“I meant it when I said I love you.”
“I did, too.” She squeezed his hand. “Let’s just take it one day at a time, okay?”
Brenden nodded and leaned in.
He’d never imagined being here, finding a woman who’d not only love and accept him, but make him a better person. Priscilla challenged him, but at the end of the day, she was working with him and together they were both learning to live. And for Brenden, that was the definition of love.
Epilogue.
SIX MONTHS LATER. TAYLOR Family Reunion, Chicago, Illinois.
Priscilla was going to hurl.
A voice in the back of her head reminded her that the last time she’d lost the contents of her stomach had also been in Chicago. All over her kidnappers.
Today had no such danger factored in, unless she took into account her light blue dress and the fact that backyard barbeques were often messy.
It was too late to change now.
Brenden opened the passenger door of their rental and held out his hand. She took it and held on tight as he pulled her to her feet.
He studied her face. “You’re looking a little green.”
“I want them to like me,” she grumble-mumbled under her breath.
Who would have known she actually got nervous about meeting people she wanted to impress?
Other than a little interview nerves, she’d never gone through this before moving to Seattle a few weeks ago. When she’d gone to the first get-together that included dozens of Aegis Group employees and their families, she’d almost bolted to go back to their new little house and hide.
It was worse today. Ten times worse.
“Oaklynn likes you.” Brenden turned toward the house and looped an arm around her waist, drawing her forward.
Priscilla leaned into him.
Life had changed a lot in the last six months.
She’d quit her job. Following the initial investigation things had become increasingly awkward at work. It was best for everyone that she look elsewhere. But those few months had allowed her and Brenden an adjustment period. It had proven to her that this relationship was pure gold. She’d found a great guy and quitting her job to move across the country and take on a new opportunity was exciting and plain felt right.
“Hey, guys.” Oaklynn stepped out on the front porch.
She had one baby strapped to her front, and another perched on her hip. Priscilla was convinced the youngest Taylor girl was some kind of power lifter the way she hauled her kids around.
Brenden changed their course, meeting Oaklynn and her kids at the edge of the front porch of the old craftsman home.
“It’s so good to see you again.” Oaklynn was all smiles as she gave her brother and then Priscilla side hugs around the happily gurgling baby.
“I’m glad to be here.” Priscilla managed to get the words out and not let her smile slip.
“Everyone’s so excited to meet you.” Oaklynn took Priscilla’s other hand in hers and squeezed. “And when I say everyone it’s just us. Not a huge thing. Come on!”
Not a huge thing was a lie.
Priscilla staggered into the backyard brimming with people. There was a bounce house, the grill was going, a couple people played ping pong, and yet more stood around talking.
“It’s just my sister, our aunts and cousins. See?” Oaklynn gestured to the party that was already underway.
Priscilla froze, taking it all in.
Her family was tiny by comparison. She knew there were more back in Turkey, but she’d never met them or spent time with them. Her world of family began and ended with her mother, father and sister.
A tiny hand grasped Priscilla by the fingers. She glanced down at Oaklynn’s toddler staring up at her with a toothy grin. The smile was infectious.
“Dad needs me to go help carry some stuff in,” Brenden said to her. “You want to come with me? Or are you going to be okay with Oaklynn?”
“I’ll be okay,” Priscilla whispered staring at the kid.
“I’ll take care of her.” Oaklynn looped her arm through Priscilla’s. “Come on.”
Priscilla’s knees didn’t knock together too bad as Oaklynn and her kids led her on a parade around the back yard. After making introductions in two groups most of her nerves settled down. The hugs and smiles that met her with each new face put to rest her fears and welcomed her into a space where maybe, just maybe, she might belong someday.
Halfway through their loop Priscilla wound up with Oaklynn’s baby in her arms. The names were a blur and Priscilla knew she wasn’t going to recall many of them, but she’d never forget how happy they all were to see her.
“And you know Mom,” Oaklynn said as they closed in on the far end of the back yard.
Mrs. Taylor was a tall woman with a short brown and silver bob and a kind face. Unlike most of her family she spoke softer, in a way that reminded Priscilla of Brenden.
“It’s so nice to see you again.” Mrs. Taylor gave Priscilla’s shoulders a squeeze and kissed her cheek.
“Okay, I need to get juice for these crotch goblins.” Oaklynn gestured to the three clinging to her legs. “Will you be okay with him for a minute?”
Priscilla glanced down at the baby. “Sure.”
“You’re my hero. We’ll be right back.” Oaklynn hoisted the youngest toddler up onto her hip while the other two vied to hold their mother’s hand.
“She’s a force of nature, isn’t she?” Mrs. Taylor muttered under her breath.
“I think all of your children are.”
“But that one.” She shook her head then caught Priscilla’s eye.
They shared a smile, one that was full of things that made her insides warm.
“Have a seat?” Mrs. Taylor gestured to the wicker sofa she’d been sitting on.
“I’d love to.” Priscilla lowered herself to the cushions, the precious baby cradled to her chest.
“She’ll be having you babysit if you keep this up.” Mrs. Taylor folded a leg under her and turned to face Priscilla.
