Taking the Fight, page 23
Peyton’s eyes lit up as we walked past numerous cases of rings. “Oh wow, these are gorgeous.”
Emily stepped behind a counter and grinned. “They are.” She pointed out a selection of rings that would be perfect for Reagan. “Do any of these pop out at you?” Emily asked.
Scanning over the rings, I instantly locked in on one. I pointed at it and Peyton gasped. “Oh yeah, that’s it. Reagan’s going to love it.”
I looked up at Emily and pulled out my wallet. “I’ll take it.”
CHAPTER 41
REAGAN
ONE MONTH LATER
(Las Vegas, Nevada)
* * *
I’d been to Vegas several times in my life, but it was way better experiencing it with Braden. We went to casinos, walked the strip, watched the fountain show at the Bellagio, rose the rollercoaster at the top of the Stratosphere, and even visited the Hoover Damn. There was a mob museum we strolled past, but I figured we’d had enough of the mafia for a while.
When we weren’t sightseeing, we were training. Braden and I both had huge fights tonight and we won, still managing to hold onto our titles. The same went for my brother and Ripp. So it was time to celebrate, and what better place than at the most exclusive club in Las Vegas … the Labyrinth. If anyone could throw a party, it was Kase Rushing. He’d promised us a massive reunion shindig and we got it. It was a private event, but Kase let us invite whoever we wanted. Needless to say, the place was filled with primarily females, which didn’t surprise me in the least. Ethan and Ripp were probably responsible for half of them, while the other half was all Kase. I started to believe he knew everyone in Vegas.
The night was young, the music was pumping, and the energy was electric. Braden walked off with Ethan, Kase, and Carter while I hung back with Peyton and Emma. We walked around the club, danced, and mingled with everyone. Peyton was a huge hit. Of course, we all had our own level of fame, but she was far superior to me on that front—she was a movie star.
Once we got through the crowd and back to the bar, we ordered a round of lemon vodka shots. Peyton held hers up in the air. “Ready, ladies?”
I held mine up and so did Emma. “Ready,” we said in unison. We tossed the liquid back, and it went down like water.
Emma fanned herself with her hand. “Whew, it’s hot in here. I think I need some air.”
Grinning wide, Peyton grabbed our hands. “I know where we can go.”
She pulled us through the crowd to a locked door by a keypad. I looked over at Emma, wondering what the hell Peyton was doing. All she did was smile at me. Reaching into her back pocket, Peyton slid out a card and swiped it. The red light turned green and she opened the door, waving us in quickly. Out of all the times I’ve been at the Labyrinth, I’d never been to the private areas.
“Where does this go?” I asked, looking up at the staircase.
Peyton shut the door behind us and grinned even wider. “You’ll see.”
She took the lead while Emma walked up behind me. When we got to the top of the stairs, there was a hallway. There was a room to the left, which looked to be Kase’s office, but I didn’t have time to look. Emma nudged me from behind to keep moving and Peyton grabbed my hand, pulling me further down the hall to another door. She opened it to reveal a shorter set of stairs that led to yet another door.
“Go up there,” Peyton ordered.
Wide-eyed, I gasped. “What? Why do I have to go first?”
Emma giggled. “Because you do. We’ll be right behind you.” I had no clue what was going on. The only thing I could come up with was that they were drunk.
They started pushing me up the stairs, but I held up my hands. “Okay, okay. I’ll go first. I’m not scared.” When I got to the door, I opened it and was greeted with the chilly night air. It felt terrific against my heated skin from the dancing. I glanced over my shoulder at Peyton and Emma. “Aren’t you coming?”
They both shook their heads. “This is something you must do on your own,” Emma called out.
Brows furrowed, I stared at her. “What are you talking about?”
She winked. “Why don’t you take a look?”
Turning around, I stepped through the door and the breath caught in my lungs. The view of the Las Vegas strip was stunning, but that wasn’t what caught my eye. The whole roof was decked out in twinkling lights, and standing in the middle of it all was Braden.
“It’s about time you got up here!” he shouted.
“What are you doing?” I asked, walking toward him. “I thought you were with the guys?”
He nodded. “I was. They helped me get everything set up.”
Stopping in front of him, he pulled me into his arms, warming me against the chill. “Everything set up for what?”
I looked up at him and he gave me that devilish grin that always turned me on. “You know I love you, right?”
“Yes,” I answered.
Stepping back, he dropped down on one knee, and there grasped between his thumb and index finger was a sparkling diamond ring.
Gasping, I slapped a hand over my mouth, my heart racing. “Oh my God, Braden.”
