“Yesterday. Last night, to be precise. Somewhere between my second slice of cheesecake and my third strawberry daiquiri.”
“I don’t want the spoils of your pity party.”
Her smile was half-assed, at best. Certainly didn’t reach her eyes. “You got me. There was a pity party. That’s what Ella and Piper intended, anyway. But it didn’t take me long to figure out that the whole reason I felt sorry for myself was my own fault. I’d caused it. I’m responsible for my own actions, and I’d caused this whole mess, not you. And then Piper told me to make a list of things that would put a smile on my face again.” She dug in her pocket. “I brought it to give to you, too.”
It was a blank piece of notepaper. “Is this a joke?”
She flipped it around. “Whoops.” Moved her thumb from the top down to the side. There was only one thing written on it, high up at the top of the paper. “See that? It’s your name. That’s it. That’s all I wrote. Because I knew that being with you was the sure-fire way to get my smile back.”
It wasn’t a joke. It wasn’t a polite exchange of personal property. This was Casey, trying to get him back. It was Casey giving him another chance to make her smile. There wasn’t anything he wanted to do more in the entire world.
Zane didn’t bother walking around the desk. He shoved the box to the side and put one knee on top of the desk. Then he hauled Casey up and over to deposit her onto his lap. The chair squeaked, something crashed to the floor, but Zane didn’t care. Her squeal of surprise was smothered by the hot, deep kiss he laid on her.
Much as he wanted to keep going, Zane broke away. Things still had to be said. So he framed her beautiful face in his palms. “I love you. That’s where I have to start.”
A smile the size of Rhode Island brightened her like a supernova. “I love you, too.”
It was only the second time she’d told him. It was the first time without it being wrapped up in strings and restrictions. It sounded wonderful. “Because I love you, I cancelled my contract for the book.”
Casey grabbed his wrists and pulled down his hands. “No. Because I love you, I’ve got to make you write it. Even more, I’ll help you write it. What did you call the Sunshine Seekers on our first date? Your white whale, your holy grail. I can’t take that away from you.” She twisted around to pull the box closer. “Guess what’s at the bottom of the box?”
“No clue.”
“My dad’s email address. For you to contact him. I won’t be a part of that discussion, for reasons I’ll explain. We don’t have that sort of a relationship. But I can hook you up, even though I can’t promise anything as to what he’ll tell you. Well, I can, actually. I can promise that Dawn and I will ask him to cooperate with you. The rest is up to you.”
It was everything he’d hoped for, everything he’d tried to get her to agree to at the waterfall. But it meant so much more now that she’d done it by choice, and not begrudgingly. It was a gift Zane was going to refuse, however. Unable to stop touching her, he skimmed a hand along her thigh.
“Do you want to know why I canceled the book? Because I said all along that if writing my books, if exposing the truth helped even one person, they were worth it. Then it hit me. If I’m going to choose a single person to help, shouldn’t it be the one person I love? Shouldn’t I do everything in my power to shelter you from pain? Make you my priority, over some faceless stranger.”
Shaking her head, Casey said, “I’ve spent years working hard at just ignoring my past. Now, I want to put the past behind me. The past and the pain. Working with you to get my story out there, knowing that I might help you to help someone avoid having their life ruined by a cult—that’s the best possible thing for me to do. I’ll even talk to that guy who is suing you, if you think it will help.”
Truth rang in every single word she uttered. Zane should know—he’d made a career out of discerning it. “The lawsuit’s over. The man you saw rush out of here, the man who used up half my tissues? That was Diggle.”
“What did you say to him?”
“Not much. I listened. I listened to him talk about why he joined the cult in the first place. How it was a refuge from all the kids who mocked him and bullied him. Or, he’d hoped it would be. As you know, it didn’t turn out that way. Diggle’s a smart guy, and he extricated himself before losing too much of his parent’s money or his own self-respect.”
Casey pursed her lips. “That sounds like a win.”
“Exactly why I didn’t regret spotlighting him in the article I wrote. But it turns out that since the article, since the media painted him as a weak victim, he’s right back where he started. Feeling mocked and bullied from all sides. Alone.” Hearing that had churned Zane’s gut. He’d finally understood why Diggle was so upset. And he’d felt guilty as hell for whatever part he’d played in the man’s unhappiness. The heartfelt apology he’d offered Diggle hadn’t been difficult, after all.
“That’s so sad.”
“Seeing his pain, on top of how upset you got the other night talking about your experience and what your dad put you through, it showed me that digging too deep isn’t always for the best. That sometimes the truth can cut as deeply as ignorance. I was going to email you tonight and let you know.”
“Why not come tell me in person?”
“I didn’t think you’d want to see me.”
She dropped a kiss on his jaw. Then on his chin, along his neck, over to his ear as she spoke. “I want to see you every day. I want to wake up with you, and go to sleep with you, and fight with you, and make love with you.”
Zane laughed. “In that order?”
“How about we put it on shuffle?”
