by Louise, Tia
Sly went all out on the flower decorations for our wedding, putting J.R. and me to work carrying scrap metal, hammering, and building the base of an oversized structure. When she finished, she’d made a living arrangement of Daisy as Tinkerbell, Melody as the quarterback princess, and me as the brave knight Daddy.
Daisy complained none of these characters go together, and I was quick to correct her. We go together like chocolate and peanut butter… She made a face. Peanut butter and jelly? A nose wrinkle. Oreos and milk. Bingo. With ice cream on top.
“Do you, Bradley Scout Dunne, take this woman to be your lawfully wedded wife?” The minister stands between us with Melody in the middle, holding both our hands.
“You bet I do.” I give Daisy a wink, and she shakes her head.
She’s so pretty in a short, chiffon dress with a headband of daisies in her hair. Melody’s in a lace dress wearing her “flower crown” as well.
Daisy said something about how their dresses are vintage Givenchy. Then she went on to tell me how much they were worth and how worth is determined by who wore it and if there’s a photo… I kind of zoned halfway through.
In case you’re wondering, I’m in a plain black suit. No pedigree.
Melody put her toy football in my pocket, and when I was still too plain, she put her little knight figure in my other pocket, because that’s who I am, she said.
“Do you, Daisy Kate Sales, take this man to be your lawfully wedded husband?”
“I do.” Her voice is soft, so serious, and I’m ready to kiss her.
Kind of like every day.
The minister pronounces us husband and wife, tells me to kiss my bride, and I do just that as the small group of friends and family bursts into applause. The ocean breeze rises around us, and our daughter wraps her arms around our legs and buries her face between us.
“Come here, princess.” Breaking away, I scoop her up. She pulls the football from my pocket, creating the perfect photo op and making everyone laugh.
Our reception is steps away at the largest hotel on Oceanside Beach, where a live band plays standards for the first few hours, long enough to allow the older guests to hang out and visit. It quickly shifts to party music interspersed with Olivia Newton-John, of course… and I couldn’t leave off “Red, Red Wine.”
“You are so dead.” Daisy cuts her eyes at me as I lead her to the dance floor grinning.
“You make me feel so fine.”
Melody is dancing on the feet of her cousin Jesse, who’s trying to take my place as her favorite guy. They’ve been inseparable since they met. He’s teaching her to play football and looking out for her when I’m not around.
“Maybe they’ll be the next dynamic duo.” My older brother meets me on the side of the dance floor.
“They are a lot like we were.”
“He wants to know if Sunny can play football when she’s bigger.” He shifts his six-month-old daughter on his shoulder, and I step around to catch her big blue eyes watching everything.
Blonde hair covers her little head like a halo, and she looks so much like Hope—who skips up to us.
“Hey!” She smiles that cheerful, Hope Eternal smile as she tries to take the baby from him.
My brother lifts an elbow. “What are you doing?”
“I thought you might be tired of holding her.”
“I’m not.”
Hope holds up both hands, raising her eyebrows. “Sor-ry!”
That makes me laugh. “If anybody can keep him in line…”
She gives me a hug. “Gorgeous wedding, and that flower sculpture? I could die. I have to have one for the grand opening of Pancake Paradise!”
“Whenever that happens,” I tease her.
“It’s his fault.” She elbows J.R. “I was all set to go last year, and he got me pregnant.”
My brother doesn’t look at all sorry, and I don’t blame him. Sunny is a beautiful baby girl. “We’re going to need an RV for our next road trip if we keep having kids.”
“We’re just so good at it.” Hope wrinkles her nose, then her expression turns serious. “Have you spoken to your dad?”
J.R. makes a noise, to which I concur. “No.”
“Just try. I think he wants to do better. The motivation is inside him.”
“It’s what he’s inside that’s the problem.” Evil Becky.
Hope leans close and whispers, “She’s the worst.”
I kind of love that she never wants to say bad things about my brother’s ex-wife in front of him or Jesse. It’s so Hope.
“Scout!” Lorraine’s voice is louder than the band. “Gorgeous wedding, doll. Thanks for the invite. We need to talk!”
She’s in a mauve suit-dress, and her nails are two-inch scarlet claws. Her bedazzled glasses have slid down her nose, and I’m pretty sure my agent never stops working.
“What’s up?” I put my hand on her back and step away from the infant.
“Cameron Scott has a new pirate movie filming in Charleston, and he wants you in it.” Her foot-long cigarette holder has an unlit cigarette on the tip.
“How much lead time have I got?”
“Two weeks. I’ve been chatting with the casting director for this region. You’re on her list. You’ll get a call for whatever comes to town. I got it in writing.”
“That sounds like above and beyond, Lor!”
“Only the best for my favorite client. The casting guys love you.”
I give her a hug. “Well, I love you.”
“Agh, I’m old! You know I can’t handle such affection.” She pats my cheek. “I’ll call you.”
