The Hart Brothers Series Box Set (Including the bonus book Sabin: A Seven Novel): Freeing Her, Freeing Him, Kestrel, The Fall and Rise of Kade Hart, Sabin: A Seven Novel

by A. M. Hargrove

  “Agreed. You wouldn’t believe this place. Can you come a week early? I know you don’t want to, but I can’t handle this. And they don’t want the third or fourth in line. They want to talk to someone at the top.”

  “Yeah. I’ll be down. Gabriella and Mom can come together.”

  “Mom called. She wanted to come a week early.”

  “Oh, hell.”

  “Yeah. I told her no.”

  “So, I’ll send an HR rep down to rally up another round of hires for you.”

  By seven-thirty, I’m dragging ass. I haven’t eaten all day, I’m grumpy as hell, and all I want to do is have a drink and talk to Carter. In the car I call her. She’s in the carriage house.

  “I’m coming over. I have to stop at the rental and pick up some clothes. You won’t believe my day.”

  “I figured something was up when I didn’t get so much as a text from you.”

  “I’ll explain when I see you, angel.”

  Less than an hour later, I arrive at the house and see her in the kitchen. She’s cooking. And I’m starved. I’m not sure what I want more. Food or her.

  “Has someone dragged you through the mud? You look awful.”

  “Thanks, angel.”

  She hugs me and tells me to sit. I take a seat at the counter and she hands me a glass of wine.

  “Do you have any Lagavulin?”

  “No, but you do.” She heads to the bar and comes back with a glass half full of it, neat.

  “Ah, just what the doctor ordered. Thanks.”

  She chats a bit about this and that and soon she sets a plate in front of me. On it is some luscious looking concoction.

  “What’s this?”

  “My specialty. Well, that’s not exactly true. I sort of copped it from a restaurant and then made a few changes. It’s the shrimp and grits I was telling you about. Have at it.”

  I am so hungry that I dig right in. And it’s sheer heaven. Being a foodie makes me appreciate the better things in life, and this is absolutely one of them.

  “She looks like a goddess and she serves me ambrosia, the food of the gods. This is undeniably one of the best things I’ve ever eaten. Even better than the wahoo. You have to make this for Kolson. He will flip over this. This is way more than a three-minute passion.”

  She laughs at me. “Told ya you’d love it.”

  “Love? Huh uh. I’m smitten. I’m completely spellbound. I will never be the same again.”

  I don’t say another word until my plate is clean, other than the “Mmmming” I’ve been making the entire time.

  “I really love cooking for you. You appreciate food so much.”

  “I do. I love a good meal and since I don’t cook, I especially enjoy it. Thank you for doing this for me. Especially today.” Then I tell her what happened at work. Her excitement for me is palpable.

  “Kestrel, that’s so amazing.”

  “Right? Kolson is coming a week early.” I tell her our plans to hire more people and so on. I don’t want to bore her with all the details.

  We discuss the plans for Christmas and how we’ll handle everything.

  “You need to get moved in here and get out of that rental,” she says.

  “Yeah. I’ll get on that.”

  “Why don’t I pack your clothes up for you this week? That’s all it is, right?”

  “Pretty much. Other than the food and stuff.”

  “I can do that. My workload has calmed down somewhat, enough so I have my evenings free. At least you can have all your things in one place and since I’m in the carriage house now, it’ll be easier.”

  “You don’t mind?”

  “Not at all.”

  By the end of the week, Carter has all my belongings transferred to the house and I’m now officially living here. It is much more convenient, not having to deal with two places.

  Kolson arrives on Monday and the following week we are covered up with meetings with clients. It’s odd having my brother here, but Carter stays in the carriage house and I spend the nights with her there a couple of times.

  One morning, Kolson says, “Why don’t you have her move in here with you? You two seem to have gotten quite cozy.”

  “Do you have something against Carter? Because if you do, let it out now.”

  “I have nothing against her. I’m only worried about you.”

  “Thought we covered this.”

  “We did. I’m just assuring myself that all is good with you.”

  “Couldn’t be better, big brother.”

