Lost and Found (books 1-3): Small-Town Romantic Comedy

by Elizabeth Lynx

  “So, you didn’t boast about taking my virginity to the guys in the locker room?”

  “No, that was Keaghan.” He shook his head with a sigh. “I didn’t want to tell you this because it would only hurt you, but I overheard Keaghan tell his friends in the locker room that he was going to have sex with you the night of the dance.”

  “That’s why he was being so nice to me on our walk home . . . I can’t believe I didn’t realize he was up to something. The man had never been kind to me. It’s not like I would have had sex with him.”

  Tyler frowned. “That didn’t matter to him. One of his friends asked what he would do if you said no. He explained that the word never stopped him before.”

  A cold shudder ran down my spine. “I think I’m going to be sick.”

  Tyler reached for the wastebasket by the bed and held it up for me. I waved it off.

  “Thanks, but I didn’t mean literally.”

  “It’s hard to tell in your condition.”

  There was silence. He stared at my stomach as I watched a range of emotions slide over his features.

  “Do you know yet? I mean . . . if it’s a boy or a girl?” he asked with a whisper.

  “It’s too early. I think it’s the size of a bean now. Not really baby-like yet.” I slid my hand over my stomach.

  “Right, right. I forgot. Um, are you feeling okay? In any pain?” He reached toward my abdomen but stopped.

  “You can touch me. The most you’ll feel is gas bubbles.” I laughed to ease the tension. “I’m still in the first trimester. It’ll be another seven weeks until I get to the second.”

  I swallowed and tried to control my hands as they began to shake. Tyler crawled into bed beside me and pulled me into his arms.

  “I’m here now. We’re in this together. No matter what happens, I’ll love you and our little one.”

  Nodding, I squeezed my eyes shut as the tears began to fall. I buried my head into his chest, breathing in his spicy scent. There was something in his touch or maybe hearing the beat of his heart that soothed me.

  “I’m so afraid, Tyler,” I whispered.

  He kissed the top of my head. “It’s natural to feel that way. But I want you to know that you don’t have to be scared anymore. I’m here this time and we will be together on this journey. I can’t make promises that even medical science can’t keep, but I will swear to love you and be there for you no matter how this pregnancy turns out.”

  “I love you. I love you. I love you,” I chanted, and it felt like I was releasing something that weighed me down for so long.

  His grip tightened and it felt good. I thought I heard him whisper, “I’ll never let go.”

  I tried to pretend it wasn’t true but what I felt for him grew stronger every day. These feelings had grown so intense that I was afraid my heart might burst.

  “Whatever love means. This feeling won’t stop. No matter what I do, it only becomes stronger. It’s been embedded in my heart and only for you. I don’t think I can dig it out if I tried,” I said as I lifted my head to reveal my truth.

  He shifted back and gazed into my eyes. We stared at each other like this for a few moments before he said, “I didn’t think I could love you more but now that you’re carrying my child, I feel like I’m drowning in love and I never want to breathe again.”

  He kissed me and it turned from sweet to deep heat in seconds. It was hard, achingly hard, and everything about him was, too. My hand moved down his chest, every muscle tight, and I longed to slide my fingers through his chest hair. I had been used to being with models and actors who remove their chest hair, but it was refreshing and kind of hot to feel every real inch of this sexy man’s body. Tyler’s body was completely unaltered and begging to surround me.

  Tyler tore at my clothes and I heard my pink sweater rip, but I didn’t care. He could shred them to tiny pieces, and I’d think it was the sexiest thing in the world. Anything he touched caused a bloom of rapid and unstoppable heat.

  When his fingers slid over the zipper of my jean shorts, I broke. Pushing him back, I shimmed off the rest of my clothes.

  “Someone’s impatient.” He chuckled and watched me.

  “I’m naked, pregnant, and want your cock in my vagina like yesterday. So, let’s get to it.” I snapped my fingers, staring at the tent in his khakis.

  The man enjoyed torturing me too much.

