Arden

by Melody Anne

  “We take care of each other in this town,” Dakota said. “And just ’cause I moved away doesn’t mean I don’t still consider this home,” she assured her.

  “Before I came here I had no support at all. Now, I truly do feel like this is home,” Angela said with a smile. “It won’t take you long to feel as if you’re right where you belong.”

  Keera didn’t feel as if there was anything going on between Arden and Angela, but she was sort of surprised by it. The woman was absolutely stunning, with her dark hair, dark eyes, and olive complexion. She was shocked she had been working in Arden’s home for a while now with nothing happening. But maybe there had just never been a connection.

  Or maybe it was just that she read far too many romance books where the maid and homeowner fell in love. Come to think of it, Ruth Cardello’s Maid for the Billionaire had been a story like that, and it had been smoking hot. Keera shook her head, getting romance-book stories out of her head. She was already having too many thoughts of Arden and didn’t need to make it worse.

  “Do you guys go around doing this for everyone?” Keera asked as they handed over the dress.

  “Can you imagine how fun that would be?” Eden asked. “We could be fairy godmothers with Prada and Jimmy Choo.” She laughed.

  “We can stand here and talk all night, but I’d much rather see you getting all hot so I can see Arden’s eyes bulge when you arrive,” Dakota said with evil glee. “I love watching my brothers take the fall.”

  Keera held up a hand to stop that train of thought. “Arden and I are just friends,” she said, her voice a bit too high. She was trying to convince herself of this as much as these four women.

  All four of them chuckled. “Mm-hmm, that’s what I thought, too, about Kian,” Roxie said. “I had no intention of going there again with him. But the funny thing about love is that we don’t always get to choose it. As a matter of fact, we rarely get to choose. One day we’re moseying along, thinking we’re perfectly content, and bam, out of the blue we’re shot with an arrow, and no matter how much we try to fight it, we can’t.”

  “Sometimes we also mistake lust for love,” Keera pointed out.

  “There’s nothing wrong with lust,” Eden said with a sigh. “I could definitely use some of that right about now.”

  Dakota laughed as she patted her friend on the arm. “Owen’s in town,” she said with a wink.

  “Yeah, that ship sailed a long time ago,” Eden said. But there was something in her eyes that spoke of pain, and Keera knew that was a story worth hearing. Maybe if she got to know these women more, they’d let her in on the details.

  “My brothers are a lot of bark, and no bite,” Dakota said as she rubbed Eden’s shoulder.

  “They are good guys,” Angela said with a slight blush that intrigued Keera. She really hadn’t thought there was anything between her and Arden, but that blush meant something. What was it?

  “Most of them are,” Eden said, but the words were softened by a smile.

  “You know Arden needs to make sure you’re safe,” Angela said. “When this all began, he was a mess.”

  “He’s a good guy and has been wonderful to me,” Keera said, not wanting any of them to think she didn’t appreciate what he’d done for her. “He really takes ‘helping thy neighbor’ seriously.”

  “Yeah, I think it’s a little past helping his neighbor, or wanting to keep you safe,” Angela said with a wink, confusing Keera even more.

  “Well, I . . . uh . . .” Keera just closed her mouth. She was going to deny it, but the two of them had already combusted once together. But then again, maybe that had waned for him, because he hadn’t touched her since she’d moved into his place.

  “Just enjoy a sexy man wanting you,” Roxie suggested.

  Keera felt her cheeks heat. She didn’t think he wanted her anymore, but she wasn’t going to say that. For one, she didn’t want him to want her. Well, maybe she did, but she didn’t want to feel that way.

  “I’ll go change. You’ve convinced me to go out. However,” she said, holding up a hand when they all grinned, “it’s not for a date with Arden.”

  She turned with her dress and a bag they’d handed her. She shut the door to the bedroom she was using and nearly cried again when she saw the beautiful undergarments they’d purchased. Normally, to receive such items would make her uncomfortable, but she was literally starting over from scratch, and everything she’d been given in the past week and a half was a blessing.

