by Mia Ford
His face is twisted in annoyance. But I know him well enough to know that he would worry more if he didn’t see Brooks at all.
“It’s nice that he’s trusting you to handle everything on your own,” I venture.
Kyle grumbles, but a faint flush rises to his cheeks. It’s been no secret, in recent months, that Brooks has been angling for Kyle to eventually take over the business. As his only other worker, and the only one he personally trained, it doesn’t surprise me that Brooks would want this for Kyle.
“Damn old man keeps talking about fucking retirement,” Kyle says with a scowl. “I think he’s joking around; he’s going to outlive all of us from spite.”
I smile softly, deciding not to comment on that. To Kyle, Brooks has been like a father, taking up the mantel after his biological father passed away. I just pat his arm and stretch.
“What about the house?” I ask. “The one your club is using. How’s that going?”
Kyle’s face brightens. Two weeks ago, some incredible news came through; the town hall finally stopped dragging their feet and decided to sign over the house as public property. It isn’t owned by the Roughshod Rollers, but they are leasing it. On top of that, they struck a damn good deal with the authorities; they’re paying a pittance every month under the condition that the club fixes the place up themselves.
The Roughshod Rollers definitely got the better end of the deal, but, privately, I think the council knew what they were doing. I saw the house before they started any work on it. The place looked like a stiff wind could blow it over. They definitely have their work cut out for them.
“It’s pretty good,” Kyle says, pleased. “Ethan finished drawing up the plans for it; we’re thinking about just knocking some walls out and starting again.”
“I think that’s the best way to go about it,” I agree with a laugh. “It’s better for you to bring the roof down yourselves instead of have the thing come down on top of you when you aren’t expecting it.”
“That’s what Ethan said,” Kyle says with a grin. “We’ll keep the foundations and work our way up.”
“Are you hiring some builders to do some of the initial work?” I ask curiously.
Kyle shakes his head. “We have a few guys that build as a trade, so they’re doing us a good deal,” he explained. “But we have to tear it down ourselves.” He winks at me. “Want to grab a hammer next week and work off some stress?”
I beam. He knows me so well.
“Yes, please,” I say with feeling. “Will the roof be down by then?”
“It’s coming down this weekend,” Kyle says. “We’ve spent the last week moving everything in it out. Not that there was much left; a few items and some furniture. Grant offered to store it at the bar after checking to make sure it was okay with the owner. There’s a backroom that no one uses, so the stuff will be okay in there for a little while.”
“Sounds like you guys have been busy,” I say, impressed. “No wonder this is the first time I’ve seen you since Wednesday.”
“Yeah, sorry about that,” Kyle says sheepishly.
“It’s fine, I understand,” I assure him. “I’ve been pretty busy myself.” I smile at him. “But I’ve been looking forward to our date.”
I don’t know much. On Thursday, Kyle sent me a message to ask if I wanted to go on a date on Saturday afternoon. Intrigued, I accepted, and he told me he would pick me up at two o’clock for a late lunch. When I tried to ask him where we were going, he refused to say.
I raise an eyebrow at him.
“Actually, have you been avoiding me so I don’t bug you?” I ask suspiciously.
“No,” Kyle says, but it doesn’t sound convincing. He clears his throat. “Almost ready to go?”
I roll my eyes at his clear avoidance, and snap my book closed. “Fine. Let me get my jacket and helmet.”
It took almost a week for me to convince Kyle that I was really okay with being driven around on his motorbike, which was, admittedly, my own fault. It’s not my favorite pastime, but I certainly don’t mind pressing close to Kyle for warmth and security as the wind whips through me. In the end, I got tired of his stubbornness and marched into a specialty store to buy my own helmet and jacket, and met him outside one day.
The look on his face was priceless.
I told him I don’t want to go everywhere on the bike, though, and he compromised by buying a small car off Brooks. He got it for cheap because Brooks told him it needed fixing up, and he worked on it for several days to get it ready for us. Now it sits in my parking spot under my apartment for whenever we want to use it.
