A Heart Decision
The Return to Redemption Series—Book Five
by
Romance Writers of America®
Golden Heart® Award-winning author
Laurie Kellogg
On her wedding night, Sabrina will share the
bridal suite with one of her brother’s best friends.
Which one? She has no idea!
Sabrina Fitzpatrick helped plan her dream wedding last year—for her brother and his wife. Now, she wants her own fairytale ceremony. She’s tired of waiting for commitment-phobe, Detective Luke Marino, to realize she’s been crazy about him since puberty. Consequently, when Luke’s billionaire friend asks her to marry him, she’s compelled to accept BJ Elliott’s proposal, especially after he suggests their impending marriage might induce his idiot pal to finally step forward. Unfortunately, a week later, adrenaline-junkie Luke risks his life again and ends up temporarily confined to a wheelchair.
BJ would love to give Sabrina an unforgettable wedding night, but he fears she’ll never be happy with him if she doesn’t resolve her feelings for his buddy, first. Therefore, even knowing he could lose her, BJ persuades her to become Luke’s live-in nurse—offering her one last chance to convince the man she loves to take BJ’s place at the altar (which BJ doubts his friend will ever do). If nothing else, he hopes Love’em and Leave’em Luke can convince Sabrina he’ll make a lousy husband.
Luke has two secrets not even his best friends know. The first is he aches for Sabrina with every fiber of his being. The second is he loves her enough to spare her the heartbreak that being his wife would undoubtedly entail. Much to Luke’s dismay, his resolve to resist his buddy’s fiancée is tested after Sabrina steps in as his nurse and starts prancing around in nothing but his threadbare T-shirt. If he surrenders to her seduction, it may destroy his relationship with BJ. And, worse still, if he gets a taste of loving Sabrina, how can he ever stand by and let her marry his friend?
A Heart Decision
Copyright 2013 Laurie Kellogg
LK Books
All rights reserved
ISBN-13: 9781938618130
This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the author except for the use of brief quotations. Thank you for respecting this author’s hard work.
This novel is a work of fiction. Any references to real people, events, establishments, organizations, or locations are used only to provide authenticity and are used factiously. All other characters, places, incidents, and dialogue are products of the author’s imagination and should not be construed as real. Any resemblance between the novel’s characters and setting and actual individuals or places is completely coincidental. All inaccuracies or mistakes are the author’s and accidental. The author apologizes for any factual discrepancies or typographical errors. If you find any, please contact the author so she can correct them for future copies.
Editor
Gwynlyn MacKenzie
Copy Editor
Heidi Luchterhand
Beta Reader
Elizabeth Walls
Proofreader
Kristi Judd
Dedicated to the Pitas, Patty and Jenn
CHAPTER 1
Castration was too good for the fool who came up with the idea for surprise parties. At the very least, the guy deserved a swift kick in the ‘nads.
“Unfortunately, the sadist was probably a woman,” Luke Marino muttered as he pulled his Jeep Patriot up to his buddy Tyler’s home in Redemption, Pennsylvania.
The group of men gathered in the circular driveway of the impressive gray stone house indicated the birthday celebration for Tyler’s younger sister, Sabrina, was already in full swing.
If nothing else, he’d managed to miss the traditional give the guest of honor a heart attack welcome.
He swung his aging SUV into shaded space behind BJ Elliott’s silver McLaren and did a mental happy dance at the sight of Ben’s million-dollar baby.
At least his friend hadn’t let his man Friday chauffeur him and Sabrina to the party in his stretch limo. The McLaren F1 might be one of the sleekest, fastest cars on the road, but BJ would have to twist his Terminator body into a pretzel to get romantic in his supersonic sports car.
Luke sucked in a shuddering breath, anticipating the engagement announcement Ben had told him he’d be making at the party. How the hell was he supposed to stand next to BJ and listen to the woman—who Luke had loved since forever—promise to cherish his friend for the rest of her life?
