Love Won (Winning at Love book 1) Read online

  Opening the door, I walk in and feel my excitement waver. Scanning the deep grey and cherrywood-furnished space, I see he’s not in here. Looking down, I stifle a laugh, seeing the trail of sprinkles continuing towards his king-size bed. I feel my face pulling into an ear-to-ear grin when I see a familiar-style gift basket situated in the centre of the bed. Waiting for me. Moving to the bed, my heart thumps in my chest, the sound pounding wildly in my ears. I can barely breathe as I climb onto the mattress and peer inside the basket.

  Removing the cellophane wrap, I start to pull out item after item, unable to contain my laughter as I uncover each hidden treasure.

  There’s a key on a silver ring with the initial “E” and a keychain that says “Home” attached. A rush of excitement at having my own key to McCoy’s and its potential meaning has me giddy. I again look around the room, wondering if he’ll suddenly appear and ask me to move in with him. Realizing he’s still not coming, I reach in and pull out a few more things, including a toothbrush that I try not to read too much into.

  Next, there’s a pink fishing lure, and I roll my eyes, knowing how badly he wants to take me fishing again this summer.

  A gift card for Laser Quest that makes me shake my head, remembering how much fun I’d had with him the last time we’d gone. And how I can’t wait to see what he’ll do to me in the dark this time.

  A pint of strawberries that has me clenching my thighs.

  A bag of plain Lay’s potato chips that makes me laugh out loud. My cheeks heat as memories of a certain night pop into mind. This man.

  Placing each item gently on the bed, I can’t hide how much fun I’m having or how much I love him—and the crazy little things he does for me. Lifting up a piece of tissue paper, I pause, a bit thrown off at seeing the next item: a diary.

  Taking it in, I feel my eyes start to water and my nose tingle with a familiar twitchy sensation as I run my finger along the cover where the words, “Our Beginning”, are embossed in a beautiful Valeria script that stands out from the photo of rainbow cake sprinkles which decorate the book’s cover. The cover easily makes this the best diary I’ve ever seen. Without thinking, I open it and gasp, seeing today’s date on the top and an entry written in his handwriting:

  Dear Diary,

  Dearest Sprinkles,

  I have something of yours; in fact, I have two things. One I’m willing to give back and the other I’m hoping you’ll let me keep if I promise to take care of it this time. And I’m hoping this diary and the way I feel for you will inspire a slew of new entries, ones that involve you living here with me as we make a new beginning…ours.

  I smile, thrilled that I was right about the meaning behind the key and toothbrush.

  I want you to write about the days where I teach you new things, like how to really bait your hook and how to become a real laser sharpshooter while you try to run from me in the dark.

  I want you to keep a list of all the foods we splosh, so I can peek and see which ones to buy over and over again. To make you come over and over again.

  Finally, I want nights where we sit on the couch, snuggling, sharing our lives before we watch movies—you eating your brand of potato chips and me eating mine. ;)

  Most of all, I want this diary to be filled with us.

  I love you,

  McCoy

  I giggle, unable to keep tears from falling. That’s when I hear the bathroom door click, and his voice penetrates the room.

  “That. That laugh right there is the sound I want to hear for the rest of my life,” Coy says, and I look up, my eyes blurry with happy tears as I take him in. But it isn’t how hot he looks in his green cargo shorts and tight-fitting black T-shirt that has me at a loss for words. It’s what he’s holding in his right hand that steals it all: my words, my breath, and what little control I’d been hanging on to. They all flee as reality sets in. My body starts to shake as adrenaline hits me. Watching McCoy, I shake my head in disbelief as he carefully lays several books in a stack on the dresser’s top and moves a few steps in my direction. Darting my eyes between Coy and the dresser, I can’t help but laugh when I realize he’s been holding on to one of my old friends for who knows how long. It’s May!

  “Before I explain this,” he taps one of her top covers gently, “do me a favour and look in the basket. There’s one more thing I want to give you,” he says quietly, and I can tell he’s nervous. Without question, I look in the bottom of the basket. When I shift the tissue paper, I see it immediately—a black velvet box.

  Picking it up, my hands are trembling so hard that I almost drop it back inside.

  “Open it,” Coy says, and I turn to look at him. He’s down on his knees and he’s inched his way over to meet me more than halfway across the carpeted floor. And with a rush of pure uninhibited love, I slip off the bed and meet him the rest of the way, not even bothering to open the box. It doesn’t matter what’s inside, what matters is right here in front of me.

  “Coy.” My voice is a whisper, his blue eyes like magnets catching and holding mine. The small velvet box remains clutched in my grasp as I watch his Adam’s apple bobbing with nerves. I’ve never felt as much love for one person as I do right now. As we sit in the middle of his bedroom floor, knees touching knees, I know he’s about to give me what I never dreamed I’d ever get with the one person I wanted most. Him. His voice is overcome with the same emotion I feel.

  “Marry me, Sprinkles?”

  “Yes,” I say, without hesitation, nodding my head up and down repeatedly as tears threaten to fall once again.

  “I found your books in one of my boxes.” He cups my face in his hand. “I guess they got shoved in with my stuff by mistake when your parents redid the basement.”

