Slow Burn: Iron Horse Series

by Danielle Norman

“Us.” Asher brought his lips to mine and slowly began to devour my mouth. He only stopped to open the door to welcome everyone.

  Holland stepped over and tried to take the food from Reid. “Thanks, I’ll take that so you can get back home. I’m sure you have more important stuff to do.”

  Reid stepped away from her and lifted the food above his head. The man had a good foot in height on her, so there was no hope for her. “Nah, I have it. Plus, there’s nothing else I’d rather do than be right here. I always feel so welcome in your home, and now with Asher being here more, I’ll probably be around more as well.”

  “The fuck you will,” Holland snapped. “Sorry, Asher, I was rooting for you, but you have to go.”

  “Don’t worry, baby, I’ll protect you.” I pulled Asher’s face down to mine and kissed him again.

  “I think I’m going to be sick,” Holland hollered from the living room as she stared at us, but she was smiling the whole time she said it.

  Marcus had his feet propped up on the coffee table. “Yeah, you two have to put a lid on it or something,” he teased.

  I stuck my tongue out at Marcus, then at Holland. “You’re just jealous that you all don't have anyone to cozy up with. Oh wait . . .” I held up one hand and scanned the room. “We have four extra people without partners. Don’t you think it’s time that you and Reid stop with all the fighting?” Holland’s face turned ten shades of red, a sure sign that I needed to remember to lock my door tonight.

  “I just want to officially remind everyone that some murders are worth going to jail for. Braden . . . that's off the record, by the way. Not that I'm ever going to kill my loving sister. Just saying . . . accidents happen.” Holland said it coolly and offered a shrug, as though she were the epitome of innocence. The only person who wasn’t laughing was Ellie, who obviously wasn’t used to Holland’s humor.

  “Let me get some plates.” I took a step to move out of Asher’s arms.

  “Nope, we have it,” Ellie said, reaching into a box and bringing out plates and silverware.

  “Ellie, I’ve been wanting to ask you something.” Holland propped one hand on her hip.

  “Shoot,” Ellie replied.

  “How does it feel being an older sibling to an asshole?” I shook my head at Holland, not surprised at all by her quip. Apparently, neither was Ellie.

  “Yeah, not answering that. So, Asher really thinks you and I are a lot alike? I just don’t see it.”

  “So you agree, then? That he’s an asshole?”

  “Sometimes. But sometimes he isn’t so bad.” Ellie swung out her left foot and kicked Reid. “But I understand why Reid wants me to stay away from you. He must be afraid that I’ll either give you ammunition, or that we’ll collaborate.”

  There was silence as everyone waited for Holland's reply. “Hmm. Maybe you have potential, after all.”

  “Reid, I feel sorry for you.” Marcus held up his beer.

  “Let’s eat.” I stepped away and moved toward the table, where London was busy setting everything out. Everyone followed, piling food onto plates and finding seats in the living room.

  “This is my favorite part, you know that, right?”

  “Eating?” Asher asked quietly.

  “No, having everyone together.” I was sitting on his lap in Daddy’s old recliner. I was so grateful for everyone who was here. “You think there’s something going on between your assistant and your brother?”

  “Maybe. It would be good for both of them. She’s really nice.”

  “Yeah, she is. I’m sorry that I—” Asher placed his fingertips on my mouth.

  “Shhh. It’s all good.”

  When we were done eating, Marcus pulled out several bottles of champagne and uncorked them while Braden set out glasses.

  “Are we celebrating Cora being gone?” I scanned the room to see if anyone else was ready to celebrate that as well.

  “Nope.” Asher turned me in his arms so we were facing each other. “I’ve asked our friends and family here so we can all be together to celebrate us.”

  “Okay. I’m happy that we’re together as well.” But I hadn’t really thought about a celebration. But that was when I saw it: Asher fumbling in his pocket, then pulling out a Robin’s-egg blue box and getting down on one knee.

  Oh my god, this was happening. It was so fast. Shit, no, it wasn’t. In a way, we’ve been together for twenty-nine years. Oh my god. Focus, Paris, focus.

