Last time, they hadn’t talked. This time, Kayla told herself, she wanted to hear everything he had to say.
“Coming back to Cheyenne,” he said, “I knew I wanted to reconnect with you. I even had a plan.”
“What sort of plan?” Kayla watched him and saw emotions dart across the surface of his eyes in a rush too quick for her to identify any of them.
“Doesn’t matter now. Oh, I thought it was brilliant. I’m good at plans,” he muttered thickly, once again pacing the confines of the small living room. “Ask anyone. I know how to land a big account for Lassiter Media. I know how to build a career and make millions. I know how to buy a damn art gallery secretly.”
“You bought an art gallery?”
He snorted and shot her a quick look. “Yeah. It was supposed to be a surprise for you. Once my plan was finished.”
That unsteady feeling she’d been experiencing only got worse as the whole world seemed to shift and slide beneath her feet.
“It was a surprise but it’s not now?” Confused, she kept watching him and couldn’t help thinking that this was the first time since she’d known him that Matt seemed...unsure of himself.
“Well, since I just told you about it, it’s not a surprise,” he grumbled. “But more than that, the plan’s not going to be finished because I’m done with the plan.”
“Why don’t you tell me what the ‘plan’ was.”
“Simple. I was going to take it slow with you. No fast moves. Earn your trust. Make you believe in me—us—again.” He snorted. “But hell...”
“So,” she said around a knot that settled in her throat. It seemed this was just going to get worse and she wouldn’t have thought that possible. Her heartbeat slowed and dread gathered in her chest. “You don’t want me anymore.”
His gaze snapped to hers. “Are you crazy? You’re all I want, Kayla. The rest of the world could drop into the ocean and I wouldn’t care as long as I had you.”
Dread dissolved and hope rose up, fluttering wildly in the pit of her stomach. She took a breath and held it, afraid to listen. Afraid to not listen.
“No, it’s the plan I’m done with,” he said tightly. “Like I said, I was going to take my time. Prove to you that you could trust me. No rush. No hurry. I thought that was the best way. See, I know I love you—”
She reached out and grabbed hold of the back of a chair, just to keep herself steady. There it was. The three words she most wanted to hear. But he hadn’t even noticed the effect they’d had on her because he was still talking. She hadn’t expected this. Hadn’t thought to hope for it. A smile hovered at the corners of her mouth, but she forced herself to listen.
“I knew you’d need time to believe me. Hell,” he snorted, “I pretty much guaranteed that by leaving without even talking to you nine months ago. There’s no way you would just take my word for it if I told you what I felt for you. Why should you?”
“Matt...” She tried to interrupt, to tell him that she loved him, too. That she didn’t want to waste another moment with doubt, mistrust. She wanted to grab hold of life—and him—and never let go. She wanted to say so much, but he was on a roll and kept right on talking.
“I wanted you to be sure. To love me back. To know that I’d never leave you again.” Shaking his head in disgust, he stopped at the coffee pot, poured them both a cup, then didn’t bother to drink his.
“So what changed?” she asked. “Why are you done with the big plan?”
He snapped her another fierce look. “J.D. died. He wasn’t expecting it. Hadn’t made a plan for it. He was just standing there toasting his daughter and boom. Gone.”
“I know, Matt, but—”
“No.” He shook his head and laid both hands on her shoulders. “No buts. That night I saw just how quickly things could change. End. I realized that by taking my time with you, I might be risking everything. So screw it. I’m not going to take my time. I’m going to tell you how it’s gonna be between us.”
“Is that right?” She was so happy, she felt like dancing, singing, cheering. And a part of her knew that in the midst of the sadness they’d felt days before, the urge to be happy was a victory in itself.
“That’s right. I love you. Always have. I was too much of a coward to admit that nine months ago, but I’m not now.”
“Matt—”
“Let me finish.”
“Okay.” Her heart was beating so fast it was a wonder he couldn’t hear it.
“I bought a house in Malibu last month. It’s on a cliff, overlooking the ocean.”
“Sounds beautiful.”
“There’s a room that’s perfect for an artist’s studio. Plenty of natural light and the view is pretty stupendous.”
“Artist’s studio?” Her heart was hammering in her chest.
“For you, Kayla.” He came to her, dropped both hands onto her shoulders and looked down into her eyes. “You can paint all day if you want to. Or you can take over that gallery you used to work in after college. You remember?”
