And why was she here so early in the morning anyway? Sage worked most nights, just like Jade did. They usually slept well into the morning, sometimes until noon. So if Sage was here now, something was very wrong.
Stepping out of the bathroom, she dried off and pulled on underwear, then just grabbed a pair of leggings and a tee-shirt. She didn’t have time for makeup or even a moment to spare for her hair. She had to get out there and find out what was wrong.
“I’m here!” Jade said, stepping out of her bedroom but carefully pulled the door closed behind her. Simon was still sleeping, his muscular back bare to the sunshine bathing him in a golden glow. Good grief, he looked amazing. Instantly, her mind wanted to capture that image, maybe do a stained glass window so that the sun could shine through, as if repeating the picture.
“Coffee is ready,” her sister announced tightly.
Jade walked into the kitchen, feeling nervous and off balance. After last night, was she even walking funny? Simon was a demanding lover! She felt slightly sore muscles that she hadn’t even known existed.
“What’s wrong?” Jade asked, reaching up to grab a mug.
“Well–”
The doorbell rang.
“Too late,” Sage sighed. She put her cup down with a hard thud and stalked to the door, pulling it open to find...
“Dad?” Jade put her coffee cup down too, glancing over at Sage, who still wouldn’t look her in the eye. What in the world was going on here? “Dad, what are you doing here? Again?”
“You’ve been here for a couple of weeks, girls,” their father announced pompously. “You should have gotten this silly adventure out of your system by now. It’s time to come home.”
Behind him, Jade watched as a moving van bounced its way down her long driveway.
“You hired a moving company?” she whispered, rage scorching her gut at her father’s arrogance.
“Of course!” he answered. “I’m disgusted by the pair of you!” he snapped, sneering. “Your petty little rebellion is over!” His hand sliced violently through the air. “You will return to New York today and I will set both of you up in studios so that you can work on your craft. It’s time to stop being childish and learn to be responsible.”
By the time Herbert had finished his diatribe, another car had parked next to the moving van and a team of four people stepped out, all of them busily unloading packing materials from the back of the van.
Jade turned to glare at her sister, who only stared right back, her arms crossed protectively over her chest as she shrugged.
Jade shoved her hair out of her face, trying to wake up enough to understand what was happening here. Her father, her sister, the moving team, the moving van, and…Simon! Good grief, Simon was still in her bedroom.
“What’s going on?” Simon mumbled as he came out of the bedroom. Thankfully, he’d pulled his jeans on. Unfortunately, he hadn’t bothered with a shirt. He looked rumpled and sexy, and it was pretty obvious that he’d spent the night.
“Jade!” her father gasped. “You’re sleeping with the handyman?” His eyes turned censorious. “Really! That’s beneath you!”
That was the final straw. She snapped. Her father had insulted Simon and that was one step too far! “Don’t you dare judge me, Herbert!” she growled, getting into his face. “The women who have traipsed through your bedroom have been younger than me and Sage at times! It’s disgusting that a man of your age and theoretical wisdom needs to bump up your ego by having sex with women half your age!”
“Those women are…”
“I know!” she interrupted for the first time in her life. And boy, it felt incredible! “They are none of my business. Who you sleep with is your choice. Just as the men I date are my choice. And Simon is a good, decent man. You have no right to denigrate anyone’s career choices, Herbert! Especially mine and Sage’s!”
The moving team, boxes tucked under their arms and packing tape in their hands, had reached the front porch. Jade turned her wrath on them. “If you step one foot in my house, I will have you arrested for trespassing. Nothing in this house gets packed up or you will be charged with theft! Do I make myself clear?”
The team looked startled, glancing at each other.
Jade wasn’t finished. “You were hired in error. Bill my father for whatever time you used during this debacle. But you will leave now!”
The lead team member started to say something, but Jade wasn’t having it. “No! I don’t care who hired you. This is my house, bought with my money, and I will not be kicked out! Not by you!” she snarled, pointing to her father, “or any of you!” she said, referring to the people who were warily backing away.
