What to Read After FSOG: The Gemstone Collection (WTRAFSOG Book 3)

by Lauren Hawkeye

  Nodding she took his hand and he pulled her against him. “I can’t lose you either.” She was rewarded with his charming smile and his mesmerizing dimple.

  Back in his large fluffy bed she had her head on his chest listening to his steady heartbeat. She knew he was sleeping but she couldn’t fall back to sleep, there was too much going on in her mind.

  With her last lovers she never slept with them, she or he would leave after they had sex. The last time she fell asleep in someone’s arms was Brad, and she hated that it was true. This man that was holding her as he was sleeping deserved to have a woman that was willing to give up her heart, but what if she was shattered again?

  She wasn’t sure if she could live through another heart ache. She willed herself to close her eyes and thought of happy things like lying here in Angelo’s warm arms and the thump of his heart.

  This time when Evangeline woke up she was awaken by the sun pouring into the bedroom and warm arms wrapped around her. Turning her head to the side she grinned, Angelo was gorgeous and she liked waking up next to him.

  “I liked to be kissed in the mornings, not ogled like a piece of meat.” His chocolate eyes opened and found hers, and she giggled because she was caught ogling him. But if she didn’t she would be crazy or blind.

  She leaned down and lightly brushed her lips against his. “Good morning Angelo,” she whispered against his irresistible lips.

  He laughed and enclosed his arms around her pulling her back down on his hard body. “Hmm…I like when you say my name.” he said as he ran his lips down her neck. She turned her head to the side offering more of herself to him.

  “Angelo,” she moaned his name, his heavenly lips traveled to her collarbone and his teeth grazed her flesh.

  “We need to get up—” he lifted his head to look at her and he rubbed the tip of his roman nose against hers. “I wanted to make you breakfast.” Her heart swelled because he wanted to make her breakfast. Routinely she would just have an English muffin and coffee.

  “You want to make me breakfast?” He grinned down at her.

  “That is if we make it off of this bed, but with the way you are looking at me I can’t grantee that.”

  “What were you thinking about making?”

  “Chocolate chip pancakes.” She pushed him off of her and sat up.

  “You better get started lover-boy.” He winked at her and stood up, her mouth went dry because his naked behind was all she could see. He was the definition of beauty, his body and face belonged on a marble sculpture or a famous painting. She imagine he was what people would think of when they thought about fallen angels.

  “You’re doing it again, you are staring at me.” He twisted around now wearing lose fitting black sweatpants. He moved to her and took in her naked body, his eyes darkened with his passion. “And you standing here naked and sexy doesn’t help me make your chocolate chip pancakes.” She laughed and pushed him away, she watched him walk away leaving her with her undesirable thoughts.

  She wasn’t the girl that thought of forever with someone, Axel was right about how she usually did a complete background check on someone before she had sex with them. But against her better judgment she didn’t with Angelo.

  Chapter Nine

  Evangeline sat in her car in front of Skyler Tower. She knew everyone had secrets but she couldn’t get past thinking that Angelo was keeping something significant from her. When she was leaving his condo she expected a good bye kiss but he just told her to have a good day.

  No kiss. Not even on her forehead.

  A knock at her window made her jump, she twisted her head to the side and found Axel. He had his dark black sunglasses on and she desperately wanted to see his light blue eyes. She couldn’t believe he broke into Angelo’s condo, that was crossing a line but she had already crossed that line when she kissed him. Narrowing her eyes she got out of her car, and since he didn’t move it made her face come to his chest.

  “We need to talk,” he said before she could say anything. Placing her hands on her hips she glared at him.

  “You are right about that, we do need to talk.” She craved his touch, and she wanted his sunglasses off. She forced herself not to touch him because of Angelo and she didn’t trust herself.

  “In your office, I don’t want to make a scene.” She glanced around and noticed a few people staring at her and him. “I would like to get you inside because we are way too open out here.” She understood what he meant, her stalker could be watching her and they weren’t sure if he was truly violent.

  She didn’t say anything just strolled towards her tower, and was surprised that she wasn’t greeted by Mike but by two large younger men. Spinning around she wanted to scream at Axel, he had taken off his dark sunglasses.

  “Where the hell is Mike?” she knew people were staring at her, and at this point she didn’t care. Mike needed this job to support his children, and she hated knowing he wasn’t here.

  “I gave him two weeks off with pay. We needed people here that could keep you safe, and I know these men from when I was a Ranger.” She was pissed but she turned around to face the new men. One of them had dark black hair that was pulled back showing off his chiseled emotionless face. He had murky green eyes that were surrounded by dark thick eyelashes. The other had a shave head with dark blue eyes. “James meet your new boss, Ms. Skyler.” The green eye handsome devil took her hand in his and shook.

  “Ms. Skyler,” his voice was dark and masculine, he stared in her eyes and slowly nodded.

  “And this is Ryan. These two men will be the new front security guards until you are no longer threatened. They will be at your house every night.” She had a gate she never closed with a security guard office.

