Kian

by Melody Anne

  “You were saying?” he prompted.

  Roxie jumped from the bed, her limbs tangling, tripping her up, certainly slowing her momentum. Then she was finally on her feet and coming after him. He didn’t budge. Just stood there as she pounded her fists against his chest. His expression never changed as she wore herself out. Finally, her anger dimmed, and then she was absolutely horrified at what she’d become, of what she’d just done.

  Her eyes widened, and she took a step back, her hands going over her mouth. “I-I-I . . .” She closed her mouth. “I don’t know what happened,” she said.

  Her knees gave out, and she flopped down on the bed as her head dropped. “I don’t know what happened. I don’t know why I was so mad.”

  She was close to sobbing, but she couldn’t fall apart. She was in the middle of a shift. She had to get back out on the floor. As if Kian could read her mind, he lifted his phone, pressing it to his ear.

  “This is Dr. Forbes,” he said, his voice filled with professionalism and authority. “Nurse Gilbert will need to be replaced. I’m having a consultation with her that will take the rest of the shift.” There was a pause. “Thank you.”

  He turned the phone off and faced her again. She stared up at him, waiting for an explosion, for some emotion other than humor to cross his face. She didn’t know what to do or say. She wanted to run, but she knew there was no chance of that happening. He still said nothing, just gazed down at her.

  “You can’t keep standing there looking at me like that,” she finally said. She was so close to falling apart, she wasn’t sure she knew which way was up or down anymore.

  “I’m waiting,” he said. There was so much understanding and humor in his face, she didn’t know what to think.

  “You’re waiting for what?” she snapped. She felt her anger rise again and tried desperately to push it down. She’d already humiliated herself enough for one day. She didn’t need to add to the mess she was making of her life.

  He smiled, his face almost serene, and she felt a sense of calm pass through her. She didn’t understand it at all. What in the world was happening?

  “I’m waiting for you to put it all together,” he told her.

  “Put what together?” she snapped. She wanted to pace, jump up, and shake him. She wanted action, but didn’t understand what action. This was too overwhelming. It was all too much, and she felt as if she were going crazy.

  “I love you,” he simply said.

  She gaped at him. How could he even say those words to her when she’d been acting like a crazy woman? Was there something wrong with him? Maybe she was perfectly fine, and he was the mental one.

  “I love you,” he repeated.

  This time, the words sank in slowly and began drifting through her like a slow molasses warming her blood and easing her stress. She stared at him, not knowing what to think, what to say, what to do.

  “I love you, Roxie Gilbert. I always have, and I always will.” His words came out with such surety, such devotion. She felt her body sag, her mind let go and . . . and her heart open. It opened so wide, so painfully, that she clutched her chest. It hurt; it physically hurt as it beat erratically in her chest.

  She stared at him as he continued to give her that serene smile as if he had all the answers. And suddenly she felt as if he did. She felt as if he’d known all along what was in her heart, in her soul, and he’d simply been waiting for her to figure it out. She couldn’t find words to say as she gripped her chest, the ache turning into a warmth that radiated through her.

  “I love you,” she whispered. It was almost a question. But she did. She loved this man in an all-consuming, passionate way. But for some reason, she wasn’t frightened by it anymore. She wasn’t filled with the need to run away from him; she was filled with the desire to run straight into his arms, to let him hold her, to share the burdens and joys with her.

  “I won’t lose myself in you,” she said, her voice awed. He looked at her, joy in his eyes as she figured it all out. He’d forgiven her for fleeing because he knew she hadn’t known who she was. He’d forgiven her in the hopes she could forgive him. That’s how it worked, didn’t it? You loved someone in spite of the bad; you loved them in good times and in disasters. You couldn’t choose which emotion to feel; you could only choose how to handle each situation.

  But Roxie knew she couldn’t run anymore. She had run in the wrong direction, and she’d almost lost the man she truly loved. But by some miracle, she’d been called back home, and now she had received a second chance.

  Slowly, afraid her limbs wouldn’t hold her up, she stood, her legs trembling. Kian didn’t move. He stood right where he was, but he uncrossed his arms and opened them, showing her she had nothing to fear.

  She moved quickly, pressing herself to him, finally accepting what he’d wanted to give her all along—himself. His love for her had survived it all, and now she could accept him and give him all of her. She had never had anything to fear but herself, and now that she was letting him, he would help carry that burden.

  “I love you,” she said. She said it again and again, and he rubbed her back and held her as she sobbed in his arms. He loved her. He truly loved her, and with that knowledge, she felt invincible.

  Kian picked her up and carried her to the bed. He lay down and enfolded her. He didn’t strip them bare, didn’t make love to her, he just held her, and it was absolutely perfect. They would soon pick up their daughter, and their family would be complete.

  “I’m going to marry you as soon as I can get the license,” he said, his voice casual, as if there wasn’t a chance of letting her escape.

