And I will.

  As soon as my little friend finally shows himself.

  Silently, I sneak over to claim my pants off the floor, along with the small object that’s been burning a hole in the pocket all night.

  Then, I casually return to the task at hand, opening the fridge in search of the ice cold bottle of amaretto I stashed in here earlier, along with some sour mix and cherries.

  As I grab it all, the refrigerator light shines on the kitchen floor, illuminating the dark shadows beneath the table, along with Cat Jake’s large, green eyes hovering next to the table’s leg.

  “There you are,” I whisper. Leaning down, I hold out my hand. “Come here.”

  He obeys, always happy to be on the receiving end of pets and scratches. He bumps his head against my hand, purring softly.

  “Good boy.” I pick him up and set him down on the kitchen counter so I can easily unhook his red collar. “Hold still...”

  Peeking at the bed again, I confirm that Tish isn’t watching. Then I slide the collar back into place around Jake’s neck and point him in her direction.

  “Go on,” I whisper. “To the bed.”

  Jake leaps down off the counter. As I finish mixing two amaretto sours, I listen to his little paws tapping against the floor. He makes his way over to the bed and hops up onto it, quickly walking along the lump of Tish’s body to bump his head against hers.

  Tish giggles, reaching out to pet him with closed eyes. “Hey, buddy,” she says.

  I approach the bed with my breath held tight and wait.

  Pushed to move by Jake’s enthusiastic nudging, Tish rolls over onto her back and sits up. Jake perches his front paws on her knee and she scratches one of his favorite spots along his neck.

  Her fingers slide under his collar and... her smile drops.

  “Riley?” Tish looks up at me standing at the foot of the bed. “What’s this?”

  I walk around the bed to her side. After setting the drinks down on the bedside table, I face her and take a knee.

  “Oh, my god,” she says.

  I motion for Jake to come closer to me. He hops off her legs and bounces over, allowing for me to slide the diamond ring off his collar. “Thanks, buddy,” I say.

  He hops down and disappears into the shadows once again.

  “Riley,” Tish says, her voice quiet with shock. “Are you serious?”

  I hold the ring out to her. “I’m very serious, Tish. I’ve never been more serious about anything in my life. In fact, I’m not even sure I had a life at all until the night we met. Until then, I was just floating from day-to-day, not really committing to anything or anyone because... I always just assumed that anything good in life was just temporary. Then, I came here, and I found you... and suddenly, my life had purpose. My songs had a voice. I had a family again.” I smile. “I have a future here, and I want to spend every moment with you.”

  Tish grins, her eyes full of tears. “I want to spend mine with you, too.”

  “Then, marry me, Tish.” I reach for her hand and she gives it. “I promise you, this is only the beginning.”

  I slide the ring onto her finger. It nestles into place, fitting perfectly, the diamond sparkling in the dim light of the bedside lamp.

  “Riley,” she whispers. “Of course I’ll marry you.” She admires the ring and sighs. “It’s beautiful.”

  “You’re beautiful.” I draw her hand close and kiss her knuckles once. Then I grab our drinks off the table and offer her one. “And soon, it won’t be just Small Town who knows it.”

  “Cupid’s Corner.” Her grin is so wide as she tastes the drink. “Mmm,” she hums. “I can’t believe this is happening. This may just be the best night of my entire life.”

  I lean in to kiss her. “It’s mine, too. So far,” I add before sipping my drink.

  “Yeah.” Tish smiles. “So far.”

  “I love you, Tish.”

  “I love you, Riley.”

  “Meow,” Jake says from the shadows.

  We laugh. “We love you, too, Jake!” Tish adds.

  Her palms come to my cheeks, and she kisses me once before clawing at me to join her. “Now, come on!” she says, abandoning her drink on the table and urging me to do the same. “You coming back to this bed or what?”

  I return to her, unable to deny her, eager to start the rest of our lives together as husband and wife. As partners in love and music. As... stepbrother and stepsister, but we won’t dwell on that part. Happily ever after comes in all shapes and sizes in Kiss County.

  And I can’t wait to see what this place has in store for us next.

  For a look into Riley and Tish’s future, don’t miss their Extended Epilogue that takes place ten years later in Kiss County!

  Click here!

  People fall in love in Kiss County!

  So, who’s next?

  Be sure to stay subscribed to my newsletter for news and updates on all things Kiss County and beyond!

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  ALSO BY TABATHA

  For a complete list of titles,

  visit tabathakiss.com.

  Kiss County Short Romances

  All the sexy fun of a Tabatha Kiss book,

  in two hours or less!

  Welcome to Kiss County

  The Hot New Bachelor in Town

  The Hot New Single Dad Next Door

  The Hot New Bartender in Town

  Break the Rules

  You Don’t Marry the Muse

  Rock Gods Don’t Date Pop Princesses

  Nobody Falls for the Opening Act

  We Really Shouldn’t…

  Don’t Bang a Bandmate

  Princes of Chicago North

  Halftime Heartbreaker

  Late Night Burn

  Tight End Trickster

  Kings of Chicago North

  Touchdown Baby

  First Down Darling

  Home Run Baby

  Bad Boys of Delta Xi

  On His Face

  On His Knees

  The Heartthrobs

  Ego Trip

  Heartthrob Hotel

  Just a Touch

  Just a Kiss

  Just a Fling

  Just a Crush

  Just a King

  Chicago Nights

  Pretty Little Thing

  Pretty Dirty Trick

  Pretty Ever After

  Sweet Cravings

  Muffin Top

  Hot Sauce

  Old Habits

  The Mechanic

  The Milkman

  The Pink Series

  2 in the Pink

  Tickled Pink

  Stand-alones

  Lumberjack Boss

  I Hate You, Kai Casablancas

  Paranormal & Fantasy Romance

  Death

  Killer Love

  Writing as Tabatha Drake

  Killer Love

  Secret Love

  Tainted Love

  Broken Love

  Mad Love

  Cruel Love

  Endless Love

  The Midwest Diaries

  Writing as Tabatha Drake

  Untouched

  Unbroken

  Undying

  The Devil of Siren City

  Writing as Tabatha Drake

  The Devil of Siren City

  The Fall of Aphrodite

  New chapters Tuesdays on Patreon!

  For more, go to TabathaKiss.com

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  Love Tabatha Kiss?

  Join her Fan Club!

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  you can’t get anywhere else!

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  before anyone else!

  exclusive updates and writing diaries!

  Join us at tabathakiss.com/patreon

  Subscribe to my Newsletter for FREE books!

  Visit tabathakiss.com/newsletter for more info.

  For inquiries, contact Tabatha:

  authortabathakiss@gmail.com

 

 

  Tabatha Kiss, The Hot New Bartender in Town

 

 

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