“We’re outta here,” one of the team members said, angry at being spoken to for just doing their jobs. They hurried back to the moving van and tossed their boxes back in the truck.
“And you!” she turned on her father. “You don’t get to dictate my life choices anymore! I am an adult. I pay my own bills. I bought my own house, have so many clients that I’m turning work away. I charge a significant fee for my art and you will never,” she practically spat out the word, “EVER tell me that my art isn’t appropriate. In fact, if you don’t have anything nice to say, just leave me the hell alone!” she was gaining steam now. “You’ve never been a father! You’ve been a horrible, emotionally abusive ass your whole life! Sage and I moved thousands of miles to get away from you, and yet you’re too stupid to understand what an ass you are! So, I’m done! Get off my property.” She glared at her father. “And, if you ever step onto my property again without my permission, then I will call the police. Is that clear, Herbert?”
“How dare you speak to me like that, Jade!” he roared.
“This is my house, Herbert! I will no longer call you father! You don’t deserve that title! You never did. So, leave!”
“I am your father and you will speak to me with respect!”
“NO!” she countered. “You are not my father. You are the man who had sex with my mother, then proceeded to make my life a living hell for the next twenty-seven years! You’re not going to abuse me anymore! I’m getting my life back together. I’m doing what I need to heal from your abuse!” She took a long, slow, deep breath. “Get out of my house!”
Her father puffed up indignantly. But Jade didn’t care. Not anymore. She was done being afraid of her father’s wrath and disappointment. She was done with his judgement and acrimony! She was just done!
The two combatants glared at each other for a long moment, then her father huffed up, turned on his heel and stalked out of her house. He thought it was an insult not to close the door, but Jade walked over and, it felt so good to slam the door shut behind him. But she stood by the front window until he drove away.
Only then did she turn and…Sage threw her arms around her, hugging her tightly. “You are amazing!” she whispered with feeling. Pulling back, Sage blinked a few tears away. “Thank you! Thank you for saying all of the things that I wasn’t brave enough to say!” She hugged Jade again. When she pulled back this time, Sage glanced over her shoulder. “I was so angry with you this morning when I realized that you’d slept with Simon.” She grinned and moved over to the door, resting her hand on the handle as she continued, “Now, I suspect that Simon did something last night that released your pent up rage from our childhood. That has to be a good thing.” She laughed, grabbed her purse, then wiggled her fingers in the air as she pulled open the door. “Love ya, sis!” and then she was gone, leaving behind an awkward silence.
Slowly, Jade turned and lifted her eyes to meet Simon’s steady gaze. Goodness, he looked amazing! The muscles in his arms and shoulders and chest…he was beautiful. A work of art. Again, she wanted to capture him in glass and metal. But could she? Could she portray the awesome power of the man? It wasn’t just his muscles. It was more than mere physical strength. It was in the way he stood and…she couldn’t really define what it was about Simon that called to her. Yes, he was physically attracti
ve. But she’d dated other men like him over the years. None had made her tremble the way that Simon could with just a look.
Like the one he was sending her way right now.
“You’re beautiful,” she stated, then felt silly. Looking down, she shuffled her feet. “I mean…well, you’re beautiful, but I’ve been standing here trying to understand what it is about you that is so compelling.” She blurted, then stared at him, horrified that she’d just revealed her feelings so blatantly. “I mean…well, I don’t mean…you don’t have to…” she closed her eyes, frustrated that she’d so completely messed this up. “I’m not expecting you to declare your undying love for me, Simon. I know that this is just…whatever it is.”
“Marry me,” he interrupted.
She opened her eyes and…he was right there! Inches from her.
He reached out and pulled her against his body. Jade’s hands flew up, balancing herself by grabbing his shoulders. “What do you mean?”
