He's Captured my Soul
Dedication
Acknowledgements
Prologue
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Epilogue
Books By Karen Frances
About the Author
He’s Captured my Soul
Published by Clydeside Publishing
Copyright ©2015 Karen Frances
All rights reserved
All characters, incidents, and events are fictitious, and any resemblance to real persons, living or dead is purely coincidental. This work is based purely from the authors imagination.
All songs, song titles contained in this book are the property of the respective songwriters and copyright holders.
Cover design by
Aimee Coveney, Author Design Studio
www.authordesignstudio.com
Editing by
Sally Orchard, Under The Lilac
www.underthelilac.co.uk
Proofreading by
Nichole Strauss, Perfectly Publishable
www.perfectlypublishable.com
Interior Design and Formatting by
Christine Borgford, Perfectly Publishable
www.perfectlypublishable.com
This one is for my mum.
Thank you for just being you.
I don’t say it often enough, but I do love you and appreciate everything you’ve done for me over the years.
This is the hard bit to write, who to thank. I have so many to thank and I’m scared that I might miss someone out. So if I do it’s not been intentional.
So far, this has been a rollercoaster of a year for me, starting with the release of He’s Captured my Heart, back in January. I never envisaged the journey ahead of me when I hit publish for book 1. Then I released He’s Captured my Trust in June, and now here we are in October with the release of He’s Captured my Soul.
Book 3 will bring an end to Libby and Alex’s story, although they may pop up briefly in the future. I’m sure when you've read this book, you will have some sort of idea the direction my next book will go.
So where do I start?
My street team. My team are all new and learning as they go with a bit of guidance, but you are all fab. Thank you for all the promotions you help me with, in getting my books out there in the world. Thank you. xxx
To the lovely ladies who beta-read He’s Captured my Soul and gave me their feedback and criticism. I do love you for your honesty, and I do hope you’ve played a part in making this a better read. Thank you. xxx
To the ladies and gentlemen, of Readers Heaven for Scottish Readers and writers. What can I say about you? You are a fab bunch and I’m proud to be part of this group, promoting authors in Scotland. Thank you. xxx
Aimee, at Author Design studio (www.authordesignstudio.com.) You did it again, I love the cover for He’s Captured my Soul. I’m so glad we are currently working together on re-doing book 1’s cover and I’m sure it will be fantastic, once again. Thank you. xxx
The ladies at Perfectly Publishable, (www.perfectlypublishable.com) thank you again for all your hard work and giving me a final product that I love. Thank you. xxx
Sally Orchard, at Under The Lilac (www.underthelilac.co.uk) I like to think we hit it off, when we met in Birmingham this year. I’m sorry that I upset you while you were editing. Poor Sally read a post on my page and wasn’t very happy, she told me on no uncertain terms, that if what she thinks was happening in my book was actually happening, that I would have to do a whole lot of re-writes. I’m also sorry I made you cry, whilst you were working on it. I won’t apologise for making you laugh, though. I like to think it all worked out okay. Thank you. xxx
To all the bloggers, in the book world, you all do an amazing job, promoting and reviewing, so from me a huge thank you. Thank you. xxx
Social media, has been an eye opener for me. I’ve meet so many wonderful people in the book world, thanks to Facebook for keeping us connected. There are too many names to mention, that would take a full book alone. The support I’ve received from other authors has been amazing. A special thanks to those authors that are in my life on a daily and weekly basis you know who you all are, our conversations mean the world to me. Thank you. xxx
To my wonderful circle of friends, you all mean the world to me. I don’t know what I would do without you all in my life. Thank you, thank you, thank you for all just being yourselves. I love you all. xxx
To my family, thank you for everything you do for me. I love you all. xxx
To my husband and children, I love all of you. What more is there to say. xxx
To all the readers, who took a chance and read my story, thank you. Thank you for all your messages of support, for the reviews you’ve written. Libby’s story has been so much fun to write, and I will admit to being a little upset when I typed those two little words, The End. This was a hard one to write, and I hope I’ve done it justice. I’ve cried on more than one occasion, both from sadness and happiness. I’ve laughed at some of the lines my characters have come out and said. So I really hope you the readers all enjoy the conclusion to a story I will always hold very dear to my heart. xxx
Alex
“PHIL, WE NEED TO MEET. Today!”
“Alex, with being here in Scotland, you would think you wouldn’t be disturbing me at ridiculous hours of the night or is it morning?” Phil sounds pissed, but I don’t care. The only person I care about, is fading away in front of me. Closing herself off from me, from everything. Fuck! Libby just looks bloody ill. Even after Jeff, she didn’t look this bad. It stops today. “What’s wrong, Alex?”
“It’s Libby.”
“What’s happened? Is she okay?” he asks. Well, at least I’ve got his attention.
“No, Phil, I don’t think she is. It’s five am and she's just left for work.”
