Twisted Love (Blinded Love Series Book 3) Read online

  Chris cupped my face, stepping closer to me, his mouth brushing mine. “I love you, Gyps. So much.”

  “Same, Tarzan. But seriously, I’m only marrying you because of your ass.”

  “Works for me,” he muttered, his mouth taking mine. The cheers and claps resounding around us were muted, all my attention on the feel of his lips, the love growing even stronger between us. He broke the kiss, his head tipping in to mine, speaking for only me to hear. “Now, let’s go get drunk and fuck in the bathroom of the bar.”

  “Damn, I knew there was a reason I married you.” I kissed him again quickly before pulling back, taking his hand in mine. I had my partner in crime. Whatever would come at us in the future, we would face it together.

  Our wedding day had been perfect. No fuss. Just our friends, Jayme’s family, and my mom were invited. My mom did bring a “friend” named Dean to the party after. He was the owner of the music store where my mom worked, and they had been growing closer during the time she was there. She said they were just friends, but they nuzzled each other like kids in love.

  My mom loved Jayme’s mom, Amy, but it was she and Grandma Penny who had really bonded since she joined the bunco group. My mom was only ten years younger, and she and Penny just clicked. Penny drew out the free spirit in Mom, tossing herself from planes and off cliffs on weekends now. She had a whole new group of like-minded women in her tribe, and they had a great time together. It was awesome to see. My mom had come to life again, reminding me of the woman I grew up with. It made me so happy to see her like that.

  The only thing she hadn’t eased up on was the constant nagging about us visiting her. Mom adored Chris beyond belief, and he was much more willing to give in to her than I was. He adopted her as his surrogate mother, and I think my mom reminded him of his mom and loved being in a home surrounded by love. Even the cat, Hendrix, chose Chris over me now, curling on his lap and following him around, missing that male in the house. Traitor.

  So far, marriage hadn’t altered our life together much, which was great. I didn’t change my last name, so my business was under Stevie Colvin. Plus, Stevie Singer? Ugh…hell no. Though, I think my dad would have laughed at the irony of marrying a “Singer,” when that was what they wanted me to be. So, hey, Dad, in a way, I fulfilled your wish. I became a Singer.

  His absence from my wedding was my only sorrow, the missing piece. But I knew he would have loved Chris and been so happy for me.

  Chris had one request of me: to go to a therapist. After my father’s death, my brutal attack, and trying to kill myself, he knew I needed more than a confession to him and Jayme to get me through my issues. I had been going to Dr. Gray since we got to DC. It took me awhile to let someone in that deep, but I could feel she was helping a lot.

  Between her, my mom, my friends, and an amazing Ape-boy husband, I had an incredible support team.

  “Gypsy?” Chris’s voice brought me back to the present, lifting my gaze from my antique wedding ring we got at a flea market. It wasn’t a typical wedding ring, and I loved it. “You okay?”

  “Yeah.” I nodded, moving in closer to him. “Just thinking.”

  “Don’t hurt yourself.” He winked.

  “Funny.”

  “I know. I’m hilarious.” He grinned, dusting his mouth over mine. “Want to sneak to the back, or are we going to visit the bar’s bathroom again?”

  “Aren’t we still banned from the Alibi?” A bar manager caught us last time in the bathroom when we could no longer fight our desire and home was way too far for us.

  “You sure that wasn’t Hunter and Jayme?”

  “I think all of us are banned.” I pressed my lips together to keep from laughing.

  “Right.” Chris barked out a chuckle in memory. Alibi was where the guys and film crew went after work a lot. Jayme and I would Uber over and meet them. Let’s just say we were a very frisky group. It was really Jayme and Hunter who got us barred from the pub that time. I couldn’t have been prouder of Whiskey. I taught the girl right.

  “We’ll sneak in with the crew. Probably won’t even recognize us.”

  “Not a chance.”

  “You’re probably right.” He winked, sliding his hands up my sides.

  “Stevie.” Hunter ambled over. I stepped away from Chris to give him a hug. We bonded over our time together in the hospital as Chris’s life hung in the balance. An understanding. Jayme, me, and Hunter always had, going through what we did from the car accidents, but this brought us closer. We had held each other up during that very dark time. I also had gotten closer to Jones and Doug. Megan and I would never be close, but I could handle her without wanting to punch her now.

  Something was going on with her and Jones that neither would talk about. Jones wanted to move to DC since he was once again playing manager for Hunter and Chris. He never said the reason why he hadn’t yet, but I had a feeling it had a lot to do with Megan.

  “You guys ready? Jayme’s cab is rolling up now.” Hunter nodded at the door, his cell in his hand.

  “Think they’ll let us in?” Chris joked.

  A mischievous grin slid up the side of Hunter’s mouth. “Probably not. But with the whole crew and all the money we’ll spend there drinking and eating, I think they will forget.” Hunter curled his fingers into air quotes on forget.

  “Funny how that happens.” Chris chuckled, looping his fingers into the back of my jeans. “Not sure Italy is ready for us either.”

  On the guys’ break from the show, Hunter was taking an extended vacation from the shop to go abroad. Jayme had worked out a transfer with the Smithsonian to her old museum in Florence for the next four months. She took some time off for them to just travel and backpack through Europe, using Florence as their home base. She was excited to show Hunter around Florence and travel with him.

