Hard Hart: The Harty Boys, Book 1

by Cox, Whitley

  Krista gave Brock a curious look. He lifted one shoulder cavalierly. “I know you said it didn’t matter, but I know it does. I know a guy who knows a guy who owns a private jet.”

  Before Krista could hug her fiancé, her mother lunged at her. Krista winced from the pain, and her mother immediately withdrew, a look of terror on her face. She cupped Krista’s cheek gently as tears welled up in her sapphire eyes. “My baby.”

  Krista swallowed and leaned into her mother’s touch. “I’m okay. Zoe’s going to be okay.”

  “Shall we begin?” Chase asked, not one for small talk or delay. Of all the Harty Boys, he was the one Krista was having the hardest time figuring out. The man held secrets and demons, and he kept them hidden well, only it was clear it pained him to do so.

  Krista nodded. “Dad, will you give me away?”

  * * *

  “So,” Krista started, leveling her gaze on Rex, “what took you so long to come save the day?” She was officially Mrs. Brock Hart, and they were all sitting around her hospital room eating cake.

  Rex snorted. “I didn’t save anything. It was all you, you little badass cop.”

  Krista’s cheeks grew warm. “Seriously, though?”

  His smile was electric. In fact, all the Harty boys had incredible smiles; just Brock and Chase gave them sparingly. “I was still on your detail but had gone to grab lunch. I’m really sorry I didn’t get there sooner. I didn’t expect you to leave.” Remorse flooded his handsome face. “I’m really sorry.”

  “It’s okay, Rex,” she said softly. “Please don’t blame yourself.”

  He swallowed and nodded, but he didn’t appear to be convinced. She’d have to have a chat with him later.

  “Wicks?” she asked.

  “He was taken to hospital for his injuries and will be transported to prison from there,” Brock said with very little emotion.

  She nodded. “And there will be a trial, of course.”

  “Most likely,” Heath agreed, cutting himself another giant piece of cake and diving in. “They’re launching a full investigation into the detachment, the crime family Wicks was accepting bribes from and Slade’s previous detachments.”

  “We’ll throw the book at Wicks, honey,” Krista’s dad said, venom in his tone.

  Krista laughed. “Thanks, Dad. I would expect nothing less from Matthews and Matthews.”

  “And Slade is rotting in hell,” Krista’s brother piped up. “So no need to drag his victims to trial.”

  Krista breathed a sigh of relief. Yes, there was that. Her friends wouldn’t have to relive their horrible ordeals in front of a courtroom or see Myles ever again. Her mind immediately went to Allie, though. Her poor friend. Pregnant and not knowing if the father was the donor she chose or a monster.

  “And you can tell your friend Allie that the baby isn’t Slade’s,” Heath added.

  Krista’s head whipped around to her new brother-in-law. “What?”

  “Chase hacked Slade’s medical records. You know, ’cause he can. Turns out Slade is shooting blanks. He had the mumps as a teenager, and it rendered him sterile.”

  Krista stared at Heath for a moment and then her eyes, welling up with tears, focused on Chase. She was about to open her mouth and thank him for doing some seriously illegal shit when something new and alarming passed across his face. They locked eyes for just a moment, but then he blinked, looked away from her, and the moment was gone.

  Yeah, Chase had some serious demons. Some serious secrets. She only hoped one day he’d find the right woman to help him conquer those demons. One who would sit and listen and accept all his secrets.

  “Thank you, Chase,” she said softly.

  This time she got a nod out of him.

  Taking a deep breath, she smiled at everyone around the room—her family. “All right, then, who wants to meet Zoe?”

  * * *

  “You should go home to sleep.” Krista yawned, resting her head on her laced hands as she sat in the chair next to Zoe’s incubator box.

  “I’m not going anywhere,” Brock murmured.

  She glanced up at him, her beautiful face scrunched in mild impatience.

  He loved her spirit.

  He loved her.

  “At least go lay down in my bed for a few hours. I’m going to stay and watch her for a bit.”

  “I’m not going anywhere,” he said again. Damn woman didn’t listen. “My world is here. I’m not leaving. Deal with it.”

  Her twinkling eyes made his heart lurch inside his chest. “Not exactly the wedding night I had envisioned,” she said sheepishly. “Sorry ’bout that.”

  Picking her up, he plopped her into his lap. Her head fell to his chest. “We have an entire lifetime to have wedding nights. With you, with Zoe, that’s where I want to be, that’s all I need.”

  She yawned again and nuzzled into him more tightly. “I love you so much, Brock Hart. Thank you so much for our beautiful little girl, for coming into my life … for saving me.”

  He waited until he heard the soft rumble of her snoring, his hand rhythmically stroking her hair, before he whispered, “I’m the one who was saved.”

  Epilogue

  Two years later …

  “By the power vested in me by the province of British Columbia, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may now kiss the bride.”

