by Karen Booth
Clay turned to her. “I love you, Astrid. I’ve been falling in love with you since the car ride to Los Angeles, if I’m perfectly honest.” He looked up at the ceiling and shook his head. It was like he was processing everything in real time. She’d always loved watching him think. “Or maybe it was the night of the cocktail party at Grant’s house. Either way, I’m over the moon for you and I’m begging you to stay. You are everything I have ever wanted and I will be lost without you. Please don’t move back to Norway. I’m begging you.”
“I told you I wasn’t necessarily moving. This trip was to clear my head.”
“I think I know another way to clear your head.” Before she knew what was happening, Clay pulled her into his arms, pressing his long form against hers and laying the deepest, most passionate kiss on her that she’d ever been on the receiving end of. He cradled the back of her head with his hand, all while she virtually melted into him. When he broke the kiss, he didn’t let her go far, holding on to her tight. Their mouths were mere inches apart, his breath warm on her lips. “Well?”
“If anything, that’s just you trying to confuse me.”
He laughed quietly and pressed another kiss to the corner of her mouth. “Did it work? Did I buy myself some time?”
Astrid dropped her shoulders. She had no energy to fight him. She only wanted to give in. But they had things to sort out. “I’m going to miss my flight, so yes. You bought yourself some time. The question is what you intend to do with it.”
“I’ll do whatever you want. I’m serious. I love you, Astrid.” He tenderly combed his fingers through her hair. “I should have told you long ago. I was scared. I can admit that now. And when your secret came out, it felt like confirmation of everything I’d feared. It felt like it was all happening again.”
“And now? How do you feel now?”
“Like I need to learn to look past what’s right in front of my face and try to see what’s truly ahead. Try to see the future, not spend all of my time reliving the past.”
Astrid swallowed hard, choking back the emotion of the moment. She not only loved hearing him say these things to her, she admired the way he’d put it all together for himself. He’d fought hard to tear off the blinders, rather than clinging to the idea of keeping them on. “I love you so much. I don’t really know how to put it into words.” She took his hand and pressed it to her chest. “But I hope that you can feel my heart beating. That’s all for you. It’s all possible because of you. I won’t go anywhere if that’s what you want.”
“That’s what I want. Always.”
She hadn’t prepared herself for that last word, especially on a day like today, when she’d been sure she was leaving and that would be the end of it. To make things even more surreal, it was then that Clay, the proudest man she knew, dropped to his knee, right there in the middle of the airport. He took her hand and peered up at her with his deep and soulful eyes. “I don’t have a ring to offer you right now, Astrid, but I can offer you myself. My undivided attention. My heart and everything that goes along with that, good or bad.”
“Careful, Clay. You’re practically reciting wedding vows.” She leaned down and pressed her hand to the cheek of the man who had once held so much mystery. “Your sister told me the quickest way to freak you out is to mention marriage.”
He shook his head. “Nope. The only thing that will put me into a panic is the thought of you leaving.”
She smiled so wide her cheeks hurt. “Then let’s get out of here.” He straightened and took her hand, but she stopped before they got to the glass doors. “Oh, shoot. My bags. I’ve already checked them. They’re probably already on the plane.”
“Actually, that works out pretty well because I’m pretty sure my car has been towed.”
“What?”
He shrugged. “I was in a hurry.”
They did stop by the airline baggage desk to let them know of the change in plans. Luckily, her suitcases had not yet been loaded, and they could retrieve them and deliver them for a fee. Clay handed over his credit card. “It’s my fault. I’ll pay for it.”
The clerk nodded and handed over a form for Astrid to fill out. “If you could provide your delivery address, that would be great.”
Clay took that and plucked a pen from the holder on the desk, writing down his home address.
“This is moving very fast,” Astrid joked.
He lowered his head with no regard for the people around them. Astrid was fine with that. Right now, he was her whole world. He nudged her nose with his before delivering a tender, leg-melting kiss. “I’m not stupid, Astrid. I’m not letting you out of my sight.”
* * *
Don’t miss the next story in
Karen Booth’s miniseries,
The Sterling Wives:
All He Wants for Christmas
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The Devil’s Bargain
by Kira Sinclair
One
Three years. That’s how long she’d successfully avoided Finn DeLuca. Apparently, the reprieve was over.
Genevieve Reilly stared at her attorney...waiting for him to laugh. Or tell her April fool. Or pinch her so she’d finally wake up.
“At least the judge recognized the validity of our argument against letting him take Noah overnight.”
Oh, because that was the silver lining in this nightmare.
“How? How could this happen? You promised me he’d never be granted visitation. He’s a convicted felon, for God’s sake.”
“No.” Lance reached across the conference table and placed a soothing hand on her arm. “I told you it wasn’t likely. But it appears Mr. DeLuca has not only influence of his own, but also friends in high places. Anderson Stone spoke on his behalf as a character witness.”
“Another convicted felon.”
