Happily Ever After: A Romance Collection

by Amelia Wilde

  “He’s lost blood. A hospital will be better suited for this procedure.” Aspen steps forward lifting her finger, and narrowing her gaze at him. “Let me get this straight. You want me to clean him, stitch him up and send you on your way?”

  Bradley and I bob our heads.

  “He stabbed him in the hand. The wounds are superficial, but they were enough to stop him,” Bradley explains pointing at the knees, the left foot, and his ear. “We followed your instructions, doctor.”

  Walking toward us is an older woman. She’s quite tall and slim, her short gray hair neat. She wears blue scrubs and a solemn face. “I better get paid overtime for this.”

  “I told you, you will.” Aspen hugs her. “I’ll introduce you once the others leave.”

  Then she turns around and points to Tiago. “Please set him down under. Activate the big light that I have on the left-hand corner of the garage. It’s next to the generator,” Aspen orders, opening the bag the nurse gave her. “Start an IV, let me check the wounds.”

  A car parks right in front of the garage. Brooklyn climbs out of it and runs toward us. “I came as fast as I could, what do we have?”

  “Nothing we can’t stitch. We’ve seen worse,” Aspen responds. “We don’t have anesthesia. We’re adding some sedatives to the IV.”

  “Are we calling the police?” Brooklyn’s eyebrows rise as she scans the garage.

  “Nope. I’m sorry, if you have to leave I understand,” I respond.

  Brynn huffs throwing me a stern glare.

  “Sorry, I had no idea what they would bring,” Aspen apologizes.

  “Are you kidding me?” Brynn’s face brightens. “Not many doctors can say they’ve had a bunch of spies kidnap them to perform a high-risk surgery.”

  “We’re not spies,” Tiago protests. “There’s no kidnapping involved.”

  “There’ll be plenty of that when I tell the story to my unborn children,” Brynn winks.

  “Stay with them, make sure he doesn’t try anything,” Bradley instructs Everhart and Tiago, signaling with his head that I follow him.

  “I get it,” he says as we walk outside the garage. “My priorities changed when I fell in love with my wife. You know, those two could become our private doctors.”

  “Aspen is off limits,” I warn him before he asks her to join his company. “Brynn too, don’t approach them.”

  “It’s worth asking.” The fucker smiles, he’s not going to listen to me.

  “You’re aware that she’s going to know what I do for a living, right?” I have many things to explain to her, and after bringing my work home, there won’t be any way to hide the truth.

  Watching the house from afar and not answering my question, Bradley asks, “How serious is this relationship?”

  “Serious,” I reply lifting my gaze and watching the full moon. “Be aware that she’s going to know what I do for a living—tonight.”

  “The friend too?” Bradley frowns. “Just don’t release much information. Make sure you pay the three of them for their services. Fuck, what if the nurse talks?”

  “Aspen said she can trust her with her life.” During our phone conversation, Aspen told me about Victoria, the head nurse of the hospital where she works and a woman who owns some ambulatory patient care company. Someone who I might want to consider hiring to help us care for Mom. “Of course, she expects payment.”

  “What the fuck is wrong with that beast?” Bradley asks, I look in the same direction and spot Hugo running toward the garage. My boss starts running to him; I guess to catch him.

  “Wait, it’s Hugo, their dog. I got him.” I run toward Hugo stopping only a couple of feet from him. “Hey, boy it’s me.”

  He stops and approaches me as I kneel and lower my gaze. I allow him to sniff my hand, then he licks my cheek. “Good boy.” I scratch his ears. “Leave the girls to work, why don’t you come for a walk with me?”

  Hugo doesn’t listen and continues his way into the garage stopping only steps away from Aspen and slowly glaring at Everhart and Tiago.

  “Woof!”

  “Hello, handsome. I'm glad you're home, but I need you to step outside until we are done.” Aspen who now wears scrubs and a mask looks at Hugo. “I promise to give you a big, juicy bone once we finished, Hugo.”

  “No names,” I growl.

  “Your man is out for the next six hours.” She glares at me. “We’re almost done, but you have to find a way to get rid of the bloody rags.”

