Finally Found You

by Carrie Ann Ryan

  He snorted. “You’re a great singer, hon, but you don’t need to be doing drunk karaoke.”

  She winced. “That bad?”

  He shook his head. “No, you were good, but I felt your pain from across the bar.”

  “Hey, how did you know I was here anyway?”

  Ian shrugged. “Sam, the owner, called me.”

  She slapped her forehead with the palm of her hand. “I forgot you used to know Sam.”

  “Yep. So when he called me to tell me you were here drinking, I came here instead of to your house.”

  “So you just happened to be on your way to Austin?”

  “Actually, yes.” Something odd flashed over his face, but he schooled it quickly. He was, after all, a skilled actor—but he was still her big brother.

  “What’s wrong?”

  “Nothing you need to worry about. Let’s get you home, and then you can tell me why you’re so down.”

  She leaned into him and got into his car. She’d taken a cab there, but now she was glad she had Ian. He was such a big brother in every sense of the word.

  When they got to her place, she went to change into sweats while Ian made himself at home in her guest room. She came back downstairs and sank into the cushions next to him.

  “Tell me everything.”

  She did, and Ian stayed quiet through it all.

  “So, yeah, I’m kind of screwed.”

  Ian kissed the top of her head. “You’re not screwed. First, if that bastard Trent comes near you again, I’ll kill him.”

  Ah, big brothers. Got to love them.

  “Second, if I didn’t know you’d push my help away, I’d give you the money to start your own company as an investment.” He held up his hand when she opened her mouth to do just that. “I won’t do it. Nor will I make connections for you since I know you want to do this on your own. I respect that. I will say that you going to your old competitor with Red Swan was a fantastic idea. Stan was an idiot in not only firing you but in letting you have full rights to your product.”

  She grinned at that. Red Swan was all hers, and Stan didn’t own a single part of it. Thank God.

  “We’ll see how it works out. If it doesn’t, I can always go into pure web design and other markets like that. I have the skills and some connections. I just need to actually do it.”

  “You’re brilliant, and yet you didn’t give yourself enough credit for far too long. I’m proud of you.”

  She sighed, resting her head on his shoulder. “It’s scary, but I think it will be good for me in the long run. I wasn’t happy there.”

  “I know, honey. It killed me that I couldn’t help. Speaking of being happy, I know you were with Mason, and I’m sorry it didn’t work out.”

  She blushed hard because she’d been completely honest with Ian—even going so far as to tell him the whole friends-with-benefits thing.

  “It sucks, but this is good for him, Ian.”

  “You were good for him. Don’t get me wrong. I want to punch something at the thought of someone using you for just sex, but I don’t think that was the case here.”

  “I love him, Ian,” she whispered, her heart aching again.

  “I know. I could tell when you spoke of him on the phone before. You guys were best friends, and I’m pretty sure from the way you talked of it, y’all’s relationship was closer than you planned.”

  “He’s still going to have to leave though. I think the whole idea that he didn’t trust me enough to tell me it was even a possibility hurts the most.”

  “He was an idiot there, but you pushed him away thinking it was for his own good. It’s up to you how you want to proceed. If you feel this bad now, think about how you’ll feel later if you let him fall out of your grasp because you were too scared.”

  Presley pulled away to look in her brother’s eyes. “When did you get to be so wise?”

  He smiled that million-dollar smile. “I’ve always been wise. You just never listen to me.”

  She rolled her eyes. “Dork.”

  “Brat. Now get some sleep, and I’ll be right here if you need me. I have a feeling things might just change for you if you try hard enough.”

  God, she hoped he was right because she knew she’d made a mistake. Pushing Mason away had been rash, and it hurt like hell. He hadn’t told her he might leave, but then, she hadn’t told him she loved him.

  Neither had communicated, and now she might have ruined the best thing in her life.

  ****

  Mason took a deep breath and knocked on Presley’s door. He didn’t feel he had the right to go in on his own. That hurt more than he’d thought it would. He’d sat at home alone, not knowing what he’d do about his job, but he knew one thing.

  He wouldn’t lose Presley. No matter what.

  She pushed him away because she was scared.

  And he’d let her.

  He wouldn’t let her do that again.

  The door opened, and Ian stood there, glaring. “You better not hurt her again, or I’m going to kill you.”

  “Good morning,” Mason said dryly.