“Hey,” Kyle says, frowning down at a box. “What’s this doing here?”
“My mother brought it over on Thursday,” I explain as I stand.
Kyle rolls his eyes at me and bends down to pick the box up. I hide a grin behind my hand as he carries it to my cupboard. True to his word, he came around to help me unpack and clean my apartment when I moved here, and he tends to pick up after me when he visits. Jacqui is already joking about how he just needs to move in so he only has to keep one apartment clean.
“Sorry,” I say to him, trying not to laugh. “I can unpack it when we get back.”
“I’m sure you will,” Kyle says dryly; he doesn’t sound like he believes me.
I duck into my room and giggle. It’s honestly hilarious to see Kyle, with his messy hair, rough beard and broad build, fussing over the cleanliness of my apartment.
My helmet is sitting near my dresser, where I dropped it the other day, and my jacket is lying at the end of my bed. I retrieve them both and leave my room, unable to help the grin that spreads over my face.
“Ready?” Kyle asks.
“Ready,” I confirm, shrugging my jacket on and zipping it up. “Are you going to tell me where we’re going yet?”
“Not until we get there,” Kyle says.
He looks pleased, so I don’t bother him as we leave the apartment, firmly locking the door behind us. Mr. Hudson is still out the front, chatting with Mrs. Foster from next door, and they both frown at us as we leave. It’s like having two Mrs. Phillips living near me. I just grin at them both and put my helmet on.
We mount the bike and I scoot close to Kyle. This is definitely my favorite part of riding the bike. I can feel his muscles shifting in my tight hold, and the engine roars to life beneath us. Then we pull away from the curb and into traffic.
I close my eyes and lay my head against Kyle’s back. I don’t like to watch as we weave among the cars, so I just listen to the world moving around me. All too soon, though, we slow to a stop, and I open my eyes, wondering where we are.
It doesn’t look like anywhere special, just a small park with lots of trees and bushes. There’s a children’s playset over in the corner and there are shrieks of laughter coming from it as a few kids run around. I pass this park all the time.
“Why are we here?” I ask, confused.
“Just wait,” Kyle says, stepping off the bike and helping me down.
We lock it up and enter the park. Kyle veers into the trees, where it’s denser and more closed off from the outside world. I follow him blindly, grateful for the leather jacket that protects my arms from the scratching branches.
Finally, Kyle comes to a stop, and I lean around him, interested what all the secrecy is about. My eyes widen.
“A picnic?” I ask, blinking. “You’re taking me on a picnic?”
“Yeah,” Kyle says with a small smile.
It isn’t fancy, just a large plaid blanket on the ground with a wicker basket sitting beside it. But it’s the thought that counts and I smile as I lean against Kyle.
“Wow,” I say. “I didn’t expect this. What’s it for?”
“I just thought it would be nice,” Kyle says with a shrug.
I laugh and punch him lightly on the shoulder. “Better not let your friends see it. What would they think about big, rough Kyle sitting down for a picnic with his girlfriend?”
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p; Kyle glances at me, his eyes serious. “If they say anything, I’d tell them to fuck off and let me enjoy my picnic.”
I laugh. But then he turns around and puts his hands on my shoulders.
“I did this for you,” he says. “I know this doesn’t seem like something I would normally like, and it isn’t. But I know it’s something you enjoy.” He smiles at me, his expression soft. “So I set it up for you.”
“You didn’t have to do that, Kyle,” I say, touched.
“I know,” Kyle says. “But I would do anything to make you happy.”
He leans down and presses a soft kiss against my lips. I press my body eagerly against his, flushed with warmth at his words. I really do love this man.
“You’re amazing.” I murmur. “I love you, you know that, right? God, I want you so badly right now.”
“I know,” Kyle says. Then he pulls away. “But lunch is getting cold, and there are children only a few feet away.”
