Mr. Accidental Her_Jeremy

by Gina Robinson

  She bent, threw her arms around my neck, and kissed me, gently but thoroughly. “You really are alive.”

  “You doubted?”

  “I worried.” She stroked my face. “You gave me a scare.”

  I brushed a tear from her cheek. “Hey. Don’t cry. I’m fine.”

  “I know you are…”

  I glanced up at my nurse and hitched a thumb at him. “I would have proved it and walked out on my own power, but this one is a tyrant.”

  “Standard procedure,” he said.

  I shook my head. “I even had a macho strut all picked out and planned.”

  My nurse shook his head. “I’d like to see you manage that with your bruises. I’d pay good money to see it.”

  I laughed. “I’d have taken your money gladly, dude.”

  Crystal stared at me, taking me in. “You’re wearing a fresh shirt and jacket.”

  “Yeah. Those damned police confiscated my shirt and jacket as evidence.” I took Crystal’s hands and squeezed them, not wanting to ever let her go. “I would have had to be wheeled out naked, but Ashley thinks of everything. She asked the guys to bring fresh clothes for me.”

  I was, at least, freshly scrubbed, and somewhat drugged-up and sleep-deprived, too. I hoped my eyes didn’t look too dilated and creepy. I couldn’t stop staring at Crystal. The last thing I needed was to scare her off with a creeper stare now.

  “What do you think?” I nodded toward my shirt. “Do my friends have good taste?”

  “Begging for a compliment?” She grinned. “I don’t know. You’d look pretty hot bare-chested and bandaged.”

  “Damn that Ashley.”

  “At least this way you’re warm,” she said. “The clean shirt is a nice touch. Very thoughtful of Ashley.”

  “You credit her for my stylish hospital release look? You’ve obviously met my friends.” I was suddenly nervous about that. The guys could come off a little strong to people who didn’t know them.

  Crystal nodded. “I have.” She glanced back at them. “They’re great. And I know Ashley—she leaves nothing to chance, especially fashion.”

  “Yeah.” I nodded. “She’s working hard for that bonus Lazer promised her.”

  Crystal took my face in her hands. “I can’t believe it. I hear your commemorative coaster saved your life?”

  I grinned. “Yeah. I told you that you should have stepped forward as a hero. Then you’d have one, too. Want to see it?”

  *

  Crystal

  And there he was—the man I loved joking again in the face of danger. Well, maybe at the back of danger. “Later.” I wiped tears of joy out of my eyes with the back of my hand.

  “It’s quite the souvenir now.” He took my hand. “Hey, don’t cry. It’s over—”

  “I’m sorry,” I blurted.

  He looked confused. “About what?”

  “About hesitating. About not being there for you—”

  He frowned. “You did exactly what I wanted. Do you think I wanted you to get shot? More than anything, I wanted, I needed, you to be safe. How else was I going to get another date with you?”

  “I have a lot more I’m sorry about.” I bit my lip, forgetting again that I’d cut it earlier in the evening. “I’m sorry I didn’t realize how short time can be, how little we might have left. I’m sorry I didn’t take the chance of a lifetime when you offered it.” My heart hammered so loudly in my ears that I could barely hear myself think. I couldn’t believe what I was thinking and about to do. “I’m sorry I turned you down.”

  His face lit up. “Are you saying what I think you’re saying?”

  Behind me, his friends were stone silent.

  I nodded. “You promised me you’d ask again.”

  His expression became serious. His eyes shone. He took both of my hands in his. His voice was loud and clear and unwavering as he said, “Crystal Pruitt, will you marry me?”

  I nodded. “Yes.” I blinked back tears. “Yes, I will marry you, Jeremy Marino. We are meant to be.” I leaned down and kissed him.

  The pin-drop silence broke into a roar. The guys crowded around us.

  “What the hell just happened?” Dylan said.

  “I think you and me have just been made the last two bachelors standing.” Cam sounded amused and stunned.

  Ashley was shaking her head. “I knew it.” She came forward and hugged me. She hugged Jeremy. “I knew of everyone, you’d be the one to break the rules. The quiet ones always do. Congratulations.”

  Cam came forward with the bag that had been beside him all night. He opened it and pulled a superhero cape out, draping it over Jeremy’s shoulders. “Our hero. Once again.”

  Jeremy laughed. “You remembered my cape, too, man? Thanks.” He settled it around him.

  I frowned, puzzled.

  “It’s his favorite cosplay costume,” Blair said.

  “So, engaged on the second date,” Dylan said. “This beats your old man’s record, if I remember right.”

  Jeremy glanced at me.

  “I think we have to give it to you,” I said. “Neither of us has been home. This is still the same date. Creative accounting aside, second date.”