  “Don’t make me get out my action team.” Both our eyes slid to the location in the closet where said action team hid.

  “Maybe later, but for right now, I want to be the one to give my fiancée all the orgasms.”

  I liked the sound of that.

  He eventually took off his pants and briefs. I helped because he was taking too long. When my fingers curled around his cock, all his restraint broke.

  “Fuck. Not too much or I won’t last.” Tyler’s hand cupped my ass as he ground against my stomach.

  The man pretended to want to go slow as if he wasn’t as crazy horny as I was. But it was all a lie. I saw how angry his cock looked when he pulled off his briefs. I was surprised he wasn’t squirting on himself just from the friction of the cotton.

  He pinned me to the bed by moving on top of me and he played with my tits. My nipples were extra sensitive since I became pregnant, and the light kisses he gave them had me arching off the bed.

  “Yeah, do that,” I said, grabbing his hair and holding his head in place.

  With his free hand, he pulled my leg back and settled between my thighs. There was no tender moment where he gently fondled me to get me ready.

  I was dripping and needed nothing but his massive cock rocking inside me.

  “I’m going to fuck you now.” He lifted his head from my chest, and I didn’t have to respond before his cock filled me—it was rough but so good.

  Perhaps it was the pregnancy making me super horny or how he had lost control, but I came hard after he pushed inside.

  “That’s it, Iona. Come for me.”

  I did. And the wave of bliss didn’t end there. It eventually settled but watching him sweat and grunt on top of me was too much. He lowered his hand between our legs as he propped himself on his elbow. One swipe of his finger against my clit and I climaxed again.

  “Look at how much you want this. Fuck, you’re so wet. Is that what I do to you?”

  The way he spoke was so dirty, but I loved it.

  Everything felt great so I was confused when he pulled out. Hovering over me, he said, “On your knees.”

  I blinked, and it took a second for me to register what he wanted. But once I figured it out, I quickly did as he requested. “Yes.”

  “What do you want, Iona?”

  “Please,” I looked back at him as he positioned himself but didn’t push inside, “I want you to fill me.”

  I hoped he knew what I meant. Tyler smirked as he rolled his hips and his dick began to make its way inside. And when I felt his thumb slide between my ass cheeks, I smiled. He understood perfectly.

  There was a slight push at my puckered hole before he moved in and out. It felt incredible to be completely filled and when Tyler got the rhythm going, I broke . . . hard.

  “Tyler,” I groaned as my orgasm broke me.

  “Fuck, I’m coming.” He stilled after he slammed into me. I couldn’t tell how long it was before he pulled out and gently laid me on my side—I was lost in the bliss of the aftereffects from the orgasms he gave me.

  It wasn’t until he left the bed and I heard the water running in the bathroom before I realized where I was.

  When he finally came back to bed, he pulled me into his arms. I curled around his body as if I was made for that spot.

  “I can’t wait to find out what our baby looks like.”

  I held up my hand. “Slow down there, partner. There’s still seven and a half months to get through.”

  I hoped. My hand began to tremble, and he immediately grabbed it in his.

  “You’re right. I can wait. Wha
t I really look forward to is seeing how cute you’ll look with your belly filled with our baby. I’ll have to start lifting weights if I’m expected to carry you up the stairs when you’re super pregnant.”

  Pulling back my hand, I lifted up on my elbow so I could glare down at him. “Super? As in big? Wow, you’re really not good at making a woman feel good about herself.”

  His eyes lit up as he smiled. The jerk was totally enjoying this. “I can’t imagine how big your undies will become. I’ll probably have to buy a tent at some point and pass them off as your underwear.” He jumped from the bed faster than I had expected. It was a good thing because I was going to make him pay for that.

  “You’re an asshole. I’m pregnant with your child and you’re insulting me and my giant future panties.”

  “Did it work?”

  My eyes widened as I jerked my head back. “Did what work?”

