by Anna Blakely
“Point taken.” Dan took a swig of his beer. “Hover away.”
Chuckling, Alex put some more patties on the grill. His smile, however, didn’t last long.
“I just keep thinking about it, you know. How close we came to losing both her and Zoe.”
Thankfully, Zoe had pulled through surgery with flying colors and was scheduled to go back to work in a couple weeks. Of course, if Rhys had anything to say about it, the woman would be on bed rest for another month.
With a mental shake of his head, he wondered for the millionth time when that guy was going to finally man up and tell Zoe how he felt about her. Not that Alex had much room to talk.
He should’ve told Eden how he felt about her a long damn time ago. He’d made a promise—to himself and her that, going forward, he would always be honest with her. About everything.
Dan squeezed his shoulder. “I know exactly how you’re feeling, brother. Trust me.”
Alex glanced over at him. “So, how do you do it?”
“Do what?”
“Everything.” He shook his head. “I can’t imagine what you went through when Mia was shot. I mean, hell. I know it’s not realistic, but all I want to do is lock Eden away someplace safe, where I know she’ll never be hurt again.”
“You’re right. That isn’t realistic.”
Both Alex and Dan turned to see Mike D’Antoni walking across the patio to join them. Handing them each a fresh beer, he looked over to the women then back to Alex.
“We’d all like to do the same with our wives, but the truth is, they’d resent the hell out of us if we tried.”
Alex took in Eden’s smiling face again. “I know you’re right. You both are. It’s just killing me to think about going back to the way things were before.”
“What do you mean?” Dan’s brows turned inward.
Alex shrugged, swallowing a swig of beer. “You know. Going back to work. Spending all those shitty hours away from her every day while she’s left alone.”
Dan shared a look with Mike, who gave him a single nod.
“What?” Alex asked cautiously.
His friend looked back at him. “We want you to come work for Phoenix.”
With his gaze bouncing back and forth between the two men, Alex was stunned at what he saw. “You’re serious.”
“Between your time serving with Force Recon and your law enforcement experience, you’re exactly the kind of agent The Phoenix Agency is looking for,” Mike told him.
Dan nodded. “Mike’s already spoken to the others at our Maryland office. They all agree. You’d still work closely with me and the rest of the San Antonio agents, but your home base would be on the East Coast.”
Mike smirked. “Job’s yours, Bennett. If you want it.”
Alex didn’t know what to say. He and Dan had joked over the years about him coming to work for Phoenix, but he’d never seriously considered it. Until now.
“I don’t know, guys. I already have a job.”
With a snort, Dan said, “One you feel obligated to with a boss you barely tolerate.”
The man had a point. The only reason he’d stayed as long as he had was for his team. Garrett would be pissed as hell. Then again…with Garrett’s military background, there was a chance he could talk his partner into applying with Phoenix, too.
“Would be a hell of a jump in pay.” Dan gave him a smile. “Not to mention the benefits and perks that come with working for Phoenix.”
Alex looked over at Eden. As if she could feel his gaze, she turned and smiled back at him. This was definitely not a decision he could make on his own.
Sensing his hesitation, Mike spoke up again. “Not gonna lie, Alex. The hours aren’t always perfect. But I can honestly say you’ll be home more nights than you’re not.” He slid a glance in Eden’s direction. “Should take away some of those concerns you mentioned.”
Eden began walking toward them. In a flowered sundress and sandals, the woman was a vision beneath the warm Texas sun.
When she got to his side, she leaned up and gave him a quick kiss on the cheek. “What has you looking so serious?”
Enveloped in the scent of vanilla and strawberries, Alex opened his mouth to answer her, but Dan beat him to it.
“We’re trying to talk your boyfriend into working for us.”
“Really?” Her eyes lit up.
Her excitement surprised him. “You think I should?”
Eden tucked some of her dark hair behind one ear. With confusion in those gorgeous eyes of hers, she crossed her arms and looked up at him.
“You don’t?”
“We’ll give you two a minute to talk,” Dan offered. Both he and Mike headed over to where their wives were sitting.
“So.” Eden smiled up at him. “Tell me what you’re thinking.”
Alex wanted to laugh. With one touch, she could probably read his thoughts and feelings better than he could, but she didn’t. She wanted to give him time to think it through on his own.
Just one more reason I love her.
“I think it’s a great opportunity,” he said truthfully.
“But?”
Okay, so maybe she didn’t need to touch him to pick up on his feelings.
Alex grinned. “But it would mean moving to Maryland.”
Squinting against the bright sun, she asked, “And this is a problem because?”
Was she saying what he thought she was saying? “You’d move to the East Coast with me?”
She answered his question with one of her own. “Do you want me to move there with you?”
