Jaye nodded. “We’re having dinner with the Fords tomorrow evening. I hope you don’t mind. I accepted on your behalf.”
“I don’t mind.” He kissed her. “Is this a dream?”
“If it is, I don’t want to wake up.”
“There’s only one more thing that could make the night perfect,” he mused.
“I couldn’t agree more,” Jaye said. “But your car’s too damn small.” Still, she looked at him considering. “I’m game if you are.”
“I want to make love to you, mi amor, and when I do, I’ll take my time doing so in our bed in our condo.”
“Our,” Jaye repeated. “I like the sound of that. Wait. What were you talking about before—the other thing that would make the night perfect?”
“Marry me.”
“Matt,” she whispered.
He reached into his pocket and pulled out a velvet box. “I had planned to do this in a more romantic way, but I can’t wait.” He opened the box and took Jaye’s hand. “Jaye Baxter, will you do me the great honor of spending the rest of your life with me?”
Jaye pressed a hand to her heart to keep it from leaping out of her chest. A beautiful round diamond circled with more diamonds that spilled down the sides of the ring winked up at her, so bright it rivaled the moon. “I am dreaming,” she whispered.
“Is that your answer?” Matt said, a strained look on his face.
“No. I mean, yes. I’ll marry you,” she said and kissed him. “Yes,” she repeated over and over against his mouth. She wondered if a heart could burst from so much happiness. She had the job of her dreams, but with Matt, she had so much more.
He took the ring out of the box, “Your father gave his consent.”
“You asked him before you asked me?”
“Of course,” Matt said.
Asking a woman’s father for her hand was such an old-fashioned notion, but she had to admit, it felt perfect knowing her dad had given his blessing. Before he put the ring on her finger, she noticed writing on his hand and turned it over so she could see. He’d had a heart with her initials inside tattooed at the base of his thumb. “Matt . . .”
“It made me feel closer to you,” he said, “when I pressed my hand to my heart.”
Dear God, he was the sweetest, most romantic man. He put the ring on her finger. It felt heavy, solid, and real. “It’s beautiful,” she said staring at it, loving this moment, loving Matt.
“You like it?” he asked. “It took me weeks to choose one. I couldn’t decide which diamond would shine as brightly as you.”
She touched his face. “I don’t think I’ll ever get used to the lovely things you say to me.”
He took her into his arms. “Too much?”
“No,” she said. “You’re perfect. Perfect for me.” She kissed him and added, “Thank you for believing in me. I know it must have been hard for you—letting me handle Stan.”
Matt lovingly trailed a hand down her hair. “I confess, I went to his office more than once.”
“You spoke with him?” Jaye asked, surprised.
“No. I walked away without going in.” He kissed her again. “When will you start being my boss?”
“Right away,” she said against his ear, then opened her mouth on his neck. God he tasted good. “And I have some instructions I need to give you.”
“I’m listening,” he said as she pushed his shirt up and put her hands on him.
“I’ll need you naked in bed first.”
Matt pushed her back into her seat and fastened her seatbelt, then started the car. “Your wish is my command.”
Epilogue
The Marlins didn’t make it to the series, so Jaye and Matt got an early vacation. They’d married in mid-October on the pitcher’s mound at Marlins Stadium with only a minister, Jaye’s dad, and the Fords in attendance. He’d worn a tuxedo with a white jacket, black pants, and a green shirt that matched his eyes. Jaye had worn her mother’s wedding dress: a strapless, satin column dress with a slit at the back of the long skirt. They’d exchanged matching eternity bands with black, channel-set diamonds. Looking at it now, Jaye loved the way it contrasted with the bright diamonds of her engagement ring.
Jaye stared at her husband who lounged on a double beach chair next to her. Matt had rented a private island in the Bahamas for them. It had a luxury cabana, a gorgeous white-sand beach that felt like sugar beneath their feet, and a discreet staff to see to their needs. They were staying for a month. Heaven.
Matt caught her staring at him. “You’re too far away,” he complained and pulled her on top of him. “And though that bikini is stunning on you, may I suggest that you’re overdressed?”
“Oh, I’m sorry.” She straddled his hips, balancing on his lap, and untied the bow at her back, then moved to the one at her neck. When she had both untied, she let the very brief top slide down her body to his lap. “Better?”
“Still overdressed,” he complained, looking at the other half of her suit.
She wrapped a string at her hip around her finger. “I think I need help with this.”
