Red Hot Lovers: 18 Contemporary Romance Books of Love, Passion, and Sexy Heroes by Your Favorite Top-Selling Authors

by Milly Taiden

  “Bella…” He trailed off, his voice rough and unsteady. He tried to speak again and failed.

  Somehow she knew what he wanted to say: That they didn’t know each other well enough to be married. That he knew she was her own woman and had her own plans. That she had enough money to fund her own dreams and didn’t need his. That he still wanted her—and only her—to be his wife.

  “Bella,” he said again, taking her hand. “I can’t marry anyone else. I love you. But I have to marry someone within the next two weeks. Would you…please…?”

  “Yes!” she said. She tossed her clipboard away and dropped down on her knees beside him. “Yes!” She didn’t care how crazy it was or how little they knew each other. She didn’t want anyone else, either. She loved him with all her heart and that was all she needed to know.

  Evan surged to his feet, Bella in his arms, and kissed her until she couldn’t breathe anymore. “Are you sure?” he asked when they finally broke free. “Are you absolutely sure? We can write it right into a prenuptial agreement; if you’re unhappy when a year’s up I’ll let you go.”

  “Is that what you want?” She pulled back from him. “Marriage for a year?”

  “No.” He tilted her chin up and grazed her mouth with another searing kiss. “I want marriage forever. If I could, I’d put that into our vows. That once you’re my wife, you’re mine forever and ever.”

  Bella grinned. “I think that’s in there already.” She placed a hand on his chest, wanting to know for sure that he was real. She felt his heart beating under her touch, strong and steady.

  “Better be,” he said. “So what do you think? Will you marry me? Will you be my wife?”

  “Yes.” Joy overwhelmed her and she trembled as she gazed at him. Could this be happening to her? Could she really be so lucky? “I know it’s crazy. It’s all happening so fast.” Rose and Hannah still watched them, wide-eyed, and Bella turned their way, feeling like she owed them an explanation. “We got to know each other really well while we shot the show.”

  “Obviously,” Hannah said. She grinned. “Oh, my goodness; it’s so romantic. I think it’s great! You deserve to be happy, Bella!”

  Rose inched closer, craning her neck until Bella realized she was trying to see the ring Evan had placed on her finger. Bella clutched Evan’s arm with her right hand, but lifted her left hand into view. She knew the jewelry store salesclerk wasn’t evaluating the ring’s worth, although from Rose’s swift intake of breath she figured it was worth a lot. Instead, the woman was listening to the ring, or feeling its emanations, or however her crazy brand of psychic worked. She waited, heart in her mouth, for Rose’s pronouncement on their chances for happiness. She knew too many cases of Rose calling it right to doubt her abilities.

  After a long moment, Rose flashed her a grin and a thumbs-up, skirted the counter to grab Hannah and pulled her into the back, closing the door behind them. More relieved than she could say, Bella turned to Evan, just in time to meet his kiss. Desire crashed over her as she pressed herself to him. She wanted him close, wanted him never to leave her again.

  “I should have phoned you and let you know I was coming,” he said when they finally broke free of each other.

  “No. I’m just so glad you came. I don’t care how it happened,” she said. “I missed you.”

  “I missed you, too. I didn’t know if you wanted me, though. I mean…mmph!”

  Bella leapt into his arms and kissed him until she couldn’t kiss him anymore, trying to show him just how much she wanted him and always would. “I won’t ever let you go,” she murmured finally into his neck.

  “I will always listen to you. I promise,” he said. “I will always be here for you.”

  “We’ll save all the animals and all the people.”

  “I can’t wait.”

  ***

  CHAPTER TWENTY

  When you send a kitten down the center aisle of a church, trailing after a tempting ribbon dangled by an adorable flower girl, you have to figure your odds of it reaching the altar are mighty slim, Bella thought. Nevertheless, she smiled happily at the sight of the black feline tripping down the aisle, two rings tied to the collar around its neck. Behind it walked Hannah, her maid of honor, and Morgan, who to her surprise had been overjoyed to be her bridesmaid. Although as she put it, it should be bridesmatron. She’d gotten to know Morgan well over the past couple of weeks. Since she wasn’t as stressed out about money and losing her clinic anymore, Bella had found that Morgan, Rob, and the rest of the gang were more than willing to include her in their fun.