“Okay, although that’s not unusual at this time of year.”
“Phil, you’re not getting it. She didn’t come home, until two this morning. She looks fucking ill,” I snap. I know it’s not Phil’s fault, really. “Phil, you’ve not seen her much these last few weeks.”
“No, granted I haven’t. She’s been busy at work.”
“That’s just the point. I’ve hardly seen her, and I live in the same house. I expected her to be working, but the last two weeks are really taking its toll on her.” I’m trying to keep my temper, because I know I’m getting upset. Libby Stewart is the only person in the world I would get upset about. “Phil, trust me she really looks ill. She’s not eating, not sleeping working these long hours. It’s just not healthy. I get the hotel is important to you both, but Libby is my main concern. I can’t and won’t sit back and watch her fall apart. You need to help her see sense, she needs time off and by time off, I mean more than a few hours here and there. She looks as though she could sleep for a week.”
“Alex, let me speak with Kieran, today. Does Libby still have no idea about tomorrow?” Phil asks.
“No, she doesn’t. I’m starting to think it’s not a good idea.”
“She will be fine. I’ll give Kieran the heads up that she needs at least a week off. But we need to tread carefully. She has
to think it’s her decision.” I hear him sighing. “Alex, are you going in to the casino today?”
“Yeah, only to pick up a few things.”
“Right, give me a call when you're going and I’ll meet you there.”
I end the call; I know Phil’s right, and she has to think it’s her decision. I love her with everything I have. I have a need to keep her safe, after everything she’s been through in recent months. I can’t bear to see her go through anymore, and that includes her over-working. I know she thinks she has something to prove to Phil, with running the hotel. But I can’t sit back and watch her health suffer.
I’m desperate to see her skin with a healthy glow, her eyes sparkle and not just because I’ve helped in some small way, but both should be there all the time.
I look at the time and decide to text Sophie; Can’t wait to see you.
Straight away she replies; Me too. Does Libby know?
Me; No and she won’t until she comes home from work on x-mas day.
Sophie; I’m looking forward to Libby showing me around.
Me; No leading her astray
Sophie; As if I would. Love you x
Me; See you soon
I hope I’m doing the right thing, having my family here. My mom was desperate for a visit, and with the opening of the casino, now seemed like the right time. Holiday season, after all is all about family. And what better way to spend the holiday season than being surrounded with some of the most important people in both our lives.
I look at the framed picture that sits on the bedside cabinet. It’s my favourite of the two of us; the night at the awards in Edinburgh. Everything about her, she looks stunning and that dress. What can I say about that dress. Red is most definitely a colour that suits Miss Stewart. But it’s more than just how hot she looks, so much more. In this picture I see the connection between the two of us. It’s there in the way she looks at me and I at her. The sparkle in her eyes, the slight flush on her cheeks and that beautiful smile. It’s all there, captured in a picture, but I want more than a picture. I want to see her look like that always, every damn day.
I smile fondly remembering our journey home that evening in the limo. It has to go down as one of the best nights of my life. It certainly made up for our lost limo ride in New York.
This is the woman I have travelled across an ocean to be with. The woman I would give up everything for. The woman I love with all my heart. This is the woman I want to make happy more than anything else. This is the woman I plan on spending the rest of my life with. She is my number one priority. Libby Stewart is my future.
24th December
“WHAT ARE YOU DOING OUT here in the cold?” His voice startles me, distracting me from the vision in front of me. “And the snow? I thought I was meeting you inside?” he asks. I’ve not yet turned to his voice as his arms wrap snugly around my waist. I breathe in his scent and lean back resting my head against him, my eyes are still set upon the loch. Which is now hardly visible under the thick snow that is falling fast, in almost blizzard-like conditions. I had hoped for a white Christmas, looks like I got it after all. “Come on, before this weather gets worse.”
I’m not sure how long I’ve even been standing here, just staring into space. I angle my head so I can see him. I lift my hand and run it along his stubble that I’ve grown to love almost as much as the man himself. I can just make out the slight smile, but what I see is his concern, concern for me. I know he is worried about me; he’s been telling me on a daily basis for the last few weeks. I have tried to reassure him, that after the New Year everything will be back to normal in the hotel. I am just tired now with how busy I’ve been.
“Please Libby, come on I am taking you home,” Alex says as he turns me in his arms.
“Okay.”
“You look exhausted.”
“I am tired,” I tell him as we walk away from the loch and back to the hotel, hand in hand. “Only another week to go and it will all be nearly over.” I left home at five this morning and it’s now nearly four. I know everything is ready for tonight and Christmas dinner tomorrow. Kieran was the one that said I wasn’t working tonight, and to be honest I didn’t have the energy to argue with him. So he is working tonight and both of us are in tomorrow, although I don’t need to come back in until nearer noon and only need to stay for a few hours.
“I will be five minutes tops,” I tell him, pressing my cold lips against his as we reach the hotel.
