Spark of Desire ; All for You

by Sheryl Lister

  “I’ll show you old.” He backed her into the room.

  “I was hoping you’d say that.”

  Cedric threw back his head and laughed. With her there would never be a dull moment. His bachelor days were over and he couldn’t be happier to change his tune. He’d found a new song—a love song—that he would sing for the rest of his life.

  * * *

  All for You

  Elle Wright

  But...he is fine. She let her gaze roam over his features, his strong hands, his chiseled jaw, his dark brown eyes and his lean frame.

  He was hard lines and smooth brown skin, and her fingers itched to sketch him, to put his beauty on canvas. He was dressed in a navy blue tailored suit with a white shirt underneath and dark brown leather oxford shoes. She couldn’t keep her eyes to herself. His style was professional but chic. But there was also a kind of sexy nerd aura to him. Ooo wee. She resisted the urge to fan herself because she suddenly felt warm, hot actually.

  Aria had a thing for men who could outsmart or outmaneuver anyone. The smarter, the better. And when she fell, she always fell hard. But inevitably it didn’t work because the men she’d dated always tried to change her, or mold her into an image fit for their world. After Holloway, she’d made a vow to never get into a relationship with another man who wanted to put her into a box. But she could still enjoy the view and appreciate a man who looked like he was molded from a precious metal. Myles definitely fit the bill.

  She smiled to herself and glanced up to find Myles staring at her, a tiny smirk on his lips. He’d caught her checking him out. Oh. My. God. Her cheeks heated and she wanted to sink into her seat a little.

  There was never a time when Elle Wright wasn’t about to start a book, already deep in a book or had just finished one. She grew up believing in the importance of reading, and became a lover of all things romance when her mother gave her her first romance novel. She lives in Southeast Michigan.

  Books by Elle Wright

  Harlequin Kimani Romance

  It’s Always Been You

  Wherever You Are

  Because of You

  All for You

  Visit the Author Profile page

  at Harlequin.com for more titles.

  To my mother, Regina, you are missed.

  Acknowledgments

  Without God, I would be nothing.

  I thank Him for being everything to me.

  To Jason; my children, Asante, Kaia, Masai; and the rest of my family, I love you all BIG. There are so many of you, I can’t name everyone. But you know who you are. I learned long ago that you don’t have to be blood to be family. That couldn’t be more true. I appreciate the time, the talks, the hugs, the tears...everything. I thank you all for your unwavering support.

  To my lit sis, Sheryl, thank you.

  I don’t have to tell you why. You already know. Love you!

  To my agent, Sara, I thank you for believing in me.

  To the Kimani Family,

  thank you for your encouragement.

  I wouldn’t be on this journey without all of your love and support. Thank you for being #TeamElle!

  You all mean the world to me!

  Dear Reader,

  It has been such an honor to write for Harlequin Kimani. Thank you for taking this journey with me.

  The last of the Jackson brothers really gave me a hard time. Myles. He was so intense, so serious. I couldn’t wait to open him up a little. Except he was much more complex than I ever imagined and nothing like I expected. I’m really glad that I saved him for last.

  All for You taught me lifelong lessons, revealed things within myself that I was too scared to face. Everything that Myles deals with is something I’ve dealt with. It’s easy to ignore the voice of your passion for practical. It’s so easy to go to a job and not feel like you’re doing your work. Your work is what makes you happy and satisfied. It should never feel like a chore, like an obligation. I hope you can listen to your voice and focus on your work.

  Thank you for everything! I hope you enjoy the ride!

  Love,

  Elle

  ElleWright.com

  @LWrightAuthor

  Contents

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Epilogue

  Chapter 1

  “Who the hell wears dress shoes and slacks to sip and paint?” a gruff but friendly voice joked.

  Dr. Myles Jackson paused in the doorway to the paint studio, Cocktails and Canvas. All of his siblings were inside. “Shut the hell up.” He glared at his identical twin brother, Ian. “Can I get in the door first?” he grumbled.

  Myles tried to ignore the chorus of chuckles from his siblings, but the laughter grew louder and more obnoxious by the second. Even his “date” had joined in. Strike one.

  When everyone quieted down, Myles introduced the woman by his side to his siblings. All of the Jackson clan and significant others were in attendance tonight. It was a tradition to celebrate birthdays with each other, and it was his sister-in-law Avery’s big day.

  If he didn’t love Avery so much, he would have gone home, locked himself in his music room and worked out on the keys the tension that had set in after a long day at the hospital. His piano and the music he made on it was his safe space, his therapy, his salvation. The notes had called to him for as long as he could remember. And he made it a point to play every single day.

  Myles greeted the beautiful birthday girl with a hug. At five months pregnant, Avery had the glow that often accompanied pregnancy. He smoothed a hand over the soon-to-be new member of the family. “How are you?”

  Avery groaned. “Busy and tired.”

  “You should be tired. You’re all over the place.” She had two hit televisions shows on the air, after all, and a new development deal with NetPix, the popular streaming platform taking the world by storm with its original programming.