Massaging the tension from his neck, he lowered the vehicle’s windows to protect Sabrina’s birthday gift from the late September heat.
“Anyone know how fast this baby is off the line?” asked one of the men lusting over the McLaren.
“A lot faster than anything you’ve ever driven,” another man teased.
Luke swiped at the wrinkles in his khaki trousers and shoved the Jeep’s door closed with his hip. “She goes from zero to sixty in 3.2 seconds and tops out at about two-forty,” he told the group of men. “Although the fastest we’ve ever pushed her on the track is two-twenty.”
“BJ actually let you drive it?”
“Yup.” As one of the ten youngest billionaires in the country, Ben’s greatest character flaw had to be his extreme generosity—if one could call benevolence a fault.
After growing up a lonely rich kid, BJ had adopted the MO of using his money to ingratiate himself before anyone could reject him. In fact, sometimes Ben was so kind and bighearted, he came across as a boot-licking, people pleaser. However, when it came to negotiating a business deal, Benjamin Jackson Elliott III evidently checked his insecurity and kindness at the door and didn’t care if his adversaries considered him a bastard.
The media referred to him as the Golden Giant because of his size, coloring, and Midas touch in business. With the help of Sabrina’s brother, Tyler, as his attorney and advisor, BJ had amassed over ten billion in assets as well as a reputation that rivaled Warren Buffet’s. Coattail investors kept closer track of what Ben did with his family’s fortune than most women did the number on their bathroom scales.
If Luke didn’t care so much about his friend, he could easily hate Ben for keeping him and everyone else indebted.
“So, how’d she handle?” one of the men on the lawn asked about the McLaren.
“Great. I’d stay and tell you how incredible it was, but I’m already late. If I don’t show my ugly face soon, I’ll catch hell from Sabrina.”
He waved and called over his shoulder. “When you guys finish panting over the car, be sure to wipe off your drool.”
The men’s boisterous laughter followed him toward the sounds of the party as he trudged along the flagstone path that cut through the professionally landscaped grounds surrounding the contemporary five-bedroom house.
He glared at a sparrow chirping a cheery song from one of the rose bushes. The sweet scent of the pink blooms threatened to set off his hay fever.
“What’re you so happy about?” he snarled at the diminutive brown bird. It stared at him for a split second before flitting off to another yard. “Good. Go choke on a worm.”
It was bad enough he’d have to spend his Sunday afternoon listening to a horde of people congratulate BJ and Sabrina. He didn’t need some perky little bird leading the chorus.
Soft romantic music drifted from the stereo, mixing with the laughter and voices of the guests. He stepped through the white wrought iron gate, scanned the sea of people milling around the pool in the sprawling backyard, and zeroed in on the top of Sabrina’s honey blonde head. His heart thundered like the steady echo at the firing range whenever he squeezed off an entire clip of ammo
.
Damn, she looked sexy. With her windblown shoulder-length hair and sensual pout, she could’ve just tumbled out of her lover’s bed.
Her pale blue sundress did nothing to contradict that impression. Its skimpy straps and low-cut back teased his senses. It revealed just enough of her light golden tan to give a man ideas.
Lucky for him, the dress’s full, calf-length skirt alleviated some of its erotic effect by hiding her gorgeous legs.
His throat tightened as Sabrina smiled up at his big blond friend and cuddled into Ben’s side. Despite her average height, she’d always seemed petite and fragile to him. Possibly because her body was compact and tiny in proportion to her long legs. Or maybe he just still remembered how small she’d felt at eleven years old when they were caught in a sudden, violent thunderstorm during a game of Manhunt. They’d found shelter under a porch where he held and comforted her until the deluge ended.
Perhaps his six-three frame only made it seem as if she wasn’t much bigger now. Regardless of the reason, the words small and delicate always came to mind whenever he pictured her gentle curves.
She turned and, when her gaze locked with his, her sparkling green eyes lit up like two traffic lights. “Luke!”
