THE LIE

ALL IN BILLIONAIRES

BOOK FOUR

MAGGIE COLE

PULSE PRESS INC

This book is fiction. Any reference to historical events, real people, or real places are used fictitiously. All names, characters, plots, and events are products of the author’s imagination. Any resemblances to actual events or places or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

Copyright © 2019 by Maggie Cole

All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

CONTENTS

Prologue

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Chapter 24

Chapter 25

Chapter 26

Chapter 27

Chapter 28

Chapter 29

Chapter 30

Epilogue

CAN I ASK YOU A HUGE FAVOR?

THE TRAP

The Trap Prologue

More by Maggie Cole

About the Author

PROLOGUE

Blake Montgomery

Ten Years Earlier

The knock on the door sent a cold shiver down my spine. It was like I knew my life was about to change. I thought about not opening the door, but there was another knock.

More bad feelings surged through me when I opened it. "Sherry, you shouldn't be here."

Sherry had tears in her blue eyes and was holding something in her hand. "I'm pregnant. It's yours."

My mouth went dry. No, this cannot be happening.

Sherry and I were engaged to be married. Not because either of us wanted to marry the other, but because she was a Rockman and I was a Montgomery. Upon birth, our parents planned our wedding so the largest merger of wealth in Texas could occur.

And times were getting harder in Texas. Competition amongst the wealthy was increasing. No matter how much Sherry or I told our parents we did not want to marry each other, it wouldn't change our fate.

"Blake, are you going to at least let me in?" Sherry asked quietly.

I opened the door wider. "Sorry. Come in."

Sherry nervously stepped in.

"It was a mistake, Sherry. I was so drunk I don't even remember it," I rattled off.

It was the truth. A few months ago, I had called Sherry to inform her that I was telling my parents that there was no way I was going through with this wedding. They would cut me off—I knew it—but I was in love with Laura.

It was the wedding announcement in the paper that started it all.

Laura had stormed into my house with tears in her beautiful brown eyes and threw the paper at me. "You're engaged?"

My gut had dropped. "Let me explain."

"Explain? Explain that you've been fucking me for almost a year and telling me you love me and you're engaged?" she hurled at me through tears.

I grabbed her shoulders. "Sweetheart—"

"Don't call me your sweetheart!"

"Please, listen to me. Let me explain,” I cried out. “I don't love Sherry. She doesn't love me. We don't want to get married.”

Laura picked up the paper and shook it in my face. "Then why is there a wedding announcement?"

"Our parents planned it. They want to merge our wealth."

Her head snapped back. "What are you talking about?"

I swallowed hard. "I come from one of the richest families in Texas."

Laura stared at me through tear-filled eyes. "So you've just been lying to me this entire time about who you are?"

Cringing at how bad this sounded, I quietly admitted, "I guess you could say that. I'm sorry."

My heart bled as I watched her brown eyes fill with more tears. "Why would you lie to me, Blake?"

I quickly blurted out, "You don't understand how they are. I've been trying to tell my parents that there will be no wedding before I even met you."

More rage and disgust filled Laura’s eyes. "Then why haven't you?"

I sighed. "It's not that easy. But I will—tonight. I’ll go to my parents and tell them. I'll be cut off, but I'm not marrying her, I promise you that."

Laura stood frozen.

Cautiously, I stepped forward and pulled her into my arms. "I'm so sorry. I shouldn't have let things go this far. You're the only woman I've ever loved and ever will. I'll make this right—I promise you."

And I had meant to keep my promise. But I decided I needed a little bit of liquid courage to face my parents, and after a few drinks, I decided that I needed to tell Sherry that I would not be marrying her.

Sherry came over, and we both drowned our sorrows in liquor about our family situations. Well, I thought we were both drinking.

After blacking out, I woke up next to Sherry. Both of us were naked under the covers. I panicked. I had never cheated on anyone, and had no desire to cheat on Laura.

Sherry promised me she wouldn't say anything. I told Laura that I’d informed my parents, needed to get out of Texas for a bit, and we had spent two glorious weeks fucking each other's brains out in Cabo.

Except for my guilty conscience hanging over my head, I thought I had gotten away with it.

The plan hadn't changed, and I would tell my parents the wedding was off. I just needed some more time. There was no way I would marry Sherry. I only wanted Laura.

Sherry looked at me with pissed eyes. "Yes, I know it was a mistake. But now I have to bear the consequences of that mistake."

I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. Stop being a dick. "I'm sorry. I'm in shock."

"What are we going to do, Blake?" Sherry stared up at me, frightened, with more tears in her eyes.

What are we going to do? My heart was about to beat out of my throat, and my stomach was flipping.

Sherry stepped closer to me. "Our child needs both of us, a mother and a father."

Our child.

I snapped my head up at her. "You know I would want to be in my child's life.”

She looked at me with her lip shaking. "And you know how they are."

They meant our parents.

And she didn’t have to say anything else. Unspoken words said it all.

Our parents would never allow me to be in my child's life if I wasn't married to Sherry. If I didn't marry her, I would be cut off. Whenever Sherry or I had tried to tell our parents we didn't want to marry each other, we were both warned. We knew they didn't only make threats.

No, they took action.

If I were cut off, I would never know my child. I would have no money to fight them in court, and I would have a child in the world who was fatherless.

So I made the hardest decision I’d ever made. It was a decision that would haunt me. I knew when I made that decision that I would never forgive myself or be happy again. Happiness didn't exist without her.

My heart broke before I broke Laura's.

1

Laura Aimee

The snow fell so hard, the wipers could hardly clear the windshield before more snow covered it again.

Phil glanced out the window. “It’s really coming down. I wonder if we’ll take off tonight.”

I let out a big sigh. We were already late for our flight plan, and it had been several long days in Michigan. Nothing sounded better than a warm bubble bath and my bed. “I hope so. New York is calling my name!”

Tom held his finger up. “Hey Cindy, are we going to be able to take off in this storm?” He sat next to Phil with his phone to his ear.

Please Cindy, say yes, I prayed quietly in my head.

"Okay, see you soon.” Tom hung up. “Cindy said we’re good to go.”

I threw my arm in the air in a victory pose. “Yes!”

Tom laughed.

Phil laughed, absentmindedly looking out the window again. "Hopefully it stays that way.”

"Let's not put anything bad out into the universe, Dad," I teased Phil.

Tom gave me a fist bump.

"Ha, ha." Phil rolled his eyes at us.

Tom and I loved to tease Phil and call him “Dad” even though he was only a few years older than us.

Tom’s phone rang, and he picked it up. “Hey, Jack.”

Must be Jack Stevens, one of Tom’s investors.

“Yeah, it’s snowing like a blizzard right now. I bet you’re jealous you didn’t join us on this trip,” Tom teased.

I looked at Phil. He looked as tired as I did. While Tom should have been tired, he didn’t seem as worn out as Phil and me. Maybe it was all his athleticism that kept him full of energy. Who knew?

Tom Marko was the captain of the New York Volts and a self-made billionaire. He was also my boss, although he never treated me as anything but an equal.

“No, everything is handled. The investors understood you couldn’t be here,” Tom told Jack.

Yep. It’s definitely Jack Stevens.

Tom continued, “Cindy said we’re still good to take off. Tell him he’s more than welcome to hop on the jet back to New York. Have him go on in and introduce himself to Cindy. I’ll text her now.”

I looked at Phil and wondered who Tom could be referring to. Phil shrugged his shoulders and gave me his I don’t know look.

“No problem, Jack. I’ll see you this weekend.” Tom hung up and sent a quick text. “Looks like we’ll have some company on the way home. Jack’s friend from college is supposed to be coming out to New York, and his jet broke down. He’s already on the runway, so I guess he beat us.”

“I don’t care who’s in the jet as long as we get home and I get to sleep in my bed tonight.” I grinned at them.

“I hear you on that,” Phil agreed.

Tom laughed. “I won’t argue. I'm ready to see Liv."

Phil grinned and rolled his eyes.

"I bet you are," I teased, smirking at him.

Tom laughed softly, and his face got a tad red.

We sat the rest of the ride in silence, which wasn’t long. The car pulled up to the jet, and we quickly but carefully trudged through the slippery snow. By the time I got up to the jet doors, I was covered in white and looked like a snowman.

The three of us got into the jet and removed our snowy jackets. “I guess it’s not Michigan if you don’t get to experience the snow.” I laughed and walked through the door to the middle of the cabin.

Shaking the snow out of my hair, I turned to go into the last cabin when I caught a glimpse of the back of his body. He was tall and built. His thighs filled out his pants in just the right way. His dress shirt clung to his back and arms. I could see his muscles flex as he ran one hand through his chestnut hair in frustration. His other hand held the phone up to his ear.

My vagina pulsed, but at the same time, I stopped dead in my tracks. The hair on the back of my neck stood up, and my skin was quickly covered in goosebumps.

No, it can’t be, I thought as little volts of energy shot through my veins.

“Laura, is something wrong?” Tom stood next to me, but I hardly heard him.

There was only one man who had ever made me feel that way, and that was over ten years ago.

I stood in the aisle, oblivious, as Tom and Phil stared at me. Part of me prayed it wasn’t him. Part of me prayed it was. I stood paralyzed except for the beat of my heart, which had quickly increased in speed.

“Laura?” Phil now questioned me, too.

I slowly gazed over at Phil. My mouth went dry.

He squinted at me through his glasses. “You all right?”

I slowly nodded and took a deep breath. Get a grip, Laura. You must be super tired, because it can’t be him. There’s no way it can be him.

“Just tired,” I managed to say quietly.

“Let’s go sit down and have a drink. We’ve all had a long week.” Tom motioned for me to go first.

I took a deep breath and willed my body to move as I shuffled my feet into the cabin. That was when I heard the Texan drawl.

“They said it’s mechanical. I’m grateful they found it before I took off in this storm.”

I froze once more. This must be a bad dream. This cannot be happening.

But I knew that voice anywhere. That voice haunted me in my dreams. It would pop up when least expected, crush my soul, and break my heart over and over again.

I scanned the back of his body once more. He was more filled out then I remembered. But then again, we were only what…twenty-two and twenty-four? Back then, he was just a boy. Standing in front of me was a man. And he looked better than he did at twenty-four.

While I tried to convince myself it wasn’t him, I spied something on the couch: a cowboy hat—brown, real leather, faded from use. I knew that hat well. I bought him that hat.

“Laura?” Tom peered down at me in the doorway and waited for me to move.

Upon hearing my name, the man from my past slowly put the phone down and turned around. “Laura?” A grin started to form on his face.

My eyes widened, and I spun to walk away, but Tom’s 6’10 frame was right behind me. I gazed up and saw a frown on Tom’s face. “Laura?”

“Move,” I hissed.

He jerked his head back and stepped aside. I had never hissed at Tom before.

I walked as fast as I could to the front of the plane. The warmer blanket was over the door. I quickly pulled it back, started to trot down the steps, and grabbed the cold, slippery rail. As my blood boiled, tears welled in my eyes, and I heard voices, but couldn’t comprehend what anyone shouted to me.

As I scurried down the stairs, the blizzard gusted all around, and a white blanket loomed in front of me. Snow pounded down, and the cold wind repeatedly slapped me across the face.

There was so much snow. I tried to walk faster, but the thick wetness slammed into me. My feet moved one in front of the other and slowly crunched through the snow. I didn’t know where I was going, but I knew I needed to get as far away from him as possible.

I’m not sure how far I got. Suddenly I felt someone grab my arm and spin me. I almost slipped and fell, but he caught me in his arms.

He pulled me tight into his chest. “Laura, I’m so sorry.”

I sank into him for a brief minute, felt his familiarity and warmth, and inhaled his spicy and intoxicating scent. His strong biceps flexed around me. Our bodies fit perfectly together, and his hands stroked my hair. The quick beat of his heart banged against my ear.

The hardening of his erection made me realize what I was doing. I would not melt in this man's arms. No, I would never again put myself in that position.

I pulled back and pushed my palms against him. “Let me go,” I screamed as rage ran through me.

He embraced me tighter. “No! Sweetheart, I’m so sorry,” he drawled.

I reached up and slapped him. Hard. “I’m not your sweetheart!”

He took a step back, surprised by my slap.

Angrily, I turned to walk back to the jet—or what I thought was back to the jet. Suddenly I realized I had no coat or gloves on, and I stopped. The snow was a thick quilt in front of me, and I had no idea what direction to walk to get back to the jet. My eyelashes were a mix of tears and snowflakes. My vision was blurred, and I started to shake from the cold. Panic began rolling through me. All I saw was snow as the wind continued to whip all around me.

He grabbed me again. “You’re going the wrong way. Get back in the jet. It’s too dangerous out here.”

I took a deep breath. He was right, but I didn’t want any help from him. I glared at him.

“Laura, just let me help you get back. You can hate me after.” He leaned down so I could see his face through the snow.

I looked up at him, his face inches from mine. “Fine,” I snarled, “but don’t touch me.”

“Okay.” He calmly held his hands up and pointed in the direction we needed to go.

It seemed forever, but we finally got back to the jet. Phil and Tom were waiting at the bottom of the steps, covered in snow.

I stomped up the stairs, got to the top of the jet, and walked into the first cabin.

Cindy gave me a sympathetic glance.

Tom searched my eyes. “Laura, what’s going on? Do I need to tell him to get another ride?”

I took a deep breath, let it out slowly, and gazed up at Tom. “No.”

“You sure?” Tom’s teeth were clenched.

I shook my head and pointed at him. “You... You stay in this cabin. Don’t you dare come near me.” Then I looked back at Tom and Phil. “I’m fine. I’m going to sleep. Please just keep him away from me."

They nodded; confusion, concern, and loyalty flooded their eyes.

I stormed back to the bedroom and slammed the door. I lay down on the bed, my face in the pillow, as tears streamed down it.

Ten years had passed, but once again I felt like my heart was being ripped out of my chest.

Blake Montgomery was the only man I had ever loved, and the only man I had ever lost.

I laughed. It was ironic: the only person I had ever wanted was within reach, yet it felt like the cruelest thing on Earth.

Blake

“Tom Marko is in Detroit,” Jack informed me. “You’re a lucky bastard—you can walk over to his jet and hop on.”

I laughed. “I guess I am a lucky bastard. I’ll see you in New York. Thanks, man.”

It hadn’t taken long for me to reach Tom’s jet. It was much larger than mine, and I had eyed it a few times on the runway. Cindy was kind enough to point me to the back. She brought me a beer to drink while the others arrived.

My phone rang. It was one of my business partners who was supposed to use the jet next. He wasn’t too happy that it wasn’t going to be where he needed it tomorrow. With the storm we had brewing and the mechanical failure, it would take a miracle for it be in Arizona by the next morning.

A man’s voice said the name Laura, and the hair on my neck stood up. Laura had been the love of my life, and I was the stupid fool who had let her go. Every time I heard that name my heart pulsed with hope. I slowly turned, and it was like time stood still.

All my dreams came true. Laura had always been a bombshell, but she was more beautiful than I remembered her. She wore her thick, silky brown hair in big, wavy curls, full of volume. Her high cheekbones were perfectly contoured, and her glossy, bee-stung lips made my mouth water.

Her body was curvier than when we were in our twenties. She wore a purple, long-sleeve fitted dress that hugged her body in all the right places and showcased the curves of her waist. A designer scarf was expertly placed around her neck, and chocolate-brown, knee-high boots with a substantial heel completed her outfit. The whole package made my dick do a double-take.

My pulse increased. She was no longer a girl; she was a woman, and one who knew how to dress like a professional—a sexy professional.

And I wasn't sure how it could be possible, but her face was prettier than ten years ago.

I started to reach out to her, but the look in her warm brown eyes quickly went from shock to anger, and she bolted out the door and into the ice-cold storm.

I raced after her with Tom and Phil close on my heels. It was so snowy I almost lost her, but I got to her and pulled her into my arms. My heart felt like it was being pieced back together for a split second until she tried to pull away. I pulled her closer, but she yanked back and slapped me hard.

It shocked me, and it stung. But I deserved it. I knew I had hurt Laura all those years ago, but I guess the saying that time heals all wounds is wrong. My heart broke again. My beautiful, sexy, lovely Laura was in pain. And it was all my fault.

Our love had been the purest thing in my life—beautiful, passionate, real. We were hot and heavy, and we fell hard and quickly.

It was one-hundred percent my fault.

I was fourteen months away from the wedding when I met Laura. We bumped into each other outside of a Texas rodeo, and it was love at first sight. She had just finished college and was figuring out what she wanted to do and where she wanted to live.

I remembered the night she declared her love for me and told me that I could pick anywhere on the planet to live, and she would come with me. I should have left Texas with her that night. We could have gone anywhere and lived happily ever after. But I didn’t.

I never told Laura about my family or engagement. I kept telling myself that I was going to tell my parents and take the consequences of not marrying Sherry. The consequences meant that I would be left with nothing.

No money.

No Montgomery luxuries.

No more family.

I was okay with it all. I only wanted Laura. But talking to my parents took courage, and I couldn’t seem to find mine. For months I told myself to just do it. But every day I would chicken out. And fate had another twist for me. In order for my cowardly self to face my parents, I thought it would be best if I had a few drinks first.

My lack of courage convinced me that I needed to tell Sherry as well. If I had been sober, I would have noticed that while she continued to serve me whiskey after whiskey, she had none.

I’m not sure when I blacked out, but when I woke up I groaned at what we had done. At least, what I thought we had done.

I quickly woke Sherry up and made her promise not to tell anyone. Two months went by. Laura was none the wiser.

My guilt continued to eat at me, but I thought I had gotten away with it. Sure, I still had to tell my parents I wasn’t marrying Sherry, but I would do it, I told myself. And that was the plan until Sherry informed me that she was pregnant and the baby was mine.

I may have been a cheating, lying, son of a bitch, but I couldn’t let my kid grow up without a stable home...without a father.

Vivid memories of the day I told Laura I had not only cheated on her but that Sherry was pregnant and I had to marry her replayed in my mind. The look on her face was as painful as it was today, and it killed me.

To this day, I’d go to sleep and dream about her. Unfortunately, it always turned into a nightmare that ended with that look. It ate at my soul and haunted me, and here she was, in the flesh, fresh pain all over her face.

The cruelest truth was that Sherry had lied. We’d never slept together. She had gotten pregnant before the night I blacked out. The father was a ranch hand she had met. And there was no way she would give up her wealth, so she decided to trap me.

I found out by mistake. We had a quick wedding. It was probably a month after when Steven knocked on our door. It seemed he had it pretty bad. When he saw Sherry, he could tell she was pregnant, and he knew it was his.

Once the baby was born, I got a paternity test and found out that it was not mine. Sherry finally admitted to me that we never slept together.

Determined to find Laura and beg for her forgiveness, I told myself I would do whatever it took, for however long I had to, because she was my heart. But she was gone, nowhere to be found.

I divorced Sherry, causing a rift in my family. They revoked my trust fund, so I was left with hardly anything.

As I built my own empire, I looked for Laura. Over the years, hope started to fade that I would ever find her. I would date, but no one could replace her. No one could fill the hole in my heart she had left.

I threw myself into work and created a fortune more significant than my family’s. Over the years they tried to take me down numerous times, but I always managed to outwit them.

I stood in the jet and looked at the two men who were very pissed off at me. Phil glared at me with his arms crossed over his chest. Tom’s hands were squeezed into fists.

“I should go,” I told them.

“Sit,” Tom said through clenched teeth. He pointed to the seat. “And you better start talking.”

2

Laura

Tom sat on the edge of the bed. His hand was on my shoulder, and he softly told me it was time to wake up.

It took me a minute to register what had happened. “Where is he?”

Tom gave me a brotherly pat on the head. “Don’t worry. We made sure he was in his car and off the tarmac. It’s only us now.”

I gave Tom a grateful nod and sat up. “I’m sorry about that.”

“Hey, nothing to be sorry about. Blake told us what a dick he was.”

A small smile played on my lips. “That’s a good word for him.”

“His words, too.” Tom raised his eyebrow at me.

I rolled my eyes and got off the bed. “Let’s go. It’s late, and we all need to get home.”

“Laura…” Tom paused.

I looked at him. “What?”

His leg started to twitch, he looked down at his hands and debated what to say.

I sighed. “What is it, Tom?”

“I think you need to talk to him. You don’t know the entire story. I’m not saying he’s in the right, but you should learn the truth.”

I’m not sure why, but I laughed. “Blake doesn’t get another second of my time. You want the truth? Here’s the truth: he lied to me. He took my heart and broke it, then married another woman after lying to me about it for a year. That’s the truth.”

Tom looked at me, took a deep breath, and nodded. “He did. But maybe—”

“No!” I stormed out of the cabin, collected my items, walked down the stairs, and got into the car.

Phil was already in the car. “Hey, you all right?”

I nodded. Phil seemed to realize that I didn’t want to talk. Tom quietly got in the car as well.

"I'm sorry I snapped at you," I told Tom. And I was sorry, because Tom was a really good friend of mine and I didn't want to take my heartache out on him.

He smiled at me. "Already forgotten."

"Thanks."

The three of us rode in silence. One by one, we got out of the car based on where we lived. First Tom, then Phil, then me.

The car pulled up to my building. I walked into my lobby…and I almost turned and walked out. Blake stood there, hands in his pockets, his eyes full of emotion.

“What are you doing here?” I spat out.

He walked over to me. “Laura, please. Let’s talk.”

“How did you know where to find me?” I wracked my brain. Surely Tom and Phil wouldn’t have given him my address.

His face registered guilt. “I looked up Tom’s company and saw that you changed your last name to your grandma’s name. Then I Googled you.”

“Did it ever occur to you that I might have changed it so I wouldn't be found?” I had changed it so my parents wouldn't find me, but he didn't need to know that.

He ignored my question. His voice sounded desperate, and he begged, “Please, let’s talk.”

I pointed to the door. “I have nothing to say to you. Get out.”

He stood there. “You don’t know the truth. Please, let me tell you the truth.”

It wasn’t fair. Blake looked better than in our twenties. His body was hard, filled out, and his lips looked as delicious as ever. The spicy smell of him made my nostrils flare, and butterflies danced in my stomach. The plea in his eyes made me want to wrap my arms around him and slide my tongue into delectable mouth.

My body betrayed me, and I hated it at that moment. I laughed and pointed to the door again. “I know all about your honesty. Out.”

He looked at me, hurt, and didn’t move. “Laura, please…”

The security guard walked over to me. “Ms. Aimee, do you need me to escort this gentleman out?”

I raised my eyebrows at Blake.

He held up his hands in defeat. “I’m going.” He walked past me and stuffed a card in my pocket. “Call me when you want to know the truth.”

“Don’t hold your breath.” I walked over to the elevator, pushed the button, and quickly got to my floor. As soon as I got into my apartment, I leaned against the door and fell on the floor. But I didn’t cry this time. This time, my mind raced with thousands of thoughts.

I held his business card in my hand with all the information I needed to get ahold of him. I traced the raised imprint of his name with my finger: Blake T. Montgomery.

What had he been up to all these years? What was this new lie he wanted me to know? How old was his kid...nine? Ten? What about his wife? His beautiful, perfect fucking wife.

I had seen her picture in the paper. She was a perfect ten: blonde, blue-eyed, rich, and full of Texan charm. Unlike me, who was as Midwestern as they got, raised in Ohio by my grandmother, and with parents who preferred the bottle and the needle.

The day I left for New York was the day I saw Blake’s wedding picture in the paper. The smiles on their faces and the white wedding dress she wore—the dress that should have been mine—had haunted me since.

I leaned my head against the door and slightly hit it. These thoughts didn’t matter. The only thing that mattered was that I stayed as far away from Blake Montgomery as possible.

Blake

It was official: Laura hated me.

Not that I deserved for her to feel any differently, but she really hated me.

It made sense now why I couldn’t find her. She had changed her last name to Aimee. I had never thought to tie her grandma’s first name to her. I should have known.

I knew what Laura had been through as a child. With addicts as parents, her grandmother raised her back in Ohio. I met her grandmother once when she came to Texas for a visit. It was clear they were close, and Laura got her looks from her grandmother. She was warm and caring. I remembered wishing she was part of my family instead of the cold, callous one I had.

My family. Why did I even still call them that? They were anything but family. After my divorce from Sherry, I was immediately left with nothing.

They warned me, and I knew it would happen. But it didn't make it any easier. The only money I had was what I was able to move into my own personal account from the wages that had been collected.

Overnight, I went from having millions at my access to under $10,000. What should have scared me gave me a surprising feeling of freedom. I was no longer under their control. I should have been wiser and escaped their grip before I even met Laura, but I had been too chicken to be left with nothing.

The freedom I felt drove me to create my own empire. I had everything I could ever want except the most important thing…my Laura. No matter how much money I made or who I dated, I couldn’t shake her. Now that I’d seen her again, I would devote everything I had to make sure she learned the truth. And I would spend my last dying breath trying to get her to give me another chance.

I thought Tom and Phil were going to kick me off the jet and kill me. I wouldn’t blame them, and could tell that they considered Laura family. I was happy about that...that she had others in her life who cared about her.

As I sat in the jet and told Tom and Phil my pathetic story, I could tell that they gave me a bit of slack. It was, after all, every guy's nightmare to be lied to about a pregnancy, especially if you hadn’t even slept with the girl. But I took responsibility for it. If I had told Laura the truth about my engagement when I met her and told my parents right away that I wouldn’t marry Sherry, none of this would have happened.

Instead, I hid her from them. She didn’t know it, but I did. I was scared of being penniless. Then, instead of telling them, I told myself I owed it to Sherry first. I didn’t owe her anything. I only owed Laura the truth.

That night, I hid by drinking. Then I lied to Laura and told her I’d called the wedding off. Yes, I was a coward back then, and my actions had me paying the price for over ten years. What I hadn’t realized was that Laura still was as well, and that shattered me further.

She did not deserve that.

I did not deserve her.

But she needed to know the truth. And being the selfish ass I was, I couldn’t help myself and vowed that I would try for the rest of my life to right the wrong I had done to her.

On the jet, I’d told Tom and Phil that I had never stopped loving her or searching for her. I would do anything I could to try and make it right. Yep, I was a pathetic sap, and I knew it, but they’d sat and listened quietly.

I let out a big sigh, walked into my hotel room, immediately stripped my clothes off, and jumped into a cold shower.

As angry as she was at me, seeing her again had wrecked my body. I had gotten hard the moment I saw her, and again in her lobby. I’d never felt electricity with any other woman besides her. It was as strong as the day we first met.

I remembered how her body felt close to mine, as the snow fell on us. How perfectly she still fit in my arms. I had prayed for that moment too many times to count, and although it didn’t last long, it brought my addiction for her back to the surface.

The cold water didn’t help my throbbing cock. My mind raced over every part of her body. Laura's luscious curves that weren’t there when we were younger, her hair that was still soft... I wanted to pull it like I used to and listen to her perfect moans. Would she even sound the same as before?

Desire pulsed through me. I fantasized about her. I wanted her to call out my name when I brought her to climax with my tongue. I imagined her legs around my shoulders as her hands gripped my head and pulled my hair. If I concentrated hard enough, I could still feel her body convulse around my lips as my hands cupped her beautiful ass cheeks and pushed her farther into my mouth.

I remembered how she would whimper when I licked her nipples and gently sucked on them before I intensified my grip.

Argh. I put my forearm against the shower wall and my forehead on it. I couldn’t—wouldn’t—turn back. She was under my skin even deeper now that I had seen her. I had to figure out how to win her back.

3

Laura

M y dreams had betrayed me. All night I drifted in and out of sleep. Each time, I felt Blake on my body as I ached under his touch. I woke up and needed to masturbate him out of me.

It didn't help. I cursed myself for still wanting him. At 5 a.m., I went to the gym and tried to run it off. It still didn’t help. I could not shake him out of my mind.

Part of me wanted to know what his latest lie would be. I laughed out loud, and the person on the treadmill next to me glanced over. I ignored them.

Blake seemed desperate to tell me, but I wouldn’t be fooled once again. No, I would not give him the satisfaction. He was a liar and a thief, as far as I was concerned. He had stolen my heart, and no matter who I dated or how successful I became, I couldn’t seem to reclaim it.

Seeing him had me rattled. I realized I needed to pull my shit together. My executive position with Marko Enterprises was nothing to sneeze at, and I had another full day scheduled. The professional I was needed to show up at work. I desperately wanted to avoid a conversation with Tom and Phil that would possibly end up with me in tears again. While they were family to me, I needed normalcy back.

My first meeting of the day was scheduled at Liv Marko’s PR and Marketing company. Liv was Tom’s wife. Liv, Meg, Maddie, and I were all good friends. The three girls worked together, and I prayed that Tom hadn’t said anything to Liv. If Liv knew, she would surely want to ask me if I was okay. I couldn’t have that.

I texted Tom. “Did you tell Liv?”

“No.”

One thing I could always rely on was Tom’s ability to shut his mouth. “Thank you. I don’t want to rehash last night, if that’s okay?”

“No worries, I understand.”

“Thanks, Tom.”

“Want me to bring you Ben and Jerry’s for lunch?”

Leave it to Tom to bring out the ice cream. “LOL… I’m good, but I’ll take a rain check.”

“Ok. But seriously, here if you ever need to talk.”

I smiled. “Thanks.”

I truly had the best boss and friend. Everything would be fine. I would go into work, get lost in my tasks, and life could move forward.

Tom and Phil arrived at Liv’s office shortly after I arrived. We were soon in the conference room, working through some new strategies with Meg and Liv.

We were wrapping up when Maddie came in smiling. “Jack’s here. Can I bring him in to say hi, or are you all busy?” Jack was Maddie’s fiancé. You could see her eyes light up when she said his name.

I had that light in my eyes once, I thought. Then I immediately cursed myself. I was happy for my friends…all of them. It wasn’t like me to be jealous of their happiness just because I hadn’t found mine.

Liv motioned. “Bring him back.”

Jack came back and thanked Tom for bringing Blake back on the jet. My body immediately tensed up. I had forgotten that he knew him. What did Tom say in the car? They were college friends?

Tom and Phil looked at me uncomfortably, but only for a brief second. They quickly looked away from me and back at Jack. “No problem,” Tom said, to my relief.

The conversation got a little quiet. “What am I missing here?” Jack asked.

Phil tried to cover. “Nothing. It’s been a long week and was a late night.”

Jack looked at all of us closely, but didn’t say anything.

Liv got up. “Okay, let’s get you in the conference room and get started. Sorry, but I need to stay on track today or I’ll never get home tonight.”

Tom gave her a big smile and a slight lick of his lips before he winked at her. “No problem, we’ll get out of your hair. Don’t want you late.” He got up and gave her a quick kiss on the head.

Yep, I had no question in my mind about what they would be doing at home tonight.

We all stood up to go, and I told the guys I would meet them in the car. I needed to use the restroom.

I left the conference room and got to the restroom. I quickly went about my business. After I washed and dried my hands, I left the bathroom and headed toward the elevator.

As I turned the corner, I ran smack into Blake. I almost fell, and he caught me. He drew me into his chest and up against his growing erection. My vagina pulsed as his spicy scent flung my senses into overdrive. Our bodies molded into one another, and he grabbed hold of my back with his arms even tighter.

Not wanting to make a scene in Liv’s office, I stood in his arms, unable to move. “Are you stalking me?” I whispered as I gazed up into Blake’s eyes.

He shook his head and whispered back in his Texan drawl, “No, Sweetheart. I’m here for a meeting with Jack, but I can’t say I’m unhappy to see you.”

“I’m not your sweetheart,” I fired back, but much to my dismay, I didn’t want him to let me go.

Sadness flew into his eyes. I’m not sure how long we stared at each other. “That’s it,” he blurted out, and suddenly escorted me down the hall and back into the women’s room. He quickly locked the door.

“Blake, what the hell?” I blasted at him.

He stood with his back to the door and blocked me from leaving. “Laura, you have to know the truth.”

I laughed—a sarcastic, nasty laugh. It was amazing how I had become a bitch in less than twenty-four hours. “You want to tell me the truth? Well, let me tell you my truth. I don’t believe a word you say.”

He nodded in agreement. “I deserve that. But I’m not the same man I was ten years ago.”

I snorted. “Congratulations. Now get out of my way.”

He wouldn’t budge. “Not until you hear me out.” His face inched near mine, and I restrained myself. I wanted to lean in farther and take control of his lips. Those damn lips that haunted my dreams. Those lips that I compared to every guy I had kissed since.

Apparently I wasn’t the only one who thought about kisses, because Blake licked his lips and gave me a smoldering look that sent shivers down my spine.

I realized that the only way I would be able to leave the bathroom was if he had his say, so I walked over to the sink, hoisted myself up on the counter, and put my arms across my chest. “Fine, have your say. Then leave me alone forever.”

His gaze drifted to my crossed legs in my pencil skirt.

“I’m going to count to ten, and if you aren’t done by then, I’m calling security.” I picked up my phone, and he snapped his eyes back to my face.

Blake took a deep breath. “I never slept with her.”

I laughed. “Well, this is good. Keep telling me your ‘truth.’” I double-quoted with my fingers.

He must think I’m the biggest idiot on Earth.

He walked toward me. “It’s true. I never slept with Sherry. She got me so drunk I blacked out and thought I had. Sherry got pregnant by a ranch hand and didn’t want to lose her inheritance by not marrying me, so she set me up.”

I looked at him. He looked like he was telling the truth, but I wouldn’t be tricked by him again. I rolled my eyes.

“Look it up on your phone, Laura. Search for it. You’ll see the scandal in the newspapers from way back. She set me up. I was a fool. I divorced her after the baby was born, and my family disowned me.”

I continued to glare at him and stayed quiet. Could this really be true?

“I was thrown out of the family, and the only thing I could think of was how much of a fool and a coward I had been. The only thing that mattered…that still does matter to me…is you.”

I continued to stare at him with my insides shaking, not able to say anything, breathing in his sexy scent. He stood right next to me now. My knees hit his thigh right near his crotch, and I could feel his heat on my knee.

“I’ve searched everywhere for you, but I couldn’t find you. I’ve spent over a million dollars with private investigators looking for you so I could tell you how sorry I was, hoping that you would somehow find it in your heart to forgive me.”

My heart raced. He was too close to me. I was shaking, and I couldn’t look him in the eyes anymore. It was just too painful. I still wanted him, and his eyes made me want him more.

Blake's hand came up to my cheek, and he lifted my head to look at him. “I’ve never stopped loving you. I never will. Every day I tell you in my head how sorry I am, and that I was the biggest jackass on Earth. It’s the worst mistake I ever made. I’ll spend the rest of my life trying to make it up to you if you give me a chance.”

A tear streamed down my cheek. My insides quivered. Did he really not cheat on me? Is it true Sherry set him up? Still, that didn’t excuse his actions.

I shut my eyes. He was so close to me. His spicy scent filled me, and his hand on my cheek sent electric waves through my body. His dick got harder next to my knee.

He took a step closer and was right against my body. My eyes were closed, and I swallowed hard.

Open your eyes, Laura. You can’t fall for him. He’ll ruin you again.

I opened my eyes and tried to push him away, but not very hard. His face was inches from mine, and his eyes penetrated into mine. I shut my eyes again. My hands lightly shoved on his chest, and even though my eyes were shut, I felt another teardrop run down my cheek.

“I’m so sorry,” he whispered in my ear as he wiped my tears. “I’ll do whatever it takes, please…” he trailed off, and his lips moved from my ear, kissed my jawline, and then he made his way over to my mouth.

I needed to stop it, but I couldn’t.

His heavenly lips grazed mine so softly at first, then with a rough intensity as his tongue slipped in next to mine.

Bombs exploded in me as my arms moved from his chest to around his shoulders. My hands pulled his neck closer as the heat inside me grew hotter.

His body moved entirely up against mine, and his manhood pulsed against my womanhood as my skirt inched up. Both his hands fisted my hair next to my scalp and expertly yanked my head back as his lips moved to my chin. It surprised me, and I thought he was going to kiss my neck, but instead his teeth grazed the length of it.

A moan escaped my lips, and he groaned when he heard it.

“Fuck, you’re still perfect,” he whispered as his warm breath and lips trailed to my collarbone before coming back to my lips and kissing me with new fervor.

A loud bang came from the door and snapped us out of our frenzy.

“Just a minute,” I called out.

His mouth came back to mine and lured me in once more. “Let me take you to dinner tonight,” he whispered between kisses.

“You think dinner will fix what you broke?” I whispered back angrily.

“No, Sweetheart. Nothing I can do will ever fix what I broke. I know that. But let me show you I’m not the same man.”

I shook my head. I couldn’t... I wouldn’t. I pushed him away, hard.

He took a step back, and I jumped off the counter.

“I can’t, Blake. You want me to find it in my heart to forgive you, but the truth is, I can’t. You stole my heart, so I have nothing left for you.”

The look in his eyes pained me; I could see my words tearing him up.

I quickly unlocked the door and opened it. I ran smack into Meg, who was waiting outside to use the restroom.

“Laura, you all right?” She looked at me before she caught a glimpse of Blake. “Who—?”

“Don’t ask.” I walked down the hall.

Blake ran after me. “Laura!”

I turned around. “No.”

“Blake?” Jack had walked out into the hall.

I started walking away from him again.

Blake grabbed my arm. “Laura, please!”

I shook out of his grasp and spun on him. “Leave me alone. It was ten years ago. Leave it in the past!”

Jack gasped. “BIake? Our Laura is your Laura?”

“Yes,” he said, right as I said, “No!”

I turned, walked down the hall, and jumped into the elevator. I got to the lobby quickly and pulled out my makeup mirror to clean up my tear-streaked face. I walked out and got into the car with Tom and Phil.

They looked at me funny, but didn’t say anything.

The rest of the morning was a blur. I sat in a meeting and cursed myself for allowing him to kiss me. Blake's kisses were better than I remembered, and I didn’t know what that move was with his teeth on my neck, but I knew going forward he had just ruined my enjoyment, once again, for any other man's lips.

And I wondered if Blake’s story was true.

But I reminded myself that it didn’t matter. Chemistry or not, I wouldn’t fall prey to him once again.

Blake

“Blake?” Jack stared at me, waiting for me to explain.

“What’s going on?” said a blonde woman—or maybe it was the redhead. It was hard to focus.

I stared at them all and tried to pull it together. I wanted to run after Laura, but I knew that I had already overstepped and pushed more than I had intended.

I couldn’t help it; being close to her was intoxicating. When I kissed her, there was more fire than ever before.

It was still there between us. I knew she didn’t believe me, but she was smart. She would go and Google my history and find out that I was telling her the truth.

But that doesn’t mean she’ll run back to you, the voice in my head told me. And I knew it was right.

When she admitted she couldn’t forgive me because I had stolen her heart, my own heart felt like a knife had ripped through it. Her words penetrated over and over in my head, each time a new stab.

“Blake?” Jack asked again. “Your Laura is our Laura?”

I nodded. “I didn’t know until I got on the jet last night.”

“Jeez, Blake.” Jack gaped at me.

The blonde and the redhead both looked at each other.

Out of all my friends, Jack Stevens knew me the best. We had met in college. He was the one person who’d stood by me when my family disowned me. Jack and I had run quite a few businesses together and had both built ourselves up out of nothing.

He was the only one who knew how bad I had pined for her. The fact that she had been a part of his circle all this time was another cruel joke.

“Jack?” the blonde questioned him.

Jack straightened up a bit. “Liv Marko, Meg Corwin, meet Blake Montgomery.”

I shut my eyes. This was not the way I wanted to meet Liv or Meg. I knew their talent and what brilliant brains they had. Several of the companies I owned with Jack had shot through the roof because of the work they had done, and now I was meeting them under these circumstances.

I stepped forward and put my hand out. “I’m sorry about that. It’s great to meet you both finally.”

They put their shock and questions aside and went into professional mode, much to my relief. We went into the conference room and got through it all.

As soon as the meeting was over and we got into the elevator, Jack looked at me. “Jesus, Blake. Why didn’t you fucking call me and tell me that our Laura was your Laura?”

I took a huge breath. “We got in super late. After she kicked me out of her lobby—”

Jack cut me off. “You went to her place?”

I put my hands over my face and didn’t say anything.

“Are you all right, man?”

“She hates me.”

“To be expected,” Jack pointed out.

“Yeah, but it’s worse than I thought it would be. I told her, but I don’t think she believes me.”

“She’s smart—she’ll Google it and find out you aren’t lying. Jeez, I’ll tell her you aren’t lying,” Jack offered.

“I deserve nothing from her. I’m not sure what I expected…to tell her the truth and have her just run back into my arms?”

Jack raised his brow at me. “What are you going to do?”

“I don’t know. She wants me to leave her alone.”

