by DL Gallie
“I wanted to speak with you and Mrs. Cruz.”
“How many times have we told you, it's Dominic and Charli.”
“Okay, Dominic and Charli, I wanted to speak to you both.”
“Is everything okay?” I ask him, he looks like he’s going to throw up.
“Yeah, I’m just nervous.”
“Why are you nervous, son?” Nic asks him. I have a sneaking suspicion I know why he’s here but my loving husband is clueless.
“I wanted to ask you both something.”
“Okay, what did you want to ask?” I offer, hoping my tone will ease the poor boy’s nerves.
“As you know, your daughter and I have been seeing each other for a few years now.” Carter and Mason have been seeing each other since we went to Bora Bora for Avery and Flynn to renew their wedding vows three years ago. Seems our kids got caught up with the love associated with the trip, and when we returned, they were glued at the hip and have been together ever since. “Well, I love your daughter very much and I want your blessing to ask her to marry me.”
Bringing my hands to my lips, my eyes well with tears at the sweetness coming from him. I look to Nic and I notice he’s clenching his teeth. As I watch him, I have no idea if he’ll be okay with this. Carter is his baby girl, her getting engaged means her daddy is no longer her number one, but what he doesn’t know is, a girl’s daddy is always her number one. I know mine is.
“You want to marry my daughter?” he asks, I internally giggle at his use of my and not our.
“Yes, sir. I love her more than anything and I want to spend the rest of my life with her.”
“She’s my baby, I can’t just give her to the first person who comes asking.”
“Nic,” I chide and scowl at him.
“I understand, sir, but there is no one out there who will love her like I do. I will treat her like the princess she is and I’ll give her anything and everything I can.”
Nic stares at Mason. The poor boy is shaking in his boots. “You ever hurt her, and I will end you. I don’t care that your father is one of my best friends. I will end you if my daughter ever sheds one tear because of you.”
“No sir, only happy tears, unless we’re watching The Notebook, those tears I have no control over.”
Nic out stretches his hand. “Welcome to the family, son.”
“I need her to say yes first.”
“She will,” Nic reassures him. “She loves you like I love her mother but remember my warning.”
He nods. “I’ll remember but I will never hurt her. My dad would be in line after you to kick my ass to Ireland and back.”
“Looks like it will be a double celebration today,” I excitedly say. “I better organize more champagne for the celebration afterward.”
The doorbell rings again and I walk over, answering it, I smile when I see Avery and Flynn standing there. Grinning. Seems these two were privy to what Mason was here to ask us. “Looks like we will officially be family.”
“Looks like it,” Avery says, pulling me in for a hug. When she pulls back she has a look in her eye.
“Why do I get the feeling you know something I don’t know?”
“Boy do I have the gossip of all gossip for you,” she excitedly says. Linking arms with Avery, I pull her inside, Flynn follows. “Lily and Clay eloped and are pregnant.”
Pausing midstep, my eyes open wide as I process her words. “Come again? Did you just say Lily Cox and Clay Knight are married?”
“Yep,” Avery confirms. “Bay and Cress are now officially family.”
Baylor and Cress are what you’d call frenemies. Those two love to pick at each other. It's quite entertaining to watch. “Holy shit,” I say, “I better order extra tequila for later.”
“Yep,” she says, letting the ‘P’ pop. “Lots and lots of tequila will be needed.”
“How did this happen?” I ask Avery.
“Seems those two have been sneaking around for a few months and when she discovered she was pregnant, they decided to fly to Vegas and get married.”
“Lily really is a mini Bay. And I bet right now Bay is fuming.”
“Actually, she took the news much better than I thought. Corey and Preston, on the other hand, not so much. They are both livid right now.”
“I’d hate to be those kids at this moment,” I say.
“I know, right?”
Holy shit, this day just got interesting and we haven’t even left the house yet. I thought our daughter graduating was going to be the highlight but no, her boyfriend wants to propose, and my best friend is about to become a grandma and gained a son-in-law. Life with kids sure is interesting. I’m just glad that my three are the sane ones within our group.
“Angel, we need to get going, if we are late, Carter will kill us,” Nic says, interrupting my thoughts.
“Okay, let me grab my purse and jacket.”
Standing up, I grab my things. We stop at Elena’s to pick up Elena, Davis, and DJ—they had a sleepover at their aunt’s place last night—and then the five of us, make our way to Carter’s graduation.
They day is perfect, surprise baby and wedding included.
Our little girl looked amazing up there on stage and now, she’s a newly engaged woman. My heart is full right now. Watching my daughter fall in love and get her happily ever after is just as amazing as when I got mine all those years ago.
There is no better feeling than falling in love and getting to live your very own happily ever after with the one you love. I’ve got mine and so has my daughter. I just need my sons to get theirs and then my life will be perfect in every way possible.
I thank Dominic Cruz every single day for falling for me.
Nic walks over to me, he has a glint in his eye. “Mrs. Cruz,” he croons, pulling me into his arms, pressing a kiss to my temple.
Looking up at my husband, I smile. “Take me home, Biker Boy.”
“With pleasure.”
Linking hands with my husband, we leave our friends and family to celebrate, while we celebrate in our own way at home, just the two of us.
To see how Avery and Flynn got together, grab Falling for Dr. Kelly.
Every force has an equal and opposite attraction.
Love being the most volatile of them all.
AVERY
My life is anything but boring.
So what if I’m an introvert and prefer to focus on my career?
I was fine.
Until I met him—Flynn Kelly.
The doctor with the sexy Irish accent.
I thought we were unbreakable, until someone close hurts me in an unimaginable way.
Can two opposites fight the laws of attraction or will it end up tearing us apart?
FLYNN
I work hard, and play even harder.
When it came to women, I could have anyone I want.
