Tin Queen (Clifton Forge, #6)

by Devney Perry

Emmett smiled. It came easy. It was entirely sexy. And I liked that he could smile. I also liked that one day, I’d be the woman to wipe that fucking smile off his face.

“He told me that a king was nothing without his queen. That the two most important cards in a deck were the ace and the queen. You want the ace up your sleeve. And you need the queen at your back because women fight dirty.”

in. I closed my eyes and for just a moment, I wasn’t June Johnson. I wasn’t Tucker Talbot’s daughter. Emmett wasn’t my enemy, and this wasn’t all part of some grand scheme to get my revenge. For just a moment, I was a woman who shared a primal attraction with this sexy man. This man who pushed me to shed my inhibitions and be free.

“So it was like Sons of Anarchy.” The corner of Emmett’s mouth turned up. “You’re killin’ me.”

“Probably.” Dash chuckled. “She’s Tucker Talbot’s daughter. Bastard or not, she might be the only one to end this war. You pull her into our fold, he’s got a reason to back off.” I laughed because of course Dash would see every angle to my love life. “Christ, you are a selfish prick.” “Yes, I am.” He grinned. “That aside, I watched a woman’s heart break that night. A woman you’re in love with and a woman who I suspect is in love with you.”

“I’m in love with a man I don’t deserve.” The lump in my throat began to choke me, but I pressed on. “I lied to you. I used you. And for that, I’m sorry. But I don’t regret falling in love with you. I never will.”

“June Johnson.” “Nice to meet you, June.” “Nova. June is my first name but everyone I love calls me by my middle name, Nova.” “Nova.” I stepped inside, moving close enough to slide my palm against her cheek and catch another tear with my thumb.

“Hey, baby.” A smile stretched across her face. A smile I hoped to see every day for the rest of my life. “Hi, Ace.”

He’d set me free. We’d set each other free. His queen. And my Ace.