Now, sitting outside next to the pool, my laptop open on the table in front of me, I cast my eye over the shimmering water, thinking back to how we’d lain there together the previous night, I was sure that nothing could spoil things for me.
But I was wrong. Because a shadow fell over my laptop, and I turned around to see Larry standing over me, his mouth twisted into an unfriendly grin.
“Liam’s not here,” I said. “He went out to drop some things off at the office. He’ll be back in shortly, I’m sure. You’re welcome to wait for him in the study.”
“Oh, there’s no hurry for me to go back inside on such a pretty day,” he said, smirking. “How about I sit right here and you keep me company for a little while?”
I’d never understood why Liam had kept Larry as his lawyer, but I wasn’t about to be rude to him. I nodded, although I felt very uncomfortable. He took a seat next to me and poured himself a glass of lemonade. I was sitting in shorts and a t-shirt, and Larry stared at my legs, licking his lips.
I forced a smile, closed the laptop and was about to make an excuse to leave, but he held my arm. “Where do you think you’re going?” he asked. “You’re the lady of the house now and I’m your guest. Surely you need to be a little more… forthcoming?”
Trying to wriggle free, I asked him to let go of me. “I don’t like you touching me like that, Larry,” I told him. “Let go of my arm.”
“Oh, stop being so coy,” Larry said, and he leaned in so close that I could smell the whiskey on his breath. “We all know the deal. Liam’s paid enough for you. You weren’t exactly a bargain. So I think it’s fair that I get in on the deal, too.”
And before I could stop him, he’d put his hands up my t-shirt, kissing my neck and searching for my breasts. I couldn’t cry out and felt paralyzed with shock. He was pawing at me, kissing me, and I prayed that someone would come and stop him. As if in answer to my prayer, suddenly he moved away, and I opened my eyes, not even knowing I’d closed them, to find that Liam was there, dragging Larry away from me.
He slammed the lawyer against the wall. “You get your filthy fucking hands off her,” he yelled, holding him by the throat. “How dare you touch what’s mine. Who the fuck do you think you are?”
Larry held up his hands, breathlessly begging for mercy. “She came onto me,” he cried, trying to save himself. “She’s a whore, Liam, just like I said she was.”
At that, Liam pulled back his arm and punched Larry in his sweaty face. Dazed, Larry picked up his glasses, knocked onto the ground by the punch. Liam grabbed him by the belt and flung him away. “I should have known not to trust you,” he said. “You’re nothing but a sleazy piece of shit riding my coat-tails to wealth.”
“That’s not true!” Larry shouted, backing away as Liam looked as if he was about to land another punch. “I’ve only ever had your best interests at heart, Liam.”
“Really? Is that why you called my sister?”
I was shocked. But now, it all made sense. Larry stood up and straightened his tie. “She needed to know the truth,” he said. “I was only thinking about you the whole time. I was thinking about the Wilde legacy!”
But Liam only folded his arms and stood firm. “The Wilde legacy will continue for many years yet,” he said. “Only you won’t be there to see it. Get the fuck out of my house and off my property. This is the end of our arrangement. You’re fired.”
Larry scurried away, his tail between his legs, and Liam scooped me up, holding me close. “I’m so sorry, love,” he said. “Did he hurt you? God, I could have killed him seeing him touching you like that.”
“No, it’s fine,” I said. “Really. You came just as he grabbed me. I was so shocked at his behavior and couldn’t even cry out. But you were there, Liam. You’re always there, just when I need you most.”
“I’ll never let anyone hurt you,” he said, kissing me. “Never, ever again. I’ll protect you for the rest of my life.”
And I knew that just like every single word he’d ever uttered to me, he was telling the truth, and I knew I could trust him with all my heart.
32
________
LIAM
Eighteen Months Later
The turquoise-colored sea was so clear that I could see right to the bottom and, as I dove in, the cool water felt delicious against my warm skin. I kicked hard as soon as I entered the water and headed to the seabed, but it was too far away, so I came back up for air. I looked up at the boat, and Lizzie was looking down at me, pointing. Behind her was Elle, smiling and holding her waist so she didn’t fall in.
“Aren’t my girls coming for a swim?” I called.
“Daddy!” Lizzie cried. “Daddy, water!”
“Yes, Daddy’s in the water,” Elle said. “What do we say when Daddy’s in the water?”
“Come back, Daddy!”
I laughed at my daughter’s voice and, as she wished, I swam back to the boat and hauled myself up onto the deck. I picked up a towel and dried my hair. Elle came over and kissed me. “Water’s nice?”
“Stunning. It’s so beautiful in there today,” I said. “You should join me.”
“I will, once Lizzie’s down for a nap,” Elle replied, and we sat together on the soft couch as the boat lightly bobbed up and down. Lizzie ran around the deck, her little legs strong and sturdy.
I smiled as I watched her. “She’s getting a better tan than I am,” I said.
“Nonsense, you look amazing. What did I ever do to get such a gorgeous husband?”
Kissing her, I smiled. “A whole year since the wedding,” I said, and sighed. “Where’s the time gone?”
“It was sure one of the best days of my life,” Elle said, and I thought back to how beautiful she’d looked that day. I began to kiss her again, pulling her close.
“Let’s get the little one down for a nap,” I murmured, “and then I’m taking you to bed, too.”
“Meet you there in five minutes,” she said, grinning.
I picked up a few of Lizzie’s toys and placed them in the toy box. The afternoon sun was at its hottest, and it was time for us to go indoors and get a little shade. Elle put Lizzie to bed in her cool cabin and came to join me in our large bed.
