“Why did you leave so early?” she asked.
“Your boy couldn’t wait to see you.” Landon chuckled.
“L.J., why don’t you take your suitcase into your room.” She gestured to the bag with wheels that Landon had placed inside the door.
“Okay.” He pulled the luggage along, and as they watched him go, she met Shane’s gaze with a knowing grin.
“Cool! Mom, you got me the Fathead!”
She laughed. “I’m going to talk to him for a few minutes. Can you behave while I’m gone?” she asked Landon, who was still eyeing Shane warily.
“Go ahead, we’ll be fine,” Shane assured her. He wanted a word with the other man.
He waited until Amber disappeared, deliberately not watching her sexy ass, before he turned to Landon. “I get it,” he said before the other man could speak. “You’re protective. You’re worried. You don’t know me, don’t trust me, and you don’t live nearby.”
The other man cocked his head to one side. “That about sums it up.”
Shane held up his hands. “I love her and she loves me.”
Landon let out a snort. “In one short summer?”
Shane ignored him. He’d heard from Amber how quickly Landon had fallen for Vivi. The man had no room to judge them. “In the meantime, I’d appreciate it if you cut me some slack. Get to know me before deciding how you feel about me. And know I’d cut off my arm before I’d hurt them.”
Arms folded across his chest, Landon studied him, his expression shifting a bit at Shane’s last comment. “You said them. So you understand they’re a package deal. L.J. isn’t some kid you can push aside so you can fuck his mom.”
Shane’s blood boiled at the careless words. “One,” he said through clenched teeth, “don’t talk about Amber like that. She’s worth a lot more than a fuck,” he muttered. “And two, it pisses me off you’d jump to that conclusion. I know L.J. is her world. I only want to be part of them. Not come between them.”
Landon scrubbed a hand over his face. “Fine. You pass. But I’ll be watching you. Jason, Tanner, and I will all be keeping an eye out. Just because we’re in New York doesn’t mean we’re not involved in their lives.”
“I’d expect nothing less,” Shane said. “I’m glad she had the three of you all these years.”
“We’re not going anywhere.”
Shane shook his head and let out a low chuckle. “I didn’t think you were.”
“Everything okay in here?” Amber asked, returning from L.J.’s room.
“Perfect.” Shane wrapped an arm around her waist and kissed her cheek.
“Good. Landon, are you staying for the day?” she asked.
He shook his head. “The club needs me. I just offered to take the ride so Mom and Dad could go straight home. They said they’ll call you later so you can work out a schedule for when school starts.”
She shot him a grateful look. “Thanks for everything.” She hugged him and he returned the gesture, but even Shane could see it was all platonic … even if he did look exactly like his twin brother had.
He let out a relieved breath he hadn’t been aware of holding.
A few seconds later, Landon had said his goodbyes and walked out to his car. Amber shut the door to the house.
“Where’s L.J.?” Shane asked.
“Doing his best to unpack. There are no dirty clothes, thank you, Carrie,” Amber said with a grateful smile.
“Want me to go so you can spend some time alone?” he offered.
She wrapped her arms around his waist and shook her head. “I’d like my two boys to get to know each other. Unless you want to go home and change?”
He chuckled. “It can wait.”
She stared up at him with those big, beautiful blue eyes. “We’re a lot to handle,” she said nervously.
“I can’t wait to do it. I know the juggling of schedules won’t be easy, finding time alone won’t be simple, but I know what I’m getting into. And I’m all in.”
She reached onto her tiptoes and brushed her lips over his. “I’m so glad. You changed my life, Shane Warden.”
“Same, Amber Davis. And I couldn’t be happier.”
Epilogue
It was a day to celebrate. Amber received her combined bachelor of arts degree – with her minor in business - and her master’s in education, and Shane had earned tenure at the end of this school year. At the New York uncles’ insistence, they’d all come to Manhattan for a celebration at the nightclub, which they’d opened on a Sunday afternoon just for this special occasion.