  “Paris Jean Kelly, there has never been anyone for me but you, from the first time we held hands on the school bus.”

  I giggled, totally remembering that day. I’d fallen off a horse, and when I landed, I jammed my knee into my mouth, knocking both my front teeth out. I was afraid everyone would make fun of me. “You kept passing me tiny pieces of paper and teaching me how to do spit balls through the gap so I didn’t get caught.” I chuckled at the memory.

  “From the moment you asked me if I’d kiss you because you’d never been kissed, I knew I never wanted to kiss another woman as long as I lived.”

  “You were afraid that our braces would get caught.” I bit my lower lip, because even fifteen years later, I could think about that moment and still feel his lips against my own.

  “When you walked down that hall in your prom dress, I knew I’d never see a more beautiful woman in my entire life than you.”

  I glanced toward the hall he was talking about, the phantom memory right there for me to see.

  “But do you know what?”

  “What?” I asked, feeling self-conscious.

  “All of that pales in comparison to how I felt the moment you finally said you loved me. Will you marry me? Say yes, and that will be the new brightest spot.”

  “Yes. A thousand times yes.” Asher stood and then slid the ring onto the ring finger of my left hand. “Holy shit, I’m engaged.”

  Epilogue

  Three months later…

  “Holy shit, that man is either going to have a coronary or a boner when he sees you.”

  “Nice, Holland, real nice. Love how you put those two together.” London laughed. “You’re stunning, by the way. That dress is perfect for you.”

  I gazed at my reflection in the cheval mirror that we’d moved into the great room. It was the brightest room in the house, with windows overlooking the back yard and French doors that opened up to the garden area. Plus, we also got the light from the front door and side windows that lined our front porch. With the way the sun was shining, I didn’t think I could have chosen a better day.

  Today I was going to become Paris Kelly Kinkaide. I’d decided to change my middle name to Kelly, since I never liked Jean anyway. Besides, it was sort of a tradition, since London had done that too.

  Yeah, this dress really was perfect. I’d decided to go with the traditional white, but it wasn’t a traditional wedding dress. I wanted something with more of that country feel, so my dress was cotton, off the shoulders, and hit mid-calf. But the white tone-on-tone satin plaid ribbon around my waist was my favorite part. My second favorite part was the bouquet. We’d taken a pair of Daddy’s boots and had the leather cut into strips, so I could have them woven into the stems of my bouquet. It was my way of having him walk with me down the aisle.

  “The back yard is beautiful. Ellie has really done a nice job.” London looked out of the back French doors.

  I walked to stand next to her. “She really did. I’m glad she turned out to be a good friend. You think she’ll find someone?”

  “I think she already has.” London gave a chin nod in Marcus’s direction. He was totally checking her out.

  “Would be a great fit. I think she might be able to handle him. It’s gonna take a strong woman.” I felt sorry for whoever took on that job.

  “It will,” Holland said as she sidled up to where London and I were standing and I linked my arm around hers.

  “Are you sure you want to move? You know that you don’t have to, right?” It’s the same thing I’ve said to her ev
ery time I’ve seen her since she told me she was moving out.

  “Please, I’m excited. Plus, the last thing I want to hear is, ‘Oh god, oh god, oh Asher!’ while I’m trying to get some fucking sleep.”

  I rolled my eyes. “Get serious.”

  “I am being serious. You two need some privacy. Besides, it isn’t as if I’m moving to a different country. I’m moving into the apartment Dad built above the stables. It’s time someone used it. Eventually, I may want to add on or build something bigger, but right now, it’s fine for me. This is your home—” Holland waved around the vast area.

  “It’s your home, too, and London’s.”

  “I know that technically it is, but it’s yours as in, you make this place a home. I just sleep here. I could sleep anywhere.” Holland patted my hand, and I turned to London, who was nodding in agreement. “Don’t worry, I still won’t buy groceries or cook. I’ll eat here.”

  “Of course you will.” I gave my baby sister a squeeze.