  Chris and I decided to go with them for a few weeks and have the honeymoon we didn’t have time for yet.

  “Fuck no.” Hunter laughed. “Especially since I’ve got to work extra hard so Jayme forgets all about past Italian boyfriends there.”

  I smirked. Poor Luca, Jayme’s ex-boyfriend, had come all the way here, thinking he would get back his woman. Nice guy, but sadly, he had no chance when Hunter came back into the picture. He still worked at the museum and had a girlfriend, and their paths were going to cross again, and I had no doubt Hunter would make sure she never recalled sex with anyone but him.

  Most people looked at Hunter and Jaymerson and figured they’d be the ones to get married first. I loved they went against the norm. They were happy with their lives as they were. Young and still wanting to explore the world, they had no plans to settle down for a long time.

  “Hey, guys.” Whiskey stepped in, her hair down and wavy, a bright smile on her face.

  Hunter descended on her, his mouth covering hers, kissing her so deeply I felt heat rush over my skin. “Hey, yourself,” he growled into her ear. “Everyone’s already heading over.”

  “Wait.” She looked over at me. “Are we allowed in there again?”

  “No.” I laughed. “And I have a feeling we’re all gonna get in trouble again tonight.”

  “We call the liquor storage room.” Chris raised his arm, prodding me forward.

  “Dammit.” Hunter dropped his head back. “It’s hard to concentrate in that bathroom, everyone pounding on the door the whole time.”

  “Sucks to be you.” Chris smacked him on the shoulder as the two headed out the door. “I called it first. We got stuck with the bathroom last time.”

  “You’re like an annoying younger brother.”

  “I’m older than you.”

  “Yeah, which makes you even more of an asshole.” Their voices disappeared outside.

  “You know.” Jayme twisted to me. “We could leave them here and take a girls’ vacation to Italy.”

  “Have you finally come to your senses, Whiskey?” I reached out, looping her arm with mine.

  “With what? Hunter?”

&
nbsp; “No.” I winked at her. “No longer denying your true desire. Admitting you’re absolutely head over heels in love with me?”

  “Stevie.” She pulled me tighter against her side as we walked out together. “From the moment I met you, there was no point in ever denying you’d be one of my greatest loves.”

  I glanced at her, feeling emotions rise in unexpected tears. “Same, Whiskey.”

  This girl was my soul sister. The one who changed the course of my life. Meeting her had led me to everything I loved: Chris, my friends, my career. Even myself.

  I would always be messed up and twisted, wrestling with my demons. But I learned to love myself again, no longer hiding behind a façade.

  This was me. Fucked-up parts and all.

  As another Stevie once expressed, “To the gypsy who remains, there is no fear left. Only love.”

  Yeah, whatever, I’m paraphrasing. Close enough.

  The idea is, I was the girl who always wanted to run away. Now I have no fear of standing still. And if I run, hypothetically speaking of course, he will be by my side.

  Tarzan and Gypsy.

  Acknowledgements

  Stevie is one of those characters who latches onto you. Not only do you fall in love with her but understand instantly she has a story that needs to be told as well. Her story was brutal and heartbreaking, beautiful and hopeful. Jaymerson, Hunter, Stevie, and Chris—I still don’t want to let them go. Who knows… maybe they’ll return if you guys want Jones’s story as well!

  As usual I couldn’t do this alone. A massive thanks to:

  Mom- Every book exists because of your help. Thank you.

  Kiki at Next Step P.R- Thank you for all your hard work! https://thenextsteppr.org/

  Colleen- Thank you for having my back and helping me with it all. You are awesome!

  Jordan- Every book is better because of you. I have your voice constantly in my head as I write. http://jordanrosenfeld.net/

  Hollie “the editor”- Always wonderful, supportive, and a dream to work with. http://www.hollietheeditor.com/.

  Jay Aheer- Your covers make me want to live inside your beautiful art! www.simplydefinedart.com

  To Judi at http://www.formatting4u.com/: Thank you!

  To all the readers who have supported me. My gratitude is for all you do and how much you help indie authors out of the pure love of reading.

  To all the indie/hybrid authors out there who inspire, challenge, support, and push me to be better. I love you!

  And to anyone who has picked up an indie book and given an unknown author a chance. THANK YOU!

  About the Author

  Stacey Marie Brown is a lover of hot fictional bad boys and sarcastic heroines who kick butt. She also enjoys books, travel, TV shows, hiking, writing, design, and archery. Stacey swears she is part gypsy, being lucky enough to live and travel all over the world.

  She grew up in Northern California, where she ran around on her family’s farm, raising animals, riding horses, playing flashlight tag, and turning hay bales into cool forts.

  When she’s not writing she’s out hiking, spending time with friends, and traveling. She also volunteers helping animals and is eco-friendly. She feels all animals, people, and the environment should be treated kindly.

  To learn more about Stacey or her books, visit her at:

  Author website & Newsletter: www.staceymariebrown.com

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  Amazon page: www.amazon.com/Stacey-Marie-Brown/e/B00BFWHB9U

  Goodreads: www.goodreads.com/author/show/6938728.Stacey_Marie_Brown

  Her Facebook group: www.facebook.com/groups/1648368945376239/

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