“I don’t think I could manage four.” But one? Maybe two? That wasn’t out of the question.
“While I have you...” Mrs. Taylor reached over and briefly touched Priscilla’s knee. “I know we haven’t gotten to talk much, so I’m sorry if this is... What I’m trying to say is, thank you.”
Priscilla blinked at the woman. For what? What had she done?
“You’ve been such a blessing to my son. You brought him back to us in a way we hadn’t been able to make happen. I’m so glad he has you in his life and I want you to know how happy we are to have you here.” Tears cling to Mrs. Taylor’s lashes.
Priscilla reached out and took the other woman’s hand, too moved for words.
This change, the influence she had on Brenden, it was a two-way street. For all the encouragement she’d given him to mend things with his family, he’d been right there with her when it came to figuring out a better relationship with her own family. None of it was perfect, but she was no longer alone. She had Brenden, her family and his.
“You’re here!” Oaklynn cheered, her voice slicing through the haze of endorphins.
Priscilla glanced up and froze.
Brenden stepped aside and gestured for three people to enter the back yard and join the festivities. Three very familiar people.
Priscilla’s mother, father and sister.
“Oh my...” She squeezed Mrs. Taylor’s hand even tighter.
“Surprise?” The woman chuckled and pulled Priscilla to her feet.
“How...? When...?” She made her way through the people to where Brenden was introducing his father to her own dad.
As they reached Priscilla’s family Mrs. Taylor outdistanced her by a few strides, closing in to give Priscilla’s mother a hug like old friends.
“It’s so good to meet you in person,” Mrs. Taylor said.
“In person?” Priscilla glanced at Brenden then her sister.
He merely shrugged and
smiled, an expression that was fast becoming more common. “Mom was taking a cooking class and had questions. Your mom was able to answer them. It kind of went from there.”
That seemed to be the pace of their lives. Things happened, and they rolled with it. Like kidnappings and cross-country moves and falling in love. She couldn’t think of anyone she’d want to make this journey with more than Brenden.
DAY. LOCATION, CITY, State.
Brenden was done with the crowded back yard. There were too many people. It was draining. And yet the day was a success.
He dumped a few abandoned cups in the sink, rinsed them out then stacked them to await the next run of the dishwasher as the appliance was currently chugging away.
Priscilla and her sister stood near the back porch with his mother and aunt, their conversation involving a lot of hand gestures and laughter.
She fit here. With him. In his family.
“Hey there.” Oaklynn stepped up next to him, the baby passed out in her arms. She bumped his hip with hers as she swayed.
“Hey.” He reached over and tugged on Oaklynn’s long hair, earning a playful swat from her.
She turned to face him. “Okay, so, like, when are you two getting married? Are you going to ask her tonight? Because you totally have that look.”
“What?” Brenden frowned at her. “What look?”
“The she’s-all-I-think-about kind of madly in love look.”
Brenden turned his attention back to Priscilla who was leaning forward, hanging on every word his mother said.
“That look.” Oaklynn shoved his shoulder.
Busted.
Every time he looked at Priscilla it was like that first step through his front door after an op. She was where he wanted to be.
“Not popping the question tonight, sorry,” he said.
“Well damn. You’re the worst. I assumed that’s what was going to happen when her parents showed up.”
“You did?” He frowned.
“Uh, yeah. But maybe I just have all my hopes and dreams pinned on you two tying the knot soon.” Oaklynn said it with a grin. “You picked a good one. I really like her. And not to pressure you or anything, but you should totally have kids now rather than later. I’m going to have all the baby clothes to give away, because this little guy is my last. I swear it.”
Brenden bit the inside of his mouth to keep from calling Oaklynn out. She’d said the first one was her last.
“I like her, too,” he said softly.
“Well, if you aren’t going to make a scene, I guess we’re going to load up and head home.” Oaklynn lifted up on tiptoe and gave his cheek a kiss. “As your sister, I demand to know when you plan to ask her, okay? That’s sister privilege stuff.”
After agreeing to tell her, Brenden helped gather the kid’s things and pack it out to the van where her husband was already strapping the toddlers in. As they pulled away, he turned and stared down the street his family had lived on since he’d been small.
Someday he did want to bring Priscilla back here as his wife. Maybe they’d have kids or maybe they wouldn’t. But they had time. While they’d fallen in love fast, that didn’t mean everything else had to happen in rapid fire. There was time to enjoy this period.
Things had really fallen into place, from her choosing to quit her job to moving to Seattle and a new position opening up with the wife of another Aegis Group guy who ran a nonprofit. There was a real good chance it was all going to end up perfect for once.
His life had never been so full.
“I was wondering where you’d gotten off to.”
Brenden turned and breathed a sigh. Priscilla strolled toward him in her long, blue dress and her hair down in gentle waves. Her smile grew as she closed the distance between them and curled her arms around his neck.
“Thank you,” she whispered again. She’d found him a half dozen times tonight to say that. Her dark eyes seemed to dance in the dappled moonlight under the trees. “Is there any other surprises I should be prepared for tonight? Because I’m not sure I can take much more.”
