Two weeks later...

Lucas glanced at his phone and snorted.

Jenny and Sophia made silly faces back at him, from somewhere up in the house. Life had a funny way of making things come full circle. He wasn’t about to question how it all worked out, only that it was.

“What’s Jenny doing back here?” Uncle Billy sidled up to Lucas, casting a suspicious glance at the groom, who was currently sweating buckets up under the gazebo.

“Well, for starters, she’s dating me.”

“Oh, I...uh...was not aware of that development.” Uncle Billy blinked at him, his small, beady eyes open about as wide as they went.

“Lucas.” Walker waved at him.

The clock was ticking.

What a weird world.

Lucas strolled up to the gazebo. Unlike Walker, he’d opted to wait in the relative shade of the log cabin rented for the family reunion.

Kids played in the side yard and most people were in their casual clothes. Sophia didn’t have much family, a mother, aunt and uncle, plus some cousins who were clustered together.

“I gave you the ring, didn’t I?” Walker asked.

“You did.” Lucas patted his pocket.

If anyone had said he would suddenly be standing in as Best Man for Walker’s second wedding, he’d have cursed a blue streak. Now, it just seemed natural.

The minister, who was also part of Walker’s AA circle, called for everyone to gather who wanted to witness the ceremony. Some clustered near, while others hung back. Lucas understood many people’s reluctance to be too happy about this, but that was because they didn’t understand. People like Walker and Jenny had been through a crucible that remade them. The Walker here wasn’t the same piece of shit, Lucas had rolled out of many-a bar. He was different, and for that, Lucas couldn’t do anything but show him the same support he would the rest of the family.

The wedding march struck up and people turned toward the cabin.

Sophia stepped out in a simple, white sundress, Jenny escorting her while wearing the same dress in a peachy-blush color. The two women looked at each other, their smiles wide. They’d hatched this plan the day they’d met and given the rest of them no option to say no.

It was a measure of how much both Walker and Jenny had grown, and Lucas—like Sophia—were honored to witness the transformation of broken souls into the person they loved.

Sophia and Jenny strolled down the unadorned aisle, both clutching flowers bought from the supermarket down the road.

In place of Sophia’s father or brother, Jenny spoke for them, giving the bride away before stepping up to play her second part.

Sophia and Walker joined hands and the ceremony continued.

Lucas peered past the couple to Jenny, happy tears in her eyes, and knew—someday—they would make a similar commitment. He loved who she’d been, who she was now, and who she would be. Jenny was the love of his life, it’d just taken them a little longer to get here.

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Read the rest of the Puppy Stories from the following authors...

, Pelican Bay Security by

Spencer Jamison may not lace up his boots as a Navy SEAL any longer, but that doesn’t stop him from being the hottest service man I’ve ever laid eyes on. And don’t get me started on his adorable dog.  Dating Spencer is great...until the dead body turns up.

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, Motor City Romance #1 by

Their marriage was supposed to be a business transaction. Only love wasn't factored into the contract. And he never expected he would fall in love with his husband.

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, Weaver's Circle by

Marie Franklin set up her veterinary practice in tiny Weaver's Circle to hide her association to one of the biggest names in rock and roll. Helping Will Perkins with his rescue puppy is a great in and falling for him is better. But this puppy is one of the Bachelor Party Rescue Puppies and Marie's cover is about to be blown.

Find out more about Christa’s new releases by !

, Coming Soon by

She's hunting for the princess. He's searching for his brother. Can they help each other, or are they on opposite sides of a dragon war?

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, A Portwood Brothers Novella by

The only regret Wes ever had was letting Hailey get away. Now that he has a chance to win her back, he’s all in. A little hard work never bothered him before especially now that he’s playing for her heart.

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, Real Men 4 by

An ex-Seal and a puppy - both lost, forgotten and alone. But fate had different ideas. It took a heartless villain, a woman of unusual sight, and a small town that wouldn’t let go... A man and a puppy. Both heroes.

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Under His Skin

So Inked #1

A woman who doesn’t believe she deserves love...

Toe-curling kisses and enough sex to fill a weekend were all Pandora wanted from a fling with her teenage crush. She’s never forgotten how he played the knight in shining armor to her damsel in distress. She’s ready to say thank you in several naughty ways, so long as she can walk away when it’s over with her heart intact.