He kissed her, just a brief, soft caress. Then he pulled back so he could see her face. “I want to marry you, Jade. What you said, about there being something about me?”
“Well, that was just–”
“I feel it for you as well. From the moment we met, I knew you were special.”
She laughed self-consciously. “I was shooting at a spider, Simon. You took my rifle away the first time you met me.”
“Yeah,” he laughed, shaking his head. “We’re going to the shooting range, by the way. You shouldn’t have had to shoot ten times from three feet away…and even then, you still missed.”
She pulled back, but he kept his arms around her waist, keeping her close. “Now wait a minute! That spider was fast!”
“Right. Still, you’re going to learn to shoot more accurately.” He kissed her. “You’re going to have to. I have my service weapon and several other guns. If we’re going to get married, you’re going to have to learn to shoot properly.”
“I am?”
“Yeah. You are.” He kissed her again. “But after what I just heard, I think you’re tough enough to handle me.”
She wiggled against him, her eyes turning teasing. “Oh, you think I’m going to take you on when I finally got rid of the most arrogant man in my life?”
He laughed. “Yeah. I think that you need me in your life. If only to kill the spiders so you don’t shoot out the floorboards.”
Jade threw back her head, laughing hard until he pressed a kiss to her throat. That stopped her laugh, and she smiled up at him. “I think I’m falling in love with you.”
He trailed his lips along her neck. “I know I’m head over heels in love with you, Jade. I’ve known for the past few days. I’ve just been waiting for the right time to tell you.”
“Oh, and the rude awakening this morning was the right time?” she laughed, shivering when his teeth nipped at her ear lobe.
“Yeah. It seemed about the right time.” He lifted his head and looked into her eyes. “I love you, Jade. But I won’t rush you. I know that you have some issues to work out. But I’ll be here for you when you need me. And I’ll go away when you need time alone.”
She tightened her arms around him. “I don’t want you to leave me alone.”
“Good,” he sighed, his hands tightening on her waist. “It was a nice thing for me to say, but I wasn’t sure I could follow through. Not when you’re going through stuff like this morning.” He sighed and kissed her forehead. “I love you, Jade. I want to marry you. Just let me know when you’re ready, okay?”
She beamed. “I think I’m ready now!”
Epilogue
“Are you sure you’re ready for this?” Sage asked, giving her sister’s hand a squeeze.
Jade peered out the door at the people waiting to get in. She took a deep breath, and nodded. “Yes. I’m ready.”
Simon walked over and took her hands. “This is amazing, Jade. I’m so incredibly proud of you! How do you feel?”
Jade smiled, leaning forward so that she could kiss him. “You’re here with me. That helps a lot!”
“I’ll be by your side all night!”
Jade grinned, stroking her round tummy thoughtfully. “Why did we schedule this for the month before I’m due to give birth to your giant of a son?”
He chuckled, then bent to kiss her tummy. “Because the only other option was to do this afterwards. And you said that you didn’t want to be bothered by projects after the baby comes.”
Jade knew that he was right, but still, being eight months pregnant and holding her own exhibit was a lot to handle. “Okay, let’s get this over with!” she declared, nodding for emphasis.
Sage grinned, then turned to the gallery owner. It was one of the biggest galleries in Denver and word had been out about this exhibit for about a year.
The gallery owner, Samantha, a petite brunette with a vivacious personality, grinned with enthusiasm, then dramatically pulled open the double doors to the gallery.
Immediately, about thirty people stepped into the white washed space. Jade held her breath. A moment later, she felt Simon’s hand slipped into hers, their gold wedding bands clinking as he laced his fingers with hers.
There was silence as the crowd explored, taking in one after another of the projects that she’d created for this exhibit.
“They are overpriced,” Jade whispered, turning so she didn’t have to watch the people as they looked at her art. “This is why I only sell my projects online or take private requests!”
