Free The Gift of Shayla by N.J. Walters Page B

miracle was possible. Maybe he was going to get the gift he’d always wanted and then some—Rob’s love. And now Shayla’s as well.
    Rob stood and pulled his wife up to stand beside him. Then he opened his arms. Adam pushed out of his chair and faced them both. “You’re sure?”
    “All we can do is try.” Rob curled his fingers inward, urging Adam forward. “We’re both willing if you are.”
    He took that final step and found himself engulfed in a strong pair of arms. Rob’s arms. Then a small pair slipped around his waist. Shayla. They were both hugging him. Adam stood there and let their caring seep into him. His reality had been bleak only minutes before, now the world was being offered to him. He promised himself he wouldn’t do anything to fuck this up. If a time ever came when their arrangement wasn’t working for any of them, he’d walk away. He loved them both too much to ever do anything to hurt them.
    “Why don’t you come back over to the house and have breakfast with us?” Shayla asked. “Pack up your presents and lug them over to our place. After breakfast we can open them. Together.”
    Adam reached into his pocket and pulled out the length of red ribbon. He looped it around her neck and tugged her toward him until he was close enough to kiss her. Her lips were warm beneath his. “Thank you.” He knew none of this would have happened without her.
    “You’re welcome,” she whispered. “Now.” She stepped away and continued in a brisker voice. “You two handle the presents, I’m going back to the house to cook up a feed of bacon and pancakes.”
    “Sounds good to me.” Adam was suddenly starving. “But first, I think I’ll do this.” He grabbed Rob and planted a big one on his lips. What started out as a rough and playful kiss quickly turned gentle and emotional.
    When they parted, Rob smiled. “We okay?”
    Adam nodded. “We’re better than okay.”
    “Good. Then grab all your presents. I’m looking forward to opening them together.” Rob cupped the back of his neck and drew Adam forward until their foreheads were touching.
    Together. Such a simple word, but one that meant more to Adam than either of them would ever know.
    Or maybe not. Shayla and Rob had already shown just how open and loving they were by offering him everything he’d ever wanted.
    “I’ve already got the only present I want.” Joy filled Adam. He knew there would be some rough patches along the way, but he was becoming more confident by the minute that they could get through them and make this new relationship work.
    The red ribbon was still twined around Shayla’s neck, a reminder of their night together. “So do we.” Her eyes twinkled as bright as her diamond necklace. “But I still want the packages under the tree.”

About the Author
    N.J. Walters worked at a bookstore for several years and one day had the idea that she would like to quit her job, sell everything she owned, leave her hometown and write romance novels in a place where no one knew her. And she did. Two years later, she went back to the bookstore and her hometown and settled in for another seven years.
    Although she was still fairly young, that was when the midlife crisis set in. Happily married to the love of her life, with his encouragement (more like, “For God’s sake, quit the job and just write!”) she gave notice at her job on a Friday morning. On Sunday afternoon, she received a tentative acceptance for her first erotic romance novel, Annabelle Lee, and life would never be the same.
    N.J. has always been a voracious reader of romance novels, and now she spends her days writing novels of her own. Vampires, werewolves, dragons, time-travelers, seductive handymen and next-door neighbors with smoldering good looks, all vie for her attention. And she doesn’t mind a bit. It’s a tough life, but someone’s got to live it.

 
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