Sunset Love: The Bold and the Beautiful

by Shannon Curtis

  “When is your surgery?” Brooke asked as she draped a silken robe over the woman’s shoulders. Ruth was having reconstructive surgery to replace the breasts that were removed during her double mastectomy.

  “In two weeks,” Ruth said.

  “You’re going to be great.”

  Ruth turned her beautiful smile onto full wattage. “I already am,” she said simply.

  Caroline hurried over to grasp her hand. “Okay, Ruth, you’re the lead. The rest of the models are ready.” Caroline glanced over her shoulder as she led the young woman away. “What are you still doing here?” she said to Brooke and jerked her head toward the display room. “Get out there, mingle.” She winked. “Go enjoy the show. I can look after everything behind the curtain.”

  “Yeah, Mom,” Hope said. “People are asking for you.” She handed her a tissue. “I came supplied.”

  Brooke laughed as she wiped the tears from her face and walked through the corridor to enter the press gallery. This was a special showing. While the customary gaggle of journalists were gathered, there were also women whose lives had been touched by breast cancer, along with the models’ families.

  The lights dimmed, and Eric stepped on stage to introduce the collection. Brooke smiled and nodded at Ben Al Hashimi, CEO of Emirati Fabrics, who returned her smile. Thorne sidled up to her as the music started and the curtains opened to reveal Ruth, who strutted down the aisle with confidence and a blazing smile. Tears welled in Brooke’s eyes as the proud tilt of Ruth’s shoulders reminded her of her mother, many years ago, putting on a brave face when she donned her first ‘good’ outfit after her operation. Other breast cancer survivors joined Ruth on stage, each modelling a different Glamazon product. Brooke didn’t think she’d ever seen a more beautiful group of models for a Forrester Creations show.

  The crowd was silent for a moment, before they erupted into cheers. Matt Parker, Ruth’s husband, cheering from the front row.

  Thorne slid his arm around her waist and pulled her back against him. “Proud of you, Brooke,” he murmured into her ear, and she sniffed, tears trickling down her face.

  “Me, too.”

  A small square of white linen appeared before her. “Hope told me to come prepared,” he said, and she laughed as she accepted the handkerchief.

  The show was a success. The reporters responded more positively than would normally be the case, possibly because the models were all breast cancer survivors, courageously displaying their beauty.

  Brooke laughed harder as she wiped at her face, then joined in the cheers.

  *

  Two hours later, the models and their families had gone on to the after-party Eric was throwing for them, and Brooke was finishing up with the last reporter. She waved goodbye as Jarrett Maxwell left, and turned, reaching for Thorne’s hand, then halted. Ridge stood near the back of the room, but it was the woman by his side that held Brooke’s gaze.

  “Katie!” Donna exclaimed softly, joining Brooke.

  Katie stepped forward, and Brooke gazed at her youngest sister, so happy to see her she couldn’t find any words.

  “I hope you don’t mind my being here,” Katie said, uncertainty in her voice. She lifted her hand awkwardly. “I really wanted to see this.”

  Brooke grasped her sister’s fluttering hand and smiled. “I’m so glad you came,” she said. Katie’s dark hair gleamed and her skin was glowing. “You look happy,” Brooke murmured.

  “I am,” Katie admitted. She laughed. “You’ve cried your makeup off again, but you look fantastic.”

  “Thank you.” Brooke squeezed her hand, delighted by her presence. She blinked. She didn’t want the situation to get weird for Katie. “What did you think of the show?”

  Her sister shook her head, her expression clearly amazed. “That was truly an experience,” she said. “There was so much love in this room—I’ve never seen that happen with a show before.”

  “Neither have I, but I’m not surprised that of all people, you created that vibe, Logan,” Ridge said, smiling.

  Donna nodded. “It was definitely special,” she said, rubbing Brooke on the arm. “Good job, sis.”

  “Yes, good job,” Katie said, nodding. Her eyebrows rose, her expression stunned. “You have done such a good thing here, Brooke. I’m proud of you. Mom would be so proud of you , too.”

  “So am I,” Donna said.

  Brooke fought tears again, and ducked her head. Oh, God, she hadn’t expected that. “Uh, thank you, that means a lot.” More than a lot. It meant everything.

  “Well,” Donna said brightly, “there is an after-party with my name on it. Who’s with me?”

  “Oh, I’ll stop by,” Katie said. “I’m thinking of doing a short series of interviews with these Glamazons.”