Matt smiled, took a string in each hand, and pulled very slowly until both sides were undone. Jaye rose to her knees so he could toss the suit aside. “Perfection,” he said, tracing the line of the gold chain to her new St. Anthony’s medal that rested between her breasts. A wedding gift she would treasure.
Jaye frowned. “Now you’re overdressed, Mr. Ruiz.”
“Am I, Mrs. Ruiz?” he said innocently, but she knew this man was far from innocent. Thank God.
She backed off the lounger then moved away from him.
“What are you doing?” he asked, surprised.
“Going for a swim.” She looked back at him. “You can join me if you take that off,” she said pointing at his swim brief.
He was on his feet before she got the words out, pushing his suit down his legs. Jaye smiled, then walked backwards so she could look at him. The man was a living fantasy. How had she gotten so lucky? Oh, yeah. She remembered. She had made a scandalous move and had a one-night stand that turned into a happily-ever-after.
At the water’s edge, she took his hand and pulled him in. When they were waist deep in the turquoise water, Matt kissed the spot where she’d had a tattoo that matched his put at the base of her thumb. Her heart, of course, bore his initials. “I love you,” he said.
“I love you,” she replied then added, “Is it possible to die of happiness?”
Matt lifted Jaye and entered her as she wrapped her legs around him. “If it is, we’ll both go to paradise together.”
Jaye moved and took him deeper. “My love, we’re already there.”
Read an Excerpt from Ridden, the next in the Scandalous Moves Series
Coming Soon!
At three in the afternoon, Maddie Greene drove up on the Milford city limits sign. She’d gotten lost this morning leaving Manhattan because of road construction closures. The GPS in her car hadn’t been updated in some time. She’d have to speak with her driver about that. She’d been late to her appointment, which had gone longer than expected, and had turned the meeting into a brunch, as an apology for being late.
Getting out of Newark had been easier than getting out of Manhattan, thank God. However, she was not looking forward to driving back into the city at night.
She heard a popping noise immediately followed by a lower rumble coming from the rear of the car, which became hard to steer. A light on the dash began flashing. The display read, “Rear tire.”
“Great,” she mumbled and pulled off to the side of the highway. She slipped on her impractical shoes before getting out to investigate. Cars whizzed past her. When it looked clear, she walked to the rear of the car. No need for a close investigation. The tire was flat. Maddie walked around to the passenger side of the car and retrieved her cell from her purse. She pushed the button to wake it, but the screen remained black. Had she even powered it on this morning? She tried that next. No luck. She must have forgo
tten to charge it last night.
After the call with her mom, she’d spent half the night trying to decide about coming to Milford and having a closer examination of those demons she’d been avoiding for years. As always, thinking of the principle demon—her ex—gave her a mostly sleepless night.
This morning, she’d worked up her courage to at least drive into Milford, look around, and leave. And now, here she was, stuck on the side of the road with a dead cell phone in a designer suit and four-inch heels with no idea how to change a tire. Flagging down help didn’t appeal, but what other choice did she have?
She walked back to the rear of the car and shaded her eyes from the bright sunlight to look at oncoming traffic. Everything inside her screamed this was a very bad idea. Maybe she should walk to a call box for roadside assistance. Would there be one out here?
While she debated her options, a motorcyclist pulled off the highway and rumbled to a noisy stop behind her car. The rider was big and built, wearing a black leather jacket, jeans, and biker boots with chunky soles. He killed the engine and swung his leg over the powerful machine, then removed his helmet, but left his mirrored sunglasses on. He’d shaved his head and as he approached her, she noted he was tall—well over six feet—broad shoulders and muscular thighs encased in tight denim and a badass attitude dripped off him.
Awareness shivered through Madeline. Bad boys were a weakness for her. That’s why she dated suits—lawyers, accountants, stockbrokers, and the like, who were safe. Nothing about this man looked safe. In fact, trouble of the most delicious sort would be his forte.
“Hi,” he said when he stood in front of her.
Still shading her eyes, she looked up, way up, taking in his very nice physique on the way. “Hi.”
He glanced over at her flat then back at her. “Looks like you need some help.”
Maddie smiled even though she detested being thrust into the role of helpless female. “Yes,” she said. “I was going to call for help, but my cell is dead.”
“No car charger?” he asked.
She shook her head. She never drove, so why would she need one?
“I’d be happy to put your spare on,” he offered. He’d hooked a thumb in the back pocket of his jeans.
