Into the Light (Dark #2) Read online

  Josh clapped his hands to garner everyone’s attention. “All right everyone, I know you’re excited to spend some time with my beautiful lady, but I think she’s had about all the excitement she can tolerate. I think it’s about time we get her some rest.”

  “Right this way.” Peyton directed Josh down the hall.

  “I’ll stop by tomorrow!” Eileen called.

  “Thanks! I look forward to it.”

  Josh and Peyton helped Laney into bed. “Sorry I’m such a party pooper. I’m just so tired.”

  “You don’t have to apologize. Besides, you’re fortunate to miss out on the casserole my mom brought over. And, you think the hospital food is bad. Yikes!”

  Laney curled the corners of her mouth and laughed. “It can’t be that bad.”

  “Fine, try it for yourself. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

  “Can I get you anything? “Peyton asked.

  “No thanks. You’ve already done so much.”

  “Okay then. I’ve to give you two some time alone.” Peyton winked at Laney and quietly shut the door.

  “Come lay with me. I want to feel you by my side.”

  “It would be my pleasure.” Josh took his shoes off and climbed into bed. He wrapped his arms around her. “God I’ve missed this. I’ve been waiting so long to hold you like this.”

  “Don’t ever let me go.” Laney closed her eyes and drifted off to sleep.

  “Not on your life,” Josh whispered in her ear.

  Epilogue

  Josh held Laney’s hand as they strolled toward the pier. The trip he had planned to Santa Barbara so many months ago was now actually happening. It had been six months before Laney could work a full twelve-hour shift. Modified duty at work along with her physical therapy, allowed her to make a full recovery.

  Laney had been happy to have her first full day back at work. She’d been going stir crazy around Peyton’s house. She often drove to Josh’s to take care of Duke. She told Josh it was the least she could do for everything he had done for her.

  Laney helped keep Josh centered while the trial was going on. He didn’t visit his sister or sit in for any part of the trial until Laney testified. Jillian had been on medication for several months and seemed to have a better grasp on reality. She even apologized to Laney. Jillian had been sentenced to twelve years in a psychiatric facility though the lawyers felt she would probably only be there for five to seven. Either way, she belonged there, and had come to peace with things.

  Josh gave Laney a key to his place so she could come and go as she wanted. Duke fell in love with her and oftentimes paid more attention to Laney than Josh. She spent more and more time at his place, but she still refused to move in despite Josh’s best efforts to convince her. He even had her pick out paint colors for different rooms.

  Laney had been back at work for three months before she would agree to go to Santa Barbara with Josh. She held off because she had already been away from work for so long. This weekend had been her first that they could get away. Josh didn’t mind because May was the perfect time of year for the beach. It was right before all of the summer crowds, and it had already started warming up. They could enjoy sitting on the sand and even play in the water if they were daring enough to brave its frigid temperature.

  “Let’s go take a walk.”

  Laney swallowed her last sip of wine. “Sounds good, Doc. Lead the way.” Josh threw some cash on the table to cover the tab. He took Laney’s arm and led her out of the restaurant. They slowly strolled down State Street looking through the windows of the various shops. People brushed past them eager to get to their destination. For Josh, the world had slowed down and the only thing that mattered was the beautiful woman walking next to him.

  He and Laney took off their shoes once they reached the sand. Laney looked up at the pier and admired its beauty. “Can we eat dinner up there tonight?”

  “Of course, I’ve already made a reservation.”

  “You’ve thought of everything.”

  “It’s our first trip together. I wanted to make it special for you.”

  “I’d say the way you made love to me this morning was pretty special.”

  “You liked that?”

  Laney blushed. “Yeah, I hope there’s more of that to come.”

  “What the lady wants, the lady gets. I am more than eager to oblige.”

  “I bet you are.” Laney giggled as she brushed against Josh’s side.”

  “Shall we?” Josh wrapped Laney’s arm in his.

  “Where are we going?”

  “I thought we could take a little stroll under the pier. Maybe we could make-out like school kids.”

  “You’re such a dork sometimes.”

  “Yeah, but you like it.”

  It was a beautiful day and not a cloud in the sky. The sun glistened off the water, pelicans flew overhead in a V formation, and children splashed in the waves.

  “I love the smell of the ocean.” Laney leaned her head onto Josh’s shoulder. “It’s so beautiful here. It’s even better than the description you gave me.”

  Josh loved how her hair blew in the wind. Laney was beautiful. Even the scars marking her chest and abdomen didn’t flaw her. She was perfect, and she was his.

