How much i need, p.28
How Much I Need,
p.28
My mother has insisted on watching Maya while we’re at work, and I’m thrilled to take her up on that. In the last year, since Dee became the general manager, my parents have cut way back on their hours at the restaurant, and they’re looking forward to being hands-on grandparents to Maya.
“Couldn’t we get something else for you to use on workdays so you can still have Priscilla for the weekends?”
“I want to be with you guys on the weekends, which makes Priscilla obsolete.”
“We wouldn’t even be together without her.”
“You don’t think so?”
“She played such a huge role in bringing us together.”
“Because I had to bail you out of jail when you got accused of stealing her?”
“Hush about that!” I put my hands over Maya’s ears. “She can never know about that, or we’ll have teenage rebellion like you read about. She’ll say, ‘Mama went to jail, so why can’t I?’”
He loses it laughing. “My princess will never step foot in a jail.”
“That’s what my father thought, too. We all know how that worked out. An hour after a smooth-talking doctor cruised into my life, I was in lockup for the first time ever.”
“Admit it. I keep your life interesting.”
“That’s one word for it.”
“Why’d you look so sad when I came back before, Rizo”
“I wasn’t sad.”
“I saw what I saw.”
“It’s the weirdest thing…” I’m appalled when my eyes flood with tears.
“What is, love?”
“Since she was born, I keep thinking about the other babies I might’ve had with Tony. It’s like I’m grieving them or something. Like I said… It’s weird.”
“I think it’s perfectly normal for you to be wondering what might’ve been with him and the kids you two would’ve had together.”
“You do? Really? Because it feels bizarre to me. I’ve never been happier than I’ve been since she arrived, so why am I pulling the scab off that wound?”
“It’s like you’ve said so many times—you don’t get to choose when the grief resurfaces.”
“Yeah,” I say with a sigh, thankful that he always understands. I reach across the baby to take his hand. “You know that when it happens, it doesn’t take anything away from how happy I am with you and Maya, right?”
“I know.” He kisses the back of my hand. “Of course I do.”
“Thank you for her, for this amazing second chance, for the life we have together, for jail, for all of it.”
“Loving you and Maya is the greatest thing in my life.”
* * *
Two months after that…
“I, Dee, take you, Wyatt, to be my husband…”
* * *
Three months later…
NICO
“One more big push, Sofia,” the doctor says.
That’s all it takes to bring our baby girl into the world, and I’m right there to watch her take her first breath as she looks around with wonder stamped onto her precious little face. “God, Sofia… She’s gorgeous.”
“Meet Harlow Elena Giordino,” I tell the nurses and doctor.
“That’s a gorgeous name for a gorgeous girl,” the doctor says.
I couldn’t agree more.
* * *
GIANNA
Eight years after the disappearance of Skylar Jones, a former custodian at the University of Florida is arrested and charged with her kidnapping and murder after he leads authorities to her remains. The arrest fully exonerates Skylar’s boyfriend, Scott Wallace, who lived under a cloud of suspicion since her disappearance.
My friends and I are so relieved to have Skylar’s case finally resolved and to have a someone charged with her death who isn’t Scott. We welcome him back into our group and apologize for ever doubting him.
“I don’t blame you guys for doubting me,” Scott says. “But I hope you know I’ll never stop loving and missing Skylar.”
We won’t either.
* * *
And then on Nochebuena, this happens…
“I, Marlene, take you, Alfredo, to be my husband…”
* * *
Followed a year after that by…
Dr. and Mrs. Wyatt and Dee Blake announce the birth of their twins, Alec and Alexa.
* * *
And then…
“I, Milo, take you, Gianna, to be my wife…”
* * *
Two months later…
Domenic and Stacey Giordino announce the arrival of their daughter, Francesca Rose…
* * *
And then…
Marcus and Tara have a son named Augustus, but they’re going to call him Gus…
* * *
Finally…
Chris talks Livia into moving in with him.