  “Don’t worry, Doc,” Bradley assures her. “We have a team arriving in a few minutes, they're in charge of cleaning the premises.”

  It doesn’t take long for the cleaning crew to come. We all wait for Aspen and Brynn to finish working on Babkin. Once it's over, I introduce Aspen and Brynn to my friends and colleagues before they leave.

  “Aspen, this is Harrison Everhart and Tiago Dominguez.”

  “Nice to meet you.” She shakes hands with them, introducing Brynn, and giving us instructions about the IV and what they should give Babkin during the next few days if we want to keep him alive.

  Harrison and Tiago take him away. Victoria, the nurse, introduces herself after changing her scrubs and leaves.

  “We weren’t properly introduced,” Aspen speaks after Victoria closes the door behind her. “I’m Aspen, and this is my friend Brooklyn.”

  “Mason Bradley.” He extends his hand to Brynn and then Aspen. “Thank you for your help.”

  “Well, Anderson said it was for a worthy cause. I hope he wasn’t lying about that.” Her voice is firm and sounds like a warning.

  “That man has information on human trafficking cells.” Mason surprises me as he explains more than I would’ve. “I can’t explain what our company does, but I assure you that we aren’t criminals.”

  “Cryptic.” Aspen crosses her arms, clamping her lips. “Are you a government agency? A military unit? Some international organization?”

  “We work with all of those, but we’re a private company,” Bradley responds, and I’m glad that I’m not the one having to deal with her scowl. “I provide security in all shapes and forms. We walk a thin line but steer away from illegal activity as much as we can.”

  “What I did is illegal,” she blurts. “I want to believe that I jeopardized our careers to save lives. But, this is the one and only time I walk that gray line.”

  “Have you ever considered a change of pace? Working in a different environment?” Bradley can’t keep his fucking mouth shut. “I can pay more than what you earn.”

  “No.” Aspen shuts him down.

  “Unless we get more information,” Brynn adds to Aspen’s speech.

  “What is wrong with you Brooklyn?” Aspen snarls, her eyes look like they might pop out. “One and only time.”

  Brynn smiles and shrugs in response. “It might be the answer to our prayers.”

  I run my hand through my hair twice in quick succession, fixing my eyes on Aspen. This isn’t something I want her involved in. Fuck, I should have installed a security system in her house the moment we started dating. If anyone finds out about my private life, about her, then they’ll kidnap her, torture her, kill her. My muscles freeze; my heart’s pounding through my chest. She’s in danger. I work to slow down my breathing and control my thoughts. Mason’s offer might help them with the money they need to set up their private practice, but is it worth it?

  “Stop it, Bradley,” I warn him.

  Aspen’s nostrils flare. She lifts her chin and twists her mouth into a sneer. “We’re pediatricians who happen to work in an ER. Being on call for your special needs isn’t my career goal.”

  “I see.” Bradly smiles, shoving his hands into his pockets. “It’s time for me to leave. The wife and kids are expecting me before breakfast.”

  He walks toward the black SUV we drove from the airport. Touching the handle, he looks over his shoulder. “I have a big family—lots of children. We can work something out. Why don’t you write out your wish li
st, ladies? We might find something that works for both of us.”

  The words, fuck off, remains in my throat. This is none of my business.

  “Thank you for your help.” I take Aspen’s hand and pull her to me, hugging her tight as I kiss the hollow of her neck. “Thank you to you too, Brynn.”

  “Are you kidding? Thank you!” Brynn claps as Bradley's car drives away. “Best day ever. It’s like we’re living in a movie with bad guys and secret agents.”

  “Great, she’s tired and talking nonsense. It's time for you to go to bed,” Aspen orders, then angles her face, glaring at me. “You and I have a lot to talk about. His explanation wasn’t enough.”

  She turns to Hugo. “After I give this guy the bone I promised.” Hugo barks, giving me a few more minutes to breathe.

  “I’ll take care of our boy.” Brooklyn walks away without giving us a glance.

  Instead of starting the conversation, I walk around the garage turning off the bright lights, closing the door and making sure the team hadn’t left anything behind. Aspen is in the middle of the room, arms crossed and grimace painted on her lovely face.

