Something Moore (Forever Moore Book 1)

by Hunter J. Keane

  He was swaying unsteadily as he tried to aim the gun at us. I thought about lunging forward, but another voice called out, “Drop the gun.”

  I sighed in relief as I saw Parker step into the room. His gun was drawn and he marched confidently forward. Michael looked at him with blood running into his eyes. The gun dropped down to his side as he said, “Not going to happen.”

  “Drop the gun, or I will shoot you,” Parker said clearly.

  “Let me know how this story ends, sis,” Michael said with a strange smile. He raised the gun and aim it directly at us. Parker fired, hitting Michael squarely in the chest.

  Riley’s hands closed over my arm as he fell to the ground. She didn’t make a sound as he coughed a few times before he stopped breathing completely. Parker rushed forward and kicked his gun away before bending down to check for a pulse.

  “He’s gone,” he said, reaching for his phone. While he reported the shooting to the authorities, I backed Riley away from the scene.

  “Are you okay?” I asked her, not sure how she possibly could be okay.

  She nodded slowly and let out a deep sigh. “It’s finally over.”

  Riley had to go to the hospital for her injuries and after a few tests, it was determined she had a fractured cheekbone and a mild concussion. While she was being treated, I gave my statement to the police. It was the first time I had ever been questioned by the police and I hoped it would be the last. Even though I knew I hadn’t done anything wrong, I still felt like a criminal as I answered their questions.

  When I was done, a nurse escorted me to Riley’s recovery room. She had a large bandage covering her cheek and an ice pack pressed against it.

  “Whew,” I said, exaggerating relief. “I was worried you might have run off with a hot doctor.”

  “Looking like this?” she said doubtfully. “I’m a cyclops.”

  “A sexy cyclops,” I said, sitting next to her on the bed. “Can I just say, you really know how to party?”

  She laughed and then winced. “Don’t make me laugh. My painkillers haven’t kicked in yet.”

  “I’ve been told you are allowed to leave, but only if you agree to come home with me.” I brushed away a strand of hair that fell over her good eye.

  “Now that is a healthcare plan I can get behind,” she said, a small smile returning to her face. Just seeing that smile had an impressive effect on my mood. I had been tired and worried when I walked into that room. Now, I just felt lucky. Lucky that we were both okay, lucky that Riley was able to smile after everything she had been through, and luckiest of all that her smile was directed at me.

  “Your place or mine?” I said as I helped her to her feet.

  “Mine.” She winked at me with her good eye. “I’ve got a surprise waiting for you.”

  I groaned. “Haven’t you given me enough surprises tonight?”

  “Have I?” she responded innocently. “If you don’t want some homemade apple pie, that’s fine. We can go to your place.”

  “You made me a pie?” I put an arm around her and pulled her close. “What did I ever do to deserve you?”

  “You saved me,” she said, turning serious.

  I shook my head. “I think you are misremembering. You’re the one that saved me tonight.”

  “I’m not talking about tonight.” She put a hand on my chest. “I was barely living before I met you, Will. Everything I ever thought I wanted was a lie. All I want now is you.”

  3 MONTHS LATER

  Riley

  “When can I expect to hear back from the senator?” I hit send on an email and leaned back in my chair while I listened to the response on the phone. “Make sure that happens. I’d like this closed by the end of next week.”

  I checked the time and hurried to scoop up my belongings. I was late.

  “Banks!”

  “Can’t talk. Running late.” I threw my bag over my shoulder and grabbed my phone. “I’ll be back on Monday, Tucker.”

  “I was just going to say, have a good trip,” Tucker said with a wave of his hand.

  I had accepted a job at his non-profit two months earlier. The pay was significantly less than my law firm gig, but I couldn’t be happier with my decision. It was a relief to be working for a friend and working for a good cause. Plus, the hours couldn’t be denied. It was noon on a Friday and I was heading out for a long weekend.

  My phone rang as I was stepping off the elevator.

  “You didn’t stand me up, did you?”

  My heart fluttered and my smile grew. “Not a chance, Moore.”

  “Then hurry up. I need my Riley fix.” His familiar rumbling baritone seemed lighter today.

  I stepped outside and spotted him instantly. He was dressed in faded jeans and a gray t-shirt while leaning against his pristine car. A breeze ruffled through his hair and I stopped dead in my tracks, feeling breathless.

  “Damn, you look good today,” I said.

  His head swiveled in my direction and he smiled broadly as he pulled himself upright. “Likewise. Get over here.”

  I hung up the phone and took five hurried steps in his direction and dropped my bag at his feet before throwing my arms around him as he caught me in his arms. Eventually, I had to break up our reunion. “We’re in public, Moore. Watch those hands.”

  “It’s not my fault. You can’t look that good and expect me to keep my hands to myself.” He came back for another kiss, but I stopped him.

  “You just saw me this morning. I look the same as I did then,” I reminded him.

  “And I’m sure you remember how long it took to leave this morning,” he said with a proud smirk.

  I did remember. “We should leave. We’re already behind schedule.”

  “Fine.” William bent down and grabbed my bag before opening the passenger door for me. While I settled into my seat, he threw my bag in the back and then climbed in. “You just can’t wait to get me alone, can you?”

