“This was very nice of her,” Jenna says and sets it all on the floor next to her. She retrieves her coffee and takes a sip. “I have to say, Nina was cruel that day.”
“I’m sorry.”
“That’s not something you need to apologize for, Christian. Nina’s an adult. But I guess she’s not a total bitch.”
“Oh, she can be,” I reply with a laugh. “But she loves me, and I think she was trying to protect me. Against what, I’m not sure.”
“I’m a sister.” She shrugs. “But I don’t think I would have done what she did.”
“I know you both have a long way to go before you’re friends, but I hope that happens eventually. Nina is important to me, and I love her.”
She smiles, in that sweet way she does. “We’ll work it out.”
“You’re a good person, Jenna.” I settle back into the bed next to her.
“Oh, guess what happened while you were gone?” Jenna asks as she takes another sip of her coffee.
“What’s that?”
She sticks out her lower lip in a pout. “Someone bought the property in front of mine on the mountain. I’m afraid I’m about to lose my view.”
I clear my throat. “So, I have a confession to make.”
She narrows her eyes. “No way.”
“I bought it,” I confirm. “Part of the charm of your property is the view. You can’t lose that.”
“You didn’t have to buy the property for me.”
“Yes.” I lean over and kiss her lips softly. “I did.”
“You’re awfully good to me, Mr. Wolfe.”
“It’s just because I love you, soon-to-be Mrs. Wolfe.”
Her cheeks flush as she snorts and sets her mug aside, then reaches for her phone again, typing furiously.
“Who are you chatting with?” I ask.
“It’s a group text with Willa, Grace, and Hannah. I had to tell them, Christian. I’m sorry, I just couldn’t keep it a secret.”
“It’s not a secret,” I reply and lean over to kiss the ball of her shoulder. “Tell everyone. In fact, let’s take a selfie with the ring and mug and post it on social media. Post it everywhere. Send me the photo, and I’ll do the same.”
She’s staring at me as if I’ve just asked her to jump off a cliff. “Don’t you have to go through people for announcements like that?”
“Fuck that. This is my news, and I say where and when it goes out to the world. This isn’t a secret.”
She grins and does a little shimmy in the bed, then goes to work smoothing her hair and rubbing her face.
“I don’t have any makeup or clothes on.”
“You look amazing. Fresh. You’re always gorgeous. And we’ll keep it rated G.”
She picks up the mug, positioning it so both it and her ring are pointed toward the camera.
“Now, kiss me,” I say and snap the photo when she complies. She turns her face to the camera, and I kiss her cheek and snap another. And then, just for the fun of it, we both smile at the camera, and I take one more. I send all three photos to her. “There, feel free to post any of those.”
She looks through them, her face bright with happiness. “They’re all cute. But I’ll use the one where we’re kissing.”
“Do it.”
She takes a deep breath and stares at me. “Are you sure?”
“Do you want me to do it first?”
She just nods a little, so I pull up my Instagram and post the kissing photo. I caption it #taken.
I turn the screen so she can see, and she bites her lip while tears fill her eyes.
“Your turn, fancy face. Unless you want to keep me a secret.”
“Hell, no.” She opens her own Instagram and posts the same thing I just did, then opens her personal Facebook page and uploads the photo of us smiling at the camera. She recites the caption as she types it. “He asked, and I said yes!”
“We should probably turn our ringers off now because they’re about to go crazy.”
She just laughs and launches herself into my arms.
“I’m crazy about you, movie star.”
***
It’s been two weeks of craziness. The media had a field day with the announcement of our engagement, and I had to have Nina and my social media team field hundreds of requests for comments and interviews.
I’ll give them all a nice bonus for the extra work they’ve put in.
This evening, we’re attending an engagement party that Jacob is hosting for us up at the Lodge on the mountain. I think that half the town came out for it, given that Jenna knows everyone.
Nina flew in for it yesterday, and even Luke and Natalie Williams arrived a couple of days ago.
Jenna and I spent the day house hunting with them, and they’ve decided on a place on the lake. It seems the Williams family will be making many trips to Cunningham Falls in the future.
The food is set up buffet-style so we can all mingle and eat at our own leisure. The room is beautiful with twinkling lights strung overhead and fresh flower bouquets on each table.
Jenna is a few tables away, gorgeous in a white dress that shows off her shoulders, her hair swept to one side, and her makeup flawless. She’s laughing with Grace and Nina, and it makes me happy to see that my sister and my love are mending things between them, one day at a time. Jenna’s capacity to forgive is astounding to me.
“Hi,” a tall man says as he approaches, and I immediately recognize him from the photo on the gossip site. “I’m Noah King.”
“Good to meet you.” I shake his hand. “And I need to thank you. If it wasn’t for the photo of you hugging Jenna, I might not have come back when I did.”
He smiles and looks down at his feet, then at me. “I’ve never had a hug get me in so much hot water before.”
“You’re lucky.”
“You be good to her. She deserves it.”
