by Naima Simone
A couple of gasps and sighs punctuated the room, but all of her attention remained riveted on him. I’m so damn in love with you. Holy Mary, Mother of God. Did he just say that? Did he just say…? “You love me?”
“Yes.” He laughed, the sound rough, but light. “I love you so damn much it scares me almost as much as seeing that gun trained on you.” He grazed her mouth with a kiss. “I’ve wanted you from the moment you kissed me in that kitchen, and I’ve fought it. You are…everything. And I was afraid of making you my everything. Because if you left, I would have nothing.” He trailed his lips over her forehead, her eyes, her cheek. “But I don’t want to live in fear anymore when I can live with you. I love you, Fallon. With all I am, I love you.”
She stared at him, joy eclipsing the shock, crashing over her. After all these years, she’d given up hope of ever hearing those words from him. Even after those last couple of days spent in his arms, she’d never dared to believe he would…love her.
“I love you, too, Shane. So much.” Cheers erupted around them, accompanied by sharp whistles and raucous applause. Laughing, she threw her arms around him, squeezed him close, probably strangling him, but unable to let go—she was never letting him go. Growling, she jerked back, glared at him. “You can’t take it back. You see what I did to Ball-less back at the house, right? That’s a love tap compared to what I’ll do to you if you try and take it back.”
“God, I love you.” He laughed, crushing a kiss to her mouth.
“This calls for cake!” Addy bellowed, and seconds later Trudy emerged from the kitchen balancing a large sheet cake covered in chocolate icing and topped with 2- and 5-shaped candles.
“Are you kidding me?” Emotion—joy, surprise, a bit of sadness, and all-consuming love—clogged her throat, burned her eyes as she glanced at the man she adored beyond reason. “Shane, I—”
“Damn,” he murmured, encircling her shoulders with a strong arm. “I can’t believe I’ve found something that finally shuts you up.”
She chuckled, the sound waterlogged but delighted. Her fingers fluttered at the base of her throat, and she didn’t try to contain the tears spilling over onto her cheeks.
“Happy birthday, baby,” he whispered, wiping away an escapee tear. “This is your chance for new memories. Happier memories.”
“Shane… Thank you,” she said, voice thick. “I—” a slight hesitation, “I—thank you.”
He pressed a kiss to her temple. “Blow out your candles, baby.”
She nodded and bent over the cake. And paused. Stretched out a hand toward him.
“We’ll both do it.”
Smiling, he wrapped his fingers around hers, moved next to her, and together they blew out the flames.
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Acknowledgments
First, last, and always, I give honor and thanks to God, who has been faithful even when I haven’t been. You have blessed me and kept me, and I love You.
To Gary. You have never stopped believing in me and haven’t allowed me to stop believing in myself. And to Thing 1 and 2, y’all are my hearts—even when I can relate to animals eating their young…snicker! I love you two, and you and your dad are my reasons for waking up in the morning!
To Landy. Thank you so much for sharing your time and knowledge with me. I’ve always respected the men and women who have put their lives on the line for our freedom and security, but talking to you and hearing everything you’ve seen and experienced? All of us are blessed to have soldiers like you protecting us here and overseas.
To Debra Glass. I just love you. You’re always selfless with your time and never fail to encourage me. Even when I’m annoyingly neurotic. LOL! Thank you for being my cheerleader, my critique partner, my mentor, and my bestie!
To Jessica Lee. I love you. When I met you in that seminar was one of the best days for me not just as an author, but as a person. I didn’t know there was a “friend hole” in my life, but you filled it!
To Tracy Montoya. You’re always the hardest for me, because there aren’t enough words—or at least I don’t have them—to capture all the gratitude and love I have for you. I am truly blessed to have you as my editor and teacher. Because I never fail to learn from you. Without you, none of these books would have been as strong. And I’m so excited to find out what our future books will look like! *hint, hint, nudge, nudge* Well, actually, that wasn’t subtle at all… Hee-hee!
To Liz Pelletier and Heather Howland. Thank you for your belief in me and my writing. Your confidence means so much, and I’m proud to be an Entangled author!
And last but not least. A huge thank you to my street team, the Saints and Sinners. Hanging out with you guys is the highlight of my days! Thank you for your laughter, love, and support. You guys ROCK! *fist and hip bump*
About the Author
Naima Simone’s love of romance was first stirred by Johanna Lindsey, Sandra Brown, and Linda Howard many years ago. Well, not that many. She is only eighteen…ish. Though her first attempt at a romance novel starring Ralph Tresvant from New Edition never saw the light of day, her love of romance, reading, and writing has endured. Published since 2009, she spends her days—and nights—creating stories of unique men and women who experience the first bites of desire, the dizzying heights of passion, and the tender, healing heat of love.
She is wife to Superman, or his non-Kryptonian, less bulletproof equivalent, and mother to the most awesome kids ever. They all live in perfect, sometimes domestically challenged bliss in the southern United States.
Come visit Naima at www.naimasimone.com.
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Also by Naima Simone…
Secrets and Sins: Gabriel
Secrets and Sins: Malachim
Secrets and Sins: Raphael
Secrets and Sins: Chayot
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