In Bed with Mr. Wrong (15 page)
“I’m sorry, honey. I shouldn’t have said that shit to you before I left.”
She stepped back, though she kept a hold of his hands. “You don’t have anything to
be sorry for. I’m the one who let my fear get the better of me. And I
am
afraid, Ryan. I’m terrified I won’t be able to handle your leaving me repeatedly.
I’m worried that something will happen to you while you’re gone, and I’ll have a complete
meltdown and backslide to the helpless kid I was.”
He couldn’t imagine asking her to go through that. Not for him. “Bri—”
“Please let me finish.” She smiled, though it wavered a little around the edges. “I’m
terrified, but I’ve spent my entire life without meeting someone I connect with like
I connect with you. I can’t let you fly off without trying to make it work.
Really
trying.” She bit her lip. “If you’ll let me.”
“Oh, he’ll let you,” his friend chimed in behind them.
“Shut up, Jacks.” He dragged her into his arms again and claimed her mouth. She went
soft against him, her arms going around his neck. Kissing her felt like the most natural
thing in the world.
It felt like coming home.
Cheers broke his concentration, reminding him of just where he was. Ryan pulled back
with a sheepish grin. “Forgot we had an audience.”
Bri blushed a pretty shade of crimson. “Me, too.”
He cupped her face, tipping it up so she met his gaze. “How about we both try?”
She was already nodding before he finished the sentence. “
I’ll wait for you. As long as it takes.”
She’d wait for him. The one thing he never would have dreamed of asking, and she was
willing to do it. “We’ll make this work. I promise. And I’d like to get a place in
Wellingford.”
“Wellingford?” She frowned. “But you hate it there.”
“I never hated it, exactly.” He brushed her bangs out of the way. “Besides, I recently
met this really wonderful woman who’s in love with that little town, and spending
time with her has helped me start to see the place through new eyes.”
“Really?”
“Yeah. So if you’re willing to work with me for a bit, we could have the best of both
worlds.” He took a deep breath. “I think I’m falling in love with you, Brianne Nave.”
She kissed him again, ignoring the cheers around them, only stepping back when they
were both breathing hard. “Well, I
am
falling in love with you, Ryan Flannery. Of course I’ll work with you. Now and always.”
It figured that she couldn’t help one-upping him, even in this. That was okay. If
things went according to his plan, Ryan would have an entire lifetime to turn the
tables on her. He grinned at the possibilities.
A lifetime of making new memories with Bri? He couldn’t wait.
Epilogue
Bri stood in the airport, wondering if this ever got easier. She wasn’t sure it
should
. Three months without Ryan this time, which was a whole lot better than the six months
of the first tour. She’d missed him so desperately, and missed him all the more once
she started throwing up and realized…
She clutched the sign to her front and bit her lip. People streamed from the gate
exit, branching off to hug loved ones or head toward baggage claim, the majority of
them dressed in the Air Force-Army uniform she’d become so familiar with in the last
year. Any second now, any minute he’d walk through the opening.
Then she could share her news.
And there Ryan was, his gaze landing on her unerringly. He broke into a smile, and
then he was running, crossing the distance between them in great, bounding strides
and swinging her into his arms. “I’m sorry the flight was late.”
She inhaled the spicy scent of him and buried her face in his neck. “I said I’d wait
forever, remember?”
“That doesn’t mean you have to like it.”
She
didn’t
like it, didn’t like the distance his deployments caused. But she’d surprised herself,
because she was okay. It wasn’t fun, but she handled it without any of the soul-crushing
despair she expected. It helped that the people of Wellingford had descended while
he was gone, making sure she never felt truly alone, even when she missed him so desperately
she couldn’t see straight. The minnow Ryan gave her before he left—a partner for Mr.
Smith—helped, too.
Bri kissed him, loving that he was here in her arms again.
“I’m crushing your poster.”
“I don’t care.”
But when she leaned up to kiss him again, he only allowed it to last a few seconds
before he laughed and took a step back. “I care. Show me.”
She held her breath as he read, frowned, and seemed to read it again. “We’ll have
our own little fire-starter in six months?” Then his blue eyes went wide and his gaze
dropped to her stomach. “A baby?”
