Righteous Rumours (The Hero Next Door Series Book 4)

by Rebecca King

  ‘Are you drunk?’ Geranium asked, aware that his breath smelled of ale and brandy.

  ‘Yes,’ Roger called.

  Ronan pursed his lips and threw him a filthy glare but ruined it by grinning at Geranium.

  Roger, determined not to allow Ronan to have second thoughts and return to the tavern, leaned forward in his saddle but he didn’t get the chance to speak before Hamish said: ‘He has been a drunkard. Our good friend, who has been sober practically all his life, left you and sank into his cups in the tavern in misery. While you have been moving house, he has been sitting in a tavern being miserable.’

  ‘Do you mind if I speak with her?’ Ronan demanded.

  Geranium fought a smile when Peregrine winked at her and said: ‘He has been as drunk as a skunk. This brave operative of the Star Elite has been scared out of his mind about a little thing called love.’

  ‘And marriage,’ Joshua added.

  ‘Marriage?’ Geranium’s gaze flew to Ronan’s.

  He shook his head and swore at his colleagues before grabbing her by the hand and dragging her around the side of the house, away from prying eyes.

  Ronan smiled, and quickly discovered that is smile just grew and grew the longer he gazed at her. His heart soared as it burst free of its tightly bound restraints. His life was suddenly flooded with so many possibilities that he struggled to stand still.

  ‘I have been to see your father,’ he announced suddenly.

  ‘Oh?’ Geranium began to look worried. ‘Why? Is something wrong?’

  ‘Yes, but it is going to be fixed soon.’

  To Geranium’s amazement, Ronan clasped her hand in his and pressed it against his chest and in doing so tugged her toward him. Once he had her nestled in his arms, Ronan tipped her chin up and placed a kiss upon her lips that was searching, gentle, a soft seduction, a quiet plea. In that kiss was all the adoration in his heart, his hopes for the future, their lives, their happiness.

  Within it was the tenderness, the love, the reverence that Geranium had always wanted to feel. This was Ronan the man, not the operative with the Star Elite, or the protector. This was Ronan without barriers, or restrictions of his work. He had the ability to take his time which was why the kiss was a slow seduction, a tender request that she surrender to his mastery.

  When he lifted his head, Ronan didn’t immediately step back and try to think of something to say. Instead, he nuzzled into her neck and pressed a blazing trail of kisses up to her jaw until the soft touch of his lips reached the corner of her mouth. All Geranium had to do was turn her head a fraction of an inch and their lips were caressing, seducing, plundering, and teasing once more. Their passionate exploration was free, unfettered, unhindered by doubts and insecurities. Whatever had happened to him while they had been apart had narrowed the distance between them on an emotional level. Geranium was so entranced by this new side of Ronan she had no qualms about sliding her hand into his hair and tugging him closer. She copied his movements and felt his low moan. When he stepped closer, she moved as well, meeting him half-way until there was no space between them. She could feel the thundering of his heart, the faint tremors coursing through him, but she wasn’t alarmed by them because she couldn’t be sure that they weren’t coming from her. Together, they sought comfort and solace from each other as they battled the emotions that forged their future and bound them as one, but this time they worked together to find the mutual happiness they both needed.

  ‘Marry me,’ he whispered when he found the strength to lift his head. ‘I need you in my life. I stupidly believed that I could walk away from you. When I came to Malden, the last thing I was looking for was a bride. My life was as I wanted it. There was no need for me to change any of it. But the second I saw you in the doorway, I knew that something was different. Something about me changed. I didn’t want to acknowledge it. I didn’t want to even stop to think about it. I was in Malden for the investigation and had to focus on that, but I was distracted, and needed to see you. That was why I said that I found you irritating. It wasn’t your questions. I, fool that I am, was just looking for a reason to push you away because of the way you made me feel. I stupidly believed that by trying to find something wrong with you I would have a reason to keep my distance and I would find it easier to avoid how I felt. What I know now is that keeping my distance from you made me miss you even more. The more I have been apart from you the more miserable I have become. My life is so miserable and empty without you that I know now that I was a bloody fool to leave you.’