Daisy is with Sly and Coco’s mom Emberly by the cake table. Emberly made all our cakes, and she’s here with Chad and his wife Tabby.
Coco is now on the floor dancing with Jesse and Melody, and I wonder if they’ll grow up together as friends like we all did. I’m contemplating the prospect when my dad walks up, Becky on his arm.
“Congratulations, son.” He holds out a hand to shake, and I reluctantly do so.
Daisy wanted to invite him, with Hope’s support. They say it’s important for us to try and build a bridge. Daisy added it’s for Melody, but ever since I learned Becky convinced Daisy not to tell me she was pregnant, I don’t really want them around my daughter.
“Thanks… Dad.” I have to force out the word.
“It was all very beautiful.” Becky stands at his side in a beige sweater set and pearls. She’s only a year older than me, but she acts fifty. “We’re leaving a bit early. Your father can’t handle all that loud music.”
My eyebrow arches, and I glance at my dad. He looks okay to me. “Yeah, no worries. Glad you could join us.” Fingers crossed.
Her lips do something approximating a smile. “I see John is here with his new wife and baby.”
I narrow my eyes at her. “I’m sure you don’t care.”
“I thought she was going to open that silly restaurant, and now she has a baby.”
“The baby was J.R.’s idea. We actually want to have kids with our wives.” I keep the bitch part to myself. Becky and I have never seen eye to eye.
“How very provincial.”
I’m done. “Well, drive safe.”
I’d better go before I torch the feeble bridge I’ve built.
“Son, can I have a word?”
Again, if I say No, it’s bye-bye bridge. “Sure.”
We step to the side, and he hands me a narrow envelope. “It’s not much, but I wanted to give you a gift.”
“You really didn’t have to.”
“You were always my favorite, Scout.”
My eyes narrow. Who says that? “I appreciate how you showed it.”
“I couldn’t support you on the gay porn thing. That was too far.”
Exhaling heavily, I remember my brother’s advice, Forgiveness is a gift you give yourself…
“Let’s just leave it in the past. Good luck to you, Dad.”
He blinks and smiles, and I guess he feels absolved
.
I feel like finding my new wife, which is exactly what I do.
Later that night, after the festivities have ended, and we’ve consummated our wedding… several times… I’m holding Daisy in my arms, watching the ceiling fan turn slowly in her small apartment over the store. Melody is spending the night with Coco, and we moved a bed from the store upstairs for when she returns.
Daisy props on her elbow, smiling down, and I wrap a golden curl around my finger. “You’re so pretty.”
“You are,” she leans forward to kiss my lips.
“We might have to consummate again. I think we missed a spot.”
That makes her laugh, and I love the sound of her happiness. “Hey, Daisy… I’ve been thinking. I really love this place, but it’s kind of small. When we have another baby, where will we put him?”
“So we’re having a boy next?”
“Chad says we’re outnumbered.”
Her nose wrinkles, and she shakes her head. “Well, I do love this place, but it’s not really mine. It’s included in the store lease, and Wyatt didn’t mind if Emberly used hers for a residence. I just followed her lead.”
“How would you feel if I bought your aunt’s bed and breakfast?”
She sits up fast, pulling the sheet around her. “You’d do that?”
The smile on her face is so big, my decision is made. “I’ll talk to her tomorrow. I wish I’d brought it up sooner so I could give it to you as a wedding gift.”
Leaning down, she kisses me again, slower this time. “You’ve given me the best gifts.”
And we take this time to do a bit more consummating.
Aunt Regina turns out to be very open to the idea of selling the old house. According to her, she’d only converted it to an inn because she couldn’t bear to sell it, but she’s also grown tired of running it. We’re able to reach an agreement by the end of the week, and Daisy and I take possession at the end of the month.
We’re postponing the honeymoon until the summer, when Daisy can find someone to run the store, and two weeks later, my brother, Hope, Sly, Gran, and the gang from the Village all pack into the theater to watch my big comeback, my breakthrough role.
I walk through the door on screen, deliver my one line, fire the gun, and immediately I’m shot dead.
The group bursts into applause, and J.R. shouts out, “Way to take that bullet, bro!”
I’m trying to decide if that’s a Rammin Rod joke…
Gran declares it the “E-all, bend-all” of death scenes, which I explain means the “Be-all, end-all.” She says that’s what she said, and my brother says it’s a good thing I speak her language.
With the movie in cinemas, I’m approached by a community theater in Charleston to direct a production of Macbeth–to which I say yes.
So we’ve come full circle. I’m acting more than I ever did in Hollywood, and Daisy’s even getting to go out on road shows with Spencer occasionally.
We’re settled in the old house where our love affair started. I’m in that yellow chair in Melody’s room reading to her about Eloise when I realize I’ve made it. I’m no longer the misunderstood character, and I’m not acting so I can be somebody else.
My little girl puts her hand on my cheek and says she loves me. Daisy puts her hand in mine and says I’ve made her dreams come true.
That’s better than getting the devil to church any day.
