by Niles, Abby
She cupped his face in her hands. “You’re my best friend, my past, my present, and now my future. I love you, Tommy ‘Lightning’ Sparks.”
Blinking rapidly, he cleared his throat. “I won’t screw up again, Julie. You have my word.”
She pursed her lips. “Oh, you’ll screw up. It just better be more of the feeding your dinner to the dogs variety from now on.”
He chuckled, hugging her closely as he walked into their room. She couldn’t believe it had only been weeks since she’d given Tommy a place to live, never imagining that his home catching fire would finally lead to a lifetime of happiness for both of them.
After he laid her on the bed, she took the baseball cap from his hand and gazed at it. “It really meant that much to you?”
“The first time you gave it to me, I went home and cried like a fucking baby. It was my first real present, Julie. I kept all your gifts, but that hat was always the most special one.”
Tears blurred her vision and she cupped his cheek. “I never knew that. That’s why you ran back inside to try and save it.”
He kissed her palm. “No. I was trying to save the past. The only times in my childhood I knew happiness was with you. But I don’t need to look back at the past anymore. We have a future to build now.”
Love expanding her heart, she tugged the hat on the head of her best friend and lover. “Oh, we don’t have to completely shut out the past.” She looped her arms around his neck and tugged him down. “I love you, Green Knight.”
Unshed tears brightened his green eyes and he took a moment before he spoke. “I love you, too, Lady J,” he said, his voice deep and rough. “From this day forth, I dedicate my life to protecting you.”
And he did.
Acknowledgments
When I turned Fighting Love, I was happy with the story. I really believed it was Tommy and Julie’s story. Then I received the revision letter from Liz and her assistant, Allison.
It was a grueling process that included sleepless nights, extremely early mornings—especially for this hates mornings author—lots of caffeine, very, very understanding roommates and two exceptional children that knows when mommy’s hair starts sticking up like that its best to go play in their room. But I powered through.
My editor, Nina, was assigned the task of editing—I prayed for her. Nina did her wicked editor magic, marked some places I needed to work on, and sent me back the edits. This was when I saw the story for the first time with fresh eyes.
This was Tommy and Julie’s REAL story. It had been there all along, but I’d focused on the wrong things, when what I should have focused on was the friendship that Tommy and Julie had shared since they were ten years old. Their history. Liz and Allison saw that and I can’t thank them enough for pointing that out.
Then the amazing Nina came in and her edits helped me write one of the most emotional endings I’ve ever written. Because of one comment she left during the Valentine’s Day scene, the perfect ending for Tommy and Julie bloomed in my mind.
How did I know this was Tommy and Julie’s real story? Because I didn’t cry when I wrote the ending to the original. As I revised the new ending, I sat there and wept. In fact, I still get chocked up thinking about those last lines, because it is the epitome of their relationship. And it is perfect.
I have those three ladies to thank for helping me shape this book into something I am immensely proud of.
I also need to thank Candy and Stacey for jumping on QA and CE as quickly as you did. One thing about Entangled, these editors jump in without hesitation and it’s awesome.
The art department did another banging job on the cover. I love it.
My publicists, Dani and Anjana, who are waiting for so much from me right now it’s not even funny. But they are on the ball! And I thank them for getting Fighting Love out there!
To my roommates: can’t believe this will be the last book I’ll be editing with you guys around. Are you relieved? LOL. Seriously though. Thank you for dealing with my stress-swings for the last year. It’s going to be weird living apart. I’ll miss you guys.
To my parents for jumping in to take the twins and understanding I could not come to Sunday dinner.
To my readers: All of you rock and I love you all.
And last, but never least, my kids: I love you, and thank you for thinking it is soooo cool your mom is an author and don’t blink when I tell you I have a deadline. Mwah!
Also available from Entangled Select…
HEAVY METAL
By Natalie J. Damschroder
All Riley Kordek wants is a chance to figure out her new ability to bend metal’s energy. When a hot guy who knows more than he should helps her escape attackers, she thinks she might’ve found someone who can lead her to answers.
When Sam Remington takes Riley to the Society for Goddess Education and Defense, the stakes rise beyond what either of them could have imagined. Riley uncovers a plot with disastrous ramifications not only for herself, but for Sam and the people he loves—and potentially every goddess in the country.
Amazon | B&N | iTunes
DEEP RISING
By N.R. Rhodes
In his nine-year stint with the CIA, Jared Caldwell thought he’d seen it all. But when his latest mission instructs him to apprehend the beautiful scientist Lana, who’s allegedly linked to a devastating new form of warfare, he isn’t prepared for the prospect of battling man-made tsunamis—or the misplaced feelings he harbors for his number one suspect.
But time is running out and Jared and Lana must work together to protect the mainland. As the heat between them—and the threat of mass destruction—rises there is more at stake than just their hearts.
Amazon | B&N | iTunes
DEEP IN CRIMSON
By Sara Gillman
Kidnapped by humans and raised in a research facility, Jett was taught to believe his own race of demons to be insidious and violent. Jett wants to bring his captor to justice, so he joins forces with the demon Guardians, and the demon child’s older sister, Lexine.
Irresistible attraction grows between Jett and Lexine, but if Jett goes through the all-consuming process of becoming a Guardian, he may forfeit any chance they have of being together.
Amazon | B&N | iTunes
HEAVEN & HELLSBANE
By Paige Cuccaro
Someone’s murdering angels and turning the half human, half angel illorum warriors against their angelic supporters. No one’s more surprised than Emma Jane Hellsbane when she’s called in to find the killers.
But when her own angelic mentor—and off-limits hottie—Eli is targeted, Emma takes it personally. Now Emma isn’t just fighting off demons, rogue nephilim, and Fallen angels, but she’s defending her honor as well.
It’s all in a day’s work as Heaven’s ultimate bounty hunter.
Amazon | B&N | iTunes
WAKING UP DEAD
By Emma Shortt
When her best friend, Tye, disappears hunting for food, kick-ass Jackson Hart’s ‘head south to safety’ plan looks like it’s dead before it’s even begun. But then she meets ex-mechanic Luke Granger, who offers her protection against the zombie hordes.
But the flesh eaters are getting smarter and the bunker is compromised, so Jackson and Luke travel for thousands of miles looking for other humans. On the way, they discover that even if flesh eating zombies are knocking down their door, there’s always time for sex and even love.
Amazon | B&N | iTunes
MALICIOUS MISCHIEF
By Marianne Harden
For twenty-four-year-old college dropout Rylie Keyes, keeping her job means figuring out the truth about a senior citizen who was found murdered while in her care. The late Otto Weiner was not a liked man and his enemies will stop at nothing to keep their part in his murder secret.
Forced to dust off her old PI training, Rylie must align with a circus-bike-wheeling Samoan while juggling the attention of two very hot cops. She has no idea that along the way she just
might win, or lose, a little piece of her heart.
Amazon | B&N | iTunes
CINDERELLA SCREWED ME OVER
By Cindi Madsen
Darby Quinn has a bone to pick with Cinderella. Burned one too many times by ex-boyfriends, she’s sworn off love, Prince Charmings, and happy endings. Or at least she did…until she met Jake.
Charming, fun, and unwilling to give up on her, Jake doesn’t fit any of the profiles Darby has created from her case studies of ex-princes-gone-bad. Finally presented with her own Prince Charming, Darby learns that sometimes the perfect love, like a perfect pair of shoes, is just within your grasp.
Amazon | B&N | iTunes