  ‘But you left, Ronan,’ Geranium whispered, battling tears when a huge pool of hurt began to blossom from the centre of her chest. It created a wealth of misery that had made her spend many hours crying in the night, wanting answers she knew the silence of the empty darkness would never provide.

  ‘I left that day because I needed to go and help the others catch the guards as you know. At first, I intended to come back to see you, to find a way of saying goodbye. But when we found the guard, Roger sent me to take him to the gaol. Once there, I had a drink. My colleagues fetched their things from Mr Quinton’s house and came to join me. Then Roger ordered everyone home for some rest and recuperation. That was when I tried to do what I have always done when we take a break between investigations. The only problem was that I found that I didn’t want to go back to the place where I called home. I couldn’t go back. None of what I used to do during my time off holds any interest for me anymore. It isn’t enough. I want more. I want you. I want you in my life, my home, my world. My life is with you. My heart is yours. It took time, and a little bit of distance for me to realise that.’

  ‘He only went three miles away,’ Roger drawled suddenly from a few feet away.

  Ronan cursed when he looked up and saw all his colleagues standing at the edge of the garden openly listening. ‘Do you mind?’

  ‘We are making sure that you don’t mess this up, Ronan,’ Hamish warned.

  ‘This is the part where you are supposed to tell her that you love her,’ Joshua whispered, tugging on the edges of his waistcoat. He winked at Geranium. ‘My wife loves it. You will find that works well in a marriage, you know. If you keep telling each other you love each other.’

  Ronan grinned but when he looked at Geranium, there was still a doubtful look in her eye.

  ‘Don’t feel that you have to do anything you don’t want to do,’ she murmured, sliding a worried look at his colleagues. She suspected they had forced him to come and see her today. What she didn’t know was why it had to be today.

  ‘I am not here because they have told me to be here. Well, I am but only because they dragged my ale-soaked carcass out of the tavern and made me admit why I have been such a miserable bastard who has tried to drink himself into oblivion to forget you,’ Ronan whispered. ‘I can’t do that anymore. I need to be honest, with them, with you, with myself. They know I love you. Your father knows I love you. Now it is time that you understand that I love you.’

  Geranium blinked at him. ‘You told my father?’

  Ronan grinned. ‘He was a little shocked, but I had to. I think he thought we were going to arrest you or something when we turned up on his doorstep to ask for you.’

  ‘You spoke to my father without speaking to me first?’ Geranium lifted her brows and folded her arms as she glared at him challengingly. While she was still doubtful that he really knew what he was doing, Geranium was just too delighted to see him, to see the determination and honesty in his eyes when he said that he loved her, to ever let him leave. She just wasn’t prepared to let him off the hook that easily.

  Ronan looked at his colleagues. ‘They told me that you disappeared.’

  ‘So you only came to find me because you thought I had been kidnapped?’ Geranium squinted at him.

  ‘It wasn’t quite like that,’ Ronan edged.

  Geranium tipped her head to glare at him. ‘Tell me what it was like then?’

  ‘I have just told you,’ Ronan snapped. ‘I was – ha
ve been – am – bloody miserable without you. I love you. I adore you. I want – need – you in my life. I cannot live without you in my life. We must be together. You must be my wife. I want you as my wife. Will you? Will you marry me?’

  Geranium felt a tear slide slowly down her cheek when she saw the heartfelt plea on his face. She knew he meant every word and it erased all her doubts and insecurities. Consequently, she didn’t hesitate to say: ‘I love you, Ronan. I didn’t think you wanted me.’

  ‘Jesus, come here,’ he growled, yanking her into his arms. He held her against him as if she was the most precious thing in the world. Leaning back, he peered down at her only to start to lower his head when he was compelled to kiss her.

  ‘Ahem.’