“Right, I’ll wait in the car. No longer.”
“Promise.”
I dash back inside and have a quick word with Sally and Kieran before leaving to Alex’s waiting car. He’s no longer driving my shiny red convertible which, to be honest, didn’t really suit him.
He’s now the proud owner of a Range Rover. He claims it’s practical, me I’ve yet to see evidence of its practicality.
“So I have you all to myself for tonight?” he says softly as I close the car door behind me. “And we can be over at Ethan’s as early as you want in the morning for Lucy.”
“Yip, I’m all yours. Just whatever you have planned, be gentle with me.” I look over at him, but I can’t even bring myself to smile properly. And I know he knows it’s a fake smile. He can read me better than anyone; he knows just how tired I am. The hours I’ve put in this past month are not healthy, I know that, even Kieran has been pestering me to take a few hours off here and there. But I just don’t want to let anyone down at our busiest time of the year.
“Promise. It’s just you and me, some dinner and we can just lie up and watch a movie.” He leans across and kisses me softly, taking me by surprise. I feel as if we should have other plans with it being Christmas Eve, but even the thought of getting dressed up to go out makes me feel stressed. “When we get home, you go for a shower and I will cook. Is there anything you need to do at home before tomorrow?”
“I have one more thing to wrap up for Lucy.”
“You’ve bought her something else?” My smile is real with his words, I know I have spoiled her but she is worth spoiling, it’s her first Christmas after all. “You do realise she hasn’t a clue about tomorrow being Christmas?”
“I know, but it’s Christmas and all little girls need spoiling at Christmas.”
“And big girls?” His smile is warm and sincere as he speaks.
“All I need is right here,” I tell him as I stroke the side of his face.
“All I need is you,” he tells me, making my heart skip a beat.
The drive home is really pretty quiet. I could try and say I am lost in deep thought, but I’ve not really given anything much thought at all.
It’s strange when we enter the flat because Murphy and Joan are usually here. Joan usually busily away in the kitchen, but they have gone to spend Christmas with family in Ireland. So the flat is unusually quiet and I for one am looking forward to it just being the two of us. I slip my shoes off as soon as we enter, already feeling a slight relief.
“On you go, head on up and wash away the day. Do you need anything?” I know he’s trying to give me some space at the moment and I appreciate the gesture.
“No, I am good, I won’t be long.” I give him a kiss before heading upstairs. I can feel his eyes on me, watching me.
My shower is just what I need, washing the stress away. I take a couple of painkillers for a slight sore head that has been working on me all day, which would also explain my mood. I give myself a shake. This is our first Christmas together and I should be happy, and I am happy even though I’m a bit stressed and tired. I want to enjoy our first Christmas together and make it special, or as special as it can be with me working.
I find Alex in the kitchen standing over the hob; I walk over and wrap my arms round his waist. “I love you.” He turns his head at my words.
“I love you too, my sweet girl. Now go and sit in the sitting room with your feet up, it will be another few minutes before this is ready.” He is stir-frying some king prawns.
“I
want to help,” I tell him as he turns to face me.
“Help or distract? Because I know what you are doing, standing here with just your shorts and vest on. If you want to help, you can open a bottle of wine.” He waves me away. I only go as far as the fridge taking out a bottle of wine. I grab two glasses and head into the living room. I laugh to myself as I go because he still calls it a sitting room.
I open the wine and pour it, leaving it on the table before walking over and switching on the Christmas tree lights and lighting a few scented candles. I switch off the rest of the lights before getting comfy on the couch. Now this is how I envisaged spending Christmas Eve. Romantic candle light, some good food, wine and the whole evening with my sexy man. What more could a girl possibly want? My thoughts wonder to a few weeks ago, when we spent an evening putting up the decorations, the fun and laughter that rang through the flat and then the lovemaking.
Right on cue, Alex comes through carrying our dinner, king prawn noodle stir-fry. He’s actually quite handy in the kitchen considering he doesn't do that much cooking.
“You feeling better?” he asks.
“Much, although when Christmas and New Year are out of the way, I am taking a couple of days off and staying in my bed the whole time,” I answer as he gives me a plate.
“Well, just let me know what days you plan on taking and I will do the same. Can’t think of anything better than spending a few days in bed with you.”
That statement brings more than a smile to my face and Alex’s; my mood has lifted and an altogether different mood I now find myself in. How does he manage it? He always manages to say the right thing at the right time.
His eyes hold my gaze, so many emotions drifting between the two of us. I turn on the sofa so I am sitting crossed-legged facing him, my position of choice the last few weeks when we get to eat dinner together. Having Alex here has been perfect. My feelings for him have grown stronger with each passing day. There really are no words to describe the depth of my feelings for this beautiful man who has chosen to spend his time and love with me.
He's Captured My Soul (Captured Series Book 3) Page 1
