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

by Milly Taiden

  “Yes, and I think he needs to get out. Brennan is used to going out and having parties. He needs to have some fun.”

  “Don't blame yourself for this situation, girl. He chose to come with you. The two of you did what you had to do to save that baby. It was a very brave thing.”

  A nervous laugh bubbled from her, and she dropped her head against the baby's. “I'm not so brave. I want you to take Bren to the party so that I won't have to deal with his wrath until tomorrow.”

  Sir Rawley grinned much the same way Brennan did, then kissed her forehead and that of the baby. “Don't worry. I'll deal with my nephew.”

  Despite the man's assurance, a knot of dread fell into the pit of her stomach. Eyebrows raised in uncertainty, she turned to look at Michelle who was chewing on her fist.

  “Your surrogate daddy is not going to be at all happy about this. What say we move to Mexico?”

  The baby giggled and threw her hands at Hope's face.

  “That's what I thought you'd say,” she sighed.

  ***

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

  Brennan toppled into a chair near the bed where Hope was soundly sleeping. She seemed to be the most peaceful and relaxed he had ever seen her. He figured she was finding repose only because she had divested their secret to his uncle; somehow that same peace had come to him also. He smiled, as at the moment, he knew he should be angry with her. He wanted to be, but he just couldn't conjure the emotion.

  It amazed him, because for years fifty percent of his actions had been a direct result of his own blind fury. Even though Hope hadn’t been with him during his transformation into the person he was now, he knew he’d started his new life because of her. When she told him to leave that night, he just couldn’t keep being the party boy any more. And on the day he’d chosen to accompany her in this crazy escapade, his life had taken an even more unexpected turn. He liked the person he was with her—and he loved her.

  He hadn't realized that he loved her until tonight when his uncle had told him that Hope was in love with him. It wasn’t exactly news. But his uncle’s words still had an impact.

  “If she’s in love with you and you’re in love with her, why the hell aren’t you a couple instead of ‘just friends’ as she calls it?”

  Bren had responded, “The hell if I know.” And that was when he realized what the man had said.

  You’re in love with her.

  He hadn’t denied it. He couldn’t. It was true.

  He watched as she sighed in her sleep and pulled the covers closer to her neck. His eyes became heavy, the lateness of the hour taking its toll on him. He fell asleep wondering why, for some reason, fate had seen fit to give a lost bastard this angel of hope.

  *

  The Thursday night Scrabble game had been a routine in Arrington Manor for some time. Hope began to look forward to that night each week. When she was a child, her family had always had game night and would make popcorn and play Monopoly or Uno. She didn’t realize how much she missed that sort of camaraderie until she was invited to become a part of the Rawley games.

  Bren joined in on occasion, but he and Jeremy had taken to playing pool instead. Their rivalry escalated with each game, although it seemed the two must be pretty well matched because neither won more often than the other.

  When not engaged in fun, the two men had begun spending a lot of time discussing the family investments, oversight of the ranch and other aspects of the family business. Although not directly involved in the running of the cattle ranch, the family still kept their hands on just about everything that went on there. Jeremy and Meg, it seemed, lived in New Durma most of the year, while Sir Rawley had to return to Durma during the summer to superintend their holdings there.

  This Thursday night, they had already played several rounds when Hope had to excuse herself for a few moments to change Michelle’s diaper. When she returned, she found Bren at the game table in the usually vacant spot. She cocked an eyebrow at him and smiled, sitting beside him. He was already stacking his tiles up in front of him, a determined look on his face.

  “Where’s Jeremy tonight?” she asked Meg as she too began arranging her tiles.

  “He’ll be along in a while. Said he had some things to take care of.” Her toothy grin seemed out of place so Hope gave her a questioning look. She only giggled and tried to focus on her tiles.

  “Okay, let’s get this show on the road,” Bren insisted. “You guys know this is an ‘old person’s game,’ right?”

