Lu Jiang glared at her husband; he avoided her eyes. “Ernie, what have you done?”
“Nothing, I swear! You can’t believe this guy.”
“I knew it, deep down inside, I truly did. But I wouldn’t let myself think it. I was suspicious when you started hanging out at the studio, a place you hated. And then a co-worker mentioned that two suits and some props had gone missing. She was afraid she’d have to pay for them. I told her I would, that I had misplaced them. What I can’t understand is why you would want Tierney dead? You love her.”
“You love money more, is that right, Saunders? You’re in debt, up to your skull! Too many maxed-out credit cards, too many student loans …”
“Ernie, I thought you always paid your own way!” Tierney said, trying desperately to hold back a flood of impending tears. “I admired how you worked and struggled to get what you wanted.”
“He only worked to pay off the debts. The house, the loans, the credit cards … I begged him to stop borrowing. I told him we could sell the house and make do with so much less but he wanted to look prosperous, to impress people.”
“But I don’t get it … how would killing me help you? Oh …” she paused, “was it because I said I had named you in my will?”
“Did you, Tierney?”
“Yeah, Kiel, I did. A few months ago I was feeling really despondent. I actually went so far as to make out a legal will at my lawyer’s office. In it, I left most of the money I’ve received from the reality show to Ernie and Lu Jiang. It adds up to quite a lot, thanks to endorsements and all. I had lunch with Ernie that day and told him all about it. It never would have entered my mind that he’d use that knowledge to plan my death.”
“But I didn’t!”
“No use denying it, Saunders. I’ve got video of you stealing the suits and badges, plus …” Kiel looked at Tierney, “those two hired goons have been picked up in Anaheim. Probably won’t take much persuading to get them to talk.”
Ernie bounded for the nearest exit. Kiel ran after him; caught his collar and dragged him back.
“This will never hold up in court! You’ll see! I’ll be out in an hour! Nobody’s smart enough to pull one over on me!”
The security men took him away. Tierney’s tears could not be restrained; they billowed over her cheeks, spoiling her mascara. Lu Jiang hugged her, turned them both from the staring eyes and camera lenses.
“I’m sorry, Tierney. I knew he was desperate. But I didn’t know he was capable of murder.”
“You have nothing to be sorry for, Lu. I seem to be a magnet for this kind of crap. I need to do a lot of soul searching, to figure out why.”
Kiel put his strong hands on her shoulders. “It isn’t you, baby. I don’t want you believing that.”
“What else can I believe?”
“That you’re beautiful, and willful, and those two elements in one body can attract too many of the wrong kind of people. It isn’t your fault. They can’t generate their own sparkle so they try to steal some of yours!”
She peered deeply into his cinnamon eyes; the love in them was unmistakable. She breathed it in; let it fill her with strength and determination. She faced the camera.
“There you go, people! A would-be murderer captured right before your eyes! Isn’t the internet amazing?” She glanced around her. “I’m sorry I had to put the rest of you through that, but I’m sure you understand.”
Aram Evans stepped up. “Tierney, can we all get together at our house, to talk things out?”
“Just the family, sure; but there will be no Dr. Lenz, or Istvan, or cameras!”
“Whatever you say! We’ll see you there later.”
She blushed as he kissed her cheek. Her mother did the same. Dennis shrugged at her; the closest thing he’d come to actually showing her affection in a very long time.
“There’s hope for us yet!” she sighed.
They all began to leave. Istvan stood, looked at her solemnly, realized that there was nothing between them. He shook her hand and Kiel’s in a surprising gesture of maturity then walked away.
Once they were alone on the set, Tierney grabbed Kiel for a long, loin-stirring kiss.
“Um, keep that up and we’ll be giving your fans a real show!”
She giggled. “I’m not willing to go that far to keep you safe. Or am I? But, really, do you think Slater and his thugs will bother us?”
“I don’t think they’ll want to chance it.”
“I have a way to make sure,” she smiled. “Bodey, is the feed still live?”
