The Fake Out (Vancouver Storm, #2)(113)

Again, she smiles to herself, shaking her head. “Not for us.”

I hum, nodding with a casual air like I’m not brimming with emotion. “So, say I ask you to marry me. Then what?”

Her eyes soften. “Then I’ll say yes.”

I move so I’m facing her, skating backward, and when my hands come to her hips, I slow us to a stop, gazing down into her stunning blue-gray eyes. “You sure about that?”

“Never been more sure of anything in my life.”

“You can change your mind.”

She smiles. “I won’t.”

“I won’t, either.”

“I know.”

She tracks my hand as I slip the box from my pocket, and when I kneel, her eyes shine.

“Hazel Hartley, will you make my goddamned life and marry me?”

Her smile? It’s everything, and I’ll remember this moment forever.

“Yes, Rory Miller, I will.”

I take her left hand and slip the outrageous sparkling ring onto her finger before I stand and kiss the woman I love. The woman who made me into the best version of myself. The woman I fell head over heels for years ago, and who’s finally caught up.

The woman I can’t wait to live the rest of my life with. Get married to. Have kids with. Grandkids.

“I love you,” she whispers against my lips.

“I love you, too, Hartley, and I’ll never let you forget it.”





To read the bonus scene of Rory and Hazel’s wedding (and wedding night!) and get hints about future characters, sign up for Stephanie’s newsletter at www.stephaniearcherauthor.com/rory or scan the QR code below:





Hayden and Darcy’s book is next, but in the meantime, check out the Queen’s Cove series, a small town series with four hot brothers, loads of tension, big laughs, and some serious spicy praise. Keep reading for an excerpt of The Wrong Mr. Right, a spice-coaching She’s All That style rom-com with a hot surfer and shy bookstore owner.





THE WRONG MR. RIGHT EXCERPT





“So you kissed him and there was no chemistry.” Wyatt raked his hand through his hair, mouth in a hard line.

“Kissed him? No.” I made a noise of frustration. “We never got that far. I spent the entire date talking about—” I broke off before I said something embarrassing.

“Talking about what, bookworm?” His dark gaze was back on me.

I shook my head, pressing my mouth closed.

He took another step toward me and I backed up, the backs of my knees hitting the bed. “Talking. About. What.”

I threw my hands up. “You. Talking about you. Oh my god. You’re so pushy.” I rolled my eyes, when really, my heart raced, my skin tingled, and nipples pinched hard. I had all this energy and nowhere for it to go.

I put my hands on his chest to push him back a step but he grabbed my wrists. A smug grin grew on his features. Paired with his dark gaze, the effect was hypnotic.

“Me?” He raised his eyebrows, cocking his head. His hands scorched my wrists. It was like he ran hotter than normal people. Maybe that was why he was never cold in the water.

I rolled my eyes again. “You came up in conversation because of the surf lessons.”

“Right. Because of the surf lessons.” His gaze stayed glued on me, still heated. “So you didn’t kiss him because it didn’t feel right?”

I gave him another tiny nod.

“Interesting.” His thumb brushed my wrist as if he didn’t realize he was doing it. It sent tingles up and down my arm, making it hard to breathe. That could have been from his proximity, too. Or how he smelled freaking incredible.

He exhaled through his nose, and a muscle in his jaw ticked. “Are you disappointed?” His chest rumbled against my hands as he spoke.

I chewed my lip. “No. Beck’s nice—” His hands clenched my wrists at the mention of his name. “—but he’s just a friend.” I swallowed and met his gaze. “I was looking forward to making out with someone tonight, but I don’t want to do it with the wrong person.”

Well, that sounded suggestive. Wyatt’s eyebrow ticked up, still watching me with that dark gaze, and a shiver rolled down my spine. His warm hands seared my wrists. My heart hammered in my chest. I inhaled a shaky breath but it caught in my throat when Wyatt pressed his fingers into my wrist.

“Your pulse,” he murmured.

I nodded again. Another flutter through my core, another clench around nothing.

He watched my face with heavy-lidded eyes. “It’s been a long time since you’ve kissed someone, bookworm.”

Another nod from me.

“I don’t want you to be out of practice.” His gaze dropped to my mouth and he cleared his throat. “You know, for when you meet the right person.”

“Right. I don’t want to be out of practice either.”

I swallowed again, watching the curve of Wyatt’s mouth, noticing the rise and fall of his chest against my hands. My hands tensed, my nails dug into him, and his breath caught.

“So we should practice.” I lifted a shoulder in a half-shrug. Casual, so casual. Like Wyatt.

He frowned like he was torn. He glanced from me to the window, then back to me, then to the bed behind me. My core clenched hard again and I almost whimpered. My underwear was wet. That never happened, and definitely not from standing beside a guy for a few minutes.