  She lifted her eyes to where Evan stood at the altar in a dark jacket cut to perfection over his muscled frame, his eyes shining back at her with love and happiness, and her heart thrummed with an emotion she couldn’t even name. Love, of course, but something more; something like wonder.

  She was marrying Evan. Not because he’d won her in a contest, but because she couldn’t imagine life without him, and he felt the same way.

  Hannah and Morgan had both helped her plan the last-minute wedding. Morgan had endless energy for organizing and getting things done, and Bella no longer wondered why Hannah found her such good company.

  The two women also agreed to help her find the best way to spend her new millions—and maybe some of her husband’s billions—to the best effect for Chance Creek’s homeless animals. She couldn’t wait to get started…right after her honeymoon, that was. She and Evan agreed they needed a little more time off from their normal busy lives and had booked a safe, steady cruise down to Mexico for some R and R.

  She glanced up at her father, who held her arm as they walked down the aisle. At first he’d hemmed and hawed and rumbled uncomfortably when she brought up the idea of a ranch and rehabilitation center for old and injured horses, but now he’d thrown himself into the plan. He’d come close to tears the day she went home and told him she loved him, and she had a feeling from the way he held her arm so tightly now that the old man might get misty again today. She couldn’t believe they’d both harbored so much guilt about the day Caramel died that they’d nearly lost each other forever. Clothed in a bright blue mother-of-the-bride dress, her mother sat in the front row next to Craig, beaming with happiness back at Bella as they progressed toward the front of the church.

  A lightbulb flashed, she winced and frowned for a moment as she took in the cameramen and film crew off to the left. She hadn’t realized her contract contained language that allowed Madelyn to document any significant changes in her life that happened because of winning the show. At least that clause ran out in a couple of months. She didn’t need a film crew hanging around forever. She saw Ellis take Madelyn’s hand and she forgave them just a little. She’d seen the ring on Madelyn’s finger earlier and the way the two looked at each other when they thought they were unobserved.

  She met Evan’s gaze again, and smiled when the flower girl—Evan’s niece, Katy—and the kitten—arrived at the altar and Evan’s brother, Nate—his best man—bent down to untie the rings. Katy picked up the kitten and snuggled it as she made her way to sit by her mother in the first pew. Bella reached the altar herself and took her place beside the man she loved.

  *

  Evan didn’t think anyone could be happier than he was when the country preacher, Joe Halpern, pronounced them man and wife and he bent to kiss his bride. He hoped no one could read his thoughts, as he considered the night—and the lifetime—ahead of him. He couldn’t wait to be alone with Bella, but for now he’d take the time to get to know her friends—his new community.

  This small chapel and country style wedding was a far cry from the society wedding the paparazzi always seemed to expect him to have, but it suited him just fine, as did the fresh, delicious food served at their reception and the local band that began to play as soon as dinner was consumed.

  Nate caught up with him when he took a break from the dancing. “I guess I can’t be too angry that you found yourself a wife. Although I think you’re pissi
ng away the family fortune on those pie-in-the-sky environmental ideas you have. I hope you’ll invest at least a portion of it in something solid like oil and natural gas. And your niece and nephew’s college fund.”

  “Nephew’s?” Evan asked, knowing damn well Nate could afford to send his own kids to school a thousand times over on the salary he earned from Mortimer Innovations.

  “Brenda told me yesterday. The sonogram says it’s a boy.” Nate beamed, and Evan understood the sudden sweetness of his brother’s disposition. He knew he’d taken a chance when he chose Nate as his best man, but he figured his brother deserved some sort of recognition. It couldn’t be easy watching him control Mortimer Innovations and know he might never get the chance to do so himself. Now it looked like his gesture was paying off. They were talking—joking, even. It could be worse.