“Does she really?” Jack looked at me like he didn’t believe me.

Did she? We still had chemistry. She’d kissed me back as much as I’d kissed her. But that didn’t mean that she would ever give me a chance. “I think she does.”

“Well, you searched for ten years to find her. You better figure out how to change her mind. One thing I know is this: all's fair in love and war.”

“I was hoping to avoid the war.”

4

Laura

It wasn’t long before the girls texted me. I replied that I was fine and didn’t want to talk about it right now. I gave them permission to speak to Tom and Phil to get the story, so I didn’t have to rehash it.

Ugh. I couldn’t believe Blake was back. And I had succumbed to his kisses and melted in his arms. I’d also given it back to him just as passionately as he’d given it to me.

When I got to my office, I spent several hours doing the one thing I had held myself back from all these years: I Googled him. Story after story popped up about his companies and the prosperous fortune he’d built. After I searched articles for about an hour, I finally came across what I was looking for.

I stared at the computer screen. The headline alone made my mouth go dry.

Montgomery Rockwood Divorce Shakes Up Texas.

I rolled my eyes. How naive was I to not realize who he was? His family could have been the one on the TV show Dallas. I read another article.

Montgomery Loses Family Fortune.

Jeez. The headline alone was painful. The article discussed how Blake was left with nothing and disowned by his family after he divorced Sherry.

I felt a pang in my chest. As much as I detested what Blake did, I didn’t know what it was like to have a cruel family. Sure, my parents were addicts, but my grandmother always made sure I was loved.

Blake’s family was unbelievable. I couldn’t imagine the pain he must have felt. No wonder he was so scared to tell them he wouldn’t marry Sherry.

That doesn’t excuse his actions, I reminded myself.

I shut my laptop. So Blake hadn't lied in the bathroom.

His voice shot through my head. "I'm a different man now…"

I sighed deeply and wished I could turn back the clock and we could start over, but that wasn't possible.

I was interrupted by a knock. Tom stood there with two pints of Ben and Jerry’s and spoons in his hands. “I figured you might regret saying no this morning?”

I rolled my eyes and smiled at him. “Come on in.”

He sat down across from me. We opened the containers and ate the ice cream. I noticed Tom’s leg had started to twitch.

I stared at him with raised eyebrows and laughed. “Out with it, Marko.”

“I’m just eating my ice cream.”

“Your leg is twitching.” I smirked at him. “Dead ringer you’re about to intrude into my personal business.”

He laughed a soft laugh.

“So...go on.” Might as well get this over with.

“Liv called me and told me something happened with you and Blake this morning at her office. You all right?”

I took a bite of ice cream and nodded.

It was his turn to raise his eyebrows at me. “Really? She said it looked pretty intense.”

I shrugged my shoulders.

“Did he tell you? Because I researched it last night, and it all appears legit.”

I smiled and laughed softly. “I should have known I could count on you to be my private investigator.”

He gave me a little salute. “Just doing my job.”

I took another bite of ice cream and didn’t say anything.

“So…” He stared at me.

“So?”

“Laura, don’t you think you should talk? At the very least get some closure?”

I laughed. “Closure? Would that mean I could move forward with someone else? That I could date and stop comparing them to him, or wondering if they’re going to lie to me as well? Could I stop dreaming of him at night? Would my heart stop breaking, over and over, every time I wake up and he isn’t there?” Crap. I stopped talking and realized everything I had just said out loud to Tom. My face turned beet red, and I put my hands over my eyes.

“Laura, I’m not giving the guy a pass for what he did, but I do know that he can’t be that same guy he was ten years ago. Not with everything he had to do to fight his way back to the top, all on his own. Something is obviously there between you both. If it hasn’t gone away in ten years and is still this painful, then you need some sort of closure. I don’t think you’ll have it until you sit down and talk to him.”

“I’m afraid I’ll fall into his trap again,” I admitted to him—what I hadn’t wanted to admit to myself.

Tom shook his head. “You won’t. You’ll make a decision based on your head and heart, and whatever you decide, it will be your choice. Last time it was his choice. Now it’s yours.”

I thought about what Tom had said. Maybe he was right? Maybe he was wrong?

Tom got up. “Just think about it. I only want you to be happy.”

“I know you do. Thanks.” And I did know that Tom was sincere.

He winked at me. “No problem. I’ve got more Ben and Jerry’s, if you ever need it.”

I laughed, put the lid on my pint, and handed it to him. “Put this back in the freezer with my name on it, please.”

He grabbed it, saluted me, and left my office.

I thought about what he’d said. Did I really need to talk to Blake to get closure? Then I thought about the last ten years and how much he’d been on my mind; how the memories of him ruined any romantic relationship I might have ever had and stolen all my dreams.

Before I knew what I was doing, I grabbed my purse and pulled out his card. I punched the numbers into my phone and texted him. “Eight p.m. at Le Bernardin.”

I received an instant reply. I could almost see him salivating. The thought made me grin a bit. “Tonight, right?”

“Yes.”

“I’ll pick you up at seven-thirty.”

Oh hell no you won’t. “I’ll meet you there.”

“Laura…”

“No.”

A minute passed. "Okay, see you at eight.”

I set my phone down, and it buzzed once more. “Thank you. XOXO.”

I rolled my eyes. “Keep your pants on. It’s only to talk so we can both get closure and move on.”

Minutes went by. It felt like hours. “Okay, Sweetheart. Whatever you need. But full disclosure, I’m not looking to move on.”

My heart fluttered. Ugh. Stop it, Laura! You both need to move on.

I thought about what to reply. I was not going to get into another relationship with him. I only needed closure. That was it.

But those kisses. And his body that melted straight into mine. Ugh.

No, no, NO!

I replied, “I’m not your Sweetheart, and I’m not looking to move forward with you. This isn’t a date. It’s just closure.”

“I deserve that.”

Why does he fall on the sword so easy with his super-charming self?

I didn’t respond. I threw my phone in my purse.

Several hours later, and engrossed in my work, my assistant Hannah walked into my office. She carried a massive bouquet of long-stemmed red roses in a designer vase.

“Someone loves you,” she said, and then scurried out when I gave her my get out of here look.

Jeez, I seriously need to not let this turn me into a nasty bitch.

I pulled the handwritten note out of the envelope.

Sweetheart,

I’ve never deserved you. You were too good for me ten years ago, and you’re too good for me now. You told me I stole your heart, but mine’s been just as lost. I will selfishly do anything - ANYTHING - to win you back. I will die trying to make this right. You are the only one I have ever loved, and nothing will ever change that.

XOXO -

BLAKE

PS - I’ll pick you up at seven-thirty.

I read it a few times. Then I reread it some more.

I am not getting into a car alone with him.

I texted him. “I said I'd meet you at eight.”

“I’ll pick you up at seven-thirty. Don’t be silly, Laura.”

“I’ll see you at eight, and don’t text me back or I’ll cancel on you.”

There, that ought to do it. I grabbed my purse and coat and left.

I wouldn’t do anything with Blake. This would be my last conversation with him, but I would be damned if I wouldn’t make him pay for it.

I had some shopping to do.

Blake

She agreed to go to dinner with me. I couldn’t believe it when I got her text. And now I had her cell phone number, too. I did a little victory pump in the air.

I was already at the flower shop when she texted me. I added the P.S. because there was no way I wouldn’t pick her up.

At seven, the limo I had rented was parked outside her front door. I wasn’t going to miss her walking out. At exactly 7:40, she walked out the door and stole my breath.

My dick got harder than it had ever been. No longer was the girl I had fallen in love with in front of me. No, this was a woman. A sexy, vibrant, confident woman, and blood pulsed through my veins. I was going to have to take a cold shower the minute I got back to my hotel.

She wore a white mini faux-fur coat, thigh-high black boots, and a black miniskirt. Her cream blouse was low-cut but high-end. Her hair was up and showed off her neck. She knew how much I’d always loved her neck. My dick did another double-take.

I jumped out of the limo. “Laura,” I called out.

She looked over at me. “What are you doing here?”

I walked over to her and grabbed her around the waist. “Sweetheart, you look amazing.”

Laura repeated, “What are you doing here? I said I would meet you there.”

“You know it’s against my Texan roots to not pick you up.”

She rolled her eyes at me.

I guided her over to the limo. “Sweetheart, please get in.”

“I’m not your sweetheart,” she said, but didn’t seem as angry as she had been in Liv’s office.

I ignored her comment. She slid in, and her skirt inched up and displayed the clips that attached her thigh-highs to her garter belt.

Fuck me. I swallowed hard. I was officially about to explode in my pants.

She caught me as I eyed her legs. “Stare much?”

I laughed. “Can you blame me?”

I expected her to shoot another angry comment at me, but she surprised me by gently laughing and rolling her eyes again.

“Two,” I said.

“Two?” She furrowed her brows at me.

Laughing softly, I sat down right next to her. I inhaled her floral scent and held myself back from pulling her onto my lap. “Two eye rolls already.”

She started to roll her eyes again and stopped herself.

“Two and a half,” I teased.

She swatted her hand on my thigh. “Stop it.”

I grabbed her hand and kissed it. “Okay, Sweetheart.”

She pulled her hand away from me. “Not here for that.”

Not able to help myself, I leaned into her ear and whispered, “You’re more gorgeous now than ten years ago, and I didn’t think that was possible.” I sucked her lobe gently with my lips.

She moaned, but then quickly pulled away. “Behave, or I’m getting out.”

I threw my hands in the air. “Okay, you win.” Then I turned to her. “Did you Google me?”

She laughed. “Aren’t you full of yourself.”

“Laura,” I said seriously.

She stiffened and stared into my eyes. “Yes.”

“Do you believe me that I’m not lying?”

“About this, yes.”

I nodded. I deserved all she was dishing out. “I would take it all back if I could.”

“But you can’t now, can you?” She sounded more sad than anything else.

I grabbed her face and put it right up next to mine. “No—unfortunately, I can’t.”

Her lip shook slightly. I put my thumb on it, mostly so I wouldn’t kiss her, because I didn’t want her to jump out of the car. She stared at me with frightened eyes, my thumb on her lips, and trembled. And I saw the sadness in her eyes.

Mine were full of regret. At least I assumed they were, because that was all I felt.

“I’m so sorry. I can’t do this,” Laura whispered.

I shook my head. “Please, Sweetheart. We have to talk. At the very least for the closure you need...if that is what you want,” I said quietly. If that was what she needed, then I would give it to her.

She continued to tremble. “I can’t go into a restaurant right now. I thought I could, but I can’t.”

“Okay. Your place or my hotel?” I asked softly.

She tried to process it all.

I grazed my fingers down her cheek. “Will you be more comfortable at your place?”

She shook her head and looked at me, frightened and lost. My heart split once again.

I rolled down the window between us and the driver. “Back to the hotel.”

Laura’s brown eyes scanned mine nervously.

“Let me hold you,” I whispered to her. She didn’t object, so I pulled her into me. We sat quietly on the drive to the hotel. I felt the small shake of her body, and I knew she was quivering inside. We pulled up to the hotel, where the driver got out and opened the door. I guided her out of the limo, into the hotel, and up into my suite.

I took her coat off her, sat in an armchair, then pulled her on top of my thigh. "Tell me what I can do to win you back."

She looked at me, and her head made little "no" movements.

"Please. I'll do anything to show you the kind of man I am now. Not the coward I was back then."

She gazed at me as if she was afraid to move or say anything.

I put my hands on both sides of her cheeks and fiercely whispered, "Tell me. What do you need?"

Her lip started quivering again. "I…"

I waited.

"I… I just need…" She took a deep, shaky breath. "One night…for closure. Just one."

"I don't want just one night."

Her lip quivered more. "But it's what I need."

Looking away, I closed my eyes briefly, took a deep breath, then looked back at her and nodded. "Okay, Sweetheart. If that's what you need."

A decade of desperation to possess her as mine like she used to be flew to the surface, along with the need to once again be inside her. My head told me not to do it. It was surely going to wreck me further. But this wasn't about me. No, this was about her and what I owed her. More importantly, I'd made her a promise, and if that was what she needed, then I owed it to her. I owed her the man that I should have been ten years ago...not the coward.

I slowly leaned in and my mouth found hers. Her sweet lips teased mine, and our tongues met. She was my heaven and my hell, and I pushed away the thought that I would be absolutely ruined after this night.

Her arms went around my back, and she moved her body until she was straddling me. As her skirt pushed higher, her pussy sat on my throbbing and already hard cock. Her heat and wetness permeated my dress pants as she ground her body into mine.

I groaned. She is definitely going to wreck me.

I unzipped her boots, pulled them off her, and flung them to the ground. My hands grabbed the outsides of her thighs, half on the hem of her hose and half on her naked skin.

Lord, she’s so smooth. I moved my hands under her skirt, grabbed her hips, and rolled her harder against my cock that was in agony against my zipper. My lips and teeth moved onto her neck.

"Oh…" she breathed, and my body got harder.

She loosened my tie and started unbuttoning my dress shirt with shaky hands. I realized she was nervous, and claimed her mouth once more, trying to calm her.

"You're divine," I told her between kisses.

Warm hands were soon on my chest, and her thumbs moved over my nipples as her pelvis smashed harder into my manhood. "I hate you for so many things, Blake," she murmured against my lips.

"I hate myself. Tell me what things," I whispered to her as I damned myself another time for hurting her so much.

She moaned as my lips made my way across her jaw and to her ear.

"Tell me," I whispered again.

"I compare you to every man, and I hate you for it," she whispered as a tear fell down her cheek.

I kissed her tear. "I hate myself for hurting you," I murmured into her cheek.

She crushed her lips to mine, and a wave of heat coursed through me so hot that I almost forgot she hated me.

Nails and fingertips grazed over my abs, and she started to unzip my pants, but I grabbed her wrists and stopped her.

"Sweetheart, I need my tongue on you. All of you," I whispered to her as her body shuddered slightly. I took it as permission and stood up with her wrapped around me, carrying her to the bed.

I gently laid her down and searched her eyes for a minute. The sweet girl I’d fallen in love with ten years prior and the woman she was now both stared back at me with hate, lust, confusion, and fear. I saw it all, and my heart bled a bit more.

Slowly, I unbuttoned her blouse, caressed her cheek, then removed her skirt and stood back. She wore a black push-up bra and black mesh panties. I took a photograph in my mind, cataloging her every curve, every little piece that was just her. The tiny black mole near her belly button, the way her stomach rose and fell with each breath, the inches between her rib cage and the top of her panties.

God, she was perfect. And she had only gotten more perfect with time.

I dipped my head so I could look straight in her eyes. "Sweetheart, you're gorgeous, and you're going to wreck me."

A tiny smile played on her mouth before she grabbed me and urgently smashed her lips to mine, parted them as her tongue slipped inside my mouth before she sucked and bit on my lip.

I groaned loudly.

She moaned back, and a pearl of precum slid out of my dick.

Ten years of wanting, hoping, and praying surged through my body. I reminded myself to take my time and not rush anything as my mouth moved down her neck to her chest and I slowly removed her bra. I lingered for a bit, playing with her breasts, teasing her hard nipples, and enjoying the sounds of her whimpers.

"I dreamed of your sounds," I whispered in her ear, then took a nibble, holding myself back from marking her as mine, since she’d claimed she didn’t want me after tonight.

"You ruin all my dreams," she murmured.

“Tell me how,” I urged her.

"I wake up and you're not there."

My heart shattered even more. "I know, Sweetheart. I know." And I did, because her reality was my reality.

I could have gotten lost in the soft skin of her stomach as I kissed and stroked the curves of her waist before frolicking around her wetness. Slowly, I took off her panties and kissed her thighs, then wrapped her legs around my shoulders and inhaled the sweet scent of her sex.

Dizziness momentarily overpowered me. I had inhaled so many women over the years, trying to get a small glimpse of the intoxicating smell that only belonged to her. I’d never found it. Only she possessed it. I took another deep inhale as it flooded my senses.

My heartbeat increased. I was sure she could hear the thumping of my chest as it beat loudly in my ears.

I need to taste her.

She slightly jumped and inhaled unsteadily when I licked her, but I quickly took a little suck and slid my finger in her.

“Oh God!” she gasped when I circled my tongue all around her.

"You taste so good." I flicked my tongue all around her sweet and salty paradise, letting her sounds be my guide. As she throbbed against my mouth, I pulled her closer to me.

"Blake," she moaned.

The sweet sound filled my heart and made my pulse creep up once more. For ten years I had dreamed of this moment, and here she was, allowing me to pleasure her. I curled my finger and swiped her G-spot, and she shuddered and groaned.

"I've missed you so much," I murmured against her and latched my lips against her.

Bucking into my hips, she cried out, “Don’t stop! Oh God! Please, Blake!”

The grip of her hands pulled me to her with a force so great I couldn't tease her anymore. I swiped my fingers over her repeatedly, flicked and sucked, and she went mad screaming my name as her hands pushed and pulled my hair.

Her body gripped onto mine like a vise, and she began to unravel. She spasmed against my fingers, throbbed against my lips, and dug her nails into my scalp as I continued to eat her pussy like it was my last meal.

Laura had always been my heaven, but feeling her shatter against my mouth drove my obsession with her deeper, filling my soul with a new need, a stronger desire, a stabbing ache to unhinge along with her. So I relished the free reign I had over her body, feasting on her but still stopping myself from marking her while she found her breath, still slightly trembling as small whimpers continued to escape her.

Gripping her hair, I yanked her head back slightly, grazed my teeth across her neck, and sucked on it before I moved my lips to her ear. "I want you forever. We were meant to be together forever."

“Stop talking,” she hissed. “Just fuck me.”

So I released her hair as my insides crumbled some more and gyrated my hard cock against her naked nub.

She feverishly drew my mouth to hers, sucking my lip, savagely licking my tongue, and then gripped me with her arms. "I need you in me, Blake,” she declared as she bucked her hips up and tried to press me into her.

I groaned, her words alone sending me into a new feral state.

Brown eyes pierced into mine as she grabbed my belt to get my pants off.

My dick was hard, and I could feel the precum on my tip. "Let me get a condom, Sweetheart."

Surprisingly, Laura shook her head. "I need to feel you. I'm on the pill."

I scanned her eyes. "You sure?"

"Yes," she said with no hesitation.

I had never gone without a condom before—not even ten years ago when I'd been with her. But whatever she needed, I would give her.

"Please," she whispered.

So I grabbed her head and kissed her some more as she grabbed my ass, wrapped her legs around me, and slid me into her in one swoop.

"Holy shit," I cried out as her hot, wet skin slid around mine.

"Oh God," she breathed.

Stars flashed in my eyes, so I gave myself and her a minute to settle. It was so much more intense than I’d ever thought it would be. Drenched in her warm heat, it wrapped around and softly gripped me, sending a new surge through my veins.

Nothing in the world had ever felt so good, and I tried to refocus so I wouldn't cum in her right away.

She grabbed my face and pulled it to hers, and my lips were on her once again. "You feel so good," she murmured against my lips as I started to move in and out of her slowly.

"You're so warm and wet," I whispered to her.

She whimpered with my movements—a sound so glorious I knew it would haunt me after that night.

“You’re mine,” I declared as her heavenly, throbbing heat pumped against me, and my desire to claim her grew stronger.

“No I’m not.” She didn’t even think before responding.

It stung, and although my body was pulsing from every thrust, my mission to win her back didn’t dwindle. "Forgive me, Sweetheart." My arms tightened around her, and I stroked her hair, then her cheek.

"Faster!" She moved her hips quicker under me as if to fuck away the years of pain I'd caused her.

“Tell me what I can do," I whispered again, my breath shaking from emotion as a single tear fell from my eye and onto her face before my lips were back on hers.

It wasn't fair of me. I knew it wasn't. But I couldn't help myself. I was so overcome with emotion, and knew that Laura wanted nothing to do with me after this.

She ignored me and clenched my cock harder with her pussy, clawing my back so much I groaned and wondered if she’d drawn blood.

I wanted it to go on forever, but it couldn't. My body was on fire, and my balls started to tighten with every stroke of my shaft against her slightly trembling walls.

"Faster," she commanded again, working her hips faster and making my body tighten more.

Fuck, I'm going to cum if she keeps this up, I thought as she dug her nails deeper into my flesh before grabbing my ass and shoving me so hard into her that her walls collapsed, gripping my cock and drenching me in her high.

I flew into my ecstasy, spiraling so hard I crashed against her as we both cried out.

As we crawled into our aftermath, we kissed each other with a new stamina. At first we kissed gently, as we always had done, and then it shifted into a rough, animalistic, newer version. I don't know how long we kissed after I rolled over on my back and pulled her with me, but I was sure we would both have swollen lips.

When we finally pulled apart, I stroked her cheek and said, "Let me get a towel." I got up and grabbed one from the bathroom. I came back and wiped her clean. As soon as I'd finished, she jumped off the bed.

Confused, I looked at her as she started to put her clothes back on. "Laura," I said sternly.

She ignored me, shimmied into her panties, attached her hose, and pulled her skirt over her thighs.

I walked over to her and grabbed her elbows. "Laura."

She looked up at me with a wave of new anger in her eyes. "What?"

"Why are you mad at me right now?" I asked in surprise.

She looked back down to her blouse and concentrated on buttoning it up. She appeared cool and confident, but her shaking lip gave her emotions away.

"Sweetheart—"

"Don't call me your sweetheart! I shouldn't have agreed to see you."

I grabbed her hands. "Laura, stop. Please." She paused briefly and looked up at me. "Tell me what I need to do."

Her lip quivered again, and my heart split once more. "That's the problem, Blake. No matter what you do, it'll never make up for what you did. Ten years! Ten fucking years I've been shattered, and now you had to come back into my life and shatter me some more."

I pulled her into me, my arms tightening around her so she couldn't escape. She tried to push me away, but I held her tighter. "I know, but I promise you I'm not going anywhere this time. Nothing is going to break us ever again. I'm not the same man I was—I promise you."

She started sobbing. I realized I was crying, too. "I can't do this again. I just can't."

"Don't say that. We can. I promise you—"

"No!" she screamed, and pushed me back with a force I didn't expect. She grabbed her coat and sat on the bed to put on her boots.

I sat down next to her. "Please don't do this. We have a chance. I know we do." I put my arm around her waist, but she pushed it off and stood up.

"No. We had a chance, and you destroyed it. You destroyed us. We can't go back in time."

She started to leave, and I began to go after her, but I realized I was naked. I grabbed the towel and flipped the door latch on my room, not knowing where the key was.

"Laura, stop," I called after her, but she was already at the elevator.

"We're done here, Blake. It's time we both moved on."

I saw the tears in her eyes as the elevator shut. When I got to it, I tried to open it, but it was too late.

She was gone.

5

Laura

I hailed a cab and arrived back at my apartment. My stomach flipped over and over. I realized I was gritting my teeth.

Anger flared through all my cells.

Anger at Blake for what he had done ten years ago.

Anger at myself for my weakness around him...because I saw how good we still were together. Scratch that. We weren’t still good together—we were better than ever together.

And anger because I couldn’t let it go and trust that he wouldn’t hurt me again.

I saw the agony in his eyes. I wanted to cause him pain. His choices caused us to fall apart. I thought that if I fucked him and left him, that would destroy him further.

Mission accomplished, I thought. The only problem was that I felt worse than ever.

I had never let a man inside me without a condom before. But I’d known before we even started that Blake and I weren’t just fucking. No, we were making up for all the years we’d lost, along with the lies and deceit. We were victims of his disgusting family and ex-wife, but he was the one who made those choices around their manipulation.

While he hadn’t told me the truth ten years ago, I knew in my heart that he was telling me the truth right now.

He still loved me. I didn’t doubt it. I could feel it.

And I hated myself because I still loved him.

Love should have been a good thing, but it made it that much more painful. Whoever said the ones you love hurt you the worst was right.

I took a shower and lay down in my bed. Why can’t I get over it? More than anything, I wanted to get past it.

We weren’t those kids anymore. We were two grown adults with baggage and lives. The feelings I had for him felt deeper than in the past. I had never thought that would be possible.

There was no way I could let him hurt me again. I would never be able to have any sense of normalcy if he ripped my heart to shreds a second time. Do not give him an ounce of your trust, Laura. He will destroy you.

But tonight he didn’t do the ripping—I did.

I closed my eyes, and flashbacks of making love to him went through my mind. His warm, hard body on mine. Those soft lips and gentle but also rough fingers. His Texan drawl and calling me sweetheart. The way he cried and begged me to forgive him as his tear dripped onto my face.

It was beautiful, vulnerable, and exactly why I couldn’t let myself have him. No, he would do something again and surely wreck me completely. I had wanted closure, and now I had it. He could leave now.

I closed my eyes as fresh tears welled up. The notion of not seeing him ever again sent a sharp pain through my chest.

Is this what closure feels like? It sucked worse than before I’d gotten ‘closure.’

I should not have slept with him. I knew it. It wasn’t the plan.

But I couldn’t help myself.

He asked what I needed, and what I needed was to feel him on top of me, his body making mine spiral out of control the way he used to.

Except it was nothing like what it used to be. It was five-thousand times better.

Ugh. I pounded my fist into my pillow.

I heard my phone beep. I picked it up and read the text message. “Sweetheart, did you get home okay?”

I rolled my eyes. “What part of move on don’t you understand?”

“I’m not going anywhere.”

I took a deep breath. Why had I gotten the happy-dance feeling in my stomach? “That might be considered stalking.”

“Lock me up, then.”

I rolled my eyes again.

“Stop rolling your eyes at me.”

I looked around the room. How did he know I’d rolled my eyes?

“Are you safe in bed?”

“Yes.”

“Good. Can I tell you one more thing?”

I inhaled with a shaky breath. “Sure, why not. You’ve already interrupted my bedtime shenanigans.”

"Okay, now I’m getting hard again.”

“I’m going to leave this conversation now.”

Instantly, “Wait!”

I paused a few minutes to torture him. “What?”

Lots of time passed with the …’s as Blake typed.

“You take my breath away, Sweetheart. You’re more gorgeous, more sweet, more sexy than before. Thank you for tonight. When you figure out what I can do to help you forgive me and give me another chance, let me know. “

I rolled my eyes.

“Five,” came across my phone.

How did he know? “Do you have a camera on me?”

“Lol. No. I spent hours studying you. I’ve never forgotten.”

Damn. Why did he have to be so charming? “Go to sleep, Blake.”

“Sweet dreams, Sweetheart. XOXO.”

I didn’t reply. He wasn’t going to let this go, and if I was honest, I was happy he wasn't. But the band-aid had been ripped open, and my fresh wound bled once more.

I couldn’t help myself. “Blake?”

Within seconds, “Yeah, Sweetheart.”

I swallowed hard and closed my eyes for a minute. “I don’t want to hate you, but it hurts worse than before.”

Blake responded, “I know. I’m going to fix it, I promise.”

“How?”

“I don’t know, but we will figure it out,” came flying across the screen. Then, the …’s as he typed again.

“Together,” popped up.

I didn’t respond. I couldn’t. I wanted to, because I wanted it more than anything else, but I wasn’t sure how we would ever get there.

Blake

L aura told me she didn’t want to hate me, and as much as she tried to send me away, I wasn’t going anywhere. I didn’t care what it took; I would continue to fight for us.

“Paige, I need you to clear out the next week,” I told my assistant. “I’m going to be remote in New York.”

“What about the new investors on Friday?”

“Reschedule it.”

“Blake, it’s been on the schedule for three months,” she reminded me.

“See if they can Zoom. Otherwise, reschedule it.”

It wasn’t like me to cancel meetings, but there was no way I was going to leave New York right now. I would stay and figure out how to win Laura back.

I went into the flower shop and picked out some Gerbera daisies. Laura had always loved those. I wrote her a note.

Sweetheart,

I hope your day is going well. I’ve canceled my meetings throughout the week and am staying in New York. Can I meet up with you for coffee?

XOXO

Blake

I wanted to take her to a fancy dinner, but I figured coffee might be an easier way to get her to say yes after the events of the last dinner date.

After sending the flowers off, I went into a few shops. I needed to buy some clothes since I hadn’t arrived prepared.

A deep purple Hermes scarf caught my eye. I held it in my hand and felt the silk.

“I’ll take this,” I told the salesgirl.

My phone beeped. It was Laura. “Coffee sounds good. I have about ninety minutes.”

My heart leapt out of my chest. “Tell me where.”

“There’s a coffee shop two doors down from the Marko Enterprises building.”

Adrenaline pumped through my veins. “I’ll be there in ten minutes. Text me what you want to drink.”

I hailed a cab and was soon in the coffee shop. I waited nervously, tapping my fingers on the table. Get a grip. You aren't a schoolboy.

She walked in, and my mouth went dry. I stood up, gave her a peck on the cheek, then helped her take her jacket off before pulling out her chair. "You look gorgeous, Sweetheart."

She blushed and avoided my eyes, then took a sip of her coffee.

Tapping my fingers on the table again, I stared at her, suddenly not sure what to say.

"Blake, stop tapping." She put her soft hand over mine.

"Sorry, I guess I'm a bit nervous," I admitted, and felt a slow heat creep through my face.

Laura bit down on her lip and tried not to smile.

"Are you enjoying my nerves?"

She shook her head, but her smile grew and finally turned into a laugh.

Okay, well at least she's laughing. I can take one for the team. Better than her running away.

"You have a busy day coming up?" I hoped the answer was no and I could spend more time with her.

“Normal. Nothing out of the ordinary.” She glanced down at my bags. “You been busy shopping?”

“I had to buy some clothes. I wasn’t expecting to stay this long.”

“Blake, you don’t have to stay in town. We both have lives—”

“I don’t want a life without you in it.” It was the truth.

She sighed. “Look, I meant it when I said I don’t want to hate you anymore. I’m going to try and let go of the anger. But you can’t put your life on hold. You don’t know me anymore, and I don’t know you. You said it yourself: you’re a different man. I’m not twenty-two anymore, either.”

“Ten years I've been looking for you. I’m not leaving,” I told her adamantly. “I’ll spend the rest of my life getting to know you again.”

“Blake—”

“Sweetheart, please don’t try and fight me on this. No matter what you say or do, I won’t leave. So let’s change the subject.”

“You’re really irritating when you do that.”

“What’s that?” I grinned at her.

“That.” She pointed at me.

I gave her a confused look.

She looked a bit annoyed. “I’m trying to get you to be realistic, and you talk all nicey-nice to me with a smile on your face, like it’s perfectly normal to stay in town and for you to make all the decisions.”

I traced the back of her hand with my fingers. “Nothing about us is normal. I’m sorry, but until you decide to give me another chance, I won’t be letting you make any decisions about my whereabouts.”

“I’m not sure about Texas, but stalking is illegal in New York,” she smirked.

Oh, to hell with this. I leaned over, grabbed her head, and pressed her lips into mine. My tongue urgently opened her mouth and explored all around it. I had caught her off guard, but not so much that she didn’t respond. Her hands soon flew to the back of my head, and her fingers ran through my hair.

I pulled back and sat down. “File a complaint, then.” I gave her a cocky grin.

“Maybe I will,” she muttered breathlessly.

I reached into the bag and pulled out a box. “This is for you.”

“What is it?”

I laughed. “Open it.”

“Blake, I don’t need a bunch of flowers and gifts. Seriously. It won’t make things right.”

I inhaled sharply. “I know it isn’t going to make things right. If I see something I want to give you, I’m going to because I can, and because you deserve nice things. Not because I think you’ll forgive and forget.”

“I have nice things. I don’t need any more.”

I smiled. “I’m sure you have lots of nice things. So are you going to open the box now or later?”

“You’re seriously annoying,” she said as a smile played on her lips.

I grabbed the box. I stood up and went over to the back of her chair and stuck it in her purse.

“What are you doing?” She looked at me in surprise.

“Open it later.” I bent down and smashed my lips into hers. Her hands instantly went to my head and pressed into me. She bit my lip, and I groaned softly as my dick got hard again. “Can I see you tonight?”

She paused. “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

“No?” I looked at her in question.

Laura shook her head. “Can you let me process all this? It’s a lot for me.”

It was not what I wanted to hear. But I would give her all the time she needed and not pressure her. I didn’t need to add that to my list of sins. “Okay, but what does that mean?”

“I’m not sure. Just give me some space. Honestly, you should go back to Texas.”

“I’m not going back to Texas. You can have your space, but I’ll be here, waiting.”

She rolled her eyes at me.

I put my hand back on hers. “Sweetheart, what does space mean? Tell me so I can give you what you need.”

“Time to think. Time to be alone.”

Alone. I felt a stab through my heart. “How much time?”

“Honestly, I don’t know.” She shifted in her seat. “Can we play it by ear?”

I didn’t like where this was going and took a deep breath. “To be clear, you aren’t telling me that you never want to see me again, right?” Might as well lay it all out on the table, I thought.

“Would it matter if I did say that?”

“Laura, is that what you’re telling me?” My hands turned clammy.

“No, Blake. I’m not telling you that. I just need to process, okay?”

I moved my chair over so I wasn’t across from her.

She laughed. “I just told you I need space, and you move right next to me.”

I put my arm around her, and my forehead on hers. “I’ll give you all the space you need, but I’m going to be here waiting for you. I don’t care how long it takes. I’m going to win you back.”

She slowly nodded.

I kissed her quickly on the lips and sat back. “Am I allowed to text or call you? What're the rules of space?”

Laura laughed. “Let’s play it by ear. I have to get back to work.” She stood up, gave me a fiery kiss, and walked out.

So much for space, I thought.

6

Laura

A fter a long day, I had forgotten about the gift. I opened my bag to find the keys to my apartment and the box was there. I walked in, shut the door, and went over to the couch with it.

Inside was a very expensive silk scarf. I looked at the brand and rolled my eyes. Hermes. It had to have cost a fortune.

I grabbed my phone and texted Blake. “The scarf is beautiful. Thank you.”

“Glad you like it. You forgot it was in your purse, didn’t you?”

How did he know? Best to change the subject. “What did you do after I saw you today? Spa day?”

“Ha, ha. Nothing exciting. I worked for a few hours.”

I started to type, then deleted it. Better not ask what he’s doing now. It’ll only lead to me wanting to see him.

I was about to type something else when I got another text. "Okay, Sweetheart. I’m going to let you have your space. Going to the gym with Jack.”

Well, I guess I was safe. “Thanks. Have a good workout.”

Blake sent me a GIF of a muscle man lifting weights.

I sent back a GIF of a granny lifting weights.

Blake texted me, “Enjoy your night, Sweetheart.”

I sat back. A few days ago, everything had been normal. I had my job and friends. Things were great. Well, good enough.

My phone rang. Mark popped up on the screen.

Mark! My hand flew to my face.

I had completely forgotten about the guy I had been seeing. We hadn’t had the exclusivity conversation yet, but we’d been dating for a few months.

Did I cheat on him?

Oh crap. I had never cheated on anyone. But had I cheated if we hadn’t said we were exclusive?

I let the call go to voicemail. Mark immediately sent me a text. “Am I picking you up tonight or meeting you at the restaurant?”

I had forgotten. “I’ll meet you there. What time?”

“Does eight work?”

“Sure. See you there.”

Crap. What am I doing? I’m not about to be in two relationships.

But am I?

Now that Blake was back in my life, it felt like overnight we had somehow, however crazy it was, gotten back into a relationship. Was that what we were in?

No, it was too crazy to comprehend.

But was I even in one with Mark?

Ugh. I had to call Meg.

“Hey!” Meg said as soon as she picked up. “I’ve been waiting for you to call and dish it out!”

I smiled. She’d probably been dying to get the scoop. “I need some guy advice. I’m in a jam.”

“Sure, what’s going on?” Meg was the person to ask. Before Collin, she had a full roster of dates.

I swallowed hard. “So is it cheating on someone if you’ve slept with them—well, only had sex but didn’t spend the night—but never had the exclusive conversation and then you slept—sorry, only had sex—with someone else?”

Meg laughed.

“It’s not funny.” My stomach shook a bit.

“Okay. I’m sorry, you’re right. I take it you’re talking about Mark and Blake?”

I sighed. “Yeah. This thing with Blake has been a whirlwind. I didn’t even think about Mark until five minutes ago when he called to confirm our date tonight.”

“Well, this is complicated. Technically, no, you did not cheat on Mark. But he may feel otherwise.”

“That’s what I’m afraid of.”

Meg cleared her throat. “So, who do you enjoy more?”

“I don’t know,” I lied. I knew exactly who I enjoyed sex with more. I pretended Meg didn’t mean sex, which I knew she did. “Mark is a really nice guy. We have a lot of fun and a lot of similar interests.”

“What about Blake?” Meg didn’t beat around the bush.

I closed my eyes. My heart rate increased just thinking of him. “We have history. Not all good, either,” I pointed out.

She laughed. “Laura, no one has all good history with anyone. That’s relationships.”

She was right. I didn’t say anything.

“You know I wasn’t talking about that anyway. Sex—who do you enjoy more?”

“I don’t know,” I lied once more.

“I don’t believe you,” she accused. You could never fool Meg when it came to sex. "Okay, so I won’t make you say it out loud, but want to know your bigger problem?”

I felt like I already knew my biggest problem. “Go ahead.”

“Now that you’ve remembered about Mark, you have to make a decision. You can’t sleep with both guys. I know you, and you aren’t that girl. The guilt will eat at you. Mark seems more of a player type to me, so I think you could get away with it. But Blake... I don’t see that man tolerating you sleeping with another guy.”

She was right. The reason I hadn’t had the exclusivity conversation with Mark was because I knew he wasn’t one to settle. Blake, on the other hand…there was no way he would tolerate me dating anyone else.

“I can’t believe I’m in this situation.”

“Laura, who does your heart want?”

I shook my head and lied again, “I don’t know.”

“You sure about that? I think you do.”

I laughed. “And who would that be?”

Meg blew out a big breath. “Laura, it’s not my place to tell you who to be with, but don’t be so caught up in the past that you screw up your future, no matter which man you choose.”

“I’m fine with you telling me who to choose.”

Meg laughed. “Nice try. Call me tomorrow and tell me who you picked. But Laura, figure it out before your date starts tonight.”

I hung up. Why did I feel like I was playing with fire?

I got ready and went outside to hail a cab. My mind told me to pick Mark. Blake was too real, too scary, too risky to get into a relationship with.

But was he? I felt like we had fallen into one without even trying.

But we aren’t, I told myself.

If I chose Mark, I could go back to my normal life and it could be light and fun. I could have decent enough sex and someone to occupy my free time without getting wrapped up in all these emotions.

But was that what I wanted?

Blake. He was what I really wanted. Deep down I knew it, but I tried to convince myself why I shouldn’t pick him. That would require me to forgive him and eventually figure out how to trust him again.

I wasn’t sure how I would do that.

Was it worth having to go through all these feelings when I couldn’t guarantee that I would ever fully forgive or trust Blake again?

My taxi pulled up, and I went into the restaurant.

Mark was already waiting for me. He bent down to kiss me. “Hey, beautiful,” he said in a sultry voice. Usually I would have liked it. Tonight it felt a tad sleazy.

“Hey.” I turned my head so his lips met my cheek and not my mouth.

The hostess came up to us and said she could seat us. We walked through the crowded restaurant and Mark put his hand on my back. She seated us in a round booth, and Mark sat right next to me.

Nothing about this felt right. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t shake Blake. I needed to tell Mark it was over.

We ordered drinks, and Mark talked about his week. Does he always talk so much about himself? Did I not notice before?

I might as well get this over with. I put my hand on Mark’s.

He took it as a sign and put his arm around me and started stroking my arm. I tried to move, but he had me locked in. He started talking about himself again.

I cut him off. “Hey, I need to talk to you about something.”

He gave me a cocky grin and leaned in. “Yeah, what’s that, beautiful?”

“Listen—”

“Laura?”

My stomach dropped. I knew who it was before I turned my head. Of all the places in New York City, he had to be where I was.

Blake stood at the table, his hands clenched in fists. Hurt and anger filled his face.

“What’s it to you?” Mark spat back.

“I’m going to give you five seconds to get your hands off her,” Blake seethed at him.

Mark laughed. “Or what?”

Blake threw his hand back but was stopped.

“Easy there,” Jack said quietly.

I looked into Jack’s eyes. I couldn’t read them.

Mark, Blake, Jack…they all stared at me. I tried to get out of the booth, but Mark still had his hand on my shoulder. “Mark, let me go.”

He gave me a cocky grin, didn’t release me, and pulled me closer.

Blake grabbed his hand and pinned it against the booth. Mark cried out in pain. “She said to let her go.”

“Easy there,” Jack repeated.

They all had me trapped, and I couldn't get out. I shot Blake a pissed look. He didn't have the right to be doing this. The fact was, we weren't in a relationship and hadn't been for ten years. Both men were acting like children.

