Her lips lifted into a smile.
Jesus, she was as exquisite as ever.
Content.
Glowing.
It wasn’t Italy that made her appear this magnificent. This was what Billie had looked like before the plane crash. And what she had looked like during the moments we had been together, when I was the reason she had smiled.
The waiter returned with a bottle of unlabeled red that he poured into two small glasses, and then he left us once again.
I held mine into the air, thinking of the best way to approach this moment. “To a dinner that’s hopefully worthy of five noodles.”
She laughed, but I also saw a glimmer of a tear. It wasn’t from sadness. What I saw in those pretty eyes made the grin on my face grow even larger.
We clinked glasses, and she took a drink. When she set it down, she leaned her arms on the table. The happiness on her face dimmed, and there was an even heavier dose of emotion in her eyes. She took several inhales, and then she said, “My father’s flying in tomorrow.”
I’d avoided her father the entire time we were together. And I had crossed the Atlantic without knowing what he thought of me, if he would ever accept me, if Billie would even let me into her life.
But her father was an obstacle I needed to face, and I came here prepared to do that. I just didn’t realize I would get the chance to do it while I was in Italy.
“I would like to meet him,” I said.
Tears leaked past her eyelids, her lips quivering. “You would do that for me? For us?”
“Billie …” I shook my head. “I would do anything for you.”
Her mouth opened, and just as she was about to respond, the waiter placed a bowl of bread between our water glasses.
“Homemade focaccia,” he said, stalling. He looked at Billie as she wiped her eyes. When her hands moved away from her face, all of her emotion was gone, and he said, “Tell me, signorina, what brings you to Venice?”
She cleared her throat. “I came for a vacation.” She paused, her teeth returning to her lip. “And somehow I ran into this charming man again.”
“How about you, signore?” the waiter asked.
I continued to stare into Billie’s fiery green gaze. One I’d been thinking about nonstop since the moment I took a seat next to her on the plane. I hadn’t known then that I would have these feelings or that I would follow her across the world. But as I looked at her, it all made sense, every decision … because each one had brought me here.
I nodded toward the beautiful girl in front of me. “I came to tell this one how much I still love her.”
Acknowledgments
Jovana Shirley, like I say every time—and I mean this with my whole heart—I wouldn’t want to do this with anyone but you. Thank you for always working with me and my last-minute changes and for your endless support. Love you.
Nina Grinstead, I love you more than anything. You’re the most amazing publicist and friend, and I can’t thank you enough for being on this journey with me. We are in this until the end. Team B.
Hang Le, my unicorn, thank you for being the most amazing human in the world. You are just incredible in every way.
Judy Zweifel, as always, thank you for being so wonderful to work with and for taking such good care of my words. <3
Kaitie Reister, I love you, girl, so hard. You’re my biggest cheerleader, and you’re such a wonderful friend. Thank you for being you. XO
Chanpreet, you are so sweet and so generous. Thanks for holding me together. XO
Nikki Terrill and Andrea Lefkowitz, I owe you, like, 47 puppies. Seriously, I love you two so much. And I will never be able to thank you for everything that you do for me. You girls are my soul sisters.
Kimmi Street and Crystal Radaker, my sisters, I love you more than love.
Ratula Roy, words will never do justice to how much I love and appreciate you. You mean everything to me.
Ricky, my sexyreads, I love you.
Miss Paige, thank youuu. <3
Extra-special love goes to Hilary Suppes, Donna Cooksley Sanderson, Stacey Jacovina, Jesse James, Kayti McGee, Carol Nevarez, Julie Vaden, Elizabeth Kelley, Jennifer Porpora, Pat Mann, Katie Amanatidis, Katy Truscott, my COPA ladies, and my group of Sarasota girls, whom I love more than anything. I’m so grateful for all of you.
Mom and Dad, thanks for your unwavering belief in me and your constant encouragement. It means more than you’ll ever know.
Brian, my words could never dent the amount of love you give me. Trust me when I say, I love you more.
My Midnighters, you are such a supportive, loving, motivating group. Thanks for being such an inspiration, for holding my hand when I need it, and for always begging for more words. I love you all.
To all the bloggers who read, review, share, post, tweet, Instagram—Thank you, thank you, thank you will never be enough. You do so much for our writing community, and we’re so appreciative.
To my readers—I cherish each and every one of you. I’m so grateful for all the love you show my books, for taking the time to reach out to me, and for your passion and enthusiasm. I love, love, love you.
Marni’s Midnighters
Getting to know my readers is one of my favorite parts about being an author. In Marni’s Midnighters, my private Facebook group, we chat about steamy books, sexy and taboo toys, and sensual book boyfriends. Team members also qualify for exclusive giveaways and are the first to receive sneak peeks of the projects I’m currently working on. To join Marni’s Midnighters, click HERE.
