Finding Dandelion (Dearest #2) (36 page)

Sighing, she says, “Thank God you’re playing for New England. I don’t know what I would’ve done if you’d gone to Los Angeles.”

I frown. “Do you really think I would have accepted an offer from a team across the country when you’re here?”

Her head tilts up, a small smile playing on her lips. “No, I guess not.”

“Besides, we have to finish up our business plan for the GoPro ski helmets.”

“Not ours, Jax. Yours.”

She can’t be serious. “Babe, that was all your idea. You took that silly contraption I made when I was screwing around on vacation and made a real business out of it.”

She saw the promise of my helmet and found there was a huge demand for it. She lined up orders before we even got the prototypes back, and when she talked to her professors about it, they were so impressed they convinced her to stay a business major and double-degree with art.

I hug her tighter. “So yes, it’s
our
plan because it’s
our
business.”

I want to say it’s also our money, but I don’t want to freak her out. After last winter, she’s sensitive about what I spend on her, which pisses me off because I want to buy her things. Lots of things.

But I have a plan.

She blows out a breath, not wanting to get into this with me again, and I run my nose along her jaw because I know I’ve won this battle.

I smack her on the ass, and she jumps, laughing. “Let’s go. We need to get to the restaurant by five if we want to make the game.”

“I can’t believe you got me playoff tickets to see the Celtics play the Heat. I’m so psyched!”

That’s not all she’s getting, but I have to keep my shit together if this is gonna be a surprise.

Even though I’ve been trying to save up some cash for our business, I wanted to splurge tonight.

Doing this on my own feels good. No, it feels fucking incredible.

My mother lost it when I told her my plans. But it doesn’t matter. I won’t let her control me anymore. Even though I could’ve asked my father for help, it doesn’t seem right. If he had wanted to help, to be part of my life or my sister’s, he’d have been here. 

I sold off all of my expensive toys and cars, and my modeling gigs have been paying well. I’ve made enough to get Dani and me through for a while and still have something left to invest in our business.

She hasn’t decided what she wants to do with her mom’s house in Chicago, and I don’t want to rush her. We’ve talked about staying there a few weeks this summer to help her finish packing. I want her to have all the time she needs to make peace with her mom’s passing.

By the time we get to the Garden, Dandelion is decked out in green. I had to put my foot down and hide her Heat jersey. Privately, I don’t mind her Miami fanaticism, but I can’t very well let her walk the streets of Boston in anything but Celtic colors.

Her eyes widen as we get closer to the players. She turns to me. “You got us courtside seats?”

I kiss her. “It’s your twenty-first birthday. I wanted to make it memorable.”

Her hands reach up and cradle my face. “As long as I’m with you, I wouldn’t care what we did. You know that, right?”

Fuck, yeah, I know that, which is why she’s the girl for me.

We find our seats, and a few minutes later, she jumps out of her chair to hug Clementine, Gavin and Travis.

“Did you know your brother was doing this?” she asks Clem.

My sister gives me a playful shove. “He’s been planning this for ages. He wouldn’t shut up about it. I’m shocked this is an actual surprise for you.”

My sister is her usual ornery self, but I’ve already told her how to play it tonight, so I know she won’t let anything slip.

Travis gives me a half smile and leans over to whisper, “Don’t fuck up.”

“Thanks, man. Really.” I place a hand over my chest to feign sincerity. He laughs, turning to the birthday girl to pick her up in a hug.

Nick and Daren join us, and after a few bro hugs, we take our seats.

“Dude, you okay?” Daren asks. He snagged me the tickets.

“Never been better,” I say with a wide smile. He looks at my leg that’s nervously jiggling and then back at me with a smirk. “Is everything all set at Ryan’s?”

He leans a little closer. “Yup. Sammy and Jenna have it covered. Everyone will be there by the time the game is over.” He slaps me on the back. “Good luck, Jax. Don’t have a heart attack first.”

“Thanks, brother.” I glance around. “Where’s Veronica? I thought she was coming tonight.”

He shrugs, his brows furrowing into deep grooves on his forehead. I don’t need to ask anything else. Maybe he’s figuring out what everyone else has always known, that they’re not right for each other. Because Daren and Veronica never really had that kind of connection. The kind I have with my girl.

I spend the game watching Danielle. She’s smiling and laughing, and I can’t wait to surprise her.

Her hand twines around the locket her mom gave her for Christmas. Last week she put a small picture of me in it, and nothing has ever meant more.

By half time, my palms are sweaty, and my heart is beating out of my chest. Who knew I’d be such a fucking pussy when the time came?

Clem catches my eye when Dani isn’t looking and gives me a wink of encouragement that only makes me more nervous.

Finally, the kissing cam goes up on the big screen during half time, and I wipe my forehead as I wait.

When the camera reaches us, Dani gasps in surprise before she grins and leans over to kiss me, but the sudden cheering gets her attention, and she looks back up at the jumbo-tron to read those four little words that will change our lives forever.

“Jax?” she asks, her eyes bugging out as I get down on one knee.

