The Gamble

by Alice Ward

  I couldn’t have been more proud.

  This breakfast was a celebration of his success. I wanted him to know how much he meant to me, that I would stand by his side no matter what happened. Even if his new business tanked, I would still love him, and I would always support him. Our time together had been the best of my life. Talen was my inspiration for everything, and I wanted nothing more than to be the same thing for him. He’d given me an entirely new life, and I could never repay him for that.

  Still, I wanted to try. I cooked breakfast, making only his favorites. As I turned pancakes, my eyes kept falling on the painting hanging on the wall. I remembered how I felt as I made those paint strokes over a year ago now. How I felt when he bought it. How I felt when we placed it on the wall together.

  I was continuing to grow as an artist and it felt wonderful to contribute to our household through the paintings I sold. It wasn’t that we needed the money, but it felt good all the same.

  Talen was still my main inspiration. Whenever I felt stuck, like I didn’t have anything to paint, I would think of him, and an idea would come to me. I never stayed stuck for long because Talen kept me feeling alive every day.

  As I finished breakfast, I loaded it onto a tray and carried it through the apartment. I pushed open our bedroom door and stepped inside. Talen was still asleep, lying face down on his pillow. I smiled at the sight and walked around the side of the bed. Placing the tray gently on the nightstand, I slid over and kissed his bare shoulder. He stirred slightly but didn’t open his eyes. I kept kissing him softly until he finally rolled over, ready to wake up. His eyes found me, and he smiled my favorite smile.

  “Hey you,” I said. “Good morning.”

  “What’s all this?” he asked, sitting up and blinking sleepily at the breakfast tray.

  “Just a little celebration.”

  His grinned his adorable grin. “What are we celebrating?”

  “You,” I said simply.

  “Me?” He raised his eyebrows as he took a sip of coffee. “Why?”

  “Are you kidding?” I laughed. “Your firm is finally up and running. It’s everything you always wanted, and now, it’s real. You did it! You actually made it happen, and it’s amazing, Talen. I am so proud of you.”

  “Thank you,” he beamed. “But you didn’t have to do all this. The company is still new. Who knows what may happen.”

  “Don’t think like that,” I said. “It’s going to be a success. I know it is.”

  He snagged a piece of bacon. “I hope you’re right.”

  “I am,” I promised.

  He kissed me quickly, and we began to eat our breakfast. We talked about Talen’s plans for the future of the firm and about my next art showing. I hoped to have my own gallery by the end of the year, but that was just a pipe dream. I had no idea if it would ever happen. Still, it was nice to dream of these things with him. Sitting there in bed, eating breakfast, and talking about our future felt right. It felt real. Perfect.

  “So,” Talen said. “I talked to my mom yesterday.”

  I smiled. “How’s she doing? I miss her. When does she get back from New York?”

  He shot me a look. “She doesn’t.”

  My mouth dropped open. “What?”

  “Well,” Talen began with a small smile on his face. “She left my dad.”

  For several moments, I couldn’t speak. “Are you serious?”

  “Yup,” Talen said with a nod. “I couldn’t believe it either. She said that she just couldn’t do it anymore, you know? That after all these years of putting up with him, she was just done. I was so happy when she told me that I cried. I swear, this is the best thing for her. She’s going to be so much happier without him holding her down.”

  “How did he take it?” I asked.

  “I don’t know, and I don’t care.” Talen shrugged, but deep down, I knew he did care. “I haven’t spoken to him in a year, and I don’t plan to, ever again.”

  “Don’t say that,” I said softly, rubbing his arm. “He’s an ass, but he’s still your dad. You two will work it out one day.”

  “Maybe,” Talen shrugged. “But for now, I’m just happy that Mom can finally live her own life. She deserves it, you know?”

  “She does,” I agreed. “She’s an amazing person.”

  It was true. Over the last year, Victoria and I had gotten closer. My own mother’s dementia was worsening by the week, and most of the time, she was more confused than not. Still, she was alive, and that was what mattered. Talen and I visited her three times every week, and it brightened her mood every time, even when she didn’t recognize me. I loved my mother, and I missed her terribly. I missed the woman she used to be, and Victoria had begun to fill that void.

  She would never replace my own mom, but it was nice to have her around. Whenever life got stressful or complicated, I could always call her for some advice. She loved me just as much as she loved Talen, and it felt incredible. While I couldn’t burden my own mother with my problems, Victoria was always around to talk to. I loved her.

  “Come outside with me,” Talen said when we finished breakfast. “It’s a beautiful day.”

  “Okay.” I smiled and jumped off the bed.

  “I’ll meet you out there,” he said. “I just want to put some clothes on.”

  “Do you have to?” I gave him a sultry stare, my eyes dropping down to inspect his gorgeous body. He still took my breath away.

  “Go…” he laughed, shooing me away. “I’ll be there in a second.”

