“Yep.” He wiped his hands on his jeans, the worn denim perfectly molded to his frame.
“What are we doing?” As far as I knew, we were working and maybe visiting his brothers a few times. That wasn’t my definition of busy.
“Hopefully, getting married.”
“What?” I whirled to face him just in time to see him drop to one knee, a small box in his hand. At the center was Mom’s engagement ring, the floral diamond piece taking my breath away just as it had when I was a kid. I hadn’t seen it in years.
Jason’s eyes locked with mine, nothing but love pouring forth. “Elena, you’re my best friend, my confidant, and the woman I love. You make me a better man every day, and you complete me in more ways you’ll ever know. Will you marry me?”
I shrieked, dropping to my knees and wrapping my arms around his neck. I must have kissed his face a hundred times in five seconds flat, overcome with every emotion in the book.
Dad and Ruben clapped around us. It sounded almost too loud, and I realized it was as soon as I looked up to see more loved ones. Lee, Jesse, and the kids appeared, along with Luke and Ethan, all giving us a round of applause, not a dry eye in the crowd. That was all it took for tears to break loose and make quick work of my smoky eye.
“So is that a yes?” Jason asked, laughing.
“Yes! Yes! Yes!” I could barely hold still as he slid the ring on my finger, and as soon as he did, I hauled him in for a kiss, ignoring the surrounding crowd. I kissed the man I loved with everything I had until he pried me off of him.
“So it will be a busy summer,” he chuckled, pulling me to my feet as he stood, the knees of our jeans caked in dirt. “You’ll have to do double-duty with planning, babe.”
“Maybe we should wait on the house then,” I surmised, knowing it was probably for the best.
“Too late,” Jason replied, smiling. “We break ground next week.”
Josie Roberts.
She taught me how to love.
She taught me how to hate.
She burst into my heart as abruptly as she left.
I’ve spent eleven years wondering why until she showed up all these years later.
Still bright. Still beautiful.
Still the only woman I’d loved.
* * *
Luke Barrett.
Lover. Liar. Cheat. Criminal.
He left me on the hook for his sins.
I haven’t thought about him since the day I said: “I do.”
But life has a funny way of Bringing Up your deepest, darkest desire when you least expect it.
And mine just happens to be him.
* * *
Prologue Thirteen Years Earlier
Dear Luke,
Day five of Imprisonment is far worse than day four. I’m not sure how much longer I’ll survive under these conditions. The Warden has grown resistant to my pleas and cut all privileges in a cruel attempt to break me. But he won’t. I’m a Roberts. How could he forget?
I haven’t left my cell, and solitary confinement is taking its toll. I miss the warm glow of the sun on my skin… The Warden is sure it’ll teach me a lesson, though I fear it’ll only drive me toward utter madness.
There are two more days left in my sentence, but I’m not sure how much longer I can bear. Please stay strong for me.
Love always,
Josie
P.S. I could really go for a Milky Way.
I chuckled at the letter, staring up at Briar’s own Rapunzel, the beauty locked away in her tower for a week after getting a C on a trigonometry pop quiz.
If Ed Roberts thought that was worthy of a jail sentence, he’d flip shit if he ever saw my grades.
Nan would be over the moon if I hit that level of the alphabet. Unfortunately for her, I liked a lot of things more than homework — one of which I was staring at right now.
Josie smiled down from her window, her long golden hair blowing in the breeze as she leaned out blowing kisses.
It was the first time she’d been grounded since we started dating, and so far, the princess of Briar wasn’t faring well. She’d be a goner if she had actually abided by the rules. Sneaking out each night to meet around the block definitely made things easier.
She usually came for lunch down at the shop with sandwiches each day, but midday escapes were a no-go with Ed lurking around town. I visited her instead all week, bringing along goodies she requested in each letter.
I plucked the note from the pad and tucked it in my pocket, scrawling one to send up with the Reese’s I brought.
Dear Josie,
You wouldn’t last a day without chocolate, would you? I’ll bring you the caramel goodness as requested, but I demand homemade chocolate chip cookies when you’re released from prison.
Time is ticking, my dear. You’ll be free before you know it. I’m sure the Warden is just as worn out dealing with such a troublesome inmate. You aren’t exactly making things easier on him. Being a model inmate might lessen your sentence, no? They do release prisoners for good behavior. Just a thought.
You’re beautiful today, as always. I can’t wait to see you tonight. Let’s head up to the ridge and watch the meteor shower.
Love always,
Luke
Luke ELEVEN YEARS LATER
Good sex was nature’s cure-all.
Headache? Sex.
Irritable? Sex.
Shit day at work? Sex.
One dose of Becca chased away the migraine that made a day in the shop a living hell, the former classmate as generous as I remembered. Running into her at the gas station was a pleasant surprise, but her asking if I’d fill up more than her tank was a better one.
And I did.
Twice.
Headache-free and ready to relax, the only chore left for the day was grabbing the mail. I shuffled through the latest round of bullshit, stopping at an ivory envelope, knowing what waited inside as I
