Page 45 of Playing By His Rules

“You gave up your job offer?” he asked, knowing how difficult that must have been for her.

She nodded, though her face was free from worry. “I didn’t tell you, but Stephanie offered me a position with her company, and honestly, it’s my dream job and I couldn’t be more excited to work for her.”

He grinned. He owed Stephanie, big-time, though he knew the other woman wouldn’t have extended the offer if Madison hadn’t had the talent to back it up. “And your sister?”

“Well, she can freelance from anywhere. She wants adventure, and she’s so excited at the thought of moving here. She’ll find a permanent job at some point, and we’ll get an apartment together.”

“No,” he said, startling her with his adamant tone. “If you’re moving to San Diego, you’re living here, with me. Both of you. There’s plenty of room in this house and honestly, I don’t want to spend another night without you in my bed.”

She stepped closer, pressing her body along the length of his as she wrapped her arms around his neck and gave him a sultry smile. “How about tonight?”

He groaned and smoothed his hands over the curve of her ass, his cock thickening at the feel of her back in his arms. “Yeah, especially tonight,” he said huskily, and led her to his bedroom, and the beginning of their life together.

Epilogue

Life was good. Actually, life wasbetterthan good. Fantastic, really, Madison thought with a smile as she set a big bowl of cut up fruit on the kitchen island, along with all the other food and condiments spread out on the counter. She and Rick were hosting a Fourth of July barbecue, and all their friends were at the house—the guys from Noble and Associates, their wives who’d welcomed her and Andrea into the fold with open arms, and the most recent addition to the group, Summer and Declan’s six-week-old baby girl, Ava.

Grabbing a chilled wine cooler, Madison popped the top and headed outside to the patio, where a few of the men were standing around the barbecue, laughing and conversing and drinking beer as Rick finished cooking the hamburgers and hotdogs. Most of the women were sitting with Summer and fussing over the new, adorable baby, while their own kids ran around freely in the backyard.

And then there was Andrea, who was happier than Madison could ever remember seeing her. She’d recently turned twenty-one, and she’d blossomed into a confident, beautiful woman. Stephanie had offered her a full-time position at her company, as well, hiring her to handle the marketing, social media, and website updates for Fantasy Bedrooms and Interior Designs, so Madison and her sister interacted on a regular basis at work. Andrea loved the creative aspect of her job, and she was making enough of a salary that she was already talking about getting a small apartment of her own. As much as Madison would miss her sister when she moved out, she knew it was time to cut those ties and let Andrea enjoy her independence.

Currently, her sister was at the far side of the pool, sitting on one of the lounge chairs and chatting with—or rather,flirting with—Jillian and Dean’s good-looking son, Chase, who’d recently completed a six-year term in the military and was being groomed to work in his father’s security business. Rick had told her that Mac had also given Chase a membership to The Players Club for his twenty-fifth birthday, and now that Madison knew what happened at that private, erotic mansion—having enjoyed quite a few nights out with Rick indulging in those seductive fantasy suites Stephanie had created—she wasn’t sure how she felt about her little sister potentially getting involved with someone with such an alpha, dominant demeanor.

Then again, that was one of the things that Madison loved about Rick—that assertive, demanding man he was in the bedroom. She never would have believed she’d enjoy being restrained or find ultimate bliss when he provided a bit of pain with her pleasure, and as much as she wanted to protect her sister, she also knew that Andrea had every right to explore her own sexuality when and if she was ready to do so.

Madison took a sip of her wine cooler and joined the women with Summer, who insisted that she take her turn holding baby Ava. Madison didn’t hesitate to accept the invitation. She set down her drink and held the sweet-smelling infant in her arms, feeling a swell of wistful longing swirling inside her when she thought of having her own baby . . . maybe, possibly, with Rick.

She glanced up and caught him watching her . . . then he smiled, taking her breath away at the loving, affectionate look on his face. They’d only been together a little over seven months, but she knew, without a doubt, she wanted to spend the rest of her life with this man. Start a family with him . . . if he wanted that, too.

The next few hours passed quickly. They ate the burgers and hotdogs and other side dishes, and Paige and Kendall helped her clean up in the kitchen. A while later, the sun began to set, and before long it was dark outside and the snap, crackle, and pop of fireworks rent the air as the neighborhood celebrated the Fourth of July holiday.

Everyone gathered on the patio, and nearby, bursts of bright, colorful lights filled the night sky. These weren’t store bought fireworks, but the professional kind that flared out in beautiful sparks that looked like glitter falling from the heavens. The kids stared in awe, and even the adults reveled in the elaborate display you’d normally only see at a theme park.

Rick came up behind her and slipped his arms around her waist, nuzzling his face against the side of her neck. She sighed and leaned back against him, folding her hands over the ones he’d rested on her stomach.

“Enjoying the show?” he asked, his husky voice making her shiver.

“Very much,” she said, turning her head to smile at him. “You’d think that someone did that firework display just for us.”

He released her and turned her around so that she was facing him. “I did.”

She frowned in confusion—at his comment and the fact that he’d pulled a small black velvet box from the front pocket of his jeans. She gasped and covered her mouth with her hand when he opened the top, revealing a stunning diamond engagement ring nestled inside.

“I arranged the fireworks show in hopes that you’d say yes to marrying me. To being my wife, my best friend, and the mother of our future kids.”

Madison’s heart was beating so hard in her chest she could barely breathe. Undiluted joy surged through her, and she didn’t hesitate to accept his proposal. “Yes. Yes, I’ll marry you . . . and all that other stuff!”

He laughed, and everyone around them clapped and cheered while Rick slipped the gorgeous ring on her finger, another step in making her his.

“Are you glad you took a chance on me?” he asked, looking just as happy as he’d just made her.

She bit her lip and nodded enthusiastically. “Best decision I’ve ever made.”

“Damn straight it was,” he said on a low, sexy growl before taking her face in his hands and sealing the deal with a hot, deep, thorough kiss—despite their audience.

When he finally let her back up for air, she looked around at everyone who’d just witnessed their engagement and were genuinely thrilled for them. Madison still couldn’t believe that this was her life. That these were her friends and the people who she now considered family.

And Rick . . . well, he was the man of her dreams and the guy who’d taught her what unconditional love really meant.

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