Needing You Close (Ex-Con Duet 2)

Even though over a dozen eyes are on us, it feels as though we’re the only two people in the room. I know how much this means to her and how special this ring will always be to us.

“This is unreal,” she mutters. “I can’t believe you did this.”

I tilt her chin until our gazes lock. “I love you, more than anything.”

When I mentioned to Jerry that I was saving to buy Gemma a wedding ring set, he said he had something even better than an expensive diamond. He told me the story of how he proposed and how special his wedding day was. After five years, she lost the ring, so he bought her a new one. It wasn’t until after she passed that he found it and kept it in an old jewelry box. Jerry planned on giving it to Gemma but was waiting for the right time, and he told me the time was now.

“I can’t take all the credit, though. Your dad offered it, and I ran with it.”

“I thought she lost her solitaire ring.” She stares at it in awe.

“Not this one,” I tell her and plan to tell her the whole story later when we don’t have an audience.

“You better invite me to that wedding this time, Tyler!” Maddie blurts out, and everyone laughs.

“You got it, Mads.”

“We should do it on our one-year anniversary. Give us time to plan something amazing,” Gemma suggests, and I nod in agreement.

“I love that idea. A fall November wedding,” Maddie gushes.

“With lots of pumpkin spice,” Gemma adds.

“Of course.” I smirk, then kiss the top of her nose. “Anything for you.”

We end the night tangled in the sheets, proving my quickie skills have been moved up to the expert level—three orgasms in five minutes.

The next morning, I wake up before Gemma and sneak into the kitchen to start the coffee. I’m surprised when I see Liam sitting there with a cup already.

“Hey, morning,” I say quietly. “Up early?”

“Yeah, thought I’d hit the gym before the kids get up.”

“Wow. Good for you, man.” I open the cabinet, grab a mug, then fill it full.

“You still thinking you’d like to buy the gym in your town?”

“We’ve talked about it, but not right now. Gemma wants to wait until Jerry retires so we can focus on it together. It’d need a complete remodel and new equipment. She wants to add tanning beds.” I snort. “So perhaps in a year or two.”

“That’s great, Tyler. I couldn’t be happier for you.” He grins. “But I do miss you.”

“I miss you guys too.”

“I still can’t believe Mickey found Victoria in Lawton Ridge, and they’re all dead. Blows my goddamn mind, but then again, it doesn’t. He was crazy as fuck and overly jealous. He nearly killed me, and I wasn’t even into her like that.” Liam sips his coffee and shudders. “Glad it’s all in the past.”

“Me too,” I admit. It still feels surreal. “So glad.”

After an incredible week at Liam and Maddie’s, Gemma and I have to return to Lawton Ridge. Maddie cries as we hug goodbye, and she exchanges phone numbers with Gemma. I love that they became friends and grew close this week, but I have a feeling Maddie will be in my business even more now. I’ll get texts full of wedding ideas for the next eleven months.

“I love your friends,” Gemma says as we’re on the plane. “I wish we were closer.”

“You say that now,” I tease. “No, they’re great. I’m glad you and Mads hit it off.”

“So I have to ask something, but you can’t get mad.”

I arch a brow. This can’t be good. “Okay?”

“Did you and Maddie ever…” She lets the word linger, and I wait. “Hook up?”

I nearly choke on air as I look at her in shock. “You think I’d still be alive if I touched Liam’s woman?”

That causes her to smile, and she shrugs. “Well, didn’t you say you two were in a cabin in the woods or something? That sounds kinda romantic.”

“Trust me, it wasn’t. Victoria was watching our every move. I had to cut the power just to get us out of there, and since she had backup generators, it gave us only a few minutes before they came on. We barely escaped. Maddie and I have only always been friends,” I reassure her.

“Okay. Just had to ask.”

“She’s really friendly, that’s all. Maddie’s easy to love and knows how to get you to spill your guts even when you don’t want to,” I recall, remembering all the times she got me to admit shit.

“I believe you, babe. Liam seems very protective of her, so I’m sure if you two had done anything, he would’ve broken your neck.”

“Well, he would’ve tried at least.” I chuckle, then grab her hand and press a kiss to her knuckles. “I’d do the same if another man tried to touch you, just so you know.”