Simon chuckled, pulling her closer. “Jade, I think…” he stopped as Samantha pulled a sticker out of her leather binder and put it on the description of one of the pieces. It was a dramatic mosaic of a fire, filled with bright red orange and yellow. There was even smoke at the top that Jade had done in tones of grey, brown, and black glass. The curator had set up a light behind the “fire”, making the piece look as if it were alive and flickering. It was one of the more dramatic pieces and had been priced so high, Jade had been positive that it would never sell.
“It sold!” Simon whispered in her ear.
Jade froze, staring open mouthed at the red sticker. “Sold?” she whispered, her lips numb. “What sold?”
“The fire,” he told her.
She blinked and shook her head. “But the gallery hasn’t even been open for five minutes!”
He laughed, his fingers tightening on her hand. “That’s true. Doesn’t matter. It’s sold.”
Jade dared to peer behind her and, sure enough, the red sticker was there! It was sold! “Good grief!” she whispered, leaning her head against Simon’s shoulder.
“The Ice piece just sold too,” he whispered.
Jade felt weak. How was it possible that her mosaics, the projects that she used to create for interior decorating purposes, were selling for prices ten times higher than those of her father’s art?
“Congratulations!” Sage whispered, walking over to hug her sister tightly. “Herbert was so furious he was spitting nails when he heard about this exhibit.”
Jade looked at her sister, startled. “How in the world would he know about it? I mean, we’re in Denver! He never reads the news about anywhere other than the east coast.”
Sage grinned. “A little mouse must have sent him a notice, but with the stipulation that he wouldn’t be allowed inside the gallery.”
Jade stared at Sage, horrified. Then she slapped a hand over her mouth when a peal of laughter escaped. “You didn’t!” she gasped.
“I did,” Sage countered with a negligent shrug. “I thought he should know that his daughter is more successful than he is.”
“Oh, Sage! You actually did that?!”
She grinned impishly. “I did. I’m sick of him talking trash about your art. It’s amazing, Jade. And I’m glad that this day is such a success for you!” she said, then leaned in to kiss her sister before peering over her shoulder with sudden alarm. “And now, I have to go!”
Jade watched as Sage hurried off, wondering what her sis
ter was running from. Just then, Simon’s very handsome partner and best friend strode through the door. Arik’s eyes widened as he took in the mosaic art all over the gallery, then he spotted them and walked over to hug Jade. “This is amazing, Jade!” he gushed, kissing her cheek. “Congratulations!” Then the big guy paused, looking around. “Where is she?”
Simon and Jade cracked up. Simon pointed towards the back door. “She ran as soon as she spotted you.”
Arik shook his head, resignation and acceptance in his handsome features. “Soon, she will accept that she loves me.”
Jade rolled her eyes. As far as she knew, Sage hated Arik with a level of passion Jade had never seen from her sister. But that mystery was for another day. Samantha was waving her over, indicating one of the guests wanted to speak to her.
“Your fandom awaits!” Simon said, rubbing a reassuring hand down over her back. “I love you, honey.”
Jade beamed up at him, silently repeating the words as she waddled away. Yes, she loved him. She loved him so much that her feelings scared her sometimes.
Life was pretty darn good!
Message from Elizabeth:
I sincerely hope that you enjoyed Kinsley and Lincoln’s story! I’m all finished unpacking everything in my new house – although I still can’t find a stash of toothbrushes! Ugh! And…back to the request…would you take just a few seconds to leave a review? Click HERE to go back to the retail site’s book page. Just a few words are extremely helpful! Thank you so much!
(If you don’t want to leave feedback in a public forum, feel free to e-mail me directly at [email protected]. I answer all e-mails personally, although it sometimes takes me a while. Please don’t be offended if I don’t respond immediately. I tend to lose myself in writing stories and have a hard time pulling my head out of the book.)
Keep scrolling for a sneak preview of “Summer Heat” – Sage and Arik’s story! (You’re going to LOVE the dog in this book!)
Spring Seduction (Wyoming Fever Book 1) Page 7