  “What the fuck is he doing here?” Holland asked, yanking her arm free before racing to the door. The girl was quick in heels and made it to the French doors and flipped the lock just as Reid was walking up the steps. He’d gotten into the same habit of just walking in like everyone else did. When he realized the door wasn’t open, he looked up to see Holland in the window, flipping him off.

  Sliding around her, I turned the lock and welcomed him. “Come on in.”

  “Hello to you too, tiger,” Reid greeted Holland, but she only growled. “You look beautiful, Paris. Asher is a lucky man.”

  “Thank you. Is there something you needed?”

  “Oh yeah, Braden said to come and get y’all. You ready?”

  “Yep. We’re ready.” I turned around and picked up my bouquet.

  And Reid turned and walked back out.

  Getting into position, I stood next to London, who was holding Tera in her arms. Holland came and stood on the other side of me. We didn’t have a large crowd, just the eight of us, plus Wally and his wife Anne, Jack, another one of our ranch hands, and Mary, Asher’s mom. She didn’t get out much, but this wasn’t something she would miss. I was pretty sure she’d been waiting for this day longer than Asher had. I wasn’t overly surprised to discover that she’d had an entire hope chest full of things for me that she’d been collecting over the years. I was shocked, however, to discover she’d been so confident it would be me that the linens were all monogrammed with A.K.P or just an A or P.

  With my sisters on either side of me and my eyes locked on the man standing under the trellis next to the minister, I pushed open the French doors and stepped down as Jordan Hill’s song played, “Remember Me This Way,” from Casper. It had been the first movie we’d watched together as kids.

  “Look.” Holland pointed to a butterfly that had just landed on the bouquet of wild daisies I was holding. “They say butterflies are really angels of our loved ones.”

  Crooking my head, I took in my baby sister. “That’s beautiful, I’ve never heard you talk like that before.”

  “Yeah, well, I can be sweet once every ten years or so.”

  “Do you think Daddy is here? I mean, watching me? He always loved Asher like a son.”

  “I definitely think he is.” Holland squeezed my left arm, and we all watched as the butterfly flittered away.

  “Absolutely, he’s here.” London bumped my shoulder. “Now, it’s time for you to put that man out of his misery. He’s been waiting a lifetime for you.”

  I looked to the man in question, and a full-blown grin bloomed on my lips. Apparently, he was done waiting, because he was already halfway down the aisle to me. When he reached my side, he held me close and gazed down at me before he brought one hand up to cup my face, as the other moved to tuck my hair behind my ear. Then he leaned forward and whispered, “Can I keep you?”

  That was when I knew this was not just right; it was meant to be. It was the same thing he’d asked me after watching Casper, the same line that Casper had asked his cat. And Asher remembered . . . Of course he had, because he was perfect.

  “Forever.”

  Slow Burn Playlist- Paris and Asher

  Like I Loved You- Brett Young

  Friends in Low Places - Garth Brooks

  Shallow- Lady Gaga & Bradley Cooper

  How Do I Live - Trisha Yearwood

  Remember Me This Way - Jordan Hill

  Yours- Russell Dickerson

  Meant To Be- Bebe Rexha & Florida Georgia Line

  Feels Like Home- Chantal Kreviazuk

  Best Day of My Life- American Authors

  Thank You

  Editing by AW Editing

  Content by Marion Making Manuscripts

  Proofreading by Taryn Lawson

  Proofreading Karen Boston

  L.Woods PR, Veronica Adams

  Personal Assistant Catherine Anderson

  Cover Model, Lori Renee

  Cover Design Russ Norman

  Meet Danielle

  Before becoming a romance writer, Danielle was a body double for Heidi Klum and a backup singer for Adele. Now, she spends her days trying to play keep away from Theo James who won’t stop calling her and asking her out.

  And all of this happens before she wake up and faces reality where in fact she is a 50 something mom with grown kids, she’s been married longer than Theo’s been alive, and she now get her kicks riding a Harley.

  As far as her body, she thanks, Ben & Jerry’s for that as well as gravity. Plus she could never be Adele’s backup since she never stops saying the F-word long enough actually to sing.