  A lot worse, he thought, spotting his bride across the reception hall. He could have refused to go on the show and never met his cowgirl bride.

  *

  “You actually rode a stallion?” Craig asked, as they waited for the caterers to carry out the four-tiered wedding cake.

  In a moment Bella would join Evan for the cake cutting ceremony, but she appreciated the quiet interlude to connect with her brother.

  “Yes. It didn’t go too well,” Bella said. “Wait until you see that episode.”

  “Still, you got in the saddle. That’s something.”

  She waited for him to say something biting, like he often did. So she was surprised when his tone softened.

  “It was all my fault.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “The day Cyclone died. I saw you there. I should have said something.” Craig turned toward her and she saw anguish in his eyes. “I was too busy showing off to do the right thing. Afterward—what I said to you—I hate myself for that.”

  Bella stepped back, his words echoing the pain that had lived in her heart for so many years, until her ride on Thunder had put it all into perspective. “It wasn’t anybody’s fault. It was an accident. They happen sometimes. Besides, you’ve done so much good in the world since then. Think about your work—all the cattle and horses…”

  “I’m just a vet, just like you,” he said.

  “But you help people with the animals that provide their livelihoods.” She couldn’t believe Craig blamed himself, too. They’d all sacrificed so much time to the bitterness of the past.

  “But I’m not brave like you are,” he countered. “You save the animals that people love—the ones that are like family members. There’s a reason I don’t work with pets.”

  “Because it doesn’t pay as well?” Bella joked, trying to lighten the atmosphere between them.

  “Because I’m not worthy of them. I just stood there the day that Caramel died. I didn’t even go after her.” He shook his head. “It was like I was paralyzed because I cared so much. You’re the brave one. You went after her. You held her as she died. Then you went to work for Maggie. And you didn’t have to beg money from Mom and Dad like I did when you went to school. You did it all yourself. You became a vet, you’ve saved so many pets for other people. You kept on loving animals…” He took a deep breath. “I’m afraid to care about anything. I miss you. I miss our family—the way it used to be.”

  Bella blinked back the tears that threatened to spill over. She didn’t want Evan to think she wasn’t happy. She was happy, especially now. “I’m right here.”

  “You don’t blame me?” Craig said.

  “Of course not,” Bella said. “I always thought you blamed me. We’ve all been torturing ourselves, stuck in our separate hells. It’s time to let it go.”

  Craig drew in a ragged breath. “That sounds good to me.”

  She pulled him into a quick hug. “It’s going to be okay. Everything’s going to be different now, you hear?”

  He smiled suddenly, though she saw the pain was still fresh for him. “Why, because you’re filthy rich?”

  She grinned back. “Yep. And because we’ll restore our ranch to its former glory. We’ll restore our family back to its former glory, too. You’ll see.” She squeezed him, then let him go as another guest moved forward to congratulate her. Carl Whitfield, formerly Chance Creek’s richest inhabitant. The millionaire had moved to town to play at being a rancher, and had fallen in love with a local girl, Lacey Taylor. No fairy-tale wedding ended that match, however, and she felt a tug of sympathy for the man. Lacey had left town. Rumor had it Carl planned to leave as well.

  Craig patted her back and excused himself. She hoped her words had offered him some comfort, and that they really would be able to regain a closer relationship.

  “Welcome to the club,” Carl said, shaking her hand.

  “The club?”

  “The Chance Creek millionaires club. Although I guess we’ll have to rename it now that a billionaire is moving to town.” He didn’t look exactly pleased at the thought.

  “It’s nice that there will be three of us,” she said. She wasn’t sure how to take Carl. She didn’t know him that well.

  “Unfortunately, there will only be two pretty soon. I’m leaving. Heading back to California. Chance Creek and I didn’t get along that well.”

  “I’m sorry to hear that,” she said, touching his arm. “Really, Carl. I know you thought you would make a life here.”