“You’re right. She does.”
He nods and walks on, pulling Jenna in for another hug, and this time, I don’t even want to slug him.
Progress.
I scan the room, enjoying a free moment to take everything in. Luke and Natalie are talking with Brad and Hannah. I love that everyone here is happy for us as a couple, not because there are celebrities in attendance, and so far, no one has acted like a fool.
It goes to show what I already know, that Cunningham Falls is a community full of respect and honor, and I couldn’t be prouder to be a part of it.
Max is standing off to the side, watching Willa intently.
“Careful,” I say as I sidle up next to him. “You don’t want to be labeled a creeper.”
He snorts. “I’ve been called worse.”
“You should go ask her to dance.”
He shakes his head no. “There’s a lot of history there, man. Too much. Trust me when I say, Willa doesn’t want to talk to me, let alone for me to touch her.”
I notice Willa glance this way, then quickly avert her gaze to the other side of the room.
“Oh, I don’t know about that.”
He sighs. “That ship sailed a long time ago. Congratulations. I’m truly happy for you and Jenna.”
“Thank you.”
“If you fuck it up, Brad and I can still make it look like an accident.”
“Understood.”
Max winks and walks away, and I wander over to Jacob and shake his hand.
“Thanks so much for hosting this, Jacob.”
“Oh, I’m not hosting,” he says with a frown. “Your sister planned all of this. I just provided the space.”
“She didn’t say,” I mutter, watching as Nina tells a story to the other girls, using her hands in grand gestures before they all collapse into a fit of giggles.
“She did a lot of work,” Jacob replies with a wink. “I think I’ll go get some dessert.”
I nod as he walks away, and I wander over to the DJ, ask him for the mic, and when the music stops, I tap the top of the microphone, getting everyone’s attention.<
br />
“Good evening,” I begin. “First, I need to extend a huge thank you to our host. You went above and beyond, and I can’t tell you how grateful I am. Of course, you thought you pulled one over on me, but a brother always knows. Thanks for this party, Nina.”
Jenna’s jaw drops, and she throws her arms around Nina, hugging her close as the applause breaks out. Nina blushes and just shrugs at me when Jenna pulls away.
“And now, if my fiancée would please join me.” I hold out my hand, and Jenna glides to me, her gown flowing around her. She takes my palm, and I immediately kiss her cheek. “I’d like to take a moment to twirl my girl around the floor.”
Her eyes widen in horror, but I just smile and pass the mic back to the DJ. He winks at me. You and I comes on, and Michael Buble begins to croon out of the speakers. I pull Jenna to me, holding her in the traditional waltz stance.
“Christian—”
“Just look at me,” I remind her and set off across the floor. “This is our community. All of these people love you, and you can’t do anything to embarrass yourself. All you have to do is follow me, and I won’t steer you wrong.”
Her hand on my shoulder tenses, but she keeps her eyes on mine as I lead her around, and then dip her deeply, kissing her with all my might.
Applause breaks out around us, making me grin against her mouth.
When we straighten, I wave for others to join us, and the dance floor fills up with our guests, twirling around us.
“I’m not a good dancer,” she mumbles into my ear. We’re close together now, swaying to the music in a sea of people.
“You’re the best dancer.” I kiss her temple. “I love our home.”
She smiles brightly. “I love you.”
About Kristen Proby
Kristen was born and raised in a small resort town in her beloved Montana. In her mid-twenties, she decided to stretch her wings and move to the Pacific Northwest, where she made her home for more than a dozen years.
During that time, Kristen wrote many romance novels and joined organizations such as RWA and other small writing groups. She spent countless hours in workshops, and more mornings than she can count up before the dawn so she could write before going to work. She submitted many manuscripts to agents and editors alike, but was always told no. In the summer of 2012, the self-publishing scene was new and thriving, and Kristen had one goal: to publish just one book. It was something she longed to cross off of her bucket list.
Not only did she publish one book, she’s since published more than thirty titles, many of which have hit the USA Today, New York Times and Wall Street Journal Bestsellers lists. She continues to self publish, best known for her With Me In Seattle and Boudreaux series, and is also proud to work with William Morrow, a division of HarperCollins, with the Fusion and Romancing Manhattan Series.
Kristen and her husband, John, make their home in her hometown of Whitefish, Montana with their adorable pug and two cats.
Website
Facebook
Twitter
Goodreads
Up Next
Don’t miss the next installment of the Big Sky Series coming this fall!
TEMPTING BROOKE, a Big Sky novella, will release on October 23, 2018.
Also available for preorder is the Kristen Proby Crossover Collection! Each story takes place in the Big Sky world. Here are the preorder links: www.kristenprobyauthor.com/kristen-proby-crossover-collection
Don’t forget! Kristen is releasing a cookbook with USA Today bestselling author, Suzanne M. Johnson on October 2, 2018!