  Krista lunged at Brock before Chase even finished his speech. She wrapped her arms around his neck, letting her feet leave earth. Because when she was with Brock, she felt like she was floating. He kissed her in turn, ignoring the hoots and hollers from the peanut gallery.

  When they finally came up for air, there was more clapping, the attention of all their loved ones making Krista’s shy and quiet husband go bright red in the cheeks. But he was all smiles as he accepted Zoe from his mother’s arms and the three of them made their way down the aisle, white rose petals being thrown over their heads by all the smiling guests.

  “So now what?” he asked, planting a big smack of a smooch on Zoe’s chubby little cheek. She giggled and then pulled on his ear.

  “Whatever we want.” Krista grinned. “We’re the bride and groom. We can do whatever we like.”

  He pulled her hard against his chest, shifting Zoe to one hip while she continued to explore his ear with her tiny fingers. “Well, if I had my way, I’d send everyone home, leave Zo-Zo with the grandparents and go consummate this union of ours.” The caterpillars bobbed furiously along his forehead. “In the back of the limo!”

  Krista tossed her head back and let out a whoop of a laugh. But Brock just took that as an invitation, and his teeth found her neck.

  “Zoe needs a sibling,” he said with a growl, his lips traveling along her jaw.

  A crowd began to gather, and the wedding planner scurried around trying to get everyone in the wedding party organized.

  Krista leaned into his ear, the other ear, not the one Zoe was trying to find buried treasure in. “I’m glad you think that, because I’m pregnant.”

  His eyes flashed wide, and she smiled.

  “Really?”

  She nodded. “About six weeks or so.”

  He scooped her up around the waist, Zoe still perched firmly on his hip, and he spun them all around. “Well, now this really is cause for a celebration! Back to light duty, woman!”

  She laughed and kissed him on the lips when he finally put her down. “Oh, Mr. Hart, every day with you is a cause for a celebration.”

  Zoe squirmed her way between them, and they both planted a kiss on each of her cheeks. The photographer was right in front of them and ready to catch the cutesy pic.

  “Oh, Mrs. Hart,” Brock murmured against Zoe’s face, so only Krista could hear, “the kind of celebration I’m talking about involves just the two of us, in the bedroom, wearing nothing but handcuffs and smiles.”

  Krista smirked at him, the flash from the photographer’s camera blinding her temporarily. “And a wooden spatula?”

  They both turned
to face the camera, his enormous grin visible even in her peripheral vision. “But of course.”

  If You’ve Enjoyed This Book

  If you’ve enjoyed this book, please consider leaving a review. It really does make a difference.

  Thank you again.

  Xoxo

  Whitley Cox

  Other Available Books by Whitley Cox

  Love, Passion and Power: Part 1

  The Dark and Damaged Hearts Series Book 1

  Love, Passion and Power: Part 2

  The Dark and Damaged Hearts Series Book 2

  Sex, Heat and Hunger: Part 1

  The Dark and Damaged Hearts Book 3

  Sex, Heat and Hunger: Part 2

  The Dark and Damaged Hearts Book 4

  Hot and Filthy: The honeymoon

  The Dark and Damaged Hearts Book 4.5

  True, Deep and Forever: Part 1

  The Dark and Damaged Hearts Book 5

  True, Deep and Forever: Part 2

  The Dark and Damaged Hearts Book 6

  Quick & Dirty

  Book 1, A Quick Billionaires Novel

  Quick & Easy

  Book 2, A Quick Billionaires Novella

  Quick & Reckless

  Book 3, A Quick Billionaires Novel

  Hot Dad

  Lust Abroad

  Snowed In & Set Up

  Upcoming

  Hard, Fast and Madly: Part 1

  The Dark and Damaged Hearts Series Book 7

  Hard, Fast and Madly: Part 2

  The Dark and Damaged Hearts Series Book 8

  Quick & Dangerous

  Book 4, A Quick Billionaires Novel

  Lost Hart

  The Harty Boys Book 2

  Acknowledgments

  There are so many people to thank who help along the way. Publishing a book is definitely not a solo mission, that’s for sure. First and foremost, my friend and editor Chris Kridler, you lady are a blessing, a gem and an all-around amazing human being. Thank you for your honesty and hard work.

  Author Jeanne St. James for doing the first alpha-read for me, your notes, brutal honesty, insight and ideas were so helpful. You really are my sister from another mister.

  Thank you, Laura Malo for all your firsthand knowledge about the RCMP, it was invaluable.

  Thank you, Andi Babcock for your truthful, thorough beta-read. It means so much when I find such loyal readers who want to go that extra step in helping me produce something I can be proud of.

  Thank you, Justine and Krista for your beta-reads as well. I love that I can hand you the rough, unedited stuff and you’ll read it and give me your feedback.