“With billions of dollars and a media campaign touting him as a hero who saved the love of his life from a rapist.”
“Whoop-dee-do. That has nothing to do with Finn. Finn isn’t a hero. In fact, I’m pretty sure he’s the devil’s son.”
Genevieve rubbed at the ache lodged right between her eyes. She’d regret the day she ever met Finn DeLuca...except that would mean she’d have to regret her son. And nothing could ever make that happen. Noah was the best thing in her life.
Having Noah had given her the strength to walk away from a life that was slowly poisoning her. Yes, the decision meant she and Noah had to fight for everything they had...but the fight was worth it. She’d do without if it meant raising her son in an environment that was healthy and happy.
Lance shrugged his shoulders. “Devil or not, he’s Noah’s father. And let’s be honest, he has enough money that he could have fought us as long as he wanted.”
That had sorta been her hope...and also what had kept her up at night. As long as they were in a court battle, then she didn’t have to face him. But she didn’t have access to unlimited bank accounts anymore so paying for all those legal bills would have been difficult. She’d have managed. Somehow.
They could appeal the judge’s decision, but in the meantime Finn would get visitation. Which meant she’d have to see him. A reality she’d been both dreading...and dreaming about.
Waking up with her sex throbbing from memories of Finn was something she tried not to think about. She didn’t really want him. Couldn’t, wouldn’t let herself.
Nope, she refused to adm
it that any part of her wanted to see Finn DeLuca again.
Her last memory of him had been less than happy. Blue-and-red lights reflecting off the forecourt of her grandfather’s estate. The cool, remote expression on Finn’s face as an officer placed a hand to the top of his head and guided him into the back seat of the cruiser.
She’d refused to attend his trial. There’d been no point. And, thank God, the prosecutor hadn’t needed her to testify. Not when Finn had been caught red-handed with a fifteen-million-dollar diamond stuffed in his pocket.
Her diamond. Or, rather, her family’s. Nearly losing the Star of Reilly to the charismatic, smooth-talking devil had almost gotten her disowned...a fate Genevieve had spent her entire life bending over backward to avoid. It was the threat her grandfather had used to keep her in line from the time she was very young.
After losing her parents at an early age, her grandfather had been the only family she’d ever known. He might have been the monster in her closet, but he was all she had. So she’d grown up desperate to please him. Desperate not to lose him, too.
Who knew a few months after Finn’s arrest she’d be the one walking away? Life was funny...and not for the faint of heart.
And the thought of seeing Finn again had Genevieve’s stomach flipping uncomfortably close to her throat. He was handsome, charismatic, dynamic and dangerous. He was temptation personified, and despite everything, Genevieve didn’t exactly trust herself to hate him. Even if she should.
“Mr. DeLuca’s attorney has requested you provide your preferred location for the visit. He expressed his client’s desire for you to be comfortable.”
Well, wasn’t that just dandy? And not a thing like the Finn she knew. The man she remembered had been selfish and self-centered. Generous to a fault with those around him, but only because being charming was innate, not because he gave a damn about anyone else. Even now, she’d bet everything she owned that his generosity had nothing to do with Genevieve’s comfort.
Finn DeLuca wanted something—something more than access to her son. She just hadn’t figured out what. Yet.
At least she could guarantee he no longer wanted to use her for her access to the Reilly estate. He had to be aware of her change in circumstances. In fact, the tiny shreds of the check he’d sent, which were sitting on top of her dresser, were proof that he knew her grandfather didn’t support her anymore.
Like Finn could buy his way back into her life. Or Noah’s life. She didn’t need his money and wouldn’t have taken it even if she had. Noah might not have boarding school in his future, but she could afford to provide for her son without Finn’s tainted offering.
“Genevieve?”
Hell, this was really happening. She’d spent the last couple months hoping this day wouldn’t come. She’d refused to allow herself to contemplate the possibility that it might. So, she wasn’t prepared.
“Tell him to come by my place Saturday morning. Ten o’clock. We’ll figure out what to do from there. But he isn’t taking my son anywhere without me. Not until I know for certain he’s capable of caring for him and keeping him safe.”
“I’m fairly certain Mr. DeLuca will agree to whatever you want.”
That was a lie. Because if it were true, Finn would have respected her wishes and disappeared from her life for good.
* * *
Finn DeLuca stared at the file spread across the desk in front of him. His feet were kicked up onto the hard surface beside the eight-by-ten glossy of his son being pushed on one of those baby swings in the park.
He looked exactly like Finn’s younger brother had at that age. Before everything went to hell.
Noah’s pale blue eyes were alight with pure joy as wind ruffled his dirty-blond curls. His cheeks were chubby and pink and the perfect bow of his mouth was open on a peal of laughter.
This wasn’t the first time Finn had seen the photograph. Or the first time he’d found himself staring at it, lost in a complex web of emotions he didn’t have the experience to unravel.
He wasn’t used to giving a damn about anything but himself.