  Lets Socialize

  Website: www.daniellenorman.com

  Twitter: @1daniellenorman

  Facebook fan page: @authordaniellenorman

  Instagram: @1daniellenorman

  Amazon Author Page @daniellenorman

  Goodreads @daniellenorman

  Bookbub: @daniellenorman

  Book + Main: @daniellenorman

  Official Iron Orchids Reading Group : on facebook

  Newsletter: https://bit.ly/DNnews

  * * *

  Also by Danielle Norman

  Iron Orchids Series

  Enough- Book 1, Kayson and Ariel

  Ebook and Paperback: books2read.com/IronOrchids1

  Audiobook: bit.ly/IronOrchids1

  Almost- Book 2, Carter and Sophie

  Ebook and Paperback: books2read.com/IronOrchids2

  Audiobook: bit.ly/IronOrchids2

  Impact- Book 3, Damon and Katy

  Ebook and Paperback: books2read.com/IronOrchids3

  Audiobook: bit.ly/IronOrchids3

  Often- Book 4, Ian and Leo

  Ebook and Paperback: books2read.com/IronOrchids4

  Audiobook: bit.ly/IronOrchids4

  Until- Book 5, Tristan and Stella, January 2019

  books2read.com/IronOrchids5

  * * *

  Iron Horse Series

  Stetson- Book 1, London

  Ebook and Paperback: books2read.com/IronHorse1

  Audiobook: bit.ly/IronHorse1, coming November 2018

  Slow Burn- Book 2, Paris

  Ebook and Paperback: books2read.com/IronHorse2

  Audio: Coming Soon

  * * *

  Stallion- Book 3, Holland, coming March 2019

  * * *

  Iron Ladies Series

  Getting Even- Book 1, Adeline

  Ebook and Paperback: books2read.com/IronLadies1

  Available on Audio

  Book 2, Sunday, coming soon

  Book 3, Olivia, coming soon

  Book 4, Melanie, coming soon

  Enough

  Chapter One

  Ariel

  * * *

  Moving to the happiest fucking place on Earth had nothing to do with fairy tales or finding my Prince Charming. Thanks to my daddy, I no longer believed in magic or happily ever afters. I landed in this city because this was the land of hotels, conventions, and destination weddings, which mea
nt it was my best bet at becoming an event planner.

  I didn’t hate being a seamstress, but it wasn’t my dream, it was my mama’s. I never told her that I’d rather be on the other side, planning the events where people wore the fancy clothes, costumes, and uniforms.

  I never got the chance.

  During my freshman year of high school, she had her first stroke, spoke with a slur, and relied a little more on me. But just before my senior year, Mama had her second stroke, and someone needed to keep the business going to pay the bills, so I took over. Because Daddy was long gone, he had no use for an invalid wife, and no interest in raising a teenage daughter who hated him.

  I told myself repeatedly that Mama would have wanted me to follow my dream, even if it meant hers was gone. Though, I doubted that included buying a motorcycle.

  * * *

  I brushed the wetness away then strapped on my helmet and headed to my motorcycle. Ever since binge watching Sons of Anarchy, I wanted to be badass. Okay, not like crime badass. Just the I-look-cool-on-this-bike kind of badass. So, after I unpacked my last box, I went out and purchased a Harley Sportster. I couldn’t wait to start the engine and let the wind whip across my face. It was cathartic. As the engine roared to life, I replayed the words my teacher said just a few weeks ago during motorcycle safety class.

  Ease up on the throttle.

  Hold steady.

  Don’t freak.

  The bike will go where your eyes go.

  I found myself twisting the throttle a little more than I should have, and a small smile pulled at my lips.

  I shifted gears and headed to the service road around the Mall at Millennia, Orlando’s version of Rodeo Drive. Since I lived in metro Orlando, finding somewhere to practice riding wasn’t easy. There were always constant road improvements or tourists who drove like idiots reversing down the interstate because they missed the fucking exit. So, the rarely traversed area behind the mall was one of the best places to practice.