  Still smiling, I walked out onto the terrace and leaned against the stone railing. I could never get tired of this view. Ever since I first stepped foot inside Talen’s apartment, I was in love with this view. It was gorgeous and always filled me with a sense of peace. Now that the apartment was also mine, I spent more time outside than I did inside. I often painted on this terrace, letting the view and fresh air inspire me. It always did.

  As I stood there, I heard Talen walk outside to meet me. He came up behind me and wrapped his arms around my waist. I leaned my head back against him, and he kissed my cheek gently. I smiled and sighed. These were the moments when I was the happiest, when everything about our life together felt perfect. Talen fit with me in so many small ways that I could never explain, but I could feel it. Whenever he held me, I could feel how much he loved me, and I was grateful because I loved him just as much.

  “Dani,” he whispered in my ear. “I love you so much.”

  “I love you too,” I whispered back. I turned around and kissed his lips gently. He pushed me back against the stone wall and deepened the kiss. His tongue tasted mine hungrily, and I moaned against him. So many mornings had begun just like this, with us kissing on the terrace. We would make love outside, feeling uninhibited and free. Those mornings were my favorite, and I was ready for another.

  Instead, Talen pulled away from me. I frowned in protest and tried to kiss him again, but he held me back, a shy smile on his face.

  “Hold that thought,” he said.

  “Why? What’s wrong?”

  “Nothing,” he said, shaking his head. “That’s just it. Nothing is wrong.”

  “I don’t understand.”

  “Ever since you and I got together, nothing has been wrong,” he said. “For the first time, my life feel likes my own. I feel free and happy, and it’s all because of you. Dani, you’ve changed me in so many ways that you’ll never be able to understand. The man I was before you. I hated that man, but now, I’m finally proud of the person I’ve become. I owe all of that to you, my love.”

  I shook my head. “You did all the work, babe. I was just along for the ride.”

  He pushed my hair back from my face, cupping my cheek with his palm. “No. You are my inspiration. Without you, none of this would have been possible. I wouldn’t have opened Gaston Research. I certainly never would have left my father’s company. Honestly, I think you’re even the reason my mom finally left him. You walked into our lives and showe
d us what real love looks like. You showed us what compassion is.”

  I blushed and blinked away tears. Talen’s words melted my heart to pieces. When he reached into his pocket and pulled out a small black box, I lost it. The tears flowed freely down my cheeks, and I couldn’t breathe.

  “Dani,” he said, getting down on one knee. “We’re technically married, but we never had the wedding you deserved. The wedding where we actually remember saying ‘I do.’”

  I laughed, wiping at the tears with my sleeve as he opened the box. It was a diamond wedding band that perfectly matched the halo engagement ring he’d given me before.

  “I don’t remember putting that band on your finger. I want to remember putting this one on. I want to remember every detail.”

  I was crying too hard to say anything.

  “I once told you that I don’t make promises I’m not sure I can keep,” he said. “And that still holds true, but I promise that I will love you for the rest of my life. You are the woman of my dreams, and I can’t live a single second on this Earth without you by my side. I never want to.”

  “Talen…” I sighed, tears still pouring down my cheeks.

  “Dani, will you take another gamble on me, and do me the honor of being my wife… again?”

  I laughed and lunged forward. He jumped up to grab me, and I kissed him with passion. We spun in circles, kissing and laughing, unable to control our emotions. I was halfway through tearing his clothes off when he pulled away from me.

  “Is that a yes?” he laughed.

  “Of course, it’s a yes!” I cried. “Are you kidding? Of course.”

  He carried me inside and we made love. What he didn’t realize was that saying “yes” to him wasn’t a gamble.

  To me, he was a safe bet. And I’d always bet on us.

  THE END

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  BOOK DESCRIPTION

  Defense attorney Alisa Manning is looking for the right trial to thrust her into the spotlight of her new firm. Much like fate does, it drops in her lap the only man who’s ever found his way into her heart. A man she hasn’t been able to forget.

  Zek Kellington has been accused of rape by one of his new interns, and the girl’s father is one of the top trial lawyers in the city. On top of that, the SEC is after him too. The evidence points to his guilt and the press has already found him guilty. His life is falling apart at his very expensive seams.

  Can Alisa clear his name of the charges while keeping her heart free from the promises he offers, or will she dive in deep and invest everything in a criminal?

  THE BILLIONAIRE PRISONER

  Part One

  CHAPTER ONE

  Alisa

  I’d never experienced anything more nerve wracking than I did sitting across from Zek Kellington again. The financial mogul who had brought himself up from nothing to become a shining star in the vast sky of investments was still the boy I’d fallen in love with as a girl. His deep voice and piercing gaze undid me in a matter of minutes and escaping was all I could think to do.