  “What makes you think I’ll say yes?” she joked, joy in her voice.

  He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small black box. He was leaning against the back of the bed with her resting between his legs, her back against his chest. She looked at the box in shock as he opened it, and a brilliant square diamond sparkled against the velvet.

  Her fingers shook as she lifted them and traced the sparkling rock. She snatched her hand away as if she were stung. Tears fell down her face. How long had he been carrying this? She wanted to ask, but she didn’t think it was possible to get words past the tightness of her throat.

  “I carried this for two months before you left four years ago. I’m not telling you that to hurt you; I just want you to know how long I’ve loved you,” he said. “I’ve now had it in my pocket again since the day after I saw you in that park.”

  His voice choked on the last word, and she felt her own heart break all over again at how much she’d hurt this man and how truly strong he’d been for the both of them. She twisted on the bed so she was on her knees before him.

  She carefully cradled his face in her hands and leaned in, running her lips across his before she backed away, not trying to hide her tears from him anymore.

  “Thank you for loving me. I will never be able to apologize enough for the pain I’ve caused you, but you need to know I will do my best to be your everything from here on out,” she said, the words difficult to speak past the lump in her throat.

  His eyes sparkled as he gazed at her, and then he pulled the ring out and took her left hand, slipping it on her finger. It was a perfect fit. He then cupped her cheek in his large hand as he smiled at her.

  “For time and all eternity,” he whispered.

  “Yes, Kian, a thousand times, yes.”

  They stopped talking as his lips took hers. They sealed their promise to each other, and then, hand in hand, they went and picked up their daughter so they could start the rest of their lives together.

  Epilogue

  Why was it that sometimes it took a terrible tragedy to wake a person up? Roxie would never understand it, but she also wasn’t a person who didn’t learn from mistakes. She’d made too many of them in her life, and now she had been given a second chance, and she vowed not to waste it.

  Kian held Lily in his arms, and the sound of her laughter was about the most b
eautiful music in the universe to Roxie. She rubbed her bulky stomach as she glided across the dance floor, her eyes focused on the two most important people in her life.

  “There’s my beautiful wife,” Kian said as she leaned in and kissed him before giggling.

  “With my stomach out so far, I’m having a much more difficult time reaching you,” she said.

  “I love this belly. I’m going to miss it,” Kian told her as he ran his fingers across her protruding stomach.

  “I’m going to miss it, too,” Roxie admitted. “I love Lily as if she truly were mine. I also love this experience of carrying a child within me and getting to be there for every moment.”

  “Lily is both of ours,” Kian said, and Roxie had no doubt of the truth in his words.

  “We’re blessed more than words could ever say,” Roxie told him.

  “Yes, we are, and we’re a family,” Kian told her.

  “Dance with me,” Roxie insisted.

  She chuckled as he held Lily in one arm and wrapped the other around Roxie’s waist. She leaned her head into his shoulder and smiled at Lily as the three, soon to be four, of them swayed to the music playing.

  “Happy anniversary, Mrs. Forbes,” Kian whispered.

  “Happy anniversary, my love,” Roxie replied.

  He leaned in and kissed her, and she knew every single day would bring more and more joy to her life. It truly didn’t get any better than it was right now. She’d been afraid of losing herself. Now she realized how foolish that was. She couldn’t get lost in another person when she knew exactly who she was. It wasn’t until she’d realized that that she’d actually found herself, and now she had the rest of her life to continue to grow into the person she was always meant to be.

  “Joseph Anderson, I sure have to say I’m more than grateful you’re my friend,” Lucian said with a wide grin as he patted Joseph on the back.

  “Hey, I’m not chopped liver,” Sherman grumbled before he gobbled down the rest of a pastry that was so buttery, he couldn’t help but moan in delight.

  “Of course not,” Lucian said with a chuckle. “I’ve been waiting for my children to pull their heads out for a long time, and it seems they just needed a little pushing to get the ball rolling.”

  “Well, you’re not even halfway there yet,” Joseph pointed out as the three men turned and looked to where three of Lucian’s sons were standing off in a corner, away from the rest of the crowd.

  “I wonder what they’re discussing over there,” Sherman said. “We should just put bugs on all of them, and then we’d know.”

  He would most likely do that if he could get away with it. The sad thing was, Lucian wasn’t too against the idea himself, and he knew for sure Joseph would be on board.

  “They are probably jealous their oldest brother is celebrating his one-year wedding anniversary with such a beautiful and sweet bride,” Joseph said with a chuckle.

  “Yeah, I somehow doubt that,” Lucian said.

  Lucian and his wife were thrilled that both their daughter and their eldest son had found spouses who not only made them shine, but who Lucian could truly say were their perfect matches. But he still had three sons who had darkness in their lives. If only they’d open their hearts, they’d find joy unlike anything they could ever imagine.

