Wherever It Leads (46 page)
“Fent. Shut up,” she giggles, pressing her lips against mine. When she pulls back, she locks our hands together. “I love you. Of course I’d like to try forever with you. But I have to admit one thing.”
“What’s that, rudo?”
“I thought we already were.”
Pulling her into me, I kiss the top of her head. “I think we have been since that day in the market. There’s been something about you from the start and it’s just gotten deeper and deeper. I kept thinking it would go away or I’d get distracted or see the foolishness in my thinking, but I didn’t. Instead, I fell farther in love with you.” Squeezing her tight, I can’t fight the grin on my face. “But, yeah, we are. I just needed you to know it officially.”
We sit together for a long time, the yacht starting to move again. Brynne’s hand splays across my chest, right above my heart. I almost tell her how fitting it is, that she holds my heart in the palm of her hand, but I don’t. I figure she already knows it and, if she doesn’t, I’ll make sure to show her every day for the rest of my life.
“So . . .” she says, tilting her chin to face me. “Forever means forever.”
“It does.”
“Does this mean, you know, you’re going to ask me to marry you?”
I laugh. “It means you shouldn’t be so nosey and try to spoil surprises.”
“So there are surprises?” She squeals like a little girl and it makes me laugh harder. “Do you have a ring already? Do you have a spot picked out?”
“What part of
surprise
do you not understand?”
“The part that means I don’t know! Presley doesn’t know, does she?” she gasps. “She better not!”
“Will. You. Relax?” I pull her on top of me so that she’s straddling me. “Let things work themselves out.”
“But what if they don’t? What if something happens and—”
“They always work out, don’t they? All the bad things that have happened to you—they got you here. With me. Right?”
She nods, still unsure.
“You have to have some trust in life, Brynne. A little hope that things will work out as they should. Look at Brady. He’s off banging your best friend—”
“What?” she shrieks.
“I talked to him today. He and Presley are having quite a little getaway in Lake Tahoe. It’s been a long time coming, I think.”
“I . . .”
She’s rendered speechless. Her lips pout together and I can’t help but kiss them.
“So have a little faith in the world, rudo. Have just a little faith that the current will take you wherever you’re supposed to go, that wherever it leads is where you’re supposed to be.”
“Is that like following your heart?” she smiles.
“Yeah. Kind of. Someone told me that once—to follow my heart.”
“Did you do it?”
“Yeah. I followed it right to you.”
She opens her mouth, but no words come out. Her eyes blur and it looks like she’s going to cry. “I just . . . I can’t wait to be your forever.”
“You already are.”
The End
B
efore anyone or anything, I’d like to thank the Creator for all the blessings in my life. Sure, sometimes things go bad. But I’ve come to learn that there’s always a reason and, more importantly, He’s always there and has my back.
I would like to thank Mr. Locke, the love of my life, and the Littles, Alex, Ares, Achilles, and Ajax, “The A-Team”, for being my biggest cheerleaders. They root me on endlessly, even when I’m holed up in my office trying to meet a deadline. I’m not sure why I have been blessed with the best family ever, but I’ll keep them.
My mother talks with pride about my books, even though she claims she wishes they were ‘a little less dirty’. She makes me laugh and encourages me to follow my dreams and I could never tell her what that means to me. The inspiration behind Max Quinn’s mom in The Perception, she’s pretty great. Thanks, Mama.
The support I receive from my in-laws is overwhelming. They never fail to cheer me on and spread the word and I’m eternally blessed to call Rob and Peggy family.
My sister-in-laws have always treated me like one of their own. Jami’s notes of encouragement always make me smile. Fawn is always there to answer questions and to take brilliant photographs of my books. Aimee is as excited about my venture as anyone. I may not have sisters by blood, but I couldn’t love any as much as I love the three of you.
I’m blessed with the best friends a girl could ever ask for. Kari March gives me advice straight on, no bells and whistles, just like I need it. Jenn Costa answers the phone and listens to me ramble, even when I expect her to have had enough. Mandi Beck keeps me on schedule with our sprints and sane with her filterless antics.
I’d like to thank Michele for checking the hotness level, Susan for loving Fenton early, and Joy for taking on a job she wasn’t sure she wanted. Ninfa loaned her sweet heart, Jen P gave me her valuable time, and Yvette stepped in without even knowing me and gave me her all. Thank you all madly.
Once again, my team came through for me in a spectacular fashion! Thanks to Kari with Kari March Designs, Christine with Perfectly Publishable, and Lisa with Adept Edits for making my book come alive. Hugs to Jillian at Jillian’s Polished Proofs for making sure we didn’t miss anything! Thanks to Jen at Kinky Girls Book Obsessions for helping me with my pre-release teasers. And, last but certainly not least, thank you to Kylie at Give Me Books for organizing my release events. I’m in awe of each of your talents and humbled you all continue to work with me.
Candy Collins (The Locke Librarian) and Brandy Castenada took my plea for help late one night and answered. Thank you both for giving me information I needed; you made such a different in the final product of this book. I appreciate your kindness.
Speaking of kindness, thank you to Stephanie Gibson, Dawn Costiera, Karen McVino, Kiki Amit, Robin Bruce, Jen Lynn, Serena McDonald, Robin Keck, Lisa Gandy, Jade Hyland, Lexy Storries, and Chandra Gillig. You make me smile each and every day.
To my peers—SL Scott, Heidi McLaughlin, Staci Hart, Seraphina Donavan, Angie McKeon, K. Langston, Randa Lynn, Olivia Evans, and Brooke Cumberland: Thank you for always being available to answer questions and give advice and, most importantly, for your friendship.
My Facebook group, Books by Adriana Locke, and Goodreads group, All Locked Up, give me more support than I can articulate. Thank you all, each and every one of you, for your participation, excitement, energy, and love. You keep me going.
My eleventh grade English teacher, Mrs. Mitchell, made me a writer. She took my papers and pushed me, encouraged me, and gave me the tools to use later in life. She made such a difference and, although I haven’t talked to her in decades, I’d like to put good karma into the universe for her.
And, of course, my Instagram girls! How could I forget you?
book_ish_life, kinkygirlsbookobsessions, abwobookblog, henrycavillorg, d1mpld1, innergoddess_booklover, ktreister, mixlovesbooks, caramaterowski, 73jem, booksandbandanas, tiffany.the.bibliophile, readsbyrose, thereadingruth, fictionxfreak, lovekellankyle, charliehunnamforever, cozy_dita, jangare, most_beautifulmen, virginiacny, emmbooks, lakel24vr, bookobsessedgirl, rentasticreads, maciereads, ig_kayla, bookangels_, kshadows, heatherlynb1988, jenifrmthebloc, mg_herrera, love50shadesx, bookit18, smuttybooklover
Thank you to the blogs that jumped on board for my release day events and to those that have supported me in the past. You allow me to write and get my words to the world. You are so appreciated.
And, of course, thank YOU. I appreciate you picking up my book and giving it a chance. I’d love to hear what you think! My contact links are on the next page—please find me and let’s chat!
xo,
Addy
U
SA Today Bestselling author Adriana Locke lives and breathes books. After years of slightly obsessive relationships with the flawed bad boys created by other authors, Adriana has created her own.
She resides in the Midwest with her husband, sons, and two dogs. She spends a large amount of time playing with her kids, drinking coffee, and cooking. You can find her outside if the weather’s nice and there’s always a piece of candy in her pocket.
Besides cinnamon gummy bears and random quotes, her next favorite thing is chatting with readers. She’d love to hear from you.
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Continue on for an excerpt from Sacrifice, as well as the first chapter from Staci Hart’s newest release, Last Call, available now!
