Vindicated (30 page)
Authors: eliza_000
"Jesus," he said, running a hand through his hair. “You tear my guts out, Karly, and there’s not a fucking thing I can do about it.” With a heavy sigh, he faced her. “You wreck me, baby. I’d do a lot worse if it meant I could have you back.”
Her hand covered his. She lifted his rough palm and pressed a kiss there. “Why is it so freaking hard for you to tell me how you feel about us?”
“I can’t tell you because the words seem inadequate.” He lowered his lips to hers, barely brushing the tender flesh. Everything she wanted to know was visible in his eyes. “But I do love you,” he whispered.
She stared at him, unable to believe her ears. A shaft of light from an adjacent street lamp illuminated the angles and planes of his jaw and chin. His eyes remained couched in shadow until he shifted toward her. They were deep, dark, and burning with passion. She sucked in a breath. It was all for her.
EPILOGUE
“What the hell is this?” Jack asked as he stepped inside Randy’s new house. He glanced around the room, stepped back over the threshold, and scratched his head. “Am I in the right place?”
“Very funny.” Randy tossed a dishtowel at his friend.
Jack caught it with one hand and flung it back at him. “I got your shit. Ally picked out the flowers. Said they’re Karly’s favorites.” The brown paper bag in Jack’s arm crackled as he set it on the counter. “She’s on her way to get Karly now. They should be here in a few.” He pulled two bottles of champagne and a bouquet of lilies tied with a red ribbon from the paper bag. “I can’t believe this is happening. Are you sure about this?”
“Never more sure about anything in my life. It’s about time, don’t you think?” Randy surveyed the small living room with a smile of satisfaction. It took three weeks and an infinite amount of elbow grease, but the place looked habitable. The scent of lemon furniture polish and Murphy’s Oil Soap hung in the air. Fresh paint covered the walls, and the newly refinished hardwood floors gleamed.
Jack sank onto the sofa with a look of shock. He raked a hand back through his hair. “Dude, I didn’t know you had it in you.”
“Well, shows how much you know.” He tossed the dishtowel into the sink and straightened the picture frame on the wall before walking into the living room. “I’m nervous as hell. What if she doesn’t like it?”
“She’ll like it.” Jack’s confident answer buoyed Randy’s uneasiness. “The girl adores you. She’d live with you in a tent if you asked her.”
Relief exploded from Randy in the form of a heavy sigh. “God, I hope you’re right. We’ll find out soon enough, I guess.”
“Yeah, I get you.” Jack smirked. “Never thought I’d see the day when you became domesticated.”
“Just following your lead, my friend.” Randy gave Jack a hearty pat on the back. To his surprise, Jack gripped his hand in both of his and pulled him in for a quick hug.
“Dude, you’re doing the right thing here. Don’t fuck it up.” If he didn’t know better, Randy could swear Jack’s voice cracked with emotion. Both men coughed to cover their embarrassment and exchanged a few playful punches to the stomach.
“I won’t,” Randy said. “Now, I hate to be rude, but you need to get the fuck out before Karly gets here. Two’s company and three’s a crowd. Know what I mean?”
When Ally’s BMW turned into a suburb of the city, Karly sat up and began to take notice of their surroundings. The houses were an eclectic mix of new and old, but all were well maintained. A group of children played kickball in the street. They parted for the car with friendly shouts and waves before resuming their game with single-minded intent.
The car came to a stop in front of a decent-sized Arts and Crafts home with ivy-covered trellises and a swing on the front porch. Purple clematis climbed the porch posts in front of rose bushes overflowing with robust red blooms. Ally slid the gearshift into park and turned to face Karly, her green eyes glowing with excitement.
“We’re getting our nails done here?” Karly asked incredulously. “What kind of place are you taking me to anyway?”
“No, we’re not getting our nails done,” Ally replied. “You are going inside, and I am going back to Felony without you.”
“What?” Karly gaped at her friend, thinking the woman had at last lost her mind.
“Go on. Get out.” Ally nudged her friend gently in the ribs. “It’s a surprise. Trust me. You’re going to thank me later.”
“What?” Karly repeated.
At that moment, the front door opened, and Randy stepped out on the front porch, dressed in a crisp white button down, over-washed gray denim jeans, and bare feet. A soft summer wind ruffled his hair, the sun lighting sparks in his coppery hair. As always, her heart skipped a beat at the sight of him.
By the time she recovered enough to unbuckle her seat belt, Randy had crossed the length of the sidewalk, bare feet padding on the concrete. He opened the door for her and extended a hand to help her exit. His strong, sure grip made her forget everything and focus on the warmth in his eyes.
“So what do you think?” he asked once they were in the front door.
Still trying to make sense of things, she tore her gaze from his and studied the room. Tall windows draped with gauzy curtains, rough plaster walls and dark hardwood floors made for a comfortable home. Wordlessly, he led her from room to room, pausing at each threshold to let her drink in the surroundings.