  He shuts up and only scrutinizes me. I’m okay with this. It’s one of his things. Well, we all do it. Learned it from the Dragon. I let him have a go at me for a while, then I say, “Satisfied?”

  He shrugs.

  “What?” I insist.

  “Honestly?”

  “Yeah.”

  “I won’t be satisfied until Gabriella talks to you.”

  “So, what? Will this be the Spanish Inquisition?”

  He laughs. “Hardly. It will be the Gabriella Inquisition.”

  “Great. That’ll be much worse.”

  He shoots me a sour look. “You love my wife.”

  “I do. But she will find fault in this relationship and I’m not going to change a thing.”

  “Fine. It’s your life. But remember this. We have your best interests at heart.”

  Staring back at him, I only dip my head once in acknowledgement.

  The day before my mother and Gabby are due to arrive, Kolson, Carter and I are seated together at the kitchen table, eating dinner. That seems to be the time for us when we are all the most comfortable together. Kolson loves to talk to Carter about what she does.

  “Tell me about what’s happening with your work,” he says.

  She gives him the latest rundown and he grins.

  “Maybe I’ll be lucky to know the woman who finds the cure.”

  “Hardly. But maybe you’ll know someone who spurred it on,” she responds.

  “I can’t wait for you to meet my wife. I can already picture the two of you, heads together, planning things.”

  His statement startles me, but I conceal it. I act as nonchalantly as I can.

  Carter stands to clear our plates and I move to lend a hand, but she stops me. “I’ll get this. You two talk.”

  “No. You did the cooking. It’s only fair I should do the clean up.”

  “If you insist.” She laughs as she ruffles my hair. I laugh back but when I look at Kolson, he has such a look of amazement on his face I almost choke. He still doesn’t get our relationship, I suppose. Perhaps he’s beginning to see it in a better light.

  December twenty-third is mayhem at work. Everyone wraps things up as best they can. The office will be closed from tomorrow until December twenty-eighth. We will be reopening then, but only with half of our staff and close again for New Years. Then it’s full steam ahead on January third.

  Gabby and my mom are arriving around five, which means it’s time for me hit the road since it’s four-thirty. I want to be at home when they arrive. Mario and Kolson are picking them up from the airport. They are flying down in one of the corporate jets. On the drive home, I tick through the list of all the items I purchased for the meals tomorrow and on Christmas Day. Carter said she’d cook, but I’m sure Gabby and my mom will jump in and help. I begged Carter to make her shrimp and grits cake dish that I love, so we’re having that tomorrow. Christmas Day, we’ll be feasting on beef tenderloin and lobster tails. Carter has a whole host of breakfast dishes planned. She’s explained to me how Southerners love to do breakfast casseroles, along with their Mimosas and Bloody Marys in the morning. I’m game for that, so she’s running the food show. I think it will help keep her mind on something other than her fear of being assessed by my family.

  The holidays have never held much meaning for me, other than a depressing group of days bunched together where I’m supposed to spend time with family members. For the first time in my life, I’m loo
king forward to them. It’s not because of Kolson, Gabby, or my mother. I know it’s Carter. When I step out of my car, I can see her moving around in the kitchen. Guilt pours into me because this should be her kitchen … her house … her family. Not mine. But the realistic part of my brain tells me that if it weren’t me, it would be someone else. And what if that someone launched her out on her ass, leaving her with nothing other than the check? But it’s time for me to come clean here. It’s more than that. My feelings are deeper than that for Carter. There’s meaning behind them and I need to face up to it. I’m not on any damn joyride here. This is a purposeful journey for me. If it weren’t, I would’ve walked away weeks ago.

  “Hey.” I want to stand there and watch her. However, I know if I do, she’ll get on me about how we have things that need to be done.

  “Hey.” The corners of her mouth turn up. She’s dressed in a knee-length black skirt, black tights, and those cute little tan colored short boots she wears a lot. She also has on a tan sweater that hugs her body. She looks like one of my dreams.

  “You look extraordinary. Come here.”

  “Thank you. And no. I know what you have up your sleeve, mister.” She sticks her tongue out at me.