“Of course I do. I loved that little gallery.” It was where she’d learned everything she really knew about art and artists. “What do you mean I can take it over?”
“I bought it,” he blurted. “Finalized the deal this morning over the phone.”
She swayed a little, but his hands on her kept her steady. “That’s the gallery you bought? For me?”
“Of course for you!” He yanked her in close, so close that she could feel his heart thundering as fast and furiously as her own. “I love you. I want you with me. In L.A.”
“L.A.?”
“Cheyenne is home, too. I get that, now more than ever. Staying away was hard on me.” He bent his head to hers. “We’ll keep both our houses if you want to and we’ll spend time every year in both places. But yeah. My job for the Lassiters keeps me in L.A. and I need you there with me, Kayla. More than need even, I want you there with me.”
“You want me to move to L.A. with you.”
God, uprooting her entire life? Could she do it? Did she want to? Looking into Matt’s eyes, she knew the answer to that last question was a resounding yes. What did she really have in Cheyenne? Some good friends and a good job at someone else’s gallery. Moving to Los Angeles would give her the man of her dreams, her own gallery and maybe even the chance to start painting again. L.A. didn’t have the same appeal as Cheyenne, but it did have Matt.
“No. Well, yes. We can get married on the coast.”
“We’re getting married?” She laughed and shook her head. This was all so much, her head was spinning.
He kissed her hard, then took a breath and said, “I messed this up completely. Yes. I want us to get married. I’m asking you to marry me, even though I’m not doing a good job of it. To take a chance. To believe I love you and that you can trust me. Forever.”
“Yes.” One simple word but the only one she needed. The only important word in the world right now. Funny, it was so easy when it really came down to it. She had wondered and worried for months over what she felt for Matt. What she might do if he came back. And now he was here and it was all so...simple. She loved him. And now, she knew he loved her, too.
Being with him was all that mattered. L.A. Cheyenne. Wherever they were, if they were together, everything would be perfect.
“Yes?” He looked at her and love shone in his eyes so brightly, Kayla had the answer to every question she might have had.
“Yes, I’ll marry you,” she w
hispered, reaching up to cup his cheek in her palm. “I love you, Matt. I always have. I was just so angry and hurt.”
He turned his face into her palm and kissed it. “I know. And I will always regret putting you through that, but I can promise you it will never happen again, Kayla. I love you more than anything in the world.”
“I believe you,” she said and went up on her toes to kiss him. “And I don’t want to miss another minute of life with you.”
“Thank God,” he murmured and wrapped her in his arms before kissing her until they were both breathless. Finally, he lifted his head, looked down into her eyes and whispered, “You’re everything to me, Kayla. I love you now and forever.”
“That’s all I need to know, Matt. I love you, too, and I can’t wait to see the artist studio you have waiting for me.”
He grinned. “You can see it in a few hours. We’re flying out tonight on the Lassiter jet.”
“Tonight?”
He cupped her cheek in his palm. “We’re not wasting another minute, Kayla. Let’s start our lives together now.”
“But the gallery, I’ve got to hand in my resignation. And there’s Angie, I shouldn’t leave her right now.”
He held her in a hard hug, then looked down into her eyes. “We’ll both be there for Angie and Evan. Once things here settle down some, they’ll be coming back to L.A., too. Until then, there are a few things I have to take care of in L.A. but we can fly back here together next weekend. And then we’ll stay as long as they need us. Okay?”
They really could have the best of both worlds. His cliffside place in L.A. and her cottage here in Cheyenne. She wouldn’t really be giving up anything to move; instead, she would be gaining everything.
She was going to take that leap of faith. Kayla knew that being with Matt would make her life happier than she’d ever dreamed possible.
She smiled up at him, reveling in the promise of love and life and a future that looked brighter than any she could have dreamed of. “Let me get my purse.”
* * * * *
Find out how J.D.’s death rocks the foundations of the Lassiter family as
DYNASTIES: THE LASSITERS continues in
THE BLACK SHEEP'S INHERITANCE by USA Today bestselling author Maureen Child,
now available from Harlequin Desire.
Then don’t miss a single story in the series!