  “It’s nice to meet you two, Axel I need to see you in my office.” Walking away she knew he would follow, because he was right about needing to talk. She reached the elevator and scanned her card and then waited for her driver to join her.

  When the doors closed she was grateful for the quiet and like every morning Heather welcomed her as soon as she stepped off of the elevator. “Good morning Ms. Skyler.” Her voice was tight because of Axel’s presence she was always nervous around him.

  Evangeline grinned and placed her hand on Heather’s shoulder and casually squeezed. “Good morning Heather, will you make sure we are not interrupted?”

  Heather glanced at Evangeline’s hand and her smile lit up her face. “Of course ma’am.” She brought her eyes to hers and beamed. Removing her hand she strolled passed her assistant and in the direction of her office.

  She entered, not waiting for Axel and left the door open for him. She walked straight to her desk and sat down. Needing the extra space between them because she didn’t want anything to happen. Axel sat down in front of her and placed his elbows on her desk to lean closer to her. She hated herself a little when her heart sped up when his aquamarine eyes focused on her.

  “First thing we need to talk about is our kiss,” his eyes glanced at her lips. “I won’t act like it didn’t happened and I won’t pretend that I haven’t been thinking about it since I met you.”

  Forcing her eyes to stay on his, she didn’t want to show any weakness. “It was a mistake, I am with Angelo.” Her eyes flickered to his lips and she remembered how he felt on hers.

  “I know you better than anyone so that won’t fly with me. Our kiss wasn’t a mistake, the only mistake in your life is him. You know nothing about him, but I am changing that.” Her hands curled into fists on her desk and she narrowed her eyes. She didn’t want to do any background checks on her lover, not this time when she was starting to feel alive again.

  “You need to stop the check, I don’t want it and I never asked you to do it.” His eyes hardened as he slowly shook his head.

  “No, you may not care but I do. You have another stalker and I won’t be fooled by his charming accent and his handsome face.” She startled, he had never been so opened with her. Usually he would keep to himsel
f, never talking back to her and always doing what he was supposed to do.

  “I am not fooled,” she rose up and moved towards him. He stood to come face to face with her. “How dare you do anything behind my back?”

  He regarded her and took a deep breath before backing up. “I’m not blind when it comes to you, I know you only take lovers never give your heart out. I can see he is different and I want to know why.” Axel knew everything about her past when she had told him when they were sharing a hotel room the last time she had a pursuer. His eyes appraised her curvaceous figure before he turned his back to her. “Another thing we need to talk about are the new security guards. I know you don’t like change but I trust them to keep you safe, and Mike is a little old.”

  When she had hired Mike she knew he was a little older but she didn’t care, she loved how nice he was and he never missed a day. “I understand but this is my company, I am the one that makes the changes here not you.” She had worked too hard to allow her life or her company to be controlled by someone else.

  “I saw you have lunch planned with your sister, are you sure you want to do that? Normally you leave the state when she wants to see you.” Before Angelo, she wasn’t sure if she could ever forgive her sister, not fully. But he has shown her that she wasn’t broken, that she was capable of more than just sex.

  “I am sure, she is my sister and I think it’s time I stop avoiding her.”

  “I will be out with Heather if you need me,” he said and turned his back to her. She hated that he was acting like this, and it was her fault she was the one that kissed him.

  She observed him as he walked out of her office and he quietly closed the door behind him leaving her with her thoughts. She didn’t like feeling like this, she was the one that was in control in her life for a reason. She loathed that she was second guessing everything including her handsome Italian lover. Sitting down at her computer she pulled up her internet and typed in Angelo Giovanni. Nothing came up, causing her to frown. Everyone had something online because of social media.

  She could call her private detective to check him out and she even reached for her phone on her desk. But she removed her hand because if she wanted to know why he wasn’t online she would ask him. Trying this relationship thing wasn’t that hard, but trusting him was.

  Four hours later she was pacing her office because her sister had called telling her that Brad was joining them. Melissa had sent out Christmas cards every year to show off her perfect family including her two little white Pomeranians. Evangeline had had nothing in her life worth showing off besides her company but now she had Angelo. Even with his secrets she wanted him. Melissa and Brad had never been inside Skyler Tower. Since their wedding eleven years ago she had only seen them a hand full of times. And all of those times she was the one that controlled when she came and left.

  Her cell phone rang and she reached for it knowing who would be on the other end. “Hello Angel,” his sweet, accented masculine voice said. “How is your day going?” she wanted to ask him why she couldn’t find him online. She knew he was keeping something from her and she didn’t want to hassle him. Not yet. They were just getting to know one another and when they were both ready they would tell each other everything.

  “Why do you call me Angel?” she liked it, but she was no angel. Far from it.

  “Because you are my hidden angel. You care for people even when you don’t have to.” She smiled because not many people got to see her true side, since she put on an act when she was in public. Even with her past lovers she never let them see what she like outside the bedroom.

