Mine After Dark

by Marie Force

  Kevin smiled and kissed her.

  With Nikki sitting next to him and gripping his hand under the table throughout dinner, Riley had finally been able to relax and enjoy the wedding, even if he burned to get her alone. Soon enough, he’d told himself. Soon enough.

  “I just want to say that it’s obvious to me and Finn and everyone else in this room that we’re witnessing true love here, and true love is so hard to find and even harder to hold on to.” Glancing down at Nikki for a second, he said, “When you find it, you should hold on to it with everything you have, the way Dad and Chelsea have. I love you both and wish you a long and happy life together. Finn, your turn, and I apologize in advance for whatever he says.”

  Riley sat, put his arm around Nikki and kissed her.

  “Dad and Chelsea,” Finn said, “I’m not the sickening romantic that my brother has become since Nicholas came along, but let me just add that you guys are a great couple, and we love you both. Congratulations and best wishes for many years of happiness. To Kevin and Chelsea.”

  “I’m going to shoot him,” Riley muttered.

  “Don’t do that,” Nikki said. “I’ve got better things to do than bail you out of jail.”

  “Like what?” he asked.

  Whispering in his ear, she said, “You.”

  “Don’t do that to me when we can’t be alone for hours.”

  She flashed a coy grin that made him want to say to hell with the fucking wedding. But he couldn’t do that when the groom was his dad and he was one of the best men.

  Owen invited the bride and groom to the dance floor and, with Niall’s help, played a cool, sultry acoustic version of “Beginnings” by Chicago, one of Kevin’s favorite songs.

  “God, this song,” Finn said. “How many millions of times did we hear this as kids?”

  “Ten million,” Riley said. “Easily.”

  “I’ve never heard it,” Nikki said.

  “Seriously?” Finn said. “Then you can’t marry into the family. Sorry.”

  “Finn!” Riley said.

  Finn busted up laughing. “Relax, bro. For some reason, she totally digs you. Not even I can scare her off.”

  “That’s right,” Nikki said. “So go away and leave us alone.”

  “You’re the best girlfriend I’ve ever had,” Riley said.

  “She’s the only girlfriend you’ve ever had.”

  Finn’s life was saved by Adam and Abby, who were walking baby Liam and stopped by to say hello.

  “Nikki, this is my new cousin Liam, and you remember his parents, Adam and Abby.”

  “Congratulations,” Nikki said, giving the baby a longing glance. “He’s beautiful.”

  “We’re quite smitten,” Abby said.

  “Looks like you guys are figuring out the parent gig,” Riley said.

  “Slowly but surely,” Abby said. “Good thing Liam doesn’t know we’re clueless.”

  “You know what the best part of adopting is?” Adam asked, gazing at his son with obvious adoration.

  “What’s that?” Riley asked.

  “No waiting six weeks after the birth to get back in the saddle,” Adam said with a dirty grin for his wife.

  While Finn, Riley and Nikki laughed, Abby slugged his arm. “Adam! Shut up!” To Nikki, she said, “I apologize for him.”

  “No need,” Nikki said. “That was funny.”

  “Nothing funny about it,” Adam said, waggling his brows.

  Abby glowered at her husband. “On that note, it’s time to get Liam home to bed,” Abby said.

  “She said bed,” Adam said.

  Ignoring him, Abby said, “Please give your dad and Chelsea our best.”

  The bride and groom were completely caught up in each other.

  “Will do,” Riley said.

  “They’re so cute,” Nikki said. “And that baby is adorable.”

  “They were told they couldn’t have children and decided to adopt. They got really lucky when another couple couldn’t take the baby.”

  “I’m so glad it worked out for them.”

  “Me, too. They’re a great couple.” Lowering his voice, he said, “Here’s a little family gossip for you. Long before Abby was with Adam, she dated his brother Grant.”

  “Which one is Grant?”

  Riley pointed him out. “He and his wife, Steph, spend the winters in LA. They came home for the wedding.”