  “You’re not scared and sad anymore. I’ll take all your anger if it means you spend less time worrying about this pregnancy.”

  Maybe he was smarter than I thought . . .

  “A better plan would be to get me food instead.”

  He stood, completely naked as he sliced the air with his arm. “Whatever you desire. I’ll run to the store or get takeout or even get my brother to bake more of his muscle brownies. Anything for the woman I love.”

  I bit my lip and gave him the sweetest smile I could muster. “I’d like some pickle juice with raisins. Oh, and some ginger tea, please.”

  All the color in his face disappeared, and I feared he might faint.

  TWENTY-NINE

  Tyler

  “I don’t like that she agreed to do this,” I said to Cara for probably the twentieth time today.

  “She’s a professional and knows how to handle guys like him. If you hadn’t heard, Hollywood isn’t the most female friendly place. Yet, she’s worked her way through that town unscathed. There’s a rare actress who can say that.”

  Despite hearing how unsafe Hollywood was for Iona, it warmed my heart to hear the admiration in Cara’s voice as she spoke about her.

  “It only takes one man . . .” I reminded her.

  “I know, but this idea today was good. I think the mayor’s going to like it when we present him with it, and it will distract him from Iona. Did you tell her this morning?”

  I shook my head. “I had to get up early to meet with the sheriff. He needed some clarification on a few things.”

  Apparently, this case was bigger than just some stolen furniture. The FBI is now involved, which worried me. What if it affected Iona? I wasn’t just on the lookout for her at the parade, but my brother, too. He needed to beef up his security, as it has only been him. I wanted a whole team here watching her.

  “I found the mayor’s assistant, but no one can seem to locate the mayor,” Terrance said as he jogged up to us. We were standing beside the apple float so there would be no way we could miss them.

  At the edge of town, near our secluded spot, was where all the floats and people in the parade gathered before it started. After Iona and I made love yesterday, I was so happy to have her in my life, baby and all, that I called Cara with my idea.

  I knew why Iona had her as an assistant—she was thorough and quick. Cara contacted all the right people and made it happen. Babette even contacted me and offered to help finance the thing as an apology for tricking us into living together.

  “Perhaps we’ll tell her after the parade,” Terrance said with a shrug.

  I knew she wasn’t happy being forced to sit next to the mayor up on a big apple float during the parade. But that’s why I wanted to surprise her with this news—to give her something good to think about.

  Ever since we talked with each other yesterday about the pregnancy, I had felt this need to keep her happy.

  I hated seeing her so mad when I teased her about a big pregnancy belly. However, she had no idea that the thought of her waddling around with my baby inside her did things to me. I worried there was something wrong with me that it turned me on to think of her filled with our child. And, I was concerned my dick would hurt the baby when she was close to her due date. Mainly because I knew we were going to have lots of sex the bigger she got.

  “Has anyone seen Iona?” Jake asked from behind.

  I turned to find my brother and Babette coming up to the float.

  “You’re her bodyguard,” I said as I fisted my hands.

  That’s what I worried about. The mayor was a leech. Iona may be tough when it came to men like that, but she wasn’t immune to danger.

  “She could be anywhere. They could be anywhere.” I waved my hand around.

  “It’s going to be okay, Dr. Ferguson. Perhaps you should speak with the sheriff? I know Iona spoke to him the other day.”

  Why would Iona need to talk to Garrison?

  “I noticed him right over there,” she said.

  I nodded to thank her and couldn’t help but notice the blush on her cheeks. I glanced at my brother, but he was speaking with Cara. I wondered what my brother and Babette were doing before they showed up.

  As much as I wanted to interrogate my brother and warn him about her deceptive ways, I had to find Iona first.

  Moving through the crowd, I saw Garrison by a cop car.

  “Sheriff!”

  He looked up and gave me a nod. With his hands on his hips, he turned to face me. “What can I do for you, Tyler?”

  Get it together, Tyler, and don’t embarrass yourself. This is for Iona. He’s just a man doing a job. He may be the coolest guy to walk the Earth, but he’s human like anyone else.

