The Love Series Complete Box Set (119 page)

As Reid rubs his hands nervously over his thighs, his eyes search the ceiling for an answer.

Reid:
      “My mom. I just wish I had more time with her.”

Maddy reaches over and places her hand over his chest, where his tattoo is inked. Looking down at Maddy’s hand, Reid instinctively reaches his up to encompass hers. It’s very touching . . . makes my little heart squeeze.

Lisa:
      “All right Miss. Madeleine, it’s your turn!”

She gives me a big smile.

Maddy:
      “I’m ready.”

Lisa:
      “What do you think your parents would think about Reid?”

Maddy:
      “I think my dad would have hated him at first!”

Reid swats her on the arm jokingly.

Reid:
      “Hey! I’m not that bad, am I?”

Maddy:
      “No, silly! I just mean that when we first met, you were pretty much every father’s worst nightmare. Now, well, now you’re a dream come true.”

She speaks the truth!

Lisa:
      “Can you imagine your life without Momma and Mel?”

Maddy:
      “Not one bit. I don’t know what ever made me think they weren’t my family. Momma stops over a few times a week to visit Braden. She loves that little boy like he’s her own. She makes me miss my mom just a little bit less.”

Aww . . .

Lisa:
      “Do you still have plans to go back to college?”

Maddy:
      “Absolutely. I signed up for night classes as soon as I moved back home. It was a difficult decision to leave Mel and the girls back at Ithaca, but things have a funny way of working out.”

Lisa:
      “Good for you! What’s your biggest regret?”

Maddy:
      “Pushing Reid away in the hospital.”

Reid drapes his arm around Maddy’s shoulder and kisses the top of her head. Placing her hand on his knee, she squeezes gently and continues.

Maddy:
      “I should know better than anyone that people react to things in their own way. It wasn’t fair, but at the time it was a defense mechanism, I guess. But it brought him closure with his mom and we made it work in the end, so I guess I can’t regret it too much.”

Lisa:
      “As long as it worked out, that’s what matters. All right, now it’s time for both of you at the same time—what are your favorite five things about the other—physical and non-physical” ;-)

Maddy:
      “Hmmm, non-physical, let’s see: he’s smart and caring. He cooks, because Lord knows I can’t. He’s an amazing dad and he makes me laugh. Physical, ehhh, I guess he’s okay.”

They both laugh but then Maddy flushes and her cheeks turn pink. She’s so cute.

Maddy:
      “I’ll keep it PG-13 and say—his hands, his lips, his arms, his eyes and his tattoos.”

Lisa:
      “Hmm . . . good answers!”

Reid’s eyes rake over Maddy’s body from head to toe.

Reid:
      “Yeah, there’s only one thing I can come up with physically.”

A shocked look flits across Maddy’s face as she hits him on the chest.

Maddy:
      “Only one?”

Reid:
      “Yep, just one. EVERYTHING!”

He has a huge shit-eating grin as he kisses the tip of her nose and she smiles brightly back at him.

Reid:
      “And non-physical, yeah, I’m going to say EVERYTHING again.”

Maddy:
      “See, I told you he was smart!”

I didn’t think it was possible for Maddy to smile any bigger than she already was.

Lisa:
      “What’s your biggest pet peeve?”

Maddy:
      “When other girls hit on him. I mean, I’m right there, with his kid no less. I mean come on!”

Reid tries to stifle his laughter, but when a chuckle slips out, Maddy crosses her arms across her chest.

Reid:
      “Sorry about that, babe. I can’t help it if they all want me.”

Maddy shrugs her shoulders, and allows Reid to pull her into his side in an embrace.

Maddy:
      “Whatever. I get to bring you home at night. They can look all they want.”

Tapping his finger to his bottom lip, Reid looks like he’s thinking carefully about his response.

Reid:
      “I would have to say my biggest pet peeve is blind hatred. It brings me back to all of the things that Shane and Dylan, and too many other people have gone through. There’s no reason to hate someone over who they love.”

Lisa:
      “Very insightful, Reid. I have to agree with Maddy; you are pretty smart. You’ve had an ‘unconventional’ relationship from the start. Was there an ‘ah-ha’ moment when you ‘knew’ that this was the only person for you or was it gradual?”

They both look at each other and answer at the same time.

Maddy:
      “Gradual.”

Reid:
      “Instantly.”

Maddy gapes over at him with a “you have got to be kidding me” face.

Maddy:
      “Seriously? You were all douche-tastic in the beginning!”

Reid’s face sobers a bit and he sits up straighter in his seat.

Reid:
      “Yeah, I’m not proud of that. But it was because I knew right away you were different. I’m not too macho to say it scared me and I acted like an ass.”

Lisa:
      “Well, at least you can admit that now. And speaking of admitting–re-do time! The night at the hospital, what would each of you have done differently?”

Reid:
      “I never would have walked out.”

Maddy:
      “I never would have pushed him away.”

