by Layla Hagen
Meant For You
Will & Paige ~ The Connor Family
Layla Hagen
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Meant For You
Copyright © 2018 Layla Hagen
Cover: Uplifting Designs
Cover Photography: Sara Eirew Photographer
Meant For You
Copyright ©2018 Layla Hagen
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form, including electronic or mechanical, without written permission from the author, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews. This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.
Table of Contents
Copyright Page
Chapter One | Paige
Chapter Two | Will
Chapter Three | Paige
Chapter Four | Paige
Chapter Five | Paige
Chapter Six | Will
Chapter Seven | Paige
Chapter Eight | Paige
Chapter Nine | Will
Chapter Ten | Paige
Chapter Eleven | Paige
Chapter Twelve | Paige
Will
Chapter Thirteen | Will
Paige
Chapter Fourteen | Will
Paige
Chapter Fifteen | Paige
Chapter Sixteen | Will
Chapter Seventeen | Will
Chapter Eighteen | Paige
Chapter Nineteen | Paige
Will
Chapter Twenty | Paige
Chapter Twenty-One | Paige
Chapter Twenty-Two | Will
Chapter Twenty-Three | Paige
Chapter Twenty-Four | Paige
Will
Chapter Twenty-Five | Will
Chapter Twenty-Six | Paige
Chapter Twenty-Seven | Paige
Will
Chapter Twenty-Eight | Paige
Will
Chapter Twenty-Nine | Paige
Chapter Thirty | Paige
Will
Chapter Thirty-One | Will
Paige
Chapter Thirty-Two | Paige
Chapter Thirty-Three | Will | One month later
Epilogue | Paige
Book 7 in the series: Your Fierce Love
Book 8: Your One True Love
Standalone USA TODAY BESTSELLER | Withering Hope
Chapter One
Paige
“To the squad finally being reunited,” Luna exclaimed, holding her glass of wine for a toast.
I’d moved back from Paris two nights before and had immediately planned a reunion with my two best friends, Luna and Faith. I’d asked them to meet me at my grandmother’s old inn because I’d stopped by to visit the property this afternoon. We ended up ordering pizza and drinks and staying in. It was fitting. We had many memories here.
“I can’t believe this space still looks the same. It’s like a time capsule,” Faith said.
“Except for the coat of dust,” I chimed in. The place had been empty and boarded up for a few months, and now that I had returned, my parents had asked me to look into selling it.
“We’re so glad you’re back.” Faith hugged me with one arm.
“I’m glad too.” My three-year work stint in Paris had been exciting, but I hadn’t seen myself settling down there. I was an LA girl at heart. I’d missed my friends, my parents, my siblings, and nieces. I’d also missed the near-constant sun. I couldn’t wait to hit the beach. I tanned quickly, and even though my hair was almost black, some strands earned a reddish hue after spending a few days in the sun.
“So you’re really going to sell this place, huh?” Faith asked.
“Yep. No other way.” My grandmother had run a successful B&B, but my parents wanted to enjoy their retirement doing nothing at all, and my siblings and I all had full-time jobs. I couldn’t see myself running a B&B on top of that, so better to sell the place than leave it to decay. The house would need some serious repairs before putting it on the market as it was.
The doorbell rang as we carried the empty pizza cartons to the kitchen.
“Are you expecting someone?” Luna asked.
“No.”
I dashed to the front door, swung it open, and came face-to-face with a very tall and very handsome man. He looked at me, then behind my shoulder at Faith and Luna.
“Can I help you?” I asked.
“I’m Detective Will Connor.”
A detective? Not what I had been expecting. Were detectives supposed to be this hot? I would have pegged him for a guy trying to break into the modeling or acting business. He certainly had the looks for it. Tall and well built, with chocolate brown, messy hair. His eyes were a smidge darker, and the bone structure of his jaw reminded me of the models in those aftershave commercials: defined, strong... sexy.
“Oh, and what’s the reason for your visit?”
“A neighbor called. Said he saw lights here and that the place had been boarded up for a few months.”
“It used to be my grandma’s inn. Now it’s mine. I came to take a look at it.”
“So you’re the owner?”
“I am, Detective. My name is Paige Lamonica. Would you like to see an ID?”
“No need. The neighbors thought someone broke in, what with the place being empty. Are there any signs of forced entries? Boarded-up houses attract burglars,” he explained.
“I haven’t checked the whole house yet, but all doors and windows on the ground floor are still boarded up. The boards will come down, though. I’ll be renovating the place.”
He folded his arms over his chest, and I took in those biceps for the first time. Holy hell. He was wearing a short-sleeved shirt, and I had to practically force myself to look away.
“You didn’t see anything out of place either, right, girls?” I asked, turning to look at them. They nodded wordlessly, too busy checking out Will to answer. I’d mentioned earlier this evening that I wanted to date more, and now I could practically feel them measuring his dating potential. I turned my attention back to Will.