They’d both bent. They’d both worked hard to see where the other person was coming from. They both wanted to sacrifice for the other’s happiness, and yet in the end there was no sacrifice. Just joy. Just the gift of starting a life together, unencumbered by secrets.
“I love you, buttercup. That’s the only truth that matters to me anymore, and I’m going to spend every day exposing it to you.”
“Sounds like a plan.” Her grin turned wicked. Saucy. Especially paired with the finger she trailed down his chest. “Sounds like a sexy, dirty plan.”
“Hey—I’m being romantic and sincere.”
She giggled, and the sound pealed through him like a crystal bell being rung in his heart. “I told you I’m crap at romance. I’m hoping Dr. Buchanan is willing to engage in some one on one tutoring in that subject.”
“Your first homework assignment will be to tell me how much you love me. And then show me. With tactile aids.” He squeezed her ass to drive home his instruction.
“I can’t wait until we get to the extra credit options.” Casey wriggled once, then stilled to look deep into his eyes. “I love you, Zane.”
As with everything else he’d ever uncovered, this just proved to Zane that the best secrets were worth waiting for.
* * * * *
Don’t miss Shore Secrets book 3, Back To Us,
coming in June 2015. For more information on
all of Christi’s new releases,
please visit http://www.christibarth.com/home/books
About the Author
Christi Barth earned a Master’s degree in vocal performance and embarked upon a career on the stage. A love of romance then drew her to wedding planning. Ultimately she succumbed to her lifelong love of books and now writes contemporary romance. She is the award-winning author of the Aisle Bound series. Christi is president of the Maryland Romance Writers and lives in Maryland with her husband.
Discover another anonymous budding romance in book one of Shore Secrets.
Up to Me
Ella Mayhew’s always appreciated the beautiful view of Seneca Lake from the spa window of her family’s hotel. But the view improves dr
amatically when a hot stranger runs across the grounds—shirtless. He’s the first man to kickstart her hormones in the three years since she lost her parents, and she doesn’t even know his name.
Graydon Locke’s on his umpteenth undercover assignment. The routine’s always the same: assess a business, recommend it for closure, then roll out before anyone discovers his decisions impact hundreds of lives. He’s always believed nothing good comes out of small towns. Why would this one be different? Then he makes two classic rookie mistakes—falling for the sweet, sexy girl who owns the very business he’s on the verge of axing. And letting the town’s residents get involved in both his life, and his relationship with Ella.
Ella’s the best thing to ever happen to Gray, but he’s lied to her from the start. If he pulls the plug on Mayhew Manor, the entire town may crumble. Ella couldn’t save her parents, but it’s up to her to save their hotel. Even if that means turning her back on true love.
Available now, wherever ebooks are sold.
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Fall in love with the complete Aisle Bound series by Christi Barth
—available now as a box set!
Aisle Bound
Planning for Love (Book One of Aisle Bound):
Wedding planner Ivy Rhodes is the best in the business, and she’s not the sort to let a personal problem stop her from getting ahead. So when she’s asked to star in a reality TV show, it doesn’t matter that the show’s videographer happens to be a recent—and heartbreaking—one-night stand. Right?
A Fine Romance (Book Two of Aisle Bound):
Opening a romance store is supposed to be the perfect start to Mira Parrish’s new life. Her friend Ivy is depending on her, and Mira can’t afford to let her down. But Sam Lyons, the bakery owner next door, proves an annoying yet irresistible attraction. Sam can’t resist antagonizing Mira—there’s something about the sexy, straight-laced woman that drives him crazy. But if there’s going to be anything permanent between them, they’ll each need to let go of their pasts and look to the future...
Friends to Lovers (Book Three of Aisle Bound):
As florist and co-owner of a successful Chicago
wedding-planning business, Daphne Lovell has been there for the happiest days of other people’s lives. As for her own life? Well, it’s hard to be perfectly happy when you’re carrying a torch for your sexy, womanizing and oblivious best friend. So when the lights go out on New Year’s Eve, she seizes the opportunity to kiss him senseless...
A Matchless Romance (Book Four of Aisle Bound):
Tabitha Bell is the face of Chicago’s premier matchmaking service. At least, she hopes it will be someday, once business really takes off. What she needs is more clients, so when she meets a sexy gamer in need of help, it’s the perfect opportunity. But will she succumb to his sweet-but-nerdy-charm offensive or will it be game over before they even start?
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ISBN-13: 9781426899515
All For You
Copyright © 2015 by Christi Barth
Edited by Angela James
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.
All characters in this book have no existence outside the imagination of the author and have no relation whatsoever to anyone bearing the same name or names. They are not even distantly inspired by any individual known or unknown to the author, and all incidents are pure invention.
This edition published by arrangement with Harlequin Books S.A.
® and ™ are trademarks of the publisher. Trademarks indicated with ® are registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office, the Canadian Intellectual Property Office and in other countries.
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All for You Page 32