He chuckled. “I’ve given a lot of thought to how I wanted to do this, and I realized there was no right or wrong time. I didn’t know if I should turn this into an elaborate affair or simply do it while we were sitting in our home, watching the sunset together. I’ve been carrying the ring with me everywhere, and since we got to Vegas, I realized I don’t want to wait any longer.” He glanced down at the ring and lifted his emerald gaze to mine. “I love you, Reagan. I know you’ve already told me you’d be my wife, but this is me officially asking.” Taking a deep breath, he let it out slowly. “Will you marry me?”
Tears burning my eyes, I held out my hand. “Yes,” I cried, my lips trembling as he slid the ring onto my finger. “Yes, yes, yes!” Braden jumped to his feet and lifted me in his arms, his lips warm as he pressed them to mine. “I love you,” I murmured.
Braden’s eyes twinkled. “All we have to do now is figure out when we want to take the next step.”
Excitement bubbled in my chest and I smiled. “Why wait? We’re in Vegas, right?”
His brows furrowed. “Are you serious? Is that what you want?”
Grasping his face, I kissed him. “I have never been so sure of something in my life. I just want you.”
Braden kissed me again. “You have me.” Then, taking my hand, he led me toward the door. “What are we waiting for? Let’s go get married.”
I was ready to take the next step. I knew it in my soul that we were doing the right thing. By the night's end, I was going to be Reagan Emerson.
THE END
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
New York Times and USA Today bestselling author L. P. Dover is a southern belle living in North Carolina with her husband and two beautiful girls. Everything's sweeter in the South has always been her mantra and she lives by it, whether it's with her writing or in her everyday life. Maybe that's why she's seriously addicted to chocolate.
Dover has written countless novels in several different genres, including a children's book with her daughter. Her favorite to write is romantic suspense, but she's also found a passion in romantic comedy. She loves to make people laugh which is why you'll never see her without a smile on her face.
You can find L.P. Dover at www.lpdover.com.
ALSO BY L.P. DOVER
SECOND CHANCES SERIES
Love’s Second Chance
Trusting You
What He Wants (Trusting You Prequel)
Meant for Me
Fighting for Love
Intercepting Love
Catching Summer
Defending Hayden
Last Chance
Intended for Bristol
* * *
ARMED & DANGEROUS SERIES
* * *
No Limit
Roped In
High-Sided
* * *
CIRCLE OF JUSTICE SERIES
* * *
Trigger
Target
Aim
In the Crossfire
* * *
ARMED & DANGEROUS/CIRCLE OF JUSTICE CROSSOVER SERIES
* * *
Dangerous Game
Dangerous Betrayals
Book 3 - TBD
Book 4 – TBD
* * *
GLOVES OFF SERIES
* * *
A Fighter’s Desire – Part One
A Fighter’s Desire – Part Two
Tyler’s Undoing
Ryley’s Revenge
Winter Kiss: Ryley and Ash
Paxton’s Promise
Camden’s Redemption
Kyle’s Return
* * *
GLOVES OFF - NEXT GENERATION SERIES
* * *
Craving the Fight
Taking the Fight
Wanting the Fight
Desiring the Fight
Longing for the Fight
Loving the Fight
Needing the Fight
Ending the Fight
* * *
SOCIETY X SERIES W/HEIDI MCLAUGHLIN
* * *
Dark Room
Viewing Room
Play Room
* * *
FOREVER FAE SERIES
* * *
Forever Fae
Betrayals of Spring
Summer of Frost
Reign of Ice
* * *
ROYAL SHIFTERS SERIES
* * *
Turn of the Moon
Resisting the Moon
Rise of the Moon
Unleashed by the Moon
Bound by the Moon
Claimed by the Moon
Taken Under the Moon
Awakened by the Moon
* * *
BREAKAWAY SERIES
* * *
Hard Stick
Blocked
Playmaker
Off the Ice
* * *
STANDALONE NOVELS
* * *
The Truth About Secrets
Love, Lies & Deception
Going for the Hole
Anonymous
Love, Again
Fairytale Confessions
* * *
THE DATING SERIES W/HEIDI MCLAUGHLIN
* * *
A Date for New Year’s
A Date with an Admirer
A Date for Good Luck
A Date for the Hunt
A Date for Good Luck
A Date for the Derby
A Date to Play Fore
A Date with a Foodie
A Date for the Fair
A Date for the Regatta
A Date for the Masquerade
A Date with a Turkey
A Date with an Elf
* * *
CHRISTMAS NOVELS
* * *
It Must’ve Been the Mistletoe
Snowflake Lane Inn
Christmas With You
* * *
MOONLIGHT AND ALEENA SERIES W/ANNA-GRACE DOVER
* * *
Moonlight and Aleena: A Tale of Two Friends
L.P. Dover, Taking the Fight