I snort. “Look at you, being all responsible. Fine, I’m taking a rain check, then.”
Kyle laughs. “Gladly. And I love you, too.”
I smile. It was a rough road to get here (and, admittedly, I didn’t make it any easier), but it was all worth it to be sitting here, on this blanket, with Kyle.
“What did you bring me?” I ask, pulling the basket toward myself and peering inside.
There’s a bottle of soda as well as packet of cookies and a few pre-packaged sandwiches. I grin; I hadn’t expected Kyle to make anything, since he has a tendency to burn everything when he tries.
“Awesome, ham and cheese,” I say cheerfully, pulling out one of the sandwiches. “My favorite. And, ooh, are these chocolate chip?”
“You’ve been working on assignments all morning, so I figured some chocolate might perk you up,” Kyle says with a laugh when I tear the packet open.
“Yum,” I say, selecting a cookie. “Actually, I had the best cookie I’ve ever tasted the other day. Did I tell you I met up with an old friend?”
“You mentioned it,” Kyle says, taking a sandwich. “What was her name again?”
“Jessica,” I reminded him. “I haven’t seen her in years. She has a kid now! Damn, that makes me feel old. Anyway, the kid was in daycare, so we met up for coffee. We went to that café near Jacqui’s place – you know, the place you stalked me from.”
Kyle splutters. “I wasn’t stalking you!”
I wink at him. That joke never gets old.
“Anyway, they make fresh cookies every day,” I continue. “Did you ever try one?”
“No, I just drank coffee there,” Kyle says. He pulls out the bottle of soda and a few plastic cups. “Do you want a drink?”
“Yeah, thanks,” I say. “You definitely should try one of their cookies, they’re heavenly. Maybe I’ll take you there on our next date.”
“I’ll look forward to it,” Kyle says with a smile.
“Though not on Wednesday,” I say. “I’m meeting with Jessica again. She seems really lonely, so I’m hoping we can meet up a bit more. I should introduce you to her.” I grin. “Got any eligible bachelors in your group? She’s a single mom, so she could use a little company.”
Kyle laughs. “How about you just let her get used to getting out a bit more. I remember when Lily was younger; Ethan was overwhelmed by trying to look after her and getting some time to himself. Thankfully, he did have Georgia to keep him in line.”
“Maybe we should introduce Ethan and Jessica,” I say thoughtfully. “They can exchange stories, and Ethan can give her some advice. Her son is still pretty young, and she looked really frazzled.”
“It might be a thought,” Kyle agrees. He laughs. “It might even be the push Georgia needs to make a move.”
I laugh with Kyle. It’s nice to be sitting here, laughing about our friends and making jokes. I can feel his shoulder pressing against mine, warm and comfortable. Slowly, I lean into him and smile.
I almost let this go once. But now that I have it once more, I’ll never let him go again.
I hope you enjoyed your time with Allison and Kyle! If you loved this one, you would not want to miss my Amazon TOP 100 book and a bestseller in many categories. And it’s a boxed of 4 stories, Dark Desires I have included an excerpt from the same in the following pages. So, keep reading!
Excerpt
A collection of 4 full length bad boy novels that are hot, steamy, and down right addicting!!!!!! It may be hot this summer, but you won’t mind getting hotter while reading this set!!!!
Taken
I never thought I’d sleep with the man who murdered my fiancé…it wasn’t just a one-night-stand…
Alessio was more than just a crime boss…strong and tough, the kind of passionate man I’d always wanted.
But I had to testify against him…and if I didn’t, I’d never be able to seek revenge.
Alessio told me he’d changed.
But I never expected my heart to change.
What was going to happen now?
Betrayed
I’d gone undercover before, but never with the intention of getting a suspect into my bed.
That’s how hot Sean O’Connor was.
A criminal and yet the hottest crook I’d ever seen…so sexy he makes my mouth water and my panties melt.
I wanted to cuff him to my bed and make him sing like a bird.