"Do you mind releasing my date?" I glared up at Blake.

I shouldn't have said it—I knew it before it left my mouth. But I was angry.

Blake looked at me, raised his eyebrows in disgust, and let go of Mark's arm. "Have fun on your date, Sweetheart." He turned around and went over to a table across the bar.

Jack looked at Mark and then me. "You all right here?"

I let out a shaky breath and slowly nodded, not sure what was going through Jack's mind.

"Okay, Laura. Have a good night." He gave me a kind smile, turned, and walked over to the table where Blake sat.

Blake sneered at me from across the bar.

I turned and looked at Mark.

“What the hell was that all about?” He tried to put his arm back around me.

I squirmed out of it. I grabbed his arm and put it on the table. “Mark, what I was trying to tell you is that it’s been fun, but we’re done.”

Mark looked at me. “Because of that guy?” He pointed across the room.

“No… Yes… I don’t know. We’re done, okay? Let’s leave it at that.” I stood up, threw on my jacket, and quickly made my way through the crowded restaurant. As I stepped outside the cold air hit me, but it didn’t do anything to cool my boiling blood.

I started to walk away from the restaurant, but stopped. Realizing I needed to clear the air with Blake, I took a few deep breaths, then turned and went back inside.

This time I went into the bar. I quickly located Jack and Blake’s table, but I only saw Jack.

Suddenly a hand was on my elbow, and I looked up to see Blake. He led me back out the door.

“Stop it. I don’t deserve to be manhandled,” I cried out.

Blake didn’t say anything, but continued steering me down the street. He pulled me into an alley and moved me against the wall.

“Is it serious?” he demanded.

“You have a lot of nerve.”

“Laura, this isn’t a game. Is it serious?”

I had never heard Blake’s voice like that before, and I took a deep breath, but wasn’t about to give him an inch. “You don’t have any right—”

“We slept together last night. I didn’t even wear a condom, for Christ's sake. Tell me the truth,” he hissed.

I pushed against him, but he held me steady. “Don’t worry, I’ve never had sex without a condom before last night, and I’m clean. You don’t have to worry about catching anything,” I said snottily. But it hurt.

“I’ve never not worn a condom either, for your information. And when I sleep with you, it happens to mean something to me. So how many guys are you sleeping with?” Blake spat at me.

I inhaled sharply and slapped him.

He took a small step back and softened a bit. “I’m sorry, that was low of me.”

I glared at him, blinking back tears. “Yes, it was.”

“I’m sorry. Laura, is it serious with him?”

My insides were shaking. I didn’t say anything for a minute. Then finally, I slowly shook my head. “I was only here to break it off with him tonight. I honestly hadn’t even thought about him since I saw you on the jet. He texted me and reminded me about tonight after I got done texting you.”

Blake let out a huge sigh. I realized he had been holding his breath. “Okay, Sweetheart.”

“Blake, I told you that we both have lives. Maybe the past is the past, and that’s all it’s meant to be. Maybe we’re already at the point of no return and we should keep our relationship behind us,” I sadly suggested.

He took another step forward and tipped my face up to his. “I shouldn’t have assumed you wouldn’t have been in a relationship. I’m sorry. I assumed because we had sex—”

I cut him off. “I wasn’t in a relationship. I don’t cheat. But I honestly didn’t even think of Mark until I got his message today. That’s how little he means to me. It was only a casual, fun thing.”

“But you went on a date with him even though you and I—”

“I came out to tell him it was over. You and I are just…just...”

Blake looked at me, alarmed. “Just what?”

I shook my head. “I don’t know. What is this?” I waved my hands between us.

Blake pressed into me. “I thought I’d made it pretty clear what I want it to be. What do you want it to be?”

I closed my eyes. This was exactly the opposite of space. I needed to think. I knew what Blake wanted from me. He was right, and didn’t need to say it.

His body pushed into mine more. “Sweetheart, tell me what you want,” he said softly and stroked my cheek.

A tear came down my face. “It’s too scary.” I opened my eyes and saw the ache fly into Blake’s.

“I’m not going to hurt you again. I promise.” He lowered his lips to mine and brushed a tear off my cheek with his thumb.

I wanted to believe him.

I needed to believe him.

I melted into his kisses as his warm body shielded me from the bitter cold and created a scorching heat throughout my veins.

He whispered, “Come back with me to my hotel. Stay the night with me.”

I shook my head. “I can’t. I want to, but I can’t. Please don’t push me tonight.”

“Okay, Sweetheart. Then let’s go get a drink with Jack.”

I thought about it. Jack was safe. “Okay.”

Blake locked eyes with me. “One more thing.”

“What’s that?”

“From now on, it’s only you and me. No more dates unless it’s you and me.”

I nodded. I could agree with that.

7

Blake

It had been a few weeks. Besides the text messages and the daily love notes I sent her with flowers, I had seen her for coffee and a few times for lunch.

She wouldn’t let me take her to dinner or see me at night. I wanted nothing more than to see her daily, but she still wanted her space, and I didn’t push.

My heart felt like it had been stabbed when I saw her walk through the bar with another man’s hand on her back. Jack had told me to stay calm, and that I didn’t know what the situation was, but the minute he put his arm around her, I was on my feet.

I was grateful Jack had been there. Otherwise, I probably would have been thrown in jail.

By the time Laura and I got back to the bar, Mark had left. Jack glanced at me when he saw I was with Laura. I could almost hear him saying, “All's fair in love and war.”

I gave him a wink, and he immediately made Laura feel comfortable. We all had a few laughs and some drinks. At the end of the night, we piled into Jack's car and dropped Laura off first. I wanted to ask her again to stay with me at the hotel or let me stay at her place, but I didn’t want to pressure her.

I walked her inside. She wouldn’t let me go past the lobby. “Let me walk you to your apartment, Sweetheart.”

“Evening ends here, Cowboy,” she said, a bit tipsy.

“Seriously, Sweetheart, just let me make sure you get into your apartment safely.”

She laughed. “I live in a secured complex, if you haven’t noticed the security guards,” she pointed out.

The one who had threatened to throw me out the other night gave me the evil stare down.

I wasn’t going to win. “Okay, text me when you get inside with the door locked.”

She pulled me down, gave me a hot kiss, and made my hard-on grow once again. She promised she would text.

I left and got back into the car.

“Well, you seem to be making some progress,” Jack teased.

I shrugged my shoulders. “I got a long way to go, buddy.”

“Well, it could be worse. She could have gone home with that douchebag, Mark.”

I gave Jack a dirty look. “Don’t ever bring him up to me again. She was only there to tell him to take a hike.”

“Yeah, he didn’t look too happy when he left.”

“Good. He better never come near her again.”

After that night, it was only coffee, lunch, text messages, and phone calls with Laura. I had been in New York for several weeks now, but she wouldn’t budge on dinner.

Unfortunately, I had stayed way longer in New York than I initially expected. Shit was going down in Texas. I needed to head home.

Before I left, I stopped by her work. As I was escorted to her office, I passed Tom in the hall.

He stopped me. “Blake, does Laura know you’re here?”

I nodded. “I asked her if I could stop in real quick. Assuming it’s all right with you?”

He smiled. “You’re welcome any time. As long as Laura says it’s okay, that is.”

I nodded. “Hearing you loud and clear.”

He patted me on the back. “She’s the fourth door on the left.”

I went and knocked.

“Come in,” I heard.

The scent of flowers filled my nose when I opened the door. Her office was crammed with them. I looked around and smiled as she looked up at me from her desk.

“Hey,” she said softly.

I walked over to her, bent down, and kissed her lightly on the lips. “Hey, Sweetheart.”

I sat down across from her. She looked stunning as always and wore the purple Hermes scarf I had given her. Her hair was tied up in a loose bun, and she had on a pair of purple, cat-eye glasses. I had never seen her in glasses before.

I licked my lips at her.

She laughed. “Why are you looking at me like that?”

“You look pretty hot in those glasses.”

A faint blush crept up her neck and into her face. “What’s going on?” She looked at me quizzically and snapped me out of my dirty thoughts.

“I need to fly home. I have business things that need to be handled.”

Laura’s face dropped. “Okay. Have fun back home.”

I laughed softly. She looked at me funny. “I’ll be back in a few days. Dinner when I get back?”

A slow smile crept onto her face. “Can I think about it?”

“Do you have to wash your hair or something?” This was getting old. I wanted to take her out on a proper date.

She laughed. “Dinner didn’t go so well last time.”

“Well, I guess it depends on how you look at that, Sweetheart,” I said with a cocky grin.

Her face grew red. “What if we don’t say dinner and just say a date?”

I smiled like a teenage boy. “Whatever you want to do, I’m up for it.”

“Okay. But Blake, you gotta stop sending me flowers.”

“You don’t like them?”

“I love them, but I’m running out of room.”

I laughed and stood up. “Come here for a minute.”

She cautiously stepped over to me.

I put my hands on her face and pulled her in for a slow kiss. Then I picked her up in a bear hug.

Laura shrieked and told me to put her down while laughing.

“Promise me you won’t fall in love with anyone else while I’m gone, okay?”

She gave me another peck and swatted my arm. “Go. I’ve got work to do.”

“Tell me you won’t,” I said again, seriously.

She looked at me. “You know I won’t.”

I gave her another lingering kiss and said goodbye. Being in Texas was going to be miserable, knowing she was here.

8

Laura

M addie had decided it was a girls’ night at her house, and I had stayed away from the girls long enough. Liv, Meg, and I had all been invited, along with Claire Whitfield, a criminal attorney who had helped Maddie out with her FBI interrogation earlier that year. We had all quickly become friends with her.

We grabbed our glasses of wine and went to sit by the fireplace. Well, everyone had wine except Maddie, because she was pregnant and drinking water.

"Spill it, Laura," Meg said.

"Jeez, can I take a sip first?"

Liv laughed. "Sip, talk."

"And don't leave out any details," Claire added.

I rolled my eyes and took a sip. I thought about Blake. Could he feel me rolling my eyes? Okay, that was silly, seeing he was thousands of miles away and didn't have any access to our conversation. Still, it made me smile.

"Laura, if you don't start talking we're cutting you off of wine tonight," Maddie threatened.

I shook my head. "You four are impossible."

"I'll help you out,” Meg said. “We know the backstory, but what’s going on now?"

I took a deep breath. "I'm not sure, to be honest."

Claire tilted her head. "What do you mean?"

I told them how our dinner date had gone and how emotional it was. How Blake and I both cried and how I stormed out of his room full of anger. Then I told them how he texted me, and I admitted to him I didn't want to hate him anymore. And how he had been showering me with flowers and love notes daily.

"Aw," Maddie cooed. "That's so sweet."

The other girls agreed.

"I haven't allowed myself to see him besides a few coffee and lunch dates," I admitted to the girls.

Meg cleared her throat. "I think you're leaving out some vital information."

I blushed. I had forgotten about that. I told them about the encounter with Mark and how we spent the night having drinks with Jack.

"Jack's in trouble,” Maddie exclaimed. “He didn't tell me any of this!"

Meg gave Liv a look. "So why won't you allow yourself to see him more?"

I shrugged my shoulders. "I'm not sure. Maybe because it's safer. Besides a few kisses, we can't get any more physical. The last time we made love it was too intense. I couldn't handle it afterward. It hurt too much."

"But don't you think you've moved past some of that pain? Maybe you can enjoy him now?" Maddie suggested.

I shrugged. "I don't know. I want to trust Blake… I'm just not fully there yet."

"Look, I'm not sticking up for him, but Jack told me how Blake spent ten years regretting what he did and trying to find you. When Blake's parents cut him off, he was left with nothing. He was so miserable married to Sherry for the short time they were hitched. He never even slept with her," Maddie revealed.

I sighed. "Yes, she set him up."

"No," Maddie said. "He didn't sleep with her when they were married, either."

Claire spit her wine out and started coughing. "Really?"

Maddie nodded with wide eyes. "Jack swears on it."

I gaped at Maddie. For some reason I’d never thought about it since he had reentered my life, but it shocked me. "What was he planning on doing, staying celibate the rest of his life?"

"According to Jack he never had any feelings for Sherry. He would call Jack drunk, crying over you, during his marriage. He started the private investigator looking for you a month after his wedding," Maddie informed us.

I jerked my head back. Blake had told me he had a PI looking for me, but I had no clue he’d started so soon.

Meg and Liv looked at each other again.

"What, you two?” I said. “Spill it.”

Liv looked at me, a tad uncomfortable.

"What?" I questioned again.

"Tom said the night Blake admitted everything on the plane to him and Phil, that he said he was going to find you a decade ago. He wanted to divorce Sherry, and he knew he had made a mistake. He was going to figure out how to still be a part of his child's life, but with you in it...if you would have taken him back."

"The only reason he married her was because he didn't want to not be a father to his child," Meg said. "Which wasn't his child, of course."

Maddie piped up again. "Jack told me that Blake knew he had made the biggest mistake of his life and only stayed with her because he was trying to figure out how to legally be allowed to keep his parenting rights. It sounds like his family and her family are both pretty ruthless."

Claire added, "Things were very different ten years ago. Mothers typically got full control of children in divorce situations. He would have had a battle for sure. And if he had no money to fight it…"

I shuddered, letting all this sink in. "If I hadn't changed my last name, he would have found me sooner. I would have taken him back in a heartbeat because it hurt so bad." The four women exchanged looks. "What?"

Claire spoke up quietly. "If you would have taken him back in a heartbeat back then, why can't you now?"

"He made a really bad mistake, but..." Liv trailed off.

"But he isn't the same person he was,” Maddie finished. “Jack swears he isn't.”

"It's obvious you love him, so why not let him in a bit?” Meg looked at me. “Let the past be the past and work on the future?"

I didn't say anything. Was it really that obvious to the others that I still loved him?

Liv jumped in. "You know all of us are on your side, now and forever, so don't question this, all right?"

I looked at Liv and nodded. "Okay."

Liv leaned closer. "If you lost him again, how would you feel?"

My heart started to beat faster at the thought. "Completely shattered. No way I would recover."

Meg put her hand on mine. "Then maybe it's time to let the past go and let him off the hook for being a young, dumb idiot."

"The man is trying,” Maddie said. “From where I'm standing, he isn't going to do anything to ever hurt you again, and even if you do forgive him, he's never going to fully forgive himself. Is that punishment enough, maybe?"

I didn't say anything for a while. It was a lot to process. Maybe the girls were right, and Blake had done his penance. "Look, I hear what you’re saying, but it isn't easy for me to go all in. It's been ten years of pain."

"You'll know when it's time to go all in,” Liv said. “But maybe drop him a bone or two?"

I nodded. They were right. If I wanted to move forward with Blake, and I knew in my heart that I did, then I needed to give a little.

When I got home that night it was approaching midnight, but I picked up my phone and called him. "Blake, did I wake you?"

"No, but even if you did, it would be okay. How were drinks with the girls?"

"Good." I started to twist my hair in my fingers.

"I miss you already," he drawled, which brought a smile to my face.

"I miss you, too." I didn't need to think about it, because it was true.

"Is everything all right, Sweetheart?"

I started pacing. "Yes. I think dinner when you get back sounds good."

Excitement crept into Blake's voice. "Yeah?"

"Yeah."

"Where do you want to go? We can go anywhere in the world. Pick and I'll get a flight plan ready."

I started laughing, and my nerves calmed a bit. "Aren't you taking dinner to the extreme?"

"Laura, I only want to make you happy."

My heart did a little flutter. I knew this in my gut, but I loved hearing him tell me. I decided he deserved another bone. "Want some honesty?"

"Yes," he drawled.

"I want to be happy with you."

I could feel Blake smiling through the phone. "That's the best thing I've heard all day."

"But I think dinner can be low-key, if that's all right with you?"

"Whatever you want. Tell me where to make a reservation."

"I've got this one covered. You just show up."

"You don't have to worry about that."

I grinned. "It's a date, then. I need to get some sleep. Have a good night."

"Night, Sweetheart. Sweet dreams."

I hung up and laid my head on my pillow. I looked up at the ceiling. My mind started racing. Could I really hold it against Blake the rest of his life because he wanted to be a part of his child's life?

What he did was screwed up, but I’d learned new facts: he had started looking for me immediately, and had never even slept with his ex-wife. Somehow, those things made it seem a little more forgivable.

So many years of pain...for both of us. But could I have a future with him? He lived in Texas. I was in New York. We were both different from who we were ten years ago. He was so sure of us, but how could he be when we had changed so much?

Can it be as good as we both imagine it in our heads?

My mind started to wander to our last night together. The chemistry between us was undeniable. It was stronger than ever.

Ugh. I turned over and threw my face in my pillow. The girls were right. I needed to figure out how to get over the past. Otherwise, we would have no future.

But I wasn't sure how.

Blake

Things were not good in Texas. I had a shitstorm brewing with some outside entity that was trying to buy out my company. I only knew because Jack was an investor and had gotten an offer as well.

"Who is it?"

Jack took a deep breath. "Are you sitting down?"

"Jack, who is it?"

"I traced the owner of the firm through several entities. It seems like they wanted to be hidden, but I finally got there."

"And?" I wasn't feeling good about this. I had these situations happen all the time, but this one felt different.

"It's your family and Sherry's. But it's not only Caseline they’re going after. They’re also going after Robotica, Secular, and Aclaimmer."

I slammed my fist down. "You've got to be kidding me."

Caseline, Robotica, Secular, and Aclaimmer were my four most profitable companies. I had put my blood, sweat, and tears into them, and had multiple offers to take them public.

"I haven't gotten a notice on anything else, but I'll let you know," Jack said.

"Thanks, man. I don't know what they’re up to, but I'm going to find out."

"Do you think we should pull Collin into this one? Your family knows we go way back, but they don't know we know Collin. He's got a stake in all four companies as well. I can see if they reached out yet and see how he thinks we can go about this?"

I thought about it for a minute. Collin Corwin, Meg's husband, was known as 'The Negotiator' in New York and the sports world. His talent could be beneficial. "That sounds like a good idea."

"Okay, I'll make the call."

"Thanks, Jack," I said appreciatively.

I hung up and felt the pit in my stomach grow. My family, as well as Sherry's, was vindictive beyond all measure. They had repeatedly tried to take me down and stop my success over the last ten years. I shouldn't have been surprised.

Typically, I could handle it. Now that Laura was back in my life, I wouldn't let anything—and especially not them—wreck it. They had destroyed us once before, and I wouldn't allow it to happen again.

And I would be damned if they took over control of my companies or made a penny off them.

I had worked my butt off over the last ten years to make something of myself and to build something bigger than what they had. I would not let them take it away.

When I divorced Sherry, both families blamed me. It didn't matter that Sherry had lied about her pregnancy to everyone. I broke up the family. In their eyes, I was the villain. And they had repeatedly tried to make me pay for it, over and over again, throughout the years.

I sighed. I was so sick of their games. I wanted to be back in New York, near Laura. But now I would need to be out in Texas to make sure this got settled. Settled meant they would never again be able to go after me or anyone near me, and that included Laura. I wouldn't put it past them to do something to hurt her. My family and Sherry's were malicious, and nothing was off-limits.

I got a text from Jack. "CC's on board."

"Thanks."

"Time to finish this," Jack replied.

"Tell me about it." I could always depend on Jack having my back.

Whatever I needed to do to take them down once and for all, I was going to do it. They would not interfere with my business or personal life ever again.

9

Laura

The week seemed to drag on until date night. Blake and I texted and talked on the phone a few times, but something seemed off with him. I couldn't put my finger on it, but something about his voice suggested distraction.

My initial instinct was to think there was someone else, but I pushed that thought out of my mind. Blake wouldn't do that to me; I knew that, and had to keep reminding myself of it.

Since my night with the girls, I had felt something shift in me—a new understanding of what he had gone through. Not total forgiveness, but close. Maybe most important was the realization that I finally wanted to forgive him because I wanted a future with him. It burned through my soul, and I couldn't put it out no matter how hard I tried.

Looking at the time, I wondered how long he would be. I sent him a text. "Did you land yet?"

"I'm about to get in the car."

My heart fluttered, excited to see him. "Great, come over."

"On my way. Can't wait to see you, Sweetheart."

"See you soon."

A few minutes later I got another text. "Where am I taking you tonight?" Blake inquired for the fiftieth time that week.

I laughed. It was killing him not knowing. "You'll see."

"You're still not going to tell me?"

I grinned. "Nope."

"Okay, Sweetheart. I'll see you soon. XOXO."

"XOXO."

I had decided to cook Blake his favorite meal. Well, what I remembered as his favorite meal. When we used to date, it was a ribeye, baked potato, and a salad. I crossed my fingers and hoped it was still his favorite.

I hadn't put the steaks on yet when my security called up. It didn't take long before Blake was at my door. He pulled me into his strong arms. His body fit easily into mine; his spicy scent filled my lungs and made my butterflies flutter harder.

"Hey, Sweetheart." He pulled back and gave me a smoldering look that drenched my panties.

I grabbed his neck and quickly started to explore his mouth. His hands fell to my back and pushed me into his body.

My insides throbbed, but I pulled back and looked him over. He wore jeans, a button-down, and his cowboy hat. "Can take the boy out of Texas, but you can’t take Texas out of the boy."

He laughed, took off his hat, and held up an overnight bag. "I have a change of clothes, since you didn't tell me where we were going."

"Driving you crazy, isn't it?"

He gave me a light peck on the lips. "Yes. So where am I taking you tonight?"

"Nowhere," I said.

He looked at me in panic.

I laughed. "I'm making you dinner here."

A massive smile grew on his face. "Really?"

I laughed some more. "Yes. Ribeye, baked potato, and salad. I hope you still eat that."

"You remembered it's my favorite." He gave me another blazing look.

I shrugged my shoulders like it wasn't a big deal. He stepped closer and quietly said, "So you let me into your house and are cooking me my favorite dinner, too?"

I nodded slowly.

He grinned bigger and slowly licked his lips.

Oh, screw it, I thought as I lunged at him, grabbed his head, pulled it to mine, then quickly found his tongue and savagely pulled his bottom lip into my teeth.

He groaned and mumbled between kisses, "You're going to wreck me if you keep this up."

As his erection grew, I pressed my body into his with a heat surging through my veins as wetness pooled into my panties. "I've missed you," I whispered in his ear, then nibbled on his earlobe.

With a possessive grip, his hands moved up my shirt and across my naked back, pulling me into him more as his mouth made his way down my neck. "You have no idea how much I missed you."

Volts shot through me, and my heart started beating faster.

He moaned as I moved my hands down and slid them into his pants and stroked his throbbing cock. "Sweetheart, if you keep this up, I'm going to take you right here in your living room and mark you as mine."

My head jerked, and I looked at him. Blake had never marked me as his before. I swallowed hard with a strange sense of excitement coursing through me. "Mark me?"

His eyes dove into mine with lust, possession, and fire, sending shivers down my spine. "Yes. As mine."

As mine. There was no question in his words. He wanted me as his, and he wanted me to know that without a doubt he was staking his claim.

I had never been marked. Even ten years ago he had never even tried—and honestly, I didn't really understand what that meant, but something about Blake's eyes sent a scorching heat through me, and one thing that never changed was I had always trusted him with my body. Reaching down, I grabbed his balls and squeezed them gently, then took my other hand and unbuckled his belt. I unzipped his pants and shoved them to the floor, including his boxers. "Mark me," I breathed at him.

Widened eyes stared down at me hungrily, pausing—but only for a brief second. He quickly pushed my skirt down, kicked off his shoes, and picked me up in one swoop. He carried me over to the couch and sat down with me on top of him. My knees slid on both sides of his hips, and my aching pussy touched his naked hard-on through my thin panties.

In one quick move, Blake yanked my shirt off me, then effortlessly unhooked my bra. He started to gently suck my nipples one by one, then more intensely, then borderline painful, but not. I shivered as he pulled me closer with his warm hands and took the fullness of my breasts in his mouth.

Sucking me. Licking me. Biting me.

"Oh God!" I cried, suddenly clear on what he meant by marking me.

The other night had been gentler, and while he had owned my body in many ways ten years ago, this was a rougher side than I had seen before.

And the thought alone sent a rush of excitement and desire through me.

"You're mine," he murmured so quietly I almost didn't hear it.

“Then show me,” I egged him on, and saw the approval in his eyes as he bent back down and marked me again.

Arching my back, I pressed my breasts into his mouth further, I whimpered against him as the pain of his lips and teeth sent a surprising buzz of pleasure through my body.

“You’ve always been perfect,” he mumbled against my skin.

I started to unbutton his shirt and decided it was too much work, so I ripped it open. The buttons went flying. "Sorry," I murmured.

Blake laughed softly. "Rip anything off me you want, Sweetheart," then he grabbed the back of my head and pushed my mouth to his.

I let out a big moan as he pulled my hair and his lips fluttered across my neck, his teeth scraping against my skin.

“Yes. Oh God, yes,” I heard myself moan.

"I like this welcome back," his warm breath murmured against my neck.

I ground into him more, my womanhood dripping and on fire as he groaned.

My desire for him flooded me. For so long I had dreamed of him, ached for him, and needed him from afar. He was here now, and my body was more turned on than I could have ever imagined.

I pushed my panties to the side and slid on him, engulfing him as I got slightly dizzy. Blake let out another loud groan while I sat on him for a minute, letting my body wrap around him as I shakily kissed his pecs.

He pulled my face up to his again and pressed his forehead to mine. With my lip quivering, I admitted to him in a whisper, "I want you as mine, too."

"You have me, Sweetheart," he whispered back. "Always."

My heart leapt. I went in to kiss him and started to move my pelvis up and down his hard shaft, circling, gliding, clutching against him.

“Keep doing that,” he groaned.

I circled on him harder.

Moaning, he closed his eyes and said, "We just got better with time."

No one had ever felt as good to me as Blake Montgomery, but I knew what he meant. The decade we’d spent apart made us better together, as if time had seasoned us.

"Yes," I whispered, my mouth starting to form an ‘O’ as our breathing became labored.

Strong arms tightened around me as his fingers caressed my naked back, lighting my nerves up. Kisses better than I had dreamed about the last ten years consumed me, leaving no doubt who I belonged to as my insides began to grip and release him.

Hard thrusts pounded against my sweet spot, and a pulsing heat burned through my body as I clenched his fullness.

He dropped one hand to my hip and the other to my clit, taunting and teasing me with his strokes before he started to flick his fingers against me.

At first it was a soft flick, but then it grew harder, and I bucked into it. I didn't expect it, nor remember it. It was new and had a hint of pain…before pleasure started to ripple through me.

“Harder,” I cried out.

He gave me a cocky grin as his nails hit harder against my clit, and his teeth bit into my collarbone.

"Oh God, Blake," I cried out as I arched my back and dug my nails into him as he flicked harder and quicker against me.

A trembling vortex of surging adrenaline raced through my body as I convulsed into an orgasm.

"You're mine," he murmured again, claiming me as his with a possessiveness I hadn't seen before but knew in the depths of my soul I wanted.

"I'm yours," flew out of my mouth without any hesitation or thought, before he took his mouth to my breasts and started to suck my nipples hard.

"Fuuuuck," I cried against him as his mouth moved to the side of my breast and sucked me so hard he marked me again.

He pressed his forehead to mine. "You want it hard or soft, Sweetheart?"

"Hard!" I hummed on his body as I panted and became dizzy once more, not sure what was happening to me and where my demands were coming from. Close to my next high, on edge, pure wildness filled my eyes.

"Christ, you're pure heaven," he drawled, and pushed his hips into me harder.

Blake was the same. Blake was different. Blake was better than in the past.

On the edge, I whimpered and started to shake again, but wasn't over the top yet. Closing my eyes, I felt the sensations, desperate for him to make me soar.

“Oh, please,” I let out with an impatient moan.

Blake's fingers came back to my sex. This time they glided over my swollen nub slowly at first as he scanned my eyes intensely.

A slow ripple started oozing through my body and sent me higher. "Blake," I cried out.

He immediately increased the speed on my nub, and every nerve ending in my body went into a shaking frenzy as I gripped his shoulders and threw my breasts in his face.

Loud noises began to fly out of our mouths.

"Oh...fuuuuck!" He pumped hard in me and sent me into a second orgasm as we gripped each other—tight, sweaty, shaking.

When my tremors and heart slowed, I pulled my face off his neck. Unlike the last time we had sex, there was no anger, no guilt, no sadness. "I feel so happy right now."

I didn't realize I’d said it.

He rubbed my back. "Sweetheart, happy is an understatement."

I laughed and slowly pulled off him, moved my panties back over, and rotated so I sat next to him with my head on his chest.

“You’re rougher than you used to be,” I said absentmindedly; why, I’m not sure.

He pulled my chin to look at him. “You didn’t like it?”

I blushed. “No. I loved it. I’m just surprised, that’s all.”

“You’d tell me if it’s too much?”

“Yes. Of course.”

“It wasn’t?” He had a nervous and worried look on his face.

I shook my head. “No. I just didn’t expect that from you.”

“You aren’t the same, either. But I told you, I’m not the same man I was.”

Scanning his eyes, I wasn’t sure what to say, but I knew he was right. I wasn’t that young girl who wanted everything to be romantic and gentle, yet I hadn’t ever experienced some of the things that Blake had just done to me. Finally, I said, “That affects how you fuck?”

Blake softly laughed. “I guess so.”

I didn’t say anything.

He peered at me. “Has anyone else ever marked you?”

I shook my head again. “No.”

He licked his lips. “Good.”

I laughed. “You’re more possessive than you were in the past.”

“I already lost you once. I’m not losing you again.” His serious eyes drilled into mine.

Flutters shot through me, and I bit my lip. Some women may not have liked it, but I always loved and felt safe in Blake’s possessiveness. I enjoyed knowing that I was his and he only wanted me. And the depth of his desire to claim me as his and keep me only solidified how much I wanted to be his.

He kissed the top of my head and changed the subject. "I missed you the last few days."

I looked up to him. "I missed you, too." And I had. I had missed him so much that it hurt differently than before.

We stayed quiet for a while. I stood up. "Hungry?"

He nodded.

I threw him his boxers. "I'm going to stay in my panties and your shirt. You can stay in those," I said with a wicked grin on my face, then buttoned the few buttons that I hadn't ripped off his shirt.

"Yes, ma'am." He laughed and put on his boxers. We went into the kitchen. "Want some help?"

"I got this. You want a drink?" I pointed over to the wall with the bar.

He walked over to it. "What can I get you?"

"I'll take a glass of Merlot."

Blake grabbed the bottle, two glasses, my wine opener, and walked back to the island. He poured me a drink and handed it to me in the kitchen, then poured himself one before he sat down on the counter stool.

I threw the steaks on the grill, then went and sat down next to him.

Blake put his hand on my thigh and softly stroked it. "I like you in my shirt." He grinned and raised his eyebrows at me.

I smirked. "Sorry about the buttons."

"Told you to rip anything off me you want." He shot me a cocky smile.

I stood up between his legs and kissed him. He cupped my buttocks and rubbed them gently. "How was Texas?"

He froze.

"What is it?"

"Hey, I've gotta tell you something, Sweetheart. I don't want you to worry, but I don't want to hide it from you either," he said carefully.

I started panicking. Was he going to dump me again? Was there another woman and I had been wrong? I took a step back, and the stool wobbled.

"Whoa," he said gently, and pulled me up to him.

I closed my eyes. "The last time you told me you had to tell me something, you left me," I blurted out.

"Shit, Laura. It's nothing like that. I promise.” He grabbed my face in his hands. “I'm not ever going to do that to you again. Please believe me.”

I took a deep breath and nodded. I hated being this pathetic woman. It made me feel like a schoolgirl. Why couldn't I just let it go?

His thumb traced my jawline. "Laura, I mean it. I will never do that to you again." His voice was stern.

I slowly nodded and looked in his eyes.

"I need you to work on believing in me. I know I don't deserve it, and it's unfair of me to expect it, but I need you to try. Can you try for me?" he pleaded with me.

I bit my lip. "I'm trying, Blake. I'm trying so hard."

"Keep trying for me, please? I'm not that same guy, I promise you."

"Okay," I said slowly. I took a deep breath. "What do you need to talk to me about, then?"

The timer rang for me to flip the steaks. I held up my hand for him to wait until I got back. I quickly flipped the steaks and returned. I sat back on my stool and looked at him. "Okay, tell me."

"It's both my and Sherry's family."

My face reddened and my stomach flipped at the mention of her name. "What do they want?"

"They’re trying to steal my companies out from underneath me."

I looked at him in surprise. "Why would they do that?"

He laughed a sarcastic laugh. "They’re vindictive and want me to pay for divorcing Sherry."

"That was ten years ago."

He laughed softly again. "Yep. I mentioned they’re vindictive, right?"

"But you've worked to build everything you have. Why can't they leave you alone?"

He shook his head sadly. "I don't know. But it is what it is. Look, I'm only telling you because I don't want to hide anything from you. Jack and Collin are both going to help me, and I don't want you left out in the dark. Plus, if they find out you’re back in my life, I don't know what they might try."

The hair on my neck stood up. "What do you mean?"

Blake took a sharp breath. "Laura, they’re nasty, mean people. They’ll probably try to do something to break us up again just to get at me."

"Well, there isn't anything they can do to break us up. They don't control you anymore," I said confidently.

"I know, I just think we need to be extra careful." He scanned my eyes.

"Okay. Thanks for telling me."

"So…" Blake trailed off.

"What?" I looked at him in alarm and knew I wasn't going to like the next thing that came out of his mouth.

"I have to go back to Texas tonight."

It was like a bomb had gone off, and my heart was in the center.

"Oh," I sat quietly. It wasn’t like we had planned a sleepover or anything… Well, he hadn't. I, on the other hand, guess I had been subconsciously planning it since I decided to have our date at my house. I had assumed we would spend the weekend together. We hadn't spent a lot of time together, but I wanted to move forward and stop limiting my exposure to him.

"I would prefer to wake up with you in my arms," Blake drawled, caressing my cheek.

I couldn't talk. It wasn't his fault. I wouldn't stand in the way of him saving his companies. If I opened my mouth, I didn't trust what I would say, so I said nothing.

"I want you to come with me."

I did a double-take. "To Texas?"

"Yes." There was no hesitation.

Stunned, I wasn't sure what to say.

"Let me take you home with me, Sweetheart," he said quietly while his eyes drilled into mine.

"I don't know." Fear coiled in my stomach. I hadn't been back to Texas since I had left ten years ago. Of all the states that I’d traveled to with Tom and Phil for Marko Enterprises, I had always managed to get out of going to Texas.

He pulled me onto his lap. "Come with me to Texas. We’ll return to New York together this time."

He understood my fear. I looked at him like I didn't believe him.

"I promise I'll fly back with you."

I took a deep breath. If Blake and I were going to be together, then at some point I would need to go to Texas. I couldn't hide forever. But still, was I ready?

Blake stared at me, his eyes pleading with mine. "Sweetheart, we had a lot of good times in Texas. Let's make some more. I don't want to leave you again tonight. Please, come with me."

My heart raced. I slowly nodded.

"Yes?" Blake raised his eyebrows at me in question.

"Okay," I whispered.

Blake kissed me hard. "Thank you. I couldn't bear the thought of not seeing you all weekend."

"I guess you're going to see me a lot, then. You sure you want to see me that much?"

Blake laughed softly. "You're serious? You know there’s nothing I want more than to wake up and go to sleep with you next to me and spend every minute between. Well, every minute beside a few meetings I have to take."

The buzzer rang. I went into the kitchen, happy for the distraction. I had just agreed to go to Texas and spend all weekend with Blake. My insides were doing flips.

I put the food on our plates and put it on the table. Blake was behind me and wrapped his arms around my waist. His chin was on my head, and his body flush against mine. I leaned back into him and felt the comfort of being in his arms.

"Dinner looks almost as good as you taste," he whispered in a sultry voice.

I laughed and slapped his wrists. "Sit down and eat."

He laughed and we sat down and had dinner.

"So what should I pack?"

"You can run around my house naked all weekend if you want," he said slyly.

I rolled my eyes. "Perv."

"What?" He threw his hands in the air. "You can't possibly expect me to think when you're in my shirt and your panties, can you?"

I laughed. I had forgotten that we were both half-naked. Well, he was more naked than I was, to be fair.

"I guess I could make you wear your boxers all weekend." I raised my brows and grinned at him.

"Whatever you want, Sweetheart."

10

Blake

With my heart pounding, I grabbed Laura's hand as we walked up the stairs and into my jet. The last time we were in a jet together, she hated me. I knew she was hesitant about going to Texas, but I would take care of her this time.

"It's not as big as what you're used to," I told her as she looked around my jet, suddenly a tad nervous.

"It's a good thing I know what you’re talking about." She laughed and looked down at my dick.

I gave her a cocky grin. "Jet, Sweetheart. The jet."

Her face turned serious. "It's great, Blake." She pulled my face down and kissed me with her soft lips.

My body started to stiffen, and I groaned. "You're doing me in today." I picked her up as she giggled and carried her over to the couch. We had just started to make out—pretty hot and heavy—when I heard my flight attendant, Katie, clear her throat.

I looked up and blushed. "Hey, Katie. This is my Laura."

Laura and Katie exchanged hellos.

"Can I get you anything?" Katie smiled at us.

"Water, please." Laura smiled at her.

I held up two fingers. Katie left. I went back to Laura's lips, my tongue rolling gently around hers, and my prick started to pulse against her body. "You're driving me crazy," I whispered to her.

Katie came back with the waters. "Do you need anything else, Mr. Montgomery?"

"That’ll be all, Katie. Go enjoy the rest of the flight." I motioned for her to go.

“Thank you." She grinned and left.

"Is that your way of saying leave us alone?" Laura whispered in my ear.

I tickled her, and she started laughing. "Sorry, but I don't want to share you with anyone. So yes, that means we’re by ourselves." I thought of all the dirty things I wanted to do with my sweetheart.

"Well, aren't you naughty." Laura raised her eyebrows.

"Sweetheart, I'm beyond naughty right now. You've got my blood racing, my heart soaring, and my cock harder than a rock right now. We're sitting in my jet, you're on my lap, and the next few days you're going to be sleeping in my bed. The only thing I can think that’ll make me happier is to take you back to the bedroom and listen to you moan my name over and over." I nibbled on her ear.

Laura shuddered slightly in my arms.

"That's my cue." With a cocky grin, I stood up with her in my arms and took her back to the bedroom, while she let out a squeal.

I got her into the bedroom and put her down on the bed. She surprised me and tore off her shirt and bra, kicking my abs playfully with her feet so I was up against the door. For the second time that night, she unbuckled my belt and unzipped my fly, then quickly shoved my pants to the floor.

"Feisty tonight, aren't you?" I teased, exhilarated that she was finally showing me how much she still wanted me.

She ripped the rest of the buttons off my shirt, drew her finger down my chest, then kissed my nipples and rolled them with her tongue. My dick did a double-take against her body as she let out a brief laugh. She continued to move down to my navel as her mouth fluttered across my abs, and her hands grabbed my balls and started to massage them.

I groaned. She always knew exactly how to touch me.

"Settle down, Cowboy. I need some dessert." She coyly removed my cowboy hat, put it on, and knelt down. She began to lick my shaft like a lollipop and continued to play with my balls.

"Holy Texas," I panted. I had almost forgotten how amazing her mouth made my cock feel. Her warm tongue continued to tease me as a slow burn grew steadily within me. My cock pulsed with every lick. And then she put my tip in her mouth and lightly started sucking on me and moaning.

I grunted and felt like I was in high school again. Damn, Blake, don't cum like a teenager. I refocused and concentrated on keeping hard and not exploding all over her face.

Fuck, she makes me feel so good.

I looked down at her as she wore my cowboy hat, naked from her jeans up, and her mouth enclosed around my throbbing rod. Her hands moved and teased between my anus and balls, which sent new jolts throughout my body.

Damn, she’s hot.

There was something about seeing her in my cowboy hat—a hat she had bought me that I’d reverently kept by my side all these years, as if I needed a reminder that she was still out there, somewhere, and I just needed to find her.

Several women I’d dated had tried to mess around and wear my hat, and I always ended the relationship promptly. That hat was sacred. It had served as a reminder...a promise of a future I knew I wanted and wasn’t fully living without.

And now she’s sucking my dick in that hat. Fuck me.

Suddenly, she took all of me in her mouth. Up and down, and then lightly scraped her teeth along my shaft. I about blew my wad, but the plane started taking off, and I fell toward her. I quickly flipped her over and onto the bed. She didn't waste any time and moved right back on me, and continued to relentlessly suck me off as the plane climbed into the air.

Right before I came, I pulled her off me. "Sweetheart, any more of that and I'm going to explode in your mouth. I got better things to do with my cock tonight."

