Grappling for Position (Against the Cage Book 4) Read online

After Willow cinched his silk noose, she straightened it and ran her palms down the front of his chest. “There, you’re perfect now.”

  He was far from that, but every day he was getting closer—getting a little bit better. Maybe someday he would glance in the mirror and see a man worthy of this amazing woman. Someday, if he was lucky, she would agree to become his wife and would give him children—children who would call him Dad, and he would spend every day of the rest of his life earning that title and wearing it with honor.

  Willow gave him a chaste kiss on the cheek and turned to walk away, but he caught her wrist before she could leave. He wrapped his arms around her from behind and gently squeezed. “I love you, Willow—always and forever.” He pressed a kiss to the top of her head and she closed her eyes. Her petite frame leaned back against him, and she repeated the vow that filled every empty space in his heart.

  “Always and forever . . .”

  Epilogue

  Two Years Later

  “Willow Scott.”

  Willow stood as the MC called her name, and the left section of the bleachers erupted into cheers, whoops, and whistles.

  As she walked toward the stage to receive her nurse’s pin, she couldn’t help casting a glance at her cheerleading squad, who were taking up a good portion of the bleachers. And what an impressive group it was. In fact, she was pretty sure every set of eyes in the auditorium was fixed on her peanut gallery. The team of MMA fighters that had become her family stood in Willow’s honor, clapping and cheering—Cole and Katie, Aiden and his wife Ryann, Nikko and Violet with his daughter, Raven, and August Grim. In the front row cheering the loudest were Marcus, Regan, and Kyle. Her vision blurred with tears of joy as she gave them all a small wave before mounting the steps and approaching her nursing instructor.

  This was the moment she’d worked so hard for—the end of another chapter and the beginning of a new one. That was how Regan had phrased it when he’d lain naked across her bed this afternoon, grinning like the Cheshire cat while watching her dress for the ceremony tonight.

  Chapters . . . That was how they marked the significant moments in their life now, no longer by tragedy. This RN pin being placed on her white uniform symbolized so much more than the accomplishment it bore. It represented a journey—a journey of discovering herself and proving to herself and everyone else that she, Willow Scott, could make it on her own. And Regan had loved her enough to let her spread her wings and fly, always waiting there to catch her if she fell.

  This pin signified healing—for her, for Regan, and for Kyle—rebuilding and reshaping relationships. She was so grateful to the men in her life for loving her through it all. This victory was not only hers, it was theirs, too, because she wouldn’t have made it without them.

  Of all the things Willow had learned, perhaps the most important was that each and every one of them was the author of their own story—so make sure to write one worth telling.

  Acknowledgments

  First and foremost, I want to thank God for blessing me with the opportunity to pursue my dreams and passion for writing. Thank you to all my readers and fans of this series. I love hearing from you, and you make it worth all the blood, sweat, and tears that go into every book. Many thanks to my wonderful editor, Theresa Wegand, for walking alongside me through this publishing adventure. I couldn’t have done this without you. JC Clarke, you’re a wonderful artist, and your talent amazes me. Thank you for always being so accommodating and fun to work with. To my agent, Nalini Akolekar, you’ve literally made my dreams come true overnight. Your friendship, dedication, and support mean more to me than you can ever know. I can never thank my fabulous critique group enough for all your hard work. Sally, Mikayla, Linda, and John, you make my stories shine, and I love you dearly! Last, but certainly not least, I want to thank my wonderful family for your patience and continual support. I love you with all my heart!

  About the Author

  Award-winning finalist of USA Best Book Awards and the 2016 National Reader’s Choice Awards for Passing His Guard and Win by Submission, Melynda Price is the author of several paranormal and contemporary romance titles. Price writes for ardent readers who want to fall in love over and over again. She makes the unbelievable believable while taking her characters to the limit with tales full of passion, heart, and unexpected twists. Salting stories with undertones of history whenever possible, Price adds immeasurable depth to her well-crafted books. She lives with her husband and two children in northern Minnesota, where there are plenty of snow-filled days to curl up in front of the fireplace with a hot cup of coffee and write.

  www.melyndaprice.com

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