* * *
Then they all live happily ever after in the South Florida sunshine.
And that’s a wrap on the Miami Nights Series—for now, anyway. I’d love to revisit these characters at some point in the future to see what they’re all up to. For now, I’ll say goodbye to them and thank them for the fun I’ve had with them over the last few years. I’m trying not to write so many super-long series, and I feel this one is ending right where it should.
Many thanks to my editors, Linda Ingmanson and Joyce Lamb, my continuity editor, Gwen Neff, as well as my primary beta readers, Anne Woodall, Kara Conrad and Tracey Suppo. Thank you to my amazing Miami Nights Series beta readers: Dinorah Shobin, Emma Melero Juarez, Angelica Maya, Mona Abramesco, Carmen Morejon and Stephanie Behill.
A huge shout out to Dr. Sarah Hewitt, family nurse practitioner, for always checking me on the medical storylines.
As always, thank you to the “home team” that supports me behind the scenes, Dan, Emily and Jake as well as Julie Cupp, Lisa Cafferty, Jean Mello, Nikki Haley and Ashley Lopez. I couldn’t do what I do without all of you, and I’m endlessly grateful for your many contributions.
To the readers who’ve embraced the Giordinos and the Miami Nights Series, thank you so much. It was so fun to write these characters and to set this series in a place that means so much to me and my family.
xoxo
Marie
Follow me:
Newsletter list
BookBub
TikTok
Verve Romance
Website
Other Books By Marie Force
* * *
Contemporary Romances Available from Marie Force
* * *
The Miami Nights Series
Book 1: How Much I Feel
(Carmen & Jason)
Book 2: How Much I Care
(Maria & Austin)
Book 3: How Much I Love
(Dee & Wyatt)
Nochebuena, A Miami Nights Novella
Book 4: How Much I Want
(Nico & Sofia)
Book 5: How Much I Need
(Milo and Gianna)
* * *
The Wild Widows Series—a Fatal Series Spin-Off
Book 1: Someone Like You
Book 2: Someone to Hold
* * *
The Gansett Island Series
Book 1: Maid for Love
(Maddie & Mac)
Book 2: Fool for Love
(Joe & Janey)
Book 3: Ready for Love
(Luke & Sydney)
Book 4: Falling for Love
(Grant & Stephanie)
Book 5: Hoping for Love
(Evan & Grace)
Book 6: Season for Love
(Owen & Laura)
Book 7: Longing for Love
(Blaine & Tiffany)
Book 8: Waiting for Love
(Adam & Abby)
Book 9: Time for Love
(David & Daisy)
Book 10: Meant for Love
(Jenny & Alex)
Book 10.5: Chance for Love, A Gansett Island Novella (Jared & Lizzie)
Book 11: Gansett After Dark
(Owen & Laura)
Book 12: Kisses After Dark
(Shane & Katie)
Book 13: Love After Dark
(Paul & Hope)
Book 14: Celebration After Dark
(Big Mac & Linda)
Book 15: Desire After Dark
(Slim & Erin)
Book 16: Light After Dark
(Mallory & Quinn)
Book 17: Victoria & Shannon (Episode 1)
Book 18: Kevin & Chelsea (Episode 2)
A Gansett Island Christmas Novella
Book 19: Mine After Dark
(Riley & Nikki)
Book 20: Yours After Dark
(Finn & Chloe)
Book 21: Trouble After Dark
(Deacon & Julia)
Book 22: Rescue After Dark
(Mason & Jordan)
Book 23: Blackout After Dark
(Full Cast)
Book 24: Temptation After Dark
(Gigi & Cooper)
Book 25: Resilience After Dark
(Jace & Cindy)
Book 26: Hurricane After Dark, Coming 2023
(Full Cast)
* * *
The Green Mountain Series
Book 1: All You Need Is Love
(Will & Cameron)