  “OMG, I love The Preserves,” his date screeched. “I’m loving the Lucky and Kat story! And where did you get your bag? It’s not even on sale for the public yet!”

  Myles glanced over at the woman he’d brought with him to the paint party. The entire time he’d been with her, she’d talked his ears off during the drive there—about clothes, about shopping, about handbags. As if that wasn’t bad enough, the high-pitched decibel at which Tina spoke made him want to jump out of his own car. He should have known better. No date his father had ever set him up on was worth his time or effort. Tina was the daughter of one of his father’s closest business associates, and Myles had been briefed on the importance of this date.

  His father, Dr. Lawrence Jackson, had planned to open an exclusive cosmetic surgery practice in their hometown of Ann Arbor. Tina’s father was the city planner in charge of approving the development of the land earmarked for the building.

  Avery grinned. “It was a gift from the designer.”

  Tina screamed.

  If Myles heard another OMG or Seriously again, he might just fake a migraine and take her home before dinner.

  “Bruh.” Ian approached him with a questioning stare. “Who the hell is that?”

  “Dad.”

  “Ah... No further explanation needed.”

  “Don’t start,” Myles muttered. He didn’t need another lecture about their father’s exacting demands of them. “It’s not the time.”

  Ian held up both hands in surrender. “Hey, I’m not saying a word. I’ve already made
myself very clear on the subject.”

  For years, Ian had been urging Myles to tell their father to step off, but Myles had yet to take him up on the advice. He was pretty sure his brothers thought he was scared of his father. But it was just the opposite. Despite his demanding and bougie ways, Dr. Law, as they called his dad, had his respect. The man was a gifted surgeon and professor. He traveled the world teaching his patented techniques in top medical centers. He could only hope to be as formidable a doctor as his father.

  Myles thought about his many patients and the pile of charts awaiting him at work. He rarely took time off, but he wouldn’t miss Avery’s celebration. And family was important to him. He glanced around the room. Ian had ventured off to join his fiancée, Bailee. His older brother Drake was cuddled in the corner with his wife, Love. Avery and his uncle-brother El were chatting with another couple near the food table. Although El wasn’t their biological brother, he’d been raised like one of them, hence the moniker uncle-brother. Myles’s date, meanwhile, was... Making duck lips and taking selfies.

  It was unfortunate to actually meet someone who cared nothing about anything that wasn’t a designer whatever. The prognosis was grim. The chance of a second date was highly unlikely.

  Myles strolled over to the food table, made a small plate of chicken wings, grapes and cheese. He popped a cube of Colby Jack into his mouth, followed by a grape. He checked his watch. Dinner was hours away, and he’d forgotten to eat today.

  The studio was set up with three lines of rectangular tables. Each table had six easels already set up with blank canvases. A worker was walking around pouring paint onto white plates while another set cups of water and sets of paintbrushes near each station.

  He made his way to the table and took a seat. A small hand reached out and snagged a grape off his plate. “Hands out of my plate, Mel.”

  Mel grinned when he met her amused gaze. She shrugged. “You know I can’t resist. You’re so OCD.”

  He ignored the comment. Myles had never been diagnosed with obsessive-compulsive disorder, but his siblings had always joked with him about the particular way he did things. Everything had a place, he didn’t like people to touch his food, and he always washed his hands every time he touched someone else’s bare skin. “What’s up?”

  Mel smirked. “Where did you get your date? Myles, she went to high school with me.”

  That got his attention. Strike two. Mel was only twenty-four years old, nine years younger than him and Ian. Damn. “She’s not my date. I’m doing Dad a favor.”

  “Look at her.” Mel pointed toward the window where Tina was checking out her butt in the storefront reflection. “She’s not smarter than a fifth grader. You’re a freakin’ surgeon, big brother.”

  He chuckled. Mel was one of his favorite people in the world. He still remembered her at six years old, running through the garden screaming that she was going to marry Lil Wayne. Myles had been there for every big event in her life, from preschool graduation to dance recitals to swim meets to prom to college graduation. She’d recently made the decision to forgo medical school and attend business school in New York City. It was a huge decision, especially considering they were all expected and groomed to follow the family tradition of attending the University of Michigan Medical School. He would miss her, but he was so proud of her.

  “You’re silly.” He nudged her, like he’d always done.

  She placed a hand on his leg. “I’m so serious. She’s ridiculous.”

  Myles smiled at his little sister, noted the concern in her big, brown eyes. “I’m fine.”

  “Are you? Because I can’t leave town in good conscience without knowing that my brothers will be all right.”

  “Mel, you’ve been MIA for years now.”

  She laughed. “I have not. I’ve been trying to be great, living my best life.” Mel clapped and did a chair twerk, while singing the chorus to the popular song that seemed to play on the radio every time he turned it on.

  Myles groaned. I hate that damn song. “What time does this thing start, anyway?”

  At that moment, a woman rushed into the studio. “I’m so sorry. I had an important phone call from my manager. But I have great news,” she told Avery.

