Page 17 of New Year, New You and Me

“Yes and no.” Tightening his hold on me when I try to pull away, Bradley forces me to look at him. “The New York agent did contact the mayor’s office and requested to meet me yesterday. They said something about how they would feel more comfortable working with another man.”

My jaw falls open. “What?”

“I told them to fuck off.”

“You did?”

“Of course, I did.” He cups my cheek. “I promised I’d never hurt you. Do you think I’d break that promise? You’re my woman.”

I clench my eyes shut. “I’m so stupid.”

“Not stupid, just a little quick to the draw sometimes.” He gives me a quick kiss. “Besides, everyone knows you’re one of the best in the business. I’d be an idiot to screw you over.”

My throat swells with emotion. “I’m only one of the best.”

“Well, I’m the other best. We keep good company.”

“That we do.” I laugh lightly and cup his face, stroking his beard. “I’m sorry I doubted you for a moment.”

“I won’t lie and say it’s okay. Because it’s not.” He gives me a gentle squeeze. “But it’s still early days for us. I guess I need to keep proving that I’m someone you can depend on.”

“You’ve done a good job so far.”

His eyes take on that smolder I’ve come to love so well. He lowers his lips closer to mine. “I can do better.”

Later, after making up in the best way either of us knows, we lie on my bed wrapped up in each other, breathing hard as we catch our breaths.

Bradley’s fingers are wrapped in my hair and he twirls one of the locks around and around his finger. “What should be one of our resolutions next year?”

“Shouldn’t we finish working on the ones we have started for this year first?” I lift my chin to gaze at him. “We’re not even halfway through January.”

“Fair enough. But next year I think we should do things we want to do instead of leaving it to Google.”

“Mmm. That’s a good idea.” I snuggle deeper into his chest. The dark hair smattered across his hard pecs tickles my cheek. “Maybe we could try a dance class.”

“Because we were both so good at it before.” He brushes his lips over the crown of my head. “But if you want to dance, I’ll dance with you.”

“Aww, you’re so good to me.”

“I plan to be.” He strokes my cheek with the backs of his fingers. “That’s going to be one of my resolutions for today and every day: to treat you like the queen you are.”

And then he pushes me on my back and settles his face between my thighs to make good on that promise.

Which he does. Very, very well.

EPILOGUE

BRADLEY

Leaning against the wall, I shudder as I gasp for breath. “I don’t know how I let you drag me into this.”

“Oh, come on.” Molly joins me in leaning against the wall and rests her head on my shoulder. “Where’s your sense of adventure?”

I turn to gaze down at her ruefully. “I think I lost it on our hike with the newlywed New Englanders.”

She wrinkles her nose. I fight the urge to smile, which isn’t easy. It’s every bit as adorable now when she does it as it was the first time I saw her do it years ago. I should have known then that I was crazy about her.

“Was that the one through the glaciers?”

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