More on this book
Community
Kindle Notes & Highlights
I want to know more about Winter Valentine. Like when that divorce is happening.
“Careful, that one’s got claws,” Cade offers right as Willa shoves a pointy elbow into his ribs. I grin. “That’s okay. I like having my back scratched.”
“I’m going to ruin you tonight.”
I want a woman like Winter Hamilton—beautiful, and smart, and sharp-tongued—to look at me and see a future.
But Theo doesn’t follow suit. Instead, he scowls at me. “I could fucking bury whoever made you believe you’re as unlovable as you seem to think.”
“Watch your fucking tone when you’re talking to the mother of my child.”
And when I go to bed that night, the hinges on my door don’t squeak at all.
“Because I fucking adore you. Haven’t you been paying attention?”
“What’s happening is Miss Independent met the treat-her-like-a-princess guy, and she’s freaking out.”
Because I want you, Winter. And not just for one night.”
“I just remembered that he called me the morning after you two first got together. And do you know what he said to me? I shake my head. It’s all I can manage. “He said, ‘Mom, I met her.’ And I said, ‘Who?’” Loretta’s lips curve up, her eyes taking on a faraway look. “He said, ‘The woman I’m going to marry one day.’”
“Because I knew I was coming back. You were a mess—respectfully—and I was out of control. We both needed time.” A thin laugh spills from her lips. “I’m still a mess now.” I splay my fingers lower on her back, trailing them over the top seam of her underwear as I gaze out over the packed dance floor. “Maybe I don’t care. Maybe I want to be messy with you forever.”
“I promise I’ll never hate you.” I drag my lips over her cheek, my teeth back down along her jaw. “You can’t know that,” she whispers, a sharp intake of breath hissing from between her lips as I spin her and face us toward the mirror. Forcing her to look at us. My hands trail over the silk, tracing every curve, thumbs detouring down into that little dip beneath her hips. “I can. I’ll be too busy loving you.”
“Now get out of my way, Kip. I want to go home and be with my girls.” Home. My girls.
“Because I’m your baby daddy?” “No.” I meet his eyes at the final red light before we pull up to the house. “Because you make me like myself . . . and you’re the only one who ever has.”
She feels like the mom I should have had.
He better not fucking die on me. The thought jolts me for a minute. It came so easily. So naturally. Like being with Theo is the most obvious thing in the world. Like, of course, we’ll be together. Who the hell else would I be with? Who would put up with my moody ass? Who would love Vivi the way he does? Who would love me the way he does?
“All the ways I’m going to ruin you tonight. All I see is you, Winter.”
“You have to freak out with me because I need you. And I love you. I love you so much it paralyzes me to think of carrying on without you. You’re not allowed to shut me out. Because you made me need you, and now you have to deal with the consequences.”
The woman everyone told me was cold, mean, and unavailable is so thoroughly mine.
“Got my baby girl and my future wife here with me tonight. They make this win extra special.”
“Anything you want to say to this future wife of yours tonight, Silva?” I don’t need to think twice. I hold the mic up to my lips and murmur, “Te vivo.” It’s better than “I love you”. It’s more accurate. It’s us.
“Because I’m your future wife?” I ask, trying to lighten the mood. “Obviously,” he volleys back. “Did you really call your mom and tell her that?” He snorts. “Yeah, Tink. When you know, you know.”
Theo grins at me. “So fucking pretty when you laugh.”
However, I do glance up at the handsome man I get to call my own. And as we pass my ex . . . Theo winks at him.
“That night, all the best things in this world came into existence. You. Vivi. Us.”
“That night we were reckless.” His voice cracks. “But god, I’d be reckless with you over and over again if it means ending up here.”
“Winter Hamilton, will you marry me?” I smile through the tears. “Would hate to make a liar out of you after how long you’ve been telling people you’re going to marry me.”
All I know is that this win is only important for a few moments. Because when Winter whispers in my ear, “Hope you’re ready to do this dad thing again, because there’s another Theo doppelgänger on the way,” nothing is more important than us.
