Touch of Fire (7 page)

Garrett stood there, waiting.

“It was perfect, Garrett.”

“Glad you liked it.” He took a sip from his glass, then poured each of them a bit more champagne. “I was kind of hoping it would move you to…well…to say yes.”

“Oh!” she gasped as she started to laugh. “Yes!”

“Yes?”

“Yes! Now, do we really need to get to Simon’s?”

“Nope.” He led her back toward the porch. “That was all a ruse. Ann’s gonna be by in a few minutes with Sam. They’re bringing pizza. Thought we’d have a picnic. Then Ann’s taking Sam back to your place so that I can make uninterrupted love to you all night long. I had to do some fast talking to get the place for the night—”

“We’re staying here?”

“Well, I was actually thinking of the master bedroom. I’ve got a queen-size air mattress all set up. But if you’ve got your heart set on the front porch, I’m game!” He sat down on the porch swing.

Nicole claimed the spot alongside him. “I love you, Garrett.”

He placed his arm around her shoulder and kissed the top of her head. “Thank you. Thank you for loving me.”

She sat up and searched his eyes. “I will always love you.”

“You sure?”

“Most definitely.”

The slamming of a car door interrupted them and they looked up just in time to see Sam running up the walk. “What’d she say? What’d she say, Daddy?”

Garrett stood up and caught the little girl as she raced up the porch steps and flew into his arms. “She said ‘yes’, darlin’!”

“She’s marrying us?”

Nicole laughed and tugged playfully on one of the little girl’s braids. “Yes!”

“Ann! Did you hear?” Sam shouted as she turned back toward Nicole’s sister who was walking across the lawn, carrying a pizza box in one hand and a six-pack of Coke in the other. “We’re getting married! We’re getting married!”

Samantha Sommersby
left what she used to call her "real life" day job in the psychiatric field to pursue writing full-time in 2007. She is the author of a dozen novels and novellas including several single title Contemporary and Historical Romances as well as the critically acclaimed Paranormal Romance series,
Forbidden
. She also writes the
Fallen Siren
series for Penguin/Roc as
S.J. Harper
in collaboration with author Jeanne C. Stein. The first book in that series,
Cursed
, will be released in October of 2013.

Sam currently lives with her husband and cocker spaniel, Buck, in a century old Southern California Craftsman. On the rare occasion when she manages to set aside some play time for herself, you'll most likely find her reading a book, at the movies, or out wine tasting. Most days, she happily spends her days immersed in a world where vampires, werewolves, and demons are real, myths and legends are revered, magic is possible, and love still conquers all.

Penguin/Roc (As S.J. Harper)

The Fallen Siren Series order

Cursed

All Romance eBooks (As Samantha Sommersby)

The Soldier & the Spy

Once Upon and Heiress

June in August

Blackout

Touch of Fire

Samhain Publishing (As Samantha Sommersby)

Shelter from the Storm

The Forbidden Series order

Forbidden: The Sacrifice

Forbidden: The Ascension

Forbidden: The Revolution

Forbidden: The Temptation

Coming Together (As Samantha Sommersby)

Coming Together: Under Fire