“I know we weren’t really planning on—”
He was there, sweeping her into his arms again and spinning her around. She laughed
and hugged him. “I take it you’re not upset?”
“Upset? Why the hell would I be upset? This is the best news I’ve gotten. Ever.” He
stopped spinning again and looked down at her. “There’s only one thing that could
make this day better.”
Her heart felt like it was trying to beat its way out of her chest. A year together
and he still affected her like he had the night of their first date—though she didn’t
want to bean him with an encyclopedia nearly as often these days. “Oh yeah?”
“Yeah.” He stepped back and dropped down to one knee. “Be my wife.” Then he pulled
a square box out of his fatigues’ pocket. “I was going to wait to propose until we
made it to dinner, but this is better.”
She pressed her hands to her mouth. This was really happening. When she’d found out
she was pregnant, she’d barely dared hope that he’d be happy, let alone
this
. “Yes. Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes.”
Ryan raised his eyebrows. “Are you going to let me put it on your finger?”
Giddy laughter sprang free from her mouth. “I love you so much.”
“That’s good, because I’m pretty sure I’ve been in love with you since you pelted
me in the face with that snowball.” He slipped the ring onto her finger. “This was
my grandmother’s ring. Drew found it in some old boxes and gave it to me before this
last deployment.”
It was gorgeous, an emerald-cut diamond nestled in a cluster of actual emeralds. Bri
couldn’t keep the stupid smile off her face. “It’s beautiful.”
“Not as beautiful as the woman wearing it.” He pushed to his feet and kissed her again.
“I don’t want to put a damper on this situation, but shouldn’t Drew be the one getting
the ring since he’s the older brother?”
“My brother, Wellingford’s most eligible bachelor?” Ryan snorted. “We’ll all die of
old age before he settles down.”
“Maybe he just needs the right woman.”
“I’m not too worried about it. I’ve found my right woman.” He pressed his hand to
her stomach, which had barely started to round. “A baby. God, honey, you have no idea
how happy that makes me—how happy you make me. I love you.”
“I love you too, Ryan.” She had a man who loved her—and whom she loved more than she
thought possible—and now they were taking the first step toward creating the family
neither one of them had experienced. Bri leaned against him. “I didn’t know it was
possible to be this happy.”
“Honey, we’re just getting started.”
Acknowledgments
First and always—to God. This year has been filled with more blessings than I could
have believed. Thank you, thank you, a thousand times thank you.
To Heather Howland—the Out of Uniform series came into being with a hilarious phone
call, and this book wouldn’t have come close to doing it justice without your awesomeness.
To Liz Pelletier—for picking up the strands of potential and helping weave it all
together into a great enemies-to-lovers book.
To Kari Olson—for your comments and helping make this book even better. And definitely
thank you for the inspiration pictures!
To Sue Winegardner—for answering my military questions in an amazingly quick fashion
and helped me keep things as accurate as I possibly could.
To my betas—Diane Alberts, Tessa Bailey, Seleste Delaney, Samanthe Beck, and Lauren
Blakely.
To The Rabble—for being just as excited about Ryan and Bri’s story as I am, and for
giving me plenty of ideas who two people could entertain themselves if they were stranded.
Y’all are amazing!
And last, but certainly not least—to my totally (mostly) patient husband. You cooked
more than your fair share of dinners and missed out on plenty of family errands so
I could write and edit. Thank you! I love you, babe!
About the Author
New York Times
and USA TODAY bestselling author Katee Robert learned to tell stories at her grandpa’s
knee. Her favorites then were the rather epic adventures of The Three Bears, but at
age twelve, she discovered romance novels and never looked back. When not writing
sexy contemporary and speculative romance novels, she spends her time playing imaginary
games with her wee ones, ogling men, and planning for the inevitable zombie apocalypse.
He’ll fight for her life. She’ll fight for his love.
Fighting for Irish
a Fighting for Love novel by NYT bestselling author Gina L. Maxwell
When he learns a friend’s sister has forty-eight hours to make good on an ex’s debt
to a crime boss, former MMA fighter Aiden “Irish” O’Brien heads to Louisiana to offer
himself up as collateral. But to satisfy the debt, he has to do the one thing he swore
he’d never do again: fight. With more than just money on the line, can Irish reclaim
the man he once was for the woman he can’t live without?