“Only if you’d be happy.” Alex rested his hands on her narrow hips. “Look, Eden…I know we haven’t really had a lot of time to discuss the future, but I’m in this for the long haul. I love you, and I want to build a life with you.”
“In Maryland?”
He bent down and pressed his lips to hers. “As long as I have you by my side, I don’t care where we live.”
“I feel the same way,” she whispered back.
“Marry me.” Shit. He hadn’t meant to just blurt it out like that.
Eden’s eyes grew as big as saucers. “What?”
Can’t take it back, now. Not that he ever would.
With a shake of his head, Alex laughed silently at himself. “I had full intentions of planning a big, romantic proposal. I was going to wait a couple more weeks until things calmed down, but…”
He got down on one knee. Eden’s feminine gasp was echoed by Mia’s and Kat’s, plus a ‘holy shit’ from one of the guys, but Alex ignored the others and focused on the only thing that really mattered in his life.
*****
Oh. My. God.
Eden couldn’t breathe, let alone speak.
“I don’t have a ring yet, but I’ll get one,” Alex told her quickly.
Unshed tears welled in her eyes, but she ignored them. Staring down at his blurred image, she shook her head and said, “I don’t care.” And she really didn’t.
Alex took her hand in his. “I think I’ve loved you from the moment I first saw you. Almost losing you made me realize my life is nothing without you in it.”
“Alex.”
“I’m serious, Eden. Chicago or Maryland, the only life I want is the one with you in it. So, what do you say? Will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?”
Tears streamed down her face, but Eden finally managed to choke out a whispered, “Yes! God, yes!”
Pure happiness filled Alex’s face as he shot to his feet. Without warning, he hauled her into his arms and slammed his lips against hers.
Eden wrapped her arms around his neck, squealing when they began to spin. By the time he sat her back onto her feet, they were both breathless.
Applause and cheers of joy erupted from the patio table as Mia, Kat, Dan, and Mike all rushed to congratulate them. After the handshakes and hugs, Mia looked at Eden expectantly.
“Does this mean you’ve decided to come on board with us?”
&n
bsp; Chagrinned, Eden glanced up at Alex. “I didn’t have a chance to tell you yet, but Mia offered me a job working for Phoenix Psi.”
“Which also happens to be in Maryland,” Dan smirked.
“Really?” Alex looked at the others. They were all smiles, even the two men. “Sweetheart, that’s great.”
“Right?” Excitement lit up her entire face. “I’ll be able to do the same sort of thing I did consulting with your unit in Chicago but with Phoenix’s resources.”
“Plus, she’ll have all of us,” Mia added. She looked at Eden then to him. “Surrounding yourself with people who not only support your unique ability but encourage it’s use is a priceless gift. Trust me, I know this from personal experience.”
“So, do I.” Kat put an arm around Mike. “Not to mention we’ve already spoken with Faith’s aunt Vivi about setting up a time to meet with some of the women of The Lotus Circle.”
“That’s a whole other experience, all its own,” Mia chuckled.
Eden couldn’t believe what had just transpired. Over the last few minutes, her entire world had been turned upside down…and all for the better.
“So, we’re really doing this?” Alex pulled her in close. “We’re getting married and moving to Maryland to work for The Phoenix Agency?”
Eden rose to her tiptoes and brushed her lips against his. “We’re really doing this.”
Forgetting all about their audience, Alex kissed her again. This time, he took it a little farther. Deeper.
The sweet, sensual contact filled her with more love than she could have ever imagined, and Eden reveled in the knowledge that this man was truly hers…forever and always.
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Where do you go when your life is in danger?
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2020
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Fatal Connections by Anna Blakely
Hi, there! First, I’d like to say THANK YOU for purchasing Fatal Connection. When Desiree asked me to be a part of her Phoenix World Re-launch, I was incredibly honored and excited. I was also very nervous. Fatal Connection is the first paranormal romance story I’ve written, and honestly, I wasn’t sure how it was going to go. Desiree is such an AMAZING woman and author, and I wanted to do her proud.
Second, I wanted to personally invite you to join my Facebook reader group, Blakely’s Bunch. It’s a fun, no-judgement zone filled with sexy, goofy posts, weekly contests, exclusive insight into my newest releases, cover reveals, and more. I also have a tendency to share stuff in there about my life in general, including my incredible, crazy family and all of our many, MANY animals. (Seriously, y’all…we have a donkey named Fred, if that tells you anything lol).
I hope you’ll decide to join me and all my other fantastic, fun readers in Blakely’s Bunch. Trust me, you won’t be sorry. (At least I don’t THINK you will be, anyway *wink*).
XOXO,
Anna B.
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Table of Contents
The Phoenix Agency
Prologue
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Titles in The Phoenix Agency by Desiree Holt
Decadent Publishing Phoenix Agency Releases