Be Good (20 page)

“I don’t have a fiancé.”

“What happened to Becca?”

He put his head down for a moment then looked back up at me with damp eyes. “She’s not you.”

“What is that supposed to mean?”

He shook his head. “I couldn’t be with her again. Everything she did and said I compared her to you and she always fell short.”

I scoffed. “Yeah, right. Becca is perfect. I don’t think she is capable of falling short in any way.”

“She may be perfect but she’s not perfect for me.” He pulled me close, so our bodies were touching, and I completely melted into his arms. I breathed in the scent of him and thought about how much I had missed everything about him. “See how well we fit together,” Brett whispered. “You’re the one, who’s perfect for me.”

Being with him felt so familiar and so right. It felt right like being with the girls party planning felt right. But I was afraid. I was afraid that he’d so easily and carelessly break my heart again. I wasn’t sure I could trust him with something so fragile.

I looked into Brett’s eyes. “You really hurt me
.” 

“I know. And I know it’s going to take time for you to trust
me again. All I want is a chance.”

I pulled away from Brett. “I’m not the same person I was when we met. I’m working as a party planner instead of wasting my time at an endless party. And I don’t drink anymore.”

Brett nodded but I could see his eyes sparkling with something, maybe pride.

“So you can’t just treat me like trash. I’m not disposable.”

A teardrop rolled down Brett’s cheek. “I know. I’m sorry I hurt you. You didn’t deserve to be treated that way.”

“How do I know you won’t hurt me like that again?”

He grabbed my hands in his. “I love you, Anna. I didn’t realize how much until you were gone.”

My head felt like it was swimming with thoughts and em
otions. I wanted to believe Brett but I was scared to trust him again.

Before I knew what was happening, Brett was down on one knee in front of me. “Marry me,” he said. It wasn’t a question.

“Are you insane?”

“Not if it’s the only way I can prove my love.”

“First of all, we were only together a few months. Second, you left me for your ex-fiancé. And third, we’re not even back together again, so why are you asking me to marry you? And why am I suddenly the voice of reason?”

He rose and kissed me. “It wasn’t a question
,” he whispered.

I gulped. There was Brett’s determined looked again.

“I’m willing to wait as long as it takes and when you’re ready, we’re getting married.”

“Shouldn’t we get engaged first
,” I suggested.

He shook his head. “I no longer do engagements. They didn’t work out so well for me in the past.”

Brett grabbed me and pulled me close again. He crashed his mouth into mine and claimed me. This time, his kiss was filled with so much desire and need, it completely overwhelmed my senses.

“Okay,” I said nearly breathless.

Brett cocked an eyebrow, “Okay, what?”

“Okay to all of it.”

Brett finally looked hopeful. “Are you sure?”

“Yes, but I have some conditions.”

He raised an eyebrow.

“I think we should take things slow. Get to know each other a lot better
before we march down the aisle. After all, we have our whole lives to figure things out.”

“You’re a wise woman.”

I smiled. “Maybe I just have a good teacher. And one more thing—you have to be good.”

“I’m always good,” he
murmured.

When he kissed me again, I knew he was.

Other Titles by Dakota Madison

MATCHPLAY

A Girl, a Guy, a Tournament and a Challenge

The Girl: At a time when most girls obsess about homeco
ming and high school prom, Rainy Dey spent her senior year caring for her dying mother. So when her father drops her off at college to start her freshman year, his words of advice to his bookish daughter are to start acting like a young person and finally have some fun.

The Guy: College senior, Aaron Donavan, aka Mr. Hot-and-Knows-It, is President of the Clubhouse, a social club for the college’s most wealthy and popular guys. Aaron can have any girl on campus except the one who challenges and excites him the most—Rainy Dey.

Slow No Wake

After finding her sister in bed with her fiancé, 25-year old Lexie Wilkins decides to relocate to southwest Florida to start a new life and escape relationships all together. What she doesn’t expect to find are two attractive kite surfers, who both want her.

So much for Lexie’s vow for her fresh start in Florida: a no wake zone. Having two guys in her life is sure to make waves.

Eddie is the captivating bad boy, who lives next door. Daniel is Lexie’s sweet and ruggedly handsome co-worker. The differences between the two men are just as extreme as their sport…

Who will she choose?