Also by Marni Mann
Stand-Alone Novels
Even If It Hurts (Contemporary Romance)
Before You (Contemporary Romance)
The Assistant (Psychological Thriller)
When Ashes Fall (Contemporary Romance)
The Unblocked Collection (Erotic Romance)
Wild Aces (Erotic Romance)
Prisoned (Dark Erotic Thriller)
The agency series of stand-alone novels—Erotic Romance
Signed
Endorsed
Contracted
Negotiated
The Prisoned Spin-Off DUET—Dark Erotic Thriller
Animal—Book One
Monster—Book Two
The Shadows Series—Erotica
Seductive Shadows—Book One
Seductive Secrecy—Book Two
The BAR HARBOR SERIES—NEW ADULT
Pulled Beneath—Book One
Pulled Within—Book Two
The Memoir Series—Dark Fiction
Memoirs Aren’t Fairytales—Book One
Scars from a Memoir—Book Two
Novels Cowritten with Gia Riley
Lover (Erotic Romance)
Drowning (Contemporary Romance)
About the Author
USA Today best-selling author Marni Mann knew she was going to be a writer since middle school. While other girls her age were daydreaming about teenage pop stars, Marni was fantasizing about penning her first novel. She crafts unique stories that weave together her love of darkness, mystery, passion, and human emotions. A New Englander at heart, she now lives in Sarasota, Florida, with her husband and their dog. When she’s not nose deep in her laptop, working on her next novel, she’s scouring for chocolate, sipping wine, traveling, or devouring fabulous books.
Want to get in touch? Visit Marni at …
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Website
[email protected]
Wrapped in Ink
By: Carrie Ann Ryan
Chapter 1
Liam Montgomery leaned against the wall and did his best to stay out of the way. It wasn’t easy since, like the rest of his family, he was broad and tall and tended to stand out amongst the crowd—that is, unless the crowd was full of Montgomerys. Then, he blended in.
Today, however, only a fraction of the Montgomerys were here—his immediate family—and not what felt like tens of thousands of cousins, uncles, and au
nts that lived in the state.
Liam looked over the crush of wedding goers as they milled around with their pre-ceremony drinks and tried to spot his family. The Boulder Montgomerys had been invited to his friends’ wedding and had all shown up, which was nice, considering that though they all lived in the same city, they were rarely in the same place unless there was a family dinner.
Those didn’t come often these days since they were all busier than usual, but Liam had a feeling that once his mom saw all her ducklings in one place, there would be an edict for a dinner sometime soon.
Liam sipped the last of his beer and then looked around for a tray to set it down on since he was finished. He nodded at an attendant as they took his bottle and then leaned back against the wall. He never really understood why someone needed a drink before a wedding unless you were the one getting married, but he didn’t really mind that he could have a beer while waiting for everything to start.
“Why are you over here sulking?” Bristol asked as she came to his side and leaned into him. Liam wrapped his arms around his little sister’s shoulders and kissed the top of her head. She let out a strangled noise, and he knew that she was rolling her eyes at him even though he couldn’t see her face just then.
“Really? Really?” She sounded so annoyed that Liam couldn’t help but grin.
He turned to face her. “What? You’re my baby sister. I’m allowed to do things like that.” He reached out to mess with her hair again, and she pulled away, huffing.
“I’m in my thirties. You don’t have to coddle me and kiss me on the top of the head like I’m still wearing braids.”
Liam narrowed his eyes and then traced his finger along one of the tiny braids in her updo. “Um, I beg to differ with the whole braids thing.”
She glared at him and then flipped him off. “It’s two tiny little braids in my updo that the hairstylist had fun with. I’m not actually in pigtails. Stop treating me like a baby.”
“I’m always going to treat you like a baby. Because you’re my baby sister.”
“You don’t treat Aaron like you do me, and he’s younger than I am.”
“He might be, and I do treat him like a baby brother. But you’re still the wee little girl.”
She flipped him off and then winced as their parents’ voices hit them. “Did I just see you flipping off your brother at a very fancy event?” Francine Montgomery asked as she came up to stand by them, tapping her daughter on the nose.
“Surely, we did not,” Timothy Montgomery asserted, holding back a grin.
Considering that both of Liam’s parents flipped each other off constantly, as did the rest of the Montgomery family, Liam knew that it was all bluster. But mothering Bristol or any of them was sort of what their mom did. And he knew she loved it.
“Liam started it,” Bristol said, and Liam burst out laughing.
“Oh, yes, that’s the mature sister I know and love,” he added as Bristol punched him in the gut.
He let out an oof and rubbed his stomach.
“You’re packing a punch there, baby sister,” he muttered.
Bristol coughed and used her hands to cover up the middle finger she used to flip him off with again.
“I still saw that, young lady. And you shouldn’t hit your brother like that,” their mother added. Liam just shook his head.
He loved his family, he really did. But, sometimes, it felt like they were in their own little comedy show outside of the world, a place where nothing mattered but them. And he was fine with that. They had always been there for him. They were the true friends and close relatives he’d had all his life.
Liam was a Montgomery, just like the rest of them. They had connections and ties that never died, no matter how much they made fun of each other or flipped each other off. Because they were family, and that’s what mattered most.
As his brothers came walking in, grinning at him and Bristol, Liam leaned back against the wall and looked at them all.
Ethan was only a couple of years younger than Liam and brilliant. He didn’t understand half the things that Ethan talked about when he spoke about his job, but that didn’t matter. His brother was just that damn good at everything.
