Always For You (Always Love Book 1) (24 page)

“I was never the popular one, not ever. I had friends, but I didn’t date. Boys in Burton didn’t ask me out. Ali was my closest friend, and she was two years younger than me. I was completely terrified of what college would be like, all those new people—and I couldn’t believe that anyone would really want to be my friend. Lainey was the only one I trusted.”

“But even after everything you worried about, you still called me when you had this opportunity come up. Why?”

I smiled. “I couldn’t think of anyone else I’d ever trust to be my partner. I figured asking you was a long shot, but it wouldn’t hurt to try. And then Ali kept telling me this was our second chance. I didn’t want to believe it, so I might have gone a little overboard in protecting myself.”

“That’s all a great rehashing of history, but you still haven’t told me what I’m waiting to hear.” Smith kissed my cheek, my chin and then my other cheek. I lifted my lips, but he ignored them, lifting one eyebrow. Waiting for me to say the words.

I groaned. “It’s hard. I’ve been bottling this up for ten years, Smith.
Ten years
. Do you think it’s easy for me to suddenly say how much I love you? That I’ve been in love with you for so long, I can’t remember a time when I wasn’t?”

“You just did.” He lowered his lips to mine, a slow kiss that was filled with all the promise and hope I’d ever wanted. I opened my mouth and slid my tongue out to meet his, tracing the inside of his lips, gripping the back of his neck and holding him close. For long moments, words were superfluous, because at last, we were where we were always meant to be.

“Smith?” I murmured his name against his lips.

“Yeah, baby?” He ran one finger down the side of my throat, and I shivered.

“I was thinking about one of the things I said last night during my meltdown. We’re both vets. We should have a dog. Shouldn’t we? It’s a good example to our clients, adopting a dog who needs a home, raising him right.”

Smith laughed softly. “Determined to steal my thunder, huh?” He kissed my jaw, nibbling his way down the column of my neck. “I already figured Jack was coming home to live with us. Bought a bed, a leash and a supply of tennis balls yesterday. I was going to surprise you.”

I held his face between my hands. “Smith Harrington, I think I’m going to love you forever.”

One side of his mouth curved into a half-smile. “Only that long?”

I drew his face down to mine. “Well, it’s a start.”

And then we didn’t talk at all, for a very long time.

The End

“J
ACK! REENIE, COME GET YOUR
dog out from under my feet before he trips me and I drop the turkey.”

I turned around from the kitchen table, where I was slicing sweet potatoes. “My hands are wet. Hold on.” I leaned out of the kitchen and raised my voice. “Smith! Come get Jack. He’s driving Mom crazy.”

Smith came jogging into the kitchen with a squealing Bridget on his back. “Looks like we have a situation here, little lady. Let’s lasso this here varmint and take ‘im out to pasture.”

I rolled my eyes. “You have the most ridiculous cowboy accent I’ve ever heard. John Wayne is rolling over in his grave.”

“Woman, don’t be dissing my Western words. We know what we’re doin’, don’t we, little lady?”

Bridget laughed. “Uncle Smith’s my horse, Auntie Reen. He’s not a cowboy, he’s a horse-talker.”

“Well, whatever he is, y’all need to get out of my kitchen if you want to eat Thanksgiving dinner before midnight.” My mother slid the huge bird, now basted, back into the oven. “Where did the other girls get to? Iona’s supposed to be peeling potatoes, and Ali told me she’d set the table. Meghan and Sam and the Wallaces are going to be here any time now.”

I slipped an arm around my mom’s waist and gave her a side-hug as Smith took Jack outside into the backyard. “Have I thanked you again for inviting everyone here for dinner? It means so much to all of us to be able to be together today.”

“We’re family, Maureen. All of us. You know that. Blood and marriage mean something, sure, but love trumps it.” She smiled and kissed my cheek. “And you know how happy it makes me to have all these faces around my table. Your father would love it.”

“He would.” I sniffled a little. “He’d like Smith, too, don’t you think?”

“Oh, he’d love that boy. No question. Mostly because you do, and then again, because Smith so clearly adores you.” Mom patted my cheek. “Now enough of this. Get back to work.”

I sat back down and began slicing the sweet potatoes again. Preoccupied with my task, I didn’t hear Smith come back inside until I felt his arms slide around me.

“Hey. I could’ve cut off a finger.” I tilted my head up to look into his eyes.

“Never. I was watching and waited until it was safe.” He kissed the side of my neck and splayed his fingers over my ribs, his thumbs a breath away from the bottom of my breasts. I caught my breath and closed my eyes, just feeling.

“Besides.” His lips were at my ear now, whispering. “We’re still making up for lost time. I’ll never miss an opportunity to kiss my woman.”

“Is that a promise?” I covered his hand with mine, lacing our fingers together.

“You know it, baby. And tonight, when we’re at home, I’ll show you more about just how well I keep my promises.”

Happy Thanksgiving to me.

The Always Love Trilogy is the second threesome of books set in Burton, Georgia. If you want to check out what happened first, The One Trilogy is available in a box set that includes an extra short story not available anywhere else.

The One Trilogy

The Last One

The First One

The Only One

And if you want to get ready for The Always Love Trilogy Book 2, Always My Own, be sure to read my short story
Underneath My Christmas Tree
, part of the anthology 12 Christmas Romances to Melt Your Heart.

In 1989, I saw a movie that defined my generation (for me, at least) and quickly became one of my favorites.
When Harry Met Sally
made me laugh, brought me to tears and gave my family (and the rest of the world) catchphrases we still use today. Nora Ephron, who wrote the screenplay, went on to write many more excellent movies, including two more of my favorites:
Sleepless in Seattle
and
You’ve Got Mail
. You might not pick it up—the nods are subtle—but
Always For You
is by way of being an homage to Nora and her gift for writing realistic, compassionate works about women, men and the way we relate to each other in the late-20
th
and early-21
st
centuries.

We lost this brilliant woman far too soon, in 2012, to the scourge of leukemia, which has taken too many people from us before their time. But I am ever grateful to Nora for bringing me, personally, so much joy through her work.

Thanks of course to my team of usual suspects: Stephanie Nelson for the beautiful (and much-discussed) cover and Kelly Baker for proofreading. An extra-special shout-out, hug, thanks and many bottles of wine to my dear Stacey Blake of Champagne Formats for her work here as well as for a myriad of extra help she’s given me, always. A heap of gratitude to Jen Rattie and Maria Clark for their promotional and VA work. And big thank-you hugs to Mandie Stevens and Olivia Hardin, who help maintain my sanity and listen to me whine.

Love always to my wonderful Temptresses, whose encouragement keeps me rolling.

This is my final book of 2015, and my family has been patient and kind to me all year as I’ve worked hard on the business of books. I couldn’t do what I do without their help and tolerance. I love you all . . . always!

Sleeping With A Friend
Neon Trees

You Belong With Me
Taylor Swift

Complicated
Carolyn Dawn Johnson

My Best Friend
Tim McGraw

Say Goodbye
Dave Matthews Band

Whenever I Call You Friend
Kenny Loggins and Stevie Nicks

Can’t Help Falling In Love
Ingrid Michaelson

Falling In Love With My Best Friend
Matt White

Photo by Heather Batchelder

Tawdra Kandle writes romance, in just about all its forms. She loves unlikely pairings, strong women, sexy guys, hot love scenes and just enough conflict to make it interesting. Her books run from YA paranormal romance through NA paranormal and contemporary romance to adult contemporary and paramystery romance. She lives in central Florida with a husband, kids, sweet pup and too many cats. And yeah, she rocks purple hair.

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