  Brooke beamed. Not only would that boost the profile for the line, it would mean so much to the women involved. “That would be great, Katie, thank you.”

  “Come on, the longer we chat here, the less partying is going on there,” Donna said. “Are you coming, Brooke?”

  Brooke shook her head. “No. I’ve already monopolized those women, now it’s their time. Besides, I’m exhausted. We’re used to getting up early back home.” She and Thorne were staying at her mansion during their time in L.A.

  “Okay, but don’t go rushing back to Texas, we need to catch up,” Donna said as she started to walk to the door. “I’ll see you at breakfast.” She took a step then turned. “Make that lunch.” She reached the door then turned back. “Actually, make it dinner.”

  “Good job, Logan,” Ridge said, touching her arm briefly before leaving with Katie.

  Thorne’s arm slid around her shoulders, and he kissed her temple. “Yeah, Brooke. Great job.”

  She beamed as they left the building. In the last year, her life had changed drastically. She’d relocated to Texas and occasionally commuted to L.A. for meetings or events, like this one, but mainly she and Thorne lived on the ranch, working the land and seducing the socks off each other.

  And now, apparently, she could chat with her sister and Ridge without being crippled by heartache.

  Thorne drove them back to her place. The mansion was dark, and Brooke turned on some of the lights as they entered. “Hope is at the after-party,” she told Thorne, and he nodded.

  “Yeah, she mentioned something along those lines when she was handing me the year’s supply of handkerchiefs.”

  Brooke chuckled as he closed the door, then he turned and leaned against it, flashing that wicked smile with the sexy dimples.

  “So, we’ve got the house to ourselves, huh?”

  She knew that look in his eye. It usually meant an intense night of pleasure.

  “What did you have in mind?” she asked softly, stepping out of her shoes.

  “Well, I notice it’s warm out,” he commented.

  “That it is,” she agreed.

  “And you have the pool,” he said as he eased away from the door.

  She started to back up. “Uh huh.”

  “What say we go skinny-dipping?” he said, his deep voice rumbling with sensual suggestion.

  She grinned. “Only if you catch me first.” She laughed and took off running, squealing as Thorne growled behind her. She twisted, unzipping her dress and slipping out of it as she hurried through the house.

  She made it out to the pool area then halted, her jaw dropping. The patio was covered with vases and pots of crimson blooms and candlelight, the air heavy with the scent of roses. She was surrounded by soft romance.

  “Oh my God, Thorne,” she gasped. She turned to face him. “It’s like some fantasy.” He stood leaning against the wall, his shirt open to display his divine chest, the silk boxers he wore doing little to hide the effect she had on him. He straightened and approached her, his loose-hipped saunter relaxed and graceful—and more than sexy. It reminded her of a similar evening, many years ago, back at his house by the beach. The night they’d first kissed.

  He walked over to the
ice bucket, pulled out the champagne bottle and expertly popped the cork.

  He kissed her on the shoulder. “I like to bring your fantasies to life.” He lifted two crystal champagne flutes. “Congratulations on an amazing show,” he said softly, as he poured the frothy golden liquid into the glasses.

  “Thank you,” she said as she accepted her glass. There was a slender crystal vase on the table with a single white rose, the candlelight creating prisms of light around the bloom. “Oh my, Thorne, this is beautiful,” she murmured.

  “Apparently it smells all right too,” he said, shrugging. “But I figure all flowers smell, somehow.”

  She shook her head in light-hearted exasperation as she leaned over to sniff at the bloom. A glint caught her eye and she frowned. With her fingernail, she delicately parted the petals and gasped. A diamond ring lay nestled at the center of the rose, the gems glittering in the muted candlelight. She swallowed. Oh. My. God.

  Thorne joined her and reached for the rose. He gently plucked the ring from its floral bed, and held it up to her.

  “I figure this was better than sticking it in somebody else’s oyster plate,” he said.

  Her hand rose to her mouth as she stared at the ring in shock.

  “I honestly didn’t think I’d ever get married again,” he said quietly. “I certainly wasn’t looking for marriage.”

  “You and me both,” she stated softly, gazing up at him with shock—and perhaps a little bit of excitement.

  “Brooke Logan,” Thorne began, holding the ring out to her, “will you do me the honour of becoming Mrs. Sexy Tex?”

  She laughed. “Yes,” she gasped, and watched as Thorne slid the ring onto her third finger. “Oh my goodness,” she whispered, then squealed as he swept her up in his arms, ran to the pool and jumped in.