  Owen was his most relaxed son, always ready to laugh with you or lend a hand. He would make a fine husband if he’d just settle down. Chasing fires was honorable and all, but it didn’t keep you warm at night. That thought had Lucian smiling. It might keep him mighty hot if he was in a burning building. Lucian wasn’t as worried about him as he was about Declan, though.

  There was something his youngest son wasn’t talking to them about. He wasn’t sure what it was, but Declan had secrets he didn’t share with anyone. He wore his emotions close to the chest, and he never made a mistake and exposed them.

  Sure, his son was a fine man—all of his children were—but Declan had secrets, and he needed a strong woman who could help carry whatever burdens he felt he needed to carry alone.

  Now, Arden, on the other hand, was primed and ready for love. That boy had been a miracle worker at the high school where he taught. He’d changed many lives of his students, and Lucian couldn’t be prouder of the profession he’d chosen. He might not have his name shining in lights, but he was making more of a difference than most people in his position would choose to make. He was creating leaders and saving those the rest of the world had given up on.

  “I think Arden is ready,” Lucian said aloud, and Joseph and Sherman turned to gaze at the man in question. Just then he looked up, and his eyes narrowed in suspicion as he caught all eyes on him. Then he shifted uncomfortably and looked away.

  “Oh yes, I think he’s certainly ready,” Joseph agreed.

  Before they could speak further, a commotion broke out. The three men turned and found Lily dancing on her father’s shoes as he slowly moved across the floor. Roxie was slowly approaching them, her cheeks glowing, her rounded stomach just beginning to show in her fourth month of pregnancy. She was already Lily’s mother now, and soon she’d add one more child to their family.

  Lucian couldn’t be happier with his growing family. His daughter had given him a beautiful baby boy who’d just turned a year old a month earlier, and Lily was a fresh breath of air Lucian couldn’t get enough of. He had to push back his sorrow at missing her first few years of life. That was a hard lesson he’d certainly learned from. Hopefully his kids had paid attention and were a lot more careful after that.

  In about five months, he’d have another grandchild. He didn’t want to be greedy, but he’d be satisfied if he had about twenty of the babies running around his place in five years on Christmas morning. Maybe he’d keep that thought to himself—at least for now.

  Turning in the opposite direction from the dance floor, Lucian spotted where the noise was coming from. One of Arden’s students was in a fistfight. Arden moved quickly, breaking the two boys up, Owen and Declan right behind him.

  “Wonder what that’s all about?” Sherman said.

  “Arden will get it worked out,” Lucian said, not at all worried.

  Kian watched as his brothers marched the kids from the room, but he knew the situation was secure, so he went back to dancing with his bride and daughter, looking happier than he’d ever looked.

  “Yes, today is a day of celebration,” Joseph said with a beaming smile.

  The three men quickly grew quiet as their wives approached, but not before Joseph winked. They’d never grow bored of helping to find happiness for those they loved. It was selfless, after all, Lucian thought before he wrapped his arm around his wife and led her to the dance floor. He’d also never get tired of holding his own perfect bride, who was just as beautiful today as she’d been the moment he’d met her.

  ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

  This book is the most emotional journey I have taken with the beginning of a new series. I always mix my personal life into my writing, and without a doubt, this book doesn’t offer an exception. Kian and Roxie go through some heart-wrenching moments in this story, and it’s because of the people around me that I’m able to write with such passion, happiness, anger, and laughter. I can’t write alone, and I don’t ever want to. Sometimes I hide away and pretend there isn’t an outside world, but when I do that, my writing fails me. It’s when I’m around friends and family that I’m at my best.

  Thank you so much to the continued support from my fans, who I can’t do the job I love without. Thank you to my family, who always support me no matter how crazy I get. Thank you to my friends, who make me laugh and get me to spread my wings and fly. Thank you to my Montlake family. You took a chance on me, have always believed in me, and make me feel like anything is possible, and I enjoy our visits so much. Thank you to Lauren, who is the best editor I’ve ever had. I don’t say that lightly. You push me, motivate me, don’t allow me to be lazy, and make my writing so much better, and you do it in a way that makes me want
to be better.

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  Photo © John Evanston

  Melody Anne is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author who has written a number of popular series, including Billionaire Bachelors, Surrender, Baby for the Billionaire, and Billionaire Aviators. Along with romance and young adult novels, Melody has also recently collaborated with fellow authors J.S. Scott and Ruth Cardello for Taken by a Trillionaire. Kian is the first book in Melody’s new Undercover Billionaire series.

  A country girl at heart, Melody loves the small town and strong community she lives in. When she’s not writing, she enjoys spending time with her family, friends, and beloved pets. Most of all, she loves being able to do what makes her happiest . . . living in a fantasy world (for at least 95 percent of the time).