by Karen Kelley
Eric looked at me, then at the four men that were also getting out of the truck. His face turned pale as he began scooting away from us, then coming to his feet.
“You better stay away from me. I know my rights. You can’t touch me.”
Nash kept walking toward him. As soon as he reached him, he doubled his fist and plowed into his face. Eric crumpled to the ground.
“Is he dead,” I casually asked. I didn’t think he was, but I wanted to be sure.
Ryder nudged Eric’s body with his foot. “Nope, he’s still breathing.” He looked at Nash. “Want to call the FBI now and tell them we found her?”
Nash shook his head. “Nah, I’ll call the locals and let them handle him. They’ll get out here a lot faster.”
While we were waiting for the sheriff to arrive, I borrowed Nash’s phone and called Sam to tell her I was okay. I told her I would see her as soon as everything was taken care of here and that I was fine.
“So, did you really scale the side of a steep mountain?” Ryder asked as soon as I ended my conversation with Sam.
“Yes, I did.”
“Were you scared?”
“Terrified, but it was a great adrenaline rush.”
He smiled. “You’ll fit into this family very well.”
I’m glad they thought so. I, on the other hand, did not want to see my reflection. I knew I needed a shower. I felt as if I had a week’s worth of dust covering me from the cabin and the unpaved road.
Eric was just coming around when the sheriff arrived. “I didn’t kidnap her. I only wanted to talk to her. I swear.”
I raised my eyebrows. “Really? That’s your story?”
“You can tell it all to the judge,” the sheriff said as Eric was handcuffed and read his rights. After he put Eric in the patrol car, he turned to Nash. “You know the routine. I’ll need statements.”
As we followed the patrol car, I called my aunt to let her know I was okay, and that Eric was in custody. She sounded vastly relieved. I knew she never showed a lot of affection and came across as cold and unemotional, but she cared deeply for me. That’s all that really mattered.
I quickly gave my statement, and it was typed up. Nash was still talking to the sheriff when I noticed Sam pulling up.
“If you don’t mind, I’ll have Sam take me back to your cabin. There’s nothing I want more now than a hot shower and a soft bed. I’m exhausted.
“We shouldn’t be much longer. I’m not sure I want to let you out of my sight.”
“I don’t need a babysitter. I really do need to clean up, though.”
He hesitated, then brushed his lips across the top of my head. “I’ll see you back at the house. I won’t be much longer.”
I walked outside as Sam was getting out of the car. She took one look at me and started running toward me, wrapping her arms around me and holding me close.
“It seems as if I’ve been hugging you a lot lately.” She took a step back and looked at me, her eyes blazing with anger when she noticed the bruise on the side of my face. “Is he in there? I’m going to give him a piece of my mind.” She’d started around me, but stopped when I laughed.
I grabbed her arm and pulled her toward her car. “Believe me, Eric didn’t find kidnapping me as easy as he thought. I’ll tell you all about it on the way home. Besides, I’m in desperate need of a hot shower and clean clothes.”
On the way to the cabin, I told her everything that had happened, she seemed a little less out of sorts. By the time she pulled into Nash’s driveway, she was even laughing.
“It serves him right. I’m just surprised he didn’t realize what you were capable of before he kidnapped you. Did the guy learn nothing while he was married to you?”
I frowned. “Speaking of which, Nash asked me to marry him.”
She was just getting out of the vehicle and automatically slammed the door closed, staring at me with surprise on her face. Then she smiled. “What’s this about you swearing off men?”
I shrugged. “But then, Nash isn’t just any man.”
“Truer words have never been spoken. I’m very happy for you. I think you chose right this time.”
By the time I had taken my shower, I was yawning. I’d never felt this strung out before.
“I think we both need sleep,” Sam said. “Go to bed, and I’ll see you in the morning.”
I nodded and stepped from her bedroom into the Jack and Jill bathroom. Once I was in the other guest bedroom, I looked around. I knew this wasn’t the bedroom I needed to be in. Besides, Nash’s brothers would need beds to sleep in. I left that bedroom and walked down to the end of the hall.
It was much later when Nash crawled into bed beside me and pulled me close. I let out a sigh.
“Go back to sleep. I won’t let anything hurt you again.”
I knew he meant it, and for the first time in a long time, I felt safe and loved. I dozed off listening to the sound of his heartbeat.
Chapter 30
Sam
I stretched and yawned. Something was different. I smiled as realization came to me. Makenna was safe and sound and in the next bedroom. I listened and could hear her stirring about. Well, she was never one to sleep very long.
And she was an engaged woman now. I knew Nash was the man who would make her happy. I was so excited for her.
I sat up straight in bed. Oh my gosh, there was so much that needed to be done. They had to set a date. We had to go shopping for a wedding dress. It didn’t matter that she had worn a fancy white dress when she married Eric the Loser. It had been a quickie wedding. Nothing fancy. Eric probably hadn’t wanted her to spend any of his newfound wealth on something as frivolous as a wedding. I would make sure she did this one up right. This couldn’t be a quickie wedding.
I jumped out of bed and hurried to the connecting door, flinging it open. “We have so got to talk.”
But it wasn’t Makenna standing in the middle of the room. Nope, it was a very naked man with a dragon tattoo on one arm. My gaze drifted over him. Good Lord, the guy was hung like a stallion and built as solid as a brick wall, with bulging biceps and washboard abs. The guy was a tanned Greek God.