  I knew him well enough to know that he wouldn’t let bygones be bygones. He would get up from the quaint table in the middle of La Terange and follow me outside. Taking a sharp left down the alley wasn’t the most brilliant idea I’d had in a while, but it saved me from having to stand in front of him again.

  “It’s fine. Let it go,” I mumbled to myself before picking my walk up to a jog. My car was parked a few lots over, due to the demand for space in the popular downtown area. The jog would do me good. I needed something to bleed my desire into anyway.

  Seeing him left me overwhelmed and diving into the many visions I’d had of the future while growing up. It was a future where he and I were together and love was a commodity that never failed to surround us both. How things have changed.

  Not only had I not seen him in eighteen years, but to have to reacquaint ourselves under his current situation left me at an unfair disadvantage. He was being charged with rape of a young intern at his firm, and to my understanding, he was soon to face charges of insider trading. Whether he was involved in the trading scandal was beyond me, but the rape had to be a lie.

  How many times had I tried to get him to take our make-out sessions beyond something soft and caring to hot and carnal when I was younger? He wouldn’t think of taking advantage of me or anyone else back then. Something told me that he was very much that same guy. His standards couldn’t have changed much, but his judgment was certainly skewed.

  After getting into my BMW and buckling up, I started the car and hit the button on the dash to call my brother. He wouldn’t be surprised about me seeing Zek, but maybe it was time to open up a little. Time to tell him about the torrent of emotion threatening to strangle me now that the meeting was over.

  “Carl Beeler. What can I do ya for?” His warm, friendly voice never failed to force a smile onto my face.

  “Why do you answer the phone like that when you know it’s me?” I chuckled and pulled out into the busy side street ahead of me.

  “Consistency, Sis. You gotta maintain consistency, no matter who’s in front of you.” He snorted, laughing at himself, which was very much his style. He was anything but consistent.

  “Are you and Cathy free tonight? I need to talk to you guys and just hang out with someone who loves me.” I ran my fingers through my hair, destroying the professional look I’d worked hard to create.

  “Yeah. Get your ass over here. I’m already home and Cat will be here any minute. We’re having hamburgers, so no fancy-pants food, but you need to get away from that stuff from time to time anyway.” He snorted again and I rolled my eyes.

  “I’m stopping by my apartment and then I’ll be there. Need me to bring anything?”

  “Nope, just yourself.” There was a brief pause. “Okay, well, see you soon, and Sis… you okay?”

  “I’m okay. I think.” I let out a sigh and pulled the car onto the freeway, pressing the gas and letting the acceleration tug at the part of me that didn’t want to behave at all. I kept that part locked up tight. It just seemed better for everyone involved that I did.

  “Alright. I love you.” He hung up, leaving me to the silence of my car.

  “I love you too,” I mumbled to the empty space around me and pursed my lips. I wanted Zek’s case so fucking bad, and yet I knew it would lead to far more than a few more accolades for my career. He seemed to be struggling with recognizing me when I first walked in, but I knew who he was without question. I’d followed bits and pieces of his career over the years, hating myself for wanting t
o know, but needing to nevertheless.

  The phone buzzed under my bag in the passenger’s side seat, and I hit the button to pull the call through the car’s console.

  “Alisa Manning.”

  “Alisa. It’s Lizzy. How did the meeting with Zek go?” The older woman, who’d been part of my hiring process at Dellup and Brown, was not only assured to be a great ally to me in the future, but was Zek’s sister-in-law. I had to tread carefully.

  “It was okay. I’m not sure that taking either of his cases will be a positive move for us as a firm though. I know you’re not taking them on because of your familial ties, but we grew up together, and after seeing him...” I had no words that could accurately describe just how taken aback I was by him.

  He was an enormous personality who was only outdone by his wickedly sinful good looks. If it wasn’t his thick, broad shoulders that promised impeccable protection from any storm, it was his kissable pink lips that tugged at every part of me. I coveted them. Wanted them all over me.

  “You still there?” She must have said something more, but I was lost in the image of Zek making up for lost time.

  “Yes. Sorry. Traffic is heinous.” I turned on the air conditioner and pointed the vent directly toward my face, hoping to force my attention span to stay awake.

  “It’s okay. We can talk when you get home tonight, but I want you to consider taking at least one of these cases with Zek. I know you have some history with him, but it’s twenty years back. Surely nothing still exists between you after that long, right?” She wasn’t asking, though she posed her enquiry very much like a question might sound.

  “No. There’s really nothing to remember either. He was a good friend to my older brother. I might have had a childhood crush on him, but it was nothing. You’re right.” I let out a quick puff of air. “I guess I’m just overly sensitive to the idea of bending my ethics in any way, shape or form.” I had to get myself off the radar for Zek’s cases. Diving in deep to save him just sounded far too much like something I would spend my last dime to do. That feeling alone left me with full awareness that I should walk away.