The Last One (35 page)

Authors: Tawdra Kandle

Tears pooled in my eyes. “Did Ali make you come down?”

He shook his head. “No. She only pointed out to me how unfair it was that I hadn’t been honest with you.” He shifted on the towel, and I could tell he was nervous. “I don’t want to pressure you. I just wanted you to know. So you can make an informed decision.”

I bit back the surge of joy that was rising in my chest. “Interestingly, I just had a conversation with my brother, during which time he informed me that I needed to tell you how I feel. He says I can’t be mad at you for not being open with me if I’m not telling you about my own feelings.” I glanced at Sam sideways. “Word is I haven’t been the happiest person since I got back here, either.”

A smile spread over Sam’s face. “I am always in favor of sisters listening to their brother’s advice. So you should probably tell me everything.”

I swallowed. “I broke our rule, Sam. I didn’t mean to, but I did. I fell in love with you, and I don’t want to leave you.”

Before the last word left my lips, Sam was on top of me, pressing me into the towel. His mouth angled over mine, and his tongue thrust between my lips. I hummed in pleasure as I matched his movements with my own, slipping my hands under his shirt to revel in those muscles I loved to touch.

“Don’t ever leave me again, okay?” He kissed down my neck, between my breasts. “And God, Meghan, look at this bathing suit.” He glanced up and down the beach. “What if guys saw you in this?”

I giggled, threading my hands through the hair in the back of his head. “Pretty sure they have. This is a beach, Sam. This is what we wear here.”

“Nope.” He shook his head and covered the exposed slope of my boob with his mouth. “These are for me only. Mine.” He held my chin between two fingers. “You understand? You’re mine. For always.”

I covered his hands with my own. “As long as you understand that it goes both ways.” I slid my hands down his body to grip his backside. “Mine. For always.”

Sam dropped his head against my shoulder and sighed into my hair. “It’s a deal.” He pushed up again and looked down at me, brushing a strand of hair from my cheek. “When can I take you home?”

I smiled.
Home
. I realized it didn’t matter where that was, because as long as Sam was there, I’d be content.

“I’d like you to meet my mom and Logan. Joseph ... oh, did you meet him already?”

Sam nodded. “Yeah, and his wife, too. Nice people.” He wrapped me in his arms, dragging me onto his lap. “And I’ll meet anyone you want, but I want to get you alone, too. If we sit out here like this too long, I’m going to embarrass you. Everything shows in these shorts.”

I trailed one hand down his stomach. “Everything? I like that idea. You can’t hide anything from me.”

“Never will.” He framed my face. “Meghan, I love you. I want forever with you. I hope forever can be on the farm in Georgia, but if that doesn’t work for you, I’ll figure out something else. But you come first. Before the farm, before Ali and Bridget. It’s you and me.”

I leaned in to kiss his lips. “You are my forever, Sam. I can’t imagine living anywhere else but on the farm, with your sister and Bridge, but like you said, the where doesn’t matter. It’s you.” I smiled and laced our fingers together. “You’re the catch I won’t toss back.”

He growled low in his throat. “Better not. Because I’ll come back for you every time.”

I looked up into his face, so filled with love, and I stroked his jaw. “I think I knew from the first time I opened my eyes and looked up at you. It felt like coming home.”

He grinned down at me. “I didn’t tell you the whole truth, you know. About that first night. I did hear what you said. You looked at me, touched my face and said, ‘Oh, it’s you.’ Like you already knew me.”

I held him tight and whispered into his ear. “It
is
you, Sam. It’ll always be you.”

If you’ve enjoyed Meghan and Sam’s story, don’t miss THE POSSE (
http://amzn.to/1tnOOOf
). Spend some time in Crystal Cove and get to know Meghan’s family as well as the men who woo her mother in this beach romance.

One woman, three men, and a beach romance as unpredictable as the riptide ...

Being a widow at the age of forty-four was never in Jude Hawthorne’s plans. After her husband’s death, she’s left with her family’s beach restaurant and two nearly-grown children. The last thing she’s looking for is another chance at love.

However, if her husband’s best friends, the Posse, have anything to say about it, love is just what she’s going to get. The Posse is determined to take care of Jude, and when they decide the best way to do that is for one of them to sweep her off her feet, three begin to vie for her affections. But only one can reach her heart.

