“I’ve never seen anything like it. Pictures don’t do it justice.”

  “I knew you’d like it.”

  He wasn’t sold on the idea of a vacation, but when I mentioned Vegas, it only took a little arm-twisting. Ever since we got off the plane, he hasn’t stopped. We’ve barely been in our room because he wants to see everything, which is impossible in only four short days.

  “It’s magical,” he says softly, his face aglow from the lights. “You know what we should do?”

  “Elope,” I joke.

  He glances down. “Yeah.”

  My eyes widen, and my belly flips. It’s been one year since we moved in together. One year since he told me he loved me and I admitted the same. Life has been good. No. Not good. It’s been great.

  “Are you serious?” I ask him.

  His arm is gone a second later, and he drops down in front of me on one knee. “I don’t have a ring yet, but Luna Gallo, will you do me the honor of marrying me?”

  I blink, my mouth hanging open, trying my best to ignore the people around us who are now pointing and talking about what’s happening.

  “I love you more than anything in the world, and I want you to be mine forever.”

  I stare at him, my vision blurring from the tears. But I have no fear. No uncertainty in my heart. I want this man. I want him to be mine and for me to be his.

  “Yes!” I throw my arms around him, kneeling on the pavement with him. “Yes, Nevin. I’ll marry you.”

  He grabs my face, smashing his mouth against mine and kissing me deeper than he ever has before.

  When he pulls back, I stare into his green eyes, seeing nothing but my future. “But promise me something,” I whisper.

  “What?” he says, his eyes searching mine.

  “That we can redo the ceremony in front of our friends and family when Ian gets home.”

  “You want to marry me twice?”

  “I do,” I tell him, never having felt so sure of anything in my life.

  “Anything you want. But now we have a big decision.”

  “What?”

  “Elvis or something more traditional?”

  I laugh, thinking he was going somewhere else with that question. “We’re in Vegas. Elvis, baby.”

  He laughs, pulling me in again and hugging me tighter. I lean into him, closing my eyes, and I kiss him, knowing our future is filled with endless possibilities.

  Trace Caldo has always been a restless soul. He’s the life of the party, strikingly handsome, and a lady killer.

  It’s going to take a strong woman to tame the wild bachelor, but don’t worry, she won’t make anything easy for Mr. Trace Caldo and he’s loving every minute of the hunt.

  TAP HERE or visit menofinked.com/torch to get your copy and don’t miss a page of Gallo fun!

  Letter from Chelle Bliss

  Dear Gallo Girl,

  Thank you for your patience while waiting for the release of Luna and Nevin’s story. I’d be lying if I said it was an easy one to write. I probably have fifty different versions started and saved in the depths of my laptop. Sometimes Ian lives, sometimes he dies. Other versions don’t have Nevin in them at all and Ian’s barely there. Some are more serious. Some more sad. But none of them felt right until this version.

  I struggled with depression since we left our home in sunny Florida and moved back to the snowy north. I didn’t think the weather and the stress of the move would affect me so much, but they did. Depression isn’t something that’s easy to get rid of. I struggled all winter, adding more pressure with trying to type just the right words. It didn’t matter what I wrote—I hated every single word of it.

  Thankfully, the feeling passed. I met with a therapist weekly, meditated, relaxed, binged everything possible, and did stuff for me to try to find my joy again. And it worked. I dug into an old draft I had written over the winter, this one you’re reading now, and decided it felt right.

  In all honesty, it was the version where Ian died at the beginning. My alpha readers were pissed too. They had a fit that I killed off Ian. I thought about their feedback and knew they were right. Ian had to live. He was too good of a guy, and maybe someday (a long way away), he might get his own book too.

  It was great to spend time with the Gallos. They always brighten my day, making me feel like I’m part of something bigger. I hope spending time with them helped to put a smile on your face as much as it did mine.

  I know this might not be my spiciest book. My brain couldn’t handle it right now. I needed something that made me feel good and gave me the warm and fuzzies. I think I accomplished this, and I hope it felt like coming home.

  Thank you for always being amazing and being part of my life. Even on my darkest days, I know I have a community of friends who want nothing but the best for me.

  I’m honored to have you in my life.

  And the good news? I feel like I’m back. I feel more confident and happier. I’m excited to write the next book in the Men of Inked series too. It’s been a while since I’ve felt like me and nothing has ever felt so good.

  I hope you’re ready for Trace’s story in TORCH… It’s going to be a wild ride.

  Love Always — Chelle Bliss

  MEN OF INKED HEATWAVE #11

  Trace Caldo has always been a restless soul. He’s the life of the party, strikingly handsome, and a lady killer.

  It’s going to take a strong woman to tame the wild bachelor, but don’t worry, she won’t make anything easy for Mr. Trace Caldo and he’s loving every minute of the hunt.

  TAP HERE or visit menofinked.com/torch to get your copy and don’t miss a page of Gallo fun!

  OPEN ROAD SERIES

  Book 1 - Broken Sparrow (Morris)

  Book 2 - Broken Dove (Leo)

  Book 3 - Broken Wings (Crow)

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  I’m a full-time writer, time-waster extraordinaire, social media addict, coffee fiend, and ex-history teacher. To learn more about my books, please visit menofinked.com.

  Want to stay up-to-date on the newest

  Men of Inked release and more?

  Join my newsletter at menofinked.com/news

  Join over 10,000 readers on Facebook in Chelle Bliss Books private reader group and talk books and all things reading. Come be part of the family!

  See the Gallo Family Tree

  Where to Follow Me:

  Original Men of Inked Series

  Have you read the Original Men of Inked series?

  Join Joe, Mike, Izzy, Thomas, and Anthony as they search for their true love and a happily ever after.

  See where your favorite series started!

  Please visit menofinked.com/inked-series to learn more and start your next favorite read!

  Want a behind-the-scenes look at the chaos of my author life? Maybe you want early sneak peeks and other kickass treats.

  CLICK HERE to join the fun or visit menofinked.com/news

  …and as a special thank you, you’ll receive a free copy of Resisting, a Men of Inked novella.

 

 

  Chelle Bliss, Scorch (Men of Inked: Heatwave Book 10)

 

 

  Thank you for reading books on GrayCity.Net
Share this book with friends