“No, no more surprises.”
She tipped her head back and narrowed her gaze.
Oaklynn’s words came back to him.
Was he sending the wrong message?
He licked his lips. Marriage wasn’t a topic they’d broached yet. In his mind, that wasn’t the next step. But maybe he’d set her up for disappointment?
“Oaklynn made me realize that I might have set you up with some false expectations about tonight,” he said slowly, picking his words with care.
“Oh?”
“I invited your family here because I thought they might help each other. And because I want to share my family with you.” There was no way to say it without saying it. “I’m not planning on asking you to marry me tonight. That’s something we should talk about. A lot. I wouldn’t surprise you with it.”
“And you used up your quota for surprises already.” She slid her fingers into his hair. That gorgeous smile of hers tugged at the corners of her mouth. “For the record, marrying you would be a no brainer.”
Brenden’s throat tightened up.
How had he gotten so damn lucky?
“Don’t look at me like that.” She pressed closer still. “I moved my whole life to be with you. You don’t think I’ve thought this through? I know what I want. In time.”
Brenden bent his head, burying his face in her hair, and knew he’d spend a lifetime loving this woman.
STAY UP TO DATE WITH the whole Lepta Team in Dangerously Taken, Dangerously Involved and Dangerously Deceived! Stay tuned for Dangerously Entwined.
Sign up for the New Release Newsletter at www.SidneyBristol.com to get inside scoops and free books.
Explore the whole Aegis world in these series...
It all began with the Aegis Group.
Dangerous Attraction
Dangerous in Training
Dangerous Games
Dangerous Assignment
Dangerous Protector
Dangerous Secrets
Dangerous Heat
More Coming Soon!
Within Aegis Group, special teams take on special jobs, beginning with the Alpha Team.
Dangerous in Love
Dangerous in Action
Dangerous in Transit
Dangerous in Motion
Dangerous in Charge
Other specialized teams exist under the Aegis Group umbrella, including Lepta Team.
Dangerously Taken
Dangerously Involved
Dangerously Deceived
Dangerously Broken
Dangerously Entwined (2019)
In Dangerous Games it continued with the Gone Geek girls.
Beauty and the Geek
Mr. Purr-fect and the Geek
The Jock and the Geek
The Gamer and the Geek
The Adorkable Girl and the Geek
The Fake Boyfriend and the Geek
When the Seattle office of Aegis Group opened the Twisted Royals took the stage.
The Origin Story
Alpha Prince
Her Prince
Bad Boy Prince
Noble Prince
Stay tuned for the appearance of the Troy Team and Omega Team.
For short reads, tune in this December for the Body of Danger novella series kick-off.
Heart for Danger
Mind for Danger (2019)
Soul for Danger (2020)
The other Smith brother takes us to the Texas SWAT series, a small town suspense series.
Fighting Redemption
Stolen Redemption
Reckless Redemption (coming soon)
Dangerously Taken
Aegis Group Lepta Team #1
The mission: Rescue an executive translator being held hostage in Iraq without falling in love.
Erin Lopez never thought her life would be more dangerous as a civilian. She hoped she'd put her days dodging bullets behind her. N
ow, her only salvation is in the arms of a slow-talking man who makes her heart remember what it's like to love again.
Retired Army Ranger Riley Smith knows what it's like to fight the past every time he closes his eyes. Erin's dark, haunted eyes only tell a fraction of her story, and when she reaches for comfort, he can't tell her no. She makes this broken man want to be whole again.
The closer Erin and Riley get to the truth behind Erin's kidnapping the more dangerous their path becomes. Someone wants Erin silenced at any price. Riley can’t let that happen, but keeping her alive means facing that their no strings attached arrangement is a lie.
Dangerously Involved
Aegis Group Lepta Team #2
The mission: Protect his one-night stand from being kidnapped and tortured.
Nolan Thompson doesn't mix business with pleasure. Too bad his latest job has him protecting the sweetest body he's ever touched. There's nothing about the cool, calculated business woman that makes him think of the sensual, shy sex kitten he met in Vegas. It shouldn't be difficult to keep his hands to himself when she's sending him "get lost" signals, but the rules change when her brother is kidnapped.
Yvonne Krieger is hiding a ticking-time-bomb of a secret with a nine-month fuse. Her unforgettable Vegas night left her with a lot more than pleasure and a memorable walk of shame with only one shoe. The very man who charmed her into bed is now the man charged with keeping her body safe and getting her troublesome little brother home. Under the growing pressure from her family to help cover up the kidnapping, Yvonne finds that the only person she can trust is Nolan.
In the face of danger, Yvonne and Nolan become unlikely allies as they attempt to piece together the mystery surrounding her brother's kidnapping. Every step brings their walls crumbling down until the line between their work and private lives is blurred. Nolan knows Yvonne is holding out on him, and he's determined to get to the bottom of the mystery and capture Yvonne's heart.
Dangerously Broken (Aegis Group Lepta Team Book 4) Page 23
