Naughty Stranger (Dangerous Love 1)

Mr. Miller returned a pleasant smile. “I’m sure she will. Thanks, Peyton. Take care.”

“Bye,” Peyton said, smiling after him. She glanced down at the diamond ring on her finger, picturing being just like the Millers when she and Boone grew into their seventies. She could imagine Boone still buying her sexy lingerie, keeping their love exciting, and making her feel beautiful, no matter their age.

And maybe that’s what was so real and honest about being with Boone. Time wasn’t a factor in the knowledge that she could see them together in the future. Perhaps that wisdom came from both of them going through terrible

times in their lives. When a person realized how fragile life was, sitting around waiting for the right time, the right moment, didn’t seem necessary anymore.

All there was left to do was live. And live hard.

She placed the receipt in the register, closed it, and exhaled deeply, moving to the front door and flipping the sign to CLOSED before locking up. Life over the last week had gone back to normal. As far as Peyton knew, Justin had hired some high-powered lawyer. But nothing that happened to Justin would bring Adam back, and while she believed justice would be served, she also knew that Adam wouldn’t want her to live in the past anymore. Too much death. Too much misery. It was time for it all to stop. So, while she’d be at the trial, she’d live in the moment in Stoney Creek. In her lingerie shop, with Boone, and this new family she found there. Only now her parents planned to come every few weeks for a visit.

The wind outside the window blew leaves down the street as Peyton reached the register to grab her purse, when she spotted Boone standing at the front door, wearing dark jeans and a black T-shirt that deliciously hugged his chest. She hurried to unlock the door, and Boone entered with windblown hair. “Hi.” She planted a quick kiss on his sculpted mouth when he stepped inside.

His kiss turned wicked and wild, and urgency drove her as emotion flooded her. Needing to get closer, she molded her body to his. His low chuckle raised goose bumps along her flesh when he leaned away and grinned. “While I’d love to indulge that idea, we’ve got somewhere to be.”

She wiggled against him, hoping to change his mind. “Where?”

He groaned, letting her move against him, then took her hand, leading her outside. “You’ll see.”

She locked up the shop quickly, all the while eyeing him suspiciously. He had a silly grin on his face, and an unusual sparkle in his eye. He kept her hand tightly in his and led her into Whiskey Blues.

The moment she cleared the door “Congratulations!” rang out in the bar. The band kicked off playing an upbeat song while the crowd in the bar clapped and shouted their happiness and tossed confetti at them. She recognized some of the faces, and others she assumed were Boone’s fellow cops.

She blew the confetti off her nose while Boone stepped in behind her, sliding his arms around her tightly, and said in her ear, “This is how we celebrate engagements around here.”

Tears filled her eyes, but they were happy tears, and that felt damn good. “It’s also the place we had our first kiss. Who knew we’d end up here?”

Boone kissed her neck softly bringing forth heat and more tears.

Before he could even back away, Kinsley ripped Peyton away, taking her into a hug. “I still can’t believe we’re going to be sisters. See, I totally called it that’d you’d be marrying my brother.”

Peyton laughed. “At the time you said that, I never would have believed that this would have happened.”

Kinsley smiled. “Well, I’m glad it has.”

“Me too.”

Peyton gasped as Remy stole her away. “Which also means we’ll be like sisters too.” She hugged her so tight. “We can plan our weddings together.”

“I’d really like that,” Peyton said, feeling slightly winded and dizzy by being passed around.

From the crowd, Hank closed in and gave Boone a rough hug, then offered a gentler one to Peyton. “He couldn’t have picked a better daughter for me to have.”

Peyton narrowed her eyes and pointed at him. “No making me cry more than I already am.”

Hank laughed, raising his hands in his surrender. “I wouldn’t dare think of it.”

From there, Peyton was tossed from Damon to Asher and finally to Rhett, who gave Boone a rough hug, then said to her, “Boone’s a very lucky man.” Rhett smiled.

Boone laughed. “I think I’ve heard you say that line before.”

“It’s a good line.” Rhett hugged her, then said in her ear, “Welcome to the family, Peyton.”

Her throat tightened. “Thank you.” Hearing Rhett say these things meant a lot. He wasn’t typically warm and fuzzy, and he sounded entirely genuine. She turned to Boone and wiped her face. “I’m a mess.”

“A beautiful mess.” He smiled, his fingers twining with hers.

A flash suddenly blinded her. She turned to see her mother taking her photograph, her father next to her. Peyton blinked. “Mom? Dad?”