“We won’t,” I tell her. “But…I’m ready to start my own family.” I give her a smile. The smile she can’t say no to. “With you.”
We’ve had a few talks about children and while she’s still on the pill for the foreseeable future, the idea of children together isn’t that far off.
“I want that too…I’m just scared.”
“I know, but I’ll protect you, just like I always have. You and me against the world, Gab.”
She snorts. “Yeah, literally.”
“Babe, it’s not going to be that bad.”
“You don’t know that.”
“Yes, I do.”
“How?”
I shrug, preparing to drop a bomb on her that I know she’s not ready for. “Because I already talked to Dad when I bought your engagement ring.”
* * *
The End
Also By Q.B. Tyler
STANDALONES
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My Best Friend’s Sister
Unconditional
Forget Me Not
Love Unexpected
Unlawful: Coming Soon
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BITTERSWEET UNIVERSE
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Bittersweet Surrender
Bittersweet Addiction
Bittersweet Love
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CAMPUS TALES SERIES
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First Semester
Second Semester
Spring Semester
About the Author
Hailing from the Nation's Capital, Q.B. Tyler, spends her days constructing her "happily ever afters" with a twist, featuring sassy heroines and the heroes that worship them. But most importantly the love story that develops despite inconvenient circumstances.
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Sign up for her newsletter to stay in touch! (http://eepurl.com/doT8EL)
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Facebook: Q.B. Tyler
Reader Group: Q.B.’s Hive
Instagram @qbtyler.author
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Twitter: @qbtyler
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The Attack Zone
BY B. CELESTE
© Copyright 2021 B. Celeste
All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the publisher.
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This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.
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Editing: KBM Editing
“The Attack Zone”
A boyfriend’s brother romance
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Christmas is supposed to be the time for giving.
But after years of resentment toward my famous little brother for ruining my hockey career, I decide to take instead.
Adelaide Peters.
My little brother’s best friend-turned-girlfriend.
What I don’t expect is that I take way more than I bargained for.
And I have no intention of giving her back.
Chapter 1
Adelaide
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If I hear one more rendition of “Baby, It’s Cold Outside” tonight I may scream. As in, down the rest of the expensive champagne in one swig, storm over to the DJ booth, and give the fresh-faced college boy a piece of my mind. He must have gotten a list of carefully selected songs to play by the party hosts, which included thirty different versions of the controversial holiday classic, along with five other Christmas favorites by artists old and new.
Gripping the chilled glass of bubbly liquid in my fingers to ground myself, I stretch a strained smile at some developmental executive producers that Jill, my agent, asked me to play nice with tonight. They’re all donning expensive business suits with red and green ties tucked into the collars of their crisp button downs and talking amongst themselves about who knows what.
When I made my way over to them earlier, I’d interrupted their Hollywood gossip session about a hot new scandal involving some eighteen-year-old winner of a singing competition who was caught coming out of one of the judges’ hotel rooms in the middle of the night. According to them, he’s married and she’s as old as one of his daughters. Scandalous? Sure. But not the worst thing I’ve heard or been involved with myself in this industry.
“Addy!” a shrill voice calls out, making me—and a few other guests—cringe from the high-pitched tone.
I turn toward the woman I’ve been trying to avoid all night. Her face is contoured with hundreds of dollars’ worth of makeup, but nothing can hide the fake smile spreading across her lips that’s not nearly as convincing as the one painted across mine.
As usual, Marigold Wethington is in the finest threads and jewelry she could find—the gold and diamonds covering her are probably worth more than my latest contract.
“Hello, Marigold,” I greet, turning my head as we peck each other’s cheeks.
Her hands touch my arms as she steps back a fraction to give me a once-over in appraisal. I already know what’s coming when her brows arch. It’s the same look she gives all women when she doesn’t like what she sees.
“Wow, Adelaide. It’s a very daring dress choice for you. And those lips.” The fashion mogul’s condescending tone makes a few eavesdroppers snicker as she latches onto the bright red color coating my heart-shaped lips that I get from my mother. “How very…holiday oriented of you.”
I point out the obvious with a forced smile as I shift on the sky-high stilettos I was told to wear tonight. “It is a Christmas party.”
She hums, letting go of my arms. “I’ve been trying to catch you all night, but you’ve been busy schmoozing with these stuffy industry execs. We really should talk about your mother’s—”
“There you are.” An arm circles around my waist, tugging me into a firm side that has my champagne almost sloshing over the rim. I steady it and glance over at the sudden but happy interruption, quickly tensing at the man whose arm is currently holding me against him. “I’ve been looking for you everywhere.”
The naturally tanned face looking down at me has the wrong color eyes. They’re brown, but not the soft shade of milk chocolate like my favorite candy that are supposed to be looking at me tonight. The ones currently pinning me to my spot are nearly as dark as my eyeliner—not quite black but darkened by mischief and bad intentions. His lips kick up at the sides in a smirk, revealing two dimples that could make any straight woman in here weak in the knees.