Truly Madly Deeply Mine

Copyright T RULY MADLY DEEPLY MINE Copyright © 2023 by Katherine Jay All rights reserved. No portion of this book may be reproduced or used in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without written permission from the author. This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, brands, media, and incidents are either the product of the author's imaginations or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental. Cover image by Madison Maltby Photography Cover design by © Designed With Grace Original concept by © Emily Wittig Designs Editing by Happily Editing Anns Contents Author's Note Playlist Dedication Prologue Chapter One Chapter Two Chapter Three Chapter Four Chapter Five Chapter Six Chapter Seven Chapter Eight Chapter Nine Chapter Ten Chapter Eleven Chapter Twelve Chapter Thirteen Chapter Fourteen Chapter Fifteen Chapter Sixteen Chapter Seventeen Chapter Eighteen Chapter Nineteen Chapter Twenty Chapter Twenty-One Chapter Twenty-Two Chapter Twenty-Three Chapter Twenty-Four Chapter Twenty-Five Chapter Twenty-Six Chapter Twenty-Seven Chapter Twenty-Eight Chapter Twenty-Nine Chapter Thirty Chapter Thirty-One Chapter Thirty-Two Chapter Thirty-Three Chapter Thirty-Four Chapter Thirty-Five Chapter Thirty-Six Chapter Thirty-Seven Chapter Thirty-Eight Chapter Thirty-Nine Chapter Forty Chapter Forty-One Chapter Forty-Two Chapter Forty-Three Chapter Forty-Four Chapter Forty-Five Chapter Forty-Six Chapter Forty-Seven Epilogue One Epilogue Two Also By Katherine Jay A Sky Full Of Stars Sneak Peek Acknowledgments About Author Author's Note This book contains subject matter that some people may find triggering. A list of the main potential triggers can be found on Katherine's website: http://www.katherinejayauthor.com Please note, triggers are not listed here to avoid spoilers for the book. Playlist CLICK IMAGE TO LISTEN Prologue Wes My chest tightens as I push myself through the pain. My calves are aching, I’m struggling to get air into my lungs, and…what the fuck is with the wind? Damn my best friend for being right. Beach running is fucking hard. And why didn’t anyone warn me that San Francisco was going to have shitty weather even though it’s California? I’m not saying it would have changed my decision to move here, but a little notice would have been great. Scanning my watch as I sprint the last few yards, I slow to a walk the second I reach my goal, before doubling over to catch my breath. If my team trains on this shit, I’m fucked. Back in Chicago, I was one of the fittest, but I sure as hell don’t feel very fit right now. When my breathing evens out, I stand tall, pulling my soaked tee up over my head before dropping it to the sand. Hands locked behind my head, I stretch out my muscles while kicking off my sneakers, desperate to get into the water to cool down. I’ve just removed my socks when a stunning woman appears in front of me, drawing my questioning eyes up to her hesitant ones. Dark golden-brown wisps of hair blow across her face, and her chest rises and falls like she was sprinting along with me. Beneath the windswept strands, she greets me with a tight smile plastered on her face, as her hand rises to her cheek, brushing the hair away. “Can I—” “Please hold your questions until the end,” she says, cutting me off before reaching for my hand and intertwining our fingers, a determined expression in place. “Right now, I just need you to kiss me like your life depends on it.” Huh? “Uh, what?” “No questions.” Without another word, she releases my hand, wraps her arms around my neck and slams her lips to mine. It takes all of two seconds for me to process her words before I’m gripping her waist and pulling her into me, instinctively matching her intensity. And fuck is she intense. My hold tightens on her the longer we kiss, and a small gasp leaves her lips. It feels like the perfect moment to slip my tongue in her mouth, but… what the fuck am I doing? I don’t even know this woman. I start to break away, but her hands come up to cup my face, keeping me in place as her tongue meets mine, drawing my attention back to the moment. And what an incredible moment. Stranger aside, this is hot. Although, it could be the stranger part that makes it hotter. Bending her back slightly, our bodies align as I deepen the kiss, allowing myself to be a little crazy for once in my life. But when a cheer rings out behind me, I realize where I am and pull back, staring into a pair of unforgettable blue eyes. Our gazes lock for only a second before she blinks, cutting off our connection as she peers over her shoulder and yells, “Report that back, asshole,” raising her middle finger in the air. My eyes flash to the guy she’s cursing out to see him scamper away to a nearby car, and an amused expression takes over my features. “Want to tell me what that was all about?” I ask, eyebrows raised in question. “Nope,” she says, popping the p. “But thanks for the help.” So much for allowing questions after the fact. Before I can say another word, she takes off in a skip-like run down the beach without even looking back, only stopping when she reaches another girl sunbathing on the sand. Well, fuck me. That was weird, but not at all unwelcome. Maybe I even enjoyed it. If only my ex-teammates could see me now. I’m not the stick-in-the-mud they thought I was—not only did I leave my team and move to another franchise, but I also made out with a stranger…on the beach…in broad daylight. See, I can deal with change and spontaneity. Sometimes. God, why is my heart racing? My eyes stay on the woman for longer than they should, trying to make sense of what just happened, and when she looks back at me, I’m still staring. She gives me a wave and a shy smile before tucking