  “Absolutely.” My whole body relaxed as William pulled away from the curb. It was just the two of us now, and that was all I wanted. When he reached over and took my hand, I noticed his hand was shaking slightly. “Nervous?” I teased.

  “Around you? Always.” He brought my hand up to his lips and kissed the back of it.

  William was quiet as we drove out to the airport. I didn’t mind the quiet, but I wondered if there was something weighing on his mind. His odd demeanor continued during the flight, but by the time we arrived at the beach house, he seemed to be feeling more like himself. He cooked us dinner and told me about an upcoming business trip to Paris. Not for the first time, he tried to convince me to go with him.

  “You sure are fighting hard for me to go to Paris,” I said as I finished my glass of wine. “Are you planning to propose to me or something?”

  William flinched. “Would you say yes?”

  “To spending the rest of my life with you? Definitely.” I noticed a look of relief passed through his eyes and I wondered if my joke wasn’t really a joke after all. Rather than dig deeper, I stood and reached for the dishes. “You cooked, so I’ve got clean-up duty.”

  “I’ll go start a fire,” he said.

  “Yeah, you will,” I teased with a flirtatious wink.

  He kissed my cheek on his way past, the same cheek that had been shattered just three weeks earlier. It had taken a month for all the bruising to finally fade and I still had a tiny scar that would fade with time. William insisted that the scar only made me sexier.

  I watched him working outside as I cleaned the dishes in the sink. He was more at home building a fire than he was in a boardroom. In the last three months, my intense feelings for him had only grown stronger. He had been amazing during my recovery and I had gotten so used to having him by my side that I almost couldn’t remember my life before him.

  When I stepped outside, a cool chill in the air made me shiver. I hurried to be closer to the fire, and to William. I wasn’t sure which warmth my body craved more.

&nbs
p; “The waves are calm tonight,” I said as I joined William.

  He glanced at me and shoved both hands in his pockets before turning back to the fire. I studied his profile and wondered at the intense set of his jaw.

  “Will, is something wrong?” It was telling that there was a good three feet between us. Rarely were we alone together and not touching.

  “Wrong?” A slow smile spread over his face as he turned to me. “Everything is perfect, Riley.”

  I took a small step toward him. “Are you sure?”

  “Mostly. I suppose I might change my mind in a minute depending on your answer.” He pulled his hands out of his pockets and took a step toward me. Now there were just a few inches between us.

  “My answer? Answer to what?” I said.

  William lifted his right hand and between his thumb and finger, he held a brilliant diamond ring. I stared blankly at the ring and then gave William a questioning look. Somehow, I couldn’t wrap my head around what was happening.

  “I know it’s only been a few months. I know this is moving fast.” William looked at me with his hypnotizing blue eyes. “But I also know that I love you, Riley, and I always will. You are the best thing that has ever happened to me. So…”

  He dropped to his knee and I gasped. It wasn’t until that second that I understood he was proposing.

  “Will you marry me?”

  I never saw it coming. He was right that it was happening too fast. But I didn’t have to think about my answer for even a second.

  “Yes.” I dropped to my own knees and put my arms around him. It was the easiest decision of my life. I knew that there were no guarantees in life except for one– I loved William. Now, and forever.

  Keep reading for an excerpt from Book Two in the Forever Moore series:

  Another Vice

  About the Author

  Hunter J. Keane lives in Chicago where she surrounds herself with good food, great books, and fantastic friends. She is the author numerous contemporary novels. When she isn’t busy writing, Hunter is fighting crime and solving world peace. Check out more of Hunter’s novels:

  Second Chance Love Story Series

  Searching for Glory

  The Sweet Surrender

  A Rocker and a Hard Place

  About That Night

  And Then You

  After Victory

  Restless Hearts Series

  Falling for Denver

  Love in London

  French Kissing

  Serenity Beach Series

  Finding Serenity

  To receive free books, sign up for Hunter’s mailing list.

  Buy Hunter’s books on Amazon:

  Hunter’s Author Page

  Keep reading for a sample from Another Vice

  CHAPTER ONE

  “Charley. Pay attention.”

  I flinched as two hands smacked together in front of my face, a puff of air ruffling my hair.

  “What?” I snapped before realizing the hands belonged to my boss, Eva Porter. I softened my tone. “What do you need, Eva? I’m trying to get this press release out the door.”

  “Someone is snippy today,” she said, shaking her head in disapproval. “It seems to me like you could use some fun in your life.”

  I groaned under my breath. Eva was always forcing me to participate in socially awkward events. “What now?”

  She nodded as if I had proved her point. “Yep, this is exactly what you need.” She held out an ivory colored enveloped which I took reluctantly. “Fundraiser. Tonight. Be there.”

  I glared at Eva and slipped the invitation from the envelope. As I read over the details, I tried to think of a good reason why I couldn’t attend the event. “I’d love to go, Eva. Honestly. But–”

  “Stop.” Eva dismissed my argument with a wave of her hand. “I don’t want to hear whatever pathetic excuse you were about to give. I have a date. I have a dentist appointment. I have to have my spleen removed. We both know you were about to make up an excuse because we both know you lead a pathetically dull and uneventful life.”