  “Well, I’ve got myself to blame for it, don’t I?” he said. “I’m so used to promoting myself I didn’t know when to quit. Folks around here think I’m a braggart and a fool.”

  “No, they don’t,” Bella said. “I don’t, anyway.” Although if he’d showed this more human side of himself right from the beginning, Carl would have found lots of people willing to be his friend. “Maybe a break will be good for you—give you something to do and take your mind off Lacey—but I hope you’ll come back and give Chance Creek another try.”

  “We’ll see,” he said. “I won’t sell my house until next summer, just in case I change my mind. I’m looking for someone to live in it for the meantime, though. I don’t suppose you and that husband of yours are looking for a mansion?”

  She shook her head. “I need to be close to the shelter. We plan to live in my trailer for now. When we get back from our honeymoon, that is.”

  “That ratty old thing?” Carl sputtered. “Sorry. I mean, it’s a little rough for a guy like Evan, don’t you think?”

  “He’s used to roughing it,” she said, her thoughts slipping back to their time in the little tent in Jasper. “Once we’re back, however, we’ll start hunting for enough land to build our house, plus a new, state-of-the-art clinic and shelter.”

  “Evan doesn’t mind leaving San Jose?”

  “No, he says he likes it here.” She shrugged. “Plus he wants enough land to run test projects about alternative energy sources and sustainable ranching.”

  “Sustainable ranching? He better take care he doesn’t make himself as unpopular as I am around here,” Carl said.

  “Actually, Jake Matheson seems pretty interested in that idea.” She nodded across the room at Rob Matheson’s older brother.

  “Let me know if you think of anyone else who’d like to stay at my place.”

  “What about Cab? Maybe he’d like to spend the winter there.”

  “The sheriff? Now that’s not a bad idea.” Carl shook her hand again and made his way through the crowd toward a knot of cowboys. Bella crossed the room to join her husband, her thoughts lingering on Carl’s mansion. She was sure he’d filled it with plenty of precious things that needed to be looked after; but it lacked the one thing he wanted most—the woman he loved.

  She was so grateful fate had pushed her and Evan together. She didn’t care where she lived as long as he was there.

  She must be the luckiest woman in the world.

  *

  “Come on, I’ve got a surprise for you,” Evan said.

  How many more surprises could her life hold? Bella wondered lazily as she allowed him to pull her up off the c
hair on the balcony overlooking a nearly deserted beach below. Mexico had quickly become one of her favorite places, after Chance Creek, of course. They’d rented a secluded, but fully-staffed beach cottage, and relished the luxury and peace that surrounded them. “Where are we going?”

  “On a little hike.”

  She cocked her head, taking in the backpack he wore on his back. “I thought you just ducked inside to get your sunglasses.”

  “I did, but I did a little packing, too. No more questions,” he added, putting a finger to her lips. “Just follow me.”

  She gave the impending sunset behind them a last, longing look. She’d become a connoisseur of spectacular Pacific Ocean sunsets, but she allowed herself to be led downstairs and outside, down to the beach itself. Coming around a curve to a stretch of sand hidden from the building, she stopped when she took in the sight before her.

  A tiny tent stood pitched in the sand.

  “Is that for us?” she asked, suddenly very aware of her husband.

  “Yep.”

  “No cameras? No interruptions?”

  “Nope.”

  “And you intend to spend the whole night with me this time?”

  “Yes, ma’am,” he said and drew her into his arms.

  As the edge of the sun dipped below the horizon, Bella kicked off her sandals, unwrapped the sarong she wore around her waist and shimmied out of the bottoms of her bikini.

  “Hold up, there, beautiful,” Evan said, but he laughed and shucked off his own shorts. “Actually, go as fast as you want.” He came and helped her undo the clasp of her halter top.

  As it fell away, Bella stood back and let him take her in, familiar by now with the warmth of his regard and the love that shone in his eyes. She tugged him toward the tent and dropped to her knees to unzip the opening, smiling at the hitch in his breathing that told her what he thought of that particular sight.