  Sir Rawley grunted, tossing his nephew a narrow glare. “I’ll show you old.” And he laid down five tiles: B-O-A-R-D. “I believe that’s 20 points, son.”

  Brennan shook his head but smiled good-naturedly and turned to Hope.

  While she looked at her tile options, Hope turned her body to the side and slid Michelle down between her legs so that the little one could cling to her thighs and bounce up and down.

  “Man, that’s the last time I let you guys draw my tiles for me. I got nothing here.”

  “Well, I picked your tiles and mine, and I’m no better for it,” Brennan joked, slapping at her knee before placing a single letter L atop the O in “board.”

  “Lo?” she queried, laughing. “That’s all you can make is ‘lo’?” With a deep breath and still grinning, she laid down an R and an E to make the word R-E-D.

  He smirked at her before turning his attention to Meg.

  The lady’s round face was pinched in consternation as she studied her tiles. After a few moments, she too placed down her tiles, making the word R-E-D-D-E-R from Hope’s play.

  Sir Rawley wasted no time laying his tile down for his next turn, and no sooner had he dropped it, than Meg began to shake her head.

  “Ra isn’t a word, Daddy,” the woman fussed, shaking her head and retrieving her dictionary.

  “It most certainly is a word.”

  Hope’s attention was focused on the two of them, enjoying the loving banter. From the corner of her eyes, she could see Bren moving.

  “Uncle James, you can’t use proper nouns. Ra is the name of the Egyptian sun god.”

  “Well, it doesn’t matter now. My nephew has already taken his turn.”

  Hope glanced at Bren with a stern glare, not even bothering to review his play. “You can’t do that, Bren. Until we resolve the issue with your uncle’s word, you aren’t entitled to your turn.”

  “Well, since Bren’s put down his word, I don’t suppose Daddy’s matters anymore,” Meg murmured, always quick to resolve any real tension.

  “Oh, come now, Meg. It isn’t fair. Just last week you weren’t allowed to use the word ‘Elvis’ because it was a proper noun.”

  James Rawley was laughing now, finding an inordinate amount of amusement in the situation. Much more amusement than Hope thought was appropriate for the matter at hand, and she cast him a chastising glare.

  “Uncle James, really! You’re always trying to cause consternation.”

  Meg touched her hand. “But look at the board, Hope.”

  She glanced at the Scrabble pieces briefly then looked back at the laughing old man to continue her reprimand. It took about two seconds longer than it should have for her mind to register what she’d seen.

  Bren had played the letters V and E to spell the word L-O-V-E, only in the place of the letter O was a striking yet simple diamond ring.

  A ring that looked very much like an engagement ring.

  Michelle was still bouncing at her feet, and she almost missed catching the baby when she lost her balance and fell back. With a startled gasp, she took the little one up into her arms, her mouth still formed in the shape of an “O.”

  “Bren?”

  He didn’t get down on one knee. That would never have been his style. He just nodded to Meg, who took Michelle from Hope. He picked up the ring and held it out to her. “Will you? Will you marry me?”

  She couldn’t speak. The air couldn’t get past the knot in her throat in order to reach her lungs. Shak
ing her head, she closed her eyes and tried to gain control of her faculties.

  “If she was ‘red’ before, she’s certainly ‘redder’ now,” James Rawley guffawed, slapping his knee. “Well, aren’t you going to answer him, Sealla?”

  She sucked air, finally able to breathe, the force of it making a wheezing sound. Swallowing past her tight throat, she took Bren’s hand and tugged him out of the room. There was a small parlor just off the game room with a couch facing a small fireplace. Just barely inside the room, Hope slammed the door, released Bren and leaned against the frame.

  “What are you doing, Bren?”

  “I want you to understand this clearly, Hope. I want you to be my wife. Not to protect us. Not to protect that baby, but because you love me and I love you.”