In a story of friendship, loss and second chances, Jude will learn her life is far from being over.

Want to check out Tawdra’s other books and keep up-to-date on new releases? You can follow her on Facebook here (
https://www.facebook.com/AuthorTawdraKandle
), Twitter (@tawdra) and on her website,
http://tawdrakandle.com
. And the best way to get all the news is by subscribing to her newsletter, (
http://bit.ly/ZNrpD9
).

Coming in the spring of 2015:

THE FIRST ONE (The One Trilogy, Book 2)

ALI AND FLYNN WERE HIGH school sweethearts. For four years, they’d planned their escape from the small Georgia town where they’d always lived. They wanted to see the world, leaving behind all the sadness and responsibility back at home.

But on graduation day, only one of them hit the road.

Eight years down that road, Flynn is ready to come home. He’s a big-shot writer, and he’s made most of his plans reality. But he’s done it alone. Now he’s heading back to Georgia to find out if one last dream can still come true.

Ali’s spent those years working hard, raising a daughter and helping her brother keep their family farm alive. Thinking about Flynn and what might have been is a pain she tries to avoid ... even when it’s impossible.

Flynn’s return brings back feelings Ali thought were long dead and hopes she’d abandoned. Finding their way back to each other will change them forever, opening old wounds and stirring up memories.

Can the first love be the one?

The Ultimate Play List

The Last One

Man! I Feel Like A Woman!
Shania Twain

T-R-O-U-B-L-E
Travis Tritt

Chicken Fried
Zac Brown Band

Trouble Is
Charlie Worsham

Red High Heels
Kellie Pickler

Burn
Jo Dee Messina

Fishin’ In The Dark
Nitty Gritty Dirt Band

A Little Mud on the Tires
Brad Paisley

Ticks
Brad Paisley

It’s Your Love
Tim MacGraw and Faith Hill

Beat This Summer
Brad Paisley

This has been a crazy year. Between book events, releases, getting ready to move and not knowing where, all of my friends and book supporters have had to work extra hard just to keep up. I appreciate it so much.

What a thrill and an honor it’s been to meet so many readers this year! Whether we’ve hung out in Daytona, Charleston, Atlanta, New Orleans, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Orlando or Tampa, I’ve loved visiting with you all. Thanks for coming out and supporting me.

I’m grateful to the usual suspects for making Meghan and Sam’s book possible: Stacey, now of Champagne Formatting, who makes everything so pretty even when I’m flakey about dates; Mandie, who advises, shares, arranges promo and tells me I can do it; and Jen and everyone at PBT who just say yes when I ask for almost anything.

Amanda Long has been my de facto editor for some time now. She is insightful, wicked funny and ruthless; it’s the best combination ever in any editor. I am, I think, a better writer and a better storyteller thanks, to Amanda. And I’ve made her cry twice now, which I count as a win.

A special thank you to my sweet friend Olivia Hardin, whose books I adore, and who has been there to keep me sane. Under the rock is the coolest place to hang.

This gorgeous cover is courtesy of LP Hidalgo of BookFabulous Designs. When Stephanie and I decided to try something new, she recommended BookFabulous, and it was a terrific choice. I’m happy to have a few talented artists on my side!

I sometimes thank total strangers for their unwitting help in making a book possible, and for Meghan and Sam’s story, I send out a huge thanks to Brad Paisley and Charlie Worsham, whose songs crystallized everything for me. Country music played a big role in the writing of this book. Like Sam says, it’s real music about real people. See the play list at the end. And go listen to that music.

On the opposite end of the spectrum from total strangers is my wonderful family, who put up with what I do, with me being away from home and preoccupied with imaginary people when I am at home. I love you all, and I’m excited about our next adventure!

I really do have the best readers ever, and their enthusiasm and encouragement keep me writing. I love the messages, the notes, reviews and posts ... you all rock my world, daily.

Photo: Marilyn Bellinger

Tawdra Thompson Kandle lives in central Florida with her husband, children, cats and dog. She loves homeschooling, cooking, traveling and reading, not necessarily in that order. And yes, she has purple hair.

You can follow Tawdra here …

Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/AuthorTawdraKandle

Twitter:
https://twitter.com/tawdra

Website:
tawdrakandle.com

Newsletter:
http://bit.ly/ZNrpD9

Other Books by the
Author

The King Series