  But to receive such gorgeous items was a real treat. She really should tell them they shouldn’t have gone to so much trouble, but that would take the value of the gesture away, and she didn’t want to do that. She was very much appreciative of what they were doing for her.

  When she looked in the mirror after putting on the formfitting gown, she felt like a princess going to the ball—a modern-day princess. There were no big, poufy skirts with this dress. However, it was the most elegant, stunning thing she’d ever worn, and that was saying a lot, considering she’d grown up with money. But she’d just been a kid then. She was all woman now, with the curves to make her feel positively sexy in the dress they’d picked for her.

  When she walked out, they were standing around the kitchen island, hair irons plugged in and makeup set up. She was a little nervous in her four-inch heels, and taking smaller steps so the slit up the side of the dress wasn’t quite so revealing.

  “Oh, Keera, that dress is utter perfection on you,” Roxie said with a sigh. “The color, the cut, the sexy dip in the back. Perfect, absolutely perfect.”

  “Yes, yes, yes,” Dakota agreed as she moved over and pulled Keera up to the counter where a stool was waiting. “Sit.” Keera was practically shoved into the chair as her hair band was pulled out and Dakota started curling her long strands.

  “Let’s just add the finishing touches,” Eden told her.

  Keera couldn’t ever remember being made up before. But she felt like a rock star about to go out onstage as the women fussed with her hair and makeup. She hoped they weren’t making her look like she should be on a street corner instead of hanging with them. Even as she had the thought, though, she wasn’t worried. These women were far too classy to do something like that.

  When they were finished, they stood back, grinning. Angela pulled out a mirror and told her to take a look. Keera wasn’t able to speak as she gazed at her reflection. They’d curled her hair so it fell in soft waves across her bare shoulders and down to the middle of her back. They’d highlighted her eyes, and insisted she wear a darker shade of pink than she was used to. She barely resembled the woman she was on a daily basis.

  “This is . . . wow . . . ,” Keera said, unable to come up with the proper words. Would Arden think this was all for him? Would the townspeople? She began to worry, but then pushed those thoughts away. This was about her, and her alone. It was okay to want to look in a mirror and feel beautiful every once in a while. It was okay to do it every single day, if a person wanted. How you felt about yourself on the outside reflected how you felt on the inside, and it also impacted how you treated others. The more secure you were with yourself, the happier you’d be.

  “Stunning is the word you’re looking for,” Dakota said.

  “Sexy as sin,” Eden added.

  “A vision,” Angela told her.

  “Thank you,” Keera said, the two little words seeming inadequate.

  “Not a problem,” Roxie told her. “Let’s get you to the ball before midnight. We don’t want any pumpkins tonight.” She waved her imaginary wand in the air, and Keera appreciated the laugh that eased the tension she was feeling at stepping out of the house all dolled up.

  As they stepped from the house, a large SUV waited, a driver immediately moving to open the back door. “None of us wanted to be the designated tonight,” Dakota said as she led the way.

  “Good thinking,” Keera said.

  “To a beautiful night,” Roxie said after pouring them each a glass of wine. T
hey clinked glasses and took a sip, and Keera sat back, wondering how this had become her life.

  “And to the wee hours of the morning,” Dakota added with a wink that had Keera’s cheeks turning red again.

  She couldn’t deny there was a part of her hoping to get a reaction out of Arden. She wasn’t sure when her thinking had begun to change, or when she’d started wishing he’d come visit her bed again, but tonight, that’s exactly what she hoped for.

  Maybe one more time would be enough . . . Yeah, she was very aware that was a lie she was telling herself to make her think this train of thought was okay. Still, she refused to analyze it too much. She was letting go, for tonight at the very least. And she was going to have a wonderful time. She hoped Arden was a part of that.