  Ronan mentally cursed and glared at his colleagues.

  ‘What do they want?’ Geranium whispered, her cheeks flooding with colour.

  ‘An answer, probably,’ Ronan murmured, grinning at her. ‘You are going to have to marry me now. If you don’t, they may get nasty.’

  Geranium knew that none of the Star Elite could ever hurt a woman. They were far too protective, too strong, to ever be that, well, weak.

  ‘Well? Will you?’ he prompted.

  ‘I would love to. I adore you, Ronan,’ she murmured lovingly for his ears alone.

  Ronan, who was trying to kiss her again, suddenly stopped and grinned at his friends. ‘She said yes!’

  Amidst a loud cacophony of catcalls and whistles, Ronan finally kissed the woman he adored. He knew now that he was a very lucky man indeed who had come far too close to spending the rest of his life in misery. Now, he had his whole life ahead of him and it was going to be full of as much love and laughter as he and Geranium could fill it with. They were, finally, going to have their very own happy ever after.

  The End.

  THE LOCAL HEROES SERIES (STAR ELITE)

  LEICESTERSHIRE

  RELEASED 2020

  The regional branches of the Star Elite have never been busier. But when their adventures bring trouble to their homes, they face a whole new set of problems.

  Join Joshua, Hamish, Luke, Daniel, Ronan, Peregrine, Dean and Grant as they battle fraud, murder, theft, and several rather inquisitive ladies whose penchant for trouble mean more headaches for the local heroes in this brand-new series.

  The Honest and the Brave (Joshua – Annalisa) Available now

  Damsel in Distress (Roger – Leonora) Available now

  Once Before (Daniel – Tabitha) Available now

  Righteous Rumours (Ronan – Geranium) Available now

  A Very Dishonest Scandal (Luke – Rosemary)

  Midnight Capers (Dean – Peony)

  Shameful Desires (Hamish – Leonora)

  Consequences (Peregrine – Matilda)

  TUPPENCE

  Tipton Hollow Series – Book Three

  RELEASED – SPRING 2020

  When Tuppence is arrested for a crime that she most definitely did not commit she knows her life is ruined. Facing trial for murder means she can never return to the life she once knew and loved, not in the small village of Tipton Hollow in any case. All right, so life there was a little boring, and left her yearning for something more in life, a little adventure maybe. But the kind of adventure Tuppence found herself in was something she wouldn’t ever dream possible in her worst nightmares.

  Lost in a world of gaol, false accusations, lies and broken trust, Tuppence is forced to turn to the last man she should ask for help. Her humiliation is complete when Isaac Chester, Lord Aldridge arrives to speak to her in prison before he tries to secure her release. She should be pleased he would help her try to gain her freedom but is embarrassed that this handsome, debonair man should see her in her darkest hour. Little does she know of his ulterior motive, or the personal reasons behind his decision to help her.

  Can they find out who the real murderer is before Tuppence appears in court? While Isaac does find enough evidence that casts doubt on her presence at the scene of the crime and secures her release, keeping her out of gaol is a different matter entirely. The finger of the blame still points at her, and not even he can protect her. Life in Tipton Hollow swiftly becomes impossible for Tuppence, especially when another body turns up and all eyes turn to her once more.

  What Tuppence doesn’t expect is to not only have to fight for her freedom but the burgeoning desire she has for the one man who has given her hope for the future.

  Aware they can never have that future together, Tuppence must make a very brave decision, and it is one that leaves her heartbroken.

  Tipton Hollow should be a normal, sleepy village hidden in rural England. However, sinister events begin to unfold which changes the lives of several of its residents and takes them on epic adventures of love, murder, lies and mystery. Join Harriett, Beatrice, Constance, Tuppence and Eloisa as they battle murderers, parsimonious gossips, and the men in their lives as they work to solve the mysteries that Fate hands them. Will they ever find the happiness they deserve?

  Five dashing heroes meet five rather daring young ladies: a perfect combination for romance – or disaster.