“I can think of a lot better things to do than talk.” His words were raspy, scraping over my body.
I shook my head. My gaze jerked back to his eyes. “You’re not Makenna. What the hell did you do to Makenna? If you’ve hurt her, I’ll...I’ll...”
He grinned and my heart skipped a beat.
“You’re sexy as hell when you’re mad, especially wearing that see-through nightie.”
I glanced down. Well, fuck. My nightie was see-through. “I’ll be right back. Put some clothes on. When I come back, I’ll want answers.” I turned on my heel and marched back into the bedroom, slamming the door behind me. I thought about just grabbing a robe, but at the last minute thought better of it and pulled on underclothes, then sweats and a t-shirt. I slipped on my tennis shoes then marched back to the adjoining bathroom. I was just about to open the door, when I changed my mind and knocked instead.
“Come in.”
I heard the amusement in his words. He was laughing at me. Now I was pissed off. I flung the door open and glared at him. At least he had the decency to wipe the smile off his face. And he was dressed. That was a good thing. Right? It didn’t feel like it was a good thing.
“Maybe we should start over,” he said. “I’m Ryder. Ryder Hayes, Nash’s brother. We flew in to help him search for Makenna.”
I felt as if I’d had the wind knocked out of me. “Nash’s brother?”
He nodded.
“I need coffee,” I mumbled as I turned and left the room. I felt like such an idiot. I didn’t even want to know what Ryder thought about the crazy woman who’d barged into his room. Nope, not just a crazy woman. A crazy woman wearing a see-through nightie.
I came to a dead stop as I entered the kitchen. I assumed these were the other two brothers, along with Nash and Makenna. How could I not have guessed
Ryder was Nash’s brother? The resemblance between them was too strong.
Makenna smiled. “Good morning, Sam. I hope you slept well. These are Nash’s brothers, Layne and Jackson.”
My smile was weak at best as they came to their feet and offered me a chair at the table. I slid in between them, suddenly feeling very tiny, even though I was five feet, eight inches. Ryder chose that moment to come into the kitchen. “It’s about time you were getting up,” Nash told his brother. “I think you know everyone except Sam, Makenna’s business partner.”
Ryder grinned. “We met briefly upstairs.”
Makenna looked between us, as if she suspected something was going on between me and Ryder. I gave a little shake of my head. Nash set a cup of coffee down in front of me. I was grateful for something to do. I couldn’t meet Ryder’s gaze. I didn’t think I was ever going to be able to meet Ryder’s gaze. Not after seeing him naked.
“You know,” Nash began. “Makenna told me that Sam wants to build a home. You won’t find a better contractor and designer than my brother. The two of you should get together and talk about it.”
I almost choked on my coffee.
“I think that’s a great idea,” Ryder said. “I would love to see more of Sam and show her some of my ideas.”
I think I was the only one who understood his double entendre. The guy was an ass, and I had no intention of ever hiring him to build my home. It just wasn’t going to happen.
Epilogue
Makenna
Nash came up behind me as I stood on the balcony and wrapped his arms around me, pulling me snug against him. I draped my arms over his, holding him close.
“It’s a beautiful night,” he said.
I looked out over the Dallas skyline. We were staying in his apartment until our new house could be completed. “It is,” I agreed.
“Do you realize in two weeks we’ll be husband and wife?”
A tingle of fear weaved its way through me. “You’re not getting cold feet, are you?”
He chuckled. “Not a chance. You’re stuck with me.”
I relaxed against him. My life felt perfect. I suddenly frowned. No, not quite perfect. “I just wish Sam and Ryder would get along better. It seems as if they’re always at each other’s throats. I have no idea what’s going on. She’s my maid of honor, and he’s your best man. I had hoped they would like each other.”
“Don’t worry about it. I’m sure they’ll work it all out in the end. But for now, I think we need to practice.”
Practice? I turned in his arms and looked up at him. Practice what?”
“Our wedding night. I want to make sure we get it just right.”
I laughed as he scooped me up in his arms and carried me toward the bedroom. Yes, I had a feeling that we would be working on our techniques for many years to come.
See an updated list of all my books on my website: www.authorkarenkelley.com
Flock You
Unleashed Series
Unleash the Fire
Unleash the Passion
Southern Series
Southern Comfort
Southern Exposure
Hell On Wheels
Southern Star
The Planet Nerak Series
Close Encounters of the Sexy Kind
Cosmic Sex (mass market came out as Earth Guys Are Easy)
The Bad Boys Guide To The Galaxy
Dating Outside Your DNA
The Princes of Symtaria Series
The Jaguar Prince
The Falcon Prince
The Wolf Prince
Good Girl Series
Where There's Smoke
Where There's A Will
Smoking Hot
Forbidden Series
Forbidden Magic
Forbidden Legacy
Forbidden Nights
Bachelor Series
Bachelor Party
Bachelor and the Princess
Thief of Hearts
Single Titles
Temperature's Rising
Double Dating With The Dead
How to Seduce a Texan
My Favorite Phantom
Anything You Can Do
Scavenger Hunt Book One
Scavenger Hunt Book Two
I Won't be Home for Christmas Boxed set