With his arm around Amber and L.J., now a lanky teenager beside them, Shane walked into Club TEN29, aptly named after the date Levi Bennett had passed away. But the club was now a happy place, one where people came to have fun and celebrate. The owners, L.J.’s uncles, had all come around and accepted Shane’s presence in Amber’s and L.J.’s lives. They’d moved in together when Shane’s lease ran out, and since they were always at Amber’s anyway, they’d decided to live together then.
Although he’d been ready for more, he knew Amber wanted to finish school. She liked to put all her focus on one big thing at a time, and a wedding would have thrown her off her studying game, no matter how small they might have made it. And with the guys finding their wives, the size of their pseudo-family had expanded.
The party was small, just close family and friends. Amber’s parents had flown up from Florida, for which Shane was grateful as their presence played into his plans. He waited until the end of the day, after presents had been opened and a lot of food eaten.
Even Shane’s father and stepmother were there, something Shane’s mom had no problem accepting. Many years had passed, and she was long over their marriage and years together. In the time since his heart attack, Zachary had made an attempt to be part of Shane’s life and he’d reciprocated warily. Now things were decent between them all.
Amber, wearing a pretty pink dress and gold heels, stood by his side. Knowing there was no time like the present, Shane cleared his throat. “Excuse me,” he said. “I’d like to say something.”
The murmurs and conversation quieted down and all eyes were on him. He slid a hand into his suit jacket, which he wore because the party had been dressy and he’d wanted this day to be special and one to remember.
Amber turned to him, questions in her wide blue eyes.
“First I want to thank the guys, Landon, Jason, and Tanner, for the fabulous party, and Faith, Scarlett and Vivi for helping.”
A small round of clapping followed.
“I also want to thank them for giving a college professor a chance with this woman here. I know if they’d put their foot down, it could have made Amber’s choices much more difficult.” In the years since that awkward meeting with Landon at Amber’s front door, they’d all become good friends.
“I can make my own decisions, you know,” she said beside him.
He nodded. “I also know you would not have wanted to argue with your family. I’m glad they didn’t make you.” He tipped his head at the three men who stood with their hands around the respective women in their lives.
“Thank you, Carrie and Samuel, for treating me like I’m part of the family. It means the world to me.”
The couple smiled at him.
“Thanks to Lydia and John for raising such a fabulous woman and to my mom for being my rock.”
She brought her hands to her heart and blew him a kiss.
“Finally, L.J., thanks for sharing your mom with me. And thank you for giving me permission to do this.” He reached into his pocket and pulled out the ring he’d bought a long time ago. He’d just been waiting for Amber to be ready. Then he dropped to one knee.
Amber gasped. He knew she’d expected a graduation and congratulations party … not this. “Amber, from the second you bumped into me on campus–“
“Umm, I think you bumped into me,“ she said with a grin.
“From the second we bumped into each other and I looked into
your eyes, I think I recognized the other half of my soul. I just wasn’t ready to admit to myself I was ready. We all know it didn’t take long for me to fall for your laughter, your warmth, and your poor, poor economics skills.”
The tinkling of laughter warmed him inside.
“I fell for your son the minute he smiled at me. And we became a family. Now I just want to make it legal and tie you to me forever. Amber, will you marry me?” He held out the round diamond with pavé stones surrounding it.
“Yes! A million times, yes.”
He slid the ring onto her hand and then her lips were on his. They kissed too briefly and then he stood up grinning like a fool, Amber pulled tightly against him.
Shane barely heard the clapping around him. All he could focus on was the woman in his arms. The boy beaming with approval beside them. The family that was now his.
* * * *
Also from 1001 Dark Nights and Carly Phillips, discover Take the Bride and His to Protect.
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SEXY LOVE by Carly Phillips
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Take the Bride: A Knight Brothers Novella
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She used to be his. Now she’s about to marry another man.
Will he let her go … or will he stand up and take the bride?
Ryder Hammond and Sierra Knight were high school sweethearts. Despite him being her brother's best friend, their relationship burned hot and fast…and ended with heartbreak and regrets.
Years later, she’s at the altar, about to marry another man.
He’s only there for closure, to finally put the past behind him.
But when the preacher asks if anyone has a reason the couple shouldn’t wed, she turns around and her gaze locks on his.
Suddenly he’s out of his seat.
Objecting.
Claiming.
