One Night Stand-In Read online

  I tap the cover—a fun illustrated design of a New York apartment stoop with guitars and notebooks strewn across it. Lucas and I designed it together.

  When I flip open the page, I grin at the dedication.

  To Lucas and Lola. I do not have a cupid in me at all, and we will never agree on that. But it does take two to tango, so thanks for that.

  It’s fitting and so perfectly him.

  After we purchase the books, we leave, heading for the train station, and I tell Lucas about my new clients. My firm is growing, even without an award to my credit. Peter remains a top client, and his YouTube channel’s popularity has soared. So has his love life with his new lady blader, and they make videos together sometimes.

  Lucas and Reid moved into their office space at last, and that makes my man happier. He was never one for coffee shops, though he does offer a toast to a gal named Meg every time we grab a cup at Doctor Insomnia’s.

  Life is good.

  Love is wonderful.

  And llamas and alpacas are even better on the afternoon we spend tending to the cousins at the sanctuary.

  When we leave, Lucas stops at the barn door. “Hold on. I dropped something.”

  I spin around to find him on one knee. I blink, surprise whipping through me as the man I love holds out a blue velvet box.

  His brown eyes hold mine fiercely. “Lola Dumont, this is where I knew I was falling in love with you a second time around. In this place, we talked about halfway love, and that’s when I was certain, even though I didn’t know it at the time, that I wanted everything with you. It took me a few days to figure it out, but since I have, I’ve never looked back. And I only want to keep moving forward with you.”

  My heart expands. My skin tingles. And I feel like I’m glowing all over.

  “Will you marry me?” he asks.

  I grin like an alpaca as I fall to my knees, joining him, letting him slide a gorgeous diamond on my finger.

  I say yes to him, yes to love, yes to forever.

  * * *

  The next year, we’re married here at the farm. We ask for donations to the sanctuary instead of gifts, and Davina serves as our justice of the peace.

  Frick and Frack are in attendance too, wearing bow ties.

  And Lucas is still a little bit in love with them. And I’m all the way in love with him. There is nothing halfway about our love, or how we dance the tango for our first song.

  THE END

  Ready for more romance and adventure? I can not wait to share PS IT’S ALWAYS BEEN YOU with all my fabulous readers! Don’t miss this epic romance! Preorder now!

  A sweeping, second chance romance from #1 NYT Bestseller Lauren Blakely that weaves mystery, passion, and humor as two present-day lovers search for a love story from the past...

  Past loves should stay in the past.

  After the way my first love took off for the ends of the earth, the last thing I want is to see him on billboards and bookstore bestseller shelves. Now my boss just handed me the project that could make my career. All I have to do is partner up with the man, the myth, the legend—adventurer Hunter Armstrong.

  That’s easier said than done, because when we reconnect I learn Hunter has his own agenda on this project. And it’s not to find a treasure in art and antiques. It’s me. But what we discover shocks both of us and we have no choice but to follow the clues....

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  Contact

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