  SINS OF THE PAST

  THE STAR ELITE’S HIGHWAYMEN INVESTIGATION

  BOOK TWO

  Zachary Caunter and Clarissa Muir

  After another robbery by a group of supposed highwaymen, the Star Elite are drawn to a new location along the Great North Road. Simmerton is outwardly an ordinary country village a few miles away from the busy thoroughfare. It does, however, hide a very sinister secret, one which the Star Elite must uncover before another person dies.

  Clarissa Muir is outraged her carriage is stopped by the highwaymen the whole country is talking about. Not only do the fiends take all her belongings, but they help themselves to her dress as well, leaving her nothing to protect her modesty but her undergarments. However, what the highwaymen don’t anticipate is for Clarissa to be made of sterner stuff than most women, and a crack shot!

  With a highwayman now injured, and Clarissa the Star Elite’s main witness who can identify the highwaymen. What the Star Elite must now do is try to get Clarissa to identify the culprits responsible for the vicious spate of murderous thefts without her becoming one of their victims.

  Clarissa knows that having even the slightest interest in a man like Zachary is the most foolish thing she could do, but she is still drawn to him not least because he seems to be horrified at her waywardness. Still, she refused to be thwarted by his disapproval, and sets out to deliberately shake him. To his disgust, Zach is most disturbed by the charming yet somewhat bewildering Clarissa, especially when it becomes evident that she has set her sights on him. Feeling somewhat hunted, he is faced with having to battle not just a group of rampaging highwaymen and a wayward young woman, but also his growing attraction for the woman who quickly becomes the most important person in his life – and it has nothing to do with his Star Elite investigation!

  OTHER BOOKS BY REBECCA KING

  Further details of all of Rebecca’s books can be found on her website:

  Rebeccaking-author.co.uk

  THE STAR ELITE’S HIGHWAYMEN INVESTIGATION

  Cloak and Dagger (Book One) Available Now

  Sins of the Past (Book Two) Available Now

  The Lover Switch (Book Three) Coming Soon

  Loving the Enemy (Book Four) Coming Soon

  Hopeless Romantic (Book Five) Coming Soon

  Never the Twain (Book Six) Coming Soon

  A Petty Problem (Book Seven) Coming Soon

  Heartless (Book Eight) Coming Soon

  THE HERO NEXT DOOR SERIES

  The Honest and the Brave (Book One)

  Damsel in Distress (Book Two)

  Once Before (Book Three)

  Righteous Rumours (Book Four)

  STAR ELITE – A NEW ADVENTURE BEGINS

  Betrayal of Innocence (Book One)

  A Spinster’s Awakening (Book Two)

  Fallen Hero (Book Three)

  The Runaway (
Book Four)

  Cold Comfort (Book Five)

  A Terrible Misunderstanding (Book Six)

  To Have A Heart (Book Seven)

  For Love Alone (Book Eight)

  DIVINE CLUB SERIES

  Double Entendre (Book One)

  Duplicity (Book Two)

  SAVED BY DESIRE SERIES

  One Penny Surprise (Book One)

  To Catch A Thief (Book Two)

  Mistaken Identity (Book Three)

  A Scandal Most Daring (Book Four)

  Hiding Rose (Book Five)

  Reckless Desire (Book Six)

  The Arrangement (Book Seven)

  Hope’s Secret (Book Eight)

  Runaway Groom (Book Nine)

  OTHER BOOKS

  Shattered Dreams

  Lies and Misdemeanours

  Eloisa’s Adventure

  Wishing for Rainbows

  Redemption

  Devoted to You

  Hopeless Heart

  Catch A Falling Star

  The Christmas Ball Affair

  Marley’s Second Chance

  Ghostly Endeavours

  To Love and Love Again

  Ghost of a Chance

  Heart of an Angel

  Shadows and Lies

  Heart’s Desire

  Adoration

  Miss Florentine’s School for Investigators

  TO HONOUR A WAGER SERIES