Flynn fell to his knees. Then he gathered her against his chest and hugged her. Breathed her scent in. Felt her heartbeatagainst his. Felt how right they were together. “God, Sierra, I’m sorry for putting you through that, too.”
“We won’t talk about it anymore. We both screwed up, and we won’t do it again. Let’s make it part of those bad pasts we’reclosing the door on, okay?”
“Okay.” And because he wasn’t an idiot, Flynn kissed her.
He fell back, pulling Sierra to lie on top of him, and kissed her with fast pecks across her cheek, and long, wet, openmouthedkisses that seared the air around them. Unable to contain his relief and happiness, Flynn tightened his hold at her waistand rolled them across the lawn, kissing and laughing the whole way.
“We both spent a lot of months frozen in place by our old lives. So I wanted to give you something to remind you how goodour new lives are.” She handed over the thick paper.
It was a drawing of the two of them, from behind. Sitting on the sand at the Coquille River Lighthouse. Sierra’s drawing wasso good, it was easy to see the intimacy in the tilt of her head against his, the clasped hands visible between their bodies.
“This is just a sketch. I didn’t have time to do more, because I didn’t want to wait any longer to see you. But I want todo it in oils, with the sunset and the water and your thick black hair I love to touch and—”
Flynn cut her off. “Stop right there. Or I’ll need to take you, right here, in full view of that kitchen window I know damnwell Rafe and Mollie and Karen are staring at us through.”
Giggling, Sierra peeked over her shoulder. Then stuck out her tongue and wiggled her fingers from her ears at the window.“It’d serve them right.”
“Look, I’m happy as hell that you’re back. And I think you’ve got a solid plan in us not talking this thing ’round in circles.Aside from me saying I’m sorry and I was wrong and I’ll do anything to make up for hurting you.”
“Duly noted. I may cash that in for a foot rub after our shift tonight.”
“But we have to finish the conversation.” Flynn wanted to get it over with so that he’d never have to feel uncertain abouttheir love ever again. “I love you. You don’t need me. You’re twenty times stronger than me. You had to start a new life fromscratch with no help, no funds, no plan—and you thrived. I did it with the entire government backing me, and acted like anasshole for six months. You amaze me.”
Sierra stroked her fingers through the hair right above his ear. “Your strength kept you going in, every day for years, tocollege classes that didn’t interest you, to a job you didn’t want. You did all of that to give Kellan a good life. That’sa strength that humbles me, because it was all on behalf of someone else. No matter how bad we might have been in the past,we are definitely good for each other.”
“I don’t know what’s going to happen at the trial. I don’t know what sort of a future, if any, I’ll have after October.”
She blew a wet raspberry from between those lips Flynn couldn’t wait to take again. “Now that I’ve met your marshal, I haveno doubt that she’ll keep you safe. Her biceps are almost as impressive as yours.”
No wonder he loved this woman. She brought sunshine to every aspect of life. “I’d love nothing more than to march you downto the jewelers and buy you a ring. But that wouldn’t be fair to you. Because the truth is that I can’t promise you anything.”
The indulgent smile said Sierra thought he’d missed something as obvious as the ocean being blue. “Sure you can. Promise thatyou love me. That’s all I need.”
“I do. I will. Forever.”
“Then I’m good. Because love is the best thing of all. And being loved by you, Flynn, is as good as it gets.”
He’d never been good before. The tattoo on his hip proved it.
But he’d damn well work every day of his life to be good for Sierra.
A Letter from the Editor
Dear Reader,
I hope you liked the latest romance from Avon Impulse! If you’re looking for another steamy, fun, emotional read, be sure to check out one of our upcoming titles.
If you like a bit of suspense in your contemporary romance or just love a good Channing Tatum movie, then you do not want to miss STRIPPED by Tara Wyatt! The first book in her new Blue HEAT series is a delicious mash up of 21 Jump Street and Magic Mike, as an elite undercover detective must infiltrate a drug ring operating out of a male strip show. What makes this novel extra steamy? His one-night-stand-turned-new-female-partner is in the audience as back up . . . and watching the whole thing! One-click away!
You can purchase this title by clicking the link above or by visiting our website, www.AvonRomance.com Thank you for loving romance as much as we do . . . enjoy!
Sincerely,
Nicole Fischer
Editorial Director
Avon Impulse
Acknowledgments
Thank you, first and foremost, to all the readers who fell in love with the Maguire brothers in Bad For Her! Massive thanks to my editor, Nicole Fischer, for patiently pointing out where I have to add things that I skipped just becausethey were hard. Thanks to my agent, Jessica Alvarez, for always having my back.
One of my readers, Mary Rogers, very kindly provided the name for the villain in this book—’Rick’. Eliza Knight and MistyWaters never stopped cheerleading me through the rough spots. Mary Vaughan provided me with write-ins that fueled my competitivespirit and got thousands of words out in record time. And endless hugs to my besties—Stephanie Dray, Laura Kaye and Lea Nolan—for,well, everything.
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Got It Bad
Kellan Maguire is the only “Good Guy” in his