  May. He’s talking about May, I realize.

  “Anyway, I tried not to read any of your diaries, but one day I caved. I’d been thinking about you, and I couldn’t stop myself. I needed to know if coming back here was going to be worth it. I needed to know if I actually stood a chance with you. It was the push I needed. Well, the first two diaries were…” he says.

  I laugh, because I know that after filling up two of May’s notebooks with rants and raves about Coy, I gave up for a while and tried to talk about some other guys, hoping it would help me forget him.

  “I had to stop when you started writing about those other guys. It made me crazy.” He kisses me softly. “I’m sorry I read them.”

  “I’m not. If it helped us get here, I’m glad you did.” I wrap my arms around his neck, holding him tight. “I’ve really only ever wanted this.”

  “Fuck, I love you,” he says, determined.

  “I love you, too. Like I said…”—a sob escapes, my emotions getting the better of me—“…I always have,” I say honestly.

  Reaching up, he runs his thumb along my cheek and catches a tear. He looks at me with such intense love and tenderness before giving me a lopsided grin, the one I’ve fallen so madly in love with, that it makes me beam with happiness.

  “I’ll tell you every fucking day if it makes you look at me like that.” He runs his thumb over my lips and I lean forward, pulling him in to kiss me. Then he takes over, lifting me up until I’m straddling him, and resumes kissing me like it’s the only thing that matters.

  Reaching down to take my hand in his, he lifts my palm and unclenches it, revealing the still-unopened box. “Don’t you want to see your ring?” He cocks his head to the side, a boyish smile crossing his lips.

  “I forgot!” I cover my mouth, feeling nervous as he lifts up the lid. Our eyes catch, then travel down together. I gasp when I see a band with a stunning Celtic knot, adorned with a beautiful princess cut diamond sparkling in its centre.

  “It’s gorgeous.”

  “I can’t wait to make you my wife,” he says, slipping the ring out of its holder and sliding the symbol of our new beginning onto my third finger.

  I can’t help starting to laugh.

  “What’s so funny?” he asks, ni
pping at my bottom lip.

  “I’m thinking of my mom.”

  “Really? Right now?” He gives me a strange look as he starts to lift off my shirt. Tossing it aside, the look on his face makes me laugh even harder. “Glad I’m keeping the spark alive, baby.” He licks my neck and growls, grabbing and tweaking my nipples after he unclasps my bra. “Do I need to get the strawberries and teach you another lesson?”

  “You were always a good teacher,” I say, and bite his lip back before leaning up to take the container of fresh berries off the bed. “But seriously…I was wondering what kind of cake Mom’s going to bake us once we tell her the news,” I say, and feel him chuckling against my neck.

  “I can only imagine.”

  “I bet it’ll be some crazy wedding dress cake, or wedding rings,” I say, rolling my eyes. I pull his shirt up and over his head, letting our skin touch the way I love.

  “I bet it’s a rattle,” he says against my nipple before gently biting it, making me moan.

  “Oh, shit, you’re right,” I say. “It’s so going to be a rattle…”

  Picking up a bright red strawberry, Coy drags his tongue over it before running it along my lips. “Shh, baby. Whatever it is, it’s fine with me. As long as we can bring the leftovers home so I can splosh the fuck out of you with them, I’ll be happy.

  “I like the sound of that,” I tell him, as he lowers me back onto the carpet.

  “No matter what it is—a dress, rings, whatever—I say as long as there are leftovers, it’s all good. Now be a good girl and stay still while I master my craft,” he demands, taking my mouth with his, simply accepting the inevitability of Katie Hatfield and the boatload of crazy he’s just committed to being a part of for the rest of his life. Then he covers my body in strawberries and starts to eat me as though I’m the cake itself.

  And who am I to deny Coy from perfecting his art form? I lay back and reap the benefits of my fiancé and his kinky little fetish that we’ve both come to love.

  In the end, I think if you were to ask that same collective group—the infamous They—about my relationship with McCoy Graves now, they would say that not only is he the Rachel to my Ross, but he’s my reason. I can almost picture Their smug faces when they find out I just got my fairytale ending with McCoy Graves, my not-so-jerky brother’s best friend.

  The ending I think They (those smug bastards!) knew I was going to get all along.

  I guess you could say where love and I are concerned, in spite of my resistance, love most definitely won. Not only did it win, it totally kicked my ass.

  Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have a cake to frost.

