The Woman by the Lake (Misted Pines #3) Read Online Kristen Ashley

Categories Genre: Alpha Male, Contemporary, Suspense Tags Authors: Kristen Ashley Series: Misted Pines Series by Kristen Ashley
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The deck was pure Riggs, dark wood and logs with some stout branches and interesting wrought iron. It fit the house perfectly, and it had an amazing view.

You could also see the cabin from it.

He’d managed to do that and everything else because Harry, Cade, Jess, Jace, Rus, Jaeger, Easton and Storm often came out to help.

And yes, Bubbles.

That man tried hard with me, I just wasn’t there yet.

It didn’t stop him trying.

And it was annoying, because just that fact alone made him a loveable guy.

Maybe I’d get there one day, but Riggs was already moving on, so I wasn’t a complete bitch to Bubbles (though, Riggs thought it was hilarious how I held on to a grudge, and I supposed that was good, considering other men would find that terrifying).

This party was louder and far rowdier than the first I attended, but I knew nearly everyone, so even though it really wasn’t my scene, and I much preferred the quieter variety, I had fun.

I definitely got tipsy, and Riggs had more than a few, so we left everyone else outside so we could hit his bed and get busy.

We got so busy, the ruckus outside had grown quiet by the time I was fucked out, but before I passed out, Riggs slid something on my left ring finger.

He said not a word when he did it.

I pried open my eyes and stared at the humongous simple solitaire diamond protruding obnoxiously (not complaining…at all) from a slim platinum band.

I then looked at him and asked, “Seriously?”

He grinned.

I kissed him as an unspoken answer to his unspoken question.

And passed out mid-kiss.

After a chat with Ledger, I moved into the big house the next day.

Obviously, Misted Pines was my future.

And when the word hit the ears of Trevor’s parents, they called me out of the blue and asked if they could come for a visit. I knew it would hurt them, but I also knew it might help them do what I was trying to do after I lost mom.

Learn to live with a terrible loss, and see that life carried on.

They came and met Riggs, who they obviously liked, and Ledger, who cut them to the quick, but they loved.

Then they left.

And after that, I never got more than birthday or Christmas cards from them.

That hurt.

But I loved them, and I got it.

So I gave it to them.

A month after I moved in officially with Riggs and Ledger, we closed on buying the cabin.

Dave drove a hard bargain, and we paid four times what he bought it for four years previously.

I didn’t care.

I had my she shed.

And my family owned our whole lake.

Epilogue

FALLING PETALS

Nadia

After I watered the pots of flowers all around, I wound the garden hose around its holder on the side of the cabin, then walked in my now not-as-velvety-gorgeous Birks to the trail.

I wasn’t even close to the big house when I saw all the activity.

The white chairs being set out in rows. The thick swags made of deep red and orange roses being hung from the railings of our deck. More being draped around the large white tent that had been erected on the other side of the drive.

I was glad I didn’t have to do all that work.

And I was thrilled the weather was going to cooperate.

I walked under the arbor, which, with Brenda’s assistance, since they were planted last year, I had managed to coax the peach roses to grow, and we trained them around Rigg’s delicate scrollwork, so now they were nearly up to the curves of the arch.

And they were blooming profusely.

I was inside, had flipped off my Birks, and was at the kitchen sink washing my hands when Riggs walked in.

I dried my hands and called, “Hey, baby.”

He didn’t respond, unless coming to me, fitting himself to my back and shuffling me out of the kitchen, murmuring in my ear, “Time to get ready,” could be considered a response to a greeting.

It actually wasn’t time. It was early.

But today was a day of romance.

So I allowed my man to take me to our bed. I also allowed him to take off my sundress and panties. And I watched as he lifted both arms to put his hands between his shoulder blades to tug off his tee.

But I helped him with his jeans.

We had time, so we took our time going over old ground that somehow always seemed new.

Riggs had a thing for getting his mouth between my legs (truth told, I had a thing for it too, and mine was a bigger one than his, I was sure).

I also had a thing for getting him in my mouth (ditto with me suspecting that was bigger for him than me).

And when we were ready, Riggs covered me, our mouths connected, our hands exploring, my legs curving around his thighs, and he slid inside me.

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