Fall Into Temptation (Blue Moon Book #2)(103)

They whispered the words over and over again long after the last waves had receded.



Gia’s eyes fluttered open to the sunny morning light. She smelled … breakfast? The giggles of Evan and Aurora floated into her room and she started to wiggle out from under the quilt when a distinct sparkle caught her eye.

Her fairy garden, the first thing she saw every morning, was different. A third polished rock rested front and center, the word love etched into its smooth surface.

And on it rested a fairytale diamond ring.

Gia shot out of bed, her shaking hands nearly upending the globe as she reached inside.

It was real. Cool to the touch, the emerald cut center stone picked up the morning sun in rainbows of sparkle.

Was this really happening?

Clutching the ring in her hand, she hastily pulled on shorts and last night’s tank top and opened her bedroom doors. She paused in the doorway to take it all in.

Beckett in pajama pants and a t-shirt had a dishtowel draped over his shoulder and was expertly flipping pancakes to Evan and Aurora’s delight.

He scooped one up with a spatula and tossed it onto Evan’s plate. Her son was ready and waiting with the syrup.

The next one landed on Aurora’s plate. “Wow!” she gasped.

“Wait ’til Mom sees these,” Evan said. “Heart-shaped pancakes. That’ll kill her.”

Gia brought her fingers to her mouth. It was so blissfully normal. Sunday morning family breakfast. And Evan called her “mom.”

She felt the tears prick her eyes.

Beckett spotted her first and the rush of love she felt in her chest was echoed in his face. He lit up just looking at her. She mattered to him. They all did.

“Told you she’d cry,” Evan muttered to Beckett.

Beckett smacked him lightly with the spatula. “Don’t you have homework to do or robots to build?” he teased Evan.

Her son snorted. “I’m not missing this show for anything.” Evan made himself comfortable on the stool.

“Hi, Mama!” Aurora chirped. “Bucket made pancakes!”

“I see that, sweetie.”

Aurora clapped as Evan dumped a river of syrup on her plate.

Beckett skirted the island and met her in the living room. He took her hands in his, finding the ring in her grasp. “I see you found it.” He smiled down at her with such tenderness that Gia couldn’t stop the tears from spilling over.

She nodded.

Beckett brushed his thumbs across her cheeks, swiping away hot tears.

In the tiny space that separated them, Gia could feel the warmth, the strength of him. His steadfast loyalty, his love.

“I love you, Gianna.”

“I love you, too, Beckett.” She sniffled.

“I know I screwed up. Big time,” he said, holding her hand in his, his face close to hers. “And I’m pretty sure I will again, but I can promise you that I will stick and I will fight and I will be there, every day. For you and for Evan and Aurora.”

Gia was getting perilously close to humiliating herself with a tearful wail.

“I’ve asked your father, I’ve asked your kids, I’ve asked this whole damn town and now I’m asking you. Gianna Decker will you be my partner, my wife, my other, better half?”

Gia closed her eyes and let her heart tell her what to do. “Yes.” She had barely whispered the word when she was swept up in a crushing hug. Beckett spun her around, kissing her until she was too dizzy to stand on her own.

Evan and Aurora jumped around them cheering and laughing. Evan jumped on Beckett’s back and it was just enough for everyone to lose their balance. They landed in a heap on the living room floor, laughing like idiots.

“Mama! Bucket said ‘damn.’”

“Dibs on the secret passage room!” Evan hooted.

Beckett found Gia’s hand in the pile of chaos and slid the ring onto her finger.





An excerpt from the 3rd story in the Blue Moon series…





Joey Greer let the night wind from the open car window whip over her bare arm. She was three days away from turning eighteen and five from graduation. The freedom looming on the horizon burned like embers inside her. Or maybe that smolder came from the driver whose hand rested possessively on her bare thigh just below her ragged cutoffs.

She shot a look in the dark at him. He looked like one of the gods in the Greek mythology section of her World Cultures book.

Jackson Pierce’s profile was just as fine as the rest of him. The perfect blade of a nose over lips that were either spread wide in a mischievous grin or attached to Joey’s mouth. His square jaw and high cheekbones gave him the same ancient warrior look his older brothers shared. He was leaner than his brothers and his gray eyes had a hint of icy blue to them. But there was no mistaking him for anything but a Pierce.

Jax was six months older and miles more experienced than Joey. But it wasn’t his fault he hadn’t fallen for her in kindergarten as she had for him. He was making up for it now.

In the end, all it had taken was for Joey to accept Bannon Bullock’s invitation to Homecoming last year. One look at the basketball captain’s wandering hands on the dance floor and Jax had finally laid claim. Joey’s virginity had lasted all of a week after that.

She loved him completely, simply, unconditionally, and knew that as surely as her heart beat he felt the same about her.