* * *
Thank you for reading Scout and Daisy’s love story!
I hope you fell in love with these two as much as I did. The audiobook version is coming in March, narrated by Sebastian York and Samantha Brentmoor. Stay tuned…
What’s Next?
Find out what happens when bossy, arrogant Spencer hires Joselyn “Sly” Winthrop to be his massage therapist.
TROUBLE (link) is a super-hot, super sexy enemies-to-lovers, boss romance coming to Kindle Unlimited and audio June 14, 2021!
What to read NOW?
THIS MUCH IS TRUE (link) is J.R. and Hope’s opposites-attract romance. It’s a road trip of revenge that turns into so much more…
It’s FREE in Kindle Unlimited and available on Audio, narrated by Jason Clarke & Samantha Brentmoor.
Keep clicking for a short sneak peek…
Already read it?
Get more Daisy and Melody in WHEN WE KISS (link), a small-town rom-com where “hot cop” Chad Tucker falls hard for the town “bad girl” Tabby Green.
It’ll have you smiling and your panties melting, and it’s FREE in Kindle Unlimited!
Keep clicking for a short sneak peek…
* * *
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This Much is True
By Tia Louise
Hope
I blame the alcohol.
I lost my restaurant business, was forced to sell my dad’s cherished 1967 Chevy Impala, and I got a little drunk.
Now I’m waking up with the hottest, angriest guy I’ve ever seen, speeding down the highway like a bat out of hell.
Ice-blue eyes hit mine with stomach-clenching force…
And he swerves onto the shoulder, ready to kick me out.
Needless to say, our romance doesn’t start out sweet.
J.R.
Two years ago, I hugged my little boy goodbye and told him I’d be right back.
Next thing I knew, I was arrested and sent to prison for a crime I didn’t commit.
Until they let me out early…
Now I’m headed home to confront the man who put me away.
A lie put me behind bars, and I’m ready to find the truth.
I don’t have time for a sexy girl with pale blonde hair and bright blue eyes stowed away on the backseat of my new car.
My mission is to get my son back and clear my name.
Love is not on the agenda.
It never is, though, is it?
(THIS MUCH IS TRUE is a single-dad, opposites attract, stand-alone romance. No cheating. No cliffhangers.)
Prologue
JR
With my back to the San Francisco traffic, I hold the railing of the iconic, vermillion bridge and watch the sun set over the Pacific Ocean.
Two hundred and forty-five feet below me, the frigid water of the bay swirls past, and behind me is the building where I spent the last eighteen months of my life, paying for a crime I didn’t commit.
My hair is long to my collar. My body is lean and ripped with muscle to intimidate anyone who thought he’d get the best of me.
I’ve lived with the funk of brown Lysol, body odor, and urine so long, I forgot fresh air could smell so sweet.
At five p.m., a guard came to my cell, rattled the bars like some old cheesy black and white movie, and told me to get my shit together.
Time to go.
I was halfway through a four-year prison sentence, and last night, they said it was over, early release.
Confused is an understatement for how I felt, but I wasn’t about to argue. I started making plans.
“You can thank the tree huggers for this miscarriage of justice.” The woman behind the desk scowled as she spoke, like the words tasted bad. “Wouldn’t want you getting sick. It might violate your civil rights.”
Rage smoldered in my chest, and I didn’t make eye contact with her. This whole eighteen months has been a violation of my civil rights, but why should she care?
Since the start of this nightmare, nobody cared. I said it once, twice, three thousand times. I. Didn’t. Do. It.
Nobody gave a shit.
Not even my court-appointed lawyer believed me. I was caught with illegal human growth hormone, and that’s all they saw. No one looked at the receipt for perfectly legal adaptogen supplements, which is what I thought I was picking up.
I was a redneck from South Carolina with a trunk full of HGH. Case closed.
I entered San Quentin and kept my head down. I made allies with the biggest, meanest guys, and the quiet ones who stayed to themselves. I learned to be ready to fight always.
I started my prison sentence resolved the next time I saw my father, I wouldn’t let up until he was begging for mercy.
Now I’m a free man.
Sort of.
I’m out, and I’m headed back to look him in the eye. He sent me here, and I want to know why.
Staring out across the dark waters, I make a vow. I’m getting back everything I’ve lost. I don’t know how the man who put me here will make it happen, but we’ll sort that out when I get home.
Snatching my navy canvas bag off the ground, I start walking.
* * *
Read THIS MUCH IS TRUE (link) now, FREE in Kindle Unlimited!
Also available on AUDIO (link), narrated by Jason Clarke and Samantha Brentmoor.
When We Kiss
Exclusive Sneak Peek
“Kiss me…
You’re too law-abiding for me.
What makes you say that?
That uniform. Those handcuffs.
Maybe I should put you in handcuffs.
Maybe I’d like to see you try…”
Tabby Green:
Preacher’s niece.
Website designer.
Bad Girl.
Chad Tucker:
