Ruin Read online

  “Be careful, Gigi girl. They can burn you.”

  “I’ve got her,” Zeus reassures me.

  “Don’t forget to make your wish when you let it go,” I tell her.

  She grins this gorgeous cheeky smile, like she already knows what to wish for.

  “Okay, so count of three,” Zeus says loudly. “Then, let your lanterns go. Three,” Zeus begins. “Two…one.”

  I release my lantern and watch as it starts to make its flight over the water, rising higher, along with everyone else’s lanterns.

  Then, I briefly close my eyes, just relishing in the happiness I feel right now. I can’t believe I’m here with Zeus, and I’m pregnant with our second baby.

  If you’d said to me a year ago that I’d be here with him, I’d have told you that an asteroid hitting Earth would be more likely.

  I hear the gentle sound of Rihanna singing “Umbrella” coming from somewhere behind me, and then the noise of hushed gasps all around has my eyes opening and my head turning.

  Zeus is down on his knees beside me.

  No. Not knees.

  Knee.

  Holy crap.

  My body slowly turns to him, my eyes not moving from his.

  “What are you doing?” I ask.

  “Proposing,” he says simply.

  “I gots the wing, Mommy!” Gigi giggles from beside him, holding out a ring box.

  “Zeus…” Tears fill my eyes.

  “You’re the love of my life, Dove. It’s always been you. From the first moment I saw you at the fair, I was a goner. I fell in love with you then. I love you now. I will go to my grave, loving you. I want you to marry me.”

  “The wing is weally pwetty, Mommy!” Gigi thrusts the box at me, and I take it from her.

  Fingers trembling, I open the box to see the most beautiful ring I’ve ever seen. It’s rose gold, diamond-encrusted band, with a large round diamond encircled by smaller diamonds.

  My eyes flick to Zeus, a gasp escaping me.

  “It was my mother’s,” he tells me. “It might not fit, but we can have it resized.”

  Okay, well, now, I’m crying.

  I wipe the tears from my face with my hand.

  “So, what do you say, Dove? Will you marry me?”

  “Says yes, Mommy, ’cause I weally, weally wanna be a bridesmaid!” Gigi comes to me, wrapping her arms around my leg, hugging me.

  My hand goes to her head, holding her close, as tears clog my throat.

  I stare down at Zeus, the ring in my hand.

  This man…he ruins me. Every word. Every look. Every touch.

  But there’s no one I’d rather be ruined by than him.

  Standing here, surrounded by everyone who matters, on my daughter’s birthday with our song playing and pretty lanterns lighting up the sky, I give Zeus and Gigi the answer they have been waiting for.

  “I say…that Gigi is going to make one heck of a beautiful bridesmaid.”

  Zeus’s face cracks into that stunning smile of his.

  “Yay!” Gigi squeals.

  “Was that a yes?” Lo asks, sounding confused.

  “It was a yes,” I tell him, my eyes still fixed on Zeus as he rises to his feet. Taking the ring from me, he slips it onto my finger. “A definite, one hundred percent yes.”

  As always, the biggest thank-you goes to my husband and children, who put up with my absences without complaint—well, mostly without complaint…Bella, I’m looking at you!—while I spend time with my imaginary characters, building these crazy, fantastic worlds.

  My editor, Jovana Shirley—I have the best editor ever. You make my life a million times easier. And you put up with me dropping last-minute things on you, constant delays on delivery, and my extended deadlines, and you never tell me off. You’re a saint!

  Najla Qamber, my cover designer—I swear, this is our hottest cover yet!

  Lauren Abramo—You continue to bring amazing things to the table. If it wasn’t for you, I wouldn’t be seeing my books in stores in my home country or in other countries around the world. You’ve helped make my dream come true.

  My Wether Girls—I flipping love you girls! The best thing I ever did was setting up that group. It’s my safe place.

  As always, thank you to each and every member of the blogging world, who works tirelessly to help promote our books without question or complaint. We authors couldn’t do it without you.

  And, lastly, to you, the reader—You’re the reason I get to live my dream. Thank you.

  SAMANTHA TOWLE is a New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal best-selling author. She began her first novel in 2008 while on maternity leave. She completed the manuscript five months later and hasn’t stopped writing since.

  She is the author of contemporary romances, The Storm Series, The Revved Series, and stand-alones, Trouble, When I Was Yours, The Ending I Want, Unsuitable, Wardrobe Malfunction, Breaking Hollywood, Under Her, and Sacking the Quarterback, which was written with James Patterson. She has also written paranormal romances, The Bringer and The Alexandra Jones Series. All were penned to the tunes of The Killers, Kings of Leon, Adele, The Doors, Oasis, Fleetwood Mac, Lana Del Rey, and more of her favorite musicians.

  A native of Hull and a graduate of Salford University, she lives with her husband, Craig, in East Yorkshire with their son and daughter.