And ultimately stealing the very pissed off bride and takes her to a secluded cabin.
He wants one week to convince her they’re meant to be, to remind her of the fiery passion still burning between them.
When their time together is up, will she walk away and break his heart this time, or will he finally have the woman he's wanted all along?
* * * *
His to Protect: A Bodyguard Bad Boys/Masters and Mercenaries Novella
by Carly Phillips
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Talia Shaw has spent her adult life working as a scientist for a big pharmaceutical company. She’s focused on saving lives, not living life. When her lab is broken into and it’s clear someone is after the top secret formula she’s working on, she turns to the one man she can trust. The same irresistible man she turned away years earlier because she was too young and naive to believe a sexy guy like Shane Landon could want her.
Shane Landon’s bodyguard work for McKay-Taggart is the one thing that brings him satisfaction in his life. Relationships come in second to the job. Always. Then little brainiac Talia Shaw shows up in his backyard, frightened and on the run, and his world is turned upside down. And not just because she’s found him naked in his outdoor shower, either.
With Talia's life in danger, Shane has to get her out of town and to her eccentric, hermit mentor who has the final piece of the formula she’s been working on, while keeping her safe from the men who are after her. Guarding Talia's body certainly isn't any hardship, but he never expects to fall hard and fast for his best friend’s little sister and the only woman who’s ever really gotten under his skin.
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Sexy Series Book 1
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One protective alpha male...
Plus one hot curvy blonde...
Equals an insta-love they can’t deny.
Billionaire nightclub owner Jason Dare doesn’t stand a chance. From the moment he lays eyes on the luscious blonde stuck on the side of the road and realizes she’s in danger, he goes from playboy to bodyguard.
Faith Lancaster’s sweet body won’t come to any harm on his watch. And watch Faith he does. He can’t take his eyes off her. Jason will stop at nothing to keep Faith safe. Even if it means moving her into his apartment and letting her into his once private life.
Hiding from her past, Faith has spent the last year building her candy business into a profitable company while keeping to herself and staying under the radar … until she meets the delicious Mr. Dare. Alpha and irresistible, he awakens desires she has long denied. It doesn’t take her long to succumb to his charms and fall hard for the man.
They both have their reasons for keeping things casual but when Faith’s past catches up with her, can Jason finally claim the woman meant to be his?
* * * *
Chapter One
With happy hour being celebrated loudly around him, Jason Dare stood on a balcony above the bar area and surveyed his domain, Club TEN29, a nightclub in Tribeca, an ode to the past and a reminder that the future wasn’t guaranteed. Despite the fact that his two partners were here, as were members of his actual family, he still felt very much alone.
Although solitary was a state of being he chose for reasons only he and his partners – men he considered his brothers – understood, sometimes it wasn’t easy, especially since they were very much in demand. As owners, they were becoming well kn
own here and had had extremely positive press, and that made him a target – for those who wanted an in with the occasional high-brow guest, and for women with dollar signs in their eyes and hopes to snag a wealthy man. Jason didn’t engage. He was ultra-selective with the females he brought to his bed.
His life was the club, his partners, and his large family. He kept his circle close and minimized his risk of loss as best he could. That mantra defined him, extending into his love life, as well. After his father had blown his family sky-high, after he’d almost lost his sister to cancer when she was a child, after losing his partner Landon’s twin and Jason’s best friend back in college, he didn’t, couldn’t get close to people and risk more loss.
He didn’t get emotionally involved. Ever. A woman couldn’t expect anything more than the occasional hookup when it was convenient, but he enjoyed those moments of connection with the females he did allow into his bed. He had enough darkness in his life that when he let go, he wanted to enjoy and have fun.
“Jason, this has been an amazing night!” his sister, Sienna, said, throwing her arms around his neck and planting a kiss on his cheek.
He chuckled and smiled at her glowing face.
Her husband, Ethan Knight, grinned as he pulled her off him and into his arms. “She’s been liberal with the alcohol.” Ethan explained her exuberant enthusiasm. “Her first time out since having the baby.” He held his wife tight against him.
Sexy Love: A Sexy Series Novella (The Sexy Series Book 4) Page 9