Laura gave me a naughty grin and moved her lips back up my body, sucking me harder, biting me not quite as hard as I had bitten her earlier, but still with a considerable amount of pressure.

“Fuuuuck,” I groaned.

She still wore my cowboy hat and nipped at my nipples, nuzzled my pulse in my neck, then teased my earlobe.

I grabbed her mouth and urgently stuck my tongue in it, the taste of my precum still fresh on her.

My hands caressed her breasts as I rolled her nipples until I was flicking them between my fingers. She moaned.

“Get those pants off,” I ordered her.

With a sly smile, she shimmied out of her jeans and was soon naked and lying on top of me with her heat radiating into my cells, pulsing into my veins, firing up all my nerves.

I stroked her, then slid two fingers into her, groaning, “You’re so wet.”

“All day I thought of you,” she whispered in my ear as I groaned some more.

My dick pulsed as I finger-fucked her. I listened to her moan against my nipples before I pulled my fingers out of her and shoved them in her mouth, then mine, inhaling her sweet scent.

Seeing my cowboy hat on her drove me crazy. I sat up and moved her so her head was at the front of the mirrored headboard. On her hands and knees, I pulled her luscious ass cheeks toward me and entered her sex from behind.

I slowly slid into her as she took a sharp breath.

Slowly in.

Slowly out.

Slowly in.

Slowly out.

Over and over...slow… I watched her face in the mirror, flushing and contorting into ‘O’s as her eyes closed from time to time with her whimpers.

"Sweetheart, you're gorgeous." I grabbed her soft brown hair and roughly pulled it back before moving her faster.

Heat flew to her eyes, and heavy breaths flew out of her mouth. "Oh…oh….” I pulled her hair harder and thrust faster. "Blake, oh God, Blake!" Her chest heaved as her breasts fell up and down.

I grabbed one hip and drove into her deeper. My other hand twisted her hair in my palm and pulled it back as I allowed her cries and moans to guide me.

The plane started shaking with turbulence, which intensified our movements. I leaned over her so my chest was on top of her naked back, my knees next to hers, and she was almost sitting on me backward. “You’re mine,” I murmured against her neck while staring at her in the mirror.

“Yours,” she moaned while clenching my cock against her walls.

Needing to know if she really liked me rougher like this, I slowed my thrusts down.

"Harder, Blake," she panted, so I rammed into her deeper and hit her sweet spot as her body pulsed on mine.

“Harder?”

“Yes!” She cried out. “Fuck me harder!”

Oh fuck, she’s so much more perfect than I remembered.

I threw the hat off her so I could suck on her neck, marking her once again. My desire to claim her as mine and make sure she knew it—and had a reminder—overpowered me. Ten years ago, I’d never done anything to mark her like this, but the need for her to understand that she was mine and would never be anyone else's surged through me.

“Oh God!” she cried out, maybe from the vibration of the turbulence, maybe from the teeth marks that would probably be left on her neck.

Sweat had started to glisten over our bodies. The turbulence increased, and I pushed my cheek against hers, then caught her eye in the mirror. “Tell me you understand, Laura.”

I didn’t have to say more. She always had understood me, and she did at this moment as well. “I’m only yours, Blake,” she whimpered, then started shaking uncontrollably, calling out profanities. I thrust into her once more and exploded inside her with new force. I wasn't sure if the plane or our bodies trembled more as incoherent cries flew out of us both.

We collapsed on the bed in a spooning position. My arms and legs wrapped around her body, my lips were on her neck, licking where I’d marked her as she slightly winced against me.

“Sorry,” I murmured against her.

“I’m not,” she assured me as our lungs tried to fill with air.

I held her tightly next to me, our bodies breathing together as we said nothing.

Tonight, everything had shifted. She may not have fully trusted me. She may not have fully forgiven me. But she was mine. I was hers. There was no going back, and I had no doubts. We were all in.

My adrenaline finally started to wear off. "Sweetheart, you're incredible," I whispered to her, and turned her around to kiss her.

She grinned, gave me a wink, and hoarsely said, "I definitely like your jet better."

11

Laura

We got into Texas after midnight. Blake’s ranch wasn’t far from the private airport.

When we pulled up to his house, my mouth gaped open. It was dark, but I could tell from the soft light inside and the glow of the moon that he had built a mansion.

“Who else lives here?”

He laughed. “Only me.” Then he turned serious. “If you don’t like anything, you tell me, and we’ll change it.”

My head did a double-take. “Blake, that’s crazy.”

He pulled my face into his hands. “My house is your house. I want you to be comfortable here. If you don’t love it, we change it, okay?”

I didn’t know what to say. I was overwhelmed at the thought. I opened my mouth to talk, but nothing came out.

Blake leaned in and kissed me. “Come on, Sweetheart.” He led me by the hand into his house.

It was warm and inviting with all its Texas charm. He gave me a mini-tour, then told me he would give me a full one the next day.

It was late. We were both tired. Blake carried my bag to his room and we got ready for bed.

Once we were both tucked in, I faced him. My head rested on his shoulder, and his hand stroked my back. My leg was wrapped over his.

“How does it feel to be back in Texas?”

I thought for a minute. How did it feel? Strangely, I didn’t feel anything except happiness being with Blake. I smiled at him. “So far, so good.”

“I’ve dreamed of you here with me, so many nights. I’d wake up feeling happy until I realized you weren’t next to me.” He had that sad look in his eyes. “I’m almost afraid if I go to sleep, I’ll wake up and you won’t be here.”

I stroked his cheek. “I know,” I whispered—because I did know. Too many nights he had haunted me.

“I didn’t think you would come with me. I’m so glad you did.”

“Me too.” I yawned.

He kissed me. “It’s late. You’re tired. Get some rest, Sweetheart.”

“Okay,” I gave him another peck, then turned to spoon into him before I fell asleep in his arms.

The next morning I woke up to find my body sprawled over Blake’s. He stared at me with his schoolboy grin on his face. “Morning, Sweetheart.”

I smiled and reached up to stroke his cheek, almost like I needed to know he wasn’t a dream. “Hey.”

He started kissing me.

Passionately.

Greedily.

Urgently.

He grabbed me and rolled me on top of him. His body was fully awake and ready to go.

I laughed. “You always wake up like this?”

“Only with you, Sweetheart. Only with you,” he murmured.

His t-shirt I had thrown on the night before was soon off, and our underwear quickly discarded. We started going at it like we hadn’t had an orgasm in years.

Several orgasms and a joint shower later, we were in his kitchen eating breakfast. My phone rang in my purse.

I grabbed it. “Oh, crap.” I had forgotten to tell Phil I wouldn’t be in.

“Hey, Phil.” I glanced at the clock on the wall and saw that it was after ten in Texas, which meant it was even later in New York.

“Laura, you okay?”

I ran my hand through my hair. “Phil, I’m so sorry. I forgot to message you that I wouldn’t be in today. I came out to Texas last night. It happened kind of fast.”

Phil chuckled. “I’m guessing you’re with Blake?”

I glanced over at Blake. “Yep.”

“Glad you’re safe. Are you coming back or moving to Texas?” Phil teased.

“Ha, ha. I’ll be back on Sunday...or Monday?” I glanced over at Blake. We hadn’t discussed when we would return to New York.

“Whenever you need to go back,” Blake whispered.

Phil laughed again. “Ok. Just shoot me a text. I’ll clear Monday for you. Do me a favor, though?”

“Sure. What’s that?”

“Don’t spend too much time on your laptop working. Go enjoy yourself.”

I rolled my eyes and smiled. “Gotcha, Dad.”

“Okay, you and Tom need to stop with the dad jokes. I’m not that much older than you both.”

I laughed. “Thanks, Phil.”

I texted Tom. “Phil just called. Forgot to let you know I left for Texas last night. Be back after the weekend. I have my laptop if you need anything.”

Tom fired back, “With Blake?”

“Yes.”

“Awesome. Don’t get on your laptop, then. Go enjoy yourself.”

“Now you sound like Dad.”

“I hope you called him out on that?”

I grinned. “Of course. He tried to claim he wasn’t a lot older than us again.”

Tom sent me a fist-bump emoji. Then, “Have fun, Laura. See you next week. Here if you need anything.”

“Thanks, Tom.”

I looked over at Blake, who was smiling at me. “What?”

“I’m just enjoying watching you.”

I smacked his ass. “You’re a perv.”

“Says the girl slapping my ass. Besides, how am I supposed to not be a perv when you wear my cowboy hat?”

“Why do I feel like you had a fantasy about that?”

He winked at me and smiled. “Not anymore.”

I smacked him again, and he pulled me in for a kiss. “I’ve gotta go to my office for a meeting. Do you want to stay here or go with me to town?”

“Hmm… Why don’t I bring my laptop and I can do some work? Or maybe I’ll walk around town once I get there?”

“Great. You know, I have work fantasies, too.” He raised his eyebrows and grinned at me.

“You’re such a perv.”

He wrapped me in his arms. “Yeah, but I’m your perv.”

Blake

I put on my cowboy hat and smiled.

“Yep, you’re a perv,” Laura teased me again.

“I will never look at this hat the same.” I grinned at her and meant it.

“Ha, ha!”

I put my hand on the small of her back. “Let’s go.”

We got into my truck. I gave her a quick tour around the grounds and pointed out the stables. “Do you still ride?”

She shook her head. “I haven’t in years. Not since…”

“Not since I messed us up,” I said quietly.

She took a deep breath and looked over at me. “Blake, I don’t want to keep hashing it out. The past is the past. I want to move forward. If I’m going to forgive you, you have to forgive yourself, too.”

I closed my eyes briefly and gripped the steering wheel tighter. “I don’t think I’ll ever be able to do that.”

Laura put her hand on my thigh. “But I want you to. Really, I do. Can you try for me?”

I slowly nodded, but I knew I would never be able to do that.

We drove into town and didn’t say much until we were almost there.

“Is your meeting about stopping your family?”

“Yes.” My blood boiled at the mention of them. I pulled into my parking space and went over to open Laura’s door. I grabbed her hand and guided her into the building, through the elevator, and into my personal office.

Laura surveyed the space. “Wow. Nice office, Cowboy.”

I leaned over and put my hat on her. “Sorry, I just wanted another visual.”

She giggled, took it off, and swatted it on my ass. “Perv.”

We got situated at my desk and started to work on our laptops when my assistant intercommed me that my guests for my meeting were here. “Send them back to my office.”

Laura shut her laptop and got up.

“What are you doing, Sweetheart?”

“I’m going to leave you to your meeting.”

“No, stay if you want. Keep working on your laptop, or join in the meeting and give me your input. You know our guests anyways.”

She looked at me, confused.

Jack and Collin walked in. They were all surprised to see each other.

After hugs were exchanged, the four of us sat at my round table. “So what did you guys find out?”

Collin shifted in his seat. “We have snakes on all of the boards. Kempler. Scorey. Memphis. All snakes. And others are selling their shares off quietly, little by little.”

I blew out a breath and looked up at the ceiling. “How much have they sold?”

“Not too much, yet. They’re flying under the radar right now,” Collin reported.

“How much do you each own?” Laura asked.

“Blake owns fifty-one percent, Collin and I both own five to eight percent, depending on the company,” Jack said.

I traced the number fifty-one percent on my tablet. It was a bad habit I had. “It doesn’t make sense. Why do they want to buy in when I own fifty-one percent?”

Collin shook his head. “That’s what doesn’t make sense to me.”

Laura turned toward me. “Blake, what’s your end goal with your family and Sherry’s?”

“They need to be destroyed. Financially destroyed, so they can’t keep coming after me. Take away their money and you take away their power.”

“So that’s what they would try to do to you?”

I nodded at her.

“We need to figure out a way to get them off the assets,” Collin said.

“And stop anyone else from selling any more shares,” Jack said.

I stopped tracing. “Or get another buyer to go purchase the shares. Someone new to the picture. But it has to be someone who no one knows is associated with us.”

“What about Collin buying more?” Jack suggested.

Collin shook his head. “At this point I’ve asked too many questions. I don’t think they would sell to me.”

Laura tapped her pencil on the table. “Or maybe we’re going about this the wrong way.”

I nodded at her. “Go on.”

“So they want to buy the company. You want to destroy them financially. Let them buy as much as they want and bankrupt the companies.”

I looked at her. “I’m not following you. Why would I bankrupt my own companies?”

“I’m talking out loud as I think, so don’t hold me accountable to any of this, because I’m not an attorney...” She glanced around the table nervously.

I put my hand on hers. “Don’t worry. Keep talking.”

“If your contracts with your suppliers and customers have certain clauses in them, you can transfer the contracts to new companies without the suppliers or customers having to agree. Everything stays in force.”

Collin snapped his fingers. “And you move assets to the new company before you lose control.”

Jack shifted in his seat. “Would this be legal?”

“Depends on your bylaws and contracts. Almost all our legal paperwork with Marko Enterprises have those clauses in them.”

“I’d have to talk to our attorney. I wouldn’t do anything illegal.”

Everyone nodded in agreement.

Collin furrowed his brows. “Blake, is your attorney local?”

“Yes.”

“Do they have your best interest, or do you think they could be in bed with your family?”

I thought about it. “No way to be sure.”

“Then you need to get all your paperwork over to our attorneys in New York,” Jack chimed in. “We can’t risk anything. They know Texas law as well.”

I nodded. “Okay.”

“In the meantime, I think it’s time we start going after theirs.” Laura glanced at me.

I looked at her and smiled. “See, I knew you would add a lot to this meeting. Keep talking, Sweetheart.”

Laura

“ Look, if you want to take them down and make them lose it all, then it won’t happen just by restructuring in secret. You’ve got to go back at them. Bring in someone they don’t know to buy up shares in their companies. Attack back.” I bit my lip.

Collin looked at me. “Who do we trust enough to do this that won’t be tied to anyone in this room? I know we could go to Tom or Phil, but you’re tied to them, and you’re tied to Blake.”

I smiled. “That’s easy.”

“Who?” all three men asked and looked at me.

I smiled again at them. “We’ve got four people. They won’t see us coming.”

“Who?” they all said again.

“Celia. Kip. Derek. Maddie.”

“Maddie is attached to me,” Jack said.

“Yeah, but you aren’t married yet, and no one knows she’s attached to you,” I pointed out.

Jack shifted uncomfortably in his seat. He shook his head. “I won’t let her. After what happened, and her being pregnant, I won’t put her in any situation that may cause her stress or harm.”

“But she will be okay,” I said quickly.

Blake put his hand on mine and nodded at Jack. “Maddie is out. I agree.”

“But—” I started.

Blake pushed down on my hand. “Not Maddie, Sweetheart.”

“Okay," I said quietly.

Collin spoke up. “I know D and Kip would be in, but I’m hesitant to get Celia involved. I don’t think Tom would go for that.”

“Why, because she’s a girl?” I asked.

Collin laughed. “You know Celia is like Tom’s mom.”

“Yeah, but she would help,” I insisted.

“I just think we shouldn’t count her in,” Collin said. “Besides, do you want to have Tom freaking out on you with worry?”

I sighed. “You’re probably right.”

Jack chimed in, “Collin, what about our investors on the six-eighty-six project? We trust those guys. What about getting them involved?”

Collin shrugged, then snapped his fingers. “Keri James and Sam Quinto.”

“They’re pretty attached to you,” I pointed out to Collin.

He sighed. We sat in silence and tried to figure out who we could use.

“Look, let me talk to Tom and Phil when I get back home. I’ll see if they have any ideas. We can figure this out between us all.” I was confident we could.

Jack looked at me. “That’s a good idea.”

“You know who else we need to call in on this?” Collin said.

I smiled at him. “Your favorite redhead?”

He laughed. “Well, and her blonde sidekick.”

“Fake press releases to make the stock fall?”

“You know it.” Collin grinned.

We talked a bit more, and then the guys left to catch their flight. Blake turned to me and grabbed my face, “You, Sweetheart, are a genius.”

“We still have a lot of what-ifs. Nothing is guaranteed, so don’t get too excited yet.”

Blake bent down and kissed me. “You’re still a genius, Sweetheart.”

12

Blake

A fter Collin and Jack left, I stood up and grabbed Laura’s hand. “Come on!”

She looked at me in confusion. “Where are we going?”

“We’re in Texas. It’s time for some Tex-Mex.” I remembered how much she used to love it.

She licked her lips. “Now that is one thing I really did miss about Texas.”

We walked out of the building and took a short walk through town. My arm was around her, and I had a déjà vu moment of ten years ago flow through me.

I looked over at her and still didn’t fully believe she was actually here, in my arms, and staying in my bed. My prayers were being answered, and I said a silent thank you to the big guy upstairs.

We got to the restaurant and sat in a quiet booth in the corner, then ordered margaritas and food.

“If you didn’t love your job so much, I would steal you away.” I gave her a sly grin.

“Ha, ha! You can’t afford me.”

“Watch me. Name your price.”

She just smiled. “I do love my job.”

“I know you do. I can tell you’re really good at it, too.”

She shifted a bit in the booth but didn’t say anything.

“What’s wrong?”

She started to talk, then stopped. I waited. “Nothing is wrong. I’m just wondering...”

I waited and didn’t say anything, letting her find her words.

She looked at me with her big brown, anxious eyes.

“Laura, what is it?”

“How does this work, exactly? I’m in New York. You’re in Texas.”

I shrugged, then put my arm around her. “We just figure it out.”

“But it’s complicated. We both have lives and careers.”

I shook my head in agreement with her. “We do have lives and careers, but my life isn’t anything without you. I have enough money for us to fly back and forth every day, if necessary. We’ll figure it out as we go. I’ll move to New York if needed.”

Laura jerked her head. “You would move to New York?”

“For you, yes,” I told her with no hesitation. “Is that what you want?”

“I…I… Blake, I don’t know. That doesn’t seem fair.”

I peered at her closer. “How is it not fair?”

“You have a life here.”

I turned into her more. “I already told you that I don’t have a life without you. So if you want me to move to New York, I’ll move to New York and figure it out.”

Laura tilted her head toward me. “Wouldn’t you miss Texas?”

I stroked her shoulder with my fingers. “I’ll still be back for work and to visit. We can come here for long weekends...or holidays...or whenever.”

“So just like that, if I said, ‘move to New York,’ you would move?” She sounded like she didn’t believe me.

“Yep. Just like that.” I didn’t hesitate. I meant it.

She sat back into my arm and looked stressed.

“Why do I feel you’re more stressed now? Did I say something wrong?”

She turned to look at me. “I don’t know what to say. That’s a huge deal. I don’t want you to give up everything you’ve built and love and then end up resenting me.”

I shook my head and took a deep breath. “Laura, when I say I don’t have a life without you, I mean it. I can run my company from anywhere. I can fly back and forth. Everything I love is sitting in this booth right now, with my arm around it. So I’m not giving up anything.”

“Do you even like New York?”

I laughed. “It’s not Texas, I’ll give you that. But I like it well enough. If that’s where you are, then I’ll love it.”

I could see her brain turning. “Maybe we could do the long-distance thing. You fly in. You fly out. I fly in. I fly out. That kind of thing.”

I took her face in my hands. “That’s only going to work for so long. I’m a man who knows what he wants, and what I want is you. I’ve wasted enough time. Wherever you want to live is where I will live, and I’ll be happy doing it. Don’t overthink it. Sometimes things really are as they seem, and you have to trust it.”

I could see her freaking out. I realized what I had said, and my heart dropped.

“Sorry, you still don’t trust me,” I said quietly.

Laura looked at me. “I… I…” She exhaled.

“It’s okay,” I reassured her. Well, it wasn’t okay. It would never be okay. But I had caused this issue.

“Blake, I’m getting there.” She pulled my face into hers and crushed her lips against mine.

“Okay,” I whispered between kisses.

The waitress came and put down our food. We started eating.

“I can work virtually, but I also travel a lot,” she said, almost absentmindedly. “Maybe I could be in Texas.”

I looked at her in surprise. “You would want to move back here?”

“Honestly, I’m not sure if it would work with my job, but yeah, I could see us living here. You do, after all, have plenty of room in your mansion for me.” She smirked.

I chuckled. “Lots of rooms for the babies.”

“The babies?” She jerked her head toward me.

“Yeah, I could keep you barefoot and pregnant and all that,” I teased her.

She slapped me with her napkin. “Ha, ha funny.”

“But I always wanted babies with you.”

She got quiet.

Maybe she no longer wants kids?

“We don’t have to have them if you don’t want them,” I told her quickly. “Honestly, I’m just lucky to have you.”

She shook her head. “It’s not that—I just haven’t thought about babies in a long time. You and I talked about having them someday, and the more time that passed, the more I just thought it was off the table for me.”

I pulled her in closer to me. “Listen, we don’t have to decide anything. All this stuff will work itself out. You and I will deal with whatever when we get to those crossroads, all right?”

“You’re so sure about it all.”

“Yep.” I gave her a cocky smile.

She rolled her eyes at me.

“Four.”

“Stop it!” She laughed.

“Here, try this.” I scooped a forkful of burrito up to her mouth. “If anything would want to make you move to Texas, it’s this.”

Laura

Blake blew me away when he suggested he would move to New York and not even give it a second thought. I wanted to trust that he wouldn’t end up resenting me, but I had a hard time with that one.

Texas was where Blake was born and bred. He was a Texan boy to the core. He seemed so sure of himself—of us. He didn’t doubt, didn’t waver, didn’t hesitate. It freaked me out. It was what I wanted for so long, and now Blake claimed I could have the world at my fingertips...

But I just couldn’t trust it. At least, not yet.

I knew it hurt Blake that I still didn’t fully trust him. While I tried my best to get over it, it was hard for me to go all in with him in the trust department.

I couldn’t comprehend just moving my entire life because he’d said, “move to Texas.” There was a time I would have done that in a heartbeat, no questions asked. But things were different now. I had a career and worked with people I trusted, who were family to me. Blake promised if I told him, “move to New York,” that he would drop everything. That didn’t seem realistic to me.

However, I didn’t want to keep reminding him of the past, and when he saw I still didn’t fully trust him, he was hurt. I cursed myself in my head because I was trying to move forward, and I was serious that I wanted him to forgive himself.

We got done with lunch and walked through town. I stopped to look at some boots in a store window. Blake grabbed me and pulled me inside. “Come on.” His eyes lit up.

“Can you bring a size seven-and-a-half for my sweetheart to try on?” He grinned at the saleslady and pointed to the boots I had been staring at.

I laughed. “You still know my shoe size?”

“I remember everything about you.” He gave me a blazing look that sent heat to my lower region.

I rolled my eyes, but I was smiling. “I don’t need boots.”

He stepped closer to me. “Maybe they’re more for me,” he teased and gave me another smoldering look, then grabbed my waist.

“Blake?” a woman’s voice called out. “Is that you?”

His body froze. Goosebumps popped up on my skin.

Blake slowly took one arm off me, kept the other arm around my waist, and pulled me in closer to him. He turned around and coolly said, “Sherry.”

She looked the same as she had during our twenties: blonde, blue eyes, pure Texan charm. My mouth went dry.

“How have you been, Blake?” Sherry asked nicely.

He glared at her. “What do you want, Sherry?”

I cautiously eyed him. I wasn’t used to him without his Texan-gentleman niceties.

Sherry took a step back. “I… I just wanted to say hello. How long has it been?”

“Not long enough,” Blake bit back.

The look on Sherry’s face was painful. She slowly glanced around her. When she saw no one else was around, she recovered. “I know you hate me, but a lot of time has passed. Can’t we move past it?”

Blake let out a sarcastic laugh. “You are seriously in dreamland, honey.”

Sherry looked hurt again, but she stepped closer. I had to give her credit; she was brave, given the look on Blake's face. “Blake, we were friends once. We were both in a bad situation. You know how our families are. I’m so sorry I did what I did. I just panicked.”

Blake let go of me, his face red with anger, and he took a step forward. “You panicked? You trapped me. You destroyed my life. You knew I was in love and you didn’t think twice.”

“I know,” she said quietly. “And every day I think about how wrong I was. You didn’t deserve that.”

Blake wasn’t going to cut her any slack. “Did you follow me here?”

“What?” Sherry’s head jerked in surprise.

Blake took another step toward her. “You’re in on it, aren’t you?”

Sherry was confused. “What are you talking about?”

“Our families. You’re part of the plot,” he spat out.

She shook her head. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. I don’t talk to them.”

Blake laughed. He was so angry. “You’re a liar.”

She shook her head again, hard. “No, I’m not. I’ve not talked to them in over five years.”

“I’m supposed to believe that you gave it all up?” Blake hurled at her.

“Yes,” she insisted.

Blake gave her a disgusted laugh. “You’re a piece of work. You know that?”

“You gave it up. Why is it so hard to believe that I did, too?”

I had to hand it to her: she was either an amazing liar or telling the truth.

Blake's face turned purple with rage.

I stepped up to him, grabbed his arm, and quietly said, “Blake.”

He turned to me, almost as if he had forgotten that I was there. “Sorry, Sweetheart. Let’s get out of here.”

I looked at him, then Sherry, who stood shaking and upset. Upon further inspection, I realized that she looked beautiful, but not over the top in designer clothes. She had on a wedding ring, but it wasn’t huge. Was she telling the truth?

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to interrupt your day. I was leaving before I saw you. You stay, and I’ll go,” she said to me in an apologetic tone.

I don’t know why I did it. I put out my hand to her. “I’m Laura. It’s nice to meet you.”

Her face lit up in recognition of my name. “Laura?” She took my hand in both of hers. “From ten years ago?”

“Yes,” Blake snapped, grabbing my hand away. “Don’t touch her.”

“Blake!” I gave him a slightly dirty look. I understood why he was upset, but something about the way Sherry acted made me feel a bit of sympathy for her.

“It’s all right. I deserve that. Laura, I’m sorry for what I did to you, too. I’m going to go now.” She turned and walked out of the store.

Blake started pacing. The saleswoman walked over to us with the boots. I gave her a look to stay away. She had watched it all, I realized.

I walked over to him and put my arm on his bicep. “Blake, let’s go.”

He looked down at me and nodded. We went outside and walked to our car. In the corner of my eye, I saw Sherry get into an older Jeep Cherokee. A nice car, but not anything a middle-class American couldn’t afford. Wouldn’t she be driving something more expensive if she was still under her parents’ control?

I wanted to say something to Blake, but I wanted him to cool off first. We got to his truck. He went to open the door for me, but I backed up against the door and pulled him into me.

“Hey.” I brushed his hair back off his forehead.

He closed his eyes for a minute. “I’m so sorry about that. I didn’t know she would be there.”

I laughed softly. “I know that. It’s all right.” I put my palm on his heart and could feel it racing.

“Maybe moving to New York is the smartest thing for us,” he said. “We won’t have to run into the past.”

I put my finger over his lips. “Shh.” I pulled him in for a kiss and felt him start to melt into me and calm down.

I pulled back. “Let’s go home.”

We got into the car. Blake turned to me. “I wouldn’t put it past her to be a part of the takeover. She must be following us.”

I looked at him. My gut said she wasn’t. “I don’t think so, Blake.”

“You don’t know them. They’re all evil and vindictive.”

I took a deep breath. “Blake, did you see the clothes she wore, or her wedding ring?”

“What about them?”

“If she’s part of it, she’s doing a lot to make it look like she’s a normal Texan and not part of a rich family. She drove away in a Jeep Cherokee, too. It looked like it was older.”

Blake wasn’t having it. “Probably part of their scam.”

“What would be the purpose?”

He shrugged his shoulders. “To trick me for fun? Make me let my guard down?”

“Or maybe she was telling the truth?”

Blake laughed. “That she gave up all that money? No way.”

“You did. Maybe it just took her a bit longer.”

He looked at me. “Laura, you don’t know her. Do not be fooled. I was once. I won’t do it again.”

“But—”

He cut me off. “No! We haven’t come this far to fall back into their world. Enough. I don’t want to talk about it ever again. She is who she is.”

Shocked by the sharp tone of his words, I sat back and didn’t respond.

I heard him take a deep breath. He pulled over. “Look, I’m sorry. I don’t want to lose you again.”

I grabbed his face and pressed my forehead into his. “You aren’t going to. Let’s change the subject, though. You’re upset. I prefer you with your sweet Texas charm.”

He laughed softly and kissed me. “Okay, Sweetheart.”

I got back to his place and went into the bathroom. I reached into my purse and texted a joint message to Tom and Phil. “I need a huge favor.”

Tom replied, “What’s up?”

Phil shot back, “What can we do?”

“I need you to run a complete background check on Blake’s ex, Sherry. Everything over the last ten years. But you can’t let Blake know.”

“You all right?” Tom wanted to know.

“Laura, what’s going on?” Phil quickly fired back at me.

“Everything is fine. Can you do it for me?”

Tom texted, “Say no more.”

“You’ll let us know if you’re in trouble, right?” Phil sent me.

I smiled. “Yes, Dad.”

Fist-bump emoji from Tom.

Eye-roll and stab-to-the-heart GIF from Phil.

“Thanks, guys.” I threw my phone in my purse. Something told me Sherry wasn’t lying. I shouldn’t have cared, but for some reason I did. I don’t know why, but I needed to know the truth.

13

Blake

I was still fuming when we got home. Not outwardly, but inside. Laura made it clear she wanted me to forget about it, but I couldn't.

Seeing Sherry again brought fresh pain to my body. It was like all the years of pain had gathered up into one big ball and just rolled over my heart.

When I divorced Sherry, I cut off all ties. The attorneys handled everything. I blocked her number and refused to see her. She had tried several times over the years, but I wouldn't allow her near me.

It had been ten years, and my anger was hotter than it had been then. Laura seemed to think she was genuine, but I couldn't believe it, even though what Laura said was nagging me.

Sherry did seem way underdressed compared to when we were together. Back then her closet only had designer items in it. She definitely didn't wear anything overly expensive today. And a Jeep wasn’t a car she would have driven, much less something not brand new.

It's just part of the ploy. I bet she's involved in the takeover. Don't fall for her trap again.

Laura suddenly had her arms around my waist from behind me. I placed my arms on top of hers and closed my eyes. No matter what they’re up to, I cannot lose her again.

"Hey, you okay?" Laura asked.

Releasing a big breath, I turned around and cupped Laura's cheeks in my hands. "I'm great. I have you here."

Laura scanned my eyes. "Blake, you don't have to pretend you're fine if you aren't. You're rattled, I can tell."

I blurted out, "I don't want to lose you again."

Laura smiled. "You already told me that, and I told you that you won’t. I don't want to lose you again, either." She continued to smile at me and scan my eyes.

"What?"

"You're kind of cute when you're all worried."

I laughed. "Are you having fun with my anxiety?"

She reached up and stroked my cheek. "Not at all. Let's go outside for a walk."

"It can get muddy out there. I'm sorry I lost my temper and didn't get you the boots."

She laughed. "I don't care. Let's go."

"Okay, Sweetheart. Grab a jacket, though. It's going to get a bit chilly tonight."

She agreed and went and threw on her jacket. We left the house and started to walk down the driveway, hand in hand.

"Can we go see the horses?" she asked.

I nodded and led her down the path. It was about a half-mile from my house. By the time we got there, the afternoon air had got crisper, and the sun had started to set. Laura went to the fence and right up to one of the horses, then rubbed her hand across his mane.

Apollo tried to nuzzle into her. Laura laughed gently.

I watched her and remembered how much she used to love riding. We would ride down to the lake and stay hours—making love, swimming, and just talking.

"You want to ride this weekend?" I grinned at her.

"Do you think I would remember how? It's been a long time." She pulled an apple out of her pocket and gave it to Apollo.

I laughed. "When did you sneak that?"

"Sorry, can't reveal my secrets." She winked at me.

I took a step closer to her and leaned on the fence. My other horse, Flame, came over, who had surely smelled the apple. Laura reached in her pocket and handed me an apple. I fed it to Flame.

"You would remember how to ride." She always had a way with the horses.

"Okay. Let's ride, then. But I get this one. What's his name?"

"Sorry. I seem to have lost my manners. This is Apollo," I pointed out, "and this is Flame."

"Those are good names." She patted Apollo one more time, turned to me, and quietly said, "I like being here with you, Blake."

I grinned. "You do?"

"Yeah, I do."

I wrapped my arms around her waist. "That makes me happy, because I love you being here." I bent down and brushed my lips against hers. "It's getting dark. We should go back to the house."

“Okay.”

I put my arm around her as we walked back.

She stopped walking and pointed. "Why do you have a playground?”

"I put it in for the ranch hands’ kids. Sometimes they bring them here when they’re out of school."

Laura glanced at me. "Well, aren't you a nice softie."

My face flushed. "Ha, ha!"

She let go of my hand. "Last one on the swing is a rotten egg.” She took off running.

Laughing, I ran after her. I quickly caught up to her and grabbed her before sitting down on a swing. I started to tickle her.

She giggled. "No fair."

My feet were planted on the ground, and she got out of my grip and turned to face me. She stood in between my legs, and her breasts were even with my face. Her arms were around my neck, and she threw my hat on the grass, then pulled my head into her bosom and kissed it.

It was almost dark. The moon was the only light, and I raised my head to look at her. "You're beautiful, Sweetheart. Seriously stunning."

And she was. Laura's wavy hair framed her face and shoulders, her brown eyes were shining in the moonlight, and she had a radiant, happy glow on her face.

A flush crept into her cheeks, and she leaned down as her perfect, bee-stung lips gently consumed mine.

Her kiss was slow, and her hands laced through my hair. My body started to respond as I pulled her into me. "Let's go back to the house," I mumbled between kisses.

She surprised me and whispered, "Let's stay here. I want to have you here."

"Here? On the swing?"

She laughed. "Yeah, here."

Quickly, I did a check. My ranch hands would all be gone for the night. It was only us. I kissed her some more. "You won't be cold?"

She was already unzipping her pants, and she laughed. "I think your job is to keep me warm. Get your pants off," she commanded.

I stood up, laughed and shoved my pants to my ankles. "Aren't you bossy."

She gave me a sly grin. “Sit down.”

I sat on the wooden swing, and Laura grabbed the chains, took her foot and put it on the seat between the chain and my outer thigh. Then she stepped up and put her other foot on the other side of my body.

Wasting no time, I wrapped my arms around her and pulled her hot sex into my face.

She started laughing. "I was going to sit down."

I laughed. “You can sit down later.” Tightening my arms around her, I began kissing her lower belly, mound, hips, and slit as she whimpered above me. The air was getting even crisper, and I felt her cold skin around the heat of her pussy. Quickly, I marked her mound and slapped her ass hard, then rubbed it.

“Oh, God!” she cried out, arching into my face.

Instead of taking my time like I usually did, I went right for her clit and shoved my tongue between her pussy’s lips.

"Oh..." she moaned as she fell forward, released the chains, grabbed my hair, and clutched my head against her body.

Heaven happened on that swing. The salty-sweet taste of every flick had my cock pulsing against the cold night air, and the majestic sounds of Laura's pleasure sent a trail of tingles through my loins, while the scent of her nearby orgasm pushed my pulse higher.

"Blake..." she cried out as I brought her up the quickest I ever had. Crushing her body against my face as hard as I was pushing her into it, tremors started to roll violently through her, and her legs collapsed, but my arms held her steady.

When she stopped shaking, I slid her down my torso, and her legs went behind me. Her ass sat against my thighs, and her dripping, hot sex was right next to my cold hard-on.

I wrapped my arms around her and put my forehead next to hers. "You done this before?"

She shook her head and bit her lip. "Have you?"

"Nope." I grinned at her. "Are you cold?"

She put her finger over my lips. "Blake, stop asking me if I'm cold and concentrate on fucking me."

Don't have to tell me twice.

I grabbed her head and crushed her lips to mine. Her warm tongue darted in and out of my mouth as her body started to rub against mine.

My dick stood against her slick heat in agony as she continued to press against it. "You're driving me crazy, Sweetheart. Get your hot pussy on my cock."

Her sweet, soft laugh floated in the air. She ground against me harder.

I cupped my hands over her cold butt cheeks. “You’re a tease.”

“Maybe we should do something about that.” She pushed her biceps on my shoulders and lifted her body and came down on me in one movement. "Oh, God," she cried out, pushing her face into my neck.

I groaned as her body gripped me like lava, sliding all around me, then teasing me with tiny clutches. “Perfection. You’re pure perfection,” I moaned.

She started to rock her hips, then nuzzled into my neck as her lips brushed against me. “You’re like a cold popsicle,” she whispered.

I softly laughed, swaying into her hips but still not moving my feet. “I think you’ve melted anything resembling a popsicle.”

“You feel so good. I want to feel more of you. Push your feet and lean back," she commanded.

I pushed and leaned a little back, slowly finding the rhythm.

"Oh yes, Blake. Do that," she breathed as she grabbed the swing chain and leaned the opposite direction from me.

Our bodies quickly synched up. I leaned back; she leaned forward. She leaned back; I leaned forward. The entire time, my dick was in a state of bliss, sliding through her, pushing into her harder, throbbing against her heat that pleasured me in tiny spasms.

"This is good," she panted with a flushed face, then closed her eyes and made an ‘O’ with her mouth as I leaned back and pumped into her harder.

And I felt like I was flying as I sat on the edge of euphoria, watching the most beautiful girl on Earth glow under the moonlight and ride my cock as it had never been ridden before.

The air got crisper, but all I could feel was her heat. Her glorious, wet heat that clenched me and glided over me as our moans and cries echoed throughout the dark night.

My balls started to tighten, and Laura began to tremble. "Hold on, Sweetheart," I reminded her, afraid that she or I might let go of the chain.

"So good," she cried out, her lip trembling, her breasts heaving, and her eyes locked onto mine.

I nodded as adrenaline soared through me.

"Higher," she yelled out.

I leaned back and pumped the swing higher.

"Oh yes," she screamed as her body gripped me harder and her legs squeezed against my waist tighter.

The swing flew back, and I was in the air as she leaned back so far her hair swept the ground.

And as I came down, she flew back up. I thrust against her, and she started to shatter all over me.

"Blake," she screamed so loud I thought all of Texas might have heard it as I flew back in the air and convulsed into my own eruption of ecstasy.

Through our climax, we continued flying through the night sky.

Eventually we slowed down, and Laura grabbed onto my body and continued to tremble. Her lips smashed into mine, and our tongues urgently sought the other’s.

I finally put my feet on the ground and wrapped my arms around her. We continued to make out until she started shaking. I realized it was from the cold.

I started to laugh. "I think you need to put your pants on, Sweetheart."

"I think you need to put your pants on, Sweetheart," she teased back.

I kissed her some more.

"Blake, I don't know how to get off," she whispered.

I howled with laughter. "Okay, hold on." She grabbed me tighter, and I carefully stood up with her on me and stepped away from the swing. She released her legs to the ground. I made sure she was steady before I let go of her.

She grabbed her pants and quickly put them on, and I reached down to my ankles and pulled mine up.

Laura turned to me and slyly grinned. "I think we need to go try out your massive bathtub.”

14

Laura

I woke up with Blake on the edge of the bed. As usual, he looked all GQ with his wavy chestnut hair, and gave me a sexy stare. I groaned.

His smile quickly turned into a frown. “What’s wrong?”

“Your sexy scent has my vagina twitching. But you have to go, don’t you?” I knew my comment would drive him crazy all day.

He inhaled sharply. “You’re a vixen.”

“But I’m your vixen.” I smirked.

He laughed his deep, husky laugh, then leaned down to kiss me. I pulled him farther on top of me.

“I’m not going to be able to leave if you keep this up.”

I slapped his ass. “You better get off me and go then.” I’d decided the night before to stay home and get some work done while he went to his meeting.

He kissed me again. “Okay. See you around lunchtime?”

“Sure.” I rolled over, pulled the covers back, and exposed my naked back and ass to him.

He surprised me when he bent down, inhaled, then sucked my ass cheek so hard he marked me before massaging my other cheek.

“Fuck, Blake!” I called out.

He softly laughed.

I thought maybe he would stay when he pulled back. “You’re killing me, Sweetheart.” He gave me one more kiss on my forehead and left.

After a few minutes, I threw on a robe, grabbed my laptop, phone, and a cup of coffee in the kitchen, then checked my email to see if Tom and Phil had found anything out about Sherry. I don’t know why I cared so much, but it was nagging me.

I scanned my emails and found it. Phil had sent a report. It was a complete background check along with her current address.

Sherry Klingsman was her new married name. She had gotten remarried right around five years ago, and her husband was a horse trainer. From the looks of it, they ran a decent-sized horse farm. She had a nine-year-old son, four-year-old daughter, and a two-year-old son.

I went on Google Earth and put in her address. Sure enough, she lived on a horse farm. It wasn’t far from Blake’s ranch.