Bodey Gillette hurried up to her, his cheeks beet red. “Sure, you want to say something else? Before you do, I want to tell you that I’m ashamed of my actions. I do care about you, Tierney, but I had no right to make threats or treat you like a possession. Dr. Lenz is going to help me sort things out …”
“I’ll bet he is! Just watch your wallet! Turn on that camera, please?”
He checked the connection, made sure she was still being seen by millions of people.
“Okay, you’re on!”
Tierney kissed Kiel in front of the camera then she leaned in close. “The emails are ready, Mr. Slater,” she hissed. “It’s your move.”
Kiel grinned as she flipped off the camera and kissed him again.
“What the hell was that about?” Bodey wondered.
“Don’t you love it when people get cryptic?” Tierney smiled.
THE END
I have four more books you might enjoy. Here are their Amazon pages, descriptions, and an excerpt from each book. I hope you like them:
A BILLIONAIRE FOR BREAKFAST - http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00B2C5WMQ When Tess Jenkins impulsively agreed to join Kylie Preston on a hunt for billionaire husbands in the Cayman Islands she had no idea what kind of trouble they’d get into – or that she’d fall head over heels for a gorgeous beach bum named Angel. But is he all he seems to be, or someone completely different?
EXCERPT: There was a screeching noise just to her left. She turned, holding her heart in shock, as she watched a black motorcycle fly over her head and land abruptly in a mound of sand. But where was the driver? She quickly scanned the grassy area beneath the hilltop road. He was there, lying in a ditch.
Tess ran to him; began to examine him for injuries. There weren’t any, but what she saw there disturbed her all the same. He was insanely handsome, with chin length, naturally blue-black hair, and a rugged, tanned body that oozed “Come take me.” from every pore. And his eyes – whoa – when he looked up at her she thought her heart had stopped completely – they were green with strange flecks of blue that made them glitter like jewels.
“Are you okay?”
“Sure, just a skinned elbow and a sore bum. Serves me right for thinking I could make that curve at 100 miles per hour! I’ve never seen you. What’s your name?”
“Tess Jenkins.” She was shy under the heat of his stare. You’d think he had never seen a girl before.
ADDICTED TO HIM - http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00B8EOQ9S Tegan St. Clair works in a florist shop in Burbank, and fantasizes about her dream man, Fleet Westcott, the billionaire film producer who owns the studio across the street, never imagining that she could ever meet him in real life.
Then Fleet steps out of her dreams and into her bed, and she is swept up in a passion so electric it leaves scars. But Fleet is a complicated man, with some dark, dangerous secrets. Can Tegan find the courage to save him, even if it means her own life is on the line?
EXCERPT: He knelt down in the darkness, hiked up her skirt and yanked her panties down. Then he lifted her hips and began to drink at her like a cup. Tegan couldn’t help but gyrate beneath him, the orgasms building in little waves until they burst out of her in a torrent of pleasure. She put her hand to her mouth to keep from screaming.
“This is so not right,” she whispered.
“But it’s so good, hum?” he asked, raising his head to smile at her. “My turn,” he said hoarsely.
Tegan kept h
er eyes closed tight as she bent to his lap and took him into her mouth. He groaned as if in torment as she explored him with her mouth and tongue. The scent of him was dusky and sweet, arousing her back to a crest of desire. He realized she wasn’t through and eased his hand between her thighs.
“Stroke it, that’s right,” he sighed. Tegan dared open her eyes, watched his silhouette as he flung his head backwards, his chest rising up and down in quick bursts of anguish. “Now, get ready, get ready…”
She moved her lips over him in a dizzying motion, felt his need growing and expanding. His flesh was hot, firm, wonderful.
Finally he came, shooting into her mouth so forcefully she was afraid she’d drown. But she took all of him, and more, until he couldn’t spare a drop. He raised her off of him, zipped his pants.
Without a word he started the Jaguar and steered them away from the curb. Tegan readjusted her clothing, sat looking straight ahead, fearing she’d done something to displease him.
“Are you all right?” she asked.