“Danielle, I love you more than life itself. Will you marry me?” I put the rock on her finger. She looks at it, blinks a few times and smiles. It’s not as big a stone as I’d like, but I know she doesn’t care about that.

“Oh my God. Yes, yes, yes!” She leaps up, and she’s in my arms, and the crowd goes crazy. My sister is crying, and the girls hug each other and laugh as the giant screen above our heads plays our special moment for the entire arena.

Finding Dandelion is the best thing that’s ever happened to me. I know she still has a little more school, and my soccer schedule is hectic, but when we’re apart, I want her to know that she is mine and I am hers. Forever.

She turns to me, and I lean over to kiss her, the first of many yet to come.

See, there are happily ever afters. Even for assholes like me.

TO MY READERS

Thank you for reading
Finding Dandelion
. I would love to hear what you thought of my novel and hope you’ll consider leaving a review on Goodreads and Amazon.

If you enjoyed Dani and Jax’s story, Daren will get his own book later this year. Look for
Kissing Madeline,
the third novel in the Dearest series, in late 2014.  Each is a stand-alone.

KISSING MADELINE

After walking in on her MMA fighter boyfriend in the arms of another woman, Maddie McDermott learned her lesson about dating athletes – don’t do it. Ever. Not even if he’s the “it boy” of football and her hot-as-hell new neighbor.

NFL’s newest star, Daren Sloan, kicks ass in every area of his life – football, school, family – every area, that is, except relationships. Newly single after almost marrying one of the worst mistakes of his life, he plans to take full advantage of all the benefits he’s worked so hard to achieve. For now, those perks include no strings, and fortunately, no woman can resist his charm. Well, no one except his feisty neighbor.

When their jobs collide, Maddie and Daren can’t seem to avoid each other or their undeniable attraction. So they keep things casual… until they quickly realize “friends with benefits” is not enough.

Although they do their best to keep the nature of their relationship under wraps, the media loves a good story. And so does the person scheming to break them up. Will Daren convince Maddie she can trust him? Or will the media storm brewing tear them apart before they even get started?

DEAREST CLEMENTINE

Before the drama of Jax, there was Clementine. Have you read her story yet? It’s available now on Amazon if you haven’t.

Twenty-year-old Clementine Avery doesn’t mind being called bitchy and closed off. It’s safe, and after being burned by her high school sweetheart and stalked by a professor her freshman year of college, safe sounds pretty damn good.

Her number one rule for survival? No dating. That is until she accidentally signs up for a romance writing class and needs material for her latest assignment. Sexy RA Gavin Murphy is more than happy to play the part of book boyfriend to help Clem find some inspiration, even if that means making out...in the name of research, of course.

As Gavin and Clem grow closer, they get entangled in the mystery surrounding a missing Boston University student, and Clem unwittingly becomes a possible target. Gavin tries to show Clem she can handle falling in love again, but she knows she has to be careful because her heart’s at stake…and maybe even her life.

DEAREST CLEMENTINE is a stand-alone New Adult romance with two companion novels. The Dearest series is recommended for readers 18+ due to mature content.

Purchase on
AMAZON
.

ORDER OF BOOKS:

Dearest Clementine
, #1

Finding Dandelion
, #2

Kissing Madeline
, #3 (Expected publication: late 2014)

If you’d like to receive an email when I release future titles and get other sneak peaks, sign up
HERE
.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The person who deserves my biggest thanks is my husband and best friend, Matthew. Without his constant support, I never would have had the balls to do this. Matt, thanks for believing in me and for being such a kick-ass dad to our girls. I don’t know any other four-year-olds who know the difference between Mozart and Beethoven. You’re seriously cool as shit, and I love you. Girls, thanks for being so patient with me while I write. Wub you, little bears.

To my Texas family, thanks for giving me the courage to venture far from home. Dad, I appreciate you buying my books even though I won’t let you read them. You’re the best!

I also have an amazing writing family. AJ Pine, Megan Erickson, Natalie Blitt and Lia Riley, I’m so grateful to have such fantastic critique partners and honored to get your input on my work. *cue cheesy music* You complete me!

Thanks, of course, to my fantastic editor, RJ Locksley. She keeps me from looking stupid. RJ, everything I write is better after you do your magic.

My new bestie Kimberly Brower also gave me killer input on
Dandelion
. Kimberly, I love that I can send you emails in the middle of the night and you write me back at one a.m. You’re awesome!

You should know I’m a total fangirl. I have authors I adore like groupies love rock stars. So when those authors respond to my emails and offer advice in return, they get my undying love and affection. You might have noticed I give away a lot of other people’s books on my Facebook. This is why.

The first two authors in that “I love you like a love song, baby” category are Becca and Krista Ritchie. They helped me get my feet wet with my first release and walked me through many big steps. Becca, you should be sainted for having so much patience with me and all of my questions. Krista, dear lord, thank you for my gorgeous covers and for mocking up a dozen different options until we nailed down the right ones. #LuvYouGuys4Life