I sank back into my chair. It looked like Sherry had told the truth; I doubted her family would ever have allowed her to marry a horse trainer.

How sad. So much pain caused over what? Prestige? Money? Reputation?

I picked up the phone and texted Tom and Phil. “Can you guys hop on a conference call?”

Within minutes, we were quickly on the phone together.

I asked, “Have Collin and Jack talked to you?”

“I just got off a call with Collin. Blake sent the documents over to our attorneys yesterday, and I’m wracking my brain to figure out who we can use to start buying their shares,” Tom said.

“Celia, Kip, and Derick,” I suggested.

Phil jumped in. “They’re too tied to Tom. I don’t think it’s a good idea.”

I sighed. “We need to figure this out. Blake needs to be free of these horrible people once and for all.”

“We will figure this out. Just give us a bit of time, Laura,” Tom said.

I smiled. “Thanks. I know this isn’t your problem—”

Phil cut me off. “Whatever. You know all our problems are each other’s.”

“Dad’s right,” Tom teased.

I laughed.

“Really?” Phil huffed.

“Sorry, old man,” Tom dug further.

Phil just sighed. I laughed some more. Phil really wasn’t that much older than Tom and me.

“Okay, let me know if you have any ideas. I appreciate all your help,” I told them, and hung up.

I looked back at my computer. I needed to tell Blake, but I wasn’t sure the best way. I decided that the best approach might be to print it off and leave it on the counter. I texted him. “Do you have a printer in your castle?”

“Is this code? Is my body the castle?”

“Ha, ha. Seriously?”

Blake replied, “Yes, Sweetheart. In the office. The code for wi-fi is 684GHE&*#256.”

“Jeez. Paranoid about someone breaking into your internet?”

“Ha ha! Are you still naked in my bed?”

I grinned. “Don’t you want to know.”

“Send me a picture.”

I sent a GIF of Britney Spears in a schoolgirl outfit.

“I’ll stop on the way home and pick up an outfit for you.”

“In your dreams.”

“Yes, you always are, Sweetheart.”

I rolled my eyes and grinned some more. “Get back to work you perv.”

“XOXO.”

I sent a kiss emoji.

I found the office and printed the report, then went and put it on the counter. I showered, did some work, then took a walk around the grounds. I had forgotten how much I loved Texas.

Blake

I got through my meetings. More shares were sold to my enemies. I needed a way to stop this, and fast.

My phone rang. I looked down to see messages from my sweetheart, which erased my anger a bit. I left my office and went downtown, into the store we were in yesterday.

The sales lady recognized me. Who knew what was going through her mind. I tipped my hat at her. “Ma’am. I’d like to see those boots in a seven-and-a-half, please.”

She smiled. “I thought you might be back. Let me go get them.”

I looked around the store and picked out a hat to match the boots just as she came out of the backroom. “Ah, good choice. It’s comfy, too. Your girlfriend will love it.”

My girlfriend. I smiled. “I do think she will.”

She rang me up, I gave her my credit card, and she packaged the boots and hat into boxes and then put them into bags. She handed me my purchase, and I left. I walked back to my truck, threw the bags in the back seat, got in, and started to head home.

A few miles away from my house, an SUV was pulled over to the side of the road. The hood was up, and smoke came out of it. I slowed down and got out of the car.

I walked toward the SUV. “Need a hand?”

She poked her head out from under the hood with a streak of grease on her cheek. My stomach dropped. “Fuck,” I muttered under my breath.

Sherry squinted at me. “Blake?”

“What are you doing under that hood?” The Sherry I knew didn't fix cars or touch grease.

“Just leave, Blake. I don’t need your anger today, I’ve got enough problems.” She glared at me.

I walked closer to the car and tried to get over my stunned reaction that she was dirty. I repeated, “What are you doing under that hood?”

“Leave me alone, Blake,” she spat. I realized that maybe Laura had been right: Sherry didn’t seem like she was part of her wealthy family anymore.

But maybe this is a ploy?

I looked around. No one was around but us. Suddenly, I heard a wail.

“Shoot,” Sherry muttered. I glanced through the window and saw a small boy.

Sherry walked over and removed the child out of the car seat. “Shh…it’s okay.” She bounced the boy on her hip and tried to calm him down.

I went over and looked under the hood. “You’ve got a broken belt and a radiator issue.”

“You think I don’t know that? Gee, thanks so much for your keen observation.”

I scanned Sherry’s cheek, hands full of grease, and then her dirty clothes. I couldn’t help it. I started laughing. Hard.

Sherry looked at me with annoyance and sneered, “Feel better laughing at my bad fortune?”

I stopped. “No. I’m sorry. I’m not used to seeing grease and dirt all over you. I never thought I would see the day—”

“Thanks for reminding me.”

I realized she was trying not to cry as she quickly batted her eyelids and looked down. But a tear escaped.

“Shoot, I’m sorry, Sherry. I didn’t mean—”

She held up her hand. “It’s fine… I’m fine.”

I took a step closer and handed her my handkerchief. She wouldn’t take it. She just turned her back on me. The baby started crying louder.

My heart started to drop. As much as I wanted to hate her for her past, she obviously wasn’t the same woman I had married. I reached out and put my hand on her shoulder. “Hey.”

She turned to look at me. Tears welled in her eyes. I grabbed the baby and held out the handkerchief to her. She finally grabbed it.

“Hey buddy.” I pumped him up into the sky and back down. He stopped crying and started laughing. “What’s his name?”

“Bobby.”

I raised my eyebrow to her. “Like in Dallas?”

She started laughing. “Ha, ha.”

“You always had the hots for him.”

She got red in the face. “Shut up, Blake.”

“Come on.” I nodded my head toward the truck.

She looked at me.

“I’ll drive you home.”

She shook her head. “I don’t want to cause you trouble.”

“It’s no trouble. Come on—I can’t leave you on the side of the road.” I led her to the passenger side and opened up the door for her to get in. She hesitated and finally jumped in.

I handed her the baby. “How far do you live from here?”

She pointed. “Just down the road.”

“Should I get the car seat?”

“It’s less than a mile on a dirt road. I think this one time will be okay.”

“Fair enough.”

We sat in silence for a minute. Finally, I glanced over at her. “I guess you were telling the truth yesterday about not speaking to your family.”

“Gee, what gave you that idea?” she said sarcastically.

I laughed softly. “So you really don’t talk to them?”

“No. If I never talk to them again, it won’t be long enough.”

I looked at her. She had anger on her face. “I won’t ask you what happened right now. I think you’ve had enough for one day.”

She gave me a grateful nod. “Thank you.”

“So you have two kids?”

“Three.”

I whistled. “That must be busy.”

“You have no idea.”

A thought occurred to me. “Hey, Sher.”

She looked at me, surprised I’d called her by the nickname I used to call her when we were kids. “Yeah?”

“You happy? Or do you regret giving it all up?”

Sherry laughed. “I’m the happiest I’ve ever been. We may not have tons of money, but I’m loved, and my kids are loved. My only regrets are what I did to you and how I treated Steven when I found out I was pregnant for the first time.”

I shook my head in understanding. I could understand regrets. “Does Steven see your son?”

She laughed. “Every day. I married him.”

That made me smile; happiness shot through my chest. “Sherry, I’m happy for you. I could tell he really loved you.”

She nodded. “Yes, he does.”

We were quiet. She pointed. “Pull down that driveway, please.”

I pulled up to a farmhouse. Steven and the two other kids were out in the yard. He came over to my truck, and I stepped out. “Blake?”

“Hey, Steven.” I put my hand out and shook his hand.

Sherry walked around the truck. “The Jeep is broken down up the road. I forgot my phone and Blake was driving by.”

He bent to kiss her. “I’m sorry, Darling.”

“Not your fault. I’m going to go wash up. Blake, thanks again.”

I smiled at her and winked. “It was nice catching up with you, Sherry.”

“Thanks for bringing them back.” Steven took Bobby from Sherry’s arms.

I nodded. “No problem. You train horses still?”

“Little bit. My guys do most of the training. I’m working more on managing the business.”

I looked around. “Looks like you’ve got a lot of acreage.”

“About 5,000 acres,” he said proudly.

I whistled. “That’s a lot of land.”

“I started buying it up young.”

“You have mineral rights?”

Steven laughed softly. “I sure do.”

“Happy to hear that. You find anything yet?”

He kicked the ground a little and looked down, then back up to me. “I haven’t had the funds to explore yet. Three kids tend to get a bit pricey.”

I chuckled. “I wouldn’t know about that, but I can only imagine. If you ever want an investor, call me.”

“Thanks. Hey, just so you know, she beats herself up on a daily basis. She doesn’t talk to me much about it anymore, but I see when her mind starts to drift.”

“I think I can relate. I was really hard on her yesterday,” I admitted.

“Yesterday?”

“She didn’t tell you she ran into Laura and me in the store?”

“Laura, from ten years ago?”

“Yes.”

He shook his head. “No. But it doesn’t surprise me. She carries a lot of shame, and no matter how much I tell her I forgive her, she can’t seem to let it go.”

“If anyone understands that, it’s me. Laura wants me to forgive myself for what I did to her, and I just can’t.”

He stayed quiet for a minute. Finally, he said, “Well, if anyone can relate to Laura, it’s me, so if she’s asking you that, give yourself a break and try to move forward. It’s not good for anyone to carry that kind of crap around.”

Steven had always been a good guy. I patted him on the back. “Easier said than done, but I appreciate the advice. Good seeing you. I’ll see you guys around.”

“Thanks again for bringing Sherry and Bobby back.”

I tipped my hat at him, got in my truck, and pulled out. A million thoughts raced through my head. It seemed I wasn’t the only one who had changed.

I looked at the dash and saw it was almost one. “Crap!” I picked up the phone.

“Hey, Cowboy. I was about to call the rangers on you,” Laura joked.

“I’m sorry. I had an issue on the way home. I’m about ten minutes away.”

“Everything all right?”

I thought for a minute. “Actually, everything is better than all right.”

“Really? What’s going on?” Laura questioned.

“I’ll tell you when I get home, okay?”

“Okay.”

“Oh, and Laura?”

“Yeah?”

“I love you, Sweetheart.”

“I love you too, Cowboy.”

15

Laura

Blake got home. He had shopping bags.

I looked at him in question.

“Well, open them, Sweetheart.” His schoolboy grin was on his face.

I pulled out a cowboy hat and the boots I didn’t get to try on yesterday. “Blake, you didn’t have to.”

“They’re as much for me as they are for you.” He flashed me a naughty look.

My lower region twitched for the second time that day. I swatted him playfully on the arm, and he bent down and pulled me in for a kiss.

He pulled back and smiled at me. “Go ahead, try them on.”

I laughed. He looked like a kid on Christmas. I tried them on, and they fit perfectly. “Thanks.” I kissed him. “You’re going to have to stop spoiling me with all these gifts.”

“I’ll spoil you as much as I want.” He gave me a cocky grin.

I rolled my eyes and couldn’t help smiling. “So tell me what happened today.”

“You were right.”

I put my hand up to my ear. “I’m sorry, can you say that again?”

“Sweetheart, you were right.” He played into my game and gave me another kiss.

I batted my eyes at him. “What was I right about?”

“Sherry.”

I looked at him. “I know.”

“You know?”

I went over to the counter and picked up the thick stack of papers I had printed off. “I had Phil run a background check.”

He stared at me for a minute. I squirmed and thought I might be in trouble, but he just started laughing as I looked at him, confused. “Of course you did,” he said.

“You’re not mad at me.”

“Nope.”

“Great! So how did you find out?”

He told me the story of what happened.

“Have you forgiven her, then?”

Blake got quiet.

“It’s okay if you forgive her, you know?”

He took a deep breath. “I don’t know if I have or not, to be honest. Somehow, completely forgiving her feels like I’m betraying you, but not forgiving her and knowing how our families are and what they probably put her through, I feel sort of guilty.”

At that moment, I realized it was time to wash away the sins of the past. I went over to Blake and sat on his lap and stroked his cheek. “I forgive her.”

“You do?” His face jerked toward me in surprise.

I nodded. “You know why?”

He shook his head. “Tell me.”

I pulled his face to mine. “Because I forgive you.”

Blake froze and processed it. He looked at me, his eyes searching mine like he didn’t believe me.

“I do.”

He scanned my eyes some more.

“I forgive you,” I repeated.

A single tear slipped down his cheek. I kissed it away, then pulled his face into my hands. “I forgive you, and I’m not going to hold it over your head anymore.”

“But how—”

I put my fingers over his lips. “Shh. I forgive you. The only thing that matters is right now and the future. I love you. I don’t want to live in the past. And I want you to forgive yourself so we can be free.”

Blake closed his eyes and choked up.

I kissed him gently. “I have something else to tell you.”

He waited for me to speak.

“I forgive you, and I trust you.”

A full stream of tears fell all over Blake's cheeks. The emotion in his eyes was raw and vulnerable. But the regret I saw in his eyes was still there, too.

I wiped his tears away. “No more regrets, baby, okay? I forgive you. I trust you. I trust in us.”

“Really? You do?” he whispered.

I nodded. “I do.”

He crushed his lips to mine, his strong arms went around me, and I inhaled his spicy scent. His tongue explored my mouth.

I pulled back. “Baby, I need you to do something for me.”

“Whatever you want, Sweetheart. Tell me and consider it done.”

“Whatever I want?”

“Yes.”

“Promise?”

“I promise, Sweetheart.”

I knew he was a man of his word. I knew he would move mountains for me. I knew asking him to make me this promise wasn’t fair, but it was necessary.

I looked him in the eyes. “I need you to forgive yourself.”

16

Blake

She had told me that she forgave me and gave her trust back to me. Then she made me promise her I would forgive myself.

The problem was, I didn’t know how. I had caused both of us so much pain. I deserved the pain I went through, but I couldn’t let go that I had caused her pain.

So many years wasted. So many tears. So much anger and sadness.

But tricking me was not okay. I glared at Laura. “You just tricked me into a promise.”

She gave me a slightly guilty look. “Someday you’ll realize it had to be done.”

I stood up and started pacing. “Laura, I don’t like being tricked.”

Laura stood up right in front of me. “What, no sweetheart? ‘Sweetheart, I’ll give you anything and everything.’” She sarcastically made quotes with her fingers. “Well, guess what? I don’t care about your money, Blake. All I want is you with a clear conscience.”

“Tricking me isn’t the way to go about things,” I told her quietly. I almost mentioned that tricking me was what had kept us apart the last ten years, but I didn’t think it was best, especially after she’d just told me she forgave me and gave me her trust back.

Her eyes threw darts at me. “I’m telling you what I want. Don’t tell me you’ll give me anything then get mad when I tell you what I want because it’s hard.”

This woman drove me insane. Her voice had gotten higher, and I matched mine to hers. “So you think it’s fair to trick me?”

“Don’t tell me I can have anything and everything if I can’t.”

She had a point, I guess. But I wasn’t going to give in. I stepped in front of her. “You can have anything and everything, so stop throwing it in my face. But tricking me isn’t right, and you know it. You’re making me promise something I don’t know how to do. It’s not that simple.”

“Well figure it out, Blake. And stop being a hypocrite. You wanted me to forgive and trust you. I have. Now I want you to forgive yourself. Man up!” She stormed out of the room.

Oh, she did not just tell me to man up. I went after her. “Laura,” I called out sternly.

“Blake,” she said sarcastically as I grabbed her arm and spun her around. Her eyes blazed fire at me.

As I stepped in front of her, she took a step back against the hallway wall and looked up at me in battle. I stared at her and licked my lips and lowered my voice. “Don’t question my manhood.” I pressed my body into her so my cock was right up against her belly.

A smile played on her lips. “Man up, then,” she shot back, quieter this time.

Heat rushed through my body, and my hard-on pulsed against her as I pressed more into her, not speaking and just looking into her eyes. “So what do you suggest I do, Sweetheart...to man up,” I whispered in her ear, then swiped my tongue around her lobe.

Inhaling sharply, she closed her eyes for a brief moment.

“Hmmm?” I raised my eyebrows to her.

Silence followed as I traced my fingers over her blouse on top of her breasts. My fingers hardened her tits and created quiet whimpers within her.

I pushed in even closer to her. “Am I not man enough for you, Sweetheart?” I said calmly, running my hand into her pants and swiping her already wet pussy.

She shuddered against my hand.

“Hmm?” I nipped at her neck, down to her collarbone, and glided three fingers in her and slowly finger-fucked her.

She moaned, then began to rock on my hand.

I took my thumb and rubbed her clit, quickly intensifying the speed and bringing her to the brink as she moaned loudly and her insides desperately clutched at my fingers.

But I wasn’t going to give it to her. I pulled my hand out, licked her wetness, and sucked on my fingers. “I’ll tell you what, Sweetheart. When you think I’ve manned up, come see me,” I said quietly and took a step back. Then I ran my fingers over her lips and leaned back into her ear. “Because like I said, you can have anything and everything you want. No tricks needed.”

She gaped at me as I turned and walked away. My cock was throbbing, hard as a rock, but my ego would not let her question my manhood.

I went back into my study and made myself a drink. I sat down with a scotch and felt pretty proud of myself. A few minutes went by, and my hard-on started to relax. I patted myself on the back and gave myself kudos for being strong enough not to give it to her. My favorite thing was watching her eyes roll and feeling her out of control as she vibrated against and on me.

Yes, I felt pretty good and thought I’d won. She would apologize soon, no doubt.

Unfortunately, I was wrong. She walked out in nothing but a matching brown thong and see-through bra, along with the new cowboy hat and boots I had just given her.

My dick was officially on fire and stood at attention. I gulped hard on my scotch and felt the burn in my throat as I watched her, feeling the heat rise on my neck.

Just apologize and sit on me, I thought, but I knew in my gut that was just wishful thinking.

She walked over, stood in front of me, and dropped her phone. “Oopsie!” She turned and slowly bent over, pumping her ass cheeks a foot in front of me. The reddish-purple mark I had left on her this morning was blinking in my face, stirring my desire, hardening my cock further. Rising up, she walked over to the table, set down her phone, and moved back in front of me again.

Our eyes locked once again in battle. She was determined, and so was I. She sucked on her finger for a minute, then moved it down her body and fondled herself: first her breasts, then her stomach, then her pussy.

I was sure she could hear the thumping of my heart. She removed her fingers and sucked her wetness while she made little mmm sounds.

My balls were officially blue as my cock tried to rip through my pants. I took another sip of scotch, enjoyed the show, and held myself back from grabbing her and fucking her senseless.

She started to play with herself again. I willed myself not to show any emotion. My eyes were glued to her as my mouth started watering. I threw back another mouthful of scotch and let it once again burn down my throat.

She moved closer to me and straddled my thighs while she continued to play with herself and grind up against my dick.

“Sweetheart,” I grunted out.

“Yes, baby,” she said sweetly.

“Is there something you want to say to me?” I was ready for her to tell me she was sorry so we could get down to business.

She shook her head and smiled sweetly at me. “Nope.” She began to grind against me and rub herself faster.

Her back started arching, and her chest bobbed in my face. I wanted to give in and start sucking her breasts, but I restrained myself.

“Oh God,” she moaned, tipping her head back. She still wore that damn cowboy hat. Her hair fell lower across her back, her hot cunt dripping on my pants that confined my throbbing cock. The scent of her ready-to-cum pussy filled my nostrils.

Quickly, I grabbed her hand and pulled it out of her pants. She looked at me with her eyes on fire, desperate for her high, before trying to escape my grasp.

I laughed softly. “Tell me you’re sorry for questioning my manhood and I’ll make you cum harder than you’ve ever cum before,” I cockily promised her.

She shook her head. “Nope.”

I raised my eyebrows at her. "Okay, then.”

While she was still attached to me, I stood up, and she smiled like she was getting her way. I unwrapped her legs from around my waist and put her down on the ground.

She looked at me, confused.

“Thanks for the show, Sweetheart.” I gave her a peck on her cheek, a light slap on the ass, and walked through the house to the front door, ready to inhale some much-needed air.

Laura followed me. “Don’t you dare go outside right now,” she threatened.

Laughing, I stepped outside, shut the door, and breathed in the crisp air. I was walking down the porch steps when I heard the door open.

“Hey, Blake,” she called out.

I was expecting an apology. To my surprise, she took a step out of the house still wearing her cowboy hat, boots, underwear, and bra.

Blood rushed through my body in alarm. “Sweetheart, I have a lot of workers on this ranch. You need to get back inside now.”

She shrugged. “So what?” She stood on my porch with a smirk on her face.

Quickly, I glanced around. Thankfully, none of my employees were around. Angry heat burned through my veins. “Go back inside!” I pointed at the door.

“Don’t tell me what to do, Blake. I’m a grown woman.” She started moving one hand over her tits and the other over her pussy.

I lunged at her, quickly picked her up and slung her over my shoulder as she kicked and screamed.

“Let me down.” She pounded on my back and her boots kicked into my front thighs.

“Damn it, woman, stop kicking me,” I yelled as I opened the door.

“Let me down now!”

I smacked her lightly on her bare ass, then rubbed it out a bit. “Stop being naughty. What the hell are you thinking?”

“Let me down,” she repeated.

“Tell me you’re sorry,” I demanded.

She smacked my ass so hard it stung. “No.”

Ugh, this woman!

Within seconds I’d carried her into my bedroom, laid her down on the bed, then put my face next to hers. “Sweetheart, if you ever go outside like that again—”

“My body. I’ll do what I want,” she spat out at me with anger in her eyes.

“No, you won’t!”

“Not your decision,” she fought back. “You want to play games with me? I’ll play them back.”

My blood was boiling. Frustration and rage ran through me at the thought of her outside, where some other man could have seen her. “Is that what you want? Other men to see you like that?”

She looked at me and laughed. “Aw, are you jealous?”

“I swear to God—”

“You swear to God what?” she challenged.

I yanked her barely-there underwear and pulled them off her, ripping them in the process. Throwing her legs over my shoulders, I ferociously started eating her out as I listened to her moans and pleas and felt her push me into her more.

There was no teasing, no foreplay. I was on a mission to get her there and get her there quickly.

When I had given her enough to make her desperate, to the point that her body was ready to explode, I pulled back and put my face right next to hers. "No woman of mine is going to give any other man a show. I swear to God, Laura, you better never do that again, and it's non-negotiable, do you understand?"

She didn't speak. She stared at me as I scanned her eyes, breathing hard, not arguing, but not wanting to budge an inch.

I moved my finger slowly on her clit, then raised my eyebrows at her. "Do you want me to finish?"

"Please," she moaned.

"Tell me you understand and I'll happily finish." I stopped my finger but didn't remove it from her nub.

She slowly nodded.

"Tell me."

"I won't do it again."

"Good girl." I pulled my hand away and crushed my mouth into hers. Her tongue flicked into mine with urgency before I moved back down and sucked on her hard as she screamed out my name and ricocheted against my mouth.

My dick was officially about to explode. I stripped off my pants, threw off my shirt, then picked her up off the bed. Sitting on the edge of the bed, I positioned her so she was straddling me.

I need to see her face to finish out this last part.

Laura slid over me as soon as she could. I called out a profanity. Positioning her forearms tight to my shoulders so her hands could grip my neck, she pushed them down on me and rode my punished cock hard.

I groaned as she eagerly glided over and over on my shaft with her body pulsing on top of mine.

"So good, Blake," she puffed as I released her bra, and her breasts started bouncing in my face.

Savagely breathing hard, she screamed my name, yelled at me to go faster, told me not to stop, then panted that she was going to cum.

But I hadn't forgotten her words. I slowed her down.

"God...Blake...faster..." She clutched her insides against me.

I pressed my forehead to her. "Tell me you're sorry for questioning my manhood, Sweetheart."

She shook her head and tried to move faster on me. I slowed her down even more. "Sweetheart, tell me you're sorry."

She rolled her eyes at me.

I held my hands on her thighs so she could hardly move.

"Blake," she cried out.

"Tell me, Sweetheart." I moved her a bit faster, punishing my dick some more. "Tell me, and I'll make you soar."

Stubbornly, she didn't want to give in.

But I was stubborn too, and I moved her faster, brought her to the cusp, then slowed her down again as my rod throbbed in a state of misery every time I slowed her down. I brought my forehead back to hers—another attempt to get her to concede before my body started spinning out of control. "Tell me, Sweetheart," I growled.

She bit her lip and closed her eyes.

Rocking slowly in her, I increased my speed on her again and took her back up. "Tell me."

"I'm… I'm…sorry," she cried out.

Finally! For the love of my dick!

I thrust hard into her as she collapsed her insides on me and shattered into a million pieces. My own orgasm spiraled out of control so much that I couldn't comprehend what came out of either of our mouths, and I saw stars. A sea of pleasurable spasms swarmed my drenched-in-sweat body as my sweetheart’s body seized over and over on mine, creating a violent merger of our two orgasms.

We held each other tight as we came down from our high, totally spent.

Laura slowly pulled back with a wicked grin, still breathing hard. "I may have to question your manhood again sometime."

I eyed her seriously. "Sweetheart, don't ever go outside like that again."

"Don't ever walk away from me like that again," she shot back.

"Fair enough. Promise me you won't do that again."

She nodded and laughed. "I promise. But so that you know, I still expect you to keep your promise to me."

17

Laura

I knew Blake wasn’t happy. I’d tricked him, but it was necessary. He may have gotten me to say I was sorry, but I wasn’t going to let him off the hook. I knew when I questioned his manhood he wouldn’t like it—he was a Texan, after all—but I hadn’t expected him to get me all riled up, then withhold my orgasms from me.

When I walked outside half-naked, I knew it would make his blood boil. Touching myself in public…that was a no-brainer to drive him insane with anger.

I wouldn't ever do it again, though. He made me promise, and it really was dumb of me. I hadn’t thought about his employees possibly being outside.

The man just knew how to get under my skin at times.

I got up. “Come on.” I pulled him up.

“Where are you taking me?”

“We can’t lie in bed all day.”

He looked at me like I was crazy and pulled me back down on him. “Says who?” His tongue was back in my mouth, and his hand caressed my naked back and ass.

My lower region twitched, and I felt him start to get hard again. I groaned and pulled back. “Seriously, we’ll never get anything done today if you keep this up.”

“I can keep it up, Sweetheart.” He raised his brow with a mischievous grin on his face.

“Keep it up in the shower, then. I need a good scrub-down.”

He stood and picked me up. “At your service!”

“Blake, put me down,” I giggled as he carried me into the bathroom and turned on the shower.

About an hour later, we were fully sexed, clean, and clothed. I sat at the kitchen counter next to Blake. I ate some strawberries and stole a few bites of his sandwich. My phone rang.

“Phil, what’s up?” I answered.

“You with Blake?”

“Yes, he’s right here.”

“Can you put it on speaker?”

I put the phone on speaker. “Okay, Phil. Blake and I are both on.”

“Hey Phil, what’s going on?” Blake shifted nervously in his seat.

“I talked to the attorneys. It looks like the clauses are solid in your contract. If you want to move contracts with suppliers or clients over to another entity, you can.”

Blake tapped his fingers on the counter. “What percentage of the board needs to agree?”

Phil paused. “That’s the strange thing. There is no board vote required. It may be nothing, but how well do you know these attorneys you’ve been working with?”

“I’ve worked with them for years.” Blake shifted again in his seat and nervously glanced at me. “I was blackballed by several attorneys when I went through the divorce. I’ve been loyal to them because of that.”

It got quiet. A chill swept through my body. “It’s left Blake open, hasn’t it?”

“Yes,” Phil confirmed.

My gut dropped. “What else?”

Blake looked at me and continued to drum his fingers on the counter.

Phil cleared his throat. “Anyone who owns any part of the company can transfer contracts with approval from the CEO. No board vote.”

“Damn it.” Blake stood up and put his hands in his hair.

“Assets, too,” Phil said quietly.

Blake’s face went white. “Phil, tell me you’re joking.”

“I’m afraid not. Blake, do you own any shell companies that you can move contracts and assets to?”

Blake put his hands on his face. “I do, but the same attorneys opened them. I don’t trust that there isn’t anything wrong with them if this isn’t an honest mistake.”

“Look, it could be nothing, but I’m going to tell you to err on the side of caution here. Jack and Collin were just here. They have several shells you could use to shield the assets and contracts. Since they’re owners, they could technically move everything with one electronic signature from you.”

“So, I move things now or I could end up losing everything I’ve worked for, and it would be legal?” Blake shook his head.

“Yes.”

Blake slammed his hand on the counter. “Damn it,” he cried out again.

I went and put my hand on his arm. “What other companies did you use this law firm for, Blake?”

His face drained more. “Everything.”

“Phil, how quickly can the attorneys move the contracts and assets?” I inquired.

“If they work all day, then by tomorrow morning everything can be transferred. Jack and Collin are in town to sign anything needed to make it happen.”

“And how long to open a shell for Blake?” I questioned.

“Several weeks. One week, best case.”

I looked at Blake. “Phil, can you hold on a minute?”

“Sure,” he said.

I put the phone on mute.

Blake looked like he was going to be sick.

“Blake, look at me.” I grabbed his shoulders.

He gazed down at me.

“You need to decide on this now. How much do you trust Jack and Collin? If you do this, they’re going to own everything, technically.”

“I trust Jack with my life. I just met Collin, but Jack trusts him. What do you think about him?”

“I would trust Collin with my life as well.” I meant it. Collin would never screw Blake over.

Blake closed his eyes for a second, then unmuted the phone. “Phil, can you handle this for me?”

“Say no more,” Phil replied.

“Thanks. I owe you big time.”

Phil continued, “Blake, you need your other companies reviewed as well.”

Blake took a deep breath. “I’ll have everything else sent over today.”

“One more thing,” Phil added.

“Please tell me it’s not something else bad,” Blake sighed.

Phil laughed. “No, I think you’ll like this one.”

“What’s that?”

Phil paused for a minute. “So it seems that Jack has a few uh…”—Phil cleared his throat—“unique businesses we didn’t know about…”

Blake's head snapped up, his eyes lit. He pushed his lips together and tried to stop his grin as if he knew what was coming.

“And?” I watched Blake’s face and wondered what this was about.

“Jack thinks the owner would be a perfect candidate to buy up the shares. Apparently he’s got some leverage on them,” Phil said slowly.

Blake started laughing. “If this has to do with the businesses I think it has to do with, then I can only imagine the dirt he has.”

“Well, I’ll say no more then. Blake, Jack’s waiting for a phone call from you on it.”

“Thanks, Phil. I’m on it.”

We got off the phone. I looked at Blake. “What was that all about?”

He looked at me, a funny smile on his face.

“What?”

“I’ve been sworn to secrecy on this topic, and I need to talk to Jack first, okay?”

I furrowed my brow at him. “I’m not understanding. Why the big secret?”

Blake laughed. "Let me tell Jack I’m telling you first. I owe him that.”

“Fine,” I huffed.

Blake picked up the phone. “Hey Jack, thanks for the shell companies. Phil is getting the lawyers started on it now. Tell Collin I said thanks too, please.”

Blake stopped talking and looked at me while Jack spoke.

“So, I heard you have a solution to solve our other issue? You found the guy for the job?” Blake ran his hands through his hair.

I watched him as I wondered what the big secret was.

Blake stood up and started pacing the room. “No, I didn’t tell her, but obviously I need to now. I wanted to get your okay first.”

He glanced over at me. I held my hands in the air in question.

Blake laughed. “Well, I don’t think she’s as conservative as you probably think she is.” Blake gave me a smoldering look.

I’m conservative?

“Something like that. She can handle it and will keep it on the down-low. I appreciate all you’re doing. I owe you big time. Talk later.” Blake winked at me and hung up.

I stared at him. He stared back at me, a silly grin on his face.

“Montgomery, if you don’t start talking, I swear to God…”

Blake walked over to me and put his body right up against mine. “You swear to God what, Sweetheart?” He raised his eyebrows at me and reminded me of our conversation and where that led to earlier.

My face went red. I pushed his chest, and he took a step back. I laughed. “Come on.”

He chuckled. “You might want to sit down for this one.”

“Blake, for crying out loud, spill it.”

“So this stays between us, but Jack owns some businesses he doesn’t like others to know about.”

I shrugged my shoulders. I knew all about that. I worked for Tom Marko, who used to hold a vast majority of his entities under Marcus Elliott, an alias name. “I can keep a secret.”

“Yes, I know you can.”

“Spit it out, then.”

“But I’m enjoying seeing you all feisty like this,” he teased.

“Blake!”

He laughed some more. “All right. So Jack owns quite a few sex clubs in different states, including several in Texas.”

I froze and let it sink in. My mouth gaped open in shock. “Jack owns sex clubs?”

Blake shook his head, a mischievous look on his face.

I started laughing. “Does Maddie go with him?”

Blake laughed louder. “That’s the crazy part. He refuses to go to them when they’re open. His partners are the face. He only goes in during off-hours to meet with the owners.”

I stood in shock. “Really? Is he a prude?” I hadn’t ever thought of Jack being a prude. But maybe he was?

“No, I definitely don’t think he’s a prude. He just doesn’t want to go.”

“So he’s never gone?” I didn’t believe it.

Blake shook his head. “Never.”

"Okay, that’s crazy. I would totally go if I owned them.”

Blake’s head snapped. “You would?”

“Sure, why not? Have you been?”

Blake shook his head. “Not really my scene.”

“How do you know it’s not your scene if you don’t go?”

He threw his hands in the air and shrugged. “Anyways, Jack trusts the owner, and he has dirt on almost all the investors in my and Sherry’s families’ companies. He will use it as leverage to buy their stocks.”

“You mean blackmail, don’t you?”

Blake looked at me with a smile. “Sweetheart, you’re in Texas now. We don’t blackmail—we leverage.”

18

Blake

It was Sunday, late morning. My companies were officially no longer mine. Well, at least the four biggest ones. My other companies were still under review.

I knew they would be mine after all this was over—Jack and Collin wouldn’t screw me over—but it burned me that I had to go to this extreme to protect what I had built.

I was grateful for their friendship and for all Phil had done to help out as well.

Laura and I had just gotten done riding the horses when my phone rang.

“Hey, Phil,” I answered.

Laura looked over at me.

“It’s done,” Phil reported. “Everything is in the shell companies now. Reviews are still in process on everything else.”

“Thanks, Phil. When do you need Laura back?”

Phil laughed. “I already cleared her Monday. If you can get her back for Tuesday, that would be great. We have some big meetings we need her at.”

“No problem. Thanks. I owe you big time.” I hung up the phone.

I went over and put my arms around Laura’s waist. “It’s official. The shell companies are funded. Phil cleared your Monday, but you’re needed back for meetings on Tuesday.”

She laughed. “So glad you two could work out my agenda.”

I leaned down and kissed her. “You want to go back tonight or tomorrow to New York?”

“Tomorrow night is fine. Are you dropping me off or staying in town?”

I licked my lips at her and grinned. “What do you want me to do?”

“Whatever isn’t going to screw up your life,” she said with no hesitation.

“I already told you that you are my life.”

“Blake, you have major shit going on. If you need to be here, then don’t think twice. I can handle it.”

“Sweetheart, thank you for saying that, but as of now I can hang in New York for a bit.”

She looked at me like she didn’t believe me.

“Honest.”

“Okay, but if anything changes, promise me you’ll get your Texan ass back here.”

I kissed her again. “Promise.”

We started walking back to the house. “What do you want to do today?”

She looked at me uncomfortably.

“Why are you giving me that look?”

She glanced nervously at me. “Just hear me out.”

“Why do I feel like I’m not going to like this?”

She shrugged and gave me a big smile.

I took a deep breath. “Well, go on.”

“So, I think it would be kind of cool to get a racehorse. I’ve always wanted one, and I have the money to buy one. I thought we could go racehorse shopping today.”

I laughed. “Sweetheart, if you want a racehorse, I’ll buy you a racehorse.”

“No, Blake. I want to buy it. But I’ll keep it here at your stables, if that’s okay?”

“Why can’t I buy it for you?” It wasn’t in my Texan nature to let a woman pay for anything.

Laura took a deep breath. “Listen, I know I’ll never get away with paying for anything, but this has been something I’ve wanted to do for myself for a long time. I haven’t done it because I didn’t have anywhere to keep it. I didn’t want to rent out boarding, but I would rent a stall from you.”

I laughed. “You can keep your horse here, but there is no way you are paying me rent.”

“Blake—”

I cut her off. “Look, I understand if you want to buy the horse yourself. I get it. But you aren’t renting from me.” No way was my woman going to pay me.

She stopped. “Look, this is like a business for me. I want to pay for my horse's expenses. I don’t want you paying for that. If I’m going to do this, you can’t interfere in my business that way.”

I took a deep breath. This was obviously important to her. “Okay. You pay for expenses, but not rent.”

She thought about it, then stood on her tiptoes and kissed me. “Deal. Thank you.”

“So this means you’ll be coming back, then?” I shot her a sly grin.

“Duh!” She smirked at me.

“So that wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be.” I kissed her.

She pulled back. “I didn’t tell you where I wanted to buy the horse.”

“And...”

“I did some research. Sherry’s husband Steven has the horse I want up for sale. He also has one of the best training teams around. I want him to train my horse, too.”

It was strange. A few days ago that would have caused a lot of anger, but today, I didn’t feel it. “Okay.”

“Okay? You’re not mad? I don’t have to fight you on this?” She looked at me like she didn’t believe me.

I shook my head. “No. Actually, I like Steven. I would love for you to give him your business. He’s a straight shooter and has done well for himself.”

“Really?”

“Yes. I’m happy about that.”

“Thanks, baby. This means a lot to me.” She pulled me down for another kiss.

I looked at the time. It was afternoon now. “Well, let’s go then.”

We jumped in my truck. It didn’t take long to get to the farm. We pulled into the driveway and up to the house.

Sherry opened the door in surprise. “Blake. Laura. What are you doing here?”

“I hope it’s okay we just stopped by? I was hoping I could talk to Steven about one of the racehorses. I wanted to buy one and saw the thoroughbred listed.” Laura’s eyes gleamed.

Sherry looked a little stunned at first, but recovered quickly. “Sure. Come on in.”

We walked in, and the kids came running up. “Go get Daddy,” Sherry instructed her oldest.

I looked at him—the son that at one point I thought was mine. He was a perfect mix of Sherry and Steven.

“Dad,” he yelled.

“I said to go get him, not yell.” Sherry glared at him, and he stalked off.

Laura scanned the house. “You have a beautiful home.”

“Yes, you do. You’ve always had good taste,” I complimented her, and meant it.

She beamed at us. “Thank you.”

Steven came out. “Blake.” He shook my hand.

“Steven, this is my Laura. She wants to look at buying your thoroughbred.”

“Ah, Laura.” Steven’s eyes lit up. “It’s great to meet you finally.”

“You too, Steven. Is the horse still available?”

Steven laughed. “Yes, ma’am. Want to go take a walk?”

“Sure!”

We started to go, and Laura turned around. “Sherry, you want to come, too?”

Sherry looked at her in surprise.

“Come on, Darling.” Steven held out his hand.

She hesitated a minute, but grabbed Steven’s hand. I winked at her. She gave me a funny look.

We got down to the stables. I blew a big whistle. “Steven, this is impressive!” There were at least a hundred racehorses.

Pride flashed across Steven’s face. “Thanks. Sherry was instrumental in putting the investors together to expand our little operation.”

I looked at Sherry. “So your business degree came in handy, then?”

She shrugged her shoulders.

“I wouldn’t call this little!” Laura glanced around.

Steven laughed. “The thoroughbred you want to look at is down here, Laura.”

As Steven and Laura walked down the stable’s aisleway, I turned to look at Sherry. “You’ve done well, Sherry. You should be very proud.”

“It’s not always the most profitable, but it pays the bills.”

“Hey,” I said softly, “you’ve done well.”

She humbly shook her head. I wasn’t used to this Sherry.

“I owe you a big apology.” I really did owe her one.

She looked up in surprise. “For what?”

“I treated you horribly in the store. I’m sorry. You didn’t deserve that.”

“But I did. I destroyed your life.” She kicked the stones on the ground with her foot.

I walked over to her and lifted her chin so she was looking at me. “No, you didn’t. We both made choices. We both played our own roles.”

“Blake, everything was because of my lie.”

I grunted. “You know, you and I aren’t so different. I think it’s time we put the past behind us and forgive each other and ourselves. What do you think?”

She looked at me in shock. “Why would you want to forgive me?”

“Because Laura does.”

Her head jerked up in shock.

“She does. And you know what? I forgive you, and I’m going to work on forgiving myself because Laura trapped me into promising her I would. So somehow I need to do that, and I want you to do the same. I think Steven needs you to as well.”

“She trapped you?” She tilted her head to the side.

I laughed softly. “Yep. I won’t go into details, but she trapped me.”

