To Catch a Thief

by Nana Malone

  Alex had made no bones about being done with me. He was so over my bullshit. "So you're telling me that you finally have the girl of your dreams. Finally. You could have her anytime, and you're busy being mad at her?"

  I frowned. "I'm not mad at her. I just… She lied to me."

  You lied too.

  Yes, that little piece of truth gnawed at me. I had lied. Over and over. But I'd done it to protect Tessa.

  You did it to protect yourself.

  All right, fair enough. Still, how was I supposed to know if she was with me because she was trying to get back at Max or back at me? It was a lot.

  "God, how can someone so smart be so dumb? You are in love with that girl."

  "I was falling for her."

  "And because your brother said one thing, you believe him and drop her?"

  I frowned. "I didn't drop her. I just need some time."

  Alex laughed. "Exactly how much time do you need? Because you've been a prick."

  I rolled my eyes. "I mean, I could figure this out if you lot would just leave me to my own devices.”

  Liam used one of the nearby benches to stretch. "All right, since you asked for the truth, you're a twat. A complete knobhead. An unmitigated failure of a human being. Yeah, she may not have told you the truth, but she was actually trying to help you."

  "Without talking to me? Leaving me in the dark? Trying to find my brother?"

  "So exactly what was she supposed to say to you? My path is intertwined with yours. Help me find him and get this cop off my back? You wouldn't even talk about it. We're your best mates, and you wouldn't even talk to us about it."

  I shook my head. "You're not my best mates."

  Liam just laughed. "Let me be really clear with you. We're your only mates."

  That was fair.

  Liam looked at me. "So just tell me this, are you happy? When all is said and done, Max is behind bars, and Rian is safe but out of reach. But are you happy?"

  Tessa was safe, and everything else seemed to have worked out all on its own. But that was a damn good question. One I couldn't exactly answer. So I played dumb. "What the fuck are you talking about?"

  "You can't answer. You're not happy. You haven't been happy. You blew the chance of being happy."

  Was I going to let Max ruin it all?

  "I never did like you two very much."

  Alex grinned then. "Well, good thing we like you plenty. Oh, also, good thing she loves you too."

  I frowned. "Who?"

  Alex pointed over his shoulder, and I could see her walking up the path. And then I glowered at my two so-called friends. "You did this?"

  Liam just laughed. "I'm just going to finish this run with Alex. We'll see you back at the office."

  Oh, that little prick.

  Just the sight of her was the sweetest feeling. All her hair was piled on top of her head in the messiest of buns. She was fresh-faced. Not a hint of makeup anywhere. And I wondered why she even wore the stuff because she was… well… I missed her.

  "So, you called my lads?"

  She shrugged. "Well, I knew you lot would be here this time of the day, and I wanted to talk to you."

  "Are you okay?"

  She gave me a harsh chuckle. "I'm quite okay."

  I rolled my shoulders. "Fair point."

  "Physically, I'm fine. Mentally, I'm getting there, I guess."

  "Do you remember anything?"

  "Yeah, it's fine. I remember everything that happened."

  I felt the slice of pain through my heart, thinking about my brother walking in on us, the way he laughed, the way he laid me bare. And then laid waste to everything that I had.

  "You wanted to see me?"

  "Yeah. I just needed to say I'm sorry one more time."

  I frowned. "What?"

  "I know I hurt you. I shouldn't have tried to handle Max on my own. I should have just told you. But you didn't want to talk about it, and I thought you'd stop me. I thought if I could just get him off your back, things would be okay. So I tried to handle it around you, and that was not the right move. I know that now."

  I listened to her talking, and I just stared at her lips as she spoke.

  "Just so you know, I didn't tell DI Jones anything. About you, or Liam, or Alex. Nothing about Monaco. She knows nothing about any of that. I was a fool when I gave her the pendant. I didn't realize it was from you, and I freaked out. I thought Max was trying to leave me a message of some sort. I don't know. I was so stupid."

  She kept talking and as I listened, I knew Liam was right. I was falling for this girl. The more I kept myself separate, eventually, she'd get tired and walk away for good. And I might pretend like I wanted that, but I didn't. I didn't want to be alone. I wanted to be able to trust somebody. And that started with her. So as she talked, I made my choice, because in the end, that's what it really was. The choice to be happy. I could choose to move forward or I could choose to look back. I wasn't looking back anymore.

  She stopped talking when I stepped closer to her. "Ollie?"

  "I love you. You know that?"

  She blinked rapidly. "What?"

  "I love you."

  “I don’t understand.”

  "Uh, I don't know how to say it in any other language. I'll learn though."

  She just stood there, speechless.

  "Olivia tried to tell me. Hell, Bridge tried to tell me. My mates just tried to tell me too, but I turned a blind eye on them. You see, Rian, I always felt like I had to be alone. All that shit with Max made me feel like I didn't deserve anyone who loved me. I felt like I didn't deserve to be with someone. But it's not about deserving. It's about the choices you make. I shouldn't have pulled away from you. I should have recognized that was Max's whole plan. And I'm sorry."

