Shane doted on Marcy and Mickey and cherished every second with them. Ever since they’d been born, he’d rather be home with us than anywhere else.
As usual, Shane was happy to give me what I wanted, and I sighed happily when his soft lips caressed mine.
“Now that you’re official, I guess you don’t have to stay married to me anymore,” I joked, my hand coming up to caress my son’s face.
“Good luck getting rid of me,” Shane replied, just like he did anytime anyone brought up our reason for getting married. “No other man could handle you. You’re too dangerous, what with your smokin’ body, quick wit, and fiery temper. Looks like you’re stuck with me forever.”
“I wouldn’t have it any other way,” I whispered back.
Dillon and I were still running Lewis Sporting Goods, which had now expanded to ten cities nationwide, and we weren’t stopping there.
After a little convincing, Shane had shared his songs with Zoey, who had hooked him up with her agent. It was a long and winding road, but he eventually found the right manager and was now officially a songwriter.
A few were sold to major artists and could be heard on the radio today.
He still didn’t like to play in front of a lot of people, but Mickey, Marcy, and I were his biggest fans.
“We should really get out there,” I told him.
“Does your dad have Marcy?”
“You know it,” I said with a laugh.
“Okay, let’s go join the others. Mickey and I are getting hungry.”
Before I could turn, Shane cupped the back of my head and kissed the tip of my nose.
“I love you, Jasmine, light of my life.”
“I love you, too, Shane. You’ve made me happier than I ever imagined possible.”
* * *
THE END
Thanks for reading The Lewis Cousins, here’s what I’m working on next.
Frat House Confessions: Ridge
Prologue
* * *
“Forgive me, Papi, for I have sinned,” I said dryly, sneering at the bottle in my hand, whose contents were dwindling.
“Tell me,” Papi asked.
Papi was our treasurer. He’d originally planned on becoming a priest, and now was our go-to guy for advice, complaints, or absolution for our sins. We all knew that he’d given up the priesthood, but we still used his room as the frat house confessional.
“I’ve been having those urges again,” I muttered.
“About your father?” he pressed, leaning forward in his chair with his elbows resting on his knees.
He was currently dressed in a toga.
Not to be a total fucking cliché, but it was rush week and as the hottest frat on campus it was our duty to host the first toga party of the season.
“Yeah,” I replied, taking a chug of rum before adding, “The one where I beat him bloody.”
“Has something happened to bring these thoughts back? You were doing good over the summer, and hadn’t thought about him or the way he’d treated you as a child for a while. I thought our talks were helping.”
“They are, it’s just, Brody called to give me and Wes a heads up… my mom’s filing for divorce. Guess the bastard’s been cheating on her again. And, that’s not all, Brody heard them fighting and found out that the asshole was married before.”
“No shit?” Papi asked, his face showing his surprise.
I couldn’t blame him. I thought I knew every skeleton in my father’s closet.
“Yeah, turns out we have three older sisters.”
Brody and Wes were my younger brothers. Wes was at college with me, while Brody was living out the last year of his sentence in that mausoleum our parents called a home.
“Fuck, that’s crazy,” Papi said, taking a pull of his beer.
I ran my hand over my face, my vision blurring as I recalled my conversation with Brody.
“Now, my mom’s feeling all clingy and emotional and said Wes and I have to come home for Thanksgiving. She’s talking about inviting her best friend and her daughter, who she’s been trying to hook me up with for years. I don’t know how I’m going to get out of it.”
Papi leaned back and teepee’d his hands, bringing them to his lips as he looked at me thoughtfully.
I took another drink as I waited, sure that Papi would bring the magic like he always did.
A few seconds later, he snapped his fingers and stood up excitedly.
“I’ve got it.”
“Tell me,” I encouraged, getting to my feet as well, albeit somewhat unsteadily.
“Two birds… one stone.”
I waited, the sounds of the music from below pulsing beneath my feet.
“This year Crush is planning on making the pledges participate in a new test. Each pledge is going to have to find a girl who needs help. You know, somewhat dumpy, shy, or in that awkward, I just moved away from home and don’t know who I am phase. Once they get their pick approved, it will be their job to make her over and turn her into the kind of chick we’d want hanging around the house, rather than the type to hang with the losers in Denny’s all night.”
“What, like a dogfight? That’s fucked up,” I said with a scowl.
Crush was a fucking asshole, but everyone knew that.
“Kind of, but not quite that shitty. We aren’t giving out prizes for finding the ugliest chick and making her think she’s hot, we’re rewarding pledges who find a girl with potential and help her realize that potential.”
“And, how do I play into it?”
