by Amy Andrews
He laughed. “You’ve been saying that for two days.”
Della laughed, too. “I know, but…I have to keep pinching myself.” Owing to their jobs, it had taken them five months to finally get away. But they had moved in together, and that had been more wonderful than Della could ever have hoped for. She lifted her head. “Thank you for this,” she murmured quietly and kissed his mouth softly. Pulling away, she touched his lips with her fingers. “I can’t believe I get to do that whenever I want.”
“I know. It’s awesome, isn’t it?” he teased, kissing her fingertips.
Sighing at how damn happy she was, Della lay her head back on his shoulder and took in their bird’s-eye view of both theme parks as their gondola stopped at the very top while the passengers below were offloaded and new ones were loaded.
“Are you going to open that thing?”
Della glanced down at the unopened envelope addressed to her in her lap. She’d brought it with her to Anaheim because she’d been too chicken to open it when it had arrived two minutes before they’d set out for Denver to make their afternoon flight. She kept pulling it out to open it, then losing her nerve. Now wasn’t any different. She knew what was in it, knew the importance of the contents.
Had she been admitted to study nursing, or had she missed out?
“I don’t know,” she admitted.
“Bok bok bok.”
Della laughed at Tucker’s chicken noises before sitting back and turning to face him. “What if I didn’t make the cut?”
“You’ve made it.”
She rolled her eyes. Tucker wasn’t biased at all. “Let’s just imagine for a moment that I haven’t.”
“Fine.” He huffed out an exaggerated sigh. “If you miss out, you can apply again in six months. Or you can apply somewhere else. But it’s not a no.”
“How do you know?”
He shrugged with that cocky look of his. “I have faith in you.”
Della stared down at the envelope. Maybe it was better if it was a no. She’d have to spend quite a bit of time in Denver, and the thought of going even a day without seeing Tucker wasn’t one she welcomed. She could, and she would, but she’d miss him every moment.
“You want me to open it?”
Della glanced up, surprised and relieved at the offer. At least Tucker would soften the blow if it was a no. She bit her lip. “Would you?”
It was his turn to roll his eyes. “Of course,” he said with a smile as he swooped it up.
He started tearing into the envelope, and Della squeezed her eyes shut, holding up her hands to slow him down a little. “Okay now, just wait for me to take a couple of deep breaths before you tell me, okay. I have to be mentally prepared for this, and I don’t want to—”
“Accepted.”
Della’s heart skipped a beat. “Tuck!” She opened her eyes to see the official notification in black and white in front of her face. “You were supposed to lead into that,” she chided but with absolutely no irritation as she grabbed the paper and stared at it hard, her heart tap-dancing in her chest.
“Congratulations. I knew you could do it.”
She looked up at him to find a grin as big as Disneyland on his face. “Accepted,” she whispered.
“Yeah.” He kissed her brief and hard. “Accepted.”
Della launched into his arms, hugging him tight, stupid tears stinging the backs of her eyes. She’d have never dared dream of such happiness not that many years ago. “My life just keeps getting better and better.” She pulled away. “Thank you.”
He pushed her bangs off her face. “I didn’t do anything. It was all you. It’s your turn to shine, Della.”
“Oh, really.” Della laughed. “And what are you going to do while I’m bling-blinging?”
“I’m going to love you all the way through it.”
Della’s heart grew as big as the Ferris wheel in her chest. “I like that plan,” she whispered and kissed him in a manner not quite suitable for such a kid-friendly venue.
She liked it very much.
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Acknowledgments
I’ve loved Tucker from the very first book and my heart has broken for Della from the very first book. Knowing that they’ve secretly loved each other (not that either of them realized that of course!) for a long time had me rooting for them and their HEA for a long time now. I’m super thrilled they finally got the happiness they both deserved.
There are many people to thank, as per usual, when it comes to putting a book together. I want to thank my private Facebook group, The Amy Andrews All Stars for helping me choose a breed of dog for Betty and, as per the dedication to the Kiss and Tell authors who answered a zillion questions about American colloquialisms and pop culture etc.
To Liz Pelletier, for always believing in me even when maybe she shouldn’t. That means a lot. To Stacy Abrams and Candace Havens for their big picture input—you guys made the book better. To Hannah Lindsey for the fine detail editing, apologies once again for my dislike of the oxford comma and semi colons. I’d promise to try and change but you and I know that’s never going to happen :)
To the Entangled cover fairies, to Riki Cleveland who does my publicity stuff and to Curtis Svehlak for everything that you do—big, big love to you all.
To my nearest and dearest, just because. My husband, Mark and our kids Jack and Claire. My bestie, Leah. And my sister, Ros. Love you all the mostest xxx
About the Author
Amy is an award-winning, USA Today best-selling, triple RITA nominated, Aussie author who has written seventy plus contemporary romances in both the traditional and digital markets. Her books bring all the feels from sass, quirk and laughter to emotional grit and panty-melting heat.
At sixteen she met a guy she knew she was going to marry and several years later she did. She loves good books and great booze although she’ll take mediocre booze if there’s nothing else. For many, many years she was a registered nurse which means she knows things. Anatomical things. And she’s not afraid to use them!
She lives in a small seaside town with an amazing view and a husband who is very good at making cocktails for them to sip on their magnificent deck overlooking the ocean. She’s living her best life and loving it!
Discover the Credence, Colorado series
Nothing But Trouble
The Trouble with Christmas
Also by Amy Andrews…
Taming the Tycoon
Tis the Season to be Kissed
No More Mr. Nice Guy
Ask Me Nicely
Seducing the Colonel’s Daughter
Playing By Her Rules
Playing it Cool
Playing the Player
Playing with Forever
Playing House
Playing Dirty
The DILF
Hanky-Spanky Christmas
The Kissing Contract
Discover more Amara titles…
Hooked on You
a novel by Cathryn Fox
I’m not in small town Nova Scotia to hook up. I’m here to settle my grandmother’s estate and sell the B&B, which I soon discover has been overrun with seasonal fisherman and operated on the honor system. The hard-core fishing folks become an instant family—the one I never had. Then there’s the blind pet cow, who has a crush on my hot fisherman, Nate. Okay, technically he’s not mine. I have no desire to get reeled in.
The Two-Date Rule
a Smokejumper novel by Tawna Fenske
Willa Frank never goes on a date with anyone more than twice…until she meets Grady Billman. After their first date, Grady isn’t ready to call it quits, so he finds a sneaky way around the two-date rule. And with every “non-date” Grady suggests, Willa must admit she’s having fun playing along. B
ut when their time together costs Willa two critical clients, it’s clear she needs to focus on the only thing that matters—her future.
Royal Bastard
an Instantly Royal novel by Avery Flynn
Brooke Chapman-Powell takes her position as the Earl of Englefield’s personal secretary very seriously. This job keeps her sister in her university for the deaf and the town from completely shutting down. But the earl’s dying, and they have only one hope. An American. From some place called Salvation, Virginia. Now she’ll have to teach the in-all-likelihood-uncouth-and-lazy half American how to be a proper earl if they hope to save the village. God help them all.
The Truth About Cowboys
a Texas Heat novel by Lisa Renee Jones
When tragedy hit, I discovered there were secrets that my family kept. So I took over the family ranch in Sweetwater, Texas, and I took over hiding the secrets. Then she came to town. A smart-mouthed city girl hiding out to write a book, and she sees too much. She knows too much. I decide I’ll wait her out. She’ll go back to the city eventually. Only suddenly I don’t want her to leave.