And Aaron? Aaron was brilliant in his own way. He might not be science and math smart like Ethan, but the art that he created was breathtaking, and Liam knew it would last into the ages.
Just like Bristol’s music would.
They were all so damn talented and amazing. And while he sometimes felt a little left behind, he knew he shouldn’t. Because he liked his job, and he was damn good at it. He’d even liked it when he was a model back in the day, even though everyone had made fun of him for it.
But it had made him enough money to get him through college. With some left over to help the rest of his family so nobody ended up in debt.
If he had to deal with being called “pretty boy” and made fun of for his looks? He’d take it.
And he’d flip off his family as he did.
“What are we doing over here?” Aaron asked, frowning. “Is there some kind of Montgomery reunion I wasn’t aware of?”
“I’m just so happy that all of our family is together in one place,” Francine said, sliding in between Liam’s two brothers and wrapping her arms around their waists. “Y’all are getting so big.”
Liam snorted. “Um, Mom? I think we’ve all gone way past the whole growing up stage. We’re pretty much as big as we’re gonna get.”
“I don’t know, Liam, I think Bristol might one day actually grow up and reach normal height at some point.” Ethan winked and patted Bristol on the head.
Their baby sister narrowed her eyes and used both fingers this time, raising them high into the air. She quickly lowered them as Francine and Timothy glared at her.
“At least try to act like we’re not all heathens,” Timothy said, although he laughed as he did. “We’re supposed to be the nice family at a beautiful wedding, not people flipping each other off just because we can. It gets kind of old after a while.”
“That is true,” Liam added. He was surprised that Bristol didn’t flip him off again.
“If everyone would stop touching my hair, though, that would be amazing,” Bristol added.
“Your hair does look lovely, dear,” Francine said, studying her daughter. “Did Zia do it?”
Liam met his brothers’ gazes and held back a grin.
It didn’t matter how long Zia and Bristol had been broken up, their mother wanted marriages for her children. And babies. And so, the fact that Bristol and her ex-girlfriend were still friends always gave Francine hope.
Besides, it took the attention off the rest of them so they weren’t constantly being asked when they were going to settle down and find a nice boy or girl to marry. Liam wasn’t ready for that, and after he had witnessed all the trouble and heartache that his cousins had gone through in their marriages, he was okay waiting that out for a little while. He had time. Lots of time.
The fact that he was thinking all of this at his friends’ wedding wasn’t lost on him. Craig and Cain had been through their own hells, but were now going to say their vows to each other and then head off into the sunset, happily married. Maybe they’d eventually adopt a baby because they were on the right path for that.
Liam was fine on his own road, thank you very much.
“Zia didn’t do my hair, Mom,” Bristol said, and Liam knew she was holding back a sigh. “She’s not even in town.”
“But did she help you with the style or something? She’s just so amazing with all her techniques and things. I follow her on Instagram, you know? She’s getting her own makeup line and everything. Did you know that, Bristol?”
Zia was an Instagram beauty blogger who was getting her own product line or something like that. Liam was the one who had introduced her to Bristol since he used to model with her back in the day. It was still a little weird to think that his baby sister had exes in her life. He tried not to think of Bristol as some
one who could actually have a relationship. But Zia had been good. Not right for Bristol, but good.
“I know, Mom. Zia and her boyfriend are out of town on vacation, though.” Bristol emphasized the word boyfriend, and their mother’s face fell.
“Oh, I didn’t know she was seeing someone.”
“Has been for a few months now. I think I hear wedding bells.”
“Speaking of wedding bells,” Ethan put in. “We should probably find our seats, or Craig and Cain will beat the crap out of us for ruining their wedding.”
“Yeah, we can’t ruin another one,” Aaron put in and then laughed.
“What wedding have we ruined?”
“I’m sure we ruined a few,” Aaron put in, waving his hand.
Liam laughed and put his arms around Bristol’s shoulders as they all walked into the seating area. “I’m sure our mere presence does that. They can’t help but be intimidated by us. We are the Montgomerys, after all.”
“They’re probably just intimidated by you, pretty boy,” Ethan said, ducking out of the way as Liam tried to punch him.
“Boys,” their mom said in that voice that had been the same since they were little. One word and they all stopped.
Even Bristol froze.
“Sorry,” they all mumbled under their breaths and then looked at each other, grinning.
No, they weren’t kids anymore, nowhere close, actually, but sometimes, it was good to be near family. Liam took a seat at the end of the bench with Bristol sitting next to him, and then Ethan, Aaron, and their parents. Liam had met Cain back in his modeling days, and the two of them had struck up a friendship that had lasted through the years.
Yeah, Liam had been a teenage model, and it continued into his twenties. He’d made a shit ton of money but then left that life as quickly as he could. Somehow, he hadn’t found his way into drugs or too much drinking or getting a disease from all the women he could have slept with over that time. A few of his friends back in the day had succumbed to exactly that. It didn’t matter what decade you were in, it felt like the craze of wanting to do something bad and be in that circle just kept coming at you.
Don't Break This Kiss (Top Shelf Romance Book 5) Page 99
