Crash Ride (29 page)

“Dan, stop touching my
ass. My dad is right over there.” Ashlyn very unconvincingly smacked away Dan’s hand. Her lips curved into a smile as her other hand brought the glass of champagne to her mouth. Despite being manhandled, there was no hiding how happy she was.

“Oh come on, babe, I’m dying here. Can’t we sneak off for a quickie?” Dan almost pleaded. His eyes filled with lust as they raked over his new wife. I would have thought Ash should be more worried about the come-sit-on-my-face vibes he was throwing off rather than hands on her ass, but who was I to judge.

“No, we have a few more hours of the reception and then I’m all yours.” She giggled as she lowered her champagne glass back to the table.

“Hate to break it you, babe, but you’re all mine now. I’m just being respectful by not having sex with you right here and now,” Dan not so quietly whispered into her ear. His hands disappeared under the white table linen of the bridal table. The grin getting wider hinted that they weren’t sitting idle in his lap. My role as maid of honor earned me a front row seat to the shenanigans, catching an eyeful as I sat to their left.

The wedding had been beautiful. My dress had even been a stunning slate grey chiffon full-length gown. Not a pink tutu in sight. The whole vibe was traditional and simple, with the bride and groom exchanging vows in a catholic church in Manhattan before a stunning reception in the Manhattan Ballroom of the Grand Hyatt hotel. The ornate tables all but deserted as guests danced to a live five-piece band. They weren’t anyone famous, but knew just about every chart topping song from the last thirty years.

It was all very low key considering whom the groom was. Although given that the night wasn’t over, there was still time for a bunch of bikini-clad babes to jump out of a cake or something.

“You should probably do the flower toss and call it a day. Save us and everyone else from an indecent display.” Troy popped open a button on his tailored tuxedo jacket to reveal a fitted charcoal vest as he sat down beside me. The contradiction of the mohwak he was rocking, making the suit look even more delicious.

“Did I tell you how sexy you look, Troy Harris?” My arms snaked around his broad chest. God, he looked good. Maybe Dan had the right idea? Holy hell. I’d just agreed with Dan. Maybe it was best we called it a night.

“Yeah? You got a thing for the monkey suit?” Troy gave me a suggestive look, his grin widening as he leaned back in his chair. The power of his smile making me tingle all over.

“I have a
thing
for you.” I tiptoed my fingers along the seam of his vest.

“Yeah we know.” Dan laughed, apparently done with fondling his wife in time to eavesdrop on our conversation.

In fairness, I hadn’t been quiet about it. I had a couple of rings on my finger than told me I didn’t have to be. Oh, and I didn’t have to worry about stalking charges now either. I was able to ogle Troy Harris all I wanted, and it was total legal. It was winning all the way around.

“Wow.” Jase nodded, taking a swig from his beer as he pulled up a chair beside us. “I feel like I should be busting out a rendition of “Can you feel the love tonight?” That, or cry into these expensive napkins at the beauty of all of it. The struggle is real.” His voice dripped with sarcasm as he joined us at the bridal table.

“Yeah, whatever, asswipe. You’re next.” Dan tipped his chin, giving him a pointed glare. Jase being the only member of Power Station not with a significant other.

“Nah, someone has to keep us on the most eligible bachelor lists.” Jase’s smile widened as he brought the bottle back to his lips and took another drink. With his dark suit fitting snuggly against his toned body, he could have easily been a model for GQ.

“Five large says he ends up in knots over a girl within the next three months.” Troy smirked, his hand resting on the back of my chair.

“I say let’s make it ten, but Jase likes putting in the ground work. The guy isn’t even dating anyone, so I think it would be closer to six,” Dan piped in, Ashlyn giggling by his side.

“You know I’m right here, assholes.” Jase rolled his brown eyes. “And I can’t believe you are gambling on my relationship status. I feel so fucking cheap.”

“Done.” Troy agreed, his wager with Dan apparently decided as they both ignored Jason.

“I’ll drink to that.” Dan raised his glass of champagne before pausing. “Hey, why aren’t you drinking?” His eyes floated over to the lack of alcoholic beverage in front of me. I’d been sipping water all night.

“Wait. What?” Ashlyn’s attention now also directed on my apparently offensive glass. Obviously her being busy getting married had distracted her enough to not notice. “Why are you not drinking?” She pointed a finger at my glass accusingly, her eyes peeled wide as she looked down at the glass of water and then at me. “Megs!”

“Wow, Ash. No need to yell at her, babe. It’s only a drink.” Dan rubbed his wife’s arm oblivious as to why she was getting excited.

“Megs. Don’t you hold out on me.” Ash showed no signs of letting it go.

Let’s face it. When it came to keeping secrets, I sucked. Also in the list of things I didn’t do well was lie. So combine the two, and I was pretty much a goner when it came to hiding that just two days ago, peeing on a stick had given me two very clear lines.

“Okay.” I admitted as I slowly rose to my feet, Troy’s arms circling me as I continued. “It’s early and we just found out. We’re being cautious.” Not to mention petrified, but elated and crazy happy. Oh and I’d had cried about fifteen times in the last forty-eight hours. I was sure that wasn’t normal either.

Ash squealed, leapt out of her chair and gave me a hug, her display of affection drawing curious stares from people close by. Lucky for us they didn’t give us much more interest. A bride squealing on her wedding day wasn’t exactly a surprising occurrence.

“Nothing bad is going to happen this time.” Troy gave my hand a subtle squeeze being that Ash was still dominating my personal space. They were same words he had been reciting to me since I’d held the EPT test in front of his face. My vocabulary had been limited to “Oh my God” as the significance of those two lines sunk in.