This matchmaker’s about to meet her match...
a Perfectly Matched novel by Christine Bell
Grace Love can spot a match for someone else a mile away, but the only guy who makes
her
sixth sense tingle is SWAT officer Trick Matthews. The problem? He’s her playboy
best friend, and there’s no way she’s risking their friendship for hot sex. But Trick
plans to show her exactly how good they could be…and that he’s the only man for her.
The fighting was just foreplay…
Asking for Trouble
a Line of Duty novel by Tessa Bailey
Brent Mason and Hayden Winstead can’t stand each other. Unfortunately, their two best
friends are deeply, disgustingly in love. Forced together, the mutual attraction simmering
beneath the surface of Brent and Hayden’s non-relationship grows with every argument
until it explodes into a night of mind-blowing sex. Hayden has a secret, though. To
protect her wealthy family, she’ll have to forget the dirty-talking cop, but Brent
has no intention of being forgotten.
Never challenge a cowboy in the courtroom…
Against the Wall
a Maverick Montana novel by Rebecca Zanetti
The last thing Sophie Smith expects when surveying land for her new golf course is
to be yanked atop a stallion by a cowboy. And not just any cowboy—Jake Lodge, the
Tribal lawyer opposing her company’s development. But Sophie has banked everything
on the golf course’s success. She can’t fail, no matter how tempting Jake may be.
He’ll guard her body all night long.
Wilde Nights in Paradise
a Wilde Security novel by Tonya Burrows
Former Marine Jude Wilde’s motto has always been “burn bridges and never look back.”
But when Wilde Security is hired to protect district attorney Libby Pruitt, the woman
he loved and left, Jude can’t ignore the heat—or the animosity—sparking between them.
With her life on the line and a grudge to break, can he win back Libby’s heart?
Pretending to be in love never felt so
sexy
.
Falling for the Marine
a McCade Brothers novel by Samanthe Beck
USMC helicopter pilot Michael McCade has two goals: Get his damn back into alignment
and stay out of trouble until his commanding officer clears him to fly again. When
his too-hot-to-handle neighbor turns out to be his masseuse, he strays from the plan
in a major way. But can a girl who avoids attachments at all costs fake an engagement
to a straight-arrow soldier without falling hard?
Enjoy more stories by NYT and USA TODAY bestselling author Katee Robert!
Seducing Mr. Wrong never felt so right.
Wrong Bed, Right Guy
the NYT bestselling first book in the Come Undone series
Prim and proper art gallery coordinator Elle Walser is no good at seducing men. She
slips into her boss’s bed in the hopes of winning his heart, but instead, finds herself
in the arms of Gabe Schultz, his bad boy nightclub mogul brother. Has her botched
seduction led Elle to the right bed after all?
It was only supposed to last one night...
Chasing Mrs. Right
Adjusting to civilian life proves harder than Ian Walser expects…until he runs into
a gorgeous stranger who soothes his demons and gives him a glimpse of the life he
wants. He has no idea she’s his little sister’s best friend—or that she’ll refuse
to give him more than one night. Good thing this soldier likes a challenge…
Revenge is a dish best served with him on top...
Two Wrongs, One Right
a Come Undone novel by Katee Robert
Eight years ago, former Army sergeant Nathan Schultz let the love of his life walk
away. He’s not above using blackmail to get her back, but Chelsea Callaghan has something
else in mind. Too bad revenge is a dish best served fully clothed, and Chelsea and
Nathan can’t be in the same room without losing theirs…
Enjoy your tricks
and
treats this season...
Lovers Unmasked
featuring a Come Undone novella by Katee Robert
Danielle has a plan—use the company Halloween party to seduce the sexy mail guy who
works a few floors up who she’s been meeting for coffee for the past few months. The
only problem? He’s not who she thinks he is, and he has seduction plans of his own.
Enjoy your tricks
and
treats in this sexy anthology featuring bestselling authors Katee Robert, Cari Quinn,
Samanthe Beck, and Tessa Bailey.