Lisa:
      “Alright, I’ve been too serious–kinky question time! :-P Have you had more fun with using the belt from Maddy’s robe?”
Lol

I can’t help but giggle as I watch Maddy slink down into her chair and her face turn red. Reid sits up proudly and his lips curl into a sexy, lopsided grin. No one says anything.

Lisa:
      “Alright . . . maybe too kinky! We’ll move on! Where do you see yourselves in the next five years?”

Reid:
      “I’d like to finally buy that house I promised her. She deserves a white picket fence and all that stuff.”

Reid’s chest puffs with pride as he smiles at Maddy and she beams back at him. Gah . . . they’re just so stinkin’ cute.

Maddy:
      “I’m perfect where we are, but I’d like to be done with school. Maybe another kid.”

Reid smiles and pulls her close.

Lisa:
      “Okay, time for some word association. Give me the first thing that comes to mind. Family?”

Maddy and Reid answer at the same time:
“Braden”

Aww . . . it’s cute and dorky and sweet and they turn to each other and share a small kiss.

Lisa:
      “Shane?”

Reid almost subconsciously rubs the scar on his chin.

Reid:
      “Pain.”

Maddy:
      “Dylan.”

Lisa:
      “Trust?”

Reid:
      “Maddy.”

Maddy:
      “Melanie.”

Looking at Reid, I say,

Lisa:
      “Maddy?”

Reid:
      “Perfect.”

I grin and nod, and turn to Maddy,

Lisa:
      “Reid?”

Maddy:
      “Happily ever after.”

I think I might get a toothache from all the cuteness and sweetness—but I still love it.

Lisa:
      “Love?”

Reid:
      “Her.”

Maddy:
      “Possible.”

Lisa:
      “Very good answers! Ya’ll are surprising me a little bit. Now for some rapid fire questions. It’s really easy, either/or, just pick one . . . fast or slow?”

Maddy:
      “Slow.

Reid:
      “Slow . . . THEN fast.”

Kinky . . . I like it! ;-)

Lisa:
      “Books or movies?”

Maddy:      “My Kindle”

Smart Girl!

Reid:
      “Not chick flicks.”

Such a boy!

Lisa:
      “Muscle cars or jeeps?”

Maddy:
      “Jeep”

Reid:
      “Jeep. You’d be surprised how much room is in the back when you fold the seat down!”

Kinky again! Love it! :-D Maddy blushes and gives him a love tap. He kisses the top of her head as she buries her face in his shirt. She’s so cute when she is embarrassed.

Lisa:
      “Chocolate or vanilla?”

Maddy:
      “Chocolate”

Reid:
      “Vanilla.”

He winks and adds,

Reid:
      “As long as I get to keep the robe belt.”

I think the reddish-hue on Maddy’s cheeks might be permanent!

Lisa:
      “Hot or cold?”

Together:
      “HOT!”

We all share a laugh at their enthusiastic, in-unison response.

Lisa:
      “Go out or stay in?”

Reid:
      “Stay in. I love coming home to my family at the end of the day.”

Awwww . . .

Maddy:
      “And we love when you come home. I say ‘in’ too.”

Bigger Awwwww!

Lisa:
      “Hard or soft?”

Maddy:
      “Both. As long as it’s with him, I’ll take it every way I can.”

Reid:
      “What she said!”

Yup, it has been confirmed. I love them to bits and pieces. We stay and chat for a while. I try and get the scoop from Maddy about Mel, but she is sadly tight lipped. Going to make me wait. *sigh* Of course, Reid is enjoying telling me loads of stories about Braden–such a proud daddy . . . so freakin’ cute and makes him that much more drool-worthy. I don’t even realize how long we’ve been talking until I glance at my phone and realize we’ve been there for over two hours just chatting. I give them both hugs and we say our goodbyes and I watch them walk off hand-in-hand.

Acknowledgements

There are so many people who have been an integral part of helping me get this series off and running. My family and friends, the indie author community, countless blogs and promoters, but there would be no point to writing these stories if I didn’t have the most amazing readers out there. With that in mind, I’m dedicating this book to you—my fans. You have been so amazingly supportive reaching out to me with messages and leaving reviews. I am in awe of your love for Maddy and Reid and all of my other characters. You bring these characters to life and I am more thankful than I can express for wanting more of them.

Let Love Be Table of Contents

Master Table of Contents

Let Love In

Let Love Stay

Let Love Heal

Let Love Shine

Let Love Be

Part One: Lost

Prologue—Lucy

Chapter One—Evan

Chapter Two—Lucy

Chapter Three—Evan

Chapter Four—Lucy

Chapter Five—Evan

Chapter Six—Lucy

Part Two: Found—18 Years Later

Chapter Seven—Evan

Chapter Eight—Lucy

Chapter Nine—Evan

Chapter Ten—Lucy

Chapter Eleven—Evan

Chapter Twelve—Lucy