  She gulped, the tears in her eyes blurring her vision. “You don't know what you're saying. You're letting yourself get caught up in the adventure, but this can’t work. You don’t want to marry me.”

  “I want you. I love you.”

  “This is crazy, Bren. You need to go home. Jim’s waiting for you, and someone’s going to miss you at some point. They can find you here. It isn’t like no one could ever track down your mother’s family and figure out where you are. They’ll find all of us here if that happens. You’ll be an accessory if—”

  “You aren’t listening. I don’t give a damn about being made an accessory. I can’t stand the thought of not being with you, of leaving you. It’s us, Hope. You and me and Michelle. I don’t care if we have to leave the country together. I’m with you.”

  Hope looked into his eyes, not saying anything for many moments. With a deep breath she approached him.

  “You had better mean that because I don't think I could take waking up one morning to find you've gone back home. If we do this, it will be forever, Brennan Rawley.” She reached up to kiss him.

  “So you are the lost Rawley.” A deep feminine voice startled them both. When they turned, a blonde woman was sitting up from the sofa where she had been laying, hidden from sight.

  “I'm your cousin, Kay. Funny though, Daddy said her name was Sealla.”

  Hope felt like a noose was tightening around her neck as the woman stood and came toward them, accusation clearly in her eyes.

  “Kay,” she murmured. “It is so good to finally meet you.”

  Hope had revealed their secret to James Rawley without reservation, but something about this woman shot off alarms in her brain.

  “And the baby’s name was Nichole, as I recall,” the woman added.

  “Kay—” Bren began.

  “What game are you two playing? You're after our inheritance! You're frauds!”

  “He really is your cousin. Trust us.”

  Her eyes widened. “Trust you!” she cried. “You think I would trust you?”

  “She's definitely your cousin, Bren. You think just alike.” Hope said.

  Brennan didn't think that comment was funny and gave Hope a look to tell her so. He reached out to grab his cousin’s arm, and she backed away as if he meant to strangle her. At that moment, Sir James and Jeremy entered, obviously coming in response to all the yelling.

  “My girl, Kay, you're finally home to meet your cousin!” the old man exclaimed, hobbling to her with his cane.

  “Cousin?” she jeered. “He's a fraud! Her name is Hope. They've been lying to all of you. How could you have accepted his claim at face value?”

  “Are you blind, Kay? Can't you see that he's your cousin? We all look just alike.”

  “Didn't you hear what I said? I heard them talking. He just proposed to her. He called the baby Michelle. He called her Hope. She was talking about making him an accessory to some crime. They are not who they said they are!”

  “I knew it!” Jeremy joined in. “I knew they weren't—”

  “Be quiet, both of you! I know very well their real names, and there is more to this story than I thought that either of you should know. If you will sit down, I will explain everything.” His voice was full of authority, and both of Lord James's children sat down upon his order. Hope would have laughed if not for the suffocating tightness in her chest.

  “Would you like to tell them or shall I?” he asked her.

  “Well, I started all of this, so I suppose I should. It's true that my name is Hope and Nichole’s real name is Michelle. Several months ago. . .”

  The people in the room all watched her in silence as she explained the situation. Jeremy’s expression was void, not a hint of his feeling about the story in his face. Kay, however, looked to be seething, her eyes flaring with anger.

  “And so we decided to come to New Durma. We didn’t know that we’d find Brennan's family. We were desperate, and he knew that he had this property that might be a safe place for Michelle and me. We didn't want to deceive all of you, but we couldn't be sure what to expect and you must understand—it has always been Brennan's hope to find his roots. We just didn't think it would be under these circumstances and—”

  “I've heard enough,” Kay said in a low, yet firm voice. “Do you realize the danger you've put us all in? You are both fugitives! Kidnappers! The consequences of us just being privy to this information—”

  “They did what they had to, Kay.” her father defended. “They saved that little girl from—”

  “How do you know that?” She looked pointedly at Hope, “How do you know that what that prostitute said was true?”