But from the first time he’d seen a picture of his son—the one the hospital took when he’d been born—Finn had been lost.
No, that wasn’t entirely true. He’d had a similar response the first time he’d laid eyes on Noah’s mother. Genevieve...perplexed him. Enticed him in a way no one else ever had.
Unbidden, Finn’s gaze traveled to the image of the woman standing behind Noah. Her arms were outstretched, waiting for the swing to return so she could push him again. Her flame-red hair had been pulled up into a tight knot at the top of her head, but the few strands that had fallen down were fluttering around her face.
He knew it was long...when she chose to let it down. Which was oh-so-rare. He could count on one hand the number of times he’d seen it in anything aside from a knot or a tail. And those few times had been because he’d asked her to leave it free.
He remembered running his fingers through the soft strands, reveling in the silky texture of it. Spreading it out across his pillow. The soft, blurred expression in her pale green eyes with the evergreen ring as his fingers played across her naked skin.
Dammit, he had to get control of himself. Sporting a half-hard erection at the mere thought of Genevieve’s head on his pillow wasn’t going to get him very far with her. In fact, it would have her building her walls even higher and faster.
And he needed her buy-in to have access to his son.
Shaking his head, Finn shuffled the photograph beneath the report he’d just been handed.
“Thanks, man. What do I owe you?”
Across the desk, Anderson Stone frowned at him, clearly perturbed at the question.
“Nothing. You know I’d do anything to help you. I’m just glad you’re finally getting the chance to meet him. It’s been a long six months.”
It had been, but things were finally coming together. He might be reckless, but Finn had always understood the benefit of patience and laying the groundwork for success. Part of what he’d loved most about pulling off heists was the planning and anticipation.
Not to mention the adrenaline rush of triumph.
Running a finger over his lips, Finn sent his friend a chiding glance. “You know, the purpose of running a business is to make a profit.”
“I’m aware,” Stone drawled out.
“Apparently not, since I’m unaware of any other clients you’re currently assisting. See, how it works is, when you provide services you request payment from those who benefit.”
“Oh, is that how it works? Remind me, which one of us holds an MBA?”
Finn scoffed. “Just because I don’t have an overpriced piece of paper with my name scrolled across it in fancy font doesn’t mean I don’t know what I’m talking about. Conversely, it doesn’t make you an expert.”
“I’m not hearing any complaints about the information you’ve been provided.”
No, and he wouldn’t complain. Finn was grateful for everything Stone and Gray, the other leg in their tripod, had done for him.
Who would have expected them to go into business together? Opening Stone Surveillance had seemed unexpected when his friends had first told him they were going to do it. But once he began thinking...it made sense. Both of them had this drive to help people, a need to right wrongs.
Maybe because they’d both been wronged.
Finn, on the other hand, had never felt the need to assist anyone in his life. People got what they deserved. If they were stupid, they deserved to be taken advantage of. Then they could learn. The way he looked at it, any time he stole something pretty and valuable, he was providing a service. Highlighting the flaws in their security so they could correct the problem and prevent more loss.
If in the process he managed to acquire something he wanted...more the better.
The cha
llenge was what drove him. Woe be it to anyone touting security that no one could break.
“You know we’re not letting you pay, Finn. Besides, if you’d come on board like we asked months ago, then you’d be a full partner, anyway.”
“Nope, thanks. I have a job.”
Stone scoffed. “That isn’t a job. When’s the last time you stepped foot inside DeLuca Industries?”
“Uh...” Finn glanced up at the ceiling, seriously considering Stone’s question. “Probably seven years ago, give or take six or seven months.” His lips quirked into a self-deprecating smile. “They obviously don’t need me. You know I review the quarterly financial and management reports. See, the key to running a successful business is hiring competent people to take care of it for you.”
Stone shook his head. This was an argument they’d had many times over the last few years. His friend couldn’t understand Finn’s perspective because he came from a family that was entirely wrapped up in the day-to-day minutia of running the family business. Sure, that business was a multibillion-dollar corporation with a worldwide reach, but that didn’t really change anything.
Finn, on the other hand, had decided early on that he wanted nothing to do with the family business. And felt not a single speck of guilt when he inherited it and handed it straight over to others to run.
Success and money afforded him the opportunity to do exactly as he pleased.
“Stealing things isn’t a job, either.”
Finn let a full-blown smile pull at his lips. “I haven’t stolen a single thing, officer. At least, not since I’ve been out.”
Stone scoffed. “Uh-huh. Is that because you’ve been preoccupied with Noah? I know you, Finn DeLuca. You’re going to get bored. All I’m asking is that when it happens, don’t do something stupid. I promise, we’ll find a way to use your skills in a way that’s beneficial to all of us...and keeps your ass outta jail.”
Finn leaned back farther in his chair, tipping it onto the back two legs. Folding his hands behind his head, he enjoyed the sensation of being balanced on the edge...just waiting for something to tip him one direction or the other.
