Fit for Love (A Stand By Me Novel Book 3) (21 page)

He finally gives a quick nod to himself, as if confirming a decision. “I need to do something. Today. It’s not the right time or the right place, but I can’t wait. I planned to include Ryder in what I need to tell you, but I can talk to him later.”

“What?” I’m puzzled and a little scared of this announcement. The sheets rustle from my movements and I press my toes against his leg.

Aiden slides out of bed and picks up his shorts. His workout clothes from the previous day lie folded on the bedroom chest, and he dresses quickly. “I’ll be right back. I left something in my vehicle.”

I rise from the bed and walk across the hall to peek in on Ryder. He’s asleep with the blankets balled under his belly. Yesterday took a toll on him. He’s sleeping later than usual.

Frowning, I tiptoe into the living area. The front door opens and Aiden walks inside. He strides toward me with a lottery-winner smile on his face.

“Hey. You’re out of bed,” he says. He tucks his hands into the pockets of his athletic pants.

“I checked on Ryder. He’s still sleeping.”

Aiden removes one hand from his pants pocket and reaches to grab mine. “I’ve been thinking.”

My pulse quickens at his expression, so serious and somber.

“What about?” The words stick in my throat, making them come on in a choked whisper.

He releases my hand, takes a step back, and goes down on one knee. Pulling a black box from his pocket, he smiles up at me. “Makenna. You’ve been a force pulling me in since the moment I met you.”

My heartbeat ka-thunks in my ears. This can’t be happening. I’m not ready for this. I have to figure out what’s best for Ryder. I have to make Jared stop being a crazy jackass with his threats.

He flips open the box lid and presents it to me. “It’s Nonna’s ring. And this time I want you to wear it for real. No pretending. You and me and a promise to be together. Forever.”

“Aiden. You can’t do this. I know you care for me.” My throat tightens.
Don’t cry. Don’t cry.

“Then say you’ll marry me. Say we’ll build our lives together. Let me love you and Ryder.”

There’s a canyon-sized gap between what I want and the things I fear. “I can’t. I’m too afraid.” I close my eyes so I don’t have to look into his.

“I understand you’re scared. But do what you know in your heart is right. Are you in love with me?”

“We met four months ago. It’s not enough time.”

“You’re not answering the question. I’m in love with you. I don’t need six months or a year to figure that out.”

Tears leak from the corners of my eyes. So much for holding myself together. “I am in love with you.”

“Do you know that I can make you and Ryder happy?”

“Yes,” I whisper.

“Then what’s the problem?” He gets to his feet and strokes my cheek with his finger, wiping away tears.

“I don’t know. My crazy ex? Me? What if I hurt you? I think you really need someone you can count on.”

“You’ll only hurt me if you say I’m not worth trusting.”

I can’t hold back and dissolve into a full-on ugly cry. Sobs escape my mouth and I press my hand against it. He closes the inches between us and envelopes me in his arms.

“Hey. This turned into the most horrible proposal ever. I’m damn good at a lot of things, but this isn’t one of them.” He kisses the top of my head. “Did I mention how I feel about Ryder? That kid has my heart.”

“Oh my gosh,” I manage between sobs. I hate girls who cry. I’m embarrassed that I’m such a mess.

“Say you’ll wear the ring. Humor me. Wear it to say you promise to try. We’ll talk through the rest later. No pressure to have our wedding date set. No pressure to go to Sicily.” He laughs into my hair at that one. “I’ve been told by the authorities to stay close, anyway.”

I sniff into the front of his T-shirt, clutching the fabric like I’m holding onto the side of a precipice.

He caresses my back. “Make me the happiest man in Nashville.”

Fear ruled my life for so long. I’m now ready to take control of my own destiny. “Yes,” I mutter.

“Did you say yes?” he asks with a smile in his voice.

And then Aiden does what he did the first night I met him. He lowers his head and gives me a toe-curling kiss.

S
ix months
later

Aiden

I
sit
in the Nashville airport with a boarding pass in one hand. The flight boards in twenty minutes. A woman dressed in tailored business clothes sits next to me. She’s in her early twenties and obviously traveling for work.

“Where are you headed?” she asks. Cracking open her satchel, she removes an iPad.

“Sicily,” I answer and give her a pleasant smile. I crane my neck to look behind me in the direction of the restrooms.

“Me, too. Where’s your seat?”

Since I hold my boarding pass, I can’t really ignore her question. I examine it. “Row 10.”

She waits and I don’t say anything else. I get the feeling she thinks I should ask about her seat assignment. “You travel to Sicily often?” she says.

“Nope. First time.” I shift in my seat.

There’s definite interest in her gaze. “Oh. I know some great places you should visit.”

“Really?” says the voice behind me. “Perfect. We can make a list. That’s really nice of you.”

Fingers rub my shoulders possessively and I grin. There she is. “You ready?” I ask and stand.

“Yes,” Makenna answers. She looks at the stranger seated beside me. “We’re going to Sicily for our honeymoon. I hear it’s a pretty romantic place.”

“Ah.” The woman smiles at my new bride. “Yeah. Congrats then. You guys will love it.”