  Ian raised a brow. “Fix this. I don’t care how you do it, but fix it.” He looked over his shoulder then leaned down to whisper, “Stan fired her, so she not only lost you but her job at the same time. I’m only telling you this because now you have a chance to actually make something work. Don’t fuck it up.”

  Mason cursed. “That little fucker.”

  “Pretty much. This will end up good though. She’ll find her way. It’s up to the both of you whether or not that way will include you.”

  Mason nodded, his heart heavy. “I…I don’t want to lose her.”

  “Then don’t,” Ian said simply.

  “You think she wants to see me?” he asked, his gaze behind Ian.

  “I think you might have a chance if you don’t blow it. If you’re honest. I’ve said enough, so I’m going to go get some food and be back in a couple hours.” Ian grimaced. “So if you’re going to do anything to get back together, be quick about it.”

  Mason snorted. “We’ll try.”

  “So not going there. Good luck. She’s the best woman in my life, Mason. Don’t break her.” With that, Ian moved away, leaving Mason alone on the front porch.

  “You can come in. I don’t know what Ian said to you, but if he hit you, I’m sorry.”

  Mason shook his head at Presley’s words and walked inside, closing the door behind him. “He didn’t hit me. Maybe he should have considering what I did to you, but he didn’t.”

  Presley sighed as she walked toward him, her hair in curls around her face. Damn, she was so beautiful.

  “Why is your hand red?” she asked, picking up his fist.

  Mason blushed. “I, uh, might have punched Trent.” After Lorena had, but he’d mention that part later.

  Presley raised a brow. “Do I want to know?”

  He shrugged. “I was pissed he kissed you.”

  “I didn’t want it, Mason. You have to know that.”

  “Yeah, I got that part. I was pissed he did it anyway. Then I wanted to tell him I wasn’t going to be working for him.”

  She swallowed hard, and he cursed.

  “I mean that even if I stay here and don’t take the job, I’m not going to work for him. I’m done dealing with his crap.”

  She smiled softly then pulled away. “That’s good. I know you’re better than that. Better than him. And, Mason, you have to take the job. It’s perfect for you. I’m not going to stand in your way. I should have told you that yesterday instead of being an idiot and pushing, but at the same time, I’m not going to be the one who stands in the way of your dreams.”

  Mason cupped her face. “Presley Mackenzie, I love you. I’ve loved you since you first handed me that spoon. You’re the best thing in my life, and I’m not going to let you go. I’ll stay here and find another way to work. I don’t care. Or you can come with me.” He paused, well aware he was taking a chance, but if he did
n’t now, he never would. “I know it’s scary as hell, and we started off saying we wouldn’t put emotion into our relationship, but we were wrong. So fucking wrong. I couldn’t not love you. I want us to be it. I want forever. No matter where I end up, I want you there. Please tell me you feel the same way. Please, baby.”

  She was silent for so long that Mason was sure he’d made a mistake.

  “Presley…”

  “I shouldn’t have pushed you away,” she said softly. “I love you too, Mason. I don’t want to lose you in my life, and I don’t want you to lose out on the best opportunity you’ve ever had. I don’t know what my future holds, job-wise, but no matter what, I don’t want to lose you because of it. I’ll find a way to make it work. I can do some of the things I want to do anywhere in the world. I want that forever with you too.”

  Mason crushed his mouth to hers, desperate for her taste. She moaned into his mouth, and he pressed closer.

  “God, I’m so sorry I didn’t tell you. I honestly didn’t think I would get the job, and I didn’t want to worry you. That was stupid.”

  “Yes, it was,” she agreed, smiling. “Tell me everything in the future. Okay?”

  “You’ve got it.

  “I don’t know what the future will bring, Presley, but no matter what, I’m so fucking happy I finally found you.”

  “I think I found you first,” she teased, and he kissed her again.

  A Note from Carrie Ann

  Thank you so much for reading Finally Found You. I do hope if you liked this story, that you would please leave a review. Not only does a review spread the word to other readers, they let us authors know if you’d like to see more stories like this from us. I love hearing from readers and talking to them when I can. If you want to make sure you know what’s coming next from me, you can sign up for my newsletter at www.CarrieAnnRyan.com; follow me on twitter at @CarrieAnnRyan, or like my Facebook page. I also have a Facebook Fan Club where we have trivia, chats, and other goodies. You guys are the reason I get to do what I do and I thank you.

  Make sure you’re signed up for my MAILING LIST so you can know when the next releases are available as well as find giveaways and FREE READS.

