Shit.
“Okay. Well, what does he want?”
“Me.”
“No!” I roar the word and it echoes through the locker room.
“I’m suppose to break up with you, in front of everyone. Tonight.”
“Nope. Not happening. I will not let you do that.”
“Lennox, it’s my mom. I have to make sure she’s taken care of.”
An idea begins to form in my mind, but I need to talk to Max. “Do you trust me?”
“Yeah, of course.”
I kiss him hard and needy, wishing I could take it farther, but needing to fix this fucked up mess first.
“I’ll be right back. Don’t go anywhere. In fact, lock the door behind me. Don’t let anyone in but me, I don’t trust that prick not to come in here after you.”
Tanner agrees to stay put and I wait outside the door to hear the lock click. Once the little snick sounds, I take off to find Max and ask for one of the biggest favors of my life.
Chapter 17
Tanner
I wait for Lennox, nervously wringing my hands. The twisting and tight grip turning painful the longer I sit in the quiet room. I don’t know what his plan is, but I don’t see a way out of this. I’m going to lose the best thing in my life because Christian can’t accept anyone telling him no.
A knock sounds, followed by Lennox calling out for me to open the door. I hurry over, flipping the lock and throwing the door wide.
Lennox isn’t alone, Max stands beside him with a smile on his face. Looking back at Lennox, I see he’s smiling too.
“What’s happening? Why are you two so happy right now?”
Max gestures inside the locker room. “Can we talk in there? Less likely there will be prying ears that way.”
I nod my head and step aside to let them enter. Lennox grabs my hand on his way in and pulls me to him, my back to his chest, facing Max.
“Lennox told me about Christian’s threat.”
I stiffen in his hold, but Lennox smooths his hands up and down my arms, soothing me.
Max continues as if he didn’t notice my reaction. “I have a solution. Well, Lennox has a solution, but it falls on me to make it happen since I have the connections.”
“I don’t understand.” And I don’t. There’s no way Max has resources that can make Christian back off.
“I see the doubt and I’m not going to give either of you details of what I’ll ask them to do, but Lennox was around when I needed help with a situation concerning Layla. That’s all you need to know about that. I’ve made friends with the guys who helped me out and they can make this problem go away.”
I gasp and my eyes go wide as I shake my head no. Max and Lennox both laugh.
“Babe, he’s not going to have Christian taken out. Unless you want him to.”
I glare at Lennox, then Max. “If that’s not what you’re talking about then what?”
“Men like Christian, they have secrets they want to keep. They believe their wealth keeps them safe, but money doesn’t mean a thing to these men. His offers and threats won’t be an issue; they’ll get him to back off and you, and your mother, will never have to deal with him again.”
What Max is saying sounds too good to be true.
Lennox leans in and whispers in my ear, “trust me.” Just those two words and I agree to whatever this plan is. I nod at Max.
“Okay, use your connections and get rid of this irritating gnat.”
Lennox laughs, his body vibrating against me and making we wish things were already taken care of so we can go celebrate his win in private.
“It’s already done. You’re Lennox’s man, which means you are family to me. I take care of my family. Now you two go home and enjoy each other.”
“Thank you.” I tell the man and pull him in for a hug, slightly enjoying the way his body reflects how uncomfortable he is with the affection.
Lennox gives him a fist bump and a slap on the back. When he turns to me, the heat in his eyes mirrors that in mine.
He holds out his hand to me, “Let’s go home.”
Epilogue
Tanner
Max took care of everything, Christian backed off and my mom’s treatments continued with no issue. I moved to Rockmound to be closer to Lennox, but we kept separate places for the first few months, until we realized what a waste of money it was when we spent the night together at his place most nights anyway.
We’ve been living together now for six months, and though I’ve loved him since before the fight with Miquel I’ve never told him. That’s about to change. Tonight, I’m going to ask him to be mine forever and let him know I love him more than my next breath.
I’m waiting in our bedroom, down on one knee. I heard the front door open and close a few minutes ago and I know he’s following the little notes I left. Each one containing a simple word that reflects what I love about him.
When he finally appears in the doorway, my palms grow sweaty. He takes in my position by our bed, which is covered in rose petals. Never let it be said my man doesn’t appreciate romance, he may be a big, badass fighter, but he melts at my romantic gestures.
“No.” he says and my face falls. Did I miscalculate his feelings for me?
