Killian and me.
I smiled at my blurry reflection, unable to believe it even after all this time.
Killian and I were opening a restaurant together. Killian and I were moving in together. Killian and I were… together.
And I had never been happier.
Or more myself.
It turns out I wasn’t such a doormat after all. I just needed the right relationship to push me. I needed the right man to challenge me.
It was easy to stand up to Killian. Not because I didn’t care about his feelings or what he thought, but because I had confidence that he cared about me, that he wouldn’t leave me because of a dumb fight or my unflinching opinion on how the dishwasher should be filled.
I fought back because he mattered to me. I wasn’t just surviving with him. I was living, really, truly living.
And because it weirdly turned him on.
The door opened and Vann stepped inside, closely followed by my dad. “Hey there, baby girl,” my dad greeted gently. “How are you?”
I eyed the bottle of wine in Vann’s hand. “Better now that you’re here.”
Dad ran his fingers over the hammered wall. “It’s hard to believe you’re already sending her on her way. It’s like she just became part of the family. Now I have to say goodbye.”
Vann sighed. “Yeah, we’ll all miss those nights you worked us to the bone and didn’t pay us.”
I stared at my brother. “It’s really hard for you to sit at the window and make change? That was really difficult?”
He glared at me, but my dad stepped in and said, “Now, Vera, you know he’s more sensitive than you.”
I smothered a smile while my brother contemplated falling on the wine bottle like a sword. My dad went on without noticing.
“I should have bought her,” he said. “I could have tried my hand at this whole cooking thing. Taken her around the country. You know, lived out my retirement on the road.”
Vann and I shared a look. A relieved look. It was nice to hear dad talk about the future again. He’d been through hell with this cancer and paid the price with his health. He was practically gaunt from how much weight he’d lost. He’d stopped looking like our dad and turned frail… old.
It broke my heart to see him now, a shadow of his former self. But I also knew he was finally at the point where he could start to recover, put his weight back on. Thanks to surgery, he was cancer free! There had never been better news than that.
The door opened again, and Vann and Dad moved out of the way so Molly could step inside. She had a bottle of champagne in her hand.
“What’s that?” I asked her.
“To celebrate.” She held it up. “Aren’t you supposed to smash it on the front before you sell it?”
I stared at her for a second, trying to decide if she was for real. “I think that’s for ships. Before you sail them. Not sell them.”
She hugged the bottle. “Oops!”
The door opened again, and Wyatt stepped inside. Now it was so crowded that we all had to squish around the galley. I slid onto the counter with my feet dangling, hoping to make more room. “I didn’t realize this was going to be a party.”
Wyatt smiled and stepped over by Molly. “We all wanted to say goodbye. I’m going to miss this truck. Now where am I going to get my fourth meal from?”
“You’re head chef now, bucko. You’re not going to have time for fourth meal.”
He nodded solemnly. “Or third meal. Maybe not even second meal.”
My dad patted him on the shoulder. “Well, there’s always breakfast, son.” Wyatt looked up at him curiously, and Dad added, “Most important meal of the day, you know.”
While we laughed at my dad’s joke, the door opened, and Ezra Baptiste stepped inside. He blinked at the five of us huddled in the galley and glanced at the door as if he wanted to run away. “Hello.”
Wyatt was the quickest to recover. “Hey, boss.”
Ezra stared at Wyatt. “Who’s in the kitchen?”
“Killian’s saying goodbye,” Wyatt explained. “It was too emotional for me. All the crying and shit.” He looked at me. “From Killian.”
Nobody believed him.
The door opened for the fifth time and when Jo squeezed in, I knew something was up. “Okay, what’s going on?” Then feeling rude, I smiled at Jo. “Hi, Jo. Welcome.”
She smiled back at me and then told Ezra to shove over. “Hello, Vera Dear.”
I couldn’t help but ask her, “What are you doing here?”
She held out her hands. “I wanted to see what all the fuss was about. You’ve talked so much about the truck, I just wanted to see it for myself.”
“Okay, something is going on.” Glaring at each of my visitors in turn, I waited for someone to confess.
They just smiled at me like dorks.
The door opened and Killian finally stepped in. Obviously, this was his doing, but I didn’t know why. Was it just a thoughtful gesture because he knew how much Foodie meant to me? I’d been bugging him all week with dramatic tears and second guesses.
Foodie had been everything to me when I needed her to be everything, but now it was time to chase after what I really wanted.
This truck had healed me. And introduced me to this man I loved so much. And for those two things I would always and forever be grateful.
But I also couldn’t wait to see what else I could do.
Killian had given his notice to Ezra the day after I’d agreed to open a restaurant with him. He’d also recommended Wyatt to replace him. Ezra had been furious of course. And he had a right to feel that way since he still had to replace the head chef at Bianca too. Eventually Killian had convinced him it was for the better or at least that they should still be friends despite Killian’s abandonment.