  “I can’t seem to locate Iona or the mayor. They’re supposed to be on the float soon.”

  He held up a finger and lifted a phone to his ear. I glanced around and noticed a lot of men with sunglasses and suits milling around.

  “Sorry. Had to check in with my team. What was that about Iona and Mayor Bailey?” Garrison slid the phone into his back pocket.

  “Have you seen them?”

  “She’s not on the float?” he asked, then looked at the ground mumbling, “I thought that’s where she was.”

  I shook my head. “No, and I’m worried. I can’t seem to locate her anywhere.”

  He reached back for his phone again. “Give me a minute. I’ll come over to the float when I have something.”

  I wanted to stay. Every nerve ending in my body pricked with awareness. Something was terribly wrong. The sheriff was on edge and that man was always as cool as ice.

  Slowly and with a keen eye, I made my way back to the float. A few times I thought I saw her, but it turned out to be other women with long black hair. The other time it turned out to be a biker guy in a leather jacket.

  Several pairs of eyes stared at me as I meandered closer to the float. I held up my hands. “Nothing yet. The sheriff’s looking for her now.”

  “Fuck,” my brother said and stormed off.

  He was never one to take failure lightly and he screwed this up good. When this parade was over, I was going to make sure he understood that I wasn’t happy with his performance. I may not be his boss, but I was still his older brother.

  “I found her phone up on the float. She was there at some point this morning but must have left. Maybe she’s just throwing up in one of the porta-potties,” Cara offered as she placed a hand on my shoulder.

  There was concern in her eyes. I had never felt so helpless in my life. When tragedy struck, I was always able to help. People brought in animals on death’s door all the time, and I was the one who took action. When my mom overdosed, I knew to call the ambulance and even performed CPR on her. When our parents died, I was the one to arrange the funeral and take over the bills.

  I was the person people turned to for help and right now, there was nothing I could do. I thought when Iona left eleven years ago, that was the worst feeling in the world, but this was torture.

  “Hey, everyone.” Austen strolled up with a smile on his fac
e. He took one look at me and frowned. “Tyler, what’s going on? Did Iona drink pickle juice in front of you again?” The man chuckled at my pain.

  “We can’t find her. Or the mayor,” Babette said.

  “Just now?”

  “No. We’ve been looking for her for twenty minutes. The parade starts soon and they’re nowhere to be found.” Cara looked up from her phone. “I’m texting the mayor’s assistant to let her know to hold off on the parade until they’re found.”

  “Fuck the parade, I want my fiancée.”

  I meant it. This engagement may be fake to Iona, but I wanted to marry the woman. Deep down, I knew this scheme would either end with me harboring a devastated broken heart or calling her my wife.

  Austen’s hand landed on my shoulder with a firm grip. “Then let’s find her. She couldn’t have gone far.”

  “Good idea. We’ll break out to find her. Cara, you stay here in case she comes back,” Babette said before turning to face me. “I care about her, too, despite what you may believe. I’ll do all I can to find her.”

  I knew in her own way, Babette did love Iona. She may need a lesson in truth as opposed to lies to find happiness, but that was something she had to figure out herself.

  Babette searched the floats while Austen and I scoped out the perimeter.

  We were silent for a moment before Austen finally spoke. “Look, I know about the fake engagement.”

  My head swiveled around in surprise. “You do?”

  “Yeah. I overheard Iona on the phone a few weeks ago with Babette. She was up in the bedroom, and I went up there to use your bathroom because the one on the main floor smelled like pickles. And I really hate pickles.”

  I too had developed a deep loathing for pickles in recent weeks.

  “Anyway, the conversation she had was somewhat muffled through the vents but clear enough that I made out a few things. One of which was the engagement.”

  Taking a deep breath, I discovered I wasn’t worried about what he might think about the deception. In fact, I was relieved he knew. “I’m sorry I had to keep that from you.”