“I’m not your competition, Charlie. I know better than to try and tie him down. That’s why I called it off with Max weeks ago.”
Caroline placed her hand on Sloane’s shoulder, urging Sloane to turn and look at her. “That’s why you ended it?”
“Yes, ma’am. I need stability in my…situation. I’m not built for a two a.m. phone call when he’s lonely.”
“Go to Hell,” Charlie spat.
“I’m not judging you. If you’re okay with that kind of relationship, good for you. I just know I’m not.”
Charlie eyed her angrily. “I’m a stronger woman than you, that’s why. He’ll be back. He always comes back.”
Adeline waved her pointed finger around. “Well that’s horse wash. Sloane is willing to walk away from the man she loves because she won’t settle for less than she deserves. That’s what I call strength.”
Caroline smiled. “Well said, Addy.”
“You make me sound like a martyr.” Sloane couldn’t help but laugh. “In reality, I’m just selfish. I want it all or nothing.”
A short round nurse interrupted.
“Max is awake now and asking for a Sloane.”
“Go on, dear. Tell him.” Adeline patted her shoulder.
“Yes, ma’am.”
Taking a deep breath, Sloane followed the nurse to Max’s room. The woman opened the door for her before ushering her inside. Max lay there with his eyes closed, his chest rising and falling with each breath. Beeping machines were the only sound in the room. He should have looked fragile lying there like he was, but she could never see Max as anything other the epitome of strength.
Approaching the side of the bed, she placed her hand on his. Max opened his eyes slowly. His radiant smile almost melted her right there and then. What she wouldn’t give to be on the receiving end of it every day.
“You’re here.”
“Thank you so much.”
“I told you I would keep you safe.”
“Yes, you did.”
Max groaned. He probably couldn’t feel much from all the painkillers, but he looked exhausted. “We…need to have a conversation.”
“I agree.” She sighed.
“Good.”
***
Max
Max knew Sloane felt guilty about him getting shot. It was wrong to exploit that, but he would worry about that later. Right now he had to tell her how he felt and make her stay. He patted the space on the bed beside him. Sloane slowly lowered herself onto the mattress.
“I know we don’t know everything about each other. I’ve never really wanted to know much more than what gets a woman off, to be honest with you. I’ve seen too many relationships go south to actually want to be in one.”
“I know, Max. I’m not asking you for one.”
“Let me finish. I never believed my Gram when she told me one day I’d find a woman who would make me want to spend every moment with her. I do now. I’ve missed you, Sloane. I’ve missed your smile, your laugh, the way you look at me. I want to be with you. I see everything I never knew I wanted in a woman when I look at you.”
Sloane was crying. Was that a good thing or a bad thing? Her blue eyes shimmered. Max hoped like hell that they were tears of joy. She lowered her head to try to hide it from him, but it was too late. He couldn’t lose her. He pressed on.
“I’m ruined, baby. No one else will do. You’re all I want. You’re everything I need and I refuse to let you walk away again without a fight. Do you understand that? Look at me, Sloane.”
She raised her head. She was still in her gown with his blood covering part of her dress and arm. Most of her hair was still pulled back except those damn bangs had come loose. Max pushed them off of her face. He used the motion to allow him to cup her cheek. He stroked his thumb across the smooth skin a few times. She leaned into his touch. She was so damn beautiful. With a pounding heart, Max decided it was time to go all in.
“I refuse to let you go. I love you, Sloane.”
“You what?” She gasped.
“I love you, baby.”
Sloane stood up and paced the room. Now he was starting to worry. He thought for sure she was going to turn and walk out. He didn’t know what else he could say to make her stay, but he needed to come up with something.
“You love me?” She whispered it like a prayer.
“Absofuckinlutely.”
“Max…”
She took her bottom lip in between her teeth, worrying it as she sat down beside him again. She looked unsure of herself. He knew the moment she gained the courage she was looking for. Her shoulders squared and she sat up straighter, determination painting her face.
“There’s no easy way to say this to you, so I’m just going to say it. You’re going to be a father.”
Of all the things he thought she would say to him, that wasn’t one of them. Not even close. He was going to be a father. He understood the words. He just couldn’t reconcile them pertaining to him.
“You’re pregnant.”
“Yes, Max, I’m pregnant.”
Max felt the smile spreading across his face. He was going to be a father. His baby was growing in her belly. Pride swelled inside him. He tried to sit up, but the pain forced him to lie back down. Instead he held his arm open for her.
“Are you okay? Did you pull your stitches?”
“I don’t care, Sloane. I just want you in my arms. Come here.”
“Max no, you’re hurt.”
“Now.” The firmness in his voice left no room to argue.
Sloane carefully climbed into the small hospital bed with him. She put her head on his shoulder and her hand over his heart. He was in pain and beyond tired, but he had the woman he loved in his arms and his future growing inside of her. Nothing could top this moment of pure happiness.
“Max,” she whispered against his shoulder.
“Yeah, baby?”
She looked up at him, meeting his eyes. Tears still glistened in hers. Her smile lit up every dark spot in his soul.
“I love you too, Max.”
Her soft kiss was like a promise. A promise of their future together. Just like that, Sloane topped his best moment ever. He knew without a doubt she would continue to do so for years to come and he couldn’t wait.