“Looks like you made this trip for nothing. Sorry for keeping you from problems that really need your attention.”
“I’m off duty, but I was in the area when the call came through.”
“Well, nothing going on here except some old friends catching up and celebrating the Fourth of July three days late.”
“Make sure you’re not too loud.” His tone was teasing.
“Why, Detective, will you arrest us?” I asked playfully.
Something glinted in those dark eyes, making my insides tighten. His lips curled into a breathtaking smile. Well, honestly, he was a breathtaking man all-around.
“Since you’re off duty, can we offer you a drink to make up for the inconvenience?” Luna asked.
“I’m headed somewhere, but thank you for the invitation.” He pulled a card from his back pocket, handing it to me. “This is my number, Paige. If you do find any signs of forced entry, call me.”
“Sure.”
“Have a nice evening, ladies.”
I closed the door and turned to the girls.
“Who knew detectives were so sexy?” Luna asked.
Faith clapped her hands. “I certainly didn’t, but now that I do, I think it’s time I reevaluate my dating pool.”
I ran my hands over the business card. Detective William Connor. Below was a cell phone number and the address of a poli
ce station. I pocketed it.
We went through the house looking for any signs of forced entry. All the boards on the ground floor were firmly in place, and even though I couldn’t imagine thieves climbing through the windows on the upper floor, we checked those too. The inn had been spared.
“So, I’d say it’s high time I give you your gifts,” I announced when we returned to the living room. They both squealed, hugging me. I’d brought an extra suitcase just with gifts for my friends and family and my work colleague Ashley. She and I had started working at Three Emeralds, a nonprofit focusing on human development, right after college. When a position at the Paris office came up, Ashley bowed out, saying that with a husband and two kids, she had too many strings here. I had reeled at the opportunity to spend time in another country, especially in France. The team was much larger, and I’d learned a lot from my colleagues there. I’d always liked my no-strings existence, but lately I’d started thinking that some strings wouldn’t be bad. Some roots. Maybe it was seeing my two sisters and brother getting married. I had no idea, but the idea was growing on me.
“How about some music?” Faith asked, pouring herself another glass of wine.
“I’ve got an excellent playlist.” I took out my smartphone and tapped the screen, bringing up a list with upbeat, fun songs. They were perfect for a reunion evening. As I turned the volume to the max, I wondered if it was loud enough for the neighbors to hear, and if they’d come knocking at the door to tell me to turn it down or if they’d report the disturbance to the police. Would the hot detective stop by again?
Chapter Two
Will
I was still chuckling when I drove away. Though calls like this were usually answered by patrol officers, not detectives, I was glad I’d stopped by. The brunette had made my evening, standing there in her short dress, showing off her perky little body and asking me if I’d arrest them. I should have suggested that she install an alarm. Statistically, renovation sites were a magnet for burglars.
I headed straight to the restaurant where my sister Lori’s wedding would be taking place in a few weeks. She’d invited me to the menu tasting. I arrived at the same time as my younger brother, Jace. Lori and her fiancé, Graham, sat at a table.
“Hey! Long time no see,” I joked. We’d seen each other last Friday at dinner, as we did every week. “Just the four of us?”
“Val will be a few minutes late,” Lori explained, referring to our oldest sister. I knew our two other siblings, Landon and Hailey, couldn’t make it, but I was surprised that Lori’s eight-year-old son was missing.
“Where is Milo?” I asked Lori.
“Declared that he’d rather spend the evening with his friend Jilly.”
Val arrived shortly afterward, and during the tasting, she and Lori were deep in wedding talk.
Midway through the main course, Val turned her attention to Jace and me.
“So, you two are going to bring dates after all?”
Jace whistled, handing me a five-dollar bill. “You win.”
“Always do.” I pocketed the bill, grinning at Val’s inquisitive look. I might have been thirty-three, but I still loved a good bet.
“What was the bet about?”
“How long it’d take until you or Lori asked that. Jace thought you’d hold back until dessert. I gave you until the main course.”
Val laughed. “Bringing a date is purely a defensive mechanism. We can’t save you from Pippa.”
She wasn’t wrong. Weddings were an occasion for well-meaning members of our extended family to meddle, and my cousin Pippa loved to play matchmaker. She was good at it too... when it came to her own siblings. My Bennett cousins—all nine of them—had married within a couple of years of each other. Pippa liked to brag about having a hand in a few of those couples finding each other. Jace and I had barely escaped her plans during Landon’s wedding. I didn’t think lightning struck twice, but I was going alone. I dated plenty, but for months I’d been on a string of first dates, none of which led to a second one. I wasn’t interested in taking just anyone to my sister’s wedding.
Jace had other problems. “I can’t take anyone to the wedding, because it’ll be in all the papers. People might get the wrong impression.”
Val tapped her fingers, smiling sweetly. “You mean they might think that the soccer world’s sexiest player was off the market?”
Our brother had been awarded that title by GQ this year, and he was reaping the benefits.
“Exactly.”
