Kiss of a Stranger (Lost Coast Harbor, Book 1)

by Lily Danes

  No, that wasn’t true. She remembered his touch. His kiss. The way he listened when she talked about her past and helped her dream of a future. The way he both upended her life and fit in it perfectly.

  “I’ll have you,” she managed.

  Gabe’s face crumbled for just a moment, as if he hadn’t been entirely certain of her response.

  Then, with an oath, he wrapped his other arm around her back and pulled her against his body. He didn’t just kiss her. He possessed her with his lips, his touch almost feral in its need. His hands ran up and down her body and ass, pressing her against him with every touch.

  He pulled back with a groan. “Maddie, I’m going to do everything I can to make sure I deserve you.”

  She grasped his head and pulled his face to hers, forcing him to look at her. “You are the best thing that’s ever happened to me. Don’t you dare forget that.”

  When he opened his mouth to argue, she gave him something better to do with those lips.

  They kissed with equal parts desperation and wonder, their hunger tempered by their need to savor the other. To slow this moment long enough that they would remember it for years to come. For the rest of their lives, if need be.

  Maddie remembered every place he put his hands, the touch like a brand. She noted the scrape of stubble on his cheek, the soft skin beneath, the heat of his lips and tongue.

  And oh yes. The hard length pressed against her hip.

  Gabe’s hands spanned her waist, and he lifted her onto the potting bench. “So glad you wore a skirt today.” His hands ran up her thighs, heading straight for her hot core.

  “Too bad I’m wearing tights.” She gasped as he ran a finger along her seam.

  His grin turned evil, and he ripped the fabric. “Not anymore.”

  Cold air hit her flesh, but Gabe moved into the triangle of her legs. Immediately, she felt warm again.

  Maddie ran her hands across the front of his jeans. She pulled the top button loose, then yanked on his zipper. She sighed when her fingers wrapped around the hot skin of his cock.

  Gabe’s breath caught, and he reached into his back pocket for his wallet.

  She leaned back, denying him her lips. “Tell me you want me,” she said.

  He didn’t need to think about it. “I want you.” He ran his lips along her neck while he ripped open the foil packet and slid the condom on.

  “Tell me you need me.”

  Gabe ran his fingers across her soft flesh, closing his eyes when he found her soaking wet. “I need you.” The words were too raw to be anything but the truth. He positioned himself between her legs.

  She shouldn’t ask. She shouldn’t push…but still the words came out. “Tell me,” she whispered.

  Gabe pulled back, just an inch. “Are you sure?” His breath was warm on her face. “You’ve seen what happens to people I consider family.”

  They became a permanent part of his heart. It was where she wanted to spend the rest of her life.

  “I’m sure.” And she was. Her voice was strong. Her doubts were gone. If he didn’t say it first, she’d scream it to the rooftops. She would yell it in the town square. She’d buy every damn condom they sold in that pharmacy and stamp his name on each box.

  But before she could do any of that, she needed to put herself back together.

  Because when Gabe pressed his lips against her ear and whispered “I love you, Maddie,” she fell apart.

  And then Gabe was sliding inside her with long, sure strokes, and everything became right again. He put his lips to her ear and murmured words of want, and need, and love, and she returned them every time.

  When they pushed each other over the edge at last, they knew their long, crooked paths had finally brought them home.

  They returned to town in Gabe’s car. Apparently, he’d received enough reward money to buy an eight-year-old sedan. “I decided a lawyer needed a practical car,” he said, winking.

  When they reached her house, Maddie stared at the vehicles lined up in her driveway and in front of her house. She recognized Erin’s soft-topped Jeep Wrangler, a van from Rogers Trucking, and Bree’s old truck. The rest were people from town.

  If she knew her fellow townies, they were there for the gossip.

  “Oh, god. They know you’re back in town, don’t they?” She reached for the handle, but Gabe was already rocketing around the car to open the door for her.

  She let him. She was looking forward to letting Gabe do lots of things.

  Gabe threaded his fingers through hers, and she held his hand tight. Let them stare and judge and comment on her terrible taste in men.

  And the ones who stuck around after the judgmental biddies left, those were her real friends.

  Her family. Their family.

  “I should warn you,” Gabe said. “Mateo tends to make friends. He’ll stay with me in town, though, so not many of them will be visiting after today.”

  Maddie fought a grimace. Of course he’d want to be with his brother. They hadn’t seen each other in years.

  “Unless there’s room at your house for me?” For the first time since they left the nursery, Gabe sounded uncertain.

  “Aren’t you worried about living in a house bought with blood money?” She had to ask.

  “Ah. Remember how I can be an asshole sometimes? That was one of those times. Because there’s not much I want more than to wake in your bed every morning.”

  Maddie squeezed his hand and tried not to nod too vigorously. “Our bed.”

  Gabe’s smile turned cocky again. Just the way she liked it.

  “Gabriel!” An unfamiliar man stood on the porch, beaming at both of them. “This is the one?”

  Before Gabe could answer, at least four women from town crowded around the man who could only be Mateo.

  It was no wonder Gabe’s brother made friends easily. The man made her think of words she’d never used before, like heartthrob and dreamboat.