  With just a foot between us, she started to shake, her eyes welling with tears. "Ollie?"

  Her voice broke and then I closed the gap between us, wrapping my arms around her and pulling her close. When I tucked her smaller body against mine, I relaxed for the first time since we'd been interrupted by my brother. "I love you. I have loved you from the moment I saw you. From the first moment I felt jealousy, I have loved you. And nothing is going to keep us apart again."

  "I love you too, Ollie. No more running."

  "Yeah, no more running. No more secrets."

  "All my secrets are bared for you. Always."

  Epilogue

  Bridge

  Bridge

  I hadn't been staying at the house lately. Suddenly, it seemed I had turned into Ben before Livy came along. I had a big fancy house and refused to stay in it.

  What the fuck was wrong with me?

  What's wrong is that the woman you thought you loved was sent by your fucking father.

  It was like the old man would never cease to be a thorn in my side.

  He wanted nothing to do with me publicly, but he still wanted to control me.

  I grabbed the pillow and rolled over in the bed again. I was hot. Tight. Itchy. I just wanted out of my own fucking skin.

  It was then that I heard something in the other room.

  What the fuck was that?

  I sat still, calmed my breathing, and waited. That was definitely a muttered curse coming from the living room of the suite.

  Fucking Christ, that was the last thing I needed. There had been a time when I'd been a different person, rough around the edges, the one that was likely to end up in jail. Angry all of the time, and I was angry for reasons I couldn't control. I’d smoothed those rough edges and made something of my life, but now, it seemed like the old me needed to come to the forefront or something very bad was going to happen.

  Under my bedside table, I reached for the one thing vested in my former life that I kept handy. The swift blade was just as I remembered it. Cold. Delicate. Deadly.

  Just like Mina.

  I shoved the thoughts of my ex out of my head. I didn't want to think about her and all her lies.

  I sprung up out of be
d. I slept commando, so I padded over to the closet and eased the bottom drawer open on the far left. I took a pair of boxers from it and swiftly put them on. If I was about to have a fight, there was no need to have the lads flying about uncovered.

  Luckily, I slept with my door slightly ajar, so easing into the living room didn’t cause any unwanted sound. Then I saw it. The shadow in the study, going through my things.

  What the fuck? How had anyone gotten in here?

  My feet moved of their own volition. My rational brain was chirping up with things like, ’Call security. You are closer to the door than to the study, so just leave.’ Or the oh so helpful, ‘At least put a fucking shirt on.’

  No, I wasn't going to do any of those things. I was going to find out who the fuck was in my suite.

  The study door was open, and I saw someone in a uniform. Black vest, long-sleeved white shirt. One of my fucking employees? I could play this scenario one of two ways. I could approach, turn on the lights, and ask them what the fuck they thought they were doing, or I could jump them. Option two seemed excellent to me.

  With a step-over-step motion, I slid against the window to the living room. And then, it was easy.

  One arm in a choke hold, the other pressing the knife against the jugular, leaning close. But that smell. A woman?

  And why did she smell so fucking familiar?

  My fucking dick didn't seem to know any better. This wasn't some game with a girl who liked it rough. This was deadly serious. But God, why did she smell... and then I knew why. I whipped my intruder around so fast that she squeaked, and with my hand on her throat, I backed her up against the wall and placed the knife to her jugular again.

  "What the fuck are you doing in here, Emma?"

  To be continued in London Bridge…

  I’m the fool who promised to protect her above all else. She’s my best mate’s little sister. And all she wants is to get vengeance for her brother…something I can’t let her do.

  Order London Bridge NOW!

  * * *

  It began with a stolen almost-kiss. And ended in revenge. She was never supposed to cross my path.

  She was never supposed to know about the oaths I swore or the secrets I keep.

  I’m trapped. She’s my only way out. When our worlds collide, will we survive the danger and give into our passion?

  Read BIG BEN now!

  “…a dramatic, suspenseful and amazing read that you just can't put down. I loved it!”———Goodreads Reviewer

  Can’t get enough royals? Meet a cocky, billionaire prince that goes undercover in Cheeky Royal!

  * * *

  He’s a prince with a secret to protect. The last distraction he can afford is his gorgeous as sin new neighbor.

  * * *

  His secrets could get them killed, but still, he can’t stay away…

  Read Cheeky Royal now!

  Turn the page for an excerpt from Cheeky Royal…

  Also from Nana Malone

  Cheeky Royal

  “You make a really good model. I’m sure dozens of artists have volunteered to paint you before.”

  He shook his head. “Not that I can recall. Why? Are you offering?”

  * * *

  I grinned. “I usually do nudes.” Why did I say that? It wasn’t true. Because you’re hoping he’ll volunteer as tribute.