  He watched as Avery hugged the woman. Mel jumped up and joined the other ladies who had crowded around her. His sisters huddled in a circle while the mystery woman whispered something to them. Soon the ladies let out a loud cheer and hugged her.

  His brothers approached the table, talking about the Detroit Pistons and their losing streak. El clasped his shoulder, unfazed by the halfhearted head nod Myles gave him in return. Because all Myles could see, all he could focus on, was her.

  She wore ripped, black skinny jeans and a loose-fitting black tank. The multicolored sleeve tattoo on her left shoulder was intricate, with detail that he wanted to study. He’d never been attracted to women with ink, but this woman seemed to call to him on a primitive level.

  Leaning to his left, he asked Ian, “Who is that?”

  Ian glanced up. “That’s Aria Bell. She is part of the ladies group.”

  “What ladies group?”

  “Bailee, Avery, Love and Mel have been going to some ladies-night-out group. The purpose is sisterhood, since none of them have actual sisters.”

  Myles let his gaze travel from Aria’s long, black waves with cherry-red highlights down to black sandals with red, painted toes. “Is she the instructor?”

  Ian shrugged. “I think so. I don’t know. Why?”

  “Nothing.”

  Ian shot him a quizzical look. “Aren’t you on a date?”

  “Shut up.”

  Aria walked to the front of the room, and the women joined their significant others at the tables. Tina slid into the seat next to his, and he forced his gaze away from Aria, shooting the social media queen a polite smile.

  “Hey!” Aria jumped onto the podium and spun around to face them. “I’m Aria, the owner of Cocktails and Canvas. I apologize for being late, but I trust that my staff has been helpful. I see that you’re ready to paint the Detroit skyline with me tonight. Can I see a show of hands for everyone who’s done a sip and paint event before?”

  Myles gaped when Drake raised his hand right along with the women in the room.

  “You’re holding out on us, bruh,” Ian said.

  Drake hugged Love. “Date night.”

  Instead of continuing the playful insult party, Ian backed off and peered down at his fiancée, Bailee. Less than three years ago, Myles and his brothers had been single and loving it. Well, except for El. And slowly all of them had settled down and turned their attention from work, women and freedom to marriage, family and date nights. Drake had started the chain reaction when he went to Las Vegas with Love to attend her family reunion and woke up married. El followed when he nursed a very sick Avery back to health and healed her heart in the process. Then, surprising them all, Ian’s one-night stand had turned into forever.

  Since then, most family events had shifted into set-Myles-up parties. But he wasn’t interested in a hookup. He dated when he wanted to. When he settled down, it would be on his own terms. Until then, he’d enjoy the single life a little longer. Maybe with the lovely Aria.

  Aria continued her spiel, telling the room more about her business, her love of art and the painting process for the night. They spent several minutes preparing the canvas by using stencils to trace the skyline. Then they got started on their masterpieces. Aria walked them through each stage of the painting, starting with the background.

  “This is fun,” Tina said, sweeping her paintbrush across the canvas. “I’ve never been to one of these parties before. I always thought it was weird.”

  Myles let out a heavy sigh and prayed no one asked Tina to elaborate.

  Unfortunately, it wasn’t his lucky night because Love asked, “Why?”

&
nbsp; “Because it’s boring. Who wants to sit around painting when you can go clubbing or shopping? Plus, I’m not a fan of art or paintings. Most are weird, anyway, and make no sense. I prefer pictures.”

  Myles checked the time on his watch. Tina babbled on about the ugly woman in the “one painting in the movie Annie” and the “stupid disfigured man surrounded by blue that used to scare her when she was a little girl.” He wanted to stuff a bunch of grapes into her mouth to shut her up. The more she talked, the worse it would be for him later when his siblings blazed on him for bringing her in the first place.

  Across from him, Love clutched invisible pearls while Drake stared at Tina slack jawed. Myles glanced at Mel just in time to catch the hard roll of his sister’s eyes. Melanie smirked and mouthed the words fifth grader to him before returning her attention to her own painting. Mel’s face never could hide her emotions.

  Next to him, Ian burst out in laughter, not even trying to disguise his amusement. “Nice, bruh.”

  Massaging his temples, Myles shook his head. Only a few more hours.

  “Myles, I have to go to the little powder room,” Tina whispered.

  He stood and pulled her chair out for her. Once she exited the room, he turned to his family. Multiple sets of eyes stared back at him. “What?”

  “What could you possibly have in common with someone who is a ding-a-ling?” Love blurted out.

  Myles opened his mouth to respond, but nothing came out. Because Love liked everyone. Love was nice to everyone. Evidently, that art comment had tipped his loving sister-in-law to the dark side.

  “See!” Mel shouted, smacking her palms on the table. “I told you. Even Love said it.”

  “I think we should leave Myles alone,” Bailee announced. “Obviously, he needs help finding a date,” she added under her breath.

  “Really, Bai?” Myles asked. “I thought we were cool.”

  His twin’s fiancée shrugged. “Hey, I’m just sayin’...” She stuck her tongue out at him.