The door opened wider, and shining turquoise eyes met his. The world stopped spinning. He froze. His breath caught in his throat. “Kylie…?”
Still grinning like he was all happy with himself, Slone discreetly left them alone.
With cautious steps she moved toward him. “I didn’t believe the rumors.” She smiled. “I had to come and see the mean ogre who lives in the sixth floor cave for myself.”
“Is that what they’ve been saying about me?” He released a low, gravelly laugh. “They’re probably right.” Pain constricted his chest at how beautiful she looked. He soaked in the precious sight of her, trying to convince himself this wasn’t a dream. If it was, he never wanted to wake up. “How are you?”
“I’m good.” She beamed. “Actually, I’m better than good. I’m madly in love with you.”
Hope and torment tangled beneath his ribs. “What does that mean?” he asked, voice gruff with gathering emotion.
“It means,” she said, standing on her toes to hug him. “That I came to Denver to be with you. To stay. And I love you. And I want to have babies with you. And I want to spend the rest of my life with you.”
His eyes slid shut as he basked in the warmth and light of all she was to him. He slid his arms around her, catching her hard against his chest until their hearts beat as one.
He inhaled her mystical scent of black orchids. He filled his senses with her essence, her perfection. “I’ve missed you,” he whispered. “So damn much. I love you, Kylie.”
“I love you more.”
He let out a catch of laughter. “I strongly doubt that.”
“Then we can continue to argue the point until we’re old and gray. Would that be okay with you?”
“Yes.” He lifted her feet off the ground and turned in a slow circle. “God, yes. I need you, baby. I need you to make me whole. I need—”
Powerful feelings surged inside him, choking off the words.
Cade’s lips found hers in a moment of blinding bliss that shattered the darkness surrounding him since she’d gone. He held her tight while his tongue caressed hers, rediscovering her silky sweet softness. He kissed her with every ounce of his pent up passion.
He wished he could pull her inside of him. No matter how close she was, she’d never be close enough.
But this was a great start.
The beginning of their forever.
EPILOGUE
Damn, it’s good to laugh again, Slone thought. That deep, belly aching laughter that stays with you and makes you smile long afterward.
The corners of his mouth hadn’t turned down since the second he’d walked through Trey and Devon’s door for the Halloween party.
The shield of loneliness he’d worn for years like a badge of honor started to show cracks. He wasn’t sure that was a good thing.
But it had been nice to be included in this Soren community gathering. He stood beside his former brothers-in-arms and colleagues, Logan Stone and Rick Dunn, while Trey shared entertaining stories about his three newly adopted kids and their eye-opening introduction to American life. The three men’s wives raced past, Allison, Vivi and Devon, chasing after a horde of seven costumed children who formed a shrieking, giggling train about to go off the rails.
Trey and Devon had requested only children dress in costume, since they didn’t want a bunch of strange looking adults converging on their residence, terrifying their family’s recent little additions, which suited Slone just fine. He wasn’t a get-dressed-up kind of guy.
The invitation extended to him had come from Cade, but Slone suspected its true source and appreciated her consideration. With forced casualness, he sipped his beer and let his glance sweep the room, his gaze instantly drawn to Kylie.
An uncomfortable sensation snaked through his chest. But he was glad to see her happy and laughing. At her slightest movement, the huge diamond on her finger caught the light. It satisfied him that Cade had put a ring on it, quick too, and he’d chased the lonely shadows from her eyes. The two made a fine couple, Cade would take excellent care of her, and knowing that was enough to fill the hole she’d left in him. It had to be.
The doorbell rang, prompting a fresh round of kid squeals. Devon answered the door, and Kylie bounded over to welcome the recent arrival, who Slone couldn’t see over Trey’s hulking shoulders and towering height.
The Sorens were a big family, in number and stature, with hearts to match. They worked hard, played harder, and loved fiercely. Damn good people. Slone felt honored by their open-armed acceptance.