  * * *

  He shrugged then reached behind his back and pulled his shirt up, tugged it free, and tossed it aside. “How is this for nude?”

  * * *

  Fuck. Me. I stared for a moment, mouth open and looking like an idiot. Then, well, I snapped a picture. Okay fine, I snapped several. “Uh, that’s a start.”

  * * *

  He ran a hand through his hair and tussled it, so I snapped several of that. These were romance-cover gold. Getting into it, he started posing for me, making silly faces. I got closer to him, snapping more close-ups of his face. That incredible face.

  * * *

  Then suddenly he went deadly serious again, the intensity in his eyes going harder somehow, sharper. Like a razor. “You look nervous. I thought you said you were used to nudes.”

  * * *

  I swallowed around the lump in my throat. “Yeah, at school whenever we had a model, they were always nude. I got used to it.”

  * * *

  He narrowed his gaze. “Are you sure about that?”

  Shit. He could tell. “Yeah, I am. It’s just a human form. Male. Female. No big deal.”

  * * *

  His lopsided grin flashed, and my stomach flipped. Stupid traitorous body…and damn him for being so damn good looking. I tried to keep the lens centered on his face, but I had to get several of his abs, for you know…research.

  But when his hand rubbed over his stomach and then slid to the button on his jeans, I gasped, “What are you doing?”

  “Well, you said you were used doing nudes. Will that make you more comfortable as a photographer?”

  * * *

  I swallowed again, unable to answer, wanting to know what he was doing, how far he would go. And how far would I go?

  * * *

  The button popped, and I swallowed the sawdust in my mouth. I snapped a picture of his hands.

  * * *

  Well yeah, and his abs. So sue me. He popped another button, giving me a hint of the forbidden thing I couldn’t have. I kept snapping away. We were locked in this odd, intimate game of chicken. I swung the lens up to capture his face. His gaze was slightly hooded. His lips parted…turned on. I stepped back a step to capture all of him. His jeans loose, his feet bare. Sitting on the stool, leaning back slightly and giving me the sex face, because that’s what it was—God’s honest truth—the sex face. And I was a total goner.

  * * *

  “You’re not taking pictures, Len.” His voice was barely above a whisper.

  * * *

  “Oh, sorry.” I snapped several in succession. Full body shots, face shots, torso shots. There were several torso shots. I wanted to fully capture what was happening.

  He unbuttoned another button, taunting me, tantalizing me. Then he reached into his jeans, and my gaze snapped to meet his. I wanted to say something. Intervene in some way…help maybe…ask him what he was doing. But I couldn’t. We were locked in a game that I couldn’t break free from. Now I wanted more. I wanted to know just how far he would go.

  * * *

  Would he go nude? Or would he stay in this half-undressed state, teasing me, tempting me to do the thing that I shouldn’t do?

  * * *

  I snapped more photos, but this time I was close. I was looking down on him with the camera, angling so I could see his perfectly sculpted abs as they flexed. His hand was inside his jeans. From the bulge, I knew he was touching himself. And then I snapped my gaze up to his face.

  Sebastian licked his lip, and I captured the moment that tongue met flesh.

  * * *

  Heat flooded my body, and I pressed my thighs together to abate the ache. At that point, I was just snapping photos, completely in the zone, wanting to see what he might do next.

  * * *

  “Len…”

  “Sebastian.” My voice was so breathy I could barely get it past my lips.

  “Do you want to come closer?”

  “I--I think maybe I’m close enough?”

  His teeth grazed his bottom lip. “Are you sure about that? I have another question for you.”

  * * *

  I snapped several more images, ranging from face shots to shoulders, to torso. Yeah, I also went back to the hand-around-his-dick thing because…wow. “Yeah? Go ahead.”

  “Why didn’t you tell me about your boyfriend ‘til now?”

  Oh shit. “I—I’m not sure. I didn’t think it mattered. It sort of feels like we’re supposed to be friends.” Lies all lies.

  He stood, his big body crowding me. “Yeah, friends…”

  I swallowed hard. I couldn’t bloody think with him so close. His
scent assaulted me, sandalwood and something that was pure Sebastian wrapped around me, making me weak. Making me tingle as I inhaled his scent. Heat throbbed between my thighs, even as my knees went weak. “Sebastian, wh—what are you doing?”

  “

  Proving to you that we’re not friends. Will you let me?”

  He was asking my permission. I knew what I wanted to say. I understood what was at stake. But then he raised his hand and traced his knuckles over my cheek, and a whimper escaped.

  * * *

  His voice went softer, so low when he spoke, his words were more like a rumble than anything intelligible. “Is that you telling me to stop?”

  * * *

  Seriously, there were supposed to be words. There were. But somehow I couldn’t manage them, so like an idiot I shook my head.

  * * *

  His hand slid into my curls as he gently angled my head. When he leaned down, his lips a whisper from mine, he whispered, “This is all I’ve been thinking about.”