Book 2: I Want to Hold Your Hand
(Nolan & Hannah)
Book 3: I Saw Her Standing There
(Colton & Lucy)
Book 4: And I Love Her
(Hunter & Megan)
Novella: You'll Be Mine
(Will & Cam’s Wedding)
Book 5: It's Only Love
(Gavin & Ella)
Book 6: Ain’t She Sweet
(Tyler & Charlotte)
* * *
The Butler, Vermont Series
(Continuation of Green Mountain)
Book 1: Every Little Thing
(Grayson & Emma)
Book 2: Can’t Buy Me Love
(Mary & Patrick)
Book 3: Here Comes the Sun
(Wade & Mia)
Book 4: Till There Was You
(Lucas & Dani)
Book 5: All My Loving
(Landon & Amanda)
Book 6: Let It Be
(Lincoln & Molly)
Book 7: Come Together
(Noah & Brianna)
Book 8: Here, There and Everywhere
(Izzy & Cabot)
Book 9: The Long and Winding Road
(Max & Lexi)
* * *
The Quantum Series
Book 1: Virtuous
(Flynn & Natalie)
Book 2: Valorous
(Flynn & Natalie)
Book 3: Victorious
(Flynn & Natalie)
Book 4: Rapturous
(Addie & Hayden)
Book 5: Ravenous
(Jasper & Ellie)
Book 6: Delirious
(Kristian & Aileen)
Book 7: Outrageous
(Emmett & Leah)
Book 8: Famous
(Marlowe & Sebastian)
* * *
The Treading Water Series
Book 1: Treading Water
Book 2: Marking Time
Book 3: Starting Over
Book 4: Coming Home
Book 5: Finding Forever
* * *
Single Titles
Five Years Gone
One Year Home
Sex Machine
Sex God
Georgia on My Mind
True North
The Fall
The Wreck
Love at First Flight
Everyone Loves a Hero
Line of Scrimmage
* * *
Romantic Suspense Novels Available from Marie Force
* * *
The Fatal Series
One Night With You, A Fatal Series Prequel Novella
Book 1: Fatal Affair
Book 2: Fatal Justice
Book 3: Fatal Consequences
Book 3.5: Fatal Destiny, The Wedding Novella
Book 4: Fatal Flaw
Book 5: Fatal Deception
Book 6: Fatal Mistake
Book 7: Fatal Jeopardy
Book 8: Fatal Scandal
Book 9: Fatal Frenzy
Book 10: Fatal Identity
Book 11: Fatal Threat
Book 12: Fatal Chaos
Book 13: Fatal Invasion
Book 14: Fatal Reckoning
Book 15: Fatal Accusation
Book 16: Fatal Fraud
* * *
Sam and Nick’s Story Continues….
Book 1: State of Affairs
Book 2: State of Grace
Book 3: State of the Union
Book 4: State of Shock
Book 5: State of Denial, Coming in 2023
* * *
Historical Romance Available from Marie Force
* * *
The Gilded Series
Book 1: Duchess by Deception
Book 2: Deceived by Desire
About the Author
Marie Force is the New York Times bestselling author of contemporary romance, romantic suspense and erotic romance. Her series include Fatal, First Family, Gansett Island, Butler Vermont, Quantum, Treading Water, Miami Nights and Wild Widows.
Her books have sold more than 12 million copies worldwide, have been translated into more than a dozen languages and have appeared on the New York Times bestseller list more than 30 times. She is also a USA Today and #1 Wall Street Journal bestseller, as well as a Spiegel bestseller in Germany.
Her goals in life are simple—to finish raising two happy, healthy, productive young adults, to keep writing books for as long as she possibly can and to never be on a flight that makes the news.
Join Marie's mailing list for news about new books and upcoming appearances in your area. Follow her on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok. Join one of Marie's many reader groups. Contact Marie at marie@marieforce.com.
Marie Force, How Much I Need
