“Marley,” I cut in, catching his gaze. He’s been quiet, which isn’t like him. He’s usually one of the loudest ones in the group. I know he’s recovering from his latest assignment, but being here with everyone trying to ‘help’ him isn’t working for him. He needs time doing something that’s useful but nowhere near the darkness he’s suffered through. “Will you go?”
“I don’t think that’s a good idea—" King starts, but Marley speaks for the first time since I walked into the room. He looks at me with relief, because someone finally understands what he needs.
“I can do it.” He takes them out, but I also see a flash of something else. Something I can’t put my finger on.
“You just got back,” King points out. “You need some time—”
“I said, I’m doing it.” He stands up, gathers his jacket, and catches my attention. “Text me her address and a recent photo.”
“Thank you,” I murmur, hoping he gets there quickly. I won’t be able to relax without knowing she’s protected. He leaves the room without saying anything else, and everyone watches in stunned silence as he goes. I think maybe everyone finally understands that he needs some time away. Somewhere he can be alone to work out whatever is going on with him.
“That didn’t go as planned,” King says, cutting into the quiet.
“He needs this,” I explain. “He isn’t the same Marley who left us.”
Dizzy nods knowingly because he, too, has been in that same dark place before, and if it weren’t for Penny, he’d probably still be there. The love of a good woman can make anything right again and help fight off the demons when they come knocking.
Maybe Evie—No, I push the thought aside. Even if she could help him, she can’t know he’s there.
But then again, I don’t think she’s ever met Marley.
“Missy is going to be pissed,” King murmurs, interrupting my thoughts.
“No, she won’t be,” I insist because it’s true. She won’t be.
“The party—”
“Will still happen even if Marley isn’t here.” I connect eyes with all the men, telling them without words that they better be there. Each gives me a nod of acceptance. “Now, I’ve got a lot of work to do of my own, so unless you need me for anything else, I will let you gentlemen get back to work.” I turn toward Jordan, shooting him a wink, trying to hide the turmoil I’m feeling inside. “I will catch you later, Detective.”
He smiles knowingly, giving me the space I need to wrap my head around the news of Evie’s former fiancé and former friend.
Once I sit down at my desk, I can no longer resist the urge to check on her, but this time, I take a breath and get my shit together before dialing her number. I don’t want to do anything out of the ordinary, so I shoot her a text message first.
Sam Hunt’s voice fills the silence around me, and Evie’s name flashes across the screen. I connect the call, ready to play the only card I have left to call her once again this week.
“Hey, baby girl, how are you doing?” I try my hardest to sound like myself, but it comes out much more chipper than I anticipated.
“Someone’s in a good mood,” Evie chuckles. “I take it you were able to fall back asleep after we talked?”
“Yes, but that’s not why I’m calling,” I answer quickly, feeling suddenly nervous. Secretly, I’m hoping that if I open up to her about Jordan, she might open up to me about Adam. It’s killing me to know she’s been going through this alone.
“Intriguing.”
“I haven’t been honest with you.” I swallow hard, forcing the words to the surface. My children have never understood why I never moved on after their father. But the truth is, I was afraid to. Darren and I were childhood sweethearts, and I didn’t know how to let myself go there with another. “I got to thinking about what you said last night, that I deserve to be happy, and I want you to know… I’ve been seeing someone for almost six months now.”
“The detective,” she responds.
“How did you know?”
“I didn’t, but the last time I was there, there was a moment at the office between the two of you, and I thought something might be happening.”
“Evie, that was nine months ago,” I say, dumbstruck. “We weren’t—”
“I know you weren’t, but there was something about it. I knew it wouldn’t be long until there was something there. Something serious, and I want you to know, I’m so happy for you, Mom. You deserve to be happy and to be loved.”
“Baby girl,” I choke, feeling a surge of emotion because while she’s happy for me, I can’t express my worry for her.
“I liked him, a lot,” she continues. “And I know Eli will too, who, by the way, feels the same way I do.”
“So, you’re not mad that I didn’t tell you?”
“No, I understand that it wasn’t easy for you,” she explains, letting me catch a little bit of sadness in her meaning. Maybe Jordan was right about why she didn’t tell me about Adam and Morgynn. “I just don’t understand why it took you so long to let yourself be happy with someone.”
“I never thought there was another man in the world who could make me feel this way again. Every man who tried failed.”
“Until Jordan?”
“Right,” I answer, getting the feeling she’s taking more from my response than what’s on the surface. So, I take a moment and find a way to help my daughter’s heartache without her knowing I’m doing so. I give the ‘Annabelle Effect’, which is what Missy and Alice have dubbed my advice since helping them both figure shit out numerous times with their men. “From the moment I laid eyes on Jordan, the connection was there, but I was too stubborn and too set in my ways to just go with the flow. But the right man never gives up. He knows when he has a good woman, and he does whatever he can to make sure she never feels unloved or not wanted. He doesn’t play games, and he is always honest about his intentions from day one.”