  The guys let out a loud round of applause and hoots.

  Austin congratulated him. “I always thought Cam would be next.”

  Jeremy laughed and pulled the coaster out of his pocket. He held it up. “And I always thought no one would ever beat your epic wedding. I mean, sword fights? Maybe no one will, but look at this.” He shook the coaster and pointed to a bullet lodged in the center of it. “This has to be the most epic engagement yet.”

  “I can’t believe the police let you keep that,” I said.

  “I can be persuasive.” He grinned and squeezed my hand. “Crystal turned me down earlier.” He pointed to the bullet. “I had to get shot to change her mind.” He winked at me.

  Ashley shook her head vehemently and held her hands up, waving them. “Don’t any of the rest of you dare to try to top that. I want you all alive for a very long time.”

  The guys laughed. The nurse wasn’t sure how things had turned into a celebration.

  Jeremy pulled me into his lap. I looped my arms around his neck.

  “For the record,” I said, addressing his friends, “getting shot wasn’t what changed my mind. Not all of it, anyway. Meeting all of you did. If a guy has such good friends, he can’t be all bad, can he?”

  Austin slapped Jeremy on the back. “She’s really going to fit in. We like her.” He pointed to Cam and Dylan. “Now if Ashley can just find them each a woman who can stomach them—”

  Dylan shoved him.

  “Boys,” Blair said mildly. “We’re holding up Jeremy’s nurse. He has work to do.”

  The nurse laughed. “This is more fun.”

  Austin looked at Cam and Dylan. “Who’s taking Jeremy home?”

  “They live in the same building,” Ashley said to me.

  “Home?” Dylan shook his head. “I’m hungry. Who’s up for bacon and eggs? Let’s celebrate this engagement in style.”

  “We took my car,” Cam said. “Dylan and I have room for both Crystal and Jeremy. I’ll go pull it around.” He jogged off to get the car.

  “Someone needs to call Lazer and tell him he’s going to be a best man again.” Blair turned to Ashley.

  “I’ll call him.” Ashley grinned. “And tell him he owes me another bonus.”

  As the party of friends laughed and joked, I turned to Jeremy. “I love you.”

  He smiled. “And I love you, Soon-to-be Mrs. Marino. I suppose there are some things we should discuss now—”

  “How many kids?” I said.

  “Exactly.”

  “Well?”

  “You first,” he said.

  “Two.”

  He nodded. “My thoughts exactly.”

  Headlights flashed in the windows as a car pulled around in the patient pickup driveway.

  Dylan looked out. “That’s Cam.�
� He waved to the nurse to push us out.

  I tried to get off Jeremy’s lap. “Where are you going?”

  I looked up at the nurse.

  “Stay where you are,” the nurse said. “You’re small. This chair can hold two.”

  And so I rode in a wheelchair on my hero’s lap to my awaiting chariot, an engaged woman. And one very happy unicorn hunter. I’d finally found mine.

  Epilogue

  Ashley

  I sat at my desk in my office, waiting for Jeremy, Crystal, and the guys to arrive for the heart-locking ceremony that was a tradition at Pair Us for all of our matched couples. Lazer was out of town again. I hated that he would miss it. He was missing a lot lately.

  The Pair Us lock is beautiful—about one inch in size, engraved with Pair Us on Lake Union and our logo and catch phrase, Find the key to your heart. Room is left for the couple’s initials on the back.

  A single one of those locks sat in a plush velvet box on my desk in front of me engraved with Jeremy and Crystal’s initials. Only clients get locks, not members. In theory, most clients will connect with a member, not another client—one lock, one couple, easy and uncomplicated. In this case—two members, two locks, a lock and a spare. This lock was Jeremy’s. He’d insisted.

  I was particularly proud of Austin’s and Blair’s lock, which was prominently placed. My own lock, which was solid gold, was engraved with Lazer’s and my initials and placed at the center pinnacle location of the bridge. Ours had been the first lock to grace the bridge.

  Our lock had been on the bridge now over six months and we were still no closer to setting a date for the wedding than we had been then. I loved Lazer. I did. But…

  Damn those buts. And this was a big one—I wanted to get married again soon. I wanted children. I’d expected to have two or three with Ruck by now. I was getting older. Lazer was great in every way, but…

  I couldn’t rush him. He had to be ready to walk down the aisle, too.

  I slid open my desk drawer and pulled out another plush box. It contained Knox’s heart lock, engraved so far with just his initials. I was meeting him for lunch tomorrow. I planned to give the lock to him then. Why did my heart flutter at the thought of seeing him?