I pushed the light wraparound from Elle’s shoulders and kissed them, and she moved onto the bed, her legs over mine as we fell back onto the mattress.
“Did she go to bed okay?” I asked.
“Yes,” Elle said, and she moved away from me for a second, grinning. “She’s in her crib with that book of fairytales you bought her.”
“A book lover already,” I said. “That’s my girl.”
“I think you might need to get another copy, though,” Elle replied, and there was a gleam in her eye. “I don’t think Lizzie’s going to want to share it with her baby brother or sister.”
I froze as the penny dropped. “Are you serious?” I cried, and when Elle nodded, beaming, I grabbed her and pulled her close. “Oh my God, that’s the best news I’ve ever heard!” I placed a hand on her belly and looked at her. “You’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever known,” I said. “I’ve said it a thousand times, and I’ll say it forever more.”
I was suddenly very aware of being as gentle as possible with Elle, and I lay down next to her.
She smiled up at me. “Please just promise me one thing,” she said. “If it is a little brother, we’re not calling him Fitzwilliam after Mr. Darcy. That would just be a crime.”
I burst out laughing and promised her that I wouldn’t as I planted light kisses all along her collarbone.
She pulled me close. “You don’t have to be that gentle, you know,” she said. “I won’t break, I promise.”
And, as always, I was powerless to resist her.
33
________
EDWARD
As a wise woman from my home country of England once said, “It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife
.”
But Liam hasn’t met just any woman to be his wife; instead, she is the woman who has not only captured his heart, but his very soul. From my years of serving him, I know that nothing has ever brought a larger smile to his face than the one he’s had since he found Miss Elle once again.
On their yacht, a short distance away from a small island in the middle of the Aegean, I sit with my afternoon cup of tea and think about how proud I am of him, and the man he’d become. I would never tell him this, of course. Such behavior would be considered simply impudent from a humble butler, but I’d like to think that he knows how devoted I am to him, and to Miss Elle, and little Miss Elizabeth, who has brought so much joy to my life.
I stand up and make my way over to the nursery, popping my head in only to find that the little girl is fast asleep, her thumb stuck in her mouth, an open book by her side. I pick up the book, place it on the bedside table and reach for the cotton blanket, drawing it over her little legs as she snoozes. Finally, I run a gentle hand over her head, smoothing her soft curls as I wish her a pleasant rest.
Then I walk past the master bedroom, and a quick glance inside tells me that we’re not welcome here right now, dear reader. We must close the door and walk away, leaving the young couple to their privacy.
To quote Jane Austen once more: there is “too much to be thought, and felt, and said, for attention to any other objects.”
For Master Liam and his Elle, at this moment, there is only each other, and we leave them there, lost in the world they have created together, in a life that could not have survived without the deep love they shared for one another.
~ Fine ~
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ELEMENTAL LOVE
A Single Dad, Second Chance Romance
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LOSING IT
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DESCRIPTION
________
His touch, his eyes, his lips. I know the feeling well. I practically lose it every time he walks into the room.
But I want him for real, and that big ‘IT’ - the V-card that hangs over my head I need him to know that he can take that from me anytime he wants.
He was my one and only crush.
If you saw Kyle you’d know why, but he is my brother’s best friend, and I doubt he ever saw me as anything more than the dorky kid sister. If I spent as much time with the boys my own age as I did hoping he was coming over, I doubt if I’d still have my virginity.
But here I am, in my last year at college and keeping that secret to myself. I still dream about him - want it to be him - him to be the first one.
Even though he’d long since moved away and started living the life that only an alpha-male like Kyle can live, I still want it to be him.
Now, it would be wrong in a whole bunch of new ways, because he’s not just my brother’s best friend anymore…
He’s also my ‘Special Assignment’
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
________
Free-spirited author Scarlet Wilder was raised on songs and stories, writing her own since she learned how to put pen to paper.
Today, she lives in the heart of Sandton, although you will rarely find her there.
Whether you’d call it wanderlust, a love of travel or just regular old curiosity; she hungers to explore the world outside the four walls of her cozy mid-town loft.
She unapologetically admits that the only things she loves more than her followers and fans are coffee and chocolate.
Wherever she goes, she’s in constant search of the perfectly brewed cup of Java or the sweetest melt-in-your-mouth chocolaty treat.
Her favorite themes include:
* Alpha males who know how to love their woman
* Bad boys with hearts of gold
* And, of course, strong sassy women who can stand their own.
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Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Title
Copyright 2018
Important Notice
Warning
Note From The Author
Bonus Read
Description
Chapter 1: Elle
Chapter 2: Liam
Chapter 3: Elle
Chapter 4: Liam
Chapter 5: Elle
Chapter 6: Liam
Chapter 7: Elle
Chapter 8: Liam
Chapter 9: Elle
Chapter 10: Liam
Chapter 11: Elle
Chapter 12: Liam
Chapter 13: Elle
Chapter 14: Liam
Chapter 15: Elle
Chapter 16: Liam
Chapter 17: Elle
Chapter 18: Liam
Chapter 19: Elle
Chapter 20: Liam
Chapter 21: Elle
Chapter 22: Liam
Chapter 23: Elle
Chapter 24: Liam
Chapter 25: Elle
Chapter 26: Liam
Chapter 27: Elle
Chapter 28: Liam
Chapter 29: Elle
Chapter 30: Liam
Chapter 31: Elle
Chapter 32: Liam
Chapter 33: Edward
Upcoming New Release
Other Releases: Losing It
Description
Other Releases: "Getting It" Boxset
About The Author
Connect & Get Social With Me
FIRST LOVE_A Single Dad Second Chance Romance Page 20