We’d all been a little surprised when Ezra had agreed to let Wyatt take over though. It showed just how much Ezra trusted Killian after all. Even if Wyatt wasn’t totally convinced yet. Killian had spent the last two months training Wyatt in all things Executive Chef. Yesterday was Killian’s last official day at Lilou, although he had to tie up all the loose ends today.
Tomorrow we would officially be self-employed.
It was awesome.
And scary as hell!
Killian squeezed through the sea of surprise guests so he could stand by me in the middle of everyone. The second he walked in the door our gazes locked. I watched him as he moved, reading the excitement and worry on his face, reaching for him as soon as he was close to me.
God, I loved this man.
“Hey.”
He bent down to drop a quick kiss on my lips. “Hey.”
“You invited a lot of people to a very small space,” I told him.
“How do you know I invited them?”
I looked at our friends. “Because it would be weird if they just showed up.”
He smiled at me, his green eyes sparking with fire and love. He held up one of my cardboard to go boxes. I wondered when he’d grabbed that since I’d cleared the excess equipment two weeks ago. “I made you something.”
I stared at the closed box in his hand. The light glinted off the shiny cardboard. “You made me something?”
He shrugged, that one shoulder lifting and lowering with careless ease. “Kind of a last hoorah in the Lilou kitchen.”
A tingle of anticipation zinged up my spine. “Thank you?”
He held the box out for me to take it. “I need your advice, though.”
My eyes slid to Molly, but she gave nothing away but a huge, dopey smile. “About what?”
He leaned forward, our foreheads almost touching. “The flavor.”
I took the box from him with trembling hands. My mind couldn’t seem to make coherent thoughts. There was a part of my brain that suspected what was happening, but mostly I was numb with excitement and hope.
Opening the lid, I gasped, sucking in a sharp, needed breath of air. A glittering diamond ring winked at me from the insid
e, not food. He didn’t need my opinion on salt! That liar!
I looked up at Killian, the box violently shaking in my hands now as I tried not to pop.
Killian’s expression was filled with the kind of hope that cut straight through me, that settled in the air like a tangible, permanent thing. “I have another idea of something we can do together,” he said.
“Yes,” I whispered, my voice choked with emotion. “Yes, to everything.”
He cradled my face in those familiar, strong hands. “And I love you?”
“And I love you,” I whispered, my voice thick with emotion.
Our friends cheered and clapped, and a champagne cork popped while he swooped down to seal my answer with a kiss. Happy tears tracked down my cheeks as I struggled to kiss him through my smile.
It wasn’t easy! I wanted to do both things, but the smiling was winning.
He pulled back just enough to take the ring from inside the box and my trembling left hand. He slid it on my ring finger, unable to hide the quiver in his own hands. Once it was in place, I stared at it in awe for a long, heart-fluttering minute, then he kissed me again.
“You all knew!” I accused once we’d remembered there were witnesses and we could save the fun stuff for later. I pointed at Wyatt who was recording us with his phone. “Unbelievable!” I turned to Molly. “And you! No head’s up? You could have at least warned me to dress cute!” I patted my face. “Or wear makeup!”
“You’re beautiful,” Killian murmured, his face dipped close to mine as if he couldn’t pull away. “Always.”
I blinked away a fresh wave of tears, repeating, “I love you.”
He smiled, that full smile that was cocky and confident and adoring and everything I loved. “I love you too, chef.”
We celebrated with our loved ones long into the late hours Killian and I were so comfortable with. We made the truck home for one last memorable night, laughing and talking and planning futures that would be spent together.
And when our friends and family went home, Killian and I stayed, talking about our future together both as a married couple and as business partners. We shared hopes and fears. We laughed and held each other and then we came together on the floor of the truck unable to stay apart for a second longer.
Killian took me home on the back of his bike. I wrapped my arms around him, knowing he was everything I didn’t know I wanted. He was the opposite of my plans. He was the opposite of the kind of guy I thought I wanted.
But he was everything I needed.
Thank you for reading The Opposite of You! I hope you enjoyed Killian and Vera as much as I enjoyed writing them! The second book in the Opposites Attract Series, The Difference Between Us, is coming this July. Each book is a standalone romance following a different couple! Keep reading to find out more about Molly Maverick and Ezra Baptiste.
The Difference Between Us coming July, 2017!
I’m cursed.
At least when it comes to finding Mr. Right.
I’m tired of men that only want one night stands or blind dates that are nothing but awkward and uncomfortable. I’m tired of avoiding inappropriate text messages and the constant disappointment of always meeting Mr. Wrong.
After all these years of dates that lead nowhere, I can admit that it’s me. I’m the problem. I’m shy and picky and cursed. Definitely cursed.
So I’ve decided two things.
The first? I’m giving up dating and relationships and men in general. Maybe, possibly, forever.
The second? I’m going to have to try harder to avoid Ezra Baptiste.
If I couldn’t hack it in the kiddy pool of dating, I certainly can’t swim in his deep end. He’s too successful. Too intense. He’s all man when I’m used to nothing but boys pretending to be grownups. He’s everything I’m afraid to want and so far out of my league we might as well be different species entirely.