It had been a long time since he’d been accepted or welcomed anywhere, straddling his past and his present, not quite belonging in either. And the future? That undefined space held a chasm of uncertainty he chose to ignore. He only knew it wouldn’t contain Kylie, not how he’d wanted.
Wish in one hand, shit in the other, and see which fills up first. An old southern phrase his uncle from Kentucky used to say. Slone hadn’t seen his family in over a decade. No love lost, to be honest. He wasn’t welcome, and he didn’t want to be there, so the feeling was mutual. Still…there were days when…
He shook his head, dislodging the tainted memories.
A flurry of conversation in Spanish flew between the female newcomer and Trey and Devon’s two older children. Trey excused himself to join in the excitement of having a fluent interpreter on the premises.
Slone went to the kitchen that smelled like heaven, ground beef and onions, to grab a hot bowl of a chili and a cold beer. He heaped on cheddar cheese shreds, sour cream and chives, and stirred the combination into a goopy delicious mess. Chili, the perfect comfort food. He dug his spoon in and raised it to his mouth when he suddenly froze.
Over the steaming rim of his bowl, he met a pair of sparkling turquoise eyes, identical to Kylie’s—but it wasn’t Kylie. He stiffened, experiencing a strange, electric tension along his spine.
Unsure what the hell was happening, he stood stock still, bowl in one hand, spoon in the other.
The attractive woman, who looked like Kylie but wasn’t, strolled up to him. Her smile caused a shift in his chest like tectonic plates moving, about to create an earthquake.
“Hi.” She introduced herself. “I’m Lindsey Graham, Kylie’s sister.”
He peered at her warily. “Slone.”
“Yes, I know.” Her smile reached her eyes, and he had to tell himself to breathe. “I’ve heard all about you.”
All he could do was nod like a mute.
“Um, Slone, you have…” Grinning, she took a napkin and dabbed his chest where a glop of chili had fallen off his suspended spoon and spattered brown spots on his shirt. He glanced down at the place where her fingers dabbed him, gentle presses that made him want to grab her hand and press his lips to her palm.
Move, idiot.
He set down the bowl and spoon on the counter and took the napkin from her. For a second his fingers closed around hers and something leaped inside him.
“I thought we should meet,” she said, still smiling. The kind of smile that lights up a room. “Since Kylie and Cade said you’d be staying with me now that I’ve moved to Denver.”
He lifted his eyebrows. “I am?”
She shrugged. “Until they are sure there won’t be any more threats from Lucy Ramos or her men.”
News to him.
“They said you’ll be my bodyguard.”
Oh, hell. Here comes trouble.
Again.
About the Author
A Barnes & Noble Nook best-selling author, Kristi Avalon is passionate about writing romance novels. There is nothing more satisfying than seeing love triumph over adversity, as characters change and grow into better people because of each other. And, of course, happily ever after!
Kristi holds a master's degree in English from John Carroll University. When she's not escaping into fiction, she works as a technical writer, and loves sharing a glass of good wine with great friends. She lives in Northeast Ohio where she loves to walk her e
nthusiastic Australian Shepherd amidst the ancient trees of the Metroparks. She loves hearing from readers! Contact her at www.facebook.com/kristiavalon or [email protected] .
Other Books by Kristi Avalon
Interested in Ellie and Carter’s love story featured in this novel? They can be found here:
The Tycoon’s Seductive Revenge
Billionaire Bodyguard Series
Billionaire Bodyguard – A novel featuring Logan & Allison
The Billionaire’s Possession: Defended & Desired – A novel featuring Trey & Devon
Bedded by her Bodyguard – A novella featuring Isaac & Mindy
The Billionaire’s Prize: Taken & Tempted – A novel featuring Cade & Kylie
Coming soon!
The Bodyguard’s Baby – A novella featuring Slone & Lindsey
The Billionaire’s Dare: Saved & Seduced – A novel featuring Adam & Marissa
Table of Contents
Title Page
Disclaimer
Dedication
Table of Contents
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
Epilogue
About
The Billionaire's Prize: Taken & Tempted: (Book 3 Billionaire Bodyguard Series) Page 23