“Well, as the brother every pledge wants to emulate, and our Sergeant at Arms, you could sort of lead the cause. Get Crush off your ass by playing along with his stupid game, find a girl to makeover, then, take that girl to Thanksgiving. Tell your mom you’re taken and she doesn’t need to fix you up.”
I looked at him like he was crazy, ‘cause he fucking was, then shook my head.
When the room started spinning, I stopped.
“I can’t take some frumpy girl home for Thanksgiving. My mom will never fall for that shit. She is the Susan Temple after all, and anything other than a Stepford chick will not be welcome.”
“Ridge, dude, you’re not listening,” Papi said, then looked at me closely and added, “Or, maybe you’re just drunk… You will make this girl into whoever you want her to be. Make her over into the young woman of Susan Temple’s wet dreams.”
“That’s fucking gross,” I said with a scowl.
“Just think about it,” Papi said. “That’s your penance… if you choose to accept it. Find a college beauty who is hiding her light under a bushel, and give her a makeover that’ll have every guy in this house jizzing over her.”
He walked over to the door and opened it, turning back to me.
“Now, we have a kickass party going on downstairs, and I just know there are some fine ladies down there wondering where their Papi went, so I’m going down. You coming?”
“Nah,” I said as I followed him into the hall. “I’m not really feeling it. I think I’m gonna go listen to some music and sort my shit out. If anyone asks where I am, just say I’m balls deep in a blonde.”
“You got it, brother,” Papi said, then bounded down the stairs toward the chaos.
I turned left down the hall toward my room, swaying slightly as I lifted the bottle once more to my lips, and wondered if I was willing to lie to some unsuspecting chick in order to get my mom off my back.
Probably.
* * *
Coming Jun 24th - Preorder Now
Acknowledgments
To Allie at Makeready Designs, for always being there and creating the most amazing covers. And, for not killing me when I decide to change the cover a few days before the reveal. THANK YOU!!!
To Kristina from Red Road Editing, for aways fitting me in and being excited along with me. I wish I could get you a goat!
To Kay with KMS Editing for proofing my books and always being flexible. I appreciate it!
To Ann and Raine, my wonderful Alpha readers, for your constant feedback and support. It wouldn’t be the same without you.
To Jennifer, Lori, and Christina for Beta reading and loving these characters as much as I do. I always look forward to your input.
To Rachel Brookes for stepping in and helping me make sure I was true to Shane’s Australian roots. Thanks so much for the insight.
To my ARC team for reading, reviewing, and helping spread excitement for Jasmine, Shane, and all the Lewis Cousins.
And, last, but not least, to my family, who had to put up with me meeting a deadline during Spring Break. Thanks for your patience and support. I’ll make it up to you!
About the Author
Award-Winning Author Bethany Lopez began self-publishing in June 2011. She's a lover of all things romance: books, movies, music, and life, and she incorporates that into the books she writes. When she isn't reading or writing, she loves spending time with her husband and children, traveling whenever possible. Some of her favorite things are: Kristen Ashley Books, coffee in the morning, and In N Out burgers.
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Also by Bethany Lopez
Contemporary Romance:
A Time for Love Series
Prequel - 1 Night
8 Weeks
21 Days
42 Hours
15 Minutes
10 Years
3 Seconds
7 Months
For Eternity - Novella
Night & Day - Novella
* * *
The Lewis Cousins Series
Too Tempting
Too Complicated
Too Distracting
Too Enchanting
Too Dangerous
* * *
Three Sisters Catering Trilogy
A Pinch of Salt
A Touch of Cinnamon
A Splash of Vanilla
* * *
Frat House Confessions
Frat House Confessions: Ridge - Coming Soon
* * *
Romantic Comedy/Suspense:
Cupcakes Series
Always Room for Cupcakes
Cupcake Overload
Lei’d with Cupcakes
Cupcake Explosion
Lei’d in Paradise - Novella
* * *
Women’s Fiction:
More than Exist
Unwoven Ties - Newsletter Exclusive
* * *
Children’s:
Katie and the North Star
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Young Adult:
Stories about Melissa – series
Ta Ta for Now!
xoxoxo
Ciao
TTYL
With Love
Adios
* * *
Young Adult Fantasy:
Nissa: a contemporary fairy tale
* * *
New Adult:
Friends & Lovers Trilogy
Make it Last
I Choose You
Trust in Me
* * *
Indelible
* * *
Cookbooks:
Love & Recipes
Love & Cupcakes
* * *
Short Stories:
Contemporary:
Christmas Come Early
Harem Night
Reunion Fling
An Inconvenient Dare
* * *
Fantasy:
Leap of Faith
Beau and the Beastess
Too Dangerous: The Lewis Cousins, Book 5 Page 15