It’s what we both wanted, had hoped for but it didn’t mean that I didn’t freak the hell out. It seemed to be my natural reaction so this time around I didn’t fight it. Troy was his usual calm self and even though I suspected he was just as scared as I was, he was wearing an ironclad poker face.

“Congrats, man.” Jase clapped Troy over the shoulder. “So happy for you guys.” He turned his attention to me and pulled me into a warm one-armed hug. “Awesome news, Megs. Oh and thanks for the heat off my love life. I owe you one.”

“Thanks.” My eyes started to leak again. I swear, by the end of this pregnancy I was going to be hospitalized for dehydration via tear ducts. Could that even happen? Crap. I needed to drink more water.

“You’re knocked up?” Dan shot us a sideways glance, clearly needing the clarification.

“Yep.” Troy grinned not even trying to hide his excitement. “We sure are.”

Dan gave us his excited congratulations like everyone else had and I gave up trying to stop from crying again. Ash joined me, proving what a team player she was, not leaving me to ruin my mascara all by myself. So much for my initial concern about bringing drama to her wedding— yeah that ship had sailed. I know there was a saying about even the best intentions going down the tube, but I couldn’t remember it, and in the end it didn’t matter.

Troy and I, we didn’t know how to do ordinary, and that was okay, because like he’d told me months ago, where’s the fun in an easy ride? I was buckled up and ready to go.

No one needed to give me a guarantee this was going to work out, I already knew. Why? Because I had Troy Harris.

See more of Dan, Ash, Megs and Troy in Jase’s story Back Stage coming later in 2015.

The biggest thanks will always go to my family. They put up with a lot so these books can be written with this one being no exception. Gep, Jenna. Liam and Woodley, I’ll never write enough words to express my gratitude so I won’t try. Instead I’ll write just three—I love you.

Thank you to my girls who have been there from the start and will be there until the end. Mini, Sam, Nat, Cayte, Shell, Juzzie, Jo, Grace, Bec and Kirsty each one of you has seen me at my worst and at my best, and none of those times have you left. You’ve got me and I’ve got you.

To an amazing beta team who between the three of them make sure I don’t drop the ball and churn out something subpar. Amy, Terri and Maz, thank you for your honesty, your time and all your effort. I know this book is what is because of your notes and suggestions even if they weren’t always easy to hear.

Thank you the authors who either haven’t ejected me from the club just yet or have at least been discreet when they obtained retraining orders. Lili Saint Germain, JB Hartnett, Skyla Mardi, CJ Duggan, Lilliana Andersen, Rachael Brookes, JD Nixon, KM Golland, TJ Hamilton, Jill Patten, Chantal Fernando, Kim Karr, SC Stephens, Joanna Wylde and Kylie Scott. Thanks for the support, the laughs and the outstanding reads. Honored to call you my peers and humbled to call you my friends.

Thank you to Hang Le for the back cover, teasers and other super sexy graphic stuff. It is an absolute pleasure working with you; you get my vision each and every time. It’s no lie I adore you.

Thank you Dr. Gian for another kick-ass cover. This one could well be my favorite. You never fail to slam-dunk in the design department and I’m going to miss your work on my covers—I suppose your students and faculty do need you more so I won’t fight it. Be awesome.

Thank you to psychologist Jo-Anne P for technical and medical information and support. I write books, you save lives. Thanks for the amazing work you do in your field as well.

Thanks to Angelique Ehlers for front cover photography.

Thank you to the bloggers and blogs who have supported me. Helen S- Kinky Book Klub, Kelly O- Kelly’s Kindle Konfessions, Marie M- Surrender to Books, Jodie O- Fab Fun and Tantalizing Reads, Rebecca and Nicole – Author Groupies, Tammy M- A Slice of Fiction, The Book Nuts and The SubClub, Francessca W – Francessca’s Romance Reviews, Sam -Forever Me Romance, Mel L– Sassy Mum book Blog, Debbie O- Hard Rock Romance, Tash D- Book Lit Love, Stephanie G – The Lemon Review, Kristine B- Glass Paper Ink Bookblog, Karen H- A Thousand Lives Book Blog, Belinda and Lily- Hopelessly Devoted 2 Books, Amy J – The SubClub, Paige and Kylie –Give me Books, Tash D- Book Lit Love, Sian D - Rauchy, Rude and Readers blog, Laurie F – Book Fancy, Jo W- Four Brits and a Book, Erin- Read and Ramble, Sarez- Talk Supe, Bianca – Martini Times Romance blog, Rosarita-iScream Books, and sorry to anyone I have forgotten. I love you all.

Thanks to the T Gephart Entourage, it’s not a street team, it’s a support crew. Love you ladies.

Thank you to Jemina Venter at BookNerdFanGirl Designs to breathing life into my boys. Love your designs.

Thanks to my Fictionally Yours, Melbourne team- Penny and Simone. #WordWizard #ShutUpAndWrite #FanGirl

Thank you to my editor Nichole Strauss from Perfectly Publishable. I’m not the easiest person to edit, having very strong ideas on my work, but you worked tirelessly to give me a beautiful clean manuscript. I appreciate your time and your patience even if you disapprove of my shouty caps. Sometime huge needs to be written as HUGE, it’s all in the telling.

Thank you to Max Henry from Max Effect for my stunning formatting. My pages never looked so beautiful.

And a HUGE (yes shouty caps are necessary) thank you to the readers. Yeah, I mean you. All of you. Now, hustle in for a big group hug! Thanks so much for spending your time with my characters and me.