  Finally Found You is a special novella in the Tempting Signs series. The series is written by twelve authors for each sign of the zodiac. My novella features two characters who were born under the sign of Cancer. Presley and Mason broke hard and loved harder when they found each other. They are romantic even when they don’t realize they are being romantic. I truly enjoyed looking at these two and finding a new way of falling in love. If you enjoyed this story, I do hope you take a look at the other Tempting Signs novellas coming out this year. Also, if you loved Ian, you’ll find out more about him in Rebecca Royce’s novella, Under the Lights.

  If you enjoyed this story, take a look at my Montgomery Ink, Redwood Pack, Talon Pack, Holiday Montana, and Dante’s Circle series!!

  Thank you so much for going on this journey with me and I do hope you enjoyed my Tempting Signs story. Without you readers, I wouldn’t be where I am today.

  Thank you again for reading and I do hope to see you again.

  Carrie Ann

  About this Author

  New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author Carrie Ann Ryan never thought she’d be a writer. Not really. No, she loved math and science and even went on to graduate school in chemistry. Yes, she read as a kid and devoured teen fiction and Harry Potter, but it wasn’t until someone handed her a romance book in her late teens that she realized that there was something out there just for her. When another author suggested she use the voices in her head for good and not evil, The Redwood Pack and all her other stories were born.

  Carrie Ann is a bestselling author of over twenty novels and novellas and has so much more on her mind (and on her spreadsheets *grins*) that she isn’t planning on giving up her dream anytime soon.

  www.CarrieAnnRyan.com

  Also from this Author

  Now Available:

  Redwood Pack Series:

  An Alpha’s Path

  A Taste for a Mate

  Trinity Bound

  A Night Away

  Enforcer’s Redemption

  Blurred Expectations

  Forgiveness

  Shattered Emotions

  Hidden Destiny

  A Beta’s Haven

  Fighting Fate

  Loving the Omega

  The Hunted Heart

  Wicked Wolf

  The Talon Pack (Following the Redwood Pack Series)

  Tattered Loyalties

  The Redwood Pack Volumes:

  Redwood Pack Vol 1

  Redwood Pack Vol 2

  Redwood Pack Vol 3

  Redwood Pack Vol 4

  Redwood Pack Vol 5

  Redwood Pack Vol 6

  Dante’s Circle Series:

  Dust of My Wings

  Her Warriors’ Three Wishes

  An Unlucky Moon

  His Choice

  Tangled Innocence

  Fierce Enchantment

  Montgomery Ink:

  Ink Inspired

  Ink Reunited

  Delicate Ink

  Forever Ink

  Tempting Boundaries

  Harder than Words

  Holiday, Montana Series:

  Charmed Spirits

  Santa’s Executive

  Finding Abigail

  Her Lucky Love

  Dreams of Ivory

  Coming Soon:

  Talon Pack (Part of the Redwood Pack World)

  An Alpha’s Choice

  Mated in Mist

  Dante’s Circle:

  Fallen for Alphas

  An Immortal’s Song

  Montgomery Ink:

  Written in Ink

  The Branded Pack Series:

  (Written with Alexandra Ivy)

  Stolen and Forgiven

  Abandoned and Unseen

  Tempting Signs Series

  Make sure you read the complete Tempting Signs Series from Fated Desires

  Each title will be released in 2015 and 2016 during the time of their Zodiac Sign

  Aries:

  Lust Actually

  By Heather Long

  Taurus:

  Forever Devoted

  By Virginia Nelson

  Gemini:

  Gemini Rising

  By Ranae Rose

  Cancer:

  Finally Found You

  By Carrie Ann Ryan

  Leo:

  Before the Rain

  By JoAnna Kenrick

  Virgo:

  Under the Lights

  By Rebecca Royce

  Libra:

  All’s Fair

  By Kate Richards

  Scorpio:

  Dark Sky

  By Katalina Leon

  Sagittarius:

  Into the Night

  By Virginia Cavanaugh

  Capricorn:

  Her Captain

  By Taryn Kincaid

  Aquarius:

  Buried

  By Cassandra Carr

  Pieces:

  Once Upon a Fantasy

  By Lia Davis

  Table of Contents

  Author Highlights

  Finally Found You

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  A Note from Carrie Ann

  About this Author

  Also from this Author

  Tempting Signs Series

 

 

 
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