Other Books by Kristen Proby
The Big Sky Series
Charming Hannah
Kissing Jenna
Waiting for Willa - Coming Soon
The Fusion Series
Listen To Me
Close To You
Blush For Me
The Beauty of Us
Savor You
The Boudreaux Series
Easy Love
Easy Charm
Easy Melody
Easy Kisses
Easy Magic
Easy Fortune
Easy Nights
The With Me In Seattle Series
Come Away With Me
Under the Mistletoe With Me
Fight With Me
Play With Me
Rock With Me
Safe With Me
Tied With Me
Breathe With Me
Forever With Me
Stay With Me
Indulge With Me
The Love Under the Big Sky Series
Loving Cara
Seducing Lauren
Falling For Jillian
Saving Grace
From 1001 Dark Nights
Easy With You
Easy For Keeps
No Reservations
Tempting Brooke - Coming Soon
The Romancing Manhattan Series
All the Way
All the Way
A Romancing Manhattan Novel
by Kristen Proby
Prologue
~London~
“It’s about fucking time,” my brother, Kyle, snarls from his seat next to me. He’s twitchy and mean, both indicative of the drugs coursing through his veins. Although he always had a mean streak. The drugs just make it worse.
“Your sister has been in the hospital and your parents’ property had to go through probate,” Finn Cavanaugh, my parents’ attorney, replies from across the desk. He’s a tall man, broad-shouldered in his fancy suit, and his dark hair is short, styled impeccably around his masculine face.
He’s much younger than I expected.
“Like I give a shit,” Kyle replies, and sends me a sneer. “You’re just being a fucking baby.”
“Or, you know, I jumped out of a second-story window while my parents burned to death and broke my leg in four places.” I shrug and then shake my head and dig my fingertips into my forehead, praying for the incessant pounding there to ease. “I lost everything.”
“Drama queen.” Kyle rolls his eyes and rubs his dirty fingers over his mouth.
“I can’t work,” I remind him.
“You’re rich.”
Same argument, different venue. “I can’t dance with this leg, which means I can’t work.”
“Poor baby,” he says, and then lets out a manic laugh. “Who cares? You’re getting too fucking old for Broadway anyway. They were about to can your ass. I hope you saved some of that money they’ve been paying you.”
More bullets to my ego, my heart. My head. Because he’s not exactly wrong. Thirty-two is old for show business.
But damn it, I love it. And I wanted to leave under my own terms. Not because my parents were killed and I was hurt in the process.
“Let’s get to this, shall we?” Finn asks, and slides a bottle of water my way.
“Yeah, let’s do it. How much do I get?” Kyle asks, and waits, his eyes pinned on Finn. His foot is bouncing, making that thump thump thump noise with each motion, and I want to beat him over the head with my crutch.
“I can read this in its entirety, or—”
“Just get to the fucking chase. What do I get?”
Finn sighs and glances to me, shuts the folder in front of him, and folds his hands on his desk.
“Kyle, your parents set up a trust for you. You will receive fifteen hundred dollars per month to cover your rent and utilities, with the stipulation that you enter drug rehabilitation and finish the program. After one year of sobriety, and with regular clean blood tests, the trust will award you a lump sum of fifty thousand dollars each year until your death.”
“What?”
I glance at Kyle and see that his face has gone bright red with fury.
“If you refuse treatment, you forfeit any and all inheritance.”
Kyle’s mouth bobs open and closed for several seconds, and then he turns to me, royally pissed off.
“Did you do this?”
“Like I had
any idea what Mom and Dad put in their will.” I roll my eyes and grip my hands in fists in my lap while Kyle stands and begins pacing the room. “You may want to call security.”
Finn nods and presses a button while he continues to watch Kyle. He looks calm, but his jaw twitches, and I can see that he’s angry at Kyle’s behavior as well.
“What does she get?” Kyle demands, pointing at my head.
“Everything else,” Finn replies simply. “Your father’s partnership in his firm will be sold. London inherits the properties and all of the other monies.”
“Are you fucking kidding me?” Kyle roars, leaning over Finn’s desk. “She stole my money! That belongs to me! She has plenty of her own goddamn money. What am I supposed to do? I have nothing because those people wouldn’t help me, and now I’m left with nothing again?”
“No, you can take the option of getting help,” Finn reminds him, but I just shake my head. That’s not going to happen. We’ve been trying to do this for years. “The rehab would be paid for, and you can stay there until you feel confident that you’re ready to rejoin society.”
“Bullshit,” Kyle bites out, and sweeps all of Finn’s papers off of his desk in one big motion. “I should kick your motherfucking ass.”
“Enough!” I yell just as three security guards come inside and take him by the arms to escort him out.
“This is bullshit,” he repeats as he’s dragged down the hallway. The door closes behind them, but I can still hear him yelling.
Finn and I sit in silence for a long moment. I wish my leg wasn’t broken because I’d love to stand and walk to the windows that look out over Manhattan. Mostly, I’d like to turn away from Finn so he can’t see the absolute anguish on my face.
Kissing Jenna Page 20
