My mouth goes dry and pulse races as they come closer. Kimbra is absolutely stunning in her long, flowing white gown, a vision of radiant beauty, better than any model and more spectacular than my imagination. The woman walking my direction is my fantasy and my friend, my past and my future.
With each step, she's the epitome of a blushing bride. Damn, I love how her cheeks glow. For only a moment, I break eye contact. My chest fills with a deep breath as I take in the scooped neckline of her dress.
Have I mentioned that I love her tits?
When our eyes meet again, Kimbra's cheeks are even rosier and her smile is knowing.
I lift and drop my shoulders with a smirk.
I have no defense. I'm a man who loves breasts, and my soon-to-be wife has the most perfect ones I've ever seen. I've heard that they will grow when she's pregnant. For that reason alone, adding another little one to this family would be worth it.
The music stops as she and Oscar halt before me.
The pastor's voice fills the church. "Who gives this woman to be wed?"
Oscar looks from Kimbra to me and back. "With great pride, her mother and I." He lifts his daughter's hand from his arm and places it in my open palm. "She's my everything, son. I'm trusting you."
I nod. "I'll do my best."
"If I doubted you, we wouldn't be here."
It's maybe the most I've ever heard Oscar say at one time. I know that I won't let him down.
Kimbra smiles and shrugs. "Sorry," she mouths.
Tucking her hand close, I shake my head. There's nothing to be sorry about. Oscar is right. Only now, Kimberly Ann Jones is my everything, too.
I turn to Mike as he hands me one small white lily. It's the one part of the ceremony we didn't practice. I couldn't let this pass without another flower for our bouquet. With a smirk, I add the lily to her already beautiful bouquet. "Our first wedding," I whisper.
Her eyes glow as her smile grows. "Our only."
The pastor begins. The rest of the ceremony is everything I expect all the way until the reception. Our dinner is complete and toasts are about to begin when I spy Grandma Helen walking our way. I nudge Kimbra. "Here she comes."
"Oh, no," she says as the pink that I love fills her cheeks.
Grandma Helen's smile grows as she bounces on the balls of her feet, obviously excited and proud of what she's about to do. "When I heard you'd chosen mint as one of your colors, I was worried. But then..." She reaches into her giant purse. "...I learned that mint really means blue-green. And you know that Amazon has lots of color choices and with Prime..."
My smile grows as Kimbra's cheeks continue to redden.
"Grandma."
Grandma Helen hands Kimbra the package. "I wrapped it."
It doesn't matter. We both know what's inside.
She winks and leans close. "Be sure to come and see me before you leave on your honeymoon. I have batteries in this purse somewhere." She smiles at me. "I bought a whole pack. You can thank me later."
As she walks happily away, I take the package. Squeezing the surface, I try to decipher the shape and size.
Shana leans close to Kimbra and whispers. " I'd say there's length and girth." Before Kimbra can respond, she adds, "Stop thinking about your man for one second. I'm talking about the gift your grandma just gave you."
Kimbra shakes her head at her best friend and then reaches over and takes our gift. "Under the table with that."
"For now," I say with a grin. "But a whole pack of batteries!"
"Stop," she whispers. "I don't know why you're so excited. We already have one of these."
"Oh, but, Mrs. Willis, it's always good to have one, plus-one."
THE END
I hope you're smiling just as I was when I finished writing Kimbra and Duncan's story.
Thank you again for indulging in my lighter side!
If you’d like to find out about Shana and Trevor, be sure to keep reading. A SECRET ONE and ANOTHER ONE are their story. (Present in this box set)
Coming up next, for more of my “lighter side” completely unrelated to PLUS ONE, turn the page for ONE NIGHT, a sweet and sexy second chance romance.
One Night
ALEATHA ROMIG
New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today bestselling author of the Sparrow Webs, Infidelity, and Consequences series
*Cover photograph by Lindee Robinson, design by Letitia Hasser at RBA Designs
Contents
Author's Note
One Night
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Author's Note
Over a year ago my friend Georgia Cates and I decided to start an adventure: writing stories that were outside of our brand. Our endeavor was successful on many counts. It opened a world of possibilities and let us shake off the chains of expectation. Though we each wrote different titles, we ventured into that new world under one name.
While that pen name no longer exists, it helped us to expand our horizons and try new things.
The story you're about to read started as a short and sexy, predictable novella written by me as Jade Sinner and entitled MALCOLM: The Meeting. My reviews were good and I learned that while writing dark twists and turns, I could also be funny and light.
If any part of this story seems familiar, it could be because you read the 17K-word short novella. That was just the beginning.
ONE NIGHT is more! It is now a full-length, contemporary romantic-comedy novel.
I hope it makes you swoon, laugh, maybe shed a tear or two, and finish the last page with a smile.
I know that I did all of that while writing.
Thank you for allowing me to shed the other name and embrace this side of Aleatha. Thank you for giving Leatha, the lighter side of Aleatha, a chance!
I hope you enjoy ONE NIGHT!
One Night
ONE NIGHT: Standalone romance