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  There were very few times in Arden’s life where his breath was actually taken from him. But as he waited in the lobby of the hotel where he was meeting his family and Keera, he wasn’t prepared for the vision that walked in.

  Yes, she was stunning every single time he saw her, but when she stepped through the doors, a smile on her pink lips, the blue dress clinging to every delicious curve of her body, and her hair cascading down her back, he literally lost his breath.

  He didn’t see any other person in the vast lobby, didn’t even remember his own name. His body, which was already tense, went rigid as he gazed at her, so blown away he couldn’t command his feet to move. He had a moment to stare before she turned, before she saw him.

  The smile she wore slowly faded as her eyes dilated, and she let out a whoosh of air. The hunger between the two of them was tangible. It felt as if they could swim through it, it was so thick and humid.

  He’d brought her into his home, and though it killed him to do so, he hadn’t touched her, had tried to be respectful, and not make her feel she was pressured or obligated in any way to him. He’d been waiting for her to make a move on him. He didn’t think he’d be able to wait any longer—not with how incredibly turned on he was at just the sight of her walking.

  The five women approached, and Arden stood before them, dumbfounded as he tried to open his mouth, tried to express what a vision she was. A giggle from his sister and a punch in the arm shook him out of his paralysis.

  “There aren’t words to describe how stunning you are,” he said. Her tongue came out and moistened her lips, and he almost dropped to his knees to beg for mercy.

  “Thanks,” she told him as she licked those kissable lips again. “You look amazing.”

  Arden couldn’t even remember what he’d thrown on, but it didn’t matter. For the first time in his life, he felt unworthy to have a woman on his arm. Just as soon as he had that thought, he smiled, brushing it aside. Hell, they were going to be the belles of the ball. He held out his arm and grinned.

  “I’d like to escort inside the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen,” he told her. Arden felt his pants tighten as her cheeks reddened. This was going to be one hell of a night. He wondered how quickly he could escape his friends and family and get her out of that dress that was going to give him wet dreams for years to come.

  “Ah, aren’t you being the perfect gentleman,” Dakota said with a chuckle.

  “There are five of us here. We’re waiting for more compliments,” Roxie said with a laugh.

  Though it took a lot of effort, Arden ripped his gaze from Keera to look at the other ladies. “Of course, you are all a vision,” he said with a bow. They laughed, knowing he had eyes for only one woman. The four women turned and began walking toward the elevators.

  Keera put her arm in his, and he felt as if he’d just been knighted. She’d given him her trust with that small gesture.

  “Seriously, Keera, you are stunning every day,” he told her, in no hurry to leave this spot right here, where he felt as if the rest of the world had disappeared. “But with your hair down and that dress . . .” He paused again as he inhaled her sweet scent that was playing havoc with his hormones. “With that dress, you will stop traffic.”

  She blushed again but didn’t look away. There was as much heat in her eyes as he was sure was in his own. Yes, tonight he wasn’t going to play the gentleman. Tonight he was going to give them what they both needed. He realized he’d been waiting for her, but he hadn’t realized she was too shy to ever make a move. She wanted him as much as he wanted her, even if she was scared. He just had to prove to her she had nothing to fear.

  He began moving them to the elevators, and the girls were long gone. Good. He wanted a few more minutes alone with this woman. Though when they stepped inside, several other people crowded in with them. It didn’t matter. He’d made his own bubble around the two of them, and no one could pop it.

  As a few more people crammed themselves inside at the last minute, Arden and Keera were pushed to the corner, her body pressed against his. His already hard body pulsed painfully as he inhaled her sweet scent, closing his eyes for just a moment to picture her rubbing a dab between her luscious breasts, maybe a line down the inside of her thigh. A groan escaped him, and she looked at him curiously. He shifted, which only brought him that much more tightly against her.

  “How set are you on this evening?” he asked, his voice barely above a whisper. Even he could hear the urgency in his voice.

  “Why?” she asked. Though she felt his heat, felt the passion between them, she had no idea how close he was to picking her up and finding the nearest closet. Her innocence was turning him on that much more.