  “How did he feel about his brother dating his ex?”

  “He was so happy with Steph by then that he didn’t mind. It’s all ancient history now.”

  “How is Shane doing?”

  Riley looked over to where Shane was seated at a table with Katie, Laura, Frank, Betsy, Joe and Janey. “He seems okay. I’m sure Courtney’s death is still weighing heavily on his mind, but we’ve been rallying around him and making sure he stays focused on the present.”

  “You have a really great family, Riley. I hope you know how lucky you are.”

  “I do.” Fortified by champagne and the thrill of having her back by his side, he took it a daring step further. “Maybe someday you’ll be a McCarthy, too.”

  Smiling, she said, “Wouldn’t that be something?”

  He’d gone from the lowest of lows to the highest of highs, and all it had taken was having her walk in the door. “Have you been to the house yet?”

  She shook her head. “Jordan got me a private flight straight to the island. There was a delay leaving LA, which is what made me late. I came right here from the airport.”

  “I’m glad you haven’t been there yet. I’ve got something I want to show you.” He leaned in and kissed her, lingering despite the roomful of people around them. His love had come home. Nothing else mattered.

  Epilogue

  With almost everyone staying at the hotel that night, it wasn’t easy to sneak out, but once his father and Chelsea left at eleven, Riley decided to make his move. He’d quit drinking hours ago so he could drive them home. He and Nikki donned coats, said their goodbyes and headed out into icy, windy darkness.

  Riley bundled her into his truck and ran around to the driver’s side. “I still can’t believe you’re back in my truck where you belong. I’m not going to wake up and realize I dreamed this, am I?”

  “I’m really here, and I’m staying this time. I talked to Mac about the job, and he said it’s mine if I want it.”

  “And do you?”

  “I really do. I’d love to be part of getting the Wayfarer back up and running again.”

  He cranked the heat and reached for her, crushing his mouth to hers. Kissing her felt as natural to him as breathing. He couldn’t get enough. “We’re going to spend the rest of the weekend in bed. Just so you know.”

  “Thanks for the warning, but that works for me.”

  Riley forced himself to let her go, to focus on driving when all he wanted was more of her. Once they were on their way to Eastward Look, he reached for her hand, loving the way her fingers wrapped around his. “I was going to come get you tomorrow.”

  “Were you?”

  “Yep. Ask my dad. I told him that earlier.”

  She squeezed his hand. “I believe you, and I would’ve been really glad to see you.”

  By the time they pulled into the driveway at Eastward Look, the sexual tension in the car was so thick, it threatened to consume him. He wondered if she had any idea how completely she owned him or how desperately he wanted her.

  He released her hand so they could get out of the truck and then put his arm around her so she wouldn’t trip in those crazy-ass heels. When she teetered precariously, he scooped her up and carried her the rest of the way.

  Her laughter echoed through the vast yard and filled him with joy. There was simply no other word to describe it.

  “Get the doors,” he said.

  She punched in the code, and when they were inside, he put her down only long enough to remove their coats before picking her up again.

  “Riley! I can walk.”

&n
bsp; “But this is so much better. Hold on to me.” He could tell he surprised her when he walked toward the kitchen rather than heading straight upstairs. “Get the light.”

  She flipped the switch and gasped at the sight of the new white cabinets, half-finished subway tile backsplash and silvery-white quartz countertop, with one piece still waiting to be installed by her. “Riley… Oh my God! You did all this?”

  “With a little help from Finn. Are you happy with it?”

  “I’m thrilled! I can’t believe you did this.”

  “I hoped you wouldn’t mind if I kept going. I didn’t know how long you’d be gone.”

  “Of course I don’t mind. But I still want you to show me how to do it all.”

  “I left most of the tile and finish work for you to do. I’ll teach you anything you want to know, but not tonight.”

  “Why?” she asked, the picture of innocence. “Is there something else you’d rather do tonight?”

  Nodding, he kissed her as he carried her upstairs, breaking the kiss only to put her down next to the bed.

