Chapter 1
Alley
Shit was scattered everywhere; saying my office looked like a tornado blew through it was an understatement for sure.
I wasn’t one to usually panic, but I didn’t want to forget anything—not that my husband or family would hesitate to step up to the plate to grab anything I might have forgotten.
Thinking about stepping up to the plate made me laugh.
Lord knew I had enough bats in my fabulous collection for everyone in our circle to pick one and literally go to bat for me.
The bat collection started out innocent enough when I needed to defend a friend, but it became a running joke with everyone around me.
“What are you laughing about in here?” my husband Landon asked as he walked into the room, his eyes going wide at the chaos. “Whoa, I’m lucky I can even find you in this mess.”
“I was just thinking about all the bats I have at my disposal.” I shot him a pointed look. “Don’t make me use one on you.”
Moving through the maze of bins, boxes, and items flung hazardily across the floor, he made his way to me. When his arms wrapped around me and he whispered in my ear, I melted into a puddle of goo.
“Mi tesoro. I never want to lose you.”
Lord knew I could be a badass, a smartass, and everything in between. But my husband, my daughter, my family—by blood and by heart—brought out the soft side of me.
“Not even under a mound of clutter.”
He thought he was hilarious too, obviously.
I reached down behind him and smacked his backside.
My husband let out a hearty chuckle. This was my life, and it never got old.
At one time, I never believed we’d find our way back to each other, but we got our second chance, and neither of us took it for granted.
Our story was like one of my books. In fact, it was one of them since I’d written our story…
I, the poor girl from the wrong side of the tracks, had captured the rich, absolutely gorgeous guy's eye.
Our love was forbidden because of our status and the fact he was my brother's best friend, but our souls were always meant to be.
And even through our ups and downs, broken hearts, and questioned trust… our hearts reunited once again.
And since then, we’d never wavered.
“I love you, sweetheart.” He leaned back and planted a soft, sweet kiss on my lips, pulling a satisfied sigh from mine. “You’re going to rock this book signing.”
“Of course I will,” I told him, running my hands up between us and placing both on his chest as I stared into his mesmerizing blue eyes. “Because you’ll be there.”
“Not just me, though.”
“I can’t believe all the men are going with their wives.” I rolled my eyes as if it were absurd, but secretly loved the support.
“Baby, you know that’s how we roll. I wasn’t missing it, and Braxton is your brother, so he wasn’t either. Once we were in, they were all in.”
My brother and husband had been best friends since they were kids. An unlikely duo, just like Landon and I, but it didn’t stop them, and wasn’t stopping us anymore either. As each new person entered our lives, married, and had kids, our whole group became one big happy family.
The truth was, we rarely spent much time apart. Holidays, birthdays, weekend get-togethers, and important events in each other's lives were all spent together. So yeah, it made sense they were coming, but me being me, I didn’t usually show my feelings so freely. I also liked to rock the boat a lot.
“Yeah, yeah. But all you hot men might steal the spotlight.” I ran my hands up and down his muscled chest. “You guys will have everyone drooling, and they'll forget to buy books.”
My husband smirked. “Mrs. Abbott, are you jealous? Afraid someone is going to be checking me out?”
God, I loved hearing him call me that. While I still used my maiden name. Hart, for my pen name since it had been established, I was over the moon being his wife. Therefore I’d wanted to take his name—even if I despised his parents.
When his brows arched in question, I realized I hadn’t answered him. “You bet your ass I am,” I replied with mock aggravation.
It was all in good fun because I was used to him getting ogled by other women.
My husband was damn sexy with his blonde hair, sparkling blue eyes, and drop-dead gorgeous looks.
He could put on a suit for one of his lawyer meetings and knock my socks off.
Then he could throw on his leather jacket, straddle his motorcycle, and my panties would be drenched in seconds.
And there wasn’t a single man in our posse who wasn’t good-looking as well, along with charming, protective, and honorable. They were all catches, and us women were damn lucky.
“I only have eyes for you,” he said softly.
“Ditto. And for the record, I love you too.” Then, moving my hands so they were clasped behind his neck, I made a request. “Kiss me again?”
“I thought you’d never ask.”
One hand around my back pulled me closer so our bodies were flush together, while the other threaded into my hair before his mouth crashed down over mine.
His tongue found purchase against mine, and my pulse picked up tempo.
We got lost in the moment until a sweet, playfully exasperated voice broke through the lusty haze we’d created.
“You’re kissing again?”
Landon and I broke the kiss and turned toward our six-year-old daughter, Noelle.
It was hard to believe she was that old already.
I thought she was the perfect combination of both of us, though I might be a tad biased.
Noelle looked like me with black hair and electric blue eyes—her father’s were a softer blue than ours—but she was more reserved and quiet like her father.
That didn’t stop her from rolling her eyes; something she very much got from me.
“Your dad couldn’t resist,” I teased.
There was something to be said about a relationship like ours where we still flirted and tossed playful banter at each other just like we did when we first fell for one another.
With one arm still wrapped around my waist, my husband gave me a little squeeze. The man loved touching me, and I equally loved his need to do it.
Another eye roll had us both laughing. “Umm, okay.” She glanced around my office, her eyes widening as her father’s had moments ago. “When are we leaving?”
While she couldn’t attend the signing itself, she, along with my brother’s kids, Embry and Hudson, and my friend/sister-in-law Summer’s son, Dexter, were going with us at the beforehand for the Humane Society of Southwest Washington.
The book signing event, Hot she was a go-getter. And when she took charge, every one of the kids listened. With her big heart, it taught them all just how important giving was. My daughter had learned so much from her cousin and was excited to be working on the donations with her.
“Mom? When are we leaving?”
I’d been lost in thought about their part and hadn’t answered. I looked around the room and groaned. I needed to get moving because I had to get over there and set up my table.
“I need to finish this up in an hour. As you can see, I’m running behind.”
“You think?” my husband said from beside me.
“Hush,” I told him as I reached up and pinched his ass, something my daughter couldn’t see me do at least.
He jumped away, laughing.
“You guys are weird,” Noelle said. She walked a little further into the room. “Can I help you?”
“Sure you can, sweetie.”
She beamed a bright smile my way. Noelle loved helping not only me but her father with anything, and I cherished every moment with her. I was still a bit surprised she was up at six in the morning, raring to go.
“I’m helping too,” my guy announced.
I shot him a sassy smirk. “You’re just worried about being late.”
“Hey, I love helping my girls.” He grabbed Noelle and tickled her, causing her to giggle uncontrollably, then glanced at me. “And you’re right about the other part too.”
It didn’t matter why he wanted to help; I adored him for it and loved spending time with him too. I’d never get enough of either of them.
“Fine. You can help.”
Letting go of our daughter, he pulled me back to his side and kissed the side of my neck, causing goosebumps to skitter across every inch of my skin. Then leaning in, he whispered in my ear, “I’ll help you with more later tonight too.”
“Now that was just mean,” I said.
He knew exactly what he did to me, and we didn’t have time for any hanky-panky right then. His deep chuckle vibrated through my body and sent my pulse skyrocketing again. The man was lethal.
Thank heavens we had a hotel room to ourselves that night.