Free to love Lola Sullivan. Forever.
EPILOGUE
Cassie and Flynn’s combined engagement party and baby shower was a joyous celebration. Ruby was in her element as the little girl happily went from one set of arms to another.
It was wonderful to see Lola and Duncan so totally in love as they embarked on their new life together in Bar Harbor. Duncan had settled easily into the family dynamic—even Turner was warming up to him.
The Maine Sullivan family tree Duncan had drawn for Lola now had pride of place in the café, hanging on the wall where everyone who came to eat or shop in the attached store could see it. Ashley knew that he had already been commissioned by a local who wanted something similar made up for her family. And after her father had shown Duncan’s drawing to his two brothers and their wives, along with her Aunt Mary in California, each of them had asked if he could also fit their family trees into his schedule. Though Duncan hadn’t originally planned on becoming a family tree expert, he seemed more than happy to add them to his map-making commissions.
Ruby pulled on the hem of Ashley’s dress. “Up!”
Always thrilled to get a chance to cuddle the little girl, Ashley picked her up and they booped each other on the nose.
When Ruby wriggled to get down, Ashley set her on the floor, smiling as the toddler rushed off to see what her cousin-to-be Kevin was doing on the patio.
Ashley couldn’t be more thrilled for Cassie and Flynn. But at the same time, it was impossible not to compare this beautiful celebration to the day she’d realized she was pregnant.
She’d been seventeen, and it had been a terrible shock to realize why she’d missed her period for several months. She’d never thought something like that could happen to her, or that her senior year of high school would be full of anything but carefree parties and getting ready to move away for college.
Instead, she’d tearfully told her parents that she was pregnant, then spent the next six months hiding out in her bedroom.
Kevin was the best thing that had ever happened to her, of course. But as a single mother, Ashley had completely missed the carefree years of dating and parties that so many of her friends and family had taken for granted. She’d been a working mom her entire adult life.
Ashley would never admit it to anyone, but she sometimes secretly wondered what it would be like to be just a little bit wild. To do something crazy, like date a totally unsuitable man. To hop on a plane for an impromptu trip without needing to spend weeks planning for babysitters and homework helpers. To throw caution to the wind and drink too much and kiss a man without worrying whether he would be a good role model for her son.
“Penny for your thoughts, Ash.”
She smiled at her brother Brandon, who was on one of his rare trips home from setting up hotels in Asia or Europe or South America. Grateful for the glass of wine he’d brought her, she said, “It’s a great day, isn’t it? Cassie and Flynn deserve all their happiness.”
“They sure do.” Brandon took a slug of his beer. “Although I have to admit I never thought I’d see so many of our siblings looking this lovey-dovey.”
“Still bound and determined to stick with the single life, I take it?”
She thought she saw something flash in his eyes. But it was gone as he grinned and said, “The single life is the only life for me.”
She couldn’t hold back a sigh. “Me too.”
“Come on, Ash. You’re bound to find a great guy one day.”
“I’m not holding my breath. Besides, I’m perfectly happy with my life.”
Brandon put an arm around her. “I’ve got an idea. Come with me to Vienna for my next hotel opening.” Before she could protest, he said, “Mom and Dad can watch Kevin for a few days. Besides, he’s got to be more than ready for a little freedom. I know I sure was when I was eleven.”
It was as though her brother had read her mind and knew how badly she needed to shake up her life. “Thanks for the offer. I’ll think about it.”
“Just say yes, Ash. What would it hurt to have a little fun for a weekend?”
Maybe he was right. After all, she was no longer a naïve seventeen-year-old girl who would foolishly fall for the first guy who looked her way. She was a reliable mom whose son was her top priority. What could possibly go wrong during a weekend in Austria?
“Okay,” she said, clinking her wineglass against Brandon’s beer bottle. “I’m in.”
* * *
Thank you so much for reading WHEN YOU KISS ME! I hope you loved Lola and Duncan. More Sullivans are coming soon!
If this is your first time reading about the Sullivans, I can’t wait for you to meet them all, starting with THE LOOK OF LOVE, the first book in the series. In The Look of Love, Chloe Peterson had vowed never to make the mistake of trusting a man again. Only, with every loving look Chase Sullivan gives her—and every sinfully sweet caress—the attraction between them sparks and sizzles. He’ll do whatever it takes to prove that his love for her is real. Could Chase be the one she’s been waiting for?
One-click THE LOOK OF LOVE (The Sullivans) now!
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“I’d recommend The Look of Love to any romance reader who likes their love stories steamy, realistic, and with a couple worth fighting for! Add in a unique, close knit family and you have a treasure on your hands.”
~ 5 stars for THE LOOK OF LOVE
And if you love reading about sinfully sexy billionaires, you will love meeting Bella Andre’s Maverick Billionaires! Self-made men from the wrong side of town who survived hell together, they now have everything they ever wanted. But when each Maverick falls head-over-heels for an incredible woman he never saw coming, he will soon find that true love is the only thing he ever really needed. In the first book in the series, BREATHLESS IN LOVE, Harper’s love is the one thing Will’s money can’t buy. Can he convince her that he’s not the rich playboy the world thinks he is?
One-click BREATHLESS IN LOVE (Maverick Billionaires) now!
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“An incredible beginning to a new series that will pull at your heartstrings! A true joy to read.”
~ 5 stars for BREATHLESS IN LOVE
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Turn the page for excerpts from THE LOOK OF LOVE (The Sullivans) and BREATHLESS IN LOVE (Maverick Billionaires)…
Excerpt from THE LOOK OF LOVE (The Sullivans)
Chloe Peterson is having a bad night. A really bad night. The large bruise on her cheek can attest to that. And when her car skids off the side of a wet country road straight into a ditch, she’s convinced even the gorgeous guy who rescues her in the middle of the rain storm must be too good to be true. Or is he?
Not only has Chase Sullivan never met anyone so lovely, both inside and out, but he quickly realizes Chloe has much bigger problems than her damaged car. Soon, Chase is willing to move mountains to love—and protect—her. But will Chloe let him?
The two of them hiked up the hillside, and the view took Chloe’s breath away.