“There’s a good-sized yard and a two-car garage out back,” he said. “Three bedrooms, one for Caleb and another for Emma.” Her heartbeat stuttered. Before she could question the statement, he rushed into the next sentence, dragging her down the hallway by the hand. “And this room is for you.” He opened the doorway into the room at the end of the hall and stepped back to let her pass.
Warm, golden candlelight flooded the room. Floor-to-ceiling bookshelves covered every wall. A cozy window seat offered a great place to snuggle with a good book on a rainy day. She circled the room, dragging a fingertip over the heavy wood desk and the leather chair behind it. When she turned to face Randy, she found him leaning against the doorframe, arms crossed over his chest and an expression of worried speculation on his lean face.
“You did this for me?” she whispered, searching his eyes for clues.
“I didn’t put all the books up yet. I thought you might want to do that. And I painted everything white so you could decorate however you want, me being color-blind and all.” He stepped into the room and shut the door behind him, enclosing them in the golden glow of flickering candlelight.
Tears stung her eyes before she launched herself at him, wrapping her arms around his waist and squeezing so tight she felt his ribs creak under the strain. The fresh scent of laundry softener and shower gel surrounded her, smells she loved. His deep chuckle reverberated beneath her ear as she pressed her cheek into his chest. She felt the brush of his lips on the top of her head then the heat and strength of his arms around her shoulders.
“I don’t understand,” she whispered into his chest, unable to believe her good fortune. Every day he went out of his way to show her how much he loved her. He stayed beside her throughout Emma’s custody hearing with Judge Winston. They spent the weekends together with Emma and Caleb. And he’d been her date to Mitch and Pilar’s wedding.
With extreme gentleness for someone so large, he disentangled from her grasp and sat down on the window seat, pulling her into his lap. “You’re home, baby. I bought this house for you. For you and me and Caleb and Emma.” He shifted her weight in his lap so she faced him. His eyes searched her face with serious intent.
“It’s perfect, Randy.” She tried to press a kiss to his lips but he pulled back, giving her a scheming sidelong glance.
“Not so fast,” he said. “There’s a stipulation to all of this.”
“Oh? Is that right?” Caught off guard, she leaned away from him, eyes narrowed in playful suspicion.
“Reach into my shirt pocket, please,” he commanded.
She complied and drew out a small blue box, its velvet covering plush beneath her fingertips. Her pulse rocketed into overdrive, her heart thudding so hard against her ribs that he surely had to feel it.
“Karly Eriksson, I love you, and if you’ll marry me, I promise to tell you every day for the rest of our lives.” He took the box from her hand and cocked it open, revealing a small silver circlet of intertwining leaves sprinkled with tiny diamonds and emeralds. The ring looked small and delicate as he held it up in front of her, pinched between his thumb and forefinger. “So what do you say?”
“Yes,” she whispered, smiling back at him through a haze of tears. “Oh hell, yes.”
“Thank God,” he said. Relief shone on his face and in the embrace of his arms.
“Did you think I’d say no?” she teased.
“Baby, I wouldn’t blame you if you did,” he replied, before brushing his lips over hers. “I’ve been a huge pain in your ass.”
She smiled against his mouth. “Yes, you have, but I love you anyway.”
Their lips met, and their tongues tangled in a kiss sweetened by trust and desire. She shoved her fingers into his hair, cradling his head. The scent of candles and polished wood filled her senses. She shifted against him, straining to get closer. This was her man, the love of her life, and there was no place else she’d rather be.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Jeana Mann is the author of sizzling hot contemporary romance. Her debut release
Intoxicated
was a First Place Winner of the 2013 Cleveland Rocks Romance Contest, a finalist in the Carolyn Readers’ Choice Awards, and fourth place winner in the International Digital Awards. She is a member of Romance Writers’ of America (RWA).
Jeana was born and raised in Indiana where she lives today with her two crazy rat terriers Mildred and Mabel. She graduated from Indiana University with a degree in Speech and Hearing, something totally unrelated to writing. When she’s not busy dreaming up steamy romance novels, she loves to travel anywhere and everywhere. Over the years she climbed the ruins of Chichen Iza in Mexico, snorkeled along the shores of Hawaii, sailed around Jamaica, ate gelato on the steps of the Pantheon in Rome, and explored the ancient city of Pompeii. More important than the places she’s been are the people she has met along the way.
Be sure to connect with Jeana on Facebook or follow along on Twitter for the latest news regarding her upcoming releases.
LINKS
Published by Ishkadiddle Publishing
Copyright 2015. Jeana E. Mann Author.
Cover by SelfPubBookCovers.com/Island
Edited by Rhonda Helms
E BOOK ISBN: 978-0-9897714-3-6
This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be resold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each person. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return it and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author. To obtain permission to excerpt portions of the text, please contact the author at
[email protected]
All characters and events in this book are fiction and figments of the author’s imagination. Any similarity to real persons, alive or deceased, is purely coincidental.