  “I think it’s prettier than I remember. Sharing it with you has made it so much more special.”

  “Ahh, it’s my sappy Joshy. I love him.”

  It was strange when Laney started calling him Joshy. Jillian was the only one who had ever called him that. He hadn’t told Laney that was Jillian’s name for him. He continued to let her call him that and before he knew it, her pet name became music to his ears.

  “Do you remember when we first started dating and I told you I was going to marry you?”

  “Yeah, how could I forget? You’ve pretty much been saying it every day since then.” Laney chuckled and roughed up his hair.

  “I’ve thought from day one that we were soul mates. When you almost died, a piece of me almost went with you. I haven’t wanted to leave your side for a moment. The only thing allowing me to not be with you every moment is faith I would see you the next day. I don’t want you to live at Peyton’s anymore. I want you to live with me. I want to wake up with you next to me every morning. I want your beautiful face to be the first thing I see when I open my eyes. And I want to know you’re always going to be by my side.”

  “We’ve had this discussion already. I…”

  “Shhhh.” Josh placed his index finger over Laney’s mouth. “Let me finish”

  Josh wrapped his arms around Laney and put his lips to hers. He parted her lips with his tongue, pressing inside of her. She instantly responded. Her tongue fluttered until it met his. They were united. They had become one.

  Josh gently pulled away and penetrated her eyes with his stare. “You are my everything. I want to spend every day of the rest of my life making you happy.” Josh took Laney by the hand, guiding her a few more feet down the beach before he stopped and pointed. Written in the sand were four little words:

  WILL YOU MARRY ME?

  Laney held her hands to her mouth as she turned to Josh. In his hand was a little black box. He opened it for Laney to see the treasure inside. “Laney Pearson, will you make me the happiest man in the world?” Tears trickled down her cheeks as she nodded.

  “Yes! Yes, of course!” Laney threw her arms around Josh’s neck. “I love you so much!”

  “I love you too!” Josh pulled back from Laney and slipped the ring on her finger.

  “It’s breathtaking.”

  “I’m glad you like it.” Josh pressed his lips against Laney’s. He parted her lips with his tongue and took possession of her mouth and her body. She was his, now and forever.

  The End

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  Acknowledgements

  I would like to thank my editor Laura and Limitless for taking me on. I hope that we have many years together. Cami from Reading Addiction Blog Tours, you did an amazing job with getting the word out about A Shot in the Dark. I appreciate your quick response, hard work, and professional attitude.

  Nicole, Melissa, and Thomas, thank you for being my first fans. I really appreciate how you’ve gotten the word out about A Shot in the Dark. Thomas, you are my Officer Miller.

  Dan Egan, you will forever be my number one stalker. I’m blessed to have you take such an interest in me and my work. Now that this is done, I can get back on the slopes with you.

  To my new found Mammoth friends, Kim, Nicole, Cynthia, thank you so much for your support, friendship, and invites. You certainly make life fun.

  To my husband, Craig, thank you for being my number one fan. You were out there talking up A Shot in the Dark when no one else would. Thank you for pushing me to continue and your patience with the messy house because I’m too busy writing. I don’t know what I’d do without you.

  To my three boys, thank you for being the inspiration to everything I do. You are my light.

  To my faithful and loyal companions, Riley Bear and Sam, thank you for spending countless hours sitting next to me and keeping me company while I write.

  Finally, thank you to my readers. Without you, my dream wouldn’t be possible!

  About the Author

  JG Sumner was born and raised in Southern California, and went to Nursing School in San Diego, where she earned her RN. She then began working as an ICU nurse. While working full-time, she went back to school to earn her bachelor’s degree in Nursing as well as her master’s degree in Nursing at Cal State Dominguez Hills. Most recently, she worked as a supervisor in a major trauma center in the San Diego area. JG made the decision to leave her position at the end of 2012 to be at home with her three boys, dogs, and to pursue her writing career—a dream that was born long before she ever thought about being a nurse.

  She loves snowboarding, traveling, reading, hiking, kickboxing, spending time with her family and her dogs, and pretty much anything outdoors.

  JG has a very dry sense of humor, and should never be taken too seriously. She loves to hear from her fans and even those who aren't and would love to hear your opinion on her books.

  She is also the author of A Shot in the Dark the prequel to Into the Light, and the Surrender Trilogy coming this summer.

  I hope you enjoyed the Laney and Josh’s story.

  JG

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