“Thank you,” she said. “If I could just use your cell, I can call someone.”
“Don’t have one,” he replied.
No cell? Who didn’t have a cell these days? “Oh, well, I hate to trouble you.”
“It’s no trouble, Maddie.” He shrugged out of his jacket and handed it her, then walked around to the driver’s side to find the trunk release.
She stood there, speechless, holding his jacket, still warm from his body and scented with a mix of musky cologne and him. The trunk popped and he rejoined her. “Do I know you?”
He grinned and lifted the trunk lid. “You used to. It’s been awhile.”
“I’m sorry,” Maddie said. “I—”
“We went to high school together.” He bent to disengage the spare and gave her a nice view of his ass. Since she couldn’t have helped herself if she’d wanted to—which she didn’t—she indulged in a nice, long look.
He straightened and dropped the spare to the asphalt. It probably should have bounced, but instead it made a plopping noise because it was flat as well. “Oh, no,” Maddie said.
“Yeah,” he agreed. “That’s not going to work,” and tossed it back into her trunk.
His gray t-shirt stretched taught across his shoulders and chest, but hung loose over his flat stomach. The print on the shirt said, “The road will set you free.” The design was of a wheel with wings. A black ink tattoo peaked out below the sleeve and curved over his thick bicep.
She tried to focus on his face, but she couldn’t tell much with the aviators covering so much area. He had a nice, strong jaw and kissable lips. Maddie shook her head and tried to focus. “Did you say we went to school together?”
“Yeah. Rockwood Prep.” This guy had gone to private school with her? High school? “You still look like the girl who was elected homecoming queen two-years running.”
“Thank you,” she said automatically. “I wish I could say you look the same as well, but I’m afraid I’m drawing a complete blank.”
He smiled and brushed her hand when he took his jacket from her. Maddie’s breath hung in her chest as her reaction to him worked its way through her ridiculously susceptible body.
He shrugged into his coat. “That’s okay. You’ll have time to figure it out.”
She shook her head. “I’m sorry?”
“Looks like I’m giving you a ride into town.”
Madeline looked from the biker to his motorcycle and back. “On that?”
His gaze eased down her body and back up. Madeline felt it the same as if he’d caressed her. The end result left her body overheated and needy.
“It’ll be a little tricky with that skirt,” he said. “But I think you can manage it. We won’t be going far.”
She should have said she’d stay with the car. Should have asked him to go and send someone to help her. But she didn’t. Instead, she got her purse, locked the car, rejoined him, and said, “Let’s go then.”
COMING SOON!:
Amazon
Acknowledgments
I’d like to thank my sweet husband for somewhat patiently answering all the technical questions I asked him about baseball. Another big shout out goes to my team: Becky Guyton, editor extraordinaire, and my eagle eye proofers, Eli Harlan and Regine Reimann. And last, but never least, my best friend and marketing consultant, Janene Cates Putman. The fantastic Scandalous Moves covers are the work of Fiona Jayde Media. I couldn’t do this without you all! Thank you for your time and valuable contributions to the Scandalous Moves series.
About the Author
Deborah Grace Staley is an Amazon and Barnes & Noble best selling author and winner of the HOLT Medallion. Her novels have been published worldwide. She holds an MFA in Creative Writing and teaches college writing and literature. Originally from East Tennessee, she now lives in South Florida with her husband and two adorable rescued dachshunds. She loves to connect with readers on Facebook and Twitter. Please visit her website: www.deborahgracestaley.com and while you’re there, be sure to sign up for her email/newsletter list for all the latest news and fun giveaways.
Contact Information
www.deborahgracestaley.com
[email protected]
Also by Deborah Grace Staley
NOVELS
Angel Ridge Series (Tame): Only You
Angel Ridge Series (Tame): A Home for Christmas
Angel Ridge Series (Tame): What the Heart Wants
Angel Ridge Series (Tame): I’ll Be There
Angel Ridge Series (Tame): Unforgettable
Wilde Dunes Series (Flame): Simmer
Wilde Dunes Series (Flame): Smolder
NOVELLAS
Scandalous Moves (Flame): Dared
Scandalous Moves (Flame): Played
COMING SOON
Scandalous Moves (Flame): Ridden * Coming Soon
SHORT STORIES
Sweeter Than Tea
Aphrodite’s Garden (Tame)
The Trip (Tame)
The Wedding Quilt (Tame)
Played: Scandalous Moves Series Page 11