Ben’s face became a mask of pain as she loped across the yard and jumped on Luke as if she were still eleven years old.
Damn it. BJ obviously knew Sabrina wasn’t in love with him, so why had the idiot asked her to marry him? Simply because Luke wouldn’t?
While Ben stopped to snag a beer from a waiter’s tray, Luke spun her in a circle and breathed in the fragrance of herbal shampoo mingled with her sweet scent. The combination did unholy things to him.
“Hey, Princess.” He hugged her tightly. “How are you?”
Her arms snaked around his neck as she planted a loud smooch on his cheek. “You’re late.”
“I know. I’m sorry. I was on a stakeout until five this morning. I forgot to set my alarm.” He neglected to mention that he’d dreaded this afternoon so much that it had probably been an intentional oversight. A spear of heat shot into his groin as her soft curves pressed against him.
“My brother told me you went skydiving last weekend. Is that true?”
Tyler had a big mouth.
He set her down and stepped back, groaning inwardly at the way her dress hugged her shape. “As always, you look gorgeous.”
“Don’t change the subject, you lunatic. Did you or didn’t you jump out of a plane?”
“As a matter of fact, I did, and I had a blast. Freefalling is nearly as good as sex. And the only thing that could top sex would be to have it in midair at five thousand feet.”
Ben slapped him on the back “I think I’ll stick with getting my thrills the conventional way—in the bedroom.” He handed Luke the sweating bottle of beer he’d collected. “It’s about time you got here. You missed my romantic engagement announcement.”
Thank you, God.
Ever since their college football days, there’d always been a fierce competition between them. One of the only things Ben had ever beaten him at was making money. If Luke wasn’t certain his friend was completely unaware of his feelings for Sabrina, he’d swear BJ was attempting to rub his nose in their betrothal.
“Thanks, Beej.” Luke took a swig and wiped the back of his hand across his mouth as the cold brew slid down his parched throat. “It’s about time Sabrina came to her senses and realized what a great catch you are. Congratulations.”
Even though BJ’s Viking build and fierce features were intimidating enough to make Loki tremble, Ben—or the Norse God, Thor, in this case—still lured beautiful women to him with the same ease as Thor drew his hammer, Mjölnir, back to his hand. Unfortunately, BJ’s would-be seducers were all more interested in the contents of his wallet than in the huge heart beating in his chest.
“So, let me see the rock.” Luke took Sabrina’s delicate hand in his calloused palm and studied the dazzling diamond, which, surprisingly, was only a bit larger than the average engagement ring. This stone, however, sparkled in the sun like no other he’d ever seen. Undoubtedly, a more flawless gem didn’t exist.
“Such a tiny piece of gravel, Ben? Knowing the size of your bank account and tendency to indulge, I expected her to be dragging a boulder.”
“You know Sabrina.” Ben rolled his eyes. “If I’d bought her anything bigger, she’d just lock it in a vault.”
“Isn’t that why you love her—she doesn’t give a damn what you can give her?”
Sabrina huffed. “Would you two stop talking about me as if I evaporated into thin air?”
“Sorry.” Luke squeezed her soft hand and forced himself to release it. “Your ring is beautiful, Princess.”
“Thank you.” She stared up into his eyes and a sad smile curled one corner of her mouth. “By now, I’d think a brilliant detective like you would’ve realized that the only thing I ever really wanted can’t be bought.”
He dragged his gaze away, ignoring her veiled message the same way he had for the last fifteen years. “I guess I’d better go say hello to my mother and sisters, or I’ll never hear the end of it.” He heaved an exaggerated sigh as he strolled toward the raised terrace where his mom was chatting with Tyler’s tiny, dark-haired wife, Annie.
He would do anything to be able to fulfill Sabrina’s dreams—just as long as he could do it without hurting her. But the possibility of that was as much a fantasy as hoping every drug dealer in America would suddenly turn himself in.