  “That’s your brother?” She tried not to sound too shocked. Mateo’s hair was a dark gold to his brother’s black, his eyes a perfect hazel. He was a little taller, a little less scarred, and looked a lot less dangerous.

  “We’ll be right in,” Gabe waved. Mateo smiled and moved back inside, and his gaggle of admirers followed.

  The single women of Lost Coast Harbor weren’t going to know what hit them.

  Gabe drew her against his side. “Before you ask, no, you don’t get to trade up for the other Reyes brother.”

  Maddie responded with a kiss. Any fool could see she already had the better deal.

  He returned it. “You know, you never said the words.”

  “I did, too,” she protested.

  “Yes, but at the time you were also calling me God, so I took them with a grain of salt.”

  She flushed at the memory and wondered how long it would be before they were alone again.

  “It’s okay,” he said. “You can tell me when you’re read—”

  “I love you.” The words burst out of her, like they’d been waiting to be said for years.

  Gabe’s laugh was the sound of pure joy. “Good.” He swatted her on the ass. “You heard my brother. Mateo wants to know if you’re the one. Let’s go tell him that you are.” He leaned closer to whisper in her ear. “And then we’re going to kick everyone out so I can remind you of that fact, for as long as it takes.”

  Maddie pressed her lips against his jaw. “I have a very short memory.”

  He gave her that close-mouthed smile that would drive her crazy for the rest of her life. “Guess we better clear our calendar, then.”

  Maddie couldn’t think of a single argument.

  Together, they stepped toward her house, the building that had once been the only thing she had left. For a long time, it had been her only security in a world that offered none.

  Now, it would be a home, and she walked through the front door with her future at her side.

  Dear Reader,

  Hello! It is my
honor, privilege, and terrifying responsibility to kick off the series with KISS OF A STRANGER. See, Eve and I don’t work the way some co-authors do. We create the broad strokes of Lost Coast Harbor together, then we constantly check in during the writing process—but each book, and the characters within, are created individually.

  So, this one was my baby. I loved writing Gabe and Maddie, and I hope you enjoyed both their story and the world of Lost Coast Harbor.

  To keep up with what the latest town news, subscribe to the newsletter. We send this out semi-regularly with news, links, and subscriber-only content. If you prefer a streamlined inbox, you can sign up to receive a one-time only email when the next book, A KISS IN THE SHADOWS, is available.

  The good news is, with both of us hanging out in Lost Coast Harbor a fair bit, there will be a bunch of books coming out this year. Eve is up next with Erin’s story. Eve loves the seedy side of small-town politics, and her books always feature a great mystery. A KISS IN THE SHADOWS is out February 29, 2016.

  Want to know what’s under Declan Donnelly’s clean-cut exterior? I’ll be back in March with his book, KISSED BY A DEVIL.

  Sign up for my newsletter at lilydanes.com, as well. I’ll make sure to add some original content you won’t get anywhere else. You can also follow me on Twitter and Facebook, and check out evekincaid.com while you’re at it.

  Thanks for reading!

  Lily

  Acknowledgments

  A lot of people helped get this book from my brain into readers’ hands. First and foremost is, of course, my co-conspirator Eve Kincaid. We created the world of Lost Coast Harbor and plotted the first books together (as much as I’m capable of plotting—sorry about that, Eve).

  While I may have written this particular book, the world of LCH belongs to her in equal measure. She was there every step of the way, offering wisdom, enouragement, and escape routes whenever I wrote myself into a corner. She also listened to far more of my whining than was probably necessary. Eve was especially generous in allowing me to borrow the wonderful Erin Grady from A Kiss in the Shadows.

  Eve and I are both grateful to the fabulous Divas who offered their support and advice on launching a new series. Extra thanks to Zoe York for her help in getting early copies to readers and to Jennifer Haymore for titling this book.

  Thanks as well to Jodi Henley for her thoughtful edits, Kaari Busick for helping me dot my i’s and cross my t’s, and Laura Coleman for reviewing the final draft. If there are any errors, they’re entirely my fault.

  Finally, thanks to Paul Taylor. He made our websites work, and there really isn’t enough chocolate in the world to repay him.

  About the Authors

  Lily Danes is a native Californian who loves cold weather, snow, and rain. A recovering city girl, she now lives in the Sierra Nevadas. She has few practical skills and would be absolutely useless in the zombie apocalypse.

  Learn more and sign up for the newsletter at lilydanes.com.

  *

  Eve Kincaid is a lapsed lawyer who decided that fictional crime was more fun than the real deal. When she’s not writing about mysterious women and the men who love them, she’s probably shopping for books, lipstick, or imported cheeses to complement a nice California pinot noir.

  You can keep up with Eve’s new releases by signing up for her reader newsletter at evekincaid.com. She’d love to hear from you. Just don’t be creepy about it.

  Kiss of a Stranger

  Copyright © 2016 by Lily Danes

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or used in any matter whatsoever without the express written permission of the publisher except where permitted by law.

  Cover Designed by Najla Qamber Designs

  www.najlaqamberdesigns.com

  Publisher’s Note:

  This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Resemblances to actual locales or events or persons living or dead is coincidental.

  ISBN 978-1-944506-00-1