“Oh, shit. Baby, that’s not what I meant.” He rushes forward falling to his knees in front of me. He lifts my face to his with the touch of a finger. “I meant no, you don’t get to propose because I wanted to. I want to marry you, Tanner. More than anything. I love you.”
“I love you, too.” I say and kiss him. I pull back so we don’t get too caught up in each other. “But, you’re wrong. I am proposing and you’re gonna say yes.”
He raises a brow at me, “I am, am I?”
“If you want to move on to more entertaining activities you are.” I lower my hand to his erection bulging behind his jeans and slowly stroke him through the material. “What do you say? Will you marry me, Lennox?”
He groans. “Fuck. Yes. Yes, I’ll marry you. Fuck Tanner, I need you naked, now.”
We quickly shed our clothes, not bothering to move to the bed. We make love fast and furious on the floor, Lennox kissing me everywhere he can reach as he plunges in and out of me. We reach our orgasms together in a wave of euphoria that stretches from me to him, and back again.
Afterward, we cuddle close, Lennox’s head on my chest.
“It was worth it.”
“What was?” I ask.
“Giving up the fight. Letting you in, getting sober. Discovering who I am.”
With tears in my eyes I pull him to me for a kiss.
“I love you, Lennox.”
“I love you, too.”
The End
Missed the first Rock Hard Novella? No worries you can fix that mistake now!
Doing it Rock Hard by Ember-Raine Winters is available now.
Layla finds herself working at the Drunken Cat bar while on the run from The Devil’s MC. Working late one night, she is attacked outside the bar. When her father convinces her to learn self-defense so she never has to be a victim again, she doesn’t expect to find the love of her life.
Retired MMA fighter Mad Max Malone suffered a career ending injury during his last fight in Vegas and now needs to learn to live outside the cage. He is instantly intrigued by the mouthy brunette who finds her way to his gym and he finds himself wanting to protect her.
But when Layla’s worst fears come to life will they figure out a way to stop the MC and navigate their new found love? Or, will too many obstacles keep them apart forever?
All caught up and ready for what’s next?
Check out the blurb for Bama Tide by Shannon Nemechek, the third book in the Rock Hard Serial and order your copy today!
After being severely injured in a firefight outside Fallujah, Mac MacLoud and the rest of his squad returned back home to Fort Rockmound. Recovery had been slow for "Mac" so he requested to be assigned to Recruiting duties. Where he could recover, and in time, be back to fig
hting shape.
Jamie Duncan MacLoud had one thing going for him and that was... he had a smile that could melt the panties off of any women he met. Until he met Lindsey Stewart.
She was half hellfire and brimstone and the other half about as sexy as a woman could get. As soon as he laid eyes on the blonde bombshell, she was all he could think about, which was a nice change from the nightmares he had been having since he was injured. He hadn't seen her since they were kids and well she was all grown up.
As the ring medic and trainer, she was strictly off limits. But never tell a Ranger what's off-Limits.
Rock Hard Gym was just what he needed, "Get Hard" But.. that was the problem... it was happening in more ways than one. And Miss Lindsey Stewart was the reason.
(This was originally a short story entitled "What's Luck got to do with it" as Part of the Kiss my luck Anthology. The story has been reworked and extended.)
About the Author
Faith Ryan is wife to a handsome bearded man and mother to three, yes three, teenage girls. She lives in a small town in Ohio and is an avid reader of romance and frequently finishes several books in one day. A coworker once told her that people who read romance are considered smarter than others, Faith totally agrees and thinks this doubly applies to romance authors. Everyone needs a little bit (or a lot) of romance in their life!
Also Available from Faith Ryan
With Ember-Raine Winters
Bad Deal
Belikov Crime Family #1
Stalk Me
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Table of Contents
(Untitled)
Chapter 1
Lennox
Chapter 2
Tanner
Chapter 3
Lennox
Chapter 4
Tanner
Chapter 5
Lennox
Chapter 6
Tanner
Chapter 7
Lennox
Chapter 8
Tanner
Chapter 9
Lennox
Chapter 10
Tanner
Chapter 11
Lennox
Chapter 12
Tanner
Chapter 13
Lennox
Chapter 14
Tanner
Chapter 15
Lennox
Tanner
Chapter 16
Lennox
Chapter 17
Tanner
Epilogue
Tanner
About the Author
Also Available from Faith Ryan
With Ember-Raine Winters
Stalk Me
Giving Up the Fight - Faith Ryan Page 7