“Sounds like Jordan is worthy of my mother,” she murmurs softly.
“He’s something else, that’s for sure,” I laugh and watch as the door to the meeting room opens and each man comes out one by one. When Jordan appears, my heart swells instantly, and when he smiles at me, I realize, without a doubt, the man has claimed my heart. “Baby girl, I’ve got to run. King’s meeting has ended, and I’ve got a lunch date to get to.”
“All right, Mom, but you tell that detective of yours he better be good to you or I’ll drive up there and kick his ass.” She chuckles again.
“I will,” I laugh softly. “Love you, Evie.”
“Love you too, Mom.”
When the call ends, I realize something important about my daughter. Her heart isn’t as shattered as I initially thought it would be. Despite a moment or two of sadness in her voice, she sounded fine.
Maybe this breakup was a good thing for her and she realizes she deserves so much more than Adam could ever offer her.
A mother can only hope.
“Bear and I are headed over to your place right now to update the security system,” Hudson says, approaching my desk. “Mind if I borrow your key?”
“Sure,” I answer, digging in my purse for my keys, but Jordan produces his copy first, handing it to Hudson.
“Take mine.” Two words, and every man in the building stops dead in their tracks.
Hudson takes the key, his dark eyes resting on Jordan like he’s going to strike if the man makes one wrong move. “I think I speak for every man in this room when I say you better not fuck this up, Lockwood. There won’t be a safe place in the world for you if you hurt our Annabelle.”
“I get it, but just so we’re all clear here,”—Jordan nods and takes in the room—“she’s my Bella.”
“Good answer.” Hudson smiles, the darkness leaves his eyes, and he claps Jordan on the back like lifelong friends would do.
Meanwhile, my mouth hangs open in shock. Never had I imagined these men would feel the need to protect me the way I do them.
&nb
sp; But then again, I’m learning a lot about the people in my life lately.
Chapter Seven
Jordan
I watch Bella cross the room, champagne glass in hand.
She’s beaming, but it’s not because of the orgasm I gave her on the drive over here.
She’s in her element, and with Marley watching over her daughter, she’s finally able to relax a little.
We’ve spent the night acting like a real couple. Being able to touch her, kiss her, hold her hand around the people we care about has helped solidify what we have. She doesn’t have to hide it anymore, and everyone has accepted us because they want to see her happy.
When I think back to the life I had before she walked into it, I can’t help cringing.
I was the shell of a man, barely getting by.
I didn’t know what it meant to be in love, but looking at my Bella, I know exactly what it means.
Because I love her.
More and more with every breath.
More and more still with every second that passes.
And I plan to tell her tonight.
We decided this morning to begin our future together at the stroke of midnight, sealing our fate with a kiss. Much like the kiss that started this whole journey together. I have never anticipated a New Year’s countdown as much as I have this year.
When she makes it to my side, she takes my hand in hers and leads me out the back door into the cold night air. The noise and the chatter of the world quiet down around us into a soft whisper.
We cross the yard, stopping at the lit gazebo King installed for Missy over the summer. She turns to face me, and I wrap my arms around her waist.
“Had I known you wanted to be alone, I would have stolen you away an hour ago,” I joke, loving the way the white lights create a halo effect around her.
Fuck, she’s breathtaking.
ANNABELLE
“Just for this part of the night.” She chuckles softly. I hear Missy shout over the nose in the house, warning partygoers that the new year is less than thirty seconds away. My heart thrums in my chest as I fight for the courage to reveal the reason behind me wanting to be alone with him. “I wanted to tell you something, but I didn’t want to do it with an audience.”
“Yeah?” he asks, smiling down at me, giving me the last bit of encouragement I need.
…15…
14…
“I love you, Jordan Lockwood,” I tell him, finding it difficult not to trip over my words as they rush out. “And I never thought I’d ever say those words again, but I have, and I get to say them to you. I love you so much, and I want you to know how I feel. About you. About us. You’ve made me the happiest I’ve been in so long, and I’m blessed to be with you here tonight, starting a new chapter in our journey together.”
…8…
7…
He stares down at me, his eyes deepening with each word I speak. And when I finally stop, his smile grows even bigger.
…5…
“I love you too, Bella, more than I’ll ever know how to express, but I will make it my life’s mission to try every damn day.”
…2…
…1
He lifts his hands and cups my face, and moments before his lips touch mine, I hear the countdown come to an end, signaling the start of a new year and our future as one.
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Epilogue
Evelyn George
San Francisco
He catches my eye the moment he walks into the room.
There something dark and mysteries about him, but also, he’s the kind of man so sexy, you’d think he’d be the hero of some fantasy show or even one of those Marvel characters.