“You have a problem with women in your life trapping you, huh?”

I started laughing so hard that tears came out of my eyes. “I’m a sucker, what can I say?”

Sherry laughed. “Your words, not mine.”

“So what do you say? If I have to forgive myself, do you think you could work on forgiving yourself? Can we both move forward?”

She looked at me. “I’ll try, Blake.”

I nodded. "Okay, that’s all I can ask. You’re a good person, Sherry. You’ve always been. There was only one thing you’ve ever done wrong, really, if I think about it. No one is perfect. Time to give yourself a break.”

Sherry blinked back tears as I wrapped her in a hug.

“But,” I said, “does Steven know your lastborn is named after your heartthrob?”

She slapped at me. “Stop it!”

“You can try to deny it, but I know the truth,” I teased her.

“Know the truth about what?”

I turned to see Laura and Steven behind us. “Steven, I’m sorry to tell you this, but Sherry’s main love of her life is Bobby from Dallas.”

Steven cracked up in laughter. Sherry’s face went fire-engine red. “Yes, I’m aware, but thanks for the reminder.”

“Hey, Bobby was hot,” Laura admitted. “My grandma watched it all the time, and I had his poster on my wall.”

“Right?” Sherry nodded and held her hands up in the air.

I looked at Laura. “You’re not serious?”

She nodded. “Will always be my first love. Sorry.”

“Well, on that note, I think Blake and I deserve a beer. You want one?” Steven said.

“Sounds good.”

We went back to the house. I turned toward Laura. “So how is the horse? Is it a go?”

“Yes! But I’m going to lodge it here.”

“Okay... What made you change your mind?”

“It’ll actually cost less since the trainers are all here. Plus, she’ll get more training.”

I nodded. “That makes sense.”

“But I’m buying two, not one.”

Surprised, I looked over at her. “Two, huh? Going all in?”

She laughed. “Why not? Steven gave me a deal I couldn’t refuse.”

I pulled her in close to me, a big dopey smile on my face. “Congratulations, I’m proud of you!”

“Really?” she looked at me like she didn’t believe me.

“Yeah, why wouldn’t I be?”

“Because you didn’t buy it for me.”

I looked at her in shock. “Sweetheart, I’m proud of all your accomplishments. Investing in a business is a big deal. One of the things that I love most about you is your brain. Just don’t try to start paying when we’re out, okay?” I teased, but was also serious.

She laughed and rolled her eyes.

Sherry overheard it. “Laura, I’ve got the same problem with Steven. It’s a Texan thing. Just ignore it, because it’ll drive you nuts trying to fight for it. Not worth it.”

“Thanks for the tip,” Laura laughed.

We got to the house, and Steven handed all of us a beer.

My head jerked back in shock. “Sherry, you drink beer now?”

She laughed. “I always did, just never around you or them.” Her eyes grew a bit dark at the mention of them. Eventually, I would find out her story and how she left, but today wasn’t the day.

Never in a million years did I think I would have been drinking a beer at Sherry’s house with Laura and Steven. I realize that it felt really good. Sherry and I had been good friends as kids. It felt good to not feel hatred toward her.

Laura’s phone rang. “Excuse me. I need to get this.” She looked at me. “It’s Phil.”

“You can have some privacy if you go into that room.” Sherry pointed.

Laura gave her a grateful nod and went into the other room.

“I like her. She’s great, Blake.” Sherry smiled.

“Smart, too.” Steven’s arms were around Sherry’s waist.

I nodded. We talked a bit more, and Laura came out of the room. I could tell something was off. “What’s wrong?”

“Blake, where’s your phone?”

I patted my pocket. “Must be in the truck. Why?”

“There have been board meetings for Caseline, Robotica, Secular, and Aclaimmer. You’ve been fired as CEO of all the companies.”

“And who is my replacement?”

“They split the companies. Caseline and Aclaimmer are your father. Robotica and Secular are Sherry’s father.”

“What?” Sherry’s head snapped back at me.

My pulse dived. “So it begins.” I smiled at Laura.

“So it begins.” She smiled back at me.

19

Laura

“Blake, what’s going on?” Sherry blasted in a stern voice.

Blake looked at me.

“Tell her.” I nodded at him.

“Our fathers have been trying to steal my companies.” Blake had a calm smile on his face.

“No morals, those people,” Steven sighed.

Blake laughed. “You’ve got them pegged correctly. Got another beer?”

Steven went and grabbed another one for Blake.

“Blake, why are you so calm right now? What am I missing?” Sherry’s eyes glanced between Blake’s and mine.

I jumped in. “Let’s just say that Blake knew what they were trying to do, and we handled the situation before Blake lost it all.”

Sherry furrowed her brow. “So you didn’t just lose four of your companies?”

Blake shook his head. “No. But they think I have.”

Sherry looked at Steven, worried.

“It’ll be fine, Darling,” Steven said.

“You don’t know that.” Sherry looked at him anxiously.

I put my hand on her shoulder. “Sherry, what’s wrong?”

“If they’re coming after Blake, they’re coming after us.”

“You don’t know that,” Steven sternly said. “Blake has more for them to take than we do.”

Sherry’s voice got bigger. “It doesn’t matter. I was there when Blake wasn’t. I heard and saw all the plotting to do whatever they could to stop him from having any success. They will come after us.”

“Who’s your business attorney?” Blake inquired.

“Crastner, Dejokee, and Plitner,” Steven replied.

Blake slammed his beer down a bit hard. “Shit. Where are your contracts?”

“Why?” Sherry’s face went white.

My stomach knotted. “Those were Blake’s attorneys, and it left him wide open. You said you have investors?”

Steven nodded. “We have investors.”

“Do you know where your contracts are?” I demanded.

“I’ve got everything organized on our Dropbox.” Sherry pulled her phone out.

“Good. That’s good, Sherry. Laura, give me your phone,” Blake ordered.

I handed him my phone.

“Phil, sorry to bug you. I need the attorneys to look at some contracts that are coming over from Sherry Klingsman. She’s going to email you in the next few minutes. We think we might have another problem.”

I looked at Sherry. “Sherry, I know you don’t know me, but you have to trust me, okay? You need to have our attorneys in New York review everything and tell you if you’re left wide open like Blake was.”

“I trust you, Laura. Blake too. Just tell me where to send them.”

“Okay, good. Here’s Phil’s email.” I wrote Phil’s email on the notepad on the fridge.

Sherry picked up her phone and started typing on it.

“What exactly are we looking at here?” Steven shifted in his seat.

Blake looked at me.

“Tell him,” I encouraged him again.

“As of this morning, all of my contracts and assets for those four companies were transferred to shell companies that two of my other investors own. They legally own it all right now, but the board doesn’t know.”

“Isn’t that illegal?” Steven furrowed his brows.

Blake laughed. “You would think, but because of how the attorneys wrote my documents, it wasn’t. We believe that’s why they were buying shares.”

Steven processed the information for a minute. “So if our documents are the same, then anyone who owns shares can do the same with our business?”

We both nodded.

Steven put his hands over his face. “Christ.”

“How well do you know and trust your other investors?” I asked.

“Sherry knows most of them, to be honest. I don’t know all of them,” Steven admitted.

Blake stood up and started pacing. “Do you have a shell company?”

Steven looked over at Sherry.

“Of course we do,” Sherry said. “That’s one of the first things we were taught in business school.”

“Who set it up?” I hoped it wasn’t the same devious attorneys.

“I had it set up when I was in college, using my father's attorney at the time. He’s dead now, though.”

"Okay, that’s promising,” Blake said. “Send the documents to Phil as well.”

Sherry peered at Blake. “Why didn’t you have a shell of your own?”

“I do, it’s just that the same attorneys set mine up, so I didn’t trust it was okay, and we needed to make a decision quickly.”

I took a sip of beer. “Sherry, you said you heard and saw what they did to Blake. Why are they out to destroy him, and possibly you? What do they gain from it?”

Sherry let out a sigh. “It’s pure revenge. Our marriage was supposed to grow their empire. Instead, we damaged their elitist reputation. It showed the Texas high society that they couldn’t control us. By breaking us, it makes them feel like they’re back on top.”

My phone rang. It was Phil. I put it on speaker.

After introductions, Phil said, “The shell company is a straightforward contract. You’re good to use it. Your other contracts are a different story. The attorneys went to the same clauses and quickly saw that they’re exactly like Blake’s. I suggest you move everything now to be safe.”

“Can you do it for us?” Sherry asked.

“I need your signature in person. How quickly can you get to New York?” Phil inquired.

“Tonight,” Blake spoke up.

“Good. I’ll have the attorneys get all the paperwork ready. See you tonight.”

“Thanks, Phil.” Blake hung up the phone. “I’ll arrange for the jet. Get babysitters or bring the kids, but you both need to be there in case we need both your signatures.”

“I’ll call your sister,” Sherry told Steven. “Call Dean to let him know he’s in charge of the ranch the next few days.”

Steven walked over and patted Blake on the back. “Thanks, man.”

“No problem. It’s time to take them down.”

Steven clinked Blake’s beer. “I’ve been ready for that for ten years.”

20

Blake

The four of us were on the jet and were about thirty minutes from landing in New York when Sherry’s phone rang.

“Fifteen percent?” She fidgeted with her fingers. “How did this happen and we didn’t know about it?”

I gave Laura my oh shit glance.

"Okay, I’ll keep you posted.” Sherry hung up.

“What’s going on?” I didn’t doubt that they were coming after Sherry, too.

Sherry looked at Steven. “That was your brother. He tracked down that fifteen percent of the shares have been sold to the same company that has been buying stock in Blake’s companies.”

Steven and Sherry both looked like they were going to be sick. I knew the feeling.

Laura walked over and put her hand on Sherry’s back. “It’s going to be okay.”

“I should never have allowed anyone from my past to invest in our business.”

“Don’t beat yourself up,” I said as I dialed Phil. “I did the same thing.”

Phil answered quickly. “Hey, Blake.”

“Phil, I need the attorneys to meet us on the runway. Fifteen percent has been sold already. The sooner we seal this deal, the better.”

Phil laughed. “We’re already sitting on the runway.”

“Good man. I’ll see you soon. Thanks.”

I looked around. “Phil and the attorneys are already on the runway. The minute we land, you can sign.”

Steven nodded. “Thanks.”

Sherry started biting her nails.

“Stop biting your nails,” I told her. “It’s going to be fine.”

She laughed. “It always drove you mad when I did that.”

“Makes me think you’re going to break all your teeth off.”

Steven laughed. “Thank you. See, darling? Both of your husbands care about your teeth.”

Laura started laughing so hard she had tears coming out of her eyes. When she finally stopped laughing, she said, “The irony of this. Your families wanted you together, and here you are, working together to take them down. Only poor Sherry is getting razed about Bobby—very unfairly, I might add—and biting her nails. Sherry, you must tell me something that drives you nuts about Blake.”

Sherry smirked. “That’s easy.”

“Yeah, what’s that?” I had no idea what she would say.

“Two words.” She held up two fingers.

“What’s that?” I smirked back at her.

“Pamela Anderson.”

My face started getting red. “Oh, come on. Every boy in America had that poster.”

“I had that poster,” Steven admitted.

“Over your bed?” Sherry raised her brows at Steven.

Laura started dying laughing. “Pamela Anderson? You two are pervs.”

“Total pervs,” Sherry agreed.

“Yeah, but we’re you’re pervs.” I high-fived Steven.

Katie came back and told us to buckle up for landing. We were soon on the ground.

As promised, Phil was already there with the attorneys. They came onto the plane, and within a few minutes, everything was signed.

We all stepped out onto the runway. Three cars were waiting. Phil got in one with the attorneys and left.

I turned to Steven and handed him a piece of paper. “This is your driver when you’re in town. He’ll take you wherever you want, whenever you want to go. I’ve booked you into the penthouse suite at the Four Seasons, and the manager is Cammie. Ask for her if you have any problems.”

“Blake, we can’t—”

I cut Sherry off. “Stop. Enjoy some time alone without the kids. It’s done. When you’re ready to go back, call me and the jet will fly you back.”

“Blake—” Steven started.

“Stop. Please. Go have fun,” I insisted.

Laura jumped in. “It’s stupid to argue with him. He’ll just get his way in the end.”

Sherry and Steven slowly nodded. “Thank you,” they both said.

“No problem. I’m sure we’ll see you sometime soon. Call if you need anything.”

We got them in their car, and I got in the last car with Laura. “Are you tired of me, or can I stay with you, Sweetheart?”

She gave me a naughty grin. “I don’t know. What will you do for me?”

“What do you want me to do for you?” I licked my lips.

She purred in my ear, “That thing you do with your tongue…”

Laura

“Sweetheart, which thing I do with my tongue?” Blake drawled, his tongue already on my ear.

I smirked at him, my vagina pulsing at the thought. “I think you’ll have to figure it out.”

“Challenge accepted.” He pulled me down on the seat. His mouth met mine in a heated onslaught of passion.

My hands went under his shirt, and I stroked his naked back and felt the flex of his shoulder muscles. “I love your body,” I whispered to him.

He pulled back and gave me a grin. “Yeah?”

I laughed. “Don’t get cocky or anything.”

“What am I supposed to do when you say that to me?” Blake said with a raised eyebrow.

I rolled my eyes.

“Don’t roll your eyes at me, woman!” he teased.

“What are you going to do about it?” I challenged him.

He laughed, then he dipped down and pressed his forehead to mine. “That thing with my tongue, of course.”

Happy bursts of adrenaline shot through my body as I licked my lips, and Blake's penis pulsed against my vagina.

Good to see I'm not the only one getting aroused.

"Give me your warm torso," I teased him as I grabbed his shirt and pulled it over him, reached up, and kissed his pecs and nipples, then rubbed my hands along his six-pack as his mouth crushed against mine.

He moaned in my mouth, then dipped down to my neck and ripped the buttons off my shirt as he tried to get it open.

I laughed. "We aren't going to have any shirts left soon."

"I'll buy you another one," he mumbled as he pushed a boob out of the cup of my bra and started licking and sucking on my nipple while his other hand reached down into my pants and stroked my wet pussy.

"Ahh…" I let out.

“That’s my girl,” he drawled. “I love how wet you get for me.”

I stroked his cock through his pants. “I love how hard you get for me.”

Blake gave me another cocky look, and I laughed.

He sat me up in the middle of the seat. Grabbing each shoulder belt, he took my hands and wrapped the straps around them so my arms were stretched out.

I looked at him with my eyebrows raised and tried not to smile.

“I think it’s time I did that thing with my tongue,” he whispered in my ear.

I bit my lip and thought he was going to start, but he pulled off my shoes and pants, then took another belt and attached it to my leg. He pulled his belt off his pants, attached it to the other leg, and secured it to the bar rail.

Completely spread out with very little ability to move, my heart started racing. Naked from the bottom down, Blake unlatched the front of my bra. My shirt was still on my arms, but everything else had been removed, and my pussy started throbbing in anticipation as I sat wide open, ready for him to devour me.

“You okay with this?” Blake’s sultry voice filled my ears.

I nodded.

“Tell me, Sweetheart.”

"Yes." Was he seriously questioning this? My womanhood dripped in anticipation, my tits stood at full attention, and butterflies flew around in my stomach.

Blake swiped my vagina with two fingers as I inhaled shakily. His eyes blazed into mine. "Do you know how much you turn me on?"

I shook my head.

"All damn day I've been thinking about getting you alone," he drawled.

My insides pulsed again.

He ran a finger down my neck, over my nipple, onto my stomach, and stopped right on the top of my clit. Slowly, he started rubbing me. "I love to watch you cum, and hear you moan, and scream my name."

I took a shaky breath. Not able to move my limbs, I pushed my pelvis up toward him.

He laughed softly and continued to rub my clit slowly. "You're so beautiful. Clothes on or off, but you're so perfect naked."

"Blake," I moaned, closing my eyes and breathing in deep.

Then his mouth was on mine—slow, lingering kisses that grew into fiery need and desire as he rolled one nipple with my juices, and then dipped down and caressed the other nipple with his tongue.

I expected him to mark me, but he didn’t.

My chest started heaving more as his mouth rotated nipples and sucked softly, then harder. I arched off the seat and tried to grab at him as I forgot about my restraints. Moans vibrated against his lips as his mouth fluttered to the erogenous zones of my neck, and he whispered between kisses, "Your neck has always driven me crazy."

Torturous teasing occurred all over my body, with the brush of his fingertips, the lick of his tongue, and the suck of his lips, before he pushed his forehead against mine and looked right in my eyes. “Where do you want my tongue?”

“You know,” I murmured.

“Tell me,” he commanded as his finger started rubbing my clit again.

I moaned out his name.

“You want my finger or my tongue?” His smoldering eyes stared into mine.

I opened my mouth to speak. My lip trembled from his touch, and I shut my mouth again before closing my eyes.

“Open your eyes.”

I opened my eyes.

“Tell me where you want my tongue.”

“Down there,” I whispered.

He smiled a cocky, perverted smile. “What’s it called, Sweetheart? Say it.”

I rolled my eyes. He wanted me to talk dirty to him.

He started circling faster on my clit. “If you roll your eyes at me, I won’t put my tongue where you want it. Tell me before it’s too late.”

Oh, screw it. Dirty talk, begging, whatever he wants me to do, I’ll do it—anything for him to use his tongue.

“My pussy, Blake. Please,” I whispered as I felt his cock harden against my leg.

The circling stopped, and he kissed me hard as he traveled down my body and started licking, kissing, and sucking all around my cherry.

Drenched in my nectar, on fire, I was throbbing for his touch. I pushed my pelvis toward his face and tried to squeeze my thighs, but I didn’t get very far, as the restraints held me firm.

He quietly laughed.

“Please,” I whimpered.

“Tell me what you want.” He kissed all around, but not where I needed him to.

I was getting desperate. “Your tongue. I need your tongue.”

He licked my mound. “Like that?” he teased.

“Fuck, Blake. Please,” I pleaded with him, lifting my pelvis again.

He took his tongue and swiped me from the bottom of my slit up.

“Oh,” I moaned as my nerves screamed from his contact. “More, give me more,” I pleaded like a greedy girl.

As diligently as ever, he took his tongue and started swirling all over: my insides, my outsides, the top and the bottom of my dripping, throbbing sex.

The driver probably heard my loud cries, but I didn’t care and couldn’t help it. The anticipation combined with the fact that my limbs were all stretched so my body was completely open and in his control had me lecherous.

“Blake, please don’t stop,” I panted as he flicked and swirled and started giving me little sucks.

He laughed softly.

My body was on fire, pulsating like never before, wanting to soar over the top but not being sent there as Blake intentionally teased me. Typically I would have shoved his head into me, but I couldn't.

A never-ending mixture of torture and bliss soared through my nerves as my body glistened with sweat, and my face flushed.

So much warmth.

Desperation hit me like never before as I recklessly cried out whatever came to my mind. "Baby, please keep going. Don't stop. Please. I'll do anything, just give it to me, please."

He stuck his tongue as far into my hole as he could and swirled it around. I moaned and thrashed my pelvis into his face before I closed my eyes and saw whiteness.

Blake let out a soft, quiet laugh that vibrated against my sex.

My insides shook and my breath labored as I started getting emotional. "Baby, please," I begged, and to my surprise, a tear fell out of my eye—not from pain, but sheer need. "I need it. Baby, I need it so much, please," I whimpered.

He put his hand on my hips and his lips around my womanhood and started eating me out like he couldn't get enough. My body started violently raging within me as tidal waves of pleasure ripped through me, one after the other. I squirted out my juices everywhere as I screamed Blake's name and who knows what else.

My body started coming down, and I thought Blake would remove his lips from me, but he stayed latched on. I still couldn't move my arms or legs. "I'm done," I told him in a raspy, hoarse voice.

With a cocky grin, he quietly said, "I'm just getting started with my tongue, Sweetheart." Digging his fingers deeper into my hips, he pulled me closer to his face and flicked, twirled, and sucked all over again, pushing me past the discomfort of my aftershock.

He drove me up the slope again. Gliding his fingers in me, he started swiping my sweet spot slowly at first, then over and over again as he sucked harder on my clit and sent me into a total oblivion of euphoria.

Tears fell as my body convulsed again until I was spent. After his tongue, he dropped his pants and pushed inside me. His shaft engorged as my vagina clamped down on him, and little tremors ignited from being sensitive from my previous orgasms.

My limbs tried once more to move, but they couldn't. "Blake, please, I need your body around me," I whimpered.

Strong arms embraced me, warm hands caressed my back, and his mouth crashed into mine, along with his tongue full of my orgasms.

"Oh, you're so perfect," he whispered to me as his hands pushed my hair back and his mouth flitted on my neck as I moaned and cried out and sweated all over him.

"Blake, hold me tighter," I begged him with a shaky breath. I needed to feel all of him as he thrust over and over on me, my body still stretched and wanting to grab him, but restrained. Adrenaline spiraled through me, over and over, as tremors continued to surge.

"Whatever you need, Sweetheart." He pulled me closer to him, and I felt his heartbeat against my breast.

"I… Oh, God… Blake…" I cried. More tears fell as my body went over the top. An earthquake seized my body and once again sent me to the heavens as Blake exploded in me, calling out Sweetheart and other things I couldn't comprehend.

His arms wrapped tightly around our sweaty bodies as we panted. "I can't believe you're mine again," Blake whispered to me, his head smashed into my neck, his body still shuddering a bit.

"You're mine," I whispered back.

He slowly came to and released my arms and legs from the straps. I lay in his arms, exhausted, happy, in love.

The car had stopped, but we hadn't noticed. "I love you," he whispered in my ear.

I flipped over on him. "I love you, too," I whispered, and kissed him.

"Let's get out of here, Sweetheart."

I nodded my head, tried to figure out what to do with my clothes, and finally decided to put on my shoes and coat. I jammed my clothes in my purse.

I stepped out of the car on shaky legs as Blake led me quickly up to my apartment.

When we got into the apartment, he gave me a cocky grin. "Is that what you wanted me to do with my tongue, Sweetheart?"

21

Laura

I woke up in my bed and looked over to see Blake, but he wasn’t there. My bed had been made. I panicked. Had I dreamed everything? Then I looked over and saw his suitcase and cowboy hat on top of it.

Relief flooded through me. I picked up my phone and saw it was 10:00 a.m. Wow, I thought. I never slept in that late. I thought back to how exhausted I was from our car ride home. Guess I needed the sleep.

I threw on a robe and went out to the living room. Blake was drinking coffee and working on his laptop. I snuck up behind him and put my hands under his shirt. I felt his warm, hard abs and kissed the back of his neck.

“Morning,” I whispered in his ear.

He turned around. “Hey, Sweetheart.”

“I woke up and you were gone. I thought I dreamed all our time together.”

“That would be cruel, now wouldn’t it?” He leaned in and started kissing me, then pushed his hands through my robe and onto my naked back, pulling me in close.

I put my arms around his neck and came up for air. “How long have you been up?”

He pushed my hair back from my face. “A few hours. Phil sent an email over. The other companies I own seem to be fine.”

“Well, that is a relief.”

Blake nodded. “Want some coffee?”

“I’ll get it.” I grabbed his cup. “You want a refill?”

“Thanks. So there’s some other good news.”

“Yeah? What’s that?”

“The employee contracts were transferred, too. So there’s literally nothing left of the four entities.” His voice faltered a bit.

I brought the coffee cups over and set them down. I stroked his hair. “You okay?”

Blake sighed. “I know it needed to be done. I know when this is over it’ll all be mine again. But it feels strange bankrupting my own companies.”

“I can’t imagine what you’re feeling right now.”

He pulled me into him again. “It’s about to get ugly, Laura. In about an hour, all the investors are going to know what’s happened. Jack and Collin have sent cease and desist letters to all the investors. In a blink, they lost millions. While those who haven’t been a part of this will eventually get their shares back, there are going to be a lot of angry people. The same can be said for Sherry’s investors.”

I stroked his cheek. “Everyone is in possible danger, then?”

He nodded. “I’ve spoken with my security in Texas. I have them going over to Sherry’s to make sure her kids and staff are safe. I also have them overseeing the four companies. I have a call in to Tom, too.”

Blake’s phone started ringing. “Speak of the devil.” He picked it up and put it on speaker.

“Blake, everything okay?” Tom’s voice came through the phone.

“Hey, Tom,” I said.

I could hear the worry in his voice. “Laura, you all right?”

I laughed. “Never been better.” I winked at Blake.

Tom laughed. “Well, that’s good to hear. Blake, what’s going on?”

“I’m assuming Phil filled you in on what occurred over the weekend?”

“Yes, all up to date. You doing okay, man? That’s got to be a bit heavy for you.”

Blake shook his head. “All good. It had to be done. Hopefully it’s not for too long. I’m grateful for everyone’s help. It looks like we got it all done just in time.”

“You’re going to have some pissed off people in a bit.” Tom’s voice fell. I knew he was worried about us.

“That’s why I’m calling. I’ve got security sorted in Texas, but I need to make sure Sherry and Steven are covered while they’re here in New York. Laura and I need to be covered too, just to be safe. Jack and Collin have both put guards on Maddie, Meg, and themselves. Can you hook me up with your firm while we’re in New York?”

“Done. Send me details on where Sherry and Steven are and I’ll get it sorted. Assuming you’re at Laura’s place?”

“Yes, we’re here,” I chimed in.

I could imagine his head racing. I heard quick typing. "Okay, consider it sorted. You should have someone at your place in under thirty minutes.”

“Thanks. I owe you,” Blake said.

Tom laughed. “Don’t be silly. Laura’s family, so now that makes you family. Just make sure she stays safe.”

Blake nodded.

Tom cut back in. “Laura, remember what happened to Maddie and Collin. We’ve added extra precautions, but still...just be extra aware, okay?”

“Got it, Dad.” I couldn’t help it.

“Ouch,” Tom said dramatically and laughed.

I laughed. “Don’t worry. I won’t tell Phil.”

We got off the phone. Blake called Steven and told him what was happening. It wasn’t long before security knocked on our door, introduced themselves, and gave us instructions on what we should and shouldn’t do in public.

Blake’s phone started ringing. He looked down and back up at me with a smile and sent it to voicemail. Another call came in. He sent it to voicemail again. Then another. “Guess we have some pissed off people in Texas.”

22

Blake

It was Wednesday. Sherry and Steven had gone home on Monday. They had received death threats and wanted to be with their kids. I didn’t blame them.

Jack, Collin, and I received death threats as well. To be expected. But hey, it wasn’t our first rodeo, and we kept executing our plan.

We were all over at Liv Marko’s firm. Everyone sat in on the meeting: Laura, Liv, Meg, and Maddie. Jack, Collin, Phil, Tom, and I.

By now, Jack’s secret about his sex clubs was out, and everyone in the room knew it. He was given a new nickname from the girls. “Prudey,” they called him. And the girls, they were ready to tease him.

“Seriously?” His face was scarlet.

Maddie laughed. “I told you when I found out that you were a prude.”

“I am not a prude,” he said to her sternly.

“You’ve really never gone?” Meg looked at him in disbelief.

Liv jumped in. “Aren’t you a tad curious?”

“How can you make improvements if you never go?” Laura chimed in.

Maddie pointed to Laura. “I asked the same thing!”

I stood up. "Okay ladies, let’s leave poor Jack alone.” I felt guilty that he had to reveal his secret because of me.

“So now that we know, can we take over the PR & Marketing? I’ve got some ideas…” Meg glanced over at Liv with a sly expression.

“Yeah, you’ve been holding out on us, Jack. Let us take a crack at it. No pun intended.” Liv tried to bite back a smile as everyone started crying out with laughter.

“We could all go and do research for your new campaigns,” Laura suggested.

I looked over at her with my eyebrows raised.

“Yes!” all the girls said.

“No,” all us guys said.

Meg looked at Collin in surprise. “You wouldn’t go either?”

Red crept up Collin’s face. He shook his head, a small grin on his face, then whispered something in Meg’s ear. She started giggling.

“Jack, is it private so no one could take pictures of Tom?” Liv gave Jack a sly grin.

Tom laughed. “We aren’t going, Liv. No way that wouldn’t get out.”

“We could control the press.” Meg smirked.

“Oh, I can see that one right now,” Tom laughed. “No way.”

“But if you weren’t uber-famous you would go, right?” Maddie asked.

Tom’s face got red. He shrugged his shoulders. “Never really thought about it.”

“What about you guys?” Maddie pointed to Phil and me.

Phil went red and didn’t say anything.

I tilted my head. “You girls are all serious? You all would go to a sex club if we said let’s go?”

“Yes,” they all said, nodding their heads.

I looked around the room and could see the other guys just as amused by the ladies as I was. Jack was the only one who truly seemed uncomfortable at the thought.

“Jack, you’ve been holding out on us,” Meg teased. “Plus, I’m sure you’ve lost money, because you could have a much better PR & Marketing firm.”

Jack put his hands on his face and shook his head. “I’m never going to hear the end of this, am I?”

“Ladies, why don’t you talk to Jack about your business proposal later?” Tom said. “I need to leave to get ready for my game in a few hours. Let’s figure this thing out.”

Jack shot Tom a relieved look and gave him a thank you nod.

Laura stood up. “Okay, step one—bankrupt the companies—is done. We know that the other companies Blake owns aren’t in harm's way. Damage control has been done. So now we need to move into phase two.”

“Bankrupting both families once and for all.” I couldn’t wait for them to fall.

Collin spoke up. “Rex has made initial contact with the investors, right Jack?”

Jack straightened up and recovered from all the teasing. “Yes. They know he wants to buy in.”

“Perfect timing for some press releases, then, don’t you think?” Phil looked over at Liv and Meg.

“The timing will never be better,” Meg said.

Collin looked at her. “I’ve heard those words before.” And gave her a wink.

She laughed and continued, “We start leaking rumors. Their shares become worth less and less. They have to fight back with more press, and as they spend money, we keep attacking.”

“Meanwhile, other investors start to get uncomfortable,” Liv said. “So the offers coming in from Rex start to look better and better. And the longer they wait, the less Rex pays.”

“You can cover this so it doesn’t trace back to your firm?” I didn’t want to put them in jeopardy.

Liv nodded. “Don’t think twice about it. Any pointing at us will all be speculation, and we know how to fight back on that one.”

“I’m going to increase security on you and the firm, Liv,” Tom stated. “Just in case.”

Liv nodded. "Okay, babe.”

“And once Rex owns the shares, we transfer the majority into Blake’s name and leave some for Rex for his part in this. Then we start the good press releases to move the shares back up,” Phil said.

“I’ll work on the copy for the price drop and increase so everything is ready to go at any time.” Maddie made a note.

Something occurred to me. “I don’t want the shares from Sherry’s family.” Everyone looked at me. “Put them in her name and give more shares of mine to Rex to make up for it.”

Laura smiled, put her hand on my thigh, and winked at me.

“Okay, so Sherry gets her family’s company.” Phil nodded.

Liv went to the whiteboard. “How many companies are there?”

“Sixteen. Ten on my side and six on Sherry’s.”

Meg walked over to Liv and grabbed a marker. "Okay, we’re going to need to know anything and everything you can tell us about each one.”

A few hours in and we had a very strategic plan. I could see why Liv’s firm had grown so quickly. The ideas that flowed out of her and Meg’s brains were incredible. It was like they could read the other's mind at times. I sat back and watched them in awe.

Laura leaned into me. “They are pretty incredible, aren’t they?”

I nodded and made a mental note to transfer the rest of my companies’ business to them after this was over.

We were finishing up when we heard an “Ouch” from Maddie. We all looked at her. She sat next to Jack, his arm around the back of her shoulder, and she sank into his chest, very pregnant.

Jack about jumped out of his seat. “What’s wrong?”

She grabbed his hand and put it on her stomach.

His face went from worry to a huge smile. Keeping his hand on her stomach, he leaned in and kissed her. “Hey, I think we have a football kicker in there.”

Maddie laughed. “It could be a girl, Jack.”

“Then she’ll be able to kick the crap out of any guy who touches her.” He grinned.

“Amen to that!” I was super happy that Jack was going be a father and had found Maddie. He’d been through the ringer and deserved nothing but the best.

I looked over at Laura and imagined what she would be like pregnant.

She caught me staring at her. “Why do you have a silly grin on your face?” she whispered to me.

I kissed her on the forehead. “No reason, Sweetheart.”

The meeting ended and we got into the car. It wasn’t as big as the other night. I looked at the seat belt and paused, then glanced briefly at Laura and smiled. I took her shoulder belt and buckled her in. “I could do some wicked things to you while you’re strapped in here like this, too.”

She laughed. “So much for a Texas gentleman.”

I winked at her and pushed the buckle back out, pulling her into me so she was leaning against my chest.

“Hey, I’m glad you’re going to give Sherry her family’s companies.”

I nodded. “She deserves it. She’ll do well running them, too. Or maybe she’ll want to sell them. Who knows.”

“What are you going to do with yours?”

I hadn’t thought about it much, to be honest, and shrugged my shoulders. “I’ll assess it once I get there. Right now, we need to take over control.” I thought about all that was ahead of us to make this work.

“You sure you’re up for the game tonight?” Laura gazed up at me. “We don’t have to go. You’ve dealt with a lot in the last few days.”

I laughed. “Let’s go to the game. I want to see Tom play, and it’ll be nice just to hang out and have some fun instead of all this serious stuff.”

She moved over onto my lap and straddled me, then brought her lips to mine. "Okay, then my mission tonight is to make sure you have fun.” Her eyes twinkled mischievously.

“Sweetheart, I think that’s a fine mission,” I said huskily.

23

Laura

Blake was leaving for Texas. I felt uneasy. It was the following week, and there were issues he needed to take care of.

I had gone to the airport with him, and we stood on the runway. “Are you sure you're going to be safe?” He had received numerous death threats, and those were only the ones I knew about. My gut told me that he’d hidden more.

His fingers stroked my cheek. “I’ll be fine. I’ve got armed guards all around me. I’m more worried about you here without me to look after you.”

I laughed. “One thing you don’t have to worry about is me. Between you, Tom, and Phil, I don’t think I’ll be able to pee without someone on top of me.”

“They better not be watching you pee,” he teased.

I swatted him. “Seriously, I’m worried about you. Take me with you!”

He bent down and kissed me. “Texas is too dangerous for you right now. As much as I hate not having my eyes on you, I know it’s the safest thing. I’ll be quick. In and out and back home.”

I raised my eyebrow at him. “You just called New York home.”

“Laura, wherever you are is home. I thought we went over this?” He gave me a serious stare.

I threw my arms around him. “Okay, well get back home quickly.”

Picking me up into a bear hug, he kissed me and put me down. “Be careful Sweetheart, okay? Don’t let your guard down.”

I gave him a little salute, and he slapped my ass playfully. “See you in a few days.” He put his cowboy hat on and slung his bag over his shoulder, then made his way up and into the plane.

When I got back in the car, I felt a little tug on my heart. We hadn’t been apart in over a week, and although it wasn’t a long time, it felt like it.

I made my way into work. I was surprised to see Jack meeting with Phil when I walked past the conference room.

My heart rate increased, and I walked in. “Sorry to interrupt, but is everything okay, Jack?”

Jack looked at me and realized that I thought he was there because of Blake’s issues. “Hey Laura. Everything is fine. I’m just here on other business-related matters.”

A big breath came out of me. I hadn’t realized I was holding it.

“You all right, Laura?” Phil fretted.

“Yeah, sorry. I just dropped Blake off at Teterboro, and I’m a little nervous about him going back to Texas right now.”

They shook their heads. “Understandable. He’ll be fine, though. One thing I know about Blake is that he can take care of himself,” Jack stated confidently.

“There are just so many death threats, and I know he’s getting ones I don’t know about.”

Jack looked at Phil. “We’re done here, right?”

Phil nodded.

“Laura, let’s go grab a coffee, okay?”

I looked at my watch. “I’ve got forty-five minutes before my first meeting. Can we have it in my office?”

“Sure.”

We got into my office. I looked at Jack. “So what’s up?”

“Blake is going to kill me for telling you this, but I am because I want you to be extra careful.”

My stomach dropped. “What is it?”

Jack looked at me, a bit uncomfortable. “Three men were arrested outside of Sherry’s kids’ school. They were scoping her kids out. We believe they were going to abduct them.”

“Oh my God!” I put my hand to my mouth.

“The police just tied them to some thugs that Sherry said works for her father's company.”

“They tried to have their own grandkids abducted?” I didn’t quite believe it.

“Yes.” Jack quieted a minute. “Look, I’ve known Blake's family for a long time. This is a full-blown war. They’ve tried to destroy him for years, and he’s always gone around them. I talked to Tom this morning, and our security is going to stay with him in Texas. I don’t believe his security is compromised, but to be safe.”

“Thank you. I appreciate you looking out for him.”

“I know you have your guards, but I would feel better if you stayed with me and Maddie until Blake’s back.”

I waved my hand in the air. “I’ll be fine.”

“Laura, please don’t fight me on this. Blake’s my best friend. I don’t want you or him to ever go through what Maddie and I did. Please. Just stay with us till he gets back.” Jack’s eyes pleaded with mine.

I thought about everything they had been through. It wouldn’t hurt to stay with them a few nights. I nodded. “Okay, Jack. I’ll need to get my stuff from my place, though.”

“Maddie and I will meet you here when you get off work. We’ll go with you.”

“That’s really not necessary.”

“Laura, will you just humor me, please?”

I took a deep breath. “Okay, I’ll see you both around 5:30?”

Jack nodded and got up and left.

I picked up my phone and texted Blake. “Did you talk to Jack about me staying with him and Maddie?”

“No, but I love that idea.”

“Well, I guess I am.”

“Good. I’ll sleep better.”

“Why didn’t you tell me about Sherry’s kids?”

“I didn’t want to worry you. So Jack told you?”

“Yes. Is she all right?”

“Sherry is tougher than she looks. The kids are fine and being homeschooled until this is over.”

“Jack said Tom’s guards are staying with you in Texas.”

Blake started typing. Then it went blank. Then, “So I hear.”

“I feel better knowing that.”

“Well, I’m glad then.”

I looked at my watch. “I have to get ready for my meeting. Let me know you got there safely, okay?”

“Will do.”

“I love you, Blake.”

“Love you too, Sweetheart.”

It was officially going to be a long few days.

Blake

If I was going to be in Texas, I wasn’t going to be unprepared. I stuck the key in the lock, opened the safe, and pulled out my revolver. It had been a while since I’d shot anything, and I didn’t want to be caught rusty. I got in my truck and headed over to Sherry’s.

Steven was outside when I got there. “Blake, everything all right?”

“All good. Wondering if you want to do some shooting? I haven’t in a while and need to make sure I’m not rusty.”

Steven nodded. “You know, I think Sherry should probably freshen up, too. Let me see if my sister can watch the kids. She’s with her now.”

About a half-hour later, Steven, Sherry, and I were on the shooting range, firing away at targets. Steven, the most well-versed, gave us pointers to improve our aim.

After going through several boxes of bullets each, we decided we’d had enough. We made sure our guns were empty of bullets and put on the safeties, then we went over to some bales of hay and sat down.

“Your kids doing okay?”

“They don’t know what happened, thankfully, so they’re full of piss and vinegar and ready to go back to school.” Sherry rolled her eyes with a smile.

Steven kicked the ground a bit. “It’s a good thing those thugs are in custody, because I’d be going after them. It’s taking everything I have not to go over and beat Sherry’s father to a bloody pulp.”

“I can’t say I blame you. You gotta stay back, though. We’re getting close. Once they have no money, their thugs won’t be doing any of their dirty work for them,” I counseled.

“Where are we at on that, Blake?” Sherry inquired.

I stretched my legs out. “As of this morning, we’ve got twelve to twenty-eight percent of the shares, depending on which company. The press releases should be going out today. That should speed things up.”

Sherry sighed. “Blake, do you think this is ever going to really end? Are we really going to be able to take them both down?”

“Yes, we are.”

“But you know what they’re like.”

I took a deep breath. “Yes, we know what they’re like. But they don’t know what we’re like.”

Rex was a shorter guy who looked like he lived in the gym. He was in his late twenties and a military brat, his accent a mishmash of places.

I shook his hand. “Jack speaks highly of you.”

He nodded. “Same with you.”

We sat in the back corner of a dark bar in the middle of the day. Smoke from the night before still filled the air. Minus the bartender and my security guards, no one else was there.

I took a sip of my beer. “So what did you find out?”

He smirked. “I think you’re going to like what I found out.”

“What’s that?”

“Both your fathers don’t have controlling percentages. They lost it in 2008. They had to sell when the markets crashed. Every company they own, they have less than fifty-one percent.” He had a smug look on his face.

I sat stunned. “You’ve got to be shitting me.”