  She had me. It was no secret that I spent most of my life at work and when I wasn’t working, I spent my time alone in my small, one-bedroom apartment eating takeout and watching bad television. It might be a dull and uneventful life, but I liked it that way.

  “Eva, this invitation is addressed to you.” I tried to hand it back to her. “I’m not going to an event where my name isn’t even on the guest list.”

  Eva’s grin was downright scary. “I guess it’s good that I called and had you added in my place. Now you have no reason not to go.”

  I had played right into her hands. “Fine.” I sighed loudly. “Who do you need me to schmooze?”

  Eva was the Founder and CEO of Children First, a Washington D.C. non-profit that focused on everything from literacy to gun violence. I had been working there almost a year as the event coordinator/marketing specialist/legislative advocate/whatever Eva decided I should be doing on a given day. One of my primary responsibilities at Children First was to attend any event where politicians might be and shove our cause down their throats.

  “Senator Moore is supposed to make an appearance.” Eva actually winked at me. “If you can get past whatever escort he’ll be wearing, I need you to push him on Bill 132.”

  Bill 132 was Eva’s baby. It was a gun-control bill that would ban assault weapons and right now it was at least five votes shy of passing in the Senate. Senator Nicholas Moore was an independent and by all accounts undecided on the bill.

  “Are you sure you don’t want to do this instead?” I was still perfecting my lobbying skills but Eva was a veteran when it came to cornering and convincing politicians. No doubt she would have Senator Moore voting “Yay” in a matter of minutes.

  “You’ve got this,” Eva said with a stiff nod. “Just remember the advice I’ve been giving you, and don’t take no for an answer.”

  I started to turn back to my neglected press release when Eva added, “Oh, and if Moore makes a pass at you, your answer should be yes.”

  Washington social events were not my thing. I didn’t like making small talk, hated mingling with strangers, and barely tolerated mediocre appetizers and supersized egos. But my job required me to play nice for the night, so that’s exactly what I did.

  I discussed the weather with a Washington reporter, exchanged brownie recipes with a Senator’s wife, and debated the merits of affirmative action with a legislative aide. After two hours of feigning interest in the people around me, I was exhausted. I was also relatively certain that Senator Moore wasn’t going to make an appearance. After slamming one more glass of champagne, my fifth of the night, I teetered as confidently as possible from the ballroom.

  My heels were high and I was drunk– the combination was guaranteed to lead to disaster. I made it down the long hall to the front entrance of The Capital Hotel, but a group of men blocked my exit. I tried to step around them, but the group was too large. My one recourse was to push through the middle.

  “Excuse me,” I growled, annoyed that leaving had turned into such a challenge. None of the men moved. I cleared my throat and tried again, louder. “I said, excuse me.”

  The man standing directly in front of me finally stepped to the side and glanced over his shoulder. “I’m sorry, Miss. Gentlemen, let’s make some room.”

  The face… The voice… I had found Senator Moore. I now had a clear path to the door, but I was no longer anxious to leave. After standing there staring at the senator blankly for several seconds, he asked, “Did you need something?”

  I shook away my hesitation. My mission had been to corner Senator Moore, but now that I was standing less than two feet away I couldn’t think of a single thing to say to him. Instead, I stuck with my original plan. “No. Sorry.”

  The path that had been cleared was narrow, and I had to step carefully between the men. I felt the warmth of Senator Moore’s hand on the small of my back as he helped guide me through a
nd I tensed. I didn’t have time to figure out why his touch made me anxious because at that moment someone yelled, “Gun!”

  Men began to yell and the crowd around me pushed me backward. I stumbled and someone caught me by the arm and crushed me to their body, bringing us both to the ground.

  “Stay down,” Senator Moore said, his voice steady and certain.

  My heart was pounding in my chest and it took me several attempts to find my voice. “What happened?”

  He was huddled around me and my head was tucked close to his chest. This meant I was shielded from potential danger, but I also couldn’t see anything but the pinstripes on Senator Moore’s shirt.

  “Someone pulled out a gun. The Capitol police are handling the situation.”

  “Gun? Why?” It was taking me some time to catch up. It was like my brain had shut down.

  “That isn’t something I can answer presently.”

  At last my brain clicked back into the right gear. “Did they catch him? If not, we need to get out of here.” I jerked away so that I could get a better look at what was happening around me.

  To our left, dozens of well-dressed people were huddled around the room, many of them hiding behind furniture and columns. I fought back a wave of déjà vu and turned to the right. Three men in suits were pinning another man to the ground. The man wasn’t fighting them, but his head was turned toward us and his burning eyes were focused in our direction.

  “Senator, I need you to come with me.”

  Another man towered over us, a covert earpiece tucked into one ear and a gun bulging conspicuously beneath his suit jacket. He reached down to help me to my feet.

  “Where?” Senator Moore asked as he stood, smoothing wrinkles from his dress pants.

  “We’ve secured a room.”

  “A room? Who’s we?” The well-dressed, armed man didn’t seem like a normal security guard and his grip on my arm was nearly painful.