He wasn’t holding his breath.
Besides, he owed Ben way too much not to step aside and allow his friend to give Sabrina the family Luke didn’t dare dream of having—ever.
~*~
The big oaf’s head must be filled with concrete not to realize how she felt about him. Sabrina Fitzpatrick’s eyes swam with unshed tears as Luke did his typical disappearing act after her zillionth hint to make him realize she loved him.
“Let’s take a little walk.” Ben tugged her toward the wooded edge of Tyler and Annie’s property.
Sabrina held his big hand as they strolled past the freeform swimming pool with several large floral arrangements floating in it. Ben’s soft manicured fingers felt so different from Luke’s work-worn calloused ones. What did it mean that she preferred a laborer’s hands over a CEO’s?
She gestured toward the yard. “The caterers did a beautiful job decorating, didn’t they?”
The ten tables scattered around the pool were covered with pale pink linen and six crystal and sterling place settings, shaded by large matching pastel print umbrellas.
“I’m just glad Tyler convinced Annie to hire them.” Ben paused by one of the circulating waiters and plucked two jumbo mushrooms stuffed with deviled crab from the man’s silver tray along with a couple of miniature spinach and bacon quiches.
“Amen to that.” Sabrina couldn’t imagine her sister-in-law pulling this party off by herself with ten-week-old Sam and seven-year-old Mandy and Noah underfoot.
Ben handed Sabrina a napkin bearing a mushroom and a quiche as he glanced back to the terrace. “Sweetheart, I know I suggested our engagement might make Luke realize he was missing the boat, but—”
“Yeah, well, it doesn’t look like that’s going to happen.”
“Exactly. Seeing as I coerced you into accepting my ring, are you absolutely sure you want to go through with the wedding?”
Everyone knew she’d been in love with Luke since she was thirteen years old—everyone but him, that is. He seemed clueless about her feelings and refused to see her any way other than as Tyler’s kid sister.
Last October, Ben had given up waiting for Luke to wake up and smell the coffee and proposed to her for the first time. Even knowing Sabrina was in love with his friend, Ben had been nagging her to accept his ring ever since.
With Tyler as her only relative, she’d spent her whole life wishing she had a big noisy family like Luke’s. Recently, she’d had to admit that if she ever wanted a
houseful of children, she would have to settle for someone other than the man she’d always dreamed of marrying.
And it wasn’t as if she didn’t love Ben. She did—just not with the same toe-curling, heart-thumping passion she felt for Luke.
She swallowed a mouthful of quiche and smiled up at Ben. “Why? Are you having second thoughts about marrying me? I understand if you—”
“No way.” He pulled her close and pressed his face to her hair. “I’ve loved you since the day we met, so I’d rather have a piece of your heart, than not have you at all. I just thought maybe you’d want to wait a while longer before giving—”
“For what? Nothing’s going to change. I’ve spent eighteen years waiting. If the big lummox hasn’t caught on to how much I love him by now, he never will.” She bit into the stuffed mushroom cap and scanned the yard for Luke’s raven head. He towered above the crowd near a table laden with chilled cocktail shrimp and a huge cheese and fresh fruit platter.
His snowy knit polo shirt stretched over his muscular chest and accentuated the deep tan and dark chocolate eyes that screamed his Italian ancestry. The sight of him made her insides melt.
Sliding her arms around Ben’s waist, she pressed her cheek against the soft, gray silk sports shirt covering his rock-hard torso and watched Luke scarf down a plateful of assorted hors d’oeuvres.
They were both amazing men, but it was like comparing Gruyère and mozzarella. There was no question they were both delicious cheeses, but any girl from the ‘the Burg’ in south Trenton would invariably choose pizza over fondue.
It’d been a week since she’d agreed to marry Ben, and being the understanding man he was, he still hadn’t pressured her to sleep with him. Although, she wasn’t certain whether his restraint should be attributed to patience or fear she would change her mind after spending the night with him.
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