“Fine,” he answered curtly.
“Was I horrible at it?”
“No.”
“Then I don’t understand why …”
“Look, it’s over. It was good. Great, in fact. I’ll take you home now, and you can clean up before your mother gets home.”
CATCHING MOONLIGHT - http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00BI7ZMQ6 Toby Styles heads out to Greece after learning she has inherited an island estate, Moonsea, from a father she never knew existed. Once there she falls in love with the beauty of the island – and she loses her heart to the beautiful young man who lives like a recluse in the moon temple on the cliffs. Dio excites her like no one ever has before – but he carries a tragic burden that could destroy any chance they have for happiness. Can Toby find a way to break the bonds that hold him – without losing him forever?
EXCERPT: Toby couldn’t take her gaze off of him. His face was pale and sorrowful but exquisite, with high cheekbones, a lean, perfectly aligned nose and a full, sensuous mouth. His eyes seemed on the verge of tears, glowing like emerald pools. And his body, dressed only in tight, faded jeans and a white T shirt, was as perfectly muscled as the ancient athletes depicted in bas-relief on the temple walls. Toby felt faint, not from the fall but from the overwhelming desire that was building like a tidal wave within her. His touch was like a cold fire, inciting her – she impulsively moved her lips towards his, kissed him tenderly. He was shocked at first then began to kiss back. She found herself clinging to him, using her tongue to explore that glorious mouth. It was not like her to make the first move, or to get intimate with strangers, for that matter. But something happened to her when she saw him, a gate of some kind seemed to open, a door offering pleasures she’d never dreamed of before. Dreams – she thought to herself – he was in my dream!
LOSING CONTROL - http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00ANYTCKW Candy company heir Taury Trahern is everything twenty-two year old Fawn Hamilton has ever dreamed of and more. He’s tall, blond, blue-eyed, and shaped like a Greek god. Just the sight of him leaves her breathless. But she’s been through too much – the heartache of infertility, the devastation of divorce, and the sorrow of losing her beloved grandmother.
Will Taury’s devotion give her the strength to believe in love again?
Together they will face tragedy, danger from unexpected places, and the chance of financial ruin while exploring the heights of a passion so hot it sizzles!
EXCERPT: Her eyes followed the shape of him from the unkempt blond hair, over his beautiful face, down his golden-haired chest and beyond to his thighs and legs. She noticed he was hard, probably wrapped up in the delights of a sexual dream. She had an unrestrained urge to put her mouth on him, but worried it might alarm him in his sleep.
“You can touch me,” he whispered. “I’m awake.”
She jumped; he laughed, gave her a warm, welcoming kiss. Then he gently pointed her towards his lap and offered up his morning hard-on for her enjoyment. She’d never done that either.
She looked at him; he nodded, urging her on. She took it between her hands, examined it playfully, smiled as he laid his head back and groaned excitedly. Fawn gingerly put her lips to it, kissed it, then cupped her mouth over the tip and rolled her tongue around it, careful not to tug too hard on the skin.
“You can get rough, it won’t hurt me.”
She began to move her mouth up and down on him, found herself becoming hot at the taste of it. He could see she was squirming; he scooted her hips around, positioned them over his face and drank at her until she screeched. He came at the same moment, thrusting himself deeper into her mouth, shooting the surprisingly sweet juice up into her throat. She feared she’d choke but couldn’t stop until she was certain he was done.
Afterwards she let him bring her back up a half dozen times, each movement more exhilarating than the last. Finally she could give no more, dropped down beside him, her heart pounding so loud it clouded her hearing. She saw his lips move.
“What did you say?”
“I said I love you, Fawn.”
“Everyone says that after sex, don’t they?”
“Maybe. But I mean it.”
She sighed, tears drew up in her eyes. He hugged her, kissed the salty liquid from her cheeks.
Email me at [email protected] – or comment on my blog at http://milamcclung.blogspot.com – or like my Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/RTWD-Press/174332382699508 - I’d love to hear from you!
Kissing Fortune (Man Season) Page 6
