This is Effortless (Checkmate Duet 4)

I lean my body against his chest and he presses a sweet kiss against my lips. “You better not be messing with me, woman.”

“Would I do that?” I smirk and wiggle my naked body against his.

He arches his brow and narrows his eyes. “Is that a trick question?”

I chuckle and wrap my arms around his neck to pull his mouth back down on mine. “Get me in the shower and find out,” I say against his lips.

Just as he turns on the water, scratching on the door grabs our attention. Reed sticks his little paw underneath the door as Buddy scratches, begging us to let them in.

“Sorry, boys! Daddy needs to teach Mommy a behavioral lesson.” He pulls me into the shower and slaps my ass.

“Don’t tell them that!” I squeal as he brings my back against his chest.

“You better obey, too, or else I’ll have no choice but to use excessive force,” he teases in a low voice.

“You got it, Deputy. I would never intentionally break the law,” I reply in a mock tone. The water streams over us, the heat causing steam to form on the shower doors.

“Good girl, because I’d hate to have to punish you and hold you for forty-eight hours. But then again…”

“I always knew you secretly liked the bad girls.”

He spins me around while holding onto me and places a hand on my spine to arch my back. I place my palms against the wall as he spreads my legs apart with his foot. “And I’m about to show you just what I plan to do with a bad girl like you.”

EPILOGUE

COURTNEY

Six Months Later…

Once upon a time, in a faraway land, lived a queen who ruled her own kingdom. She didn’t need a king beside her because she was confident, strong, and smart without one. But if there ever was a man who could stand beside her, he’d be the strongest, smartest, most protective guy she could ever ask for. He’d be her best friend and The One.

…and he is. Drew Fisher, my best friend and soul mate.

For as long as I can remember, I wished for a man who is as caring and loving as Drew and here we are now, only an hour away from becoming husband and wife.

So much has happened since that first day we met. I was a tongue-tied girl who could barely speak when I saw Drew in his uniform. We started as strangers, then became friends and roommates, and then we evolved to best friends—and now here we are—getting married. Who knew after everything we’d been through, we’d finally make it this far? It’s as if all the pieces finally fell perfectly together, and now I’m about to walk down the aisle and become Mrs. Drew Fisher.

The wedding day jitters started a few days ago, but I’m more excited than anything. It took a team of Mama and some of my bridesmaids to get me into my wedding gown, and once I’m finally all put together, I look at myself in the mirror with my hair and makeup all done, it really begins to feel real.

With a huge smile on my face, I glance over at Viola, who’s standing beside me while Mama stands on the other side of me, already wiping tears from her cheeks, then excuses herself to pull herself together.

“You look so gorgeous, Court,” Viola whispers as the sequins on the bodice of my dress sparkle in the afternoon sunlight. “I’m so happy you’re going to officially be my sister.”

“I know.” I smile. “It’s like a little girl’s dream come true.” My eyes start to burn, and I look up and try to wave the tears away.

Thankfully, Ginny grabs my hand and pulls, distracting me from the tears that were threatening to surface. “You look like a pwincess, Aunt Courty.”

I bend down as best as I can and wrap my arms around her little body and she flings her arms around my neck. I seriously love this kid so much, and I love it when she calls me her aunt. When we release our hug, she starts giggling.

“You are a little princess, Ginny. You even have the crown to prove it.” I tap the little tiara that’s clipped into her hair and she smiles really big. Viola picks her up and Ginny twirls her fingers in her hair. “Aunt Courty said I was a pwincess!”

Viola grins and places a kiss on Ginny’s cheek. “You are,” Viola agrees, and I smile because that’s the nickname Travis gave her when they were kids.

Kayla walks up to the other side of me and it hits me hard just how much I love them as I see the three of us stand in front of the mirror. They are my everything, the best friends a girl could ever ask for, and they’ve been with me through it all. I couldn’t imagine life without either of them.