  “I’m not happy with you, Anderson Hawkins.”

  I grab her hand, dragging her close to me and wrapping one arm around her. I stare at her big brown eyes, “Sorry for skipping dinner.”

  She frowns. I lean closer, feathering some kisses around her face. “Wanna talk?”

  23

  Aspen

  My stomach flutters when he dusts kisses on my face just as the adrenaline rush dissipates, leaving my body weak. My insides feel like they're twisting. My head’s pounding and my eyes are teary. I’m anxious and angry. No, furious at Anderson. He left the house after receiving a call without much explanation, only a “there's a work emergency.” Hours later, he called asking how to treat gunshot wounds and if I could stitch them.

  “Are you okay?” I asked.

  “Of course, baby, just give me a hand here.” I wasn’t crazy about the answer. Adopting my professional voice and forgetting he could be the one in danger, I walked him through everything. “We should be landing soon.”

  “I’ll drive to the hospital.” I started looking for my keys.

  “No, we need you to do this at home. Please, don’t tell anyone.”

  I called Brynn to come home in case Anderson had played it down and he was the one in need of medical assistance. Then, I dialed Victoria, asking her to assist us and to bring equipment for a surgery. She works part-time as a nurse, but also owns an at-home care company and owns medical supplies. Impatiently, I waited for him to arrive. When he did, I wanted to smack him and kiss him at the same time.

  “Aspen?”

  “Who are you?” My lips tremble, the anger making me shake. I want to detangle myself from his hold but my need to be close to him is stronger. “An agent, some secret ops guy…what are you?

  “I don’t have a title.” His voice is so calm, his arms so warm. “An agent, a mercenary, a man who uses his skills to catch bad guys?”

  “That could’ve been you.” My voice trembles, there’s no way to mask my anguish.

  “If that had been me, you’d have fixed me. I believe in you.” The smooth talker is …what is he doing by touching me so gently and using that husky voice? “I work mostly undercover, infiltrating organizations and gathering intel.”

  His green eyes caress my soul, and I feel lost in a roaring whirlpool. “I have one last assignment and after that, we’ll have time for us.”

  When he touches his fingers against my skin I hear the last thunders. The storm is about to end. “I was only gone for a few hours, but I missed your kiss, your touch, and your body.” My body shivers as he whispers against my neck.

  I open my mouth to say something, denying the ache between my legs and the desire for my soul to bond with his. The image of the three black trucks and men approaching hit me all at once, along with the fear that clenched my heart when I didn’t see Anderson right away. What if it had been him? The grief feels like lightning striking my chest. The oxygen in my lungs vanishes.

  The fear of losing him is like hands snapping my neck.

  There’s an internal battle in my heart. An urge to push Anderson away so far that whatever happens to him won’t hurt me. Yet, the need to connect with and to cherish him is overwhelming.

  “I’m confused,” I admit. “I don’t know what this is or where we’re heading.”

  My breath comes out in a massive rush. The fear of losing him is into drilling the back of my head and hammering the pieces of my already mangled heart. “We’re taking things too seriously.”

  Anderson stares at me, looking at me suspiciously. “You’d prefer a casual fling?”

  Shaking my head, I look down at the floor, hiding my feelings, feelings I shouldn’t have for a man I only met a few weeks ago. Covering the distress crippling inside my heart, my empty, burning lungs fighting for the oxygen I deny them. For years I avoided feelings. I moved around, evading big emotions. Yet here I am, falling madly, deeply in love with a man who faces danger for a living.

  So yes, the answer is I prefer a casual fling, Anderson. An insignificant connection where only sex matters and my heart can feel safe. The irony is I’ve never felt as safe as I do when Anderson is near me.

  “Have I mentioned I’m confused about everything? What if we’re pretending there’s something between us?”

  “How so?” His inquisitive tone is refreshing. When he said he wanted me to teach him how relationships worked, he wasn’t kidding. Anderson brings his thumb to my face, caressing my cheek before placing it under my chin. My lips part as he leans forward, I gasp anticipating the electrical surge we create when we kiss. He only pecks my lips moving further from me, only a couple of steps.