Rex eagerly shook his head. “They had to bring in multiple investors because of the economy. So there’s an entire web of people who don’t have any loyalty to them.”

“No way.” I didn’t entirely believe it. It would make it way too easy.

“Yes. They’ve tried to regain control but can’t seem to. They never can get enough shares. Now that you’ve sunk your four companies, their capital is low again. I don’t think they have the funds to repurchase shares, even as the company starts to fall in value.”

I suddenly really loved Rex.

I couldn’t believe it. Never would I have thought they didn’t own control or wouldn’t be liquid. It made sense that they would buy my stock and try to use the bogus contracts to steal the companies.

“How many investors are there?”

Rex slid an envelope across the table. “Open it later. It’s got all the info you need.”

I put it in my blazer inside pocket. “Thank you.”

“I highlighted the investors I think will sell easily.” He took a swig of beer.

I stood up and patted his shoulder. “You’ve done well. Thanks. I’ll be in touch.”

My security details who stood against the wall followed me outside. I got into the car, checking my emails, and saw Rex walk out of the bar and go to his vehicle, which was parked about one hundred feet from mine.

The last thing I remembered was a big boom and his car flying through the air.

24

Laura

Blake had been gone a few days and was supposed to return in the evening. During his trip, I stayed with Jack and Maddie and was grateful, as it helped pass the time.

My phone rang. I looked down and saw it was Sherry. “Hey, Sherry.”

“Laura.” Panic laced her voice.

My gut dropped. “Sherry? What’s wrong?”

“It’s Blake… There... There’s been a bombing.”

I froze. Blake. Bombing. What?

No, no, NO!

I shook my head as tears I didn’t even feel fell down my face. Sherry was saying something—surgery…coma—but I wasn’t comprehending it.

“No,” I screamed into the phone. “No, no, no!”

Maddie ran out to the living room. “Laura?”

I handed her the phone. She started screaming for Jack. I vaguely remember being rushed out the door and into Tom’s plane.

Random thoughts flew through my head: Blake’s face and his voice calling me Sweetheart; his cowboy hat on top of his luggage in my bedroom; having coffee with him surrounded by his shopping bags; Blake crying when we made love and begging me to forgive him as his tears fell on my face.

I started sobbing.

“Laura.” Maddie came and put her arm around me.

I looked at her. “Is…he…” I couldn’t finish.

She shook her head. “He’s out of surgery and in a coma, but he’s stable, so that’s good.”

She handed me a tissue.

I shook my head. Stable, that’s good, I repeated in my head.

I started coming out of my shock a bit. I realized that Tom was on the plane too, along with Jack and Maddie.

I stared at Tom, who sat across from me. He stared back.

“How far are we?” I asked.

“About twenty minutes.” I turned and realized Phil was there, too. I slowly nodded.

I looked at Jack, who had red eyes. “What happened?”

“He met Rex at a bar. He was in his truck, and they were leaving. Rex’s car blew up, and it crashed into Blake’s truck,” he stated with no emotion in his voice.

I tried to process it. Rex’s car blew up.

I looked back up. “Is Rex…?”

Jack nodded and broke down sobbing. Maddie got up and sat on his lap, then pulled his face into her chest.

I looked back at Tom. “Who did it?” But I already knew the answer.

“Our guys are investigating. So are the police,” Tom said.

“There’s no point. It was his family.”

I spent the rest of the flight staring into Tom’s eyes. He kept scanning my eyes.

It felt like forever, but we finally landed and got to the hospital. Phil and Tom took charge. We arrived in the waiting area. Sherry ran up to me and hugged me. She had tears in her eyes and didn’t say anything.

Steven stood up and introduced himself to everyone.

“Where is he?” I questioned.

Steven looked at me. “They won’t let anyone who isn’t family see him.”

I laughed a sarcastic laugh. “Does that include the family that tried to kill him?”

I heard Tom say to the front desk, “I need to talk to the head of your hospital now, please.”

“They don’t come down to the non-administrative area,” she said.

Tom picked up the phone and handed it to her. “Do you think someone would be interested in walking into this non-administrative area for a $100,000 donation right now?”

“Umm…y…yes, sir,” she stuttered.

“Good. Make sure they have top authority to override this bullshit family policy you have.”

He walked over to us and looked down at me. “I’m not going through this again.”

I nodded.

Within minutes the head of the hospital was on our floor, and the family restriction was lifted. “One more thing,” Tom told them. “His blood relatives don’t come near him, you understand me? The only people who see him are the people standing right here.” He pointed to us all.

Some paperwork was filled out, and I was soon escorted into the room with Tom. It was a good thing he was there, because I didn’t recognize Blake. I almost fell over.

Tom stood there and held me up. “It’s okay. His wounds will heal,” he said gently.

Blake’s face was a bloody pulp. My beautiful, strong cowboy was swollen and disfigured, with a breathing tube down his throat.

“Oh my God,” I sobbed into Tom’s chest.

He put his arms around me. “Shh.” He stroked my hair.

I took a step back and a deep breath. I walked closer to Blake. Different portions of his body were wrapped in gauze. His left hand was free. I grabbed it and kissed it. I peered into his face and tried to see the Blake I knew.

I couldn’t recognize him, and I started crying harder as I held onto his hand.

Jack must have come in. I heard a “Fuck,” then a big sob. I turned to stare at him as Maddie tried comforting him once again.

I pulled a chair up and sat down. Grabbing his hand, I stroked his finger and willed him to wake up and open his eyes.

I will recognize his eyes, just like his hand, I kept telling myself over and over.

A doctor came in and said a bunch of words. I didn’t comprehend anything. I just kept staring at Blake’s hand and listening to the rhythm of the ventilator. I stroked his hand repeatedly and willed him to wake up.

I leaned into him. “Wake up, baby. Please, wake up.”

The light outside the window went from sunny to dark, and I don’t know how long I sat there. People kept coming in and out of the room, but I wasn’t aware of who. I was talking to him, stroking his hand, whispering to him.

I pulled the blanket up and off him. I looked at his body. His left thigh didn’t have many bandages on it. I gave him a kiss there and rubbed my hand up and down it. “Wake up, baby.”

Someone called my name, and I put the blanket back.

“Laura, visiting hours are over.” Tom put his hand on my shoulder.

I looked at him. “I’m not going anywhere.”

“We can’t stay. I tried everything. We can visit tomorrow.” He extended his hand to me.

“Tomorrow?” I questioned.

He grabbed my hand and pulled me up. “Yes, tomorrow.”

I looked back at Blake and leaned down and whispered, “Tomorrow I will come back, baby. Wake up for me, okay?” Fresh tears fell on his battered face.

“Come on.” Tom led me out of the hospital and into a car where the others sat.

Phil held a small bag.

“What’s that?” I asked.

“Blake’s things,” Phil said cautiously.

I held my hand out.

“I don’t know if you should look at this stuff, Laura.”

“Give it to me.” I held out my hand.

He reluctantly handed it to me.

I opened the bag. I pulled out Blake’s clothes—bloody, full of dirt, and ripped. His keys, phone, and wallet were there. At the bottom was his cowboy hat and gun. I pulled out the hat and a fresh set of sobs came out of me. “He loves this hat. I got him this hat when he turned twenty-four.”

It was full of blood and dirt.

Jack started crying again, too.

The car stopped. When the driver opened the door, I saw we were outside a hotel. “What are we doing here?”

“We need to stay somewhere, Laura,” Phil said.

I shook my head, grabbed the door, and slammed it shut. “We're going to Blake’s. We aren’t staying at a hotel.”

I pulled his license out of his wallet and handed it to Tom.

Tom gave the address to the driver.

The car started moving again, and we were soon outside of Blake’s. I pulled out his keys. My hands shook as I opened the door. I quickly hit the security code he had given me when I’d been out there last.

I turned around. “Jack, I need to talk to you.”

He nodded, and I led him into the den.

I took almost everything out of the bag and handed it to Jack. “Blake’s gun is in here. Do you know where it goes?”

He nodded. His eyes welled with tears before he left the room to put it away.

I told everyone to find whatever bedroom they wanted, and I went into Blake’s room. I took a shower and scrubbed my skin hard, almost like I could wash away what had happened.

When I got out, I went into his closet, grabbed one of his t-shirts and a sweatshirt. Then I grabbed a pair of leggings I had left in his closet. It occurred to me that no one had clothes. Well, Tom and Phil each had a bag that they kept on his plane.

I selected a bunch of t-shirts, pajama pants, and other items and went out into the family room where everyone sat. I gave Maddie and Jack the clothes and told everyone to give me the clothes they were wearing so I could wash them for tomorrow.

As I grabbed Blake’s clothes, an envelope fell out.

I picked it up and opened it. It was a spreadsheet of names and percentages. Some of the names were highlighted.

Jack walked over to me. “Laura, what is it?”

I handed him the paper. “I don’t know.”

He looked down at it and back up at us all, his eyes wide. “Give me Blake’s phone, Laura.” He held out his hand.

I grabbed it and handed it to him.

He dialed a number. “Sherry, can you and Steven come over to Blake’s? We need your knowledge to finish these assholes off.”

25

Laura

It was late, and Sherry’s kids were asleep in one of the bedrooms. They had arrived in pajamas, and Maddie and Steven had put them to bed.

They came back out. Sherry rattled off who was who on the list. Half the people she knew, half she didn’t. The highlighted ones were mostly the people she didn’t know.

“I can’t believe they left themselves exposed like this,” Sherry stated.

“We can finish them off now.” Jack had determination in his eyes.

Tom’s leg started twitching.

I looked at him. “Marko, spill it.”

He looked a bit uncomfortable. “Now that Rex is…”—he stopped and took a big breath—“not able to buy shares, we need to see who his next of kin is, as well as find new buyers.”

A moment of grief crossed Jack’s face at the mention of Rex. “I have all his beneficiary info because of the companies. It’s his wife,” he said quietly.

Tom’s leg started twitching again. “Someone is going to have to speak with his wife and fill her in on what he was doing and have her either hold on or sell the shares to us. It’s not pleasant, but we can’t risk the others trying to get to her first.”

Jack sighed. “I’ll go. I know her. I owe her that.”

“Want me to go with you?” Tom asked.

Jack nodded. “Please.”

“Okay, man. We’ll go tomorrow.”

I looked back at everyone. “Assuming Rex’s shares are safe, we need new buyers. Who do we know?”

Maddie snapped her fingers. “I got it!” She turned to Jack.

“Who?”

“Casey. He’s the perfect person to do it.”

“Your driver Casey?” I had met Casey a few times.

“Yes, our driver. But he isn’t just a driver, is he Jack?”

Jack leaned over to her and kissed her. “That’s my girl!”

“Why is Casey perfect?” I asked.

Jack turned back to us all. “He’s ex-military. He has several aliases he could buy shares with. He knows how to move quickly and quietly. No one will see him coming, and they don’t know he’s tied to me.”

Phil nodded. “Casey is perfect.”

“Would he do it?” I knew this was a dangerous job, and not just anyone would agree to it.

Jack laughed. “Casey is as loyal as they come. If I ask him, I would be shocked if he said no. Let me get him out here. I don’t want to discuss any of this on the phone.”

We all agreed—no phones.

“Jack, do you think I should see if I can sweet talk some of these old men friends of my father’s?” Sherry asked. “Some of them always had a sweet spot for me. A few of them I always felt hated my father.”

“No,” Steven said. “It’s too dangerous.”

“But—”

Tom jumped in. “Sherry, don’t risk anything. You have three kids. Let’s get Casey involved and see what happens. We don’t need you getting hurt.”

“Look, my family was part of this bomb. I know it. I want to do my part to help. It’s partly my fault that bomb went off.”

I gave her a confused look. “How is it your fault?”

“We moved our assets to the shell company. We pissed off my family. It’s partly my fault.”

I went over and sat next to her. “It’s not your fault. Don’t do something stupid because you’re feeling guilty. Blake wouldn’t want you to do that.”

“Agreed,” Jack said. “Sherry, you’ve helped a lot just going through this list with me. Just keep working with me on strategizing on this list. You’re helping more than you know.”

“But—”

“No.” Steven’s voice was more authoritative. He bent down to look at her face. “I won’t have it. Enough. You are not to get near any of those men, do you hear me? We don’t need our children motherless.”

She slowly nodded.

Jack stood up. “Let me get Casey here. Sherry, we’ll need you involved when he gets here, all right?”

“Whatever you need.”

Tom picked up his phone. “Hey, Gorgeous. When are the next set of press releases scheduled to go out?” Tom started pacing again. He listened, then, “If we need them sent out earlier, is that possible?”

Tom glanced at Phil and me and nodded. "Okay, thanks. Call you later.” Tom hung up.

“What’s the situation?” Jack tapped his fingers together.

“Liv says that the press releases are scheduled for three days, but can be sent at any minute.”

Phil spoke up. “If Casey is on board, I say we start dropping the stock price.”

Tom and Jack shook their heads. “I think it would be safer if the ladies were out of Texas though,” Tom suggested.

“I’m not going anywhere without Blake.”

“Laura—” Phil started.

“No. Don’t even try, Phil. I’m not going anywhere without him.”

Maddie turned to Jack. “I don’t want to go if you’re still here,” she said quietly, her lip slightly quivering.

He looked at her and caressed her cheek. "Okay baby. But we need a plan, all right?”

Maddie nodded.

“I can stay with the girls if needed,” Steven volunteered. “You guys take care of talking to Rex’s wife and dealing with Casey, and I can stay with the girls at the hospital.”

“I can as well,” Phil said.

“And we double up security, but with my guys. We have two of our guys outside Blake’s room, but we fly more of my guys down here. No offense.” Tom looked at Sherry and Steven. “Present company excluded, but I don’t trust anyone in Texas right now.”

“No offense taken,” Steven said.

“I’ll send the jet back to pick up more security and Casey early tomorrow, then?” Tom looked at Jack.

Jack nodded. “I already texted Casey that I need him down here and to await instructions. Just let me know the details.”

Sherry spoke up. “We can’t screw up any part of this. If one thing goes wrong, we’re all going to have massive targets—bigger than we already do—on our backs.”

“Then we don’t fuck up,” Jack said.

It was late when I finally got into bed. I lay on Blake’s side and hugged his pillow tight. Tears poured out of me as pictures of his swollen and beat-up face and body wouldn’t leave my mind.

I didn’t know what time I fell asleep, but I woke up in a panic. It was 8 a.m.

I went out to the kitchen and Maddie was there.

She smiled at me. “Hey, did you get any sleep?”

“It took me a long time to fall asleep. I can’t believe it’s so late. I need to get to the hospital,” I fretted.

She put her hand on my arm. “They won’t let you in till noon.”

“What?”

She shook her head. “Noon to three. Then five until eight. They let you stay yesterday because you were in so much shock, but they told Tom you had to abide by the hours starting today.”

I rolled my eyes. “He paid them $100,000 and they still have to be assholes?”

She let out a little giggle. “Yep.”

I shook my head, annoyed.

“Hey, what did he mean yesterday when he said he wasn’t going to do that again?”

I looked at her in question. “When?”

“About the family policy?”

I told her about what happened when Collin was shot and Meg wasn’t allowed to see him.

“Ah, that makes sense. Tom doesn’t throw his money around like that, so I figured there was something significant to it,” she added.

I nodded and looked around. “So where is everyone else?”

Maddie raised her eyebrows. “Well, Tom wasn’t kidding when he said he was flying more guards in.”

I tilted my head at her in question. “What do you mean?”

“He filled his jet with them...every seat on the plane. They’re in the family room, working out details. And Casey is here, too. He’s agreed to do it,” Maddie updated me.

I went to the doorway of the family room. Sure enough, dozens of armed guards had filled the room. Tom, Phil, and Jack were all in different conversations, and Sherry was next to Jack and Casey, going back through the list.

“Wow. It looks intense in there.” I glanced over at Maddie.

She nodded, then put her hand on her belly.

“Hey, is the baby kicking?”

“Yeah, you want to feel it?”

I walked over and put my hand on her stomach right before a big kick. I laughed. “Does that hurt?”

She smiled. “Nope, just makes me excited to meet him or her.”

“Blake joked about getting me barefoot and pregnant and filling this house with babies.” A tear went down my cheek.

“Oh hey, don’t worry. He’s going to be okay, and you can still do that!” Maddie exclaimed and rubbed my back.

“I’m sorry—I’m happy for you. I am.” I really was!

“Shh… It’s all right. I know you are,” Maddie said softly.

I tried pulling myself together. “I’m going to shower and get ready to go to the hospital.”

“Okay, I’ll get ready as well so I can go with you.”

I gave her a grateful nod. “Thanks.”

Today I was no longer in shock, and I needed to pull myself together. I needed my brain. A lot of stuff was about to go down, and the last thing I needed to be was a blubbering idiot.

26

Laura

I pulled Blake's license out of his wallet. For some reason I felt like I needed to see his face, not the face that I didn’t recognize at the hospital.

By the time we left, Jack and Tom had left to talk to Rex’s wife. Phil went with Maddie and me, and four cars of armed guards surrounded our vehicle. You would have thought we were super important.

We got to the hospital and I prepared myself to walk into Blake’s room. I stood outside and took a few breaths.

Phil put his hand on my shoulder. “Laura, you want me to go in with you?”

I bit my lip. “I think I need to do this on my own today.”

He nodded. “Okay. Maddie and I will be out here if you need us.”

“Thanks.”

I turned and walked in. Like the day before, Blake was on the ventilator and unconscious. The sound of the machine echoed in the sterile room. I walked over to him. “Hey, Cowboy.” I put my hand in his and stroked his hair with my other one. I leaned down and kissed him on the forehead.

His face looked a little less swollen. I kissed him one more time and pulled a chair over. I started telling him about our plan and what we were going to do to take his family down. I explained how we were staying at his house and that I found his list when I pulled out his clothes, and how I gave Jack his gun to take care of. That Sherry and Steven were over all night and had brought the kids. And how I had told Maddie his thoughts on keeping me barefoot and pregnant and filling his house with our babies.

I stood up and whispered in his ear, “Baby, your hat got dirt and blood on it, but I’m going to find a leather cleaner to fix it. If not, I’ll get you a new one. But I need you to wake up. You promised me that you would never leave me again. Please, wake up.”

I lifted the blanket off him and looked closely at where his bandages were. One side wasn’t as bad as the other. I put the blanket back down and went to the other side, then lay down next to him. I curled up to him, my head on his chest, my arm around his waist, and my hand in his.

“Blake, please wake up. I need you. I can’t lose you again. I’m so shattered without you. Please, I’ll do anything you want. Just wake up, baby.”

I was crying again. I didn’t want to be, but I was. I traced a heart over his heart. I ran my fingers through his hair. I gave him another kiss on the forehead.

Then it happened. I felt a little squeeze on my hand. I thought I imagined things at first. I froze. Slowly, I squeezed his hand. He squeezed it back—I was sure of it. I went to look at his hand and saw that a tent was forming under the blankets.

I couldn’t help it and started laughing. “Easy there, Cowboy,” I whispered. “You’re getting a boner and visiting hours are almost up.”

He squeezed my hand again.

“Blake, can you hear me?” I started to get excited.

Another squeeze.

I pushed the alarm.

“Baby, if you can hear me, squeeze my hand again.”

Another squeeze.

“Blake, open your eyes.” My face was right up next to his with the ventilator between us.

Another squeeze.

“Baby, please open your eyes.”

Another squeeze.

The nurse came in. “What are you doing on top of Mr. Montgomery?”

“I’m not on top of him!” Well, maybe I had gotten a bit excited and moved on him a little more than I’d realized.

“You need to get off of him!”

“He’s squeezing my hand!”

“Ma’am, you need to remove your body from Mr. Montgomery’s,” the nurse repeated as Phil and Maddie came into the room.

“He squeezed my hand, and he has a boner!” I pointed to his lower region.

“Ma’am, if you don’t get off the patient we’ll have to remove you from the hospital.”

“Laura!” Phil called out.

I snapped my head to look at him. “What?”

Maddie was standing in the doorway with her hand over her mouth as she tried to stifle her giggles.

Phil walked over to me. “Laura, you have to get off Blake.”

I looked down. I was literally on top of him. “Oh, jeez!” I looked at the nurse. “I’m sorry, I just got excited. He’s squeezing my hand when I ask him questions.”

“If you get off him, I’ll go get the doctor.”

My face flushed. I quickly got off him.

The nurse pointed at me. “Do not get on the patient while I am gone.”

“I’ll watch her,” Phil said with a straight face.

The nurse nodded and left.

Phil and Maddie started cracking up so hard they were crying.

“What?” I didn’t understand why they were laughing.

Maddie wiped her tears off her face. “What were you doing on top of Blake?”

“I just was laying down next to him when he started squeezing my hand, and that happened!” I pointed to his lower region, which was now straight up.

Phil pointed to Blake’s hard-on. “Was that before or after you mounted him?”

Maddie started giggling again.

I rolled my eyes, but couldn’t help the grin on my face. I grabbed Blake’s hand again. “Baby, can you hear me? Squeeze my hand if you can hear me, baby.”

Blake squeezed my hand.

“Did you see that?” I looked at Maddie and Phil.

They stopped laughing.

“Yes!” Phil said.

Maddie nodded and walked over to me.

I caressed Blake’s hair again and put my lips to his ears. “Baby, open your eyes. You can do it. Just open them for me, okay?”

Blake squeezed my hand again.

“Did you see that, Phil?” Maddie asked excitedly.

Phil nodded.

“Baby, if you open your eyes, I’ll wear your cowboy hat again,” I whispered very quietly in his ear so Maddie and Phil couldn’t hear. His boner sprang up more.

Phil cleared his throat and took a step back. “I’m going to go sit over there.”

Maddie came closer to me. “Are you whispering dirty things to him?”

I shrugged my shoulders and gave her a grin.

She started laughing again. “I’m going to go sit with Phil, then.”

I leaned back into Blake. “Baby, if you can hear me, squeeze my hand if you want me to give you a blow job when we get out of here.”

Blake squeezed my hand—hard.

I laughed in his ear. "Okay baby, I need you to open your eyes for me.”

He swiped his thumb on my hand.

I bent down and kissed him on his forehead.

The doctor came in and examined Blake. He opened his eyelids with his fingers and shone a flashlight in his eyes.

His pupils dilated, and he squeezed my hand again.

“He squeezed my hand!”

Blake took his hand that wasn’t in mine and tried to pull the ventilator off.

The doctor grabbed his hand. “Easy there,” he said gently.

“Why isn’t he opening his eyes?” I furrowed my brow at the doctor.

The doctor looked at me. “This happens a lot with coma patients. It takes a bit for them to be able to open their eyes. Keep talking to him and telling him to open them.”

Blake tried to pull the ventilator out again.

“Does he need the ventilator? He seems to want it out.”

“He was scheduled to have it removed later today, so we can do it earlier. We don’t want him ripping it out,” the doctor said.

“Okay, good.”

The doctor looked at Phil, Maddie, and me. “You will all need to leave the room so we can remove the ventilator.”

“Can’t I stay?” I scanned the doctor's eyes.

“No, unfortunately not. But you can come in after. Visiting hours will be over, but I’ll let you stay since he is on the cusp of waking up. He seems to respond to you.”

The nurse shot me more daggers. I smirked at her.

I leaned down to Blake and kissed him on the forehead. “I’m going to step outside, baby, so they can take this ventilator off you. I'll be back to give you a kiss on the lips when they’re done, okay?”

Blake’s free hand reached over to my hand he was already holding, and both hands squeezed mine. He wouldn’t let me go.

I looked at the doctor. “I don’t think he wants me to go.”

The doctor looked at me. “It’s not an awesome thing to watch.”

I took a deep breath. “I can handle it. He doesn’t want me to leave.”

Blake gripped my hand so hard it started to hurt. “Baby, you have to let go of my hand a bit, it’s starting to hurt a tad.”

He immediately loosened his grip a bit and started to rub his thumbs on my hand.

I nodded my head to Blake’s hand. “See, he doesn’t want me to leave.”

He tapped his thumb three times. It gave me an idea.

“Blake, tap your thumb twice.”

He tapped twice.

“Tap three times.”

He tapped three times.

“Okay baby, tap my hand three times if you love Texas, two times if you hate Texas.”

Three taps. I smiled.

“Tap my hand two times if you bought me my racehorses or three times if I bought my racehorses.”

Three taps. “That’s right, baby.” I grazed his hair with my free hand.

“Okay baby, tap my hand two times if I bought your cowboy hat or three times if you bought your cowboy hat.”

Two taps. “That’s right, baby.”

“Baby, tap three times if you want me to leave the room when they take your ventilator out, or two times if you want me to stay.”

Two taps.

I looked at the doctor. “Let me stay.”

The doctor shook his head but smiled. “All right, you win.”

Blake squeezed my hand harder.

“Baby, tap my hand three times if you are trying to open your eyes, or two times if you want to stay asleep more.”

Three times.

“Good, baby,” I stroked his hair again.

“Everyone except my staff and Laura needs to clear the room so we can get this ventilator out,” the doctor said.

The doctor and nurses got everything set up to remove the ventilator. They told me what to expect and told me to look at the bottom of Blake’s body and not his face.

I kept hold of his hands with both my hands. I was in the room for a while; they had to test if he could breathe on his own for different periods.

The doctor gave me instructions on what to tell Blake. I still didn’t understand why he wasn’t opening his eyes, but maybe it was better during the procedure.

A few hours later, Blake was ventilator-free. The doctor left, and the nurse reminded me not to lay on top of the patient. I rolled my eyes at her. She saw me do so and wasn’t amused.

The doctor told me to keep talking to Blake and he would hopefully open his eyes soon.

I leaned over and kissed him on the lips. I even took a little bite out of his bottom lip. His hard-on started again.

Maddie and Phil came in.

“Jeez, Laura. What the heck are you doing to him?” Maddie pointed to his hard-on.

I laughed. “Nothing. I just kissed him.”

“That must be one freaking hot kiss.”

Phil just walked over to his chair, chuckling.

“Jack called. Rex’s wife signed the shares over. Jack bought them for double the value.”

At the mention of Rex’s name, Blake’s hand moved to my wrists and held on hard.

I looked at Maddie, then back at Blake. “Baby, what is it?”

He traced the letters R-E-X on my arm with his finger.

“You want to know about Rex? Tap twice for no and three times for yes.”

Three taps.

I took a deep breath. “Rex didn’t make it, baby. His car blew up.”

A tear fell out of Blake's eye.

I stroked his hair again. “Shh.” I kissed him on the lips. “It’s okay, baby. Just open your eyes for me, please.”

“Jack and Tom will be here soon,” Maddie informed me.

Blake gripped my hand again.

“I think he wants to talk to them. Maybe Jack? Tom?”

“Blake, if you want to talk to just Jack, tap Laura’s hand once. If you want to talk to just Tom tap twice, if you want to talk to both of them, tap three times,” Maddie instructed him.

One tap.

I looked at Maddie. “Just Jack.”

She nodded. “I’ll send Jack in when he gets here.”

Phil got up and came over. “Maddie, time for you to eat. Jack will hurt me if I don’t keep you nourished. Let’s go. You want anything, Laura?”

“I’m not hungry. Thanks.”

They left the room.

“Baby, it’s just you and me now. I need you to open your eyes, Cowboy.” I bent down and kissed him, and was surprised when he opened his mouth and his tongue started exploring my mouth. I pulled back, breathless.

A smile sat on his face. His cock was straight up again.

I decided to take a stern approach. “Blake, open your goddamn eyes. You can hear me. You answer me. Please. Open your eyes.”

Okay, that wasn’t working.

“Baby, I need you so bad. More than anything, I need your eyes open. Please,” I begged.

He squeezed my hand.

I continued, “I’ll give you whatever you want. Anything. Everything. Just open your eyes.”

He stroked my hand with his, but he wouldn't open his eyes.

I sighed and crawled back onto the bed to cuddle with him. He put his arm around my body and started stroking my hip. A few tears fell down my face and onto his chest. “Blake, please wake up. I can’t do this without you. Please. You’re my life. Just wake up.”

His hand reached up to my head and stroked my hair. “Shh, Sweetheart. Shh.”

I cuddled down into him more. It was so quiet I thought I’d imagined it.

I kept talking. “You have to wake up. You’re the only man I’ve ever wanted and the only one I ever will. I need you. I love you so much my heart hurts. Just wake up, baby. Wake up for me, please,” I sobbed.

He continued to stroke my hair. “Hey, Sweetheart, it’s okay. I love you, too.”

I froze. I slowly looked up.

Blake’s eyes were full of tears, and he was looking down at me. I had been right. Even though his face was a swollen mess, I still knew those eyes.

27

Laura

A  few weeks passed. Jack and Maddie had stayed behind with us. Tom and Phil had to go back to New York. Tom’s slew of bodyguards stayed, as well as Casey, who made some impressive progress.

Blake’s face started to resemble his own. The swelling continued to go down, and his bruises began to heal. He was finally able to leave, but we had to hire some in-home nurses for him to leave the hospital.

He had a few broken ribs—which I probably didn’t help when I was sprawled across him at the hospital, if I was being honest. Phil and Maddie reported to everyone, including Blake, how the nurse had caught me mounting him.

The other bruises had all started to heal and fade, and Blake was beyond ready to be home.

I made him his favorite dinner, and Jack, Maddie, Blake, and I sat around the table for hours, talking and laughing. Everything was perfect until Jack’s phone rang.

“Casey,” Jack answered. Blake and Jack exchanged looks. “No, it’s fine. Come over.”

I sighed and looked at Maddie. I was ready for this to be over, and so was she.

"Okay, I’ll call her.” Jack hung up. “Casey said we need to talk and Sherry needs to be here, too.” Jack picked up the phone and called Sherry.

Soon, Casey, Sherry, Steven, and their kids were over.

“Blake”—Sherry leaned down and kissed him on the cheek—“I see your face is getting back to normal.”

He laughed. “A couple more months and I could have skipped a Halloween mask.”

“Stop it!” I swatted his arm with a dish towel.

Casey cleared his throat. “Sorry to interrupt, but we’re down to the last three investors, and I need to know more about them. Something feels off to me. I don’t know what, but I was hoping Sherry might be able to help.”

“Which investors?”

“Montague, Simon, and Archer,” Casey said.

She looked at Steven. “Those are the ones who always had a sweet spot for me.”

“I think Archer had more than a sweet spot for you.” Blake shot her a knowing glance.

Sherry’s head whipped around. “What do you mean?”

Blake laughed. “You didn’t know? That man used to salivate whenever anyone mentioned your name. I assumed he had hit on you a few times just from the way he acted.”

Sherry shook her head. “No. He was always very kind to me. Do you remember when Daddy—sorry, my father—told me I couldn’t go to college because girls didn’t need college? Archer was the one who convinced him to let me go.”

“Really? I didn’t know that,” Blake said.

I looked at Casey. “What exactly feels off?”

“They seem to have loyalty to Blake and Sherry’s fathers, but they also seem to hate them. I can’t get a grip on what’s happening there. They own the last shares before we own it all, minus your two fathers’ shares,” Casey said.

“Montague, Simon, Archer.” Blake drummed his fingers on the table.

I put my hand over his. “Blake, what is it?”

He shook his head. “I don’t know. Something is stuck in my brain about those names.” He looked at Sherry and kept repeating the names.

Sherry’s face drained of color. She looked back at Blake and whispered, “Our wedding.”

He looked at her. “What about it?”

“The toasts. They each gave a toast.”

Blake looked at her. “I don’t remember.”

“Well, you were drunk before you walked down the aisle, remember?” She smirked.

His face got red. “I’ve never said sorry about that.” He looked at her apologetically.

Jack cleared his throat. “I should apologize for that too, Sherry.”

She laughed. “I was just upset I was pregnant and not able to drown my sorrows as well.”

They all laughed.

“Okay, so what’s the big deal about the toasts?” Maddie asked.

Sherry stood up and paced. “None of them were supposed to make a toast. One by one, they all got up. First Archer, whose entire speech was about how my father didn’t understand how lucky he was to raise such an amazing woman.”

“And that didn’t give you a clue he wanted to get in your pants?” Blake raised his brows at her.

She grabbed the dish towel from me and swatted Blake’s arm. “You have him pegged wrong. And I was pregnant and not marrying the father of my child. Give me a break here.”

Blake laughed. “Point taken.”

“So Montague gets up after Archer. He starts giving a toast about how Blake’s father is the luckiest guy on Earth to have such an intelligent son, and how if he knew any better, he would know what to do with him. That was before Jack stood up on the table and sang ‘For He’s a Jolly Good Fellow.’” She tilted her head and bit back a smile.

Jack’s face got red. “No I didn’t.”

Sherry laughed. “Yes, you did.”

“Jeez, I’m sorry.” He looked helpless.

Maddie looked at him half in horror, half trying not to laugh.

Sherry continued. “Simon stands up. He starts telling a tale of love triangles, broken hearts, and how when two people fall in love, they shouldn’t let semantics or rules get in the way. Which crushed my heart and soul, because all I could think of was Steven.” She looked up at him, and he bent down and kissed her.

She pointed to Blake. “You, by the way. I had to kick you under the table because you started moaning Laura’s name right around then and it was starting to get rather loud.”

I covered my mouth with my hand and turned toward Blake. He blushed but looked at me and shrugged. I bit my lip laughing.

“Right when I think Simon is going to sit down, he screams out, ‘Money is king, isn’t it Charles and Howard?’ while looking at both our fathers, who looked like they wanted to die on the spot,” Sherry said.

“No offense, but you two had a wedding made for Jerry Springer,” Maddie giggled.

“None taken,” Blake said.

Jack let out a big breath. “So besides the fact that Blake and I can’t remember anything, and Sherry, unfortunately, remembers every sad detail, what does this have to do with the company?”

“They don’t like our fathers. Something is in those speeches, I’m telling you. They wanted to shame our fathers to Texan society, but there’s something more in those speeches. If there weren’t, then they wouldn’t be on the companies. They have something on our fathers, Blake.” Sherry was convinced.

Blake shook his head. “I don’t know, Sherry. This seems like kind of a stretch.”

She was adamant. “I think I should talk to them at the very least, Archer.”

“No way. Sherry, we’ve already talked about this,” Steven said.

“This is different.”

“No it’s not. Nothing has changed. You cannot put yourself in a dangerous position like that,” Steven argued.

Blake looked at her and didn’t say anything. He just stared.

“Blake, why are you staring at me like that?”

“Sweetheart,” he said to me, “can you bring me my laptop?”

I nodded and went and got it.

He opened it up and started typing. He looked at Sherry and back at his computer.

“Blake?” Sherry stared at him, waiting for an answer.

Blake glanced at me. “Can you bring me my wallet?”

I went and got it. “Blake, what are you looking at?”

“Just give me a minute.” He pulled out his license and started looking at the screen and his license and back again.

“Blake, you’re kind of freaking me out here,” Sherry told him.

His face started to drain of color. “Sherry, I think we’ve been in the wrong families.”

28

Blake

Something bugged me about Sherry’s story. Montague. Archer. Simon. They all were kind to me as a kid. While they didn’t help me when I left my family, they weren’t disgraceful like the rest of Texan society.

Archer tells a story about Sherry.

Montague tells a story about me.

Simon tells a story about a love triangle.

What was I missing?

Then it hit me. I pulled up Archer’s website and brought up his picture with his bio. There. In his nose and eyes, I saw it. I saw her.

I pulled up Montague’s website. I looked at my picture, then his picture. His chin, his jawline. My chin. My jawline.

It couldn't be… But could it? Were they our real fathers?

“Sherry, I think we’ve been in the wrong family,” I said hoarsely, not sure if I believed it, but not able to deny it, either.

“Blake, what in God’s name are you talking about?” she hurled at me.

I returned my eyes to Archer's picture and turned the laptop to her. “You have his nose and eyes. I see you in him.”

She shook her head. “No way, Blake.”

Everyone studied the picture and agreed that she had his nose and eyes.

“It makes sense why he would be so sweet on you,” Jack said.

“His interest in you, all those years. It wasn’t because he wanted you… He wanted to make sure you were okay,” I said. “He wants to tell you—he just can’t, for whatever reason.” It made sense now.

Sherry just shook her head.

“I think Montague is my father. I have his chin and jawline.”

Once again, everyone agreed with my observation.

Laura came over and sat down next to me and put her hand on my thigh. “You okay?” she murmured.

I nodded. I hated my father. This would be a welcome alternative.

“So that would make Montague's speech valid, but what about Simon? What does he have to do with all of this?” Maddie asked.

Steven chimed in, “Maybe he just knows about it. He is good friends with Archer and Montague, so maybe he knows about it and is blackmailing your fathers?”

I looked up. “Casey, how good are you at stealing DNA?”

P atience. I needed patience. Casey was secretly getting the DNA samples from both Archer and Montague. I was convinced I knew their secrets, but until we had proof, we couldn’t risk anything.

It was a month later. We were still in Texas. Laura had gone to a few meetings. She met up with Tom and Phil via my jet, along with bodyguards, but returned home to me every night.

She had just come home. I had showered and was shaving when she walked in. My face was almost back to normal, and shaving was getting a lot easier. Laura surprised me and put her arms around my waist and kissed my back.

“Hey, Sweetheart." I smiled at her, relieved she was home. While we had more bodyguards than needed, I still felt better with her in front of (or behind) me.

One more stroke of the razor and I was done. I wiped my face and turned to kiss her.

“You know you kissed me like this while in a coma?” She grinned at me.

I stroked her cheek. “I remember.”

“You do?”

We hadn’t talked a lot about what I remembered and didn’t. Lots of things that had been foggy when I first woke up had gotten clearer over the last few weeks.

I nodded. “I remember a lot of what you said. I've been waiting for these ribs to heal to cash in.” I threw her a naughty look.

She laughed. “I’m sorry. I probably didn’t do them any good when I laid on you.”

“Don’t you mean mounted me?” I teased. I had heard all about it from Maddie and Phil, and imagining it made me chuckle.

Laura’s face got red. “I wasn’t mounting you.”

I looked at her like I didn’t believe her.

"Okay, fine, I was mounting you. But I didn’t realize it, and you seemed to like it,” she teased back.

I had heard all about my hard-on, as well. “What did you expect me to do when you were on top of me, talking dirty to me about cowboy hats and blow jobs?”

Her face went redder. “Desperate times call for desperate measures?”

I burst into laughter—a little too much—and winced a bit.

“Hey, let’s go lay down.” She looked at me in concern.

I kissed her again. “I’m fine. Laughing is still the one thing that gets me every now and then. I am perfect laying down or sitting up, though.” I gave her a suggestive look.

Laura licked her lips. “Don’t look at me like that.”

“Like what?” I asked innocently.

“Like you want to fuck my brains out.”

I put my forehead on hers. “I do want to fuck your brains out, Sweetheart.”

She grinned but said, “Simmer down, Cowboy. You’re still healing. I think I hurt your ribs enough, don’t you?”

“Nope.”

“Sucker for punishment, huh?”

I looked at her seriously and pressed into her with my growing erection. “Sweetheart, I’m fine. I need to feel you. I miss you.”

She froze. “I miss you too, baby. But I don’t want to hurt you.”

“As long as you stay off my ribs, we’ll be good.”

She looked at me like she wasn’t sure.

I leaned down and started nibbling on her ear and her neck. “Please. I want to do that thing to you with my tongue,” I murmured.

She looked at me hesitantly, a slight flush creeping up her neck. “Go sit in the armchair in the bedroom. Put on some music. I’ll be out in a minute,” she instructed.

My insides danced like a schoolboy. “Yeah?”

“Go.” She pointed, laughing.

I did as I was told.

It was getting dark out. I lit the candles in the bedroom and put on some music. As I sat in the chair, I tapped my fingers on the armrest.

She came out in a deep purple push-up bra, matching thong, and the scarf I had given her back in New York. My eyes scanned her curves in appreciation as my brain went a million miles a minute about the different positions I wanted to take her in.

She was also wearing my hat.

I grinned at her. "You got my hat fixed?"

Laura nodded, did a little dance for me, and bent over me to kiss me. Excitement pulsed through my cock as she pulled back, removed the hat, and put it on me.

"I think I promised you something in the hospital, Cowboy." She gave me a wicked grin and pulled my towel back, revealing my fully hard manhood.

"You did." I nodded eagerly.

Laura laughed and knelt in front of me. Teasingly, her tongue hit the bottom of my shaft and slowly made its way up.

I groaned.

Softly laughing, she began to lick me like a lollipop as her hand gripped around me, and she stroked it around with her tongue. The silk of her purple scarf slid on both sides of my thighs as she worked her way around me.

"I've missed you," I murmured.

Grabbing my balls, she started to massage me and took me to the back of her throat as her teeth lightly grazed me on the way up. She gave me a little suck at the end before she went back to licking me.