So he’ll need to find a different artist to paint his mural. And a different graphic designer to help him with his website. He’ll need to find someone else to glare at and flirt with and kiss.
It can’t be me.
We’re too different.
Acknowledgments
To my God who is sovereign and merciful and self-sufficient. You don’t need my gratitude but you have it. Thank you for this gift and for this crazy, beautiful life and for loving me so much more than I deserve.
To Zach, thank you for every single thing. This book couldn’t have happened without you. You are my favorite human. I love you and your beard.
To my kids, thank you for keeping our lives so interesting. Thank you for making me pick up my head and pay attention. I love you more than the sun and the moon and the stars in the sky.
To my mom, thank you for being the strongest woman I know. You love deeper than anyone. You believe deeper than anyone. You forgive deeper. You live deeper. Basically, you’re my hero.
To Lindsay, you’re welcome for all the F words! I’ll just never be able to read this book out loud. Ha!
To Lenore, my dearest beta. I love you, sweet friend. Thank you for always offering your smart edits, your awesome encouragement, for getting my sense of humor and for being so freaking awesome.
To Katie, Tiffany and Sarah Jo, thank you for earrings and cheesecake and laughing until it hurts. #dingledangle
To Samantha Young, Georgia Cates, Amy Bartol and Shelly Crane, thank you for friendship and advice and so much understanding. I love you girls to pieces. And without you there wouldn’t be words or sanity or ads.
To Caedus Design Co. thank you for the amazing cover. You’re a genius. That’s a fact.
To Amy Donnelly of Alchemy and Words, thank you for your patience and expertise. Thank you for putting up with my rambling emails and unfinished projects and forgetfulness. I have so much fun working with you. I don’t just love you as an editor, I love you as a friend.
To the Rebel Panel, thank you for unending support. Even when I disappear and quit social media and have a baby. You are incredible, beautiful women and I am so blessed to have you in my life.
To all of the bloggers that helped so very much with this release. Thank you for spending your time with Vera and Killian. Thank you for supporting The Opposite of You and for being just incredibly amazing! You are so very appreciated.
And to the reader, thank you for taking a chance on The Opposite of You! And these characters that mean so much to me! I wouldn’t be an author without you! I am so grateful for every book you pick up and every review you leave.
About the Author
Rachel Higginson was born and raised in Nebraska, but spent her college years traveling the world. She fell in love with Eastern Europe, Paris, Indian Food and the beautiful beaches of Sri Lanka, but came back home to marry her high school sweetheart. Now she spends her days raising their growing family. She is obsessed with reruns of The Office and Cherry Coke.
Look for The Difference Between Us coming July, 2017!
Other Books Out Now by Rachel Higginson:
Love and Decay, Season One
Volume One
Volume Two
Love and Decay, Season Two
Volume Three
Volume Four
Volume Five
Love and Decay, Season Three
Volume Six
Volume Seven
Volume Eight
Love and Decay: Revolution, Season One
Volume One
Volume Two
The Star-Crossed Series
Reckless Magic (The Star-Crossed Series, Book 1)
Hopeless Magic (The Star-Crossed Series, Book 2)
Fearless Magic (The Star-Crossed Series, Book 3)
Endless Magic (The Star-Crossed Series, Book 4)
The Reluctant King (The Star-Crossed Series, Book 5)
The Relentless Warrior (The Star-Crossed Series, Book 6)
Breathless Magic (The Star-Crossed Series, Book 6.5)
Fateful Magic (The Star-Crossed Series, Book 6.75) br />
The Redeemable Prince (The Star-Crossed Series, Book 7)
The Starbright Series
Heir of Skies (The Starbright Series, Book 1)
Heir of Darkness (The Starbright Series, Book 2)
Heir of Secrets (The Starbright Series, Book 3)
The Siren Series
The Rush (The Siren Series, Book 1)
The Fall (The Siren Series, Book 2)
The Heart (The Siren Series, Book 3)
Bet on Love Series
Bet on Us (An NA Contemporary Romance)
Bet on Me (An NA Contemporary Romance)
Every Wrong Reason
The Five Stages of Falling in Love
Connect with Rachel on her blog at:
http://www.rachelhigginson.com/
Or on Twitter:
@mywritesdntbite
Or on her Facebook page:
Rachel Higginson
Keep reading for an excerpt from Rachel’s second chance romance, Every Wrong Reason.
Please enjoy an excerpt from Every Wrong Reason, a second chance adult romance.
Prologue
1. He is the most selfish person I know.
2. I would be happier without him.
3. He can’t take a shower without leaving water everywhere.
4. If I have to clean up his toothpaste smears one more time I’m going to go insane.
5. How hard is it to put the milk away?
6. I don’t love him anymore.
7. We were never right for each other.
How did we get here?
Again?
I just wanted to go to bed. I had the most obnoxious day of my freaking life and all I wanted to do was come home, take the longest, hottest shower in the history of showers and face plant into my pillows.