just needs some tough love. By the time you come back he’ll be the best-behaved dog you’ve ever met.”
“After what I saw that day in the yard, if anyone can tame him, it’s you. I’m sure Kelly will want progress reports.”
“No problem. I’ll take regular photos. Promise. Anyway, I’ve got to run. I have a dog bed to pick up from the pet store before they close.”
Nate laughed again. “You’re getting him a dog bed?”
“I don’t want him to be cold when he sleeps.” He shook hands with Nate and walked to the glass doors where Samantha let him out.
Nate and Kelly watched him go as Kelly mused, “He’s been sucked in just like I was. There’s a good chance Fang will be even worse when I get back.”
“What are you doing about the house? Is someone moving in?”
“Well, you didn’t actually say you’ll have me along yet. If you confirm I’m coming then I’ll call the agent. She has a tenant lined up, who inspected the place last week, and will take it fully furnished—I just have to give her the okay and she’ll get the lease signed.”
Nate slipped his hands around her waist and pulled her close. “Of course you’re coming. I’ve thought of nothing else for weeks. You could have warned me, though. I almost cancelled my tickets last week and came grovelling to you.”
“Well, luckily that didn’t happen.” She leaned in close to his ear. “How long before we can get out of here?”
Chapter 17
“The taxi will be here in a few minutes. Do you have everything?” Kelly checked her daypack for the hundredth time, eyeballing her passport and wallet to be certain they were coming with her.
“I’m all set.” Nate grabbed her hand and pulled her close. “Deep breaths, lovely. We’re going to have an amazing time. All our affairs are in order. And I love you.”
“I love you too.” His lips found hers and her breath caught like it always did. The thought of an entire year with him stretched out in front of her, her mouth watering at the idea, now that she’d put her fears aside.
“I’m going to put my bag outside so I know I have everything.” She turned away and he patted her on the bottom before he spoke again.
“Wait. One more thing.” Kelly turned to see what Nate wanted and she gasped as he dropped to his knees. “I know it’s supposed to be one knee, but I really am begging.” He held up a ring and she laughed. “Kelly Foster, would you agree to a long engagement and then to be my wife if we survive this journey together?”
She rolled her lips around her teeth and nodded at him, unable to speak. He grinned and took her hand, pushing the ring along her skin until it settled perfectly on her finger. “Wow,” she managed to squeak out. “It’s beautiful.”
“I was going to do this at the airport, but I wanted you to have a chance to say no. There’s nothing like a bit of pressure to make a woman agree to a proposal she doesn’t want.”
“Are you sure about this? It’s a big step. I thought you’d be the kind of guy to wait years to be absolutely certain.” She turned the ring around on her finger, admiring it in the light.
“Oh, I’m certain. I’ve bought this same ring twice now.” He grinned and stood up. “I figure after a year in each other’s pockets every day, you’ll either be as certain as I am or you’ll flee as soon as we get home.”
“I won’t flee.”
“If we can survive a year of travel, we can survive anything.”
“I’ve already survived the hard stuff. The thought of not seeing you again has put everything in perspective for me.”
“So, you’re here for the long haul?”
“I am.”
“And you’re saying yes to the ring?”
“I am!” Her enthusiastic reply made him laugh. “I’m saying yes to all of it. To the adventure and the hardships. To dirty clothes, and water and dry biscuits for dinner in some far-flung town. To the threat of bed bugs, uncomfortable overnight bus
es and possible monkey attacks. The chance of lost baggage and broken electronics. I wouldn’t give up a single safe night at home if it meant being without you.” She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed his lips. “I’ll go wherever you go, no matter the risks.”
The End
The Fun Stuff!
I’ve had an amazing adventure since I published my first book, All at Sea, in March of 2016. When I started writing, it was kind of to ‘try it out’. I didn’t know if I could write an entire fiction book, let alone something that anyone would want to read!
It turns out, I’m pretty good at writing whole books – a new skill because usually I never finish anything. If you could peek inside my house you’d see piles of unfinished crochet projects, half-done scrapbooks, all the components to make necklaces (never made a single one!) and various cross stitch projects tucked away in drawers. Luckily, my ability to finish is heavily geared toward writing! Now I just have to learn to finish well before my deadline so I can start doing things properly! Like a ‘real’ author!
I want to thank the readers that have stumbled across my books during the past year and a half. Having them stick around is a wonderful gift. Whether you stalk me on Facebook, belong to my mailing list or one of the various groups I lurk in, thank you. You have no idea how much it means when someone says ‘I loved this book. When can I get the next one?’
Seriously. Life. Complete. !!
Right now, I want to thank my husband and son for putting up with my crazy deadlines. I’m the kind of writer who swans around, not doing as many words each day as I should. As my deadline gets closer, I play on Facebook, answer emails and generally tell myself I’m working. Then, a week before it’s time to hand over the finished product, I’m a maniac, spending twelve hours a day on the words, to the exclusion of life!
Just today the husband and kid amused themselves for the better part of Sunday while I finished getting this one ready and my kid made pancakes for dinner. I know lots of mums reading this can relate – even if you’re not a writer. I’m a last-minute-Lucy and I’m really trying to improve.
Book wise – I thought you might like to know a little snippet of how some of this book came to be. Occasionally I see a review, or someone emails me to tell me something in my book could never happen. I always chuckle to myself because often I’ve based it on a real story or something I’ve heard about.
The whole Panty Dropper series is set in a suburb that is my own suburb in my mind. The bank where the dogs went crazy is my local bank – I can’t walk past it now without a giggle, imagining dogs inside barking. Fang, is based on one of my daughter’s pets. Oscar is a very naughty puppy who seriously does chew her actual walls. The only crochet blanket I’ve ever finished is at Kate’s house – unable to be used in case the dog chews it (perhaps even already chewed but she’s keeping it a secret!) That litter terror has eaten her Kindle, dozens of shoes, the buttons off the couch, every dog toy he’s ever had as well as the corner of the carpet and probably dozens more items we’ve never heard about.
The beach scene with Kelly and Dean is something I wrote a rough draft of when I was 14. I’d discovered those wonderful Mills & Boon novels and was convinced I could write a romance, even back then. Of course, in those days it was all on paper and the editing stage was quickly my undoing. I’m not someone who likes to redo anything and writing my scenes out by hand each time I refined them seemed like a terrible idea, so I put it aside. But a few weeks ago, it popped back into my head and since Kelly was a model, I decided to use it. Somewhere in the back of my brain there are song lyrics I wrote when I was a kid, too. Watch out for those in an upcoming book!
I hope you all enjoy the fruits of my frenetic pace as publishing draws closer and I hope you stick with this new series that I’m having such fun writing!
Until next time….
Tracey
xx
Books in this series by Tracey Pedersen
Tap That!
Tempt Me!
Tight Ass!
Thigh High!
All books are available exclusively on Amazon. Order the other books in the series now so you don’t miss out!
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Email: tracey@daringonlineadventures.com
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Table of Contents
Dedication
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
The Fun Stuff!
Where Can You Find Me?