by Kendall Ryan
“This looks great, Alex,” Jane says, setting prepared plates in front of the twins and rejoining us at the table.
I can’t help but notice the line in Ryleigh’s forehead. Anytime someone calls me Alex, it still seems to throw her off. I smile at her, and when she notices, she grins at me. Her smile is bright and uninhibited, so happy, it almost takes my breath away.
Once the food is dished up and everyone has dug in, I place a hand on Ryleigh’s knee under the table and give it a gentle squeeze.
“I love you,” I murmur, leaning in closer.
She looks at me, meeting my eyes with a half smile on her lips. “I love you too,” she whispers, leaning closer.
“Forever?” I ask, grinning.
“And ever,” she replies, and my heart swells.
I reach over and place my hand on the firm curve of her belly. Sometimes I try to picture how my life would be if she and Ella hadn’t come bursting into it. These aren’t pleasant thoughts. It’s a sad and lonely existence where I’m still single and struggling to find myself in the world. It’s a place where football is my entire life, and honestly, it sounds so sad to me now that I almost hate to picture it. My life was so empty before.
Even though Ryleigh thinks I’ll miss it and be miserable, I can’t wait to retire from football after this contract ends. More time with my girls sounds exactly perfect. I have plans to buy a vacation home on the beach somewhere, and sleep late and make epic pancake breakfasts . . . there are so many things I’m looking forward to. But none more than loving and protecting my girls for all my days on this earth.
“Pass the salad?” Keaton asks, snapping me from my daydream.
I hand her the salad bowl, grateful that we have such wonderful friends we can count on.
“You okay there?” Ryleigh asks, smirking at me. She clearly noticed the fact that I was deep in thought.
“Never better,” I say with a grin, but I’m lying.
It’s hard to imagine, but I know I’ll be even better when we have a new baby in the house. After all, I am the baby-whisperer.
• • •
Thank you so much for reading Finding Alexei! I truly hope you loved this story as much as I do.
I started this journey with Keaton and Slate, one of my favorite couples ever, in Love Machine. Cam and Natalie followed in Flirting with Forever, and Weston and Jane came next in Dear Jane. I hope you read about them all, but if not, I would encourage you to go check them out!
I had a blast writing this series. Each story is a standalone, but I really do hope that you will enjoy each and every one. You deserve it, girl.
Love,
Kendall
What to Read Next
I’m the guy you call when you need to impress your overbearing family, your boss, or your ex. Yeah, I’m a male escort, but not just any escort, I’m the escort. The one with a mile-long waiting list and a pristine reputation that’s very well-deserved.
I’m the guy who’ll make you feel beautiful, desired, and worshipped . . . all for a steep price. I’m hired to make you shine, and I always deliver.
I’ll be whatever you want me to be for one night—except my true self. This is just a job, a role I play to earn a paycheck.
But I’m not the guy who falls for a client. Not once in six years.
And then I meet Elle. Her friend has hired me to escort her to a wedding, but Elle doesn’t know we’re just pretending.
There’s a fire between us I never expected. A connection I haven’t felt in so long. One kiss, and I’m losing all control.
But what will happen when she finds out who I really am?
Get Your Copy HERE.
Acknowledgments
Thank you so much to my incredible readers. I hope you enjoyed this story. Every reader deserves a hot hero and a happy ending! And I had a blast writing about an alpha male with a soft spot for babies, so there’s that. I’m so grateful to my team—Pam, Karen, Elaine, Becca, Alyssa, Anthony, Flavia, Danielle . . . I am so blessed to have your guidance.
Other Books in This Series
If you liked Finding Alexei, you will also want to pick up the related books in this series— Love Machine, about Alexei’s sports agent, Slate; Flirting with Forever, featuring Cam and Natalie; and Dear Jane, featuring Alexei’s teammate Weston. Check out the synopses for all three books that follow. I think you would really enjoy them all!
She says she needs some help . . . in the bedroom.
Come again? No, really come again.
Sweet, nerdy, lovable Keaton.
She’s my best friend and has been for years. Sure, she likes numbers and math, and thinks doing other people’s taxes is fun. And I like . . . none of that stuff. She’s obsessed with her cat and reads novels I’ll never understand, and yet we just click. There’s no one I’d rather share breakfast burritos with or binge watch hours of Netflix. She’s my person. And so when she takes off her glasses and asks me to help her improve her skills in the bedroom, I barely have to think about it.
Of course I’ll help her. There’s no one better for the job.
I’ve been there for her through everything, so why should this be any different?
But what happens when she’s ready to take her newfound confidence and move on?
Learn more and get your copy HERE.
No women.
No sex.
No hooking up.
This is the oath I took in solidarity with my best friend after a particularly heinous breakup left him shattered.
No problem, right?
Wrong.
Because lately I’ve begun developing big, messy feelings for our best female friend who we both swore was off-limits since we were sixteen years old.
I shouldn’t notice the way her hair turns golden when it catches the light, and I shouldn’t make it a goal to see her dimples when she laughs.
I’m pretty sure she’s oblivious, which is a good thing, I try to convince myself.
Until one night after too many cocktails when we fall into bed together. I’m left with an awkward morning-after, and one of the hardest choices I’ve ever had to make.
Confess how I feel, and potentially lose both of my best friends in the process, or bury my feelings and watch her move on?
How can something so wrong feel so right?
Learn more and get your copy HERE.
I broke her heart ten years ago and left town.
She hates me, and rightly so. It doesn’t matter that the rest of the country loves me, that I’m a starting quarterback with a multimillion-dollar contract. Because when I look in the mirror, all I see is a failure who was too young—and too afraid—to fight for what I wanted.
But I’m not that guy anymore, and all I need is one shot to convince her.
• • •
He has no idea what happened after he left. And now I’m supposed to work alongside him like we don’t have this huge, messy history?
But I’m older now, wiser, and I won’t let anything stand in my way of doing a good job for this league. Not even one overpaid, arrogant player who thinks we’re going to kiss and make up.
News flash, buddy: I am over you.
Learn more and get your copy HERE.
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About the Autho
r
A New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA TODAY bestselling author of more than two dozen titles, Kendall Ryan has sold over two million books, and her books have been translated into several languages in countries around the world. Her books have also appeared on the New York Times and USA TODAY bestseller list more than three dozen times. Kendall has been featured in publications such as USA TODAY, Newsweek, and In Touch Magazine. She lives in Texas with her husband and two sons.
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Other Books by Kendall Ryan
Unravel Me
Make Me Yours
Working It
Craving Him
All or Nothing
When I Break Series
Filthy Beautiful Lies Series
The Gentleman Mentor
Sinfully Mine
Bait & Switch
Slow & Steady
The Room Mate
The Play Mate
The House Mate
The Bed Mate
The Soul Mate
Hard to Love
Reckless Love
Resisting Her
The Impact of You
Screwed
Monster Prick
The Fix Up
Sexy Stranger
Dirty Little Secret
Dirty Little Promise
Torrid Little Affair
xo, Zach
Baby Daddy
Tempting Little Tease
Bro Code
Love Machine
Flirting with Forever
Dear Jane
Finding Alexei
For a complete list of Kendall’s books, visit:
www.kendallryanbooks.com/all-books/