Brandon was right when he said a love like this only comes along once in a lifetime. I am damn lucky to have found her when I wasn’t even looking. Now, there’s nothing I wouldn’t do for her. If I could get my hands on Rhoades, she would never have to worry about him again. He doesn’t deserve to live after what he put Andi and those little girls through. His day is coming.
Three hours later, I’m exhausted from my extensive workout, which included sparring in the ring with another boxer for several rounds. When we climb through the ropes, I look up at the clock and realize I haven’t heard from Andi all day. Immediately, I feel my heartbeat against the inside of my chest at the thought that something has happened to her. I reach for my phone inside my gym bag, and it starts ringing. Andi’s beautiful, smiling face lights up my screen.
“Hey, baby, I was just about to call you,” I try to hide the fact that I was worried about her.
She laughs. She knows me too well.
"I'm all right, honey. The talk show recording went way longer than expected and turned out even better than I could have hoped. I go back tomorrow to view the edited version and make sure I approve of what the producers cutout." Andi's enthusiasm is contagious as she tells me about the day in front of the audience and cameras.
I laugh, relieved. “Glad to hear it. I was ready to have words with her if she’d given you a hard time.”
She laughs, then her voice lifts with excitement. “Oh, and let me tell you the best part! Travis Malone was there—the lead singer of Sound Bar. He was taping a different show, but he listened to my whole story. He even shared his own—about being abused as a kid. He’s agreed to do public service announcements with me, and he wants to leave his label to sign with MaxMorgan Music.”
I can’t help but smile at the joy in her voice, even as a flicker of insecurity twists in my chest. “Why wouldn’t he want to sign with you? You’re incredible, Andi.”
She’s quiet for a moment, then her tone softens. “You know you have nothing to worry about, right?”
I hesitate but force a smile into my voice. “Yeah. I know.”
“I love you, Luke. I’m marrying you. No one could ever change that.”
She always knows how to quiet my doubts. “I love you, too. Come home soon, okay? I want to celebrate with you.”
She laughs, warm and familiar. “That’s an invitation I’ll never turn down.”
We say our goodbyes, and I head toward the door. I make a mental note to tell her about Shane's earlier interview so no one catches her off guard. Just as I’m about to leave the gym, the new promo for Andi’s interview plays. Her beautiful face fills the flatscreen on the wall. She wears a serious, determined look, and the clip shows Andi talking about being placed in foster care. Lindsay’s voice fills the air as she invites viewers to watch her show on Friday for the full story, including Andi’s claim of political corruption.
This situation is about to become volcanic. I can feel it coming a mile away. All I know is I will protect Andi with my life. Jackson Rhoades is in for one hell of a fight if he thinks he’s getting anywhere near Andi. I'm the only one who's getting close to her, and I'm almost home now.
And there’s my life, waiting for me on the front porch, grinning like a little girl. At first, I think it's because she's happy to see me, but she bursts my bubble as soon as I get out of the truck.
She rushes to meet me in the garage, hugs me, and says, "I can't believe Travis wants to sign with me!" She dances around, doing a victory dance like a schoolgirl whose secret crush finally just looked at her, and giggles. I mean, she literally giggles over this guy.
I clear my throat.
She smiles. “Sorry. I just never thought someone already so big would ask to work with me!”
I pull her in my arms, and when I feel her body meld with mine, my insecurities are gone. She meant what she said. She is mine, and I trust her with my heart and my soul. “I’m proud of you, baby. That is awesome,” I kiss her and wrap both arms firmly around her midsection, pulling her even closer and backing her up against my truck.
“Lucas Woods,” she says in the sternest voice she can muster under the circumstances.
“Yes, my love?” I ask as I lift one of her legs and pull it up to my waist, then lift the other to my other side.
“We’re in the garage,” she says as I move my lips and tongue down her neck. Nipping, licking, and sucking her soft skin. Her words argue, but her head leans to one side, giving me better access to her slender, sensuous neck.
“Yes, we’re in the garage,” I answer as my hands slowly push her shirt up and over her head.
“And the garage door is open,” she says on an exhale.
My hands rub around her sides, slightly tickling her and giving her goose bumps at the same time, as they release the clasp on her back.
“The door is open, yes,” I respond as I slide my tongue across her skin until a moan escapes from her throat.
“Mmm, Luke,” she urges me on with the urgency in her voice.
“Yes, baby?”
She pulls my hair, and I refrain from laughing at her tactics.