  “I know,” Hope told her in a harsh tone she rarely used.

  Bren stood beside her. “If Hope says what Justine said is true, then it is.”

  Kay shook her head. “The courts would not have given the baby to the Taggerts if there was even one sliver of a possibility that she would have been in danger. The justice system—”

  “Failed her,” Hope finished, and at that moment Meg entered with Michelle. The baby was crying and rubbing at her red eyes, her exhaustion clearly evident. Hope tenderly took the baby and rocked her against her chest, soothing her a bit. “Look at her, Kay. The system failed her.”

  With that, she stomped from the room.

  ***

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

  “What's going on?” Meg asked, looking to each person in the room for an answer.

  Jeremy got up and put his arm around his wife. “Kay, Daddy is right. They did what they had to. I believe them.”

  His sister gave him a hurt and angry glare, unable to speak.

  Brennan smiled in appreciation to his cousin, then headed for the door.

  “I have to check on Hope,” he said as he hurried after her.

  “Will someone please tell me what's going on?” Meg pleaded.

  “Come, girl,” Lord James said and took her hand. “It's a long story.”

  Stopping at the stairs, Brennan watched them disappear around the corner in the opposite direction. He paused a moment longer when he heard Kay speak up again from the parlor.

  “They're fugitives.” she uttered hoarsely.

  “I'm sorry, Kay, but I've been watching him, and he's an honorable man. Just think of what he did for her. They hadn't even spoken for years, and still he gave up everything to help her. Could you or I have done the same for someone? I don't know that I could.”

  Just as Brennan began walking up the stairs, he heard Jeremy speak again. “I love you, Kay. Trust me on this one.”

  Hope was pulling her clothes out of the bedside drawer when he reached her in their shared room. Michelle wasn’t crying, but she was making little sucking sounds that indicated a full-fledged fuss was on its way.

  He picked her up from her pallet on the floor and went to sit on the bed.

  “Where are we going?” he asked, watching Hope stuff her things hurriedly into a bag.

  “The cottage is ready. There’s no reason for us not to go there. I’ll need to make plans for where we’ll go. We can’t stay here as long as they know.”

  He took her arm, forcing her eyes to his. “Sit down.”

&nb
sp; She did, exhaling as her body dipped into the feather comforter.

  “I want your answer before anything else.” He kept his words soft, careful restraint keeping the worry from his voice.

  “Bren—”

  “I love you, Hope. I’ve said those words dozens of times to you throughout the years, but this is the first time I’m saying it with the meaning you always wanted. I am honest-to-goodness, to the core of my being in love with you. Are you going to marry me or not?”

  A sob escaped her and she raised her hand to her mouth, stuffing her fingers between her lips as if to silence herself. But she also nodded.

  That wasn’t good enough.

  “Say it, Hope. Yes or no.”

  “Okay. Yes.”

  She didn’t sound as confident in the response as he would have liked but for the moment it would do. He realized his insides were shaking, and he almost laughed at himself for being so sappy. Instead he put his arm around Hope and tugged her hard against his chest. “Okay, yes,” he repeated, smiling.

  “That doesn’t change what we’ll do now. Kay is hateful. She’ll turn us in. We have to leave.”

  “Will you let me to talk to Uncle James first?” he asked. “I mean, I don’t see any reason for us not to go to the cottage, but I just don’t get the feeling that this is the type of family that would turn on its own.”

  “Okay. Yes.”

  He did laugh then, squeezing her. “If it will keep you this amenable, I’ll ask you to marry me every day.”

  He pulled back and put his finger under her chin so she would meet his gaze. She didn’t laugh, but smiled just a bit, worry still crinkling her brow.

  “I told you awhile back that I’d try to trust you. This is me trying. It isn’t easy, but you’re here, Bren, and that’s pretty damned important to me right now.”

  “I want you to do one more thing while you’re being agreeable.”