Page 91 of Forbidden Heroes

“Are you okay, sweetheart?”

“Me? You’re the one who talked a crazy—might I add loaded—lady down from shooting me. Lucky you had that money on you or God knows what could have happened.” And that’s a sobering thought. I’ve never feared losing someone as much as I do right now with Maddox.

“I was going to take you shopping, but I guess that can wait,” he says simply before several cop cars fill the driveaway. It takes about an hour for them to haul off my father and his floozy after getting our statements. With everyone gone and the peace and quiet, I fall to my knees on his front doorstep unable to catch my breath.

Warm protective arms are around me before the first tear has a chance to slide down my cheek.

I peer up at him. “You could have been killed. You could have died because of me. I’m so sorry. I’ve brought all my bad luck into your life and now you’re cursed.”

He pulls me into his lap, and I snuggle close. “Correction,” he rumbles. “I would have died for you. And what curse? The way I see it you’ve lifted one, if anything.”

I push up in his arms, tears running down my face. “No! Promise me right here and right now you will never do that again.”

He cups my face between his strong, capable hands. “You’re not going to get that from me ever and I’m not sorry.”

He pulls me in and kisses my lips tenderly.

I pull my lips from his. “You know how they say your life flashes before your eyes when you think you’re going to die?”

He nods and waits for me to continue.

“Maddox, there’s so much in life that I want to experience. You need to know I want the mundane, the normal and the adventure. I want to study, learn all I can about law, but I also want to travel, see the world’s beautiful beaches, swim naked in Fiji’s warm waters, test my limits rock climbing and babies. Babies. I want a huge family with all the babies.”

“In that order?”

“Not necessarily. It might be hard to go rock climbing with a baby bump.”

Maddox draws me into his arms and traces lazy circles on my thigh with the pad of his thumb. To calm me, no doubt. “I promise to give you all that and more with my last breath I promise you will never have to face your father again and you will never be alone if that’s what you want. For as long as I live. And since you brought it up, I’d love to see your belly round with my child.”

His lips are on mine, and I’m drowning in his taste, heat and all things Maddox Spencer.

He stands, hauling me up his body, and I wrap my arms around his neck, taking the kiss deeper.

“Show me you love me.”

“My pleasure, but this is going to take a while. Like a lifetime. Can you handle that?”

I nod, laughing through happy tears. “Yes, I think I can take on forever with you.”

Epilogue

Amber, Three years later…

Is it fate or our mistakes that get us rolling in the direction we’re supposed to be heading?

Does it matter?

Some think so but I think as long as we get to where we are needed everything works out in the end. I used to think I had a curse on me that came in threes every few years. But love showed me otherwise. I just needed to be patient and take the opportunities life brought me. It took me a little while to catch on but when I finally did, oh boy did my life turn around. All it took was a little fortune cookie, a challenging dare and a fierce desire to change my life.

Easy, right?

Not so much but worth it and you can take that to the bank.

So here’s my challenge to you, my dear reader. Be bold. Explore all those tingly feelings you get for the hunky, single professor with the rolling muscles or hot bachelor cop with the massive shoulders and thick…biceps. You know what I mean! Let your body feel those hot flames of desire for the hunky firefighter with the big hose and chiseled abs and let your heart feel the rush of love for that special someone. I dare you!

I read over my piece for a New York paper I write for part-time before shooting it off to my editor, smiling. I took on the advice column gig right after the incident with my father, not realizing I had so much to offer others in that department. The letters of thanks and stories I get back from my readers have filled my heart to overflowing.

Silver linings have a way of showing up through the storm and that job offer paid my way through school and paid Maddox back for the funds he fronted me…even if he didn’t want it.

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