Romance. Some female international language.

Makenna straightens her shoulder bag and turns to me. “Let’s grab some candy before they call for boarding.”

We walk to the nearest shop and browse the offerings. Makenna pokes me in the ribs and I pretend to flinch. She narrows her eyes playfully. “I can’t leave you alone for one minute before some woman is trying to pick you up. You are wearing a wedding band. Maybe she didn’t see it. You should wave that thing around if you have to.”

“It’s a good thing you came to save me,” I tease and chuckle at her misplaced jealousy. “Did you talk to your mom? Our big man OK?”

“Yeah. Fine. He’s excited because I told him I’d bring him a present from across the world. Also, Mom is going to spoil him. She’s taking him to a trampoline park today.”

I smile at the way her eyes sparkle. “I love you.” I’ve said it ten times since the ceremony yesterday.

This is happiness—being with the person who fills you with so many emotions. “I have a confession to make.”

She selects a bag of mixed nuts for us instead of candy. Girl does love me. Definitely. “What’s your confession?”

“I never thought I could love anyone the way I love you.”

“Aw…” she says and makes a funny shape with her mouth. “Quit saying stuff like that. You made me cry with those vows, and I can’t take any more of this emo talk.”

“It’s fact. Not emo talk. I hate that I’m the sentimental one in this relationship.”

She snorts. “OK. Quit fishing. Love you, too.”

The last six months have been crazy, but in a lucky way. The criminal charges were dropped. The gas station produced video from their security cameras, the entire incident clearly recorded with the girl slipping drugs from her jeans pocket into mine.

Jared went back on another concert tour schedule within a week of our altercation. Once he heard that Makenna would be my wife someday, come hell or high water, he wasn’t as interested in sticking around Nashville.

And the craziest thing? I convinced Makenna to make our promises permanent.

Leaning over like I want to whisper in her ear, I kiss her neck instead. “I wish we’d had more time this morning. I need you.”

“Aiden, stop. We’re getting on a plane in half an hour.” Her mouth forms a tiny pleased smile.

I pull her hand to my lips and kiss the knuckle above Nonna’s ring and the custom band I had made. “Ever hear of the mile-high club?”

She gives a happy sigh. “You’ll have to induct me.”

“We’ll induct each other.” I pay for our snacks with the cashier eyeing us as if she heard our conversation. Maybe she did and I couldn’t care less. The airline rep announces boarding, so we hurry to the line. Makenna’s excitement matches mine.

She threads her hand through the crook of my elbow. “What did I do to deserve you?”

“Everything and nothing. It boils down to the simple fact that we both want to make each other happy. Baby, you and I together…we’re exactly what we deserve.”

T
hank
you so much for reading FIT FOR LOVE. I hope you enjoyed falling in love along with Aiden and Makenna. I’m a sucker for a happy ending. It’s why I’ve always loved reading romance.

If you enjoyed this novel, please recommend it to your friends. Better yet, write a review. You have no idea how much influence you have. I’ll owe you virtual cookies and milk.

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A
dult Novels

Chasing Luck (A Serendipity Novel, #1)

Tempting Fate (A Serendipity Novel, #2)

Seducing Fortune (A Serendipity Novel, #3)

Serendipity Boxed Set (Books 1-3)

The Beauty of Lies (A Stand By Me Novel #1)

The Fiction of Forever (A Stand By Me Novel #2)

Fit for Love (A Stand By Me Novel #3)

And Then He Kissed Her: A Contemporary Romance Boxed Set
(Sweet Romance)

* * *

Y
oung Adult Novels

The Waiting Booth (Whispering Woods #1)

Whisper of Memory (Whispering Woods #2)

Watcher of Worlds (Whispering Woods #3)

The Waiting Booth Boxed Set (Books 1-3)

Wild at Heart II (An Anthology)

Lore: Tales of Myth and Legend Retold (An Anthology)

* * *

F
or release news
, subscribe at
http://www.brindaberry.com/mailing-list.html

Website:
www.brindaberry.com

T
here are too
many people to thank when it comes to publishing a book, but I attempt to list a few every time. I'm bound to forget someone. I'm sure it's you. So, forgive me if you don't see your name and you know you helped brainstorm, advise, cheer, or support.

Thank you READerlicious Wonder Women: Christina Delay, Kathleen Groger, Jennifer Savalli, KJ Carey, NK Whitaker, Jenn Windrow, Carol Storey Costley, Sandy Wright, SB McCauley, and Abbie Roads. Let's have a writers bunking party (AKA retreat). Soon.

Thank you beta readers: Audrey Estes and Kristi Cheatham. Your comments and opinions are important to me. Love you guys.

I appreciate my editor Nancy Cassidy. Thanks for keeping me on track with plot lines and pushing me to do better.

Sara Eirew, thanks for the beautiful cover photo. Your talent is inspiring.  Mike Chabot, thank you for lending your handsome face (and body) for this cover. And I can’t forget about the woman who puts everything together in a beautiful cover design, Najla Qamber.  We all know that cover art matters.

Thank you Brent for bringing me coffee when I fall into the great writing abyss. You have no idea how much the little things help.