In The End (Finding the One - Volume Four): Finding the One, #4

By Aubrey Skye

Tara is a big, beautiful teacher living in a small town, and is engaged to a hot fireman named Aidan. The problem: He has secrets hidden behind his perfect hero image, and she starts to question whether he really is The One. To make matters worse, she has found comfort in the arms of Rob, a man who treats her in ways that nobody else ever has.

Tara finally gets the text she has been dreading and she knows she is out of time. She has to tell Aidan the truth about her and Rob before the anonymous person gets a chance to ruin everything for her.

Little does Tara know that Aidan has more than a few secrets of his own to share...

Will Tara be able to recover from so many secrets? Will she end up with the right man for her?

Fans of Bella Andre and Kristan Higgins will love this quirky romance series with strong, independent woman and alpha heroes.

Note: Parts of Finding the One were previously published as Big Temptation.

Also includes some sneak peeks at upcoming novels!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Roja Publishing
• Release date: Oct 13, 2016
• ISBN: 9781533735003

Book preview

Tara is a big, beautiful teacher living in a small town, and is engaged to a hot fireman named Aidan. The problem: He has secrets hidden behind his perfect hero image, and she starts to question whether he really is The One. To make matters worse, she has found comfort in the arms of Rob, a man who treats her in ways that nobody else ever has.

Tara finally gets the text she has been dreading and she knows she is out of time. She has to tell Aidan the truth about her and Rob before the anonymous person gets a chance to ruin everything for her.

Little does Tara know that Aidan has more than a few secrets of his own to share...

Will Tara be able to recover from so many secrets? Will she end up with the right man for her?

––––––––

Fans of Bella Andre and Kristan Higgins will love this quirky romance series with strong, independent woman and sexy alpha heroes.

Note: Parts of Finding the One were previously published as Big Temptation.

Also includes some sneak peeks at upcoming novels!

~Volume Four: In The End~

At it again, huh, Tara? I watched you head into that back room with Rob, and I am about done with your games. I'm going to the firehouse tomorrow morning to tell Aidan. Time's up.

Tears of frustration began to stream down my face. I just had to deal with those little bitches out in the bar making fun of me, and now I had another text. And this person was ready to tell Aidan. He or she had to be in the bar at some point tonight to know that I went in the back room with Rob. I shouldn't have had anything to drink. I shouldn't have danced with that guy knowing full well that Rob could be watching. I shouldn't have made him jealous and then let him fuck me against the wall in the back room. Every person in this bar probably saw us go into that back room together. I needed to calm down and control my sobbing, but I couldn't. My life was falling apart, and I wasn't the only one who was going to suffer from the consequences. I was holding three lives in my hands: Rob's, Aidan's, and my own.

I heard the bathroom door open, but I didn't move from my spot on top of the toilet seat. I heard a woman's voice, and she was talking to someone, but I only saw one set of feet.

Hey gorgeous. I'm drunk and thinking of you. When are you gonna let me have you again? I peeked through the crack in the stall and saw that it was the girl who was talking shit about me earlier. She was on her cell phone with someone.

I don't care about her. She'll never give you what I can, baby. I'm younger, prettier, and I won't push you to marry me anytime soon. Plus, you know how much I love putting you in my mouth.

I was overhearing her dirty talk, and all I wanted to do was gag. She might be hot, but there obviously wasn't much else going on there. I bet she never worked and her daddy paid for everything. What I really wanted to do was burst out of the stall and slam her head against the mirror, but I forced myself to stay calm.

I understand, baby. But I'm not gonna wait much longer. I'll just have to surprise you one of these days. I guess I'll go back out into that bar and find another guy who won't say no tonight. See ya, gorgeous.

With that, she ended the call. She put more pink lip-gloss on her full lips and fluffed her long, blonde hair. Perfect length for pulling her to the floor. My fingernails dug into my palms as I watched her primp, and when she finally left, I noticed I had drawn blood.

I knew I couldn't stay in there and sulk all night, so I got up and looked in the mirror. My eyes were red and puffy, and I had mascara and eyeliner under both eyes. I took a wet paper towel and did my best to clean up. I took a deep breath and headed back out and straight to the bar. I ordered a double shot of Jack and a Smirnoff Ice to wash it down. I had both of them gone in a matter of minutes and ordered one more double shot of Jack before I started to feel buzzed again.

Struggling to keep my composure, I found Tara dancing, and much to my surprise, Jack was the man behind her. They looked lost in their own world, keeping a sensual beat to the sexy Luke Bryan song blasting through the bar. His arms were wrapped around her waist, and her head was resting against his shoulder. I hadn't seen my sister look this content in years. Maybe she had picked the right brother. I hated to interrupt her in her sweet moment, but I needed her. I gently placed my hand on her shoulder, and she jumped.

