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finally come to visit the club and seen the expensive furniture and light fixtures that she d had
installed, I d been worried that she was putting herself into debt to finance it all.
With a secretive little smile, she d opened her laptop and pulled up a website. On the screen
was a video entitled  Falling Hard / Failing Hard REMIX. We ve had several conversations about
how her moment of humiliation has affected her life. She told me about how for months her family
wasn t even allowed to mention the name of the show. So I was shocked that she wanted me to
actually watch the video.
 Sasha, what is this?
She hit play on the video and after an advertisement was shown, the video of her audition
played. It had been overlaid with an auto-tuned remix of the song. At the part where she falls and her
skirt flips up, the video has it on a loop so she s shown falling over and over again while her own
voice sings  Falling hard, Falling-Falling-Hard. Her exposed bottom is stamped with the words
#EpicFAIL.
The way it was edited actually made it even funnier.
Before I could stop myself I laughed. Horrified, I clapped a hand over my mouth only to look
over and see that Sasha was laughing, too. So hard she had tears in her eyes.
 Either you are really well-adjusted or there s something I m missing. Sasha, whoever did this
has made this video even more popular than it was before. You ll never be able to get away from it.
Look at the views! The video had been played more than a million times.
Sasha grinned and pointed to the screen. I peered closer and that s when I noticed the user
name of the person who uploaded the video. SashaSass. I looked over at her in astonishment.
 That s right, pretty boy. Every time those haters click on this to laugh at me, I m getting ad
revenue. They can laugh but they re paying for my club!
There s a sudden roar from the crowd in the club and I look up to see that Sasha s on stage.
The music starts from her now infamous single  Falling Hard - Failing Hard. Her remix of the
original song was so popular that she s now working on a full-length album. She s determined to do it
her way: sassy, sexy and jazz-inspired. The crowd sings along with the chorus and when she reaches
the end, she flips up her skirt playfully to reveal yellow polka-dot shorts.
I laugh along with everyone else. Sasha giggles and then turns the mic over to the next act. As
soon as she comes off the stage, I m there to meet her. She accepts my hand and then hugs me gently.
 Sasha! You were amazing.
We turn to see her sisters. Sasha squeals and before long she s in the middle of a big, messy
group hug. It took time for her family to come around but once they saw Sasha s enthusiasm and her
incredible savvy, they started taking her more seriously. No matter how strong she is I know that
having her family in her corner means the world to her.
 Congratulations, sis. You really did it. This place is great. And Dad is over the moon.
Her sister Audra points across the room to where Sasha s parents stand at the bar. Her father
has a faraway look on his face. I know he s in a good place tonight because he didn t give me too
much hell when I talked to him earlier. Although the fact that I was asking for his permission to ask
for Sasha s hand in marriage probably went a long way toward his being so friendly.
After my hasty marriage proposal, I never mentioned it again. My sweet girl hasn t brought it
up either. I think she has assumed that I was so out of it that I don t remember the conversation.
Nothing could be further from the truth. I just want her to have everything. Including a proper proposal
from a man who doesn t look like he s at death s door.
I pat my pocket nervously. I m not going to do it here. This is Sasha s moment. Pride swells as
I watch her shake hands with her producer and several of the artists who have performed tonight. Just
like I told her she would on the roof that night, she s finally found her place.
And even in a room full of stars, she s shining the brightest of all.
* * * * *
When we arrive home that night, Sasha does the same thing she always does: drop her handbag
and slip out of her shoes. I follow her upstairs and then wait until she s changed into a nightshirt and
shorts for bed. I strip down to my boxers, gripping the ring box in my hand. Once I slide under the
covers, I move over so she can rest her head on my shoulder. Her hand plays with my hair idly and I
have to smile.
Unconsciously she s mirroring everything we did that night.
"I'm so sorry. So sorry, beautiful girl."
Her nose crinkles in surprise.  What do you mean? Sorry for what?
I lift her hand to my lips and kiss the tips of her fingers. "I know you don't like the idea of just
living together. You're a good girl."
She stares at me, perplexed. I can see the moment that she figures out what s going on. Her eyes
drop to my other hand, clenched into a fist resting at my side. She gasps and her eyes dart back to
mine, searching.
I squeeze her fingers, looking deep into her eyes. "And I love that about you. So let's get
married."
 Oh my god. I didn t think you remembered. She pulls me in for a soft, lingering kiss. Then
just like last time, she plants a little kiss on the tip of my nose.  Yes. I still think you re loopy.
 No, I m just in love. Then I proceed to show her just how much I love her. I can t put my
usual moves on her considering how stiff I still am but I m more than willing to let her be the strong,
in charge woman I know she is. A while later, she collapses next to me, panting almost as hard as I
am.
She lets out a little sigh.  Oh Gabe. I guess charming isn t so bad sometimes.
 Sasha? I want to tell you something."
After she s caught her breath, I turn my head until my lips brush her forehead.
"I made a promise to Zack not to be a criminal. But you are the one who makes me want to be
a good person. I'm not worthy of you but I'm going to spend every day trying to be the kind of guy you
deserve. A good guy."
"Not too good I hope. You know I like bad boys, she teases.
 For you, I'll always be as bad as you want me to be."
THE END
You just finished reading the third book in the Blue-Collar Billionaires series. Stay tuned for a
special excerpt of the previous book in the series, FINN.
Author s Note
To get my special new release pricing for each book, sign up for my Pre-Order List. You can do it
right from your e-reader. Just click HERE.
Did you miss the previous book?
~ FINN (Blue-Collar Billionaires #2) ~
is available now!
Finn Marshall survived several tours in Afghanistan before the billionaire father he barely remembers changed everything. Now he
has it all: money, cars and most importantly, power. Power to track down the woman who left him for a richer man.
Marissa dragged herself out of poverty one client at a time, so she's thrilled when her company, Maid-4-U, gets a huge contract
for a luxury penthouse. Until she sees who owns it.
Now to save her struggling business, Finn demands everything she once promised him. Money can't buy him happiness but it can
buy him one thing:
REVENGE
Download FINN (Blue-Collar Billionaires #2) now!
EXCERPT of FINN (Blue-Collar Billionaires #2)
© August 2014 M. Malone
RISSA
My fingers curl around the tight band of my pencil skirt. Usually I'm wearing the same basic
uniform as the rest of the maids, casual clothing covered by a green and yellow Maid-4-U apron that
Daphne designed for us last year. But today, I'm here to bring the signed contract to the client and see
the area we'll be working in. I have to look professional. Put together.
I swallow against a wave of nerves and run my hands over my hair again. The unruly red curls
tend to have a mind of their own so I ve pulled them back into a low bun. I can t screw up this job.
This could be the start of a whole new wave of luck for our business. Daphne is the optimist, but
secretly I m starting to agree with her that this new deal is a sign. [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]