by K. Bromberg
Just like that.
I lower myself to the step as the tears well and then slip down my cheeks.
You said don’t bother, Des.
This is what it feels like when your heart is breaking.
This one is on you.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Desi
“Thank you for inviting me...again”— I chuckle into the phone –“but I’ve got a full house today, and I’m already behind schedule.”
“It’s been two months, Des.”
“Two months since what?” I ask, even though I know damn well what she’s saying. It’s been two months since Reznor left, and I’m still licking my wounds and pretending I’m not nursing a broken heart.
“Just call him already, will you?”
“And say what? Drop your life and come back here, because I don’t know how to commit to anyone and I can’t make you any promises, but I want to try? That maybe I can figure out how to change my ways, and we can live in our own kind of happily ever after where we don’t get married but we are together?”
“That’s a good start.”
But it’s not Emerson who says those words. It’s the deep tenor voice from my back door.
I gasp as I turn to see Reznor standing there. He’s wearing his police uniform that fits his personality and doesn’t fit it, all at the same time.
“Reznor?”
“What?” Emerson asks the same time Reznor says, “Ooops, I didn’t mean to scare you. I forgot.”
Knock-knock. Knock-knock-knock.
“Em? I have to go.” I don’t even know if I end the call or not. I drop my cell on the counter with a clatter as my feet move involuntarily toward the screen.
Reznor has a ghost of a smile on his lips and caution edged with hope in his eyes.
“We don’t want any,” I say without any conviction as I stop a few feet from him.
“Yeah well, we already know how far that got us, so this time, it’s my turn to lead.” That rasp of voice—with hints of gravel and grit to it—sounds like music to my ears.
“What are you doing here?” My heart pounds a strident staccato and my head begs him to answer that he’s here for me.
“I had a meeting with Sunnyville PD.”
“Oh.”
“And because I think we went about this all wrong.”
There’s a lump in my throat I can’t seem to swallow. He leans his shoulder against the doorjamb and stares at me with those mesmerizing eyes of his. I’ve imagined this moment in my head many times over the past few weeks and yet nothing could have prepared me for what it feels like to see him again.
“Why’s that?” I ask.
“Because we have. I told you once that my life was all about control. Who has it. Who wants it. How to transfer it from one person to another with the least amount of damage to everyone involved...and I think I applied that to what was between you and me. I was wrong.” He takes a step toward me, and my breath hitches when he reaches out and cups the side of my cheek.
“Reznor?” My voice breaks simply saying his name.
“I left here thinking that so long as we experienced the least amount of damage, that I did the right thing...but you know what? Screw the right thing, Desi. Screw societal standards that say a happy couple has to be a married one. Screw the fact that I was too afraid to say I’d fallen for you because I thought you’d run for the hills...and I knew I was in no state of mind to chase you.” He steps into me and places his hands on my hips and stares at me with eyes full of emotion. “I’ve fallen for you, Desi Whitman, and I’m back here to chase you.”
“What do you mean back here?”
“I just had an interview with Chief Ramos.”
“Wait...you’re—”
“I’ve been offered a job with SPD.”
“I don’t...how did—what? You love your job with SWAT.”
“Yeah, but it’s time I have a job where I can have someone I go home to every night without worrying about what might happen. Sure, the police department is still dangerous, but it’s not SWAT.”
“You’re serious,” I say almost as if to make sure I’m hearing him right.
“As a heart attack.” Reznor leans in and kisses me. It’s soft and tender and resonates through every part of me. “Tell me you’re okay with me wanting to come back here. Tell me you want this,” he murmurs against my lips.
“I’ll do even better than that.” I lean forward and kiss him back. “I’ve fallen head over heels for you too, Reznor Mayne. It took you leaving for me to realize it, but there hasn’t been a day since that I haven’t thought about it. About you. About us.”
“Then why didn’t you call me?” He chuckles, and the sound feels so good as it vibrates against my chest.
“I warned you. I’m stubborn.”
He leans back and looks at me, his smile reaching his eyes. “I think I can handle you.”
“You think you can?”
“Sweetheart, I know I can.” His lips slant over mine again and something inside my heart and body clicks back into place.
For the first time they are on the same page.
I want this. I want us.
Our story will not be the typical happily ever after, because that’s for the movies. We will fight. We will fuck. We will laugh and give each other hell. And then we’ll have a helluva time making up. But I doubt our hunger will ever abate, because this easy-going, hard-fighting, good-looking man wants me.
He wants us.
I look at him, and I just know. This is going to work. Because Reznor has made me see that love isn’t about maintaining control. It’s about ceding control because you know that love offers strength. It’s about one being strong when the other needs to be weak. It’s about balancing the other out.
It’s about making it work on our terms.
For us.
* * * *
Also from 1001 Dark Nights and K. Bromberg, discover Sweet Rivalry.
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SWEET RIVALRY
By K. Bromberg
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Ryder Rodgers had a plan.
He was going to stride into the conference room, do the required song and dance over the next five days, and win the biggest contract of his career. But when he walked in and heard the voice of one of his competitors, all his plans were shot to hell.
Harper Denton. She was always on top. In college. First in their class. Always using every advantage to edge him out to win the coveted positions. The only one who could beat him. His academic rival. More like a constant thorn in his side. And his ego’s.
When he heard her voice, he was brought back to years before. To the bitter taste of being second best. But the woman who meets his gaze is nothing like the drab wallflower he used to know. Hell no. She was all woman now: curves, confidence, and staggering sex appeal. And no doubt, still brilliant.
The fact that she’s gorgeous and bright won’t distract him. This time, Ryder’s determined to be the one on top. But not if Harper can help it.
On behalf of 1001 Dark Nights,
Liz Berry and M.J. Rose would like to thank ~
Steve Berry
Doug Scofield
Kim Guidroz
Jillian Stein
InkSlinger PR
Dan Slater
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and Simon Lipskar
Table of Contents
Book Description
Prologue
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-One
Chapter Twenty-Two
Chapter Twenty-Three
Chapter Twenty-Four
Chapter Twenty-Five
Chapter Twenty-Six
Chapter Twenty-Seven