Tara! I didn't even see you there! Where'd you run off to?

I was in the bathroom for a while. I think I drank a little too much. I need to go home. I'm gonna call a cab.

No! Let me take you home. I don't mind leaving.

Really it's okay. I want you to stay and be with Jack. It's not a long ride from here. I just wanna be alone for a while.

Are you sure?

Yeah, I'll be fine.

Well, text me so I know you got home okay. If you need me at all, just call.

I will. You have fun with your new man. Tell him he better treat you right. Love you.

Love you, too. We had a quick hug, and I went over to grab my coat. I headed outside away from the noise. Even though it was freezing, I needed to get out of the bar before any other bad things happened. This night had not turned out how I wanted, and now I was drunk and feeling like shit. The tears started to run down my cheeks, mixing with the softly falling snow. Just as I was pulling out my cell phone to call a cab, a familiar truck pulled up with its headlights shining on me. The figure inside poked his head out.

Tara, get in the truck. It is freezing out here. It was Rob. I thought about just running the other way, but something inside of me wouldn't let me go. I made my way around to the passenger side, and he leaned over and opened the door, offering me his hand to climb up. It was a good thing he did because those shots of Jack really had me feeling tipsy.

What's wrong? Why are you crying outside the bar alone? I saw his jaw clench in the corner and knew he was angry that something or someone had upset me. There was something so hot about a man when he was feeling jealous or protective. It made me feel wanted, even in my state of disarray.

I got another text. And I heard some girls talking about me.

What did the text say? What were the girls saying?

Whoever is sending the texts saw us go into the back room together tonight. They said they are done with my games and are going to tell Aidan tomorrow. I just about lost it when I read that. I was on my way to the bathroom to fall apart when I heard one of the girls say that Aidan always flirts with her. She said I am a fat ass and he probably has to fuck me from behind so he doesn't have to look at my fat. I turned away from him so he couldn't see the tears falling again, but I couldn't hide my quiet sobs or shaking shoulders.

And they are a bunch of nasty little whores who I have personally watched leave that bar with random guys every weekend. They know nothing about what a real woman is. They have no right to talk about you like that. I have half a mind to walk back in that bar and tell them exactly what I think. When you are really mine, I will parade you around in front of those bitches and tell them to fuck off when they stare and make comments. I'm getting you out of here.

He started to back out of the parking space, but not before he pulled me over to his side. I buried my face in his shoulder, and he held me close while expertly navigating us through the snowy night. The only sounds in the truck were the radio playing quietly and my muffled sobs. I had my eyes closed, and when I was trying to catch my breath, I was taking in his intoxicating scent. I wasn't sure if it was deodorant or cologne, but just being near him made me lose it. I slid my hands inside his warm jacket and put my arms around him. I just wanted to get closer and feel his warmth in every part of me.

The truck came to a stop after a few minutes, and when I looked up, we weren't at my house. We were parked in the driveway of a small blue house with white Christmas lights decorating the porch and the two pine trees out front. I had never been here before, but I had a feeling I knew who lived here.

I want to take you to my bed tonight. I'm going to hold you and love you until you forget everything you heard and read tonight. In the morning, we will deal with whatever consequences come up. But tonight, it's just you and me. Us. The way I want it to be forever. I'm not holding back anymore, Tara. You're it for me, and I'm going to make you see that.

He turned off the truck, got out, and hurried to my side. He opened the door and helped me down. We didn't try to sneak in the back door or hide ourselves from anyone who might be watching. In that moment, it didn't matter. He led me straight to the front door, unlocked it, and waited for me to go in.

I was surprised by how well decorated and homey it felt. He had a beautiful fireplace in the living room and two huge brown couches. Pictures of his family were on the walls, including several candids of him with his nieces and nephews. He took his coat off, then helped me out of mine.

Your house is beautiful, Rob. I never would have pictured you living in a place like this. He laughed quietly and tilted his head to the side.

Why not? Because I'm a big tough guy, I have to have naked lady and beer posters all over my walls? I smiled back at him.

No, but this looks like the home of a thoughtful, caring man who knows what a woman wants.

Well, I know a few things about that, and I intend to show you. But I am also going to ask you plenty of questions. I want to love you completely tonight. I want to show you just how worth it you are. Come to bed with me, Tara. I didn't respond, but when he took me by the hand, I followed him upstairs.

He took a right at the top of the stairs and led me through a doorway into a large bedroom. There was a king size bed with a dark cherry headboard and a plush navy blue comforter. It looked like the room of a man