  She slid her hands into his suit coat and wrapped her arms around his waist. “In case I forgot to mention it, the suit is hot as hell.”

  “It’s nowhere near as hot as those heels are.”

  “You like them?”

  “Whimper.” He kissed her again, giving her deep thrusts of his tongue that she answered enthusiastically. They began pulling at clothing, laughing when her dress got stuck halfway off before clearing her head.

  While she frantically freed buttons on his shirt, Riley feasted his eyes on the sight of sexy, lacy black underwear.

  “Focus, Riley. The goal is naked here.”

  “I’m focused.” He nuzzled the tops of her breasts, which spilled out of the cups of her bra. “I’m very, very focused.”

  Giggling, she tugged on his belt and nearly unmanned him in her efforts to get him out of his pants.

  “Go easy down there, tiger, or this’ll be over before it starts.”

  “Then help me!”

  “Gladly.” He whipped off his pants and boxer briefs and followed her into bed, coming down on top of her lush softness and breathing in the intoxicating scent of her. “I’ll remember three very distinct things about my father’s wedding,” he said as he kissed her neck.

  “What three things?”

  “One, that he and Chelsea are truly happy.”

  “Agreed.”

  “Two, that you came back to me.”

  “I couldn’t stay away another minute. Missing you was killing me.”

  “Same. You’ve got me completely addicted to you.”

  With her hands on his face, she said, “What’s the third thing you’ll remember?”

  “That the day my dad got married was the same day I knew for certain that I’m going to spend the rest of my life with you.”

  “Riley,” she whispered.

  “It might be too much, too soon, but all you had to do was walk into the room to make everything that was wrong right again.”

  “It’s not too soon. I want the same thing you do. I want you and a life with you.”

  “Here on Gansett Island?”

  She nodded. “This is our home. Gansett Island and Eastward Look are home.”

  “Gansett, Eastward Look and you are home. Home is nothing without you, sweetheart.”

  Nikki wrapped her arms around his neck and gasped as he entered her in one smooth thrust. “Yes, Riley. God, yes. I missed you so much.”

  “Missed you, too. But now you’re back, and I’m never letting you go again.”

  “That’s more than fine with me.”

  Thank you for reading Mine After Dark! Riley and Nikki were such a fun couple to write, and as always, I loved having the chance to catch up with the rest of the Gansett Island family. Can you believe the next book in this series, featuring Finn McCarthy, will be number 20?! Neither can I! But there you have it, and I couldn’t be happier to still be writing Gansett Island more than a decade after I wrote Maid for Love. MUCH more to come from our favorite island, so stay tuned to my newsletter mailing list for news and updates on future books. If you enjoyed the book, please consider leaving a review at the book retailer of your choice, as well as Goodreads, to help other readers find their story.

  Join the Mine After Dark Reader Group to talk about Riley and Nikki’s story and make sure you’re a member of the Gansett Island Reader Group to never miss news of the series or upcoming books. Have you read ALL my books? If so, you’re a Marie Force SUPER Fan! Join the SUPER Fan Reader Group.

  As always, thank you to my husband, Dan Force, and the incredible team that supports me behind the scenes, including Julie Cupp, Lisa Cafferty, Holly Sullivan, Isabel Sullivan, Nikki Colquhoun, Anne Woodall, Kara Conrad, Linda Ingmanson and Joyce Lamb. I couldn’t do what I do without their help and support. Special thanks to my author friend Marie Rose Dufour for sharing details about navigating the Rhode Island adoption process. And thank you to the members of the Gansett Island Reader Group who helped me name this book!

  Profound thanks to the readers who make this amazing career possible and who have propelled Gansett Island to book 19! I appreciate each and every one of you!

  Keep reading for a sneak peek at the Prologue and Chapter 1 of Five Years Gone, coming in October!

  xoxo

  Marie

  * * *

  SUMMER 2018!