  “No reason,” he said. There was no way he could take her away from here when she had taken the time to dress up. It would be a shame to the rest of the people there to not see the glorious package she was.

  The doors to the elevator opened, and Arden wasn’t sure if he was grateful or not. His sanity might be saved by escaping the tight confines, but he in no way wanted to let this woman go. He was becoming quite possessive when it came to her. He couldn’t remember ever having felt that way toward a woman. He knew there had never been anyone he hadn’t been willing to let go.

  When they stepped into the upscale lounge, soft piano music was playing, and the lights were dim. It was a nice place, and he was sure he could find some little alcove to whisk her away to. He saw his family all the time and didn’t need to tonight. He actually looked around to find potential hiding places.

  “Wow, this is stunning,” she said as she looked around. He followed the direction of her gaze and tried to see it through her eyes. He’d gotten so used to the finer things in life, he sometimes didn’t appreciate the beauty. He had a feeling that being with this woman would help change that for him.

  The place had a classy elegance about it, with low-hung chandeliers and cloth-covered tables with vases in the middle holding fresh-cut flowers. Candles burned throughout the room, giving a flickering of light as well as a delicious aroma. The hardwood floors were polished to perfection, and the vaulted ceilings showed exposed beams. It was a beautiful place, and he wished it was just the two of them. He would pull her onto the dance floor before the night was over, he assured himself.

  In the corner a band was setting up. Good. He loved piano music, but it was more for ambience. Arden wanted this woman in his arms, and he knew this band, knew they played a lot of slow songs. He could wait a little while. The anticipation of this night with her, of touching her, flirting with her, looking into her eyes and watching them burn, was all worth the wait.

  By the time they finally got home, they’d detonate. Arden had a feeling it would always be this way with Keera. She inspired him in so many ways. He was certain he wasn’t going to let her go. Now he just had to convince her he was worth keeping, that he was worth trusting. Tonight he’d begin showing her they belonged together.

  “My family is waiting on us,” he said on a sigh.

  “We should go, then,” she said, seeming almost as disappointed as him.

  He thought about lifting her into his arms and walking out, but he wanted her to know tha
t she meant so much more to him than just a roll in the hay. So with that in mind, he stepped forward, pleased to walk through the room knowing every eye was on his date.

  She was truly the one a man would be a fool to let get away. Lucky for him, he’d been the one to find her. She was his now. She’d realize that soon. Arden had never given up on something that mattered to him.

  And Keera Thompson mattered a lot.

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  There were butterflies in Keera’s stomach as she walked through the crowded lounge, knowing people were watching the two of them. For those who didn’t know who Keera was, they were wondering. Not because she seemed intriguing, but because she was on the arm of Arden Forbes.

  But the butterflies weren’t because of people watching them. No. The butterflies were because he’d looked at her in a way that made her feel like the only woman on the planet—he’d made her feel beautiful, confident, and worthy of being right where she was.

  The look he’d given her when their eyes had connected had made her feel as if she were naked and he were stroking her. She’d been very wrong to think he didn’t still desire her. The heat inside her body was at inferno levels, because she had no doubt the two of them would make love tonight.

  For a moment she’d been confused when he’d asked if she wanted to leave. Now, feeling his body next to hers, feeling the heat scorching between the two of them, she had no doubt why he’d been in such a hurry. If he asked her to leave again, she’d gladly tell him yes.

  It had been fun to dress up once she’d gotten over the initial shock of it. And to be out with a group of people, especially as wonderful as they were, was something she was grateful to be doing. But now all her thoughts were on her and Arden getting naked, and that was going to make it very difficult to get through the evening without every single person in the room reading the desire in her eyes.

  A shudder passed through her as they neared a large table where the girls were sitting, along with half a dozen other people. She didn’t realize it, but she scooted a little closer to Arden, who wrapped his hand behind her back and gave her a reassuring squeeze.