Until I met her—Avery Evans.
She’s quiet, shy, and everything I’m not.
But we’re drawn together like magnets, sparking each other to life.
When the unthinkable happens, our differences really show.
Is our attraction about to sizzle and flame out? Only time will tell.
To find out what happens with Lexi, Preston and Cress, grab Falling for Dr. Knight.
Chaos and tragedy can either bring us together, or tear us apart.
Falling in love isn’t like it is in fairy tales.
CRESSIDA
Being a single mom is hard.
But Lexi is my life, and I’ll do anything for my daughter.
I just never expected tragedy to strike, or for my past to haunt us.
Or for Dr. Preston Knight to be the man who saves us.
The same man I should never have fallen in love with.
PRESTON
I’m the best in my field.
Being a doctor is in my blood.
My focus is always on my career.
Until her—Cressida Bayliss.
I’ve f
ought many battles, but never one so close to my heart.
This is the biggest fight of my life, and with my heart on the line, I can’t afford to lose.
She’s the twin you love to hate. Will Baylor get her HEA and redeem herself? Grab Falling for Agent Cox today and find out.
There’s a fine line between love and hate.
And a love fueled from hate is the strongest of them all.
BAYLOR
My life hasn’t gone as I planned, but it’s all my doing.
I’m given a second chance.
But I didn’t count on him—Agent Corey Cox.
He’s on the straight and narrow, abiding by the rules.
He calms my inner beast and makes me want to be a better person.
When my past reappears, that wildness inside sparks to life again.
Is his love enough to stop me turning my back on everything I’ve worked so hard for?
COREY
I live my life by the book.
Being an agent is everything to me.
The lines are never blurred.
Until her—Baylor Evans.
She’s wild, carefree, and marches to the beat of her own drum.
She brings out a side to me I never knew existed.
But it all implodes, when I’m faced with an impossible decision.
Either way I lose.
Acknowledgements
This is the final book in the Falling series and I’m sad to say goodbye to these characters. They have been my life for the last twelve months and I think I saved the best for last. I know Z has claimed Dominic as hers but he’s mine. I fell hard for this man while I was writing him and he will always hold a special place in my heart.
I know you won’t ever read this, but thank you Sophia Bush and Josh Bowman for being my muses. You helped bring Nic and Charli to life and make them the kick ass characters that they are…if its ever turned into a film, I want you two to play Charli and Nic.
My beta babes; Andi, Stef, Lana, Bec and Tara; thank you ladies once again for reading my book baby and giving me your opinions and feedback. You gals are rock stars and I would be lost without you.
My editor, Karen, from Barren Acres Editing; I’m running out of things to say. You’re not only my editor, but you’re also a great friend; why do you live so far away? Thank you, once again for helping me turn my book baby from a pile of crap into a beautiful book baby.
My cover designer, Kristie from Vanilla Lily Designs. As soon as I saw this cover, I knew it was Nic and Charli. With the little tweeks I asked for, you made it absolutely perfect and its gorgeous amongst the rest of the Falling books. Thank you for a gorgeous cover to round out the series.
To Gem from Gems’ Precise Proofreading thank you for checking my I’s are dotted and my T’s are crossed. You were an absolute gem <— corny, I know, to work with.
To the following authors; Alanda Jade, Chloe Renee, Corinne Mazille, Renee Linda, Anita Maxwell, Rebecca Barber, Leesa Bow, Tara Lee, Cass Fowler, Sophie Blue and Linda Higgins; thank you for your support, encouragement and writing sprints. Without you guys, I’d be a mess in the corner drinking wine from my coffee mug.
To my readers, thank you for the kind words that you message me with each release. 9 out of 10 times, these arrive just when I need a pick me up and they always do. From the bottom of my heart, thank you for supporting me and my books.
And finally, my family; Troy, Piper and Kade. You three are my rocks, my loveable pains in the butt who push me to be the best. You are my everything. Love you all to the moon and back XoXoX
Cheers,
Dana Xo
Also by DL Gallie
STAND ALONES
Out of Nowhere
Antecedent
Seven Nights
Doc Steel
Christmas Treats
Oops
Fractured:A driven world novel - coming mid 2021
IPHTILY - coming late 2021
In the Dark of Night anthology**
Secrets anthology**
**only available in paperback direct from me
FALLING NOVELS
Falling for Dr. Kelly
Falling for Dr. Knight
Falling for Agent Cox
Falling for Agent Cruz
THE UNEXPECTED SERIES
When it comes to love, expect the unexpected
The Unexpected Gift
The Unexpected Letter
The Unexpected Package
The Unexpected Connection
THE CASTAWAY GROVE COLLECTION
Love has arrived in the Grove
Oasis
Unequivocal Love
Five Words
Broken Rules
…and a few more to come.
The Castaway Grove Collection, books 1- 4
THE LIQUOR CABINET SERIES
Liquor has never been so disturbingly saucy
Malt Me (Book 1)
Tequila Healing (Book 2)
Wine Not (Book 3)
The Final Shot (Book 4)
The Liquor Cabinet: Series boxset
FACEBOOK ~ INSTAGRAM ~ BOOKBUB
GOODREADS ~ WEBSITE
[email protected]
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About the Author
DL Gallie is from Queensland, Australia, but she’s lived in many different places all over the world, including the UK and Canada. She currently resides in Central Queensland with her husband and two munchkins. She and her husband have been together since she was sixteen, and although they drive each other crazy at times, she couldn’t imagine her life without him.
Shortly after her son was born, DL began reading again. With encouragement from her husband, she picked up the pen and started writing, and now the voices in her head won’t shut up.
DL enjoys listening to music, drinking white wine in the summer, red wine in the winter, and beer all year round. She’s also never been known to turn down a cocktail, especially a margarita.