  I felt disloyal. And yet I knew the answer—there had been a flicker of something between us. If I had reconnected with Knox before meeting Lazer, what would have happened? Was it only that Knox reminded me of Ruck and was a man who would commit his heart and commit fully? Or was there more?

  My assistant Lottie knocked on my door and poked her head in.

  The box with the lock burned in my hands. I shoved it back in the drawer and closed the drawer as if caught in the act.

  Lottie didn’t seem to notice. She was beaming. “They’re here!” Lottie loved the guys almost as much as I did.

  “Excellent.” I smiled.

  “Everything is set up for the ceremony and looks beautiful. Lazer sprang for the most expensive champagne.”

  “Being friends with the billionaire owner has its perks,” I said.

  Lottie clasped her hands. “It’s very romantic. I think this is a record for the fastest engagement that we’ve had. At least since I’ve been with you.”

  I nodded. “Since ever.”

  “You’re not worried, are you?” she said. “About it being so fast?”

  “No more than I worry about any of my couples.” I stood and smoothed my skirt. “I know they belong together.”

  Lottie was acting a little funny, which made me suspicious. She was blocking my view of something outside the door.

  I gave her my thin-eyed look. “All right. What’s up?”

  She laughed. “Someone’s here to see you.”

  “I don’t have time—”

  She stepped out of the way, revealing a stunningly hot guy. My guy, grinning in the way that always melted my heart.

  My mouth fell open. My eyes went wide. I pushed my chair back and ran to him. “Lazer!” I threw myself into his arms. “You made it! I’m so glad you’re back. You’re just in time.” He had no idea.

  His eyes danced as he wrapped his arms around me. “Damn, I’ve missed you.”

  “Is the only way I can get you to come home to me is to get you another best-man gig?” I basked in his gaze. “If so, I’m running out of cards to play. I only have two more of your friends left.”

  “The most challenging two.” He held me tight. “It’s going to take a brave woman to take on Dylan, particularly.”

  “I don’t know about that. A lot of women like the strong, silent type.”

  “You mean the giant type.”

  “A gentle giant. You’ll have yet another best-man gig in no time and will have to run home to me again from wherever you are.”

  “Best-man gig, hell. This lock ceremony is just an excuse for what I wanted to do. How can I ever stay away from you long? I love you.” He lowered his lips to mine.

  “I love you too.” I meant it with all my heart. But that didn’t mean I was any less impatient.

  *

  Thank You!

  Thanks for reading Mr. Accidental Hero! I hope you enjoyed it!

  If you liked Mr. Accidental Hero you’ll want to read the next book in the Jet City Matchmaker Series—Dylan’s story, Mr. Cowboy! Can the strong silent type find love with a woman from his past?

  Also by Gina Robinson

  The Jet City Kilt Series

  Almost Jamie

  Almost Elinor

  Simply Blair

  Simply Austin

  The Billionaire Matchmaker Series

  Lazer Focused

  Harte Strings

  Pair Us

  Dating Lazer

  Match Point

  The Billionaire Duke Series

  The Billionaire Duke

  The Duchess Contest

  The Temporary Duchess

  The American Heir

  The Switched at Marriage Series

  Part 1—A Wedding to Remember

  Part 2—The Virgin Billionaire

  Part 3—To Have and To Hold

  Part 4—From This Day Forward

  Part 5—For Richer, For Richest

  Part 6—In Sickness and In Wealth

  Part 7—To Love and To Cherish

  The Billionaire’s Christmas Vows

  Gina Robinson’s Contemporary New Adult Romance Series

  The Rushed Series

  Rushed

  Crushed

  Hushed

  The Reckless Series

  Reckless Longing

  Reckless Secrets

  Reckless Together

  About the Author

  Gina Robinson is the bestselling and award-winning author of the popular Switched at Marriage, Billionaire Duke, and Billionaire Matchmaker romantic comedy series, featuring a billionaire in a surprising marriage of convenience, a billionaire who inherits a British dukedom, and a billionaire who partners with a matchmaker, the Reckless and Rushed contemporary new adult romance series, and the Agent Ex series of humorous romantic suspense novels. Her books have delighted readers and received praise in Publishers Weekly, Booklist, and Romantic Times Book Reviews.

  She writes romance and women’s fiction across a wide variety of subgenres—romantic comedy, new adult, contemporary, historical, and romantic suspense. Her love stories are infused with a blend of romance, adventure, a bit of mystery, and humor. Readers are drawn to the light touch she gives even serious topics and the fast, fun, easy-to-read pace of her books.

  Sign up for her mailing list at www.ginarobinson.com and be the first to hear about new releases, contests, and giveaways.

  www.ginarobinson.com

 

 

 
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