A man moving on from tragedy...

Brian has no intention of allowing the feisty tattoo artist to leave him after one taste. He hasn’t had enough of her inked curves. The packaging might have changed, but Pandy is the woman he hasn’t been able to excise from his memory. He’s ready to put together a new life, one that includes her. But he’s not the only one vying for her attention. Someone else wants her, dead or alive.

The Harder He Falls

So Inked #2

A woman who doesn’t have time for love...

A hot night full of hotel-destroying sex was all Kellie wanted from her client-turned-sex god. Between family and work, there isn’t room for love, just hot, sweaty lust. An arrangement for mutual gratification is exactly what Kellie wants, but every kiss, each mind-blowing orgasm twines her heart around a man she cannot have.

A man building a new life...

Quinton’s assumptions about the So Inked shop owner are turned on their head after one session under her tattoo machine. Kellie’s not the vandal he’s looking for, but she’s the woman he wants. In his bed, on the desk or under the stars, he’ll take her any way he can get her. But Quin has secrets and someone is out to destroy him. Someone who has their sights set on Kellie now.

•  •

His Marriage Bargain

So Inked #3

A woman who loves too much...

When Autumn’s best friend proposes a pretend marriage, the chance to make all the kisses she’s imagined real is too much for her to pass up. She seduces him with her body and enjoys pushing his boundaries and fulfilling their sexual fantasies—but her heart isn’t supposed to be part of the bargain.

A man about to take his last breath...

Living on borrowed time, Sammi has just weeks left to live out his dying wish—to have the white picket fence, the house and the wife. If Autumn is the last woman he gets to taste, he’ll die a lucky man. Her body, her heart, everything about her calls to him. But love isn’t supposed to be in the plans.

IN THE CRUCIBLE OF passion, these two lovers will find out what they’re really made from, and just how long I Do lasts.

•  •

BOOK LIST

Aegis Group

Blind: Killer Instincts

Dangerous Attraction

Dangerous in Training

Dangerous Games

Dangerous Assignment

Dangerous Protector

Aegis Group Alpha Team

Dangerous in Love

Dangerous in Action

Dangerous in Secret

Dangerous in Motion

Dangerous in Charge

Gone Geek

Beauty and the Geek

The Vet and the Geek

The Jock and the Geek

The Gamer and the Geek

The Adorkable Girl and the Geek

Hot Rides

Drive

Shift

Chase

Bayou Bound

Picture Her Bound

Duty Bound

Bound Memories

Bound & Tamed

Other BDSM Titles

Committed

Bound with Pearls

Collar Me in Paris

Festive Seduction

Electric Engagement

So Inked

Under His Skin

The Harder He Falls

His Marriage Bargain

Fighting His Desire

Standalone Titles

Falling for His Best Friend

Dream Vacation (free read)

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

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IT CAN NEVER BE SAID that NYT & USA Today Bestselling author Sidney Bristol has had a ‘normal’ life.  She is a recovering roller derby queen, former missionary, and tattoo addict. She grew up in a motor-home on the US highways (with an occasional jaunt into Canada and Mexico), traveling the rodeo circuit with her parents. Sidney has lived abroad in both Russia and Thailand, working with children and teenagers. She now lives in Texas where she splits her time between a job she loves, writing, reading and fostering cats.

You can find Sidney here:

Website: www.SidneyBristol.com

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Facebook Page:

www.facebook.com/Sidney.Bristol.Romance.Author

Facebook Profile:

www.facebook.com/Sidney.Bristol.Author

Cheesecake Reader Lounge:

www.facebook.com/groups/CheesecakeReaderLounge

•  •

COPYRIGHT © 2017 BY Sidney Bristol.

Cover design by Charity Hendry.

www.CharityHendry.com

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law. For permission requests, write to the publisher, addressed “Attention: Permissions Coordinator,” at the address below.

Sidney Bristol

www.SidneyBristol.com

Publisher’s Note: This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are a product of the author’s imagination. Locales and public names are sometimes used for atmospheric purposes. Any resemblance to actual people, living or dead, or to businesses, companies, events, institutions, or locales is completely coincidental.

Book Layout ©2013 BookDesignTemplates.com

Fighting His Desire / Sidney Bristol. – 1st ed.

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