  “Oh, no you don’t. Don’t you taunt me like that and expect to walk away without repercussions.” I’m on her like glue. My hands grab her waist and I pull her close so I can feel the length of her against me. Then my hands cup her ass and I lift her into me. “Feel that?” I tilt my pelvis toward her.

  “Yeah,” she purrs.

  “You want more of that?”

  “Oh, yeah.”

  “What time is it?”

  “Five.”

  “Pull up your skirt and pull down those damn tights.”

  We both squirm around and I dig into my pocket for a condom. Then my hand reaches down and slips between her thighs.

  “Angel, have you been thinking of me?”

  “Uh huh. Why?”

  “Because you’re as wet and slippery as ever.” I pick her up and pull one leg free of her tights and ask, “Hard and fast or slow and easy?”

  “Hard and fast.” The rasp of her sexy voice doesn’t make me ask twice. In one stroke, I’m inside of her and she’s moaning for more.

  “Don’t be greedy,” I murmur in her ear. Pulling her legs up and over my shoulders, I continue to pump in and out and the sound of her voice spurs me on. Suddenly, she cries out my name, and I feel her inner muscles squeeze me. I’m lost in her. Completely.

  “Kiss me, Kestrel. Now.”

  My mouth is on hers and we consume each other. You would think we haven’t seen each other in days, when it’s only been hours.

  “Beautiful. Unequivocally gorgeous. You, my only angel.”

  “Kestrel, I’m really nervous.”

  “You should be because if we don’t pull ourselves together, you’ll be caught with your pussy exposed for my family to see.”

  That one sentence has the effect I intended. First, her face reddens. Then her hands quickly begin to rearrange her sweater, which I have managed to pull up to her neck. But she can’t do more than that because I’m still firmly wedged between her long and creamy thighs, with my cock implanted up to its hilt.

  “Going somewhere?” I ask.

  She sputters, “Trying to, but a certain someone won’t let me.”

  She’s fidgeting around me like crazy now and I finally put my hands on her hips to still her.

  “Angel, look at me.”

  Her ghostly grays latch onto mine, and I add, “It’s fine. They’re going to love you. And we have time. Now one more kiss and I’ll release you from my sex-hold.”

  She finally relaxes and kisses me.

  “Mmm, much better.” I step back and help her off the counter. When I slap her ass I hear her sharp inhalation.

  “What the hell!”

  “Sorry. I couldn’t resist. You have a great ass. Better get a move on.”

  She tugs her tights back on and pulls her skirt down while I take care of my own business. Then she says, “Your hair. It’s a mess.”

  “Yours is too.”

  We both head to the powder room right off the kitchen and vie for a space at the mirror. Mine only takes a second as I run my fingers through it. Hers, on the other hand, has been completely dislodged by me.

  “Shit. I need to put this up in a bun or something.”

  “No you don’t. Shake it out and let it go. It’s fine.”

  “Ugh. It’s too unruly.”

  The doorbell rings.

  “Oh, shit,” she curses.

  I say to her calmly, “Angel. You look adorable and gorgeous. Now do as I say and meet me at the door in a second.”

  I leave her to let my family in. They stand there, huddled, with all their luggage and such, and while we are lugging everything in, Carter enters the room.

  I make the introductions and Gabby immediately says, “I am so excited and happy to finally meet you, Carter.”

  My mother adds, “As am I. We’ve heard so much about you from Kolson and Kestrel. It’s so wonderful to finally meet you in person. I feel I know you already.”

  “Why thank you so very much,” Carter says.

  “And what a lovely Southern accent you have,” my mother comments.

  They chat a bit while Kolson and I drag the luggage upstairs. Then we mix drinks and Carter brings out a round of appetizers. I take my mom on a tour while Kolson and Gabby hang back in the kitchen. I wanted some alone time with my mother so she doesn’t feel neglected.

  “The house is lovely, Kestrel. I think you’ll quite enjoy living here. And Carter, why she’s a fine young lady.”

  “I’m glad you approve.”