  Water closed over their heads, but his lips found hers, and Brooke clung to his broad shoulders as they kicked lazily to the surface. Thorne backed her against the pool wall, kissing her with a carnal sensuality as she wrapped her legs around his waist.

  He drew away from her for a moment so they could catch their breath. His fingers rose to her bra strap. “We’re still overdressed for skinny dipping.”

  She nodded, and then shivered as he slid her underwear off, his shirt and boxer shorts quickly following. This time when she wrapped her arms and legs around him, there was nothing between them, and his heart pounded against hers.

  “I love you, Mrs. Sexy Tex,” Thorne whispered against her mouth.

  “I love you, Mr. Sexy Tex.”

  She decided to tell him about her cowboy stripper fantasy another time.

  Acknowledgments

  Thank you to everyone who worked on this story—Claire, Danielle and Rebecca, editors extraordinaire; and the Bold and the Beautiful team for some fantastic insight into the characters they’ve so cleverly drawn, and who were so supportive of this challenging storyline. Thank you to companies such as Nicola Jane and to Andrea Farrell of Blush Life Apparel, for pioneering something that will have a massive, positive influence on women when they need it most.

  About Shannon Curtis

  Shannon Curtis has worked as an office admin manager, customer service rep, logistics supervisor, dangerous goods handler, event planner, ‘switch bitch’ and betting agent.

  She loved reading from an early age and decided to combine her passion for action and romance by penning a novel. Her first two books were shortlisted for Favourite Romantic Suspense for 2012 & 2013 by the Australian Romance Readers Association.

  She is also the author of Collision Course and Stormswept, two of the first titles published with THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL.

  She lives in Sydney with her family and various pets, and dreams of one day having a library like the one in Beauty and the Beast (as long as she doesn’t have to clean it).

  Also by Shannon Curtis

  Collision Course: The Bold and the Beautiful

  Stormswept: The Bold and the Beautiful

  About Blindsided by Love: The Bold and the Beautiful

  By Hilary Rose

  Caroline has left Forrester Creations, heartbroken after her divorce from Rick.

  Ridge senses Caroline’s pain for he, too, is reeling from heartache but he is drawn to her spark and smile.

  When Ridge is injured in a wildfire in Malibu Canyon, Caroline returns to Forrester Creations to help them with a fashion fundraiser.

  Rick and Ridge begin a battle for Caroline’s heart. But who can she trust?

  For more information, please visit momentumbooks.com.au/books/blindsided-by-love/.

  About Dangerous Love: The Bold and the Beautiful

  By Ros Baxter

  Donna is convinced that Eric is the man she needs to get her life back on track.

  But then Ridge returns to Forrester Creations determined, it seems, to tease and taunt her.

  When Donna, Eric and Ridge travel to the South of France for a photo shoot, Donna thinks that, finally, Eric is about to reveal his love for her.

  But a yachting accident changes everything . . .

  For more information, please visit momentumbooks.com.au/books/dangerous-love/.

  About Heart’s Desire: The Bold and the Beautiful

  By Amy Andrews

  Taylor is being threatened by a stalker in New York.

  Rick Forrester is in town for Fashion Week and insists on helping her through this trauma.

  They enjoy their days together but when they kiss in Central Park, the moment is ‘snapped’ by the paparazzi.

  The next day, their kiss is on the front page of every scandal sheet in the country. And so the fallout begins . . .

  For more information, please visit momentumbooks.com.au/books/hearts-desire/.

  First published by Momentum in 2014

  This edition published in 2014 by Momentum

  Pan Macmillan Australia Pty Ltd

  1 Market Street, Sydney 2000

  Copyright © BBL Distribution 2014.

  The moral right of the author has been asserted.

  All rights reserved. This publication (or any part of it) may not be reproduced or transmitted, copied, stored, distributed or otherwise made available by any person or entity (including Google, Amazon or similar organisations), in any form (electronic, digital, optical, mechanical) or by any means (photocopying, recording, scanning or otherwise) without prior written permission from the publisher.

  A CIP record for this book is available at the National Library of Australia

  Sunset Love: The Bold and the Beautiful

  EPUB format: 9781743530221

  Mobi format: 9781760081676

  Cover design by Carrie Kabak

  Edited by Kylie Mason

  Proofread by Laurie Ormond

  Macmillan Digital Australia: www.macmillandigital.com.au

  To report a typographical error, please visit momentumbooks.com.au/contact/

  Visit www.momentumbooks.com.au to read more about all our books and to buy books online. You will also find features, author interviews and news of any author events.