The sheer size of him should put me off, as he’s not usually the type of man I’m attracted to. In fact, he’s the complete opposite. With his shoulder-length dark hair, full beard, combat boots, and a set of eyes that could melt any set of panties off in here, he’s rugged, the kind of man you notice no matter where you are. As my eyes take in every detail of him, I notice the peekaboo of tattoos at his wrists and his neck, and curiosity fills me because I want to peel back the layers of this leather jacket and his black button-up to explore the dark lines marking his body.
Fuck. I swallow feeling a familiar twinge between my legs.
“Kayla,” I whisper hoarsely, catching the attention of my closest friend and the hostess of this party. She looks at me with a tipsy smile, offering me her red Solo cup. I shake my head, showing her my own cup in hand. I flick my head toward the hottie. “Who is that?”
She shrugs. “I don’t know, but there are a lot of people showing up I don’t know. Maybe he’s here with someone?”
She’s probably right. A man like that surely has some equally hot chick on his arm.
Kayla turns away with a laugh and heads toward the designated dance area we set up earlier today. This is typical Kayla behavior, party girl until she can party no more. The wildest of my friends from school, but she’s also the only one who showed loyalty in the wake of Adam and Morgynn. Everyone else jumped shipped and went team Adam on me because of his money.
She decided to have a New Year’s Eve party as a way to get me out of my almost empty and super quiet apartment, claiming I need to stop wallowing in sadness and move on. She even joked about a New Year’s kiss and how it will work wonders for me, but the last thing on my mind was a kiss. Even if I would do wonders for me.
Then Kayla began planning, and once she started, I couldn’t rein her in. Not that I wanted to, honestly. I need this night and some time to let loose.
I’m tired of feeling like poor, pathetic Evie, a woman who couldn’t keep her man and lost him to the one person she trusted most in the world—her best friend of ten years.
I was blindsided by their betrayal and can’t believe how naïve I was about it all. The signs were all there, but for some reason, I never thought to put the pieces together. Even when I confessed to Morgynn that I believed Adam was cheating on me and she did everything in her power to make me believe otherwise. She called me crazy and insecure, but she was the one sneaking off to fuck him every time my back was turned.
I feel Kayla’s eyes on me, and I look across the room to find her shaking her head in disappointment. She knows where my thoughts went, and I promised her not to think about them tonight.
Fuck, Evie, get it together, I tell myself.
Pushing down my thoughts, I lift my cup toward her in salute and chug the remaining contents, grateful for the sweet fruity taste laced with vodka. Kayla cheers and starts moving to the beat again, but I know she’ll be keeping a close eye on me tonight.
God bless her.
I move from my spot along the wall in search of another drink. I’m going to need another and then some if I’m going to get through this night without thinking about this shit storm my life has turned into.
You should have listened to your mother, my brain tells me, like I hadn’t already figured that out. But that’s another one of those thoughts I’m supposed to suppress tonight.
I fill my cup with Kayla’s specialty drink, jungle juice, and take a swig, this time feeling a different set of eyes on me. I turn to find them and find the mysterious hottie leaning against the wall, a beer in his large tan hand, staring at me.
Well, well, well… my inner goddess preens.
I watch as he lifts the brown bottle toward me before he places it against his thick lips, almost hidden beneath the dark hair lining his face, and takes a drink.
He's looking at me like a starving man who’s about to devour his last meal.
My heart thuds heavily in my chest, and I reach down to smooth down the little black cocktail dress Kayla bought for me.
His gaze follows my movement, raking my body from head to toe, his eyes darkening on me even more. He smirks an eyebrow at me, clearly liking what he sees, and for the first time in months, I feel like a wanted woman.
He pushes off the wall and takes a step toward
me, like a man on a mission. As he approaches me, I can’t help thinking maybe a New Year’s kiss isn’t out of the question after all.
THE END
Dear Reader,
I never intended Annabelle to get a story, but when I was asked to participate in this NYE Kiss Collaboration, her story was all I could think about. I know Annabelle’s story is much shorter than the other Lost Series books, but you will see more of her in Evie and Marley’s book.
She and Jordan have been in love with each other for such a long time, that I felt it was necessary to keep their story from dragging on… Besides, Annabelle is one of the strongest women in this series, and while she’d be afraid to fall in love again, she wouldn’t play games when it happened. Regardless, I hope you enjoyed Annabelle and Jordan’s story.
Until next time… Get lost in love…
Tracie
Acknowledgments
As always, I want to thank my husband and children for always supporting me and my quest to tell a story. Thank you for being my biggest cheerleaders! I love you all so much, words cannot express what you mean to me.
Thank you, Mayra Statham, for always encouraging me and inspiring me. I would not be able to do what I do without your friendship and support.
Thank you, Julia Goda, for doing your thing to make my stories shine! You truly rock as what you do, and I am eternally grateful.
Finally, thank you to you the reader. I hope you enjoyed this story and come back for more!
About the Author
Surviving on caffeine most days, Tracie Douglas lives in the mountains of Southern California with her husband, two children, and one dog. She spends her days chasing children and the fur baby, all while maintaining the illusion of sanity.
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