THE BLACK SHEEP'S INHERITANCE
by Maureen Child
FROM SINGLE MOM TO SECRET HEIRESS
by Kristi Gold
EXPECTING THE CEO'S CHILD
by Yvonne Lindsay
LURED BY THE RICH RANCHER
by Kathie DeNosky
TAMING THE TAKEOVER TYCOON
by Robyn Grady
REUINITED WITH THE LASSITER BRIDE
by Barbara Dunlop
A family of tempting tycoons and rich ranchers comes to a crossroads in Harlequin Desire’s Dynasties series: DYNASTIES: THE LASSITERS
If you loved the Lassiter story you just read, then keep reading to follow the scandals, secrets and seductive affairs in the entire Lassisters miniseries!
Beauty and the Best Man (novella) by Maureen Child (April 2014)
The Black Sheep’s Inheritance by Maureen Child (April 2014)
From Single Mom to Secret Heiress by Kristi Gold (May 2014)
Expecting the CEO’s Child by Yvonne Lindsay (June 2014)
Lured by the Rich Rancher by Kathie DeNosky (July 2014)
Taming the Takeover Tycoon by Robyn Grady (August 2014)
Reunited with the Lassiter Bride by Barbara Dunlop (September 2014)
DYNASTIES: THE LASSITERS
Don’t miss a single story. Order your copies today!
Connect with us on Harlequin.com for info on our new releases, access to exclusive offers, free online reads and much more!
Other ways to keep in touch:
Harlequin.com/newsletters
Facebook.com/HarlequinBooks
Twitter.com/HarlequinBooks
HarlequinBlog.com
Keep reading for a sneak peek at Kristi Gold’s FROM SINGLE MOM TO SECRET HEIRESS, the second novel in Harlequin® Desire’s DYNASTIES: THE LASSITERS series.
The Lassiter family lawyer has some surprise news for one stunning woman...
* * *
She looked prettier than a painted picture come to life. Yep. Trouble with a capital T if he didn’t get his mind back on business.
“After you learn the details of your share of the Lassiter fortune, you’ll be able to buy me dinner next time.” Next time? Man, he was getting way ahead of himself, and that was totally out of character for his normally cautious self.
Hannah looked about as surprised as he felt over the comment. “That all depends on if I actually agree to accept my share, and that’s doubtful.”
He couldn’t fathom anyone in their right mind turning down that much money. But before he had a chance to toss out an opinion, their waiter showed up with their entrées.
Logan ate his food with the gusto of a field hand, while Hannah basically picked at hers, the same way she had with the salad. By the time they were finished, and the plates were cleared, he had half a mind to invite her into the nearby bar to discuss business. But dark and cozy wouldn’t help rein in his libido.
Hannah tossed her napkin aside and folded her hands before her. “Okay, we’ve put this off long enough. Tell me the details.”
Logan took a drink of water in an attempt to rid the dryness in his throat. “The funds are currently in an annuity. You have the option to leave it as is and take payments. Or you can claim the lump sum. Your choice.”
“How much?” she said after a few moments.
He noticed she looked a little fl ushed and decided retiring to the bar might not be a bad idea after all. “Maybe we should go into the lounge so you can have a drink before I continue.”
Frustration showed in her expression. “I don’t need a drink.”
He’d begun to think he might. “Just a glass of wine to take the edge off.”
She leaned forward and nailed him with a glare. “How much?”
“Five million dollars.”
“I believe I will have that drink now.”
* * * * *
Don’t miss FROM SINGLE MOM TO SECRET HEIRESS Available May 2014 Wherever Harlequin® Desire books are sold.
Copyright © 2014 by Kristi Goldberg
ISBN-13: 9781460330616
BEAUTY AND THE BEST MAN
Copyright © 2014 by Harlequin Books S.A.
Special thanks and acknowledgment are given to Maureen Child for her contribution to the Dynasties: The Lassiters miniseries.
All rights reserved. By payment of the required fees, you have been granted the non-exclusive, non-transferable right to access and read the text of this e-book on-screen. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, down-loaded, decompiled, reverse engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of publisher, Harlequin Enterprises Limited, 225 Duncan Mill Road, Don Mills, Ontario, Canada M3B 3K9.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events or locales is entirely coincidental. This edition published by arrangement with Harlequin Books S.A.
® and ™ are trademarks of the publisher. Trademarks indicated with ® are registered are registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office, the Canadian Intellectual Property Office and
in other countries.
www.Harlequin.com
BEAUTY AND THE BEST MAN Page 5