  “Oh, Kestrel, you never did need my approval for anything. You know that. I just want you to be happy. That’s all I ever wanted.”

  “Thanks, Mom. I think I’m finally there.”

  When we join the others, they all appear to be having a nice time. Carter has loaded up a couple of trays with appetizers and asks the guys to carry them to the small den, where we can sit and chat. Kolson and I follow orders and then we pour wine and mix drinks for all. After we’ve had a bit to eat, Gabby asks Carter if she will show her around the house.

  Carter looks at her and says, “Wouldn’t you rather have your brother-in-law show you? It’s his home, after all.”

  “Not at all. I want to get to know you, and what better way than for you to give me the grand tour so we can talk at the same time?” Gabby answers.

  Carter turns to me and I say, “Go and take your time. We’re in no hurry to eat. Not with all this that you’ve prepared.”

  “You’re sure?”

  “Uh huh.”

  I watch the two of them wander off and hope Gabby takes it easy on her. This may prove to be Carter’s biggest test of the visit.

  Nineteen — Carter

  When Gabby asks me for a tour, I want to shout, “Hell, no. Let Kestrel do it!” But I can’t do that. Of course I give her the tour. And when we leave the room, I know what’s about to happen. So I take her straight up to the second floor and start with the master bedroom. When we get to Ells’ room, she asks all kinds of questions about her, and I don’t hold back at all. We move from room to room, space to space, and when we’ve left nothing unturned, she asks to see the carriage house. I lead her out the back door and to my little nest.

  Once inside, she finally breaks the ice of silence.

  “Don’t hurt him.”

  That’s it. Nothing else.

  “What?”

  “Kestrel. Whatever you do, don’t hurt him. Because if you do, I’ll do everything in my power to destroy you.”

  Good thing there’s a chair right behind me. My legs go numb as my ass hits it with a poof. Wow! She didn’t hold back one iota. It takes me a while to formulate a response, but I do.

  “I get it. I do. You love him. He’s a brother to you.”

  “No. You don’t get it. He’s been to he
ll and back.”

  I stop her and hold up my hand. “Before you say another word, you at least owe me a chance to explain myself. As a practicing psychiatrist, I would think you could see the merit in that.”

  She nods, once.

  “Kestrel has told me everything. About his father. His horrid life as a young boy. I know what he’s been through. We’ve discussed all of this. My goal is not to hurt him. It was never my intention to get involved with him.”

  “Then why did you?”

  “Why did you get involved with your husband?”

  “That’s none of your business.”

  “Neither is it your business why Kestrel and I got involved. But I’ll tell you this much. I have great respect for him and I will not, under any circumstance, allow anyone to hurt him, including you.”

  “Me? Why would I hurt him?”

  “By overprotecting him and not allowing him to live on his own and discover things for himself. He’s a grown man and a highly intelligent one. He can choose to have a relationship with whomever he wants.”

  “Kestrel doesn’t have relationships.”

  “Maybe you don’t know him as well as you think, because he’s in one now.”

  Then a smile spreads across her face. “That’s all I needed to hear.”

  “What?” I’m incredulous.

  “That you consider what’s going on between the two of you a relationship. That it isn’t one sided.”

  “Seriously?”

  “Yes. Like I said, I don’t ever want him hurt. And if this were just a one-sided thing, then you and I would have a big problem. But it obviously isn’t. You bared your claws and I like that.”

  “You’re a strange woman, Gabby.”

  “Nah, I only care about those two guys out there. More than I can tell you. So, tell me about you.”

  I rub the back of my neck. “We don’t have enough time. I need days to tell you about my shit.”

  She shakes her head. “We all have emotional baggage. Our group—Kolson, Kestrel, you and I—seem to have been given an extra heaping dose. Ever think that’s how we all ended up together?”

  “What do you mean?” Her thought process intrigues me.

  “Well, any normal person that hasn’t experienced major life trauma would run from what we’ve gone through. But you and I know what it is to deal with heavy duty shit, so we look at men like Kolson and Kestrel and think that they are extra special because they’ve risen above it all and become even stronger for it.”