  The End

  Playlist

  Closer – The Chainsmokers, Halsey

  Stay – Kygo, Maty Noyes

  In The Name Of Love – Martin Garrix, Bebe Rexha

  i hate u, i love u (feat. olivia o’brien) – gnash, Olivia O’Brien

  Gold – Kiiara

  bodytalk – Lyon

  Like I’m Gonna Lose You – Jasmine Thompson

  Love Me or Leave Me – Little Mix

  Nothing Like Us – Bonus Track – Justin Bieber

  White Flag – Dido

  No Other Love – John Legend, Estelle

  Let You Get Away (feat. Ashe) – Shaun Frank, Ashe

  Figures – Jessie Reyez

  My Love / Hotline Bling – Gardiner Sisters

  You Don’t Own Me – Grace, G-Eazy

  Something Just Like This – The Chainsmokers, Coldplay

  Mercy – Loote Remix – Shawn Mendes, Loote

  Make Me… (feat. G-Eazy) – Britney Spears, G-Eazy

  Bitch I’m Madonna – Madonna, Nicki Minaj

  Mind (feat. Kai) – Jack Ü, Skrillex, Diplo, Kai

  Selfish – Future, Rihanna

  Body Like A Back Road – Sam Hunt

  Yours – Ella Henderson

  Hold Me Down – Halsey

  Closure – Hayley Warner

  All I Want – Kodaline

  Torn Apart (Bastille Vs. GRADES) – Bastille, GRADES

  Empty Pack Of Cigarettes – Joseph Angel

  I’m In Love with You – Endre Nordvik

  Say You Won’t Let Go – James Arthur

  Here Is Where Your Love Belongs – Jaye P. Morgan

  Be Your Love – Bishop Briggs

  Top to Toe – Fenne Lily

  Waiting Around – Aisha Badru

  Show Me Love – Hundred Waters

  How Sweet It Is – Julia Stone

  This Town – Niall Horan

  Sign of the Times – Harry Styles

  All I Do – Yuna

  Adore – Amy Shark

  Free – 6LACK

  Love On The Brain – Rihanna

  Despacito – Remix – Luis Fonsi, Daddy Yankee, Justin Bieber

  This Means War – Marianas Trench

  Yellow – Coldplay

  Caught Up – Usher

  Slow Hands – Niall Horan

  You’re the Reason I Come Home – Ron Pope

  BURN IT DOWN – Linkin Park

  Somebody Else – Jolan

  Acknowledgements

  Thank you so much for taking the time to read my words. As always, it takes the talents of many amazing people to publish a book. I seriously have the best army behind me, and am grateful everyday for all the support I’m given.

  Angie—It’s hard to express how thankful I am to you. Thank you for allowing me to vent, message and basically harass you everyday while writing this book. I could not have done this one without you!!!

  Amanda—Lobby, I adore you, and always look forward to the push your feedback gives me. I value your opinions so, so much.

  Brynne—Thank you for beta reading, listening, and sprinting!!! You are a stunning human, and I’ve enjoyed getting to revel in our love of Birks together!

  Donna—I just love you, and thank you for always being honest with me!

  Doris—As always thank you for lending me those amazing eyes of yours. I appreciate you taking time to help make my stories pretty.

  Jade—My Jade, you have become such a great friend, and I’m thankful for our chats, but more so for waking up to the best puns and your love for Bieber everyday. LOL LOL

  Jelena—Thank you again for taking time out of your busy life for my words. Your feedback is always so helpful, and I appreciate you so very much.

  Karl and Max—Again, thank you for supporting me, and loving me even when I get lost in writing. You guys are my world. Xox

  Kym—Thank you for always being there to help work my plot issues out. But best of all, thank you for always calling me out when I make my guys sound too much like girls! LOL I love you!

  Lia—Thank you for your excitement about this book. Thank you for loving it, and for always giving my stories your undivided attention.

  Mandie—Ah, my little Brit. I adore you, and am so thankful that I have you in this book world. Thank you for reading this a million times, and supporting me.

  Paige—Once again, I cannot thank you enough, Paige. You really are an amazing friend and I’m so lucky to have you in my life. Thank you for reading “Love Won” over and over and for always giving me your honest opinions.

  River and Lissy—I just love you! Thank you for always listening and being there no matter what!!!

  Toni—Thank you for being you!! I literally could not imagine not having you as a part of this journey. Thank you for always being there for me, and for supporting my work. You really are way too nice despite being a whore! LOL LOL

  Torrie—Thank you for being you! I love you so much, and appreciate your advice, and your willingness to help me when I’m crazy and struggling.

  To my reader group, Gilly’s Gems—Ladies, I adore you! Thank you for taking the time out of your busy lives to engage and chat with me. But most of all, thank you for the constant support and kindness you show me. It means the world.

  Karie and Mary thank you both so much for proofreading my story. You both are wonderfu
l to work with, and I look forward to working with you again. Your keen eyes are very much appreciated!

  A special thank you to Nancy, Robin, and Phyl for reading early copies, and for giving me your feedback. You ladies are amazing!

  I cannot thank Natasha at Read Review Repeat Promotions enough for all her hard work, and for allowing me to message her like a crazy person. You are a wonderful support, and I’m happy to have you in my corner.

  To all the bloggers, bookstagrammers, and readers, thank you for your continued support of my work. I couldn’t do this without you. Please know I’m so very appreciative of all the hard work you do and, again, if ever I can repay the favour, just send me a message.

  And lastly, to the most amazing readers—Your continuing support is the most incredible feeling! Thank you for taking a chance on my stories! A huge thank you to each one of you.

  About the Author

  Wife, mother, proud Canadian, shoe addict, red wine connoisseur, lover of laughter and the friendships that cause it. I’m a sucker for epic romances that steal my breath and leave me always wanting more.

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