  Don’t go! I gasp. The short space between us feels like miles. The ache in my body is unbearable, I needed his kiss like I need air. Reassurance, that’s what I need right this moment—the comfort of knowing he’s with me. I'm frozen in place and mute. What’s happening to me?

  “There’s no pretending. I’m new at this, but you’re fucking scared of your feelings.” My eyes widen, how does he know? He narrows his gaze at me, his features remain smooth, yet he keeps a distance between us. “We can figure it out, together. There’s no path. We decide the journey and the destination. As long as we’re together, we’ll be ok.”

  I blink twice, this isn’t the conversation I thought we’d have tonight. Anderson continues making himself comfortable, not only in my life, but also in my heart. He’s not giving up; his soul has said as much. He won’t give up until I fall. And then…what will happen to me if I lose him? The air around me disappears. No. Not again.

  “Stop torturing yourself, Aspen.” Anderson finally walks to me. Using those long, strong arms he hugs me, halting the stupid ideas swirling inside my head. “We’re fighters, survivors. Please, don’t let your fear convince you that this isn’t going to work out between us. It will.”

  24

  Anderson

  “No.” Aspen glares at the boxes Tiago brought. “I don't care if it's the best of the best.”

  She places her hands on her waist, tapping her right foot. “You can't just decide that I need an alarm system because…why do I need an alarm system? There is something you’re not telling me. What is it?” Her tone is suspicious and fierce, reminding me that we can’t hide much from each other.

  “I’ll feel better knowing you’re safe.” Is this a lie by omission? Why can’t she be one of those women who accepts whatever they’re told? Because I wouldn’t date someone like that, that’s for sure.

  “Nine-one-one is a three-digit code I can use, and it’s as useful as your alarm,” she retorts giving me a knowing look. “What’s so unique about this system?”

  “The police won’t be here as fast as—”

  “Tiago, it’s on a need-to-know basis,” I remind him.

  Aspen eyes him, sizing him up, then she looks at me. “This is on
a need-to-know basis, Hawk.”

  She extends her hand to Tiago, examining him. I hope that’s all. With his long hair, Latin looks and tattoos, he’s always getting more attention than the asshole deserves. “We haven’t formally met. I’m Aspen Zimmerman.”

  “Tiago.” He swallows her little hand with his massive one. “It’s nice to finally meet you. Let me know when you’re ready to drop his ass. I’ll be here for you.”

  “Tame your stupidity. She’s blondie’s best friend.”

  “Texas girl?” Tiago arches a brow. I nod. “Hmm. Interesting.”

  “The system is connected to the usual emergency services, but…” I want to explain but how much is too much?

  “Never seen you tongued tied,” Tiago says laughing at me, looking at Aspen. “And for someone so tiny and cute.”

  Aspen, who’s a foot shorter than Tiago, puffs her chest and lifts her chin protesting, “I’m not tiny, nor cute.”

  “You’re adorable, babe.” I try to weasel my way out of the other subject by redirecting the conversation. “Anyone is tiny in comparison to Tiago.”

  “Please, don’t butter me up and try to insult my intelligence.” She leans away, circling our conversation back to the stupid alarm. “What’s with the alarm system?”

  “Our systems are designed to connect not only with the usual emergency services, but also with our own call center.” I release a deep breath, take her hand, and walk her through the hallway toward the stairs, up to the second door where her bedroom is located.

  “Because I want you safe,” I say, feeling like a dumbass who didn’t think about the consequences of his actions. Every day we spend together is blissful. Aspen is becoming a part of my world, which isn’t as safe. She lives in the worst part of the suburbs. It’s close to the hospital where she works, but an area I would rather avoid. Then there are my enemies. I’m careful. But if someone finds out who I am, they can find her, and I don’t want to think about it.

  I lean in and kiss her nose, then the corners of her lips, and finally brush my lips against hers. “Even when I know you can take care of yourself, I’m making it my mission to keep you safe, protected.” My fingers grab hers when she makes a small noise.