But it’s hard to slap the cuffs on a guy when his tongue is in your ear and his arms are wrapped around you so tight you can barely breathe.
I know if I’m not careful, he might steal my heart and run.
I can’t let that happen.
I’m a cop and he’s a crook.
And when it comes down to the wire, Sean O’Connor is going down, no matter the cost.
Rescue Me
I love my life the way it is.
No commitments, no heartbreaks!
That’s until Josie enters my life.
One look at those perfectly structured curves and legs that could go on forever,
And I’m hooked.
But things are not as simple as they seem.
Josie and Blaine – they say we’re made for each other.
Until death, mayhem, trickery, and suspense follows us down what appears to be a dead-end road.
But guess what…
I found a new purpose to my life – Protecting Josie.
And this time, I am not letting her go…
Fatal Attraction
Pregnant. A baby. A lifelong commitment. Seems fu@king serious.
Well, I don’t do commitments.
I believe in fun and one night stands.
And that was supposed to be just one such night.
But now, I can’t stop thinking about her.
Maybe it’s time for a change…
Her perfect skin, those sparkling blue eyes, and that captivating smile.
Let’s just call her irresistible;
My brain says no but my heart wants to take control,
And that’s how she enters my world.
A world where fighting criminals is a routine.
But soon it got too dangerous.
Someone wants me dead.
They don’t care whom they take along the way.
Even if it’s Cici or our baby;
Now, all I know is I have two lives to protect.
I need to bring that smile back on her face and make her happy.
And no one can prevent that from happening. Absolutely no one!
Alessio
Thanks to that nosy brunette bitch, Beth, I served six months in Rikers Island for violating parole and cocaine possession. I spent every single day of those six months cursing her. I couldn’t wait to get out of jail – then I’d be able to really make that bitch sorry.
I hadn’t counted on her being so sexy. I hadn’t thought someone like Beth would be capable of arousing someone like me. But somehow, her innocence and naiveté turned me on more than ever before. Soon, the nosy little cunt wa
s all I could think about.
Fucking her didn’t get her out of my system. But she’d be the one fucking me if I didn’t convince her to change her mind and refuse to testify against me.
And there was no way I could let that happen.
Beth
I never thought I’d sleep with the man who murdered my fiancé, Michael Bennett. But Alessio Amoruso wasn’t just a one-night-stand…I was starting to realize that he was more than just a crime boss with a sick sense of humor. He was strong and tough, the kind of passionate man I’d always wanted.
Too bad there was the little problem of Alessio murdering my fiancé. If I didn’t testify against Alessio, I’d never have revenge against the man who’d first asked me to marry him. Alessio told me that he’d changed. He swore up and down that he’d do whatever it took to prove that he was a different man.
But I never expected my heart to change. What was going to happen now that I was falling in love with the man who murdered my fiancé?
Alessio
I smiled as I sat down in the leather executive chair behind my desk. The morning papers were spread across the desk surface, along with my breakfast – freshly squeezed orange juice, a bran English muffin with peanut butter, and half of an apple, sliced neatly into wedges.
Picking up the paper, I stared at the headline on the first page.
“AFTER A TRAGIC YEAR, AMORUSO FAMILY REBUILDS”
Damn straight we’re rebuilding, I thought with a smirk as I opened the paper to the article and began skimming down the page. The photo accompanying the headline showed our flagship restaurant, Amoruso’s, with all of the wait staff standing out front and smiling. I grinned at the sight of the hostesses and waitresses in their short black skirts with tiny white aprons. When my father, Gianni, had founded the local chain, he’d decided that he was only going to hire the prettiest girls and make them wear the sluttiest uniforms possible. Forty years later, it was seen as a little jab against the nature of the politically correct world. But I enjoyed it. I’d fucked a lot of those girls in my day, and I didn’t plan on stopping. Just because I was thirty-eight didn’t mean that I was slowing down.
