“Mine too.”
“We have so much to catch up on,” she said softly, loving the renewed intimacy building between them.
“We have the rest of our lives, Shortcake. You’re my today and all my tomorrows. My home base and my travel partner. I want to show you the world, if you’ll let me. I should have said more to you before I left.”
She pressed her finger to his mouth. “Let’s not look back. Only forward.”
He clasped her wrist, kissed each knuckle on her hand. “I can do that.”
“I did appreciate the note you left on my doorstep. I’ve read it a million times. And when I moved here, I tucked it under my pillow. When we said goodbye that morning at my apartment, I never imagined things turning out this way. I never thought I’d be here when you weren’t. I’ve heard stories about you from your family and friends, seen baby pictures, listened to Hunter revere you while trying to trash talk you at the same time. I’ve learned all about the secret good deeds you do.”
“First order of business, invite Ava here to tell me stories about you.”
She laughed. “She’s visiting for Thanksgiving.”
“Great.” His eyes sparkled with mischief. No doubt he and Ava would get along famously.
“I’ve learned a lot about myself these past couple of months, too. Like how much I enjoy building relationships with my patients. How important it is to me to belong somewhere that isn’t my workplace. I love the country as much as the city. And I also enjoy a slower pace, which doesn’t mean boring, that’s for sure. I’d tell you about it, but then I’d be committing HIPAA violations.”
“The town is lucky to have you.”
“I think I’m the lucky one.”
“If we’re going to go there, I’m the lucky one. At some point I should probably reach out to Reed and thank him for getting married on my ranch. If you hadn’t crashed his wedding…”
“Your life would be so boring,” she teased, a split second before he scooped her up into his arms. “Maverick! What are you doing?”
“We’ve done enough telling for tonight.” He carried her down the hallway toward his bedroom. “It’s time for the showing part of this reunion.”
She wiggled against him. “Finally.”
“Forever,” he whispered.
“Yes,” she whispered back. “Forever.”
Dear Kennedy,
I’m flying home tomorrow. It’s been a fantastic trip and I don’t think I would have accomplished all that I have if I didn’t have you sitting in the back of my mind, pushing me to not miss a thing. To honor every detail Nicole left me. No matter how tired I was, or how lost I got (I should have brought a compass), you guided me, and for that I’m forever grateful. It seems you don’t have to be with me to challenge me. And it’s clear I’m up for anything and everything with your voice in my head.
The angel-slash-devil on my shoulder is you, and I mean that in the best possible way. When I wasn’t being led around by Nicole and you, I did a lot of thinking. Earbuds in and music playing, I had time for introspection and future-self scenarios. Guess what I came up with? I am mad/nuts/crazy/wild about YOU. And when I see you again, I’m going to tell you.
YOU are the love of my life, Kennedy, and I want to ride the rest of our days together.
Get ready, because here I come.
Love,
Maverick
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Acknowledgments
There are some very serious subject matters in this book: ALS, long QT syndrome, death, miscarriage, family strain, and I did my best to portray these issues accurately and with sensitivity. For anyone who has experienced or is experiencing any of these difficulties, my heartfelt thoughts and prayers are with you now and always.
…
Big hugs and thanks to my editor, Stacy Abrams. I say it every time, but you always know exactly how to make my stories better and I’m forever grateful. xo
Thank you to the entire team at Entangled Publishing for everything you do, and a special shout-out to Elizabeth Turner Stokes for my amazing cover, Claire Andress for loving Maverick and Kennedy as much as you did, Nancy Cantor for your awesome copyedits, and Curtis Svehlak for your always quick and considerate production assistance.
Samanthe Beck, you’re the best and I would be lost without you. Seriously. Thank you for everything!!
To Charlene Sands, Roxanne Snopek, Paula Altenburg, and Maggie Kelley, thank you for being such wonderful, supportive friends while I write my books. I am so lucky to have you in my life.
Thank you Rachel Hamilton for helping me with social media, but more importantly for being a friend and reader since the very beginning. I treasure our friendship so much!
To Robin Palm and Karen Begun, best friends since we were teenagers, you are my sisters, and your friendship, love, and support has literally gotten me through many days. Thank you. Love you!
Mom, you are the best, and I’m the luckiest girl on the planet to be your daughter. Thank you for teaching me strength, kindness, generosity, and for always being there for me. Love you so much.
To my cousin Shelly, thank you for our long talks and much-needed conversations. I have always looked up to you, and being close friends and family is a true gift.
To Claudia, Lorie, and Mayra, I love talking books and everything else with you girls! Your friendship brightens my weekdays, and I’m so grateful I get to work with you.
Lastly, to my funny, loving, kind, and generous hubby, through good times and bad, we’re a team, and I love you so much. Thank you for always supporting my dreams and cheering me on. Let’s crash a wedding together! ;)
About the Author
USA Today bestselling author Robin Bielman lives in Southern California with her awesome family and her very cute dog, Harry. She writes both sweet and sexy contemporary romances with one goal in mind: to leave you with a smile on your face. When not attached to her laptop, she loves to read, go to the beach, and frequent coffee shops. She loves to stay in touch.
Visit her at robinbielman.com
or on Instagram: @robin_bielman
Hilarity ensues when the wrong brother arrives to play wingman at her sister’s wedding.
by Avery Flynn
Hadley Donavan can’t believe she has to go home to Nebraska for her sister’s wedding. She’s gonna need a wingman and a whole lot of vodka for this level of family interaction. At least her bestie agreed he’d man up and help. But then instead of her best friend, his evil twin strolls out of the airport.