“Yep.”

Patti allowed him to guide her a few more steps, placing her right where he wanted her. “Okay,” he said, sounding nervous. “On the count of three, open them.” The air stirred again as he stepped to the side, presumably to open up her line of sight. “One.” Patti felt her stomach flip. “Two.” Her pulse quickened. “Three.”

Holding her breath, Patti eked open one eye. “Holy shit.” She wasn’t sure if she said the words out loud, or just in her head.

Both of her eyes were open now, blinking slowly as she struggled to understand what she was seeing.

“Well?” Jon asked excitedly. “What do you think? Are you surprised?”

He could say that again. Sleek. Black. Touches of chrome in all the right places. It was just as she had dreamed it would be. “How?” The word came out a little choked, considering Patti felt like she had just stepped into an alternate universe.

Jon’s eyes danced as he approached the GTO, running his hand down the polished hood. “I know why you did it, but I hated that you had to give up something so important to you. I had Travis track it down for me, and we’ll probably have to get used to eating Ramen noodles for the rest of the year, but after practically selling my left kidney, I was able to talk the guy into selling it back to me.” He smirked. “He really didn’t want to let it go.”

She knew how the guy felt. “Ramen noodles sound good,” she said, a weak smile forming. Patti’s eyes burned and she pressed trembling fingers to her mouth. “Jon, you didn’t have to do this.”

Slowly, with all of his love reflecting back at her in his eyes, Jon walked over to her and placed his hands on her swollen belly. “Yes, I did,” he said firmly. “It’s my job to make you happy, and this makes you happy.”

Patti’s hands covered his and she looked away, unable to meet his eyes. “But it’s just a car.”

Refusing to let her escape him, Jon grasped her chin and lifted her face to his. “It’s more than that. That car is a legacy. It belongs in the family. Our family, and one day, you’re going to teach our son or daughter just like your father taught you.”

Tears were slipping down her cheeks in a steady stream now. Cupping her face in his hands, Jon wiped them away with his thumbs. “Don’t cry, sweetheart. This is a happy day.”

She didn’t know what to say, except, “Thank you. Thank you for bringing it back to me.”

“I’d do anything for you.” Taking her in his arms, Jon held her tight.

“Can I touch it?” Patti asked hesitantly, stepping out of his embrace and wiping her face dry.

That wicked gleam flashed in Jon’s eyes again. “Baby, you can touch it whenever you’d like.”

She slapped him in the arm. “You know what I mean.” Walking over to the car, Patti ran her hands over the pristine paint job, admiring all the small details that had been added since the car had changed hands. There was no sign of the damage from the accident, every dent, and scratch gone. The custom racing stripes she had added were painted over, making the car a monochromatic black on black, which was fine. It suited it better. Opening the driver’s door, she eased into the leather bucket seat and found that everything seemed to be exactly how she remembered it.

“Do you want to take it for a spin?”

Patti looked up to find Jon standing in the space of the open door, holding a pair of keys out to her. Longing swept over her and she recalled all the times she had flown down the highway, feeling the power of all that American muscle surrounding her.

One glance at Jon, his eyes burning words she didn’t have to hear to understand, and she knew what her answer would be.

“Not today,” she said, reaching out to take his hand for leverage. He pulled her from the car and lightly closed the door behind her.

“Are you sure?” he asked, taking her in his arms again.

Wrapping her arms around his waist, Patti stared up at him. The doubt and fear along with the grain of hope etched into the fine lines around his eyes told her she was making the right decision. Jon had done the most beautiful, generous thing for her by bringing her car back to her, but she needed him to know that their future was more important to her than their past.

“I’m sure. We only have two months left alone together.” She drew her fingernail down the front of his shirt, smiling suggestively. “And there are so many things I can think of that I still want to do to you.”

A growl rumbled in his chest as Jon backed her up against the side of the car. Gathering the hem of her dress, he inched it up around her waist and bent to sweep his tongue across her mouth. “And what, exactly, would you like to do to me?”

Gripping his shoulders, Patti leaned back against the cool steel, soaking in the feel of his body pressed against hers. “For starters,” she said her voice nothing more than a breathy moan. “I’d make you get down on your knees and surrender to me.”

Jon nipped her shoulder, and then licked away the sting. Patti watched as he dropped down on his knees before her. His large hands spread out across her thighs, smoothing across her skin. He stared up at her almost reverently, and said, “I already have.”

The End

Writer. Mother. Wife. Hardcore Rocker. Romantic.

For more information on JC and her books visit:

http://jcvalentine.weebly.com/

JC is the author of erotic fiction.

This series has truly been a labor of love. It started off as something small and daring, and exploded into a full-on series. I am astounded by its success, and I have all of you, my readers, to thank. THANK YOU! I know it sounds cliché, but I really could not have done it without all of you.

I have to thank my husband. He has been such a driving force throughout this whole process. The times when I had my face pressed to a computer screen, or when he had to order in because I couldn’t pry myself away from a scene, are too many to count, but his support means the world to me. He’s just as much a part of this crazy train as I am, and for that I REALLY can’t thank him enough.

While writing this book, I have had the pleasure of meeting many great people, but there are a few who I got to work closely with that I absolutely cannot leave out. My editor, Rogena, because she is made of awesome. No, really, she is. Kim for helping organize my thoughts and managing the craziness. Finally, my incredibly awesome beta readers, Dawn and Jennifer. Had it not been for your incredible speed-reading skills and attention to detail, this book would be a hot mess. You ladies are hands down the most amazing people to work with! XOXOX