Laura fought the smile threatening to blossom as she witnessed the telltale signs of nervousness in Dallas. To quell her jittery excitement, the rush of sweet, sweet anticipation—because both the signs and strong hints from Patrick led her in the marriage direction—she pretended interest in the Auckland skyline.
From their cozy, window-side restaurant table at the top of the Sky Tower, she studied the volcanic cones studding the landscape to her left. In front of her, the harbor spread in glistening blue, studded with yachts and cargo ships and the brooding presence of Rangitoto Island, yet another of Auckland’s dormant volcanoes.
“Would you like me to order for you?” Dallas asked.
“You look very sexy in a suit. It makes me want to rip it off. Maybe with my teeth.”
“Behave.”
“Ooh,” she said, bundling the sound with a teasing smile. He’d planned this for her—a weekend in Auckland, staying at a nice hotel and now a special dinner. Tomorrow he’d promised more sightseeing. She reached for his hand, his arm now free of the plaster. “I’d love you to order for me.”
While Dallas conferred with the waiter, she went back to watching the landmarks and the gradual creep of the day toward darkness. It was beautiful.
If only her family hadn’t insisted on their everything or nothing stance. If only they’d expressed their happiness at her independence. If only.
None of that would happen, not when her parents clutched the feud to their chests like a precious heirloom. She sighed. Talk about an understatement. They intended to take their self-righteous pride and sense of wronged, kicking and screaming to their graves.
“You are no longer my daughter,” her father had said when she’d gone to Clare with James to collect her possessions. James had persuaded her to undertake the visit and give her parents a chance to reconsider their stance. The face-to-face meet hadn’t gone well.
“You’re written out of the will,” her mother had told her in an icy voice.
Boohoo. Tough shit.
She didn’t care.
Laura, with James at her side, had packed her belongings and ignored the hovering presence of her mother, there to check she didn’t pack any Drummond valuables.
She had James and Steven, Patrick and even Quinn seemed to have come around. She’d spoken to Dallas’s parents via Skype. Although his parents had spoken with reserve, it was clear they were willing to give her a chance. It was her family who was busy keeping the feud alive, and she wanted no part of the stupid argument. Past history. It was time to embrace the future. Her future.
Dallas made her happy.
The waiter left, and Dallas picked up her hand, holding it in his. “Okay?”
“I’m so glad fate allowed us to meet, Dallas. I can’t imagine my life without you. I love you, Dallas.”
“God, Laura,” he said, squeezing her hand painfully hard. His eyes shone with bright emotion as he slowly smiled. “You’ve never told me before.”
“I was right. You needed the words. I’m sorry. I wanted the right setting and moment. I wanted to make my declaration special. I wanted impact so you’d never, ever forget.” She’d given up everything for him and gained so much in exchange. “I love you very much, Dallas O’Grady.”
“Hell, yes, I wanted you to say the words. I fell for you, and after everything with Maria, your reassurance would’ve helped. And if you tell my brothers I said that, I might have to spank you,” he added.
“It’ll be our secret. Dallas, I want you for my friend and lover.” She grinned, her eyes twinkling. “I want to marry you, if only you’d get around to asking me in a proper manner.”
“I think I’ll spank you anyway.” He released her hand and reached into his pocket to retrieve a black box. He opened it and extended it to her, the flash of a diamond and sapphire ring grabbing her attention.
“Oh, Dallas.”
Dallas cleared his throat. “I love you, Laura Drummond. Will you please make me a happy man and marry me?”
“Yes.” She never hesitated.
They shared a long glance, communicating so much more than mere words as he slid the ring on her finger.
“We’ll get married in Clare with your family and our friends,” Laura said. “I’ll send my parents an invitation, even though they won’t come.”
Dallas linked their fingers again. “I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be. This is the end result of a fight I started long before I met you. Besides, your parents and brothers are great and our friends make up for the lack of family on my side. I’m sad, but I’m not going to dwell on their behavior and let it spoil the rest of my life. Our life.”
“We’ll be happy, Laura.”
“I know we will. What do you think of having our engagement party at the Clare pub? Use it as a grand opening?”
“If that’s what you want.”
Laura smiled. “I do. I made some good friends before my parents sent me away to boarding school. It would be great to catch up with the Shakespeare girls.”
They discussed plans and ate delicious fish and seasonal vegetables, and the entire time joy bubbled inside her, almost too much for her body to contain.
“Would you like coffee?” the waitress asked.
“Not for me,” Laura said.
“Can we have the bill?” Dallas took care of the check, and together, they wandered from the restaurant to wait for the elevator to take them to the ground floor.
Laura linked her arm with Dallas’s. “It’s such a nice night. Why don’t we walk to the hotel?”
“I was hoping to hit our room sooner rather than later,” Dallas said. “I want to celebrate our engagement in privacy.”
Laura laughed and walked faster.
In the hotel, Dallas used their keycard and they burst into their room. Dallas shouldered the door shut and reached for her.
“I can’t believe we’re engaged.”
“Did you worry I wouldn’t say yes?” Laura asked.
“The thought did cross my mind, but a man can hope.”
“Dallas, there wasn’t a chance of me saying no. Not a chance.”
Dallas’s grin broadened as he tugged her close. He cupped her face, his blue eyes full of love and laughter. Their lips met, a loving give, a sensual take, and hot passion slid through Laura’s veins. When their mouths parted, her breathing was faster, choppy.
“I want to make love with you,” Dallas said.
“Yes.”
Their clothes melted away, and they fell on the king-size bed in a flurry of limbs and warm skin. He nibbled her neck and moved lower to concentrate on the throbbing pulse at her throat. Sensations, emotions roared through her colliding, ricocheting, exploding like a Guy Fawkes fireworks spectacular. She ran her hand down the center of his chest, stopped to tease his nipples then reached down to curl her fingers around his heavy shaft.
Dallas moaned at the back of his throat, the dark sound shooting an arrow of heat to her pussy.
“How did I ever get so lucky?” she whispered. “I’m so glad you stopped to help me with my flat.”
“Best move I’ve ever made.” Dallas rolled and took control, pressing her against the mattress with his bulk. His blue eyes sparkled as he angled his mouth over hers. He claimed her lips, and she rocked against him, impatient for his possession.
“Hurry,” she said.
Dallas reached for a condom. “This time. Next time is going to be slow.”
“Anything you want.” She kissed him, his shoulder, his neck, his biceps while Dallas rolled on protection. Then he was pushing inside her, filling her.
Their lovemaking was sweet and romantic, each touch, each caress a message of love. Laura gripped his shoulders, her heart lurching under the delicious assault. She cried out, “Love you, Dallas.”
“Mine,” he said and drove into her, satisfaction slashing his sexy mouth.
Her climax hit her in a violent contraction, and Dallas came seconds later. They held each other tight, luxuriating in the aftershocks and everything pleasurable as they formalized the ceasefire between this particular Drummond and O’Grady.
Laura smiled, a soft smile full of love, full of contentment as she breathed in Dallas’s scent and listened to his heartbeat settle. Long live the loving truce.
Would you like to read the prequel to Secret Lovers, book one in the Friendship Chronicles? Get a free copy of Turning Point (a short story featuring Connor’s mother and stepfather) by signing up for my . You’ll also learn about upcoming releases, receive free books and short stories tied to my some of my series plus contest and special promotion news.
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Please turn the page for a glimpse of Playing to Win, a romantic suspense set in New Zealand plus an excerpt from Innocent Next Door, book one in my Military Men series, which is also set in my home country of New Zealand.
Enjoy!
Shelley