Assured (Soul Serenade #2) (33 page)

Dinner was amazing and the house is full of our families. My parents and Cole’s are chatting on the deck. Tristan, Gavin and Kyle are talking sports. Logan and Chloe are discussing babies and pregnancies. Chloe is due with baby number two in a couple of months. I’m sitting with Mia as we play with the bubbles I bought for her.

“Aunt Stacy!” she shrieks when I blow a string of bubbles in her direction. She laughs and takes off running.

Cole appears at my side. “Hey, sweets.” He kisses my cheek.

I smirk at him as I dip the wand back into the bubbles, catching him off guard when I blow them in his face.

“You little—” I drop the container and take off running. Why, I don’t know, since his legs are longer than mine. He catches me easily, swinging me around by my waist. We both fall to the ground in laughter, trying to catch our breath.

“Unca Cowe!” Mia runs into his arms. She’s grinning like crazy. “You wuv her?” she asks.

Breathing heavy, wearing a blinding smile, he tells Mia, “Yeah, I love her.”

“I know, I was telling you,” she replies.

“Oh, yeah, and how do you know?”

“You can’t bweave,” she says, like we should know where she’s going with this.

“I was running,” he says, winded.

“No, Unca Cowe. You tode me you get mawied when you can’t bweave without her. That’s why you running. You needed to bweave. You wuv Aunt Stacy.”

Cole hugs her to him. “You’re absolutely right, Princess Mia. I can’t breathe without her,” he says, his eyes locked on mine.

“Yay!” she runs off, chasing a butterfly.

“That’s what I told her. That you get married and have babies when you find the one person you can’t breathe without. I didn’t want to blacken her reception of happily ever after at the time.”

I don’t say anything, unable to look away from the intensity in his eyes. “Even she can see how much you mean to me. You think ours will be as perceptive?”

Ours.

Our kids.

“Probably,” I say, because they will be his. He’s the most assured person I’ve ever met.

“Positive. I’ll make sure they see it every day. What it means to need someone to breathe. Hell, all they’ll have to do is see me look at you. At least, that’s what my mom tells me.”

Mia falls into him, wrapping her arms around his neck and giggling. “Piggy back, Unca Cowe.” She laughs.

Not one to disappoint, he stands and carries her around the yard.

I watch them play as my heart fills with love.

This is my dream.

This is now my future.

Tristan and Gavin are the last to leave, staying hours after everyone else. I hate that they’re going home to an empty house. Neither of them seems to be in the mood to hook up. There is more going on there, but both are tight-lipped. We spent some time on YouTube listening to some independents waiting to get their big break. Soul Records is searching for that diamond in the rough.

Stacy is upstairs in our room; she’s just climbing into bed. “Hey, you can’t take that sexy ass of yours to bed without me,” I scold her.

“Excuse me, Mr. Hampton, sir.” She mock salutes then bursts out laughing.

“Hey,” I say, sitting on the bed next to her. “Don’t mock me. Besides, my last name is fucking awesome,” I tell her. Her green eyes sparkle with happiness, and I know this is it.

“Oh, yeah, and why’s that?” she fires back.

I cup her cheek and lean in close, my lips close to hers. My eyes hold her stare. “Because it’s going to change yours.” I kiss her.

She doesn’t kiss me back, so I pull away.

“Wh-what?”

I stand from the bed, bringing her with me. I reach into my pocket and pull out the small blue case that’s been there since I got dressed this morning. I chose to wear baggy shorts on purpose. I fall to my knees and look up at her.

“I’ll be there to catch you when you fall apart under my touch. I’ll be there to catch you when life knocks you down. I’ll be there every damn morning when you wake up, and I’ll hold you in my arms each night. You’re my lover and my best friend.” Tears are streaming down her face as I open the box. “Will you also do me the incredible honor of being my wife?” I use her words from all those months ago.

“Cole?” There is question in her voice.

“I love you, Stacy. I can’t breathe without you. Mia was right. I was just about to ask you then, but she came back and the moment was lost. I want it all, baby. Marriage, kids, dog—hell, you can even have a white picket fence placed around the property. I want all of it and I want all of you, with my last name, for the rest of our lives.”

She drops to her knees, her arms wrapping around my neck. “Yes. YES!” she screams then hugs me tight.

Hell fucking yeah!

Pulling back, I kiss her long and hard. She’s mine. I reluctantly break our kiss to slide my ring on her finger. It’s a four-carat pear-shaped solitaire.

“Oh, my God, it’s beautiful,” she gushes, holding her hand out to admire it. “We’re getting married,” she squeals as she launches herself at me.

I don’t waste time getting to the bed; instead, I strip us both down and make love to my fiancée on our bedroom floor.

We’re both too exhausted and elated afterward to move to the bed, so I reach up and pull the covers down over us. Luckily, the carpet is plush. Stacy sleeps softly as I adjust her so she’s lying against my chest. I’m beat, but sleep won’t come. I’m hyped up on life, on her. I never knew I wanted this, but now I couldn’t be more certain that this is how it was meant to be. Fate brought her to me, and I will make damn sure that I spend every breath letting her know what she means to me. Not a day will go by that she doesn’t feel cherished.

I assure you.

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With You Series

Anywhere With You

More With You

Everything With You

Soul Serenade Series

Emphatic

Assured

Stand Alone Titles

Tempting Tatum

Levitate

Just Say When

My family. Thank you for always supporting me. You will never know how much your support means. I love you.

I love the Indie community
. I’ve met some amazing people during this journey and I am grateful for each and every one of you!!

Sommer Stein, Perfect Pear Creative Covers, your ability to read my mind, and produce a kick ass cover is astounding. I love your face, cover girl! Thank you so much for the amazing cover!

Jamie Walker, thank you for agreeing to be the face of Assured. I wish you much success and best of luck with your future endeavors.

Sara Eirew; Thank you for doing what you do. The shoot was everything I hoped that it would be.

Tami Integrity Formatting, you never let me down. You make my words come together in a pretty little package. Thank you so much for making Assured look fabulous on the inside!

Kaylee 2, Jamie, Stacy and Lauren
, you ladies have been with me from the very beginning and you will never know how grateful for the friendships that we have formed. You always take time from your families to read anything and everything I throw at you. I love you, ladies! Thank you!

Give Me Books, thank you for hosting and organizing the release of Assured. I appreciate all of your hard work getting this book out there.

To all of the bloggers out there
. . . Thank you so much. Your continued never-ending support of myself, and the entire indie community is greatly appreciated. I know that you don’t hear it enough so hear me now.
I appreciate each and every one of you and the support that you have given me.
Thank you to all of you! There are way too many of you to list . . .

To my Kick Ass Crew, you ladies know who you are. I will never be able to tell you how much your support means. You all have truly earned your name. Thank you!

Last but not least, to the readers. You will never know how humbling it is to know that you all are reading my words. I truly love writing and I am honored that I am able to share that with you. Thank you to each and every one of you who continue support me, and my dream of writing.

With Love,