Gabe stayed in the city a few weeks after I came home. The guy about as bad as Victoria, making sure I stayed down to rest. My brothers and Sienna left a couple of days after I came around needing to get home to relieve Ellie who stayed with all the kids. They’ve called every day since.
“Not even funny. You’ve been on your feet most of the day. I almost lost you. Come sit down right now. You can talk to Lexi from the couch.”
Somewhere in the past two months, her sassy mouth came back. I need to put an end to it for the time being, or I’ll bend her over the arm of the couch and fuck her before I do what I’ve waited weeks to do.
I devour my woman with my stare. Scanning her from head to toe, as I push away from the door to get to her. Holding her face in my hands, looking deep into those hazel eyes when I reach her, and inhaling that pure scent of honey.
Slayed. A motherfucking goner.
For life.
“You’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever laid eyes on. I’ll never tire of looking at you. Never letting you go. I love you so much, angel.”
Fucking hell, I’m nervous. I need to do this right—the way Victoria deserves.
“I know you do, Seth. I love you too. Although, I’m really not an angel.”
“To me, you are. I’m the only one that matters in that regard. You are everything good and kind. Everything I should have claimed long ago.”
I drop to my knees, pull out a black velvet box and open it with shaky hands revealing Lena’s engagement ring. I asked Gabe for it when I decided I wanted Victoria to be my wife. I remember him bringing it out every now and then and staring at it, memories whispering across his face.
He gave it to me with no hesitation.
“What are you doing?” she asks, lines creasing her forehead before she lets out a gasp when I take the ring out of the box.
A one and a half carat ruby set in black gold with diamonds weaved around the intricate details. The black gold is bold and outrageously stunning.
Just like Victoria.
I watch in awe when she traps her bottom lips between her teeth. My hands shake like an earthquake as I take hold of her left hand, kiss the knuckles before sliding in on her ring finger.
“This was Lena’s. It’s yours if you’ll be my wife. Every day, our relationship grows stronger, and our foundation is solid. You mean everything to me, Victoria. I’m not waiting a minute longer to make you my wife. Marry me. Please.”
Tears I sweep away start running down her pretty face. They mesh with the blinding beautiful smile across that delectable mouth.
She drops to her knees, takes hold of my face, and kisses me.
“Yes, I’ll marry you. I love you.”
The End
CALLOUS
Book Two in The Diamond Empire
(Diesel and Amber)
AMBER
Every young girl daydreams of her wedding day. That fairy-tale moment when you both say I do. Pledging your lives to the one you love.
A man who makes your body shake and shiver with a simple touch. A man who leaves you weak in the knees when you kiss one another goodbye in the morning, and he holds you in his arms at night.
Every woman hopes to marry a man who treats her like a princess. Worshipping her very existence and her doing the same to him.
I used to be one of those girls. I grew up believing I would someday be one of those women because I thought I had a love like that.
The man I thought I’d marry broke me during a time in our lives when we needed one another the most.
Because of it, instead of marrying him, I’ve just said yes to marrying someone else.
And, God help me, my fiancé is a monster.
Callous releases summer of 2021
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
USA Today Best Selling and multiple Amazon top 100 Author Kathy Coopmans is a Michigan native where she lives with her husband, Tony. They have two sons Aaron and Shane.
She is a sports nut. Her favorite sports include NASCAR, Baseball, and Football.
She has always been an avid reader and at the young age of 50 decided she wanted to write. She claims she can do several things at once and still stay on task. Her favorite quote is “I got this.”
CONNECT WITH KATHY
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Professional Inquiries
Kathy is represented by SBR Media. For inquiries regarding foreign rights, audio, and other media outlets, please contact Stephanie Phillips. [email protected]
ALSO BY KATHY COOPMANS
The Diamond Empire
Concede (Victoria Hughes & Seth Mitchell)
Callous (Diesel Hughes)
Control (Aaron Diamond)
Condemn (Jonathon Bexley)
Confess (Dray Hughes)
Captivate (Micah Levy)
Clinch (Cara Levy)
The Syndicate Series
The Wrath of Cain (Cain Bexley & Calla Greer)
The Redemption of Roan (Roan Diamond & Alina Solokov)
The Absolution of Aidan (Aidan Hughes & Deidre La Russo)
The Deliverance of Dilan (Dilan Levy & Anna Drexler)
Empire (Roan Diamond)
The Syndicate Series Boxset
The Unbound Trilogy
Unravel (Logan Mitchell & Ellie Wynn)
Undone (Logan Mitchell & Ellie Wynn)
Untwist (Logan Mitchell & Ellie Wynn)
The Unbound Trilogy Boxset
Vindicator Series
Vengeance (Cade & Ivy St. James)
Warrant (Chaz Mayhew & Jillian Wiley)
Retaliation (Nick Williams & Blaire Warren)
The Vindicator Boxset
The Saints Series
Riddick (Riddick Murdock & Cora Barrick)
Jude (Jude Westbrooke & Vivian Shepard)
Tyson (Tyson Corelli & Lynne Chapman)
The Saints Series Box Set
Sweet Sins
The Right Direction (Roman Nixon & Joslyn Reynolds)
Where There’s Smoke (Dean Wagner & Tatum Fields)
All This Time (Miles Whitman & Julia Nulty)
Contrite Series
Contrite (Clove and Turner Calloway)
Reprisal (Clove and Turner Calloway)
Parole (Trent Calloway and Tara Saviano)
Contrite Duet
Shelter Me Series
Shelter Me (Luke Schavone & Shayne Andrews)
Rescue Me (Adam Payne & Erin McIntyre)
Keep Me (Antonio Schavone & Shelby Morris)
Shelter Me Boxset
Standalones
Abrupt (Lane Mitchell & Sienna Ricci)
Fateful Fighter (Mason & Eden Whitaker)
The Drifter (Kray Brooks & Rori McBride)
Come Back to Me (Blake & Adrianna Jensen)
Hilary Storm & Kathy Coopmans
Elite Forces
Ice (Kaleb Maverick & Jade Elliott)
Fire (Kaleb Maverick & Jade Elliott)
Stone (Beau Harris & Emmy