Epilogue
Max
Max watched as Mia struggled to keep herself from falling back down on her cute little diapered butt. At ten months old, she was already growing up too quickly for his liking. These were his favorite moments. Sitting out in the yard while his daughter played on the blanket beside him. The wonder in her eyes as she took in her surroundings was a salve to his soul. All of the shitty things he saw as a cop and then as a PI had begun to jade him. Mia helped restore his faith in humanity.
He’d never expected to trust a woman enough to fall in love. Finding Sloane had changed him in the best possible way. She made him want to be a better man. He couldn’t be more grateful to be able to call her his own. Her sweet voice broke him from his thoughts.
“I thought we agreed that she could wait on a puppy, Max?”
“We did, but look at her, baby. She’s already in love.”
Sloane sat next to Max on the blanket. Their daughter giggled loudly as she played with the cutest ball of yellow fur. The eight-week-old golden retriever was a perfect addition to their little family. Yes, Max had agreed to wait until Mia was a toddler before buying a dog, but one look at the pup and Max couldn’t pass him up.
“What can I say? When you’re right, you’re right. He’s absolutely adorable.”
“Can I get that in writing?” He laughed.
“That he’s adorable? Sure.”
“No, that I’m right?”
“No, you may not.”
Sloane smiled sweetly at him, leaning over to steal a kiss. Almost two years later and her kisses still ignited the fire within him. He lifted her hand up and kissed the back of it. Her diamond engagement ring sparkled in the sunlight.
&n
bsp; “When are you going to set a date and make an honest man outta me?”
“When we aren’t so busy that I can take the time to drop what’s left of this weight.”
“There’s nothing for you to drop. You’re even more beautiful than when we first met.”
Sure, her belly wasn’t as taunt as before, and there were stretch marks where there was once smooth skin, but Max didn’t care about those things. Sloane was gorgeous. The fact that she had given him a healthy, happy, beautiful baby girl only made him want her more.
“Max.” She scowled, rolling her eyes at him.
“I’m serious. Everything around here will be relatively settled in a few weeks. Don’t keep me waiting.”
“I can’t plan a wedding in a few weeks, Max.” She laughed at his eagerness.
“Okay, okay. Soon, though?”
“Soon, Max, soon.”
Sloane moved herself between his legs. He opened them into a V shape to allow her to sit. She pressed her back to his chest, and Max wrapped his arms around her. They watched Mia play with her new friend.
“So what time will the guys be over in the morning? Do you want me to make breakfast?”
For now, Max was conducting business out of his small home office until the building he leased was ready to move in. He was waiting for the landlord to give him the green light. As of last month all the proper licensing had come in. His dream of being his own boss was finally a reality. Once he knew it was going to happen, he called Tank, Mother, and Gutter Mouth. They all agreed to take on a role in the company. Max couldn’t be happier. He had it all: an amazing, soon-to-be wife, a sweet baby girl, and a bright future, heading up his own company.
“No way, you’re my woman. If you don’t stop feeding them, they’ll never go out and find their own,” he teased.
“Yes, dear. Can you answer one thing for me?”
“Anything.”
“Why in God’s name would you name that sweet little puppy, ‘Killer’?”
“Why not?” he asked innocently as she erupted with laughter.
“I love you, Maxwell Fear. I don’t know what I’m going to do with you, but I sure as hell love you.”
“I love you, baby. I can think of a few things you can do with me.” He waggled his eyebrows at her. His cell phone chimed from his pocket. “Hold that thought.”
He swiped his finger across the screen to answer. Sloane watched him expectantly as he said, “thank you” and disconnected. He smiled down at her before kissing her soft lips.
“Fear Incorporated is officially open for business.”
The End.
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Acknowledgments
Thank you to everyone who had a hand in making this project the best it could be: Lori, Sydnee, Dimitri, Jennifer, and everyone else behind the scenes at Limitless Publishing. You guys rock.
To my fellow Limitless authors, thank you for all of your support. Your shares, likes, and wisdom have been invaluable. I’m honored to be a part of the Limitless family.
To my family. Thank you for understanding things like deadlines and late nights and that yes, a grown woman can and will pout because a scene isn’t working. Thank you for understanding my coffee addiction and providing me the necessary amount of Raisinets to help me keep my sanity. I love you.
Finally, to my readers, thank you from the bottom of my heart for letting me share my stories with you. I hope you’re looking forward to reading more about Fear Inc. as much as I am to write them. Much love, Melinda.
About the Author
Melinda Valentine was born in upstate New York. Being the youngest of four children (and the only girl) made it easy for her to turn to books as companions. As a young child, she was whisked away to Baltimore, Maryland and spent her youth reading books such as Nancy Drew, The Chronicles of Narnia, and The Little House on the Prairie saga.
However, it wasn't until she was twelve years old that she read a book (Stephen King's IT) that made her realize that someday, she would herself become a writer. After that, her first (horrible) manuscript came to life, and at thirteen she had received her very first rejection letter. Heartbroken, she continued to read even more to learn about the craft of writing.
Today Melinda calls West Virginia home, with her husband and their three hilarious children. She works full time as a bank teller and creates characters she hopes her readers fall in love with as much as she has.
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/authormelindavalentine
Twitter:
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Website:
http://www.melindavalentine.com/
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