“Now that would be a tragedy, wouldn’t it?” Lori asked with a grin.
“Girls, stop hazing your brothers,” Graham said. I liked him, though it was still strange to think about Lori, Milo, and Graham as one unit. For years, it had just been Lori and Milo, because his jackass biological father had taken off before he was born. I had tried to be not just an uncle to the boy but also a father figure, trying to pass on things I’d learned from my late dad. Now that Graham was in the picture, there was less need for me to play that role. I missed it, but I couldn’t deny it: being just the fun uncle had its perks.
“No can do,” Val answered. “They flex their overprotective brother muscles, we haze them. It’s a two-way street.”
Jace shook his head mockingly. “Thanks for trying, Graham.”
I enjoyed our family time immensely.
“Will, is your Lake Tahoe rental free the week after the wedding?” Lori asked. “We still haven’t decided where to go for our honeymoon, but I do love the lake and your cabin.”
“Let me check.” I pulled out my phone, looking over the spreadsheet I kept. While I was in college, I built a network of rentals in California, and the caretakers for each one filled the spreadsheet as the bookings came in.
“It’s free. I’ll tell my administrator not to take any bookings until you decide.”
Lori looked up at Graham, batting her eyelashes. He laughed and kissed her forehead, then informed me, “We’ll take it.”
We left the restaurant well after midnight. The route home took me by Paige’s inn. I figured if the lights were still on, I could talk to her about the alarm. With a property this large, she needed one of the more expensive options, with motion detectors on at least the windows on the ground floor.
When I arrived at the inn, all lights were off. I was surprised at how disappointed I was. Judging by their excitement, I figured they’d planned to party the whole night. My body reacted instantly to the memory of her curves. She was small enough that I could scoop her up with one arm. I bet those legs would feel amazing wrapped around me.
I laughed, shaking off the image. Damn, I hadn’t even asked for her phone number. But I planned to rectify that.
***
The next afternoon, I had a pleasant surprise. While I was discussing a case with my superior in his office, a familiar voice filtered in through the open door. Was I imagining it because Paige had been on my mind the whole night? Because I’d planned to stop by the inn today to ask for her number? I turned to look, and there she was. What was she doing here? Had something happened to her? She was half turned, talking to one of the officers. I couldn’t see any signs that she’d been in an accident or attacked.
“Will?”
“I apologize, sir. An... acquaintance just walked in. Can we table this conversation so I can check out the situation?”
I was out of my chair before he even nodded. I strode past the desks, straight to Paige. I got a better look at her as I came closer. She didn’t seem hurt or scared. She was talking to one of our youngest officers, Stan. He was eager to help. Too eager. He stood too close and smiled like an idiot.
“Paige, what are you doing here?”
She stopped midconversation, turning to face me. Those lips were even prettier than I remembered. Her hair was down, obscuring her neck, but the bit of skin that was showing looked kissable as fuck.
“Hi, Will. I looked through the inn like you suggested. Didn’t find any vandalism inside, but someone stole
the side mirrors of my car, which was parked in the backyard for a long time. I have pictures and I’d like to file a complaint. I need it for my insurance.”
“I’ll take it from here,” I declared.
“But this is in my job description,” Stan protested, clearly wanting to spend more time with Paige. My jaw ticked.
“I said I’ll take it from here.”
Stan knew better than to challenge a superior, even if he was right. I wasn’t about to let over-helpful Stan take this.
“I meant to call first to see if you were here, but I lost your card,” she said. “I googled the address of the station.”
I ushered Paige to my desk, walking one step behind her. Her hips swayed on every step, and I had the sudden urge to check if the skin on her thighs was as smooth as that on her upper arm. Every inch of this woman was lickable.
When we reached my desk, I brought a chair for her from one of the vacant desks, and we both sat down. I searched for the form we needed in the database. Paige crossed her legs, and I couldn’t help looking. They were toned and strong, like a runner’s or a swimmer’s. They’d look gorgeous wrapped around my waist as I held her against a wall, getting my fill of her. Well, hell. I’d thought my reaction to her the other night was because she’d looked so... rumpled in that short dress, with her hair piled on top of her head. But now she was dressed in business attire, and I was still itching to find out how those legs would feel wrapped around me.
I focused on the form as we filled it in together. After I pulled up Paige’s license number in the database, I scrolled to some of the archived information.
“Paige... you have a dozen speeding tickets.”
I turned to her. She was blushing, but not looking away.
“I got those before I left for Paris. I paid them all.”
“How exactly did you manage to rack up twelve speeding tickets in two weeks?”
She shrugged a shoulder, and the strap of her dress shifted an inch, revealing a string of freckles.
“I couldn’t take my car to Paris, and that baby runs so smooth that I wanted to say goodbye properly.”
I sat back in my chair, barking a laugh. I’d been in a shitty mood this morning. A case I was working on was proving to be difficult, which always ate at me. But Paige had changed my mood as if she’d flipped a switch.