"Mmm," she moaned, sending my dick into further frenzy.

Torturous bliss was what she did to my dick, with lots of licks, sucks every now and then, teeth, and a tad of her throat. "Jesus, Sweetheart," I mumbled as I wrapped my hands in her hair.

A tiny giggle escaped her.

I pulled her hair back a bit. Her eyes caught mine briefly before she went back to work, increased her speed, and drove me further toward ecstasy.

I swear she only gets more beautiful with time, I thought, looking down at her.

Juicy, round ass cheeks stuck slightly up in the air, with a thin strip of purple separating them, right below her naked back and the curve of her waist.

I reached out and gave her a sturdy slap on the ass, and she gasped on my dick. To my delight, my sweetheart started working me harder: fewer licks, more sucks and grazing of her teeth. Her luscious, bee-stung lips enclosed all of me, and my balls started to tighten.

I pushed her head farther onto my cock, and I closed my eyes for a brief moment, but opened them quickly, not wanting to miss the gorgeous view in front of me.

She was my vixen and my angel, all rolled into one.

With labored breath, my moans tumbled out of me. Pushing and pulling her, I frantically begged for my release when she intentionally slowed me down. “Suck…me… Sweetheart, please...” I begged, and moved her quicker once again on me.

Grunting and ready to fall over, I stood on the edge as she pulled me back once more. Beads of sweat on my face turned into drops, and my body became a total furnace of lust, desperate to topple, but she wouldn’t release me.

My hands desperately pushed her head, and my mind was a jumbled mess. I begged and pleaded with her to finish me off. When she finally gave in, my body erupted into a million pieces, and she clamped down on me further, sucked me harder, and swallowed every burst of my hot liquid as I continued to roll through my orgasm.

My sweetheart finally lifted her face and put her hands on my thighs with a cocky grin.

Panting, I looked at her, lost for words.

She stood up, put her hands on each side of the chair near my shoulders, and kissed me. My hands grabbed her back and started to pull her into me, but she stopped me. "Blake, you can't have me on you. You'll get hurt."

I grabbed her face with my hands. "Sweetheart, I need to feel you shake on top of me."

"Not tonight. You'll get hurt."

I pointed to the bed. "Go," I grunted out.

She hesitated.

"Go." I pointed again.

She went over and sat on the bed while I stood over her, nipped at her ear, and removed her bra. "Stand up."

Laura stood up slowly, and I tore her panties from her.

Biting her lip, a tiny smile played across her face as she stood naked in front of me.

With a hungry look I began frolicking over her neck. Trailing my fingers over her cunt, I slowly slid them in her, elated that she was already slick.

She moaned.

“Fuck, you’re so wet,” I groaned, then sucked her neck and marked her while finger-fucking her.

“Oh, God!” she whimpered quietly against me.

"I can't wait to taste you," I whispered in her ear.

She looked at me with a mixture of worry and desire for what she knew only I could give her, slightly trembling from my fingers.

I lay down and told her to straddle me.

"Blake—"

"Don't argue with me."

She cautiously moved over my hips.

"No, up here." I patted my shoulder.

"I'll hurt you."

I hungrily eyed her body up and down. "No, you won't. Come here."

She looked at me hesitantly.

"Sweetheart, don't make me hurt myself by grabbing you."

Slowly, she carefully positioned herself so her butt was on the top of my chest. I grabbed under her body and pulled her over my face. The scent of her sex filled my nostrils. My heart raced once more as my tongue slowly started tasting her deliciousness as she inhaled sharply.

Oh, how I’ve missed her. I was hungry, and only she could fill me.

Swirling my tongue over her pink flesh, I sank my lips onto her. She jumped a bit, her thighs squeezing against my face as her breathing staggered.

I grabbed her ass cheeks and started massaging them. I wanted to feel all of her. "It feels so good to be back," I murmured against her.

"Oh, God," she whimpered.

"I've missed you," I mumbled against her throbbing flesh.

The only girl I’d ever loved was my woman. She was my gorgeous, curvaceous, delectable woman who made me a better man and had brought me out of my coma. She was the only one I could ever love like this.

And I couldn't get enough. I longed to make her soar as I flicked all throughout her womanhood. Her ahs and ohs were music to my ears, and I needed her orgasm as much as she did.

A gentle suck, a quick flick, a swirl all around and she was moaning and panting and bringing my cock back to full attention. It pulsed at her sounds—her sweet, sweet sounds that told me exactly what she wanted...what she needed.

"Baby, please," she begged me.

But I knew it wasn't time. I was determined to make her beg for me over and over. So I pulled her body into my face, then pushed it back off—slowing her down, speeding her up, and taking her to that point where she became unhinged.

It was a place I knew only I got to see.

The weight of her body against me was heaven. My favorite way to feel her was slightly trembling as she called out my name with labored breath and gripped my hair. Then, the seconds before she went over the top, when I drove her up and up until her juices flowed all over me and a hint of sweat dripped off her body.

"Blake!" Her voice turned hoarse, and she could barely talk as she whimpered, desperately digging her body farther into my face while I ate her out with more intensity.

Fuck, she is heaven.

And then she exploded and violently shattered all over my face as incoherent words flew out of her.

I latched strongly against her and drove her to her place of ecstasy, and she crashed down, crying out my name. Her elbows fell to the bed above my head with her body in a childlike pose as she vibrated, and I continued to suck her throbbing pink pussy.

My Sweetheart...beautiful, sexy, and mine.

And I needed more.

"Shimmy down and let me feel all of you. And don’t argue," I growled at her while I rubbed her biceps as her tremors slowed.

With a big, shaky breath, she scooted down, sank right onto me, and slowly moved down my shaft in a circular motion, then rode me back up.

"Fuuuuuuuck," I groaned as her warm flesh gripped my cock like a tight glove.

"You're so hard," she moaned.

And I was a dog in heat. Her wet body slid over mine, rippled across my shaft, and made my head spin once more. The motion of her hips teased my already-tight cock. "You feel so good, Sweetheart."

I stroked her thighs with my fingers and gazed at her sex-infused eyes. Those crazy, wild eyes that drove me insane looked down on me, and my cock throbbed harder. I grabbed her hips and moved her slightly faster, but kept her in her rhythm.

“Oh…so good, baby.” She closed her eyes and licked her lips as her breasts heaved faster and her insides began gripping my body harder.

I moaned as she rocked on my cock, and so much warmth seeped through my body as tiny little heat waves pulsed on my nerves. “Come down here,” I demanded.

She shook her head, bouncing up and down on my dick. “I’ll hurt you.”

“It will hurt me to reach up to you. I want your mouth. Come down here,” I instructed.

“Fuck now...kiss later.” She moved on me faster.

I laughed. “Okay.” I would have my way with her mouth later. Taking her hips, I thrust hard into her as her butt slapped against my balls. The friction of her hot cunt sent me reeling as I slid in and out of her, and my cock slammed against her sweet spot.

“So close,” she panted.

I groaned as my balls started tightening, and I moved her faster.

“Blake.” Her lip shook as her mouth contorted into an O. It was one of my favorite ways to see her.

I slammed her down on me, and her vagina started spasming on my dick. I watched her eyes roll before I saw white as my body erupted into a sea of delight.

She collapsed next to me. Breathing hard, she found my mouth. I grabbed the back of her head and pulled her into me. Our tongues, still tasting of our previous orgasms, skillfully danced together.

How the hell did I get so lucky?

My phone rang, knocking us back into reality. Laura reached over to the nightstand and looked at it before she handed it to me. “It’s Casey.”

I raised my eyebrows at her and answered. “Casey, you have what I want?”

“I’m on my way with it,” he said.

My pulse crept up again. “Okay, see you soon.” Hanging up, I looked at Laura. “Time to get dressed, Sweetheart. It looks like our night is just beginning.”

“It’s back?”

“Yep. I’m going to call Sherry and Steven to come over.”

“Okay, I’ll go get ready.” She sauntered toward the bathroom naked, and turned her head to see if I was watching.

Like I wouldn’t be watching.

“Quick shower?”

I grinned and carefully stood up so my ribs wouldn’t hurt. “Don’t have to tell me twice.”

She giggled, and we quickly made our way to the shower.

A bout an hour later, we all sat around the table. The DNA tests were back. Sherry looked at me nervously as Casey gave us the news.

As I had guessed, I was right: Archer was Sherry’s blood father. Montague mine. The room was silent as Casey revealed the facts. Sherry’s face bore a neutral expression. My insides were surprisingly calm.

You would think that discovering your real father wasn’t who you thought he was all your life would be devastating, but for me, it was a welcome relief.

Finally, Sherry spoke. “Why did they hide this from us?”

“I’ve tried to figure this out while we’ve been waiting for the results. I did some digging. It seems that back in the day, Archer and Montague weren’t nearly as rich as they are now. From what I gathered, both men have been friends since childhood. Simon the same. All three of them have a tight friendship.”

“So money probably has something to do with it, but how did this happen to both of us? There’s more to this than just money.”

I shrugged. “Is there, though? The way I see it, our families only do things for money.”

“Money, reputation, power,” Sherry stated.

I nodded. “So let’s find out. I think it’s time we paid Archer, Montague, and Simon a visit.”

29

Blake

It had been a week since we had gotten the DNA results. A meeting was set up with all three men. Sherry and I would meet them at Archer’s home.

Sherry had called Archer. She expressed she needed investors for a secret high-return project, and they had to be investors she trusted. She pulled at Archer's heartstrings and told him how much he had always meant to her. She asked if Montague and Simon were people he trusted. He said yes, and she asked if he would be able to arrange a meeting with the four of them so she could discuss her project. He was more than happy to oblige.

We made sure we showed up thirty minutes late. Sherry called Archer to say she was running late. We knew they would share some drinks and figured they might be looser-lipped with some spirits in them.

Pulling into Archer’s driveway, I looked over at Sherry. “Are you ready for this?”

She gave me a nervous laugh. “To find out why we had to endure the wrath of men who hated us our entire lives and tried to ruin us? Sure, why not.”

I couldn’t argue with that. We could have possibly been living with a father who held some emotion for us. I was still trying to comprehend it.

“Well, it’s now or never.” I grabbed my cowboy hat and opened the door to my new truck.

It wasn’t long before we were escorted into the study where all three men sat. The surprise on their faces, seeing both Sherry and me together, wasn’t well hidden.

Simon was the first to regain his composure. “Sherry, I didn’t realize you were bringing Blake. Blake, how are you feeling?” He shook my hand.

I played the role. After a quick round of hellos, we all sat down at the table and looked at each other. An uncomfortable silence, full of nervousness and curiosity, filled the air. I decided to let them squirm a bit more.

Staring at Montague, I wondered what he was thinking. I assumed that Sherry was wondering the same thing as she gazed at Archer.

Simon cleared his throat. “So, are you going to tell us about this proposal?”

“Sherry and I are here to find out why you covered up the fact that you are our fathers. What exactly do our fake fathers have over you?”

All three men gaped at us.

Simon recovered. “Whatever are you talking about?”

Sherry jumped in. “Let’s not play dumb. We’ve had DNA tests. Are you going to tell us, or should we take a different, more public route to find this out?”

I had to hand it to her: she wasn’t scared to stand up to any of them.

“Game over. Time to start talking,” I ordered them.

Montague rubbed his hands through his hair and looked nervously at Archer. I noticed a slight shake in his hand.

The silence seemed to last forever. Sherry and I continued to stare at them, waiting to hear why they had created this deception.

Putting her hand over Archer’s, Sherry said quietly, “You always looked out for me. Now I know why. Please explain why you didn’t tell me you’re my real father.”

Archer’s eyes got slightly watery. “I wanted to,” he whispered.

“Go on.” She patted his hand to encourage him.

He closed his eyes and exhaled slowly. “You wouldn’t have had your place in Texan society. Your mother”—he stopped and pointed to me—“and your mother would have been shamed and lost their rightful spots.”

Anger bubbled inside me. I spat, “You have to be kidding me. You all went along with this because of public perception?”

Montague stepped in, his eyes pleading with mine. “You have to understand. We”—he pointed to all three men—“did not have the clout in society, nor the wealth, that your fathers had.”

“They aren’t our fathers,” Sherry cut in.

He sadly shook his head. “We were young, naive, and foolish. Your mothers were best friends. We were best friends. It was summer, and we decided to go down to South Padre for a few months to celebrate our graduation. Your mothers were there for different reasons and lied to us.”

“They were engaged to be married. Both of them. Arranged marriages very similar to yours, designed to bring the families more power and wealth by their union.”

“We didn’t know.” Archer grabbed Sherry’s hand again. “Your mothers both left us notes that we were over, and they went off and got married. They didn’t care about us. We were just pawns in a sick game they were playing to have a bit of fun before their wedding. If we had known they were engaged, we wouldn’t have ever gotten involved.”

I looked over at Sherry. Both our mothers were as callous as our fathers, with no maternal bones in their bodies. Their friendship was strong, and I could imagine them playing Archer and Montague as young men.

Montague scanned my eyes. “It didn’t matter that we loved them. They both just wanted to have flings before walking down the aisle.”

“Eight months after we were all back home, I saw the announcements about your births in the paper. I put it all together,” Simon admitted.

“We went to confront your mothers, but they weren’t alone. They’d already told their husbands about us, and the main concern was to make sure the secret didn’t get out. They convinced us that you were better off if we didn’t claim ourselves as your fathers because we couldn’t give you the wealth or status you had as a Montgomery or a Rockwood.” Montague looked at me with guilt.

Disgust flew through me. “You let us both grow up in unloving homes so we could have more money and a better reputation? What kind of man does that?”

“We’re both ashamed.” Archer’s tear rolled down his cheek.

Sherry jumped in. “What I don’t understand is why you didn’t tell us after Blake and I both got disowned?”

The three men sat quietly, not speaking, nervousness crawling into each of their faces, eyes shifting back and forth to the other.

“What is it?” Sherry pushed them for an answer.

They continued to stay silent.

I slammed my hand down. “For the love of God, you better tell us!”

Simon spoke up. “We couldn’t risk screwing up the plan.”

“What plan is that?” I demanded.

More looks. Montague shifted and stated, “All these years, we’ve been searching for a way to make them pay. When the economy fell and they needed capital, we bought into the businesses. We wanted to take them down, but we couldn’t risk being associated with you, or they would know we were up to something. Even though you’re disowned, that would be another blow to their reputation, and they didn’t want that.”

“The goal was to gain the trust of the other investors, but we’ve had to do it slowly, and many of them have started selling their stock as of late,” Simon stated.

“And once you gained their trust, what were you going to do?”

Archer looked at us both. “The plan was to give you their companies when we finally got control.”

Sherry and I gaped at each other. Had they really been planning on taking over the companies to give them to us?

Montague looked at me and smiled. “Ultimately, we want to destroy them.”

“How?” I pressed.

“By bankrupting them. But it has been taking longer than we wanted, and now the other investors that we had gained some trust with have sold.” He sounded a bit defeated.

I sat back for a moment. Simon, Montague, and Archer were trying to do what we had been able to accomplish in a mere few months. Of course, we had the power of Liv, Meg, and Maddie to send the stock price plummeting.

Archer grabbed Sherry’s hand once more. “I’ve always wanted to be your father. It’s pained me greatly,” he admitted as tears streamed down his face. I looked at Sherry and noticed that her eyes were wet as well.

I turned to stare back at Montague.

“And I always wanted to tell you the truth and be your father,” he stated.

I snorted. I wasn’t here to gain a dad. I just wanted to take down the man I always knew as my father. I ignored him. “So the three of you would all like to see Montgomery and Rockwood go down in flames?”

A quick look of hurt passed over Montague’s face from the lack of my acknowledgment at what he had proclaimed to me. He recovered quickly. “Yes.”

“Then it’s time to put this to bed. But somehow we need to make sure they don’t just go bankrupt, but pay for their involvement in Rex’s murder.”

Montague looked at me again. “I wanted to tell you how relieved I was to learn that you were recovering.”

I stared at him; it was clear that I didn’t give a shit about his ‘relief.’ If he had cared about me, he wouldn’t have let me live under Montgomery’s thumb all those years. He would have reached out to me when I was disowned, at the very least.

Sherry spoke up, probably sensing that I was not happy with his emotional statements. “If you gentlemen are ready to finish this, we’re ready to do it with you.”

“How?” Montague questioned.

“We made the stock price fall. We own the shares,” I blurted out.

The three men sat in shock.

Finally, Archer patted Sherry’s hand once more. “Tell us more.”

We plummeted the stock price further to give Montague, Archer, and Simon a legitimate reason to meet with Charles Rockwood and Howard Montgomery.

The three men wore high-tech recording devices with the intent to get our fake fathers to confess to the bombing. Laura, Steven, Sherry, and I had access, so we could hear the conversation.

Montgomery's voice came through the speaker. "Make this quick. We don't have time to waste, and this meeting is just an annoyance."

"Annoyance? Your piss poor management of your company has lost us millions," Simon accused.

Rockwood snarled, "The stock price is falling on rumors. There’s nothing wrong with the business."

"Who's creating these so-called rumors?" Archer asked.

"Montague's piece of shit offspring," Montgomery bit back.

Laura put her hand on mine. I rolled my eyes at her, used to their hatred and nastiness.

"If rumors are causing the stock price to plummet, then you need to take care of the problem," Montague bit back.

Montgomery laughed. "No love for your blood anymore?"

"Not if he's going to cost me millions." Montague said it so convincingly that I felt a tiny wave of disappointment fly through me.

Get a grip, Blake. It doesn't matter what any of these men think of you. They just need to do their job and get a confession on record.

Laura moved closer to me and put her hand on my thigh.

"So take care of the problem. Or have you all gone soft?" Simon accused.

"You don't think we've tried?" Rockwood hurled.

Archer snorted. "You've not tried anything, apparently, because the price is continuing to fall."

"We did, and it fixed part of the problem, but the other part, unfortunately, is still a thorn in our side," Montgomery admitted.

"You've not done shit to fix this problem," Archer egged them on.

Rockwood laughed. "You really are a stupid man. We don't sit back and wait. We take action. And action we took. It's not our fault that he survived the bombing."

"The bombing of that punk Rex's car?” Simon asked. “The one that landed Blake in the hospital?"

Montgomery laughed. "Yes, you dumbasses. That bombing. Do we need to spell it out further?"

"Why didn't you plant the bomb in Blake's car and make sure it was taken care of properly?" Montague seethed.

"Because I wanted his death to be more painful, " Montgomery snarled.

My blood drained from my face. It was one thing to know people wanted you dead. It was another to hear that they took great pleasure in watching you suffer. Sherry, Steven, and Laura all looked at me with sympathy in their eyes. Laura sank into my chest more and kissed my cheek.

"I don't believe it was you two,” Simon said. “You're just trying to take credit to make us believe you’ve taken action against this problem."

Rockwood laughed. A cold, sinister laugh that was soon joined by Montgomery's. Rockwood finally said, "Don't underestimate us. We paid the security firm Blake hired, and while he brought in out-of-state security, they wired up that snake Rex's car."

I turned down the volume and looked at Sherry. "We have everything we need now. I've heard enough. What about you?"

Sherry nodded her head. "Agreed. Besides their jail sentencing, which I'll be more than happy to attend, I'm ready never to hear their voices again."

I looked over at Laura. "Time to concentrate on the future."

30

Laura

Within twenty-four hours of their confession, both Montgomery and Rockwood were arrested. The shares that Blake had bought up, along with Montague, Archer, and Simon's shares, were enough to gain control of the companies, and they quickly established their rights.

Sherry seemed to fall into a daughterly role with Archer, but Blake had no interest in connecting with Montague. I didn't push him.

It was a few weeks after the arrest, and Blake and I had just gotten through with dinner. We went outside to go for a walk. Suddenly, a truck pulled up to the house.

"What's he doing here?" Blake muttered under his breath.

I wasn't sure who it was at first, but quickly realized it was Montague. Squeezing Blake’s hand, I whispered, "Be nice."

Montague got out of the truck and cautiously approached Blake. "Ma'am." He tipped his hat, and I recognized Blake in him. "Blake."

Blake didn't say anything, just scowled at him.

I smiled and held out my hand. "I'm Laura."

Montague gave me a big grin. I saw Blake in that grin, too. The resemblance was easy to see.

"It's great to meet you. I'm Peter Montague."

"Why are you here?" Blake snapped.

A pained expression crossed Peter's face, then he recovered. "Blake, I'm sorry to barge in unannounced. Can we go talk somewhere?"

"Anything you have to say to me, you can say in front of Laura. We don't have secrets," Blake spat.

"Blake!" I tugged on his arm. I felt bad for Peter; Blake wasn't cutting him any slack.

Blake glanced down at me. I gave him my be nice look.

Blake took a deep breath. "Sorry, I don't mean to be rude. Come in." He pointed to the house.

Peter nodded his head. "It's okay. I deserve whatever you want to dish out."

I guess Blake got his guilty conscience and falling-on-the-sword mentality from Peter. It reminded me of how much Blake had beaten himself up over the last ten years. I could only imagine how much Peter had beaten himself up over the previous thirty-four.

Blake stared at him, not sure what to say.

I went over to Peter and put my arm on his back. "Come inside, Peter." I guided him into the house. I looked back and motioned for Blake to join us inside as well.

I made the men a drink and started to leave.

"Where you going, Laura?" Blake asked me.

"I'll give you some privacy."

"No, stay. It's okay," Peter spoke up.

Blake turned to look at him and nodded.

I walked over to Blake and sat down. Poor Peter started drumming his fingers on the table. It reminded me of the day Blake was nervous in the coffee shop, right after he came back into my life.

"My attorneys have finished the paperwork to transfer all of my stock and half of Simon's into your name," Peter disclosed.

So he is here to make good on his promise. Well, that's noble of him, I thought.

Blake didn't hesitate. "Give it to Sherry."

I thought Peter's head was going to snap off. "Blake, it's worth millions."

Blake shrugged. "I don't want it."

Peter took a deep breath. "I know you’re upset with me, but please don't do this. I want you to have this."

Blake snickered. "Money doesn't make up for what you did. You can't buy me."

"I know that. I'm not trying to buy you. There are no strings attached. It's what is rightfully owed to you."

Blake wasn't having it. I could see his temper flare.

I put my hand on him to try and calm him, but it didn't work.

"You want to know what I've learned?" Blake fired back.

Peter didn't answer. He closed his eyes, sighed, then nodded. "What's that?"

"Blake," I said gently. He ignored me.

"I've learned that nothing is owed to me. Everything I have is because I earned it. I did nothing to earn your shares, so I don't want them."

Peter paused for a minute, then, surprisingly, he started to laugh.

"You think it's funny I had to scrape my way to the top?" Blake spouted.

Peter had tears coming out of his eyes. He finally stopped laughing. "No, son. I'm laughing because you are one stubborn son of a bitch. Sorry about my language, Laura," he said, turning to me.

"No worries," I assured him.

"You get that from me, by the way," Peter pointed out.

I couldn't help it. I started to chuckle. Blake looked at me in surprise. "Sorry, Cowboy, but he's right."

Blake stared at me as I laughed. Slowly, a grin formed on his face, and he started laughing, too. Softly at first, then harder. Peter laughed again, and pretty soon we all had tears in our eyes.

When we stopped laughing, Peter and Blake sat and stared at each other. Blake finally said, "Thank you for the offer, but I’m still going to pass. Please give it to Sherry. If you want to grab a beer sometime, I'd be open to that."

Peter sighed, realizing he wasn't going to win on the shares. "I'd like that. Let's grab one next week?"

"Okay." Blake nodded.

Peter left, and I turned to Blake. "He seems nice. I like him. I'm glad you finally gave him a bone."

Blake just shrugged.

I reached up and pulled him down for a kiss.

"So you think I'm stubborn, huh?"

I raised my eyebrow at him. "You’re just realizing this?"

He picked me up over his shoulder and gave me a light slap on the ass. "I think it's time I show you how stubborn I can be in the bedroom."

When the news broke wide open, the paparazzi in Texas were hungry to get anything they could from Blake. I could see that it was starting to take its toll on him.

About a week after Peter came over, Blake turned toward me. "Laura, let's go to New York until this blows over a bit."

We were soon back in New York, and I quickly fell into my regular routine of work. I had to admit, while I loved Texas, being back in the city working side by side with Phil and Tom felt good.

Blake and I were having a lazy Saturday morning, feasting on each other's bodies, when the front desk called to tell me a package had arrived that I had to sign for.

"I must have forgotten I ordered something online?" I wracked my brain to figure out what I had ordered.

Blake laughed. "Well, go find out."

I threw some clothes on and went downstairs. An official-looking, thick envelope was waiting for me. I grabbed it and headed back to the apartment.

Blake was in the shower. I sat down at the kitchen counter and opened up the package, wondering what it could be.

There was a handwritten letter, along with tons of legal documents.

Dearest Laura,

I know we haven't spent adequate time together, but it was evident to me what you mean to Blake. I know he did not want this stock, but I have transferred it into your name.

I can tell that you are very bright and I have no doubt that you will do what you see fit regarding decisions with the companies.

My deepest regret will always be not being the father that Blake deserved. I know his wishes were for Sherry to receive this stock, but I cannot live with any more regrets. Giving this to you is something that makes me feel like I am doing the right thing for my son.

I know you are in New York, but please give me a call when you’re back in town. I would love to have you both over for dinner.

Sincerely,

Peter Montague

I sat in shock. Then I reread the letter.

Blake came out of my room. "Laura, everything all right?”

I wasn't sure what to say. I just handed him the letter.

He sat down next to me and read it. I searched his eyes and tried to figure out what was going through his mind.

Suddenly, Blake started laughing. "That stubborn son of a bitch."

"Well, he did say you get that trait from him." I raised my brow and grinned sheepishly at him.

He shook his head, laughing.

"I'll have my attorney transfer the stock over to Sherry." I knew that was what Blake wanted.

Blake didn't say anything for a minute. "No. You keep it."

"Blake! It doesn't belong to me. It belongs to you or Sherry."

Blake shook his head. "No, it's okay. Sherry has enough to never need anything again. You keep it. I respect him more for the fact he gave it to you."

"Really?"

"Yeah. He knows that you're the most important person in my life. I have to give the guy credit for this move."

"Blake, I don't know anything about these companies!"

Blake started laughing. "You run Marko Enterprises. I'm pretty sure you can run all these companies blindfolded."

"Blake—"

He put his finger over my lips. "Let's just call the old man and tell him he wins on this one."

We called Peter and had a twenty-minute conversation with him. He was ecstatic that I was keeping the company.

When we got off the phone, I turned toward Blake. "You know how you told me I could have everything and anything?"

He scanned my eyes and didn't answer.

"Well?"

"The last time you asked me that, you tricked me."

I laughed and pouted my lips. "So I can't have anything and everything?"

He softly laughed. "I didn't say that now did I, Sweetheart?"

I stepped closer to him and put my arms around his neck. "So I can have anything and everything?"

He softly laughed again. "You know you can."

"Good. I've decided you have to run the companies with me."

He laughed. "Is that so?"

"Yep."

"See, you’re tricking me again."

I pulled his ear down. "Just man up and say okay."

He put his forehead on mine. "You want me to man up?"

I gave him a naughty grin and nodded.

He picked me up, threw me over his shoulder, and started walking back to the bedroom. "I'll show you how I man up."

EPILOGUE

Laura

J ack and Collin held true to their word. We never had any doubts, but when Caseline, Robotica, Secular, and Aclaimmer were transferred back under Blake’s control, a new fervor for his businesses came over him.

The stock was returned to the investors who weren’t corrupt, and the prices went back up. When Blake told me that his stock price was finally back to where it belonged and everything was back as it should be, I saw a sense of peace in him.

Multiple offers were coming in to take the companies public, and Blake was contemplating if he wanted to.

As promised, I could have whatever I wanted, and Blake ran the companies Peter had gifted me alongside me.

After we cleaned house and got the companies performing how we liked, Blake turned to me. “Let’s sell them.”

I looked at him in question.

“Time to cash out, Sweetheart. I don’t have the passion to run them, and whenever I think of them, bad memories pop up.”

Brushing his cheek, I looked up at him and smiled. “Sounds good.”

He bent down, finding my lips to kiss me. Then he said, “You aren’t going to fight me on it?”

I laughed. “Why would I fight you?”

A big sigh came out of him. “I don’t know. You’re really good at running them.”

“I’m only good at running them because I have you by my side and I can see that you aren’t passionate about them. Let’s sell.”

“Really? Just like that?”

His words from before came crashing into my head. “Sometimes, things really are that simple.”

He laughed. “Okay, Sweetheart. I’ll get moving on selling them off, then.”

I pulled him down to me and claimed his lips with mine. Lips that had haunted me for so many years that were the same, but different—much better than I could have ever hoped for.

We had been in New York a few months when I got a text from Blake asking if I could meet him at an address not too far from my office. A few hours later, I stood in a newly remodeled office building and stared out into the city.

"Well, what do you think?"

I turned to look at Blake, confused. "What do I think of what?"

He laughed. "My new office building!"

Hesitating, I asked, "Are you making some property investments in New York?"

"I guess you can say that."

I gave him a questioning stare.

"Sweetheart, I'm relocating." He gave me a wink.

"I don't understand. You’re moving your company from Texas to New York? But why?"

He walked over and grabbed my hands. "Not moving it, just opening an office here. I can work anywhere. I wasn't just telling you that. My life is where you are, and I've been watching you. You thrive here. Your work is here. You belong here."

This was a lot to take in. Blake loved Texas. He was the epitome of Texas. "But you love Texas! We can split time, or maybe I can move to Texas. This is a lot for you to do just because of my job, Blake."

He put his finger to my lips. "Shh. I can visit Texas whenever I want. I love you, and I’m tired of flying back and forth and being gone from you so much." Leaning down to kiss me, he pulled back and got down on one knee. "I should have done this ten years ago."

I looked down at him. A wave of emotion passed through my body. My pulse rose as I looked at my beautiful cowboy, gazing up at me a tad nervous. I bit my lip as a smile played on my face.

"Sweetheart, I don't want to spend another minute of my life without you in it. I've dreamed of you as my wife for so long. I love you with every cell in my body. Will you do me the honor of marrying me?" he drawled, pulling a ring out of his pocket.

I nodded, tears falling from my eyes.

"Is that a yes, Sweetheart?"

"Yes!" I stepped closer and bent down to kiss him.

He pulled back and slid the ring onto my finger. "Good. Now I think we have a new office to break in. There’s something I wanted to try with my tongue..."

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THE TRAP

ALL IN BILLIONAIRES-BOOK FIVE

A sexy lawyer who reduces men to putty in her hands. A former basketball player turned real estate mogul framed for embezzlement.

When Claire Whitfield meets the dazzling Ethan Knight, she’s not prepared for the sizzling attraction she feels toward her client. She’s supposed to be prepping him for an FBI interrogation, and acting on her desires would be unethical and illegal.

Ethan's facing some serious jail time, but all he can think about is Claire. One night out leads to a hot romance that puts everything they’ve worked for—their careers, their reputations, and their safety—on the line.

The only way to solve the FBI case and overcome the danger they’re in is to go deeper. Ethan and Claire set a risky trap that could blow up in their faces and destroy everything—but it’s the only way they can be free together.

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THE TRAP PROLOGUE

Ethan Knight

She couldn’t find her underwear. I heard her through the pounding of my hangover, looking everywhere and muttering under her breath.

I was tempted to roll over and bury my head into the pillow, but my body stayed paralyzed in fear; she would know I was awake.

“Ah, there we go.” She leaned over me, her hard nipples shimmying across my naked chest. I assumed she was grabbing her panties off the floor.

The stench of her day-old perfume filled my nostrils. Her breath, caked in last night's alcohol, was as bad as mine. She paused on top of me, and I could feel her staring at me through my closed eyes.

Please get off of me and leave.

Last night was another epic mistake on my part. After sitting across from Claire Whitfield interrogating me all day, I went straight to the bar and started hammering back shots...between beers.

My company was under investigation for fraud. I had nothing to do with it, but one of my employees was guilty, and I didn’t know who. That made it even worse. My entire life was on the line: my business and my personal freedom. Civil and criminal charges were probably going to be filed, and I couldn’t provide a single clue as to who the guilty party was.

The normal attorney I worked with, Dan Crane, was out of town. He’d called me yesterday morning and told me he was sending his best criminal attorney over to prepare me for more police interrogations. “Clear your schedule for the day,” he’d instructed.

Criminal attorney. The thought made my stomach flip.

Yep, I had a big problem on my hands. Things were bad enough...then she walked into my office.

I was sitting in my office chair, staring out into the New York skyline, a million thoughts running through my head about who in my company could have possibly committed this crime. I faintly heard my assistant say, “Go on in, he’s expecting you.”

I closed my eyes. This was not going to be a fun day.

The click, click, click of her heels grew louder as she approached my desk. “Ethan Knight?” Her voice alone made the hairs on my skin stand up.

I spun around in my chair and took a sharp breath. Claire Whitfield was the sexiest creature I had ever come across.

Her thick blonde hair was pulled up into a tight, neat bun. Blue eyes peered at me through black cat-eye glasses. Her pert nose fit her face perfectly, and her lips... Oh my God, those lips. I wanted to suck on them until she moaned.

Full.

Pink.

Delicious.

Lacking all self-control and like a complete pervert, I scanned her body...in slow motion—her blue tank dress that matched her eyes, revealed her flawless arms, and hugged her body. Her perky boobs, a curvaceous waist, and hips that I held myself back from grabbing.

They all made my mouth water.

Then I saw her legs—the most impeccable legs I’d ever seen on a woman. Legs meant to drive all men insane. And that’s what Claire Whitfield did to me. She drove me more insane than any woman I had ever laid eyes on.

I gulped and gazed up at her face. My dick suddenly felt very uncomfortable in my pants, and my heart started pounding in my chest. Visions of what she would look like tied up in multiple positions flew through my mind. And like the jackass I was, I licked my lips at her... I didn’t mean to, but I did.

That’s when the real problem began.

Claire Whitfield could see that I wanted her. She didn’t flinch. Not one time during the entire six-hour interrogation did she cringe over my ogling of her.

No, I didn’t act like an idiot the entire day, but every time she’d cross her legs, or subconsciously lean back in her chair and take a deep breath, pushing her perky tits out further, my eyes would wander.

She would continue to barrage me with questions.

Claire Whitfield was nice to me.

She was mean to me.

She was nonchalant with me.

The entire day she had me angry, frustrated, and feeling desperate...both professionally for not knowing who the culprit was, and physically toward her.

Besides the fact that I wanted to throw her on my desk, tie her up with her dress and fuck her, the biggest issue was I couldn’t tell if she thought I was being honest or lying. And that stung.

While I should have been concentrating harder on making sure I was prepared for questioning and didn’t end up in jail, I spent the day in agony with my cock on fire, my blood raging through my veins, and worrying about what she thought of me.

So yeah, as soon as she left, I walked outside my office building, over to the closest bar, and tried to drink her out of my system.

I don’t remember how I got home. I definitely didn’t know the name of the woman staring back at me in my bed. And I didn’t want to open my eyes and find out.

I figured she would get up and leave, but suddenly her hand was stroking my semi, and she started whispering dirty things in my ear.

Oh, fuck, I thought, and slowly opened my eyes as she began to nibble on my lobe.

I pulled her off of me and tried to sit up as my brain slammed against my skull. “Hey, honey, you’re going to need to go. I’m late for work.”

She put her face up to mine. Her bloodshot eyes stared at me, and her brown hair fell into my face. “It’s Friday. Surely you can be late?” She stroked my manhood some more.

Typically I would have done just that. The woman was attractive enough, and any normal guy would have been more than happy to wake up next to her.

But she was no Claire Whitfield.

Grabbing her hips, I moved her off me once more and jumped out of bed. “Sorry, but I need to go. Please leave.”

She looked at me, hurt. I almost apologized for being so rude, but thought twice. I just needed her to leave.

She threw her clothes on, muttered some things under her breath, and scampered out of my apartment.

I locked the door and picked up a used condom on the floor. My stomach churned looking at it.

Thank fuck I at least wrapped my shit up.

I quickly jumped in the shower. My head spiraled with visions of Claire. I turned the water to the coldest setting I could, but it did nothing for the heat racing through my veins.

I put my forearm on the wall of the shower and leaned my pounding head into it. I was facing possible jail time and would be spending the day with the FBI and Claire. She had spent the day preparing me for battle, but I felt anything but ready. I needed to get my head on straight. As much as I wanted her, I couldn’t have her, and my freedom needed to be my top priority.

I had less than two hours to get Claire Whitfield out of my system and get my shit together. I banged my head against my forearm.

With my other hand, I thought of her and jacked off in the cold shower.

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MORE BY MAGGIE COLE

All In Billionaires

The Rule - Book One

The Secret - Book Two

The Crime - Book Three

The Lie - Book Four

The Trap - Book Five

The Gamble - Book Six

It’s Complicated Series - Chicago Billionaires

My Boss the Billionaire- Book One

Forgotten by the Billionaire - Book Two

My Friend the Billionaire - Book Three

Forbidden Billionaire - Book Four

The Groomsman Billionaire - Book Five

Secret Mafia Billionaire - Book Six

Brooks Family Saga

Kiss of Redemption- Book One

Sins of Justice - Book Two

Acts of Manipulation - Book Three

Web of Betrayal - Book Four

Masks of Devotion - Book Five

Roots of Vengeance - Book Six

Behind Closed Doors - Former Military Now International Rescue Alpha Studs

Depths of Destruction - Book One

Marks of Rebellion - Book Two

Haze of Obedience - Book Three

Cavern of Silence - Book Four

Stains of Desire - Book Five

Risks of Temptation - Book Six

Club Indulgence Duet - A Dark Billionaire Romance

The Auction (Book One)

The Vow (Book Two)

Mafia Wars - A Dark Mafia Series

Ruthless Stranger (Maksim’s Story) - Book One

Broken Fighter (Boris’s Story) - Book Two

Cruel Enforcer (Sergey’s Story) - Book Three

Vicious Protector (Adrian’s Story) - Book Four

Savage Tracker (Obrecht's Story) - Book Five

Unchosen Ruler (Liam's Story) - Book Six

Perfect Sinner (Nolan's Story) - Book Seven

Brutal Defender (Killian's Story) - Book Eight

Deviant Hacker (Declan's Story) - Book Nine

Relentless Hunter (Finn's Story) - Book Ten

Mafia Wars New York - A Dark Mafia Series

Toxic (Dante's Story) - Book One

Immoral (Gianni's Story) - Book Two

Crazed (Massimo's Story) - Book Three

Carnal (Tristano's Story) - Book Four

Flawed (Luca's Story) - Book Five

Mafia Wars Ireland - A Dark Mafia Romance

Illicit King (Brody’s Story)- Book One

Illicit Captor (Aidan’s Story)-Book Two

Illicit Heir (Devin’s Story)-Book Three

Illicit Monster (Tynan’s Story)-Book Four - October 15, 2023

Standalone Holiday Novel

Holiday Hoax - A Fake Marriage Billionaire Romance (Standalone)

STAND ALONE NOVELLA

Judge Me Not - A Billionaire Single Mom Christmas Novella

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Amazon Bestselling Author

Maggie Cole is committed to bringing her readers alphalicious book boyfriends and fiercely strong heroines.

She’s been called the literary master of steamy romance. Her books are full of raw emotion, suspense, and will always keep you wanting more. She is a masterful storyteller of contemporary romance and loves writing about broken people who rise above the ashes.

Maggie lives in Florida with her son. She loves tennis, yoga, paddleboarding, boating, other water activities, and everything naughty.

Her current series were written in the order below:

- All In (Stand Alone Billionaire Novels with Entwined Characters)

- It's Complicated (Stand Alone Billionaire Novels with Entwined Characters)

- Brooks Family Saga- A Dark Family Saga – Read In Order (Each book has different couples)

- Behind Closed Doors-A Dark Military Protector Romance – Read in Order (Each book has different couples))

- Mafia Wars (Stand Alone Novels with Interconnecting Plot and Entwined Characters)

- Mafia Wars New York (Stand Alone Novels with Interconnecting Plot and Entwined Characters)

- Club Indulgence Duet A Dark Billionaire Duet – Read in Order (Same Couple)

- Mafia Wars Ireland (Stand Alone Novels with Interconnecting Plot and Entwined Characters)

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Table of Contents

Cover

Title Page

Copyright

Contents

Prologue

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Chapter 24

Chapter 25

Chapter 26

Chapter 27

Chapter 28

Chapter 29

Chapter 30

Epilogue

CAN I ASK YOU A HUGE FAVOR?

THE TRAP

The Trap Prologue

More by Maggie Cole

About the Author