  Get the first three books in the beloved Gansett Island Series in Mass Market Paperback for the VERY FIRST TIME! Find you copies at Target, Walmart, B&N, BAM and other retailers where books are sold. Every time you buy a copy for yourself or someone else, enter to win great prizes at marieforce.com/getareader. The grand prize is a trip to my 2019 Reader Weekend in Rhode Island! And watch for the next three books in the Gansett Island Series in paperback in early 2019!

  And coming in October, a powerful new novel from Marie Force. Keep reading for a sample of Five Years Gone and preorder now!

  The most brazen terrorist attack in history. A country bent on revenge. A love affair cut short. A heart that never truly heals.

  I knew on the day of the attack that our lives were changed forever. What I didn’t know then was that I’d never see John again after he deployed. One day he was living with me, sleeping next to me, making plans with me. The next day he was gone.

  * * *

  That was five years ago. The world has moved on from that awful day, but I’m stuck in my own personal hell, waiting for a man who may be dead for all I know. At my sister’s wedding, I meet Eric, the brother of the groom, and my heart comes alive once again.

  * * *

  The world is riveted by the capture of the terrorist mastermind, brought down by U.S. Special Forces in a daring raid. Now I am trapped between hoping I’ll hear from John and fearing what’ll become of my new life with Eric if I do.

  * * *

  From a New York Times bestselling author, Five Years Gone, a standalone contemporary, is an epic story of love, honor, duty, unbearable choices and impossible dilemmas.

  * * *

  PROLOGUE

  AVA

  * * *

  We met in a bar, of all places, a dingy hole-in-the-wall favored by military members from the nearby Navy base in San Diego. I went with a friend from school who was interested in one of the military guys. Before that night, I’d never been there, and I’ve never been back. John was celebrating the promotion of one of his buddies. He crashed into me as I left the ladies’ room and kept me from falling by grabbing my arms to steady me.

  Just like in the movies, our eyes met, and my spine tingled with the kind of instantaneous awareness I’d only read about but never experienced personally.

  “I’m so sorry,” he said, gorgeous and fierce in his fatigues.

  I noticed gold leafs on his collar, a hint of late-day scruff on his jaw and the name WEST in bold black letters on his chest. Intense electric-blue eyes made it impossible for me to look away, even when I w
as safely back on my feet.

  “Are you all right?” he asked.

  Realizing I’d been staring at him, I blinked and reluctantly broke the connection. “I… Yes, I’m fine. Thank you for the save.”

  And then he smiled, and the tingling began anew.

  “I’m John.”

  I shook his outstretched hand. “Ava.”

  Keeping his hold on my hand, he tipped his head. “You come here often?”

  “Never,” I said, laughing. “I’m a first-timer.”

  “What do you think so far?”

  “I wasn’t impressed until about thirty seconds ago.”

  As if he had all the time in the world to give me, he leaned against the wall. “Is that right? What happened thirty seconds ago?”

  I thought about taking back my hand but didn’t. “I was saved from certain disaster by a man in uniform.”

  “The guy in the uniform is the reason you needed saving in the first place, because he wasn’t watching where he was going. Least he can do is buy you a drink.”

  “I wouldn’t say no to that.” I was proud of my witty responses and got the feeling he could more than hold his own in the wittiness department. Across the crowded room, I noticed my friend talking to the guy she’d come to see, and her brows lifted in interest when she saw me with John. He guided me to the bar, placing a proprietary hand on my lower back, and told one of the guys to give me his stool.

  “Yes, sir.” The younger man bowed gallantly to me as he took his beer and moved along.

  “Do people always do what you say?”

  “If they know what’s good for them.” His teasing grin kept the comment from being overly cocky. “What can I get you?”

  Deciding to live dangerously for once, I asked for a cosmopolitan.

  “Go big or go home,” he said with admiration.

  “That’s my motto.” I was so full of shit. I wondered if he could tell I was all talk or what he’d think of me if he knew I usually err much closer to the side of caution than the wild side. I wondered if he could tell I was just barely old enough to drink. I’d turned twenty-one only six months earlier.