  Tara at Fantasia Frog Designs, your patience with my indecisions when it comes to covers is appreciated. You never disappoint.

  My Naughty Room Readers Crew, authors Jeanne, Erica and Cailin, I love being part of such a tremendous set of inspiring, talented and supportive women. Thank you for letting me learn, lean on and join the team.

  My street team, Whitley Cox’s Curiously Kinky Reviewers, you are all awesome and I feel so blessed to have found such wonderful fans.

  The ladies in Vancouver Island Romance Authors, your support and insight have been incredibly helpful, and I’m so honored to be a part of a group of such talented writers.

  And lastly, of course, the husband. You are my forever. I love you.

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  About the Author

  A Canadian West Coast baby born and raised, Whitley is married to her high school sweetheart, and together they have two beautiful daughters and a fluffy dog. She spends her days making food that gets thrown on the floor, vacuuming Cheerios out from under the couch and making sure that the dog food doesn't end up in the air conditioner. But when nap time comes, and it's not quite wine o'clock, Whitley sits down, avoids the pile of laundry on the couch, and writes.

  A lover of all things decadent; wine, cheese, chocolate and spicy erotic romance, Whitley brings the humorous side of sex, the ridiculous side of relationships and the suspense of everyday life into her stories. With mommy wars, body issues, threesomes, bondage and role playing, these books have everything we need to satisfy the curious kink in all of us.

  You can also find me here

  Website: WhitleyCox.com

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  Sneak Peek - Lost Hart

  Read on for a sneak peek of Chapter 1 from

  Lost Hart

  Book 2 in The Harty Boys series

  Chapter 1 - Lost Hart

  Friend or foe?

  Stacey Saunders peered out the window of her two-story, Edmonton townhouse. A big black SUV had pulled up two minutes ago but so far no one had gotten out. Fear ratcheted up her spine as she held her sleeping newborn baby, Thea, tight against her chest.

  Ever since she’d found out that her late husband had been in bed with a crime family and owed them money, she’d been on high alert. It didn’t matter that Ted was dead, he owed them money, and the Petralia family always got paid.

  Had they finally come to make good on their threat? Or was this the bodyguard her husband’s other wife had arranged for her?

  Yes, her husband’s other wife.

  Not ex-wife. Other wife.

  Yes, in addition to being a new mother of two, a widow and now the target of a crime family, Stacey had recently discovered that Ted had been married to two women at the same time. She was a sister-wife without her knowledge and against her will. Because never in a million years would Stacey have agreed to share a man with someone.

  No wonder Ted had been gone two weeks a month. Here Stacey thought he was busy working as a safety inspector for hospitals, while lo and behold he was actually working for the Petralia crime family based out of Victoria and helping traffic drugs, launder money and God only knows what else. Then after a long day of crime, he’d go home to his first wife and lie to her face about where he’d been all day.

  But thankfully, as shitty a husband as Ted turned out to be, his choice in women was above par, and Freya, wife number one, was a wonderful human being. She’d flown out just a few weeks ago to meet Stacey and Connor, and they’d hit it off immediately. Then when Stacey went into labor with Thea, Freya had flown back to Edmonton to be with Stacey for the birth as she had no one.

  She shook her head and kissed the top of Thea’s head, marvelling at the downy softness of her peach fuzz hair. Without Ted she wouldn’t have her children. Without Ted she never would have met Freya. Without Ted she wouldn’t be caught up in this mess with a crime family and waiting for either an enforcer or a bodyguard to step out of that vehicle parked on her curb.

  Yeah, Ted was a treasure.

  She was happy to have children. Happy to know Freya. But also happy he was gone.

  “Mama?”

  Stacey jumped nearly a foot in the air, jostling Thea and making the baby squawk out in protest. She spun around, releasing the drapes to find her son, Connor, staring at her with the kind of wide-eyed curiosity only toddlers could have.

  “Honey, don’t sneak up on me like that.” She r
an her hand over the back of his head and pulled him close against her thigh.

  He blinked up at her with those big baby blues of his. “I’m hungry.”

  Stacey swallowed, followed by a nod. “Where’s Daniella?”

  He shrugged.

  Since Thea was born Daniella, the nanny, had been a lifesaver. Stacey wasn’t sure how’d she be able to handle both kids, particularly the colicky Thea, without Daniella’s help. Connor hadn’t been nearly as challenging, and at that time she had the on-off help of her husband. At least when he was in town he was helpful.

  But two kids was a whole new ball game, and she was grateful for Daniella. The woman was also a fantastic cook, which was great considering how hungry Stacey constantly felt now that she was nursing again.

  “I’m hungry,” Connor said again, this time with more of a whine to his tone. Stacey shut her eyes and counted to five in her head. He was three. He was three. He was three. Three-year-olds whined. He was being normal. Normal, but irritating. And she was sleep deprived. She couldn’t forget that.