  “I am about to have lunch with my sister and her husband.” She closed her eyes and rested her head on the back of her chair.

  “Would you like me to come there to be with you?” that made her smile. She liked that he wanted to be there for her. That he wanted to drop whatever he was doing to come to her and support her.

  “It means a lot to me that you want to be here, but I think I will be fine.”

  “You should be learning that I am here for you, and if you need me I am only a phone call away. But there was a reason I was calling you. My editor couldn’t stop your story from printing, and it’s already online.” She opened her eyes and grabbed her keyboard. Quickly she typed in the newspaper that he worked at and found the article on the homepage.

  Evangeline Skyler isn’t just a pretty face. She is a strong, smart, successful business woman. Sky Tech is the largest growing company that hires only locals. She has put her heart and soul into her company and it shows. Look at what Sky Tech donates every year to the children’s foundation.

  Ms. Skyler believes in hard work and surrounds herself with people that will get the job done. From what I can see she doesn’t have a personal life because of reasons unknown. She cares for all of her employees and she takes care of all of them. She has no regrets in her life and would change nothing.

  She stared at the picture that was next to the article, she was standing next to her window gazing out at the city. “Angel are you still there? You aren’t mad at me are you?”

  “I’m not mad, I knew you would be printing the interview.” He didn’t say anything bad about her, just facts. She knew that most reporters would have made her look bad, but he didn’t. He had protected her.

  “My boss wanted something with more gossip but I told him there wasn’t any.” That was a lie. He could have printed about their sex life. “Like you, I believe my personal life is private. I wasn’t going to lose you over a meaningless newspaper article.” Her cheeks grew hot because she wasn’t the only one starting to feel something. She wondered if he wrote something bad about her, if she would leave him alone. Axel would love that because he still believes that Angelo is behind her new stalker.

  “I want to see you tonight,” She said the words she wasn’t sure if she was able to say. She wasn’t used to asking for something, normally she would take what she sought after.

  “Angel nothing can keep me away from you.” She smiled because he was too good to be true.

  “I think I need to be home tonight. Axel going out of mind about this new stalker.” She understood why he was, he cared about her but she still thought he was over reacting.

  “Understandable, I am worried too.” He said causing her to roll her eyes. Standing up she walked to her window and looked out. From here she could see the building where Angelo was.

  “What are your darkest secrets?” she asked thinking about her google search of his name and how nothing came up.

  “If I tell you, you will run and never look back. Some things are better left unsaid.” She didn’t like his answer, because he didn’t know her well enough to know what she would do.

  “I need to go, my sister will be here soon.” She said and turned to face her office door.

  “We aren’t done with this subject are we?”

  “Not at all,” she said and pressed the end button on her phone. She understood that some things took time to come out, but she liked him and that frightened her.

  Her office phone beeped and she took a deep steadying breath before pressing it. “Ms. Skyler, your sister and her husband are here with food.”

  “Thank you Heather, send them in.” she strolled towards the door to greet her sister.

  Melissa Hunter was beautiful with her short pixy hairstyle and her dark blue eyes that was surrounded by thick fake eyelashes. She was a little taller than Evangeline and had more curves. She couldn’t blame Brad for falling for her.

  Her eyes drifted to Brad Hunter, the man that broke her heart. His blonde wavy hair was cut short to his head, and his bright green eyes were appraising her like they always had. He was just over six feet tall and in a dark black suit. He was still just as handsome as he was when she fell in love with him.

  Evangeline smiled as she approached her older sister and wrapped her arms around her. “Melissa I have missed you,” the lie rolled easily off her lips and she knew her sister believed her bec
ause she tightened her arms around her back.

  “Eva, you don’t know how much I have missed you. And I know I am the one to blame for everything.” She pulled back and touched Evangeline’s cheek. “I was the only one that knew how you felt about Brad and I was selfish and didn’t care.” She casted her eyes towards the man in question and felt nothing for him.

  “That is in the past, and I am over it. I love you and want you apart of my life.” Melissa smile was huge causing Evangeline to smile back. “I am happy you both are here.”

  “This is our first time in your tower and it is so beautiful just like I thought it would be.”

  “Thank you,” she moved away from her sister and towards a little coffee table that sat in front of a small leather couch. “We can eat here.”

  Brad took her hand in his and once again she felt nothing. No sparks, no tingles.

  “I never told you how sorry I am. I know I broke your heart and I am so sorry. You never deserved that from me.” Evangeline smiled at him and for once since she found him with her sister she forgave him.

  “Like I said, it’s in the past. I forgive you two.” She felt the world lift off of her shoulders because now she could have her sister back.

  “So Eva, tell me about your new man friend.” Melissa asked and Evangeline laughed.

  Chapter Ten

  Evangeline walked her sister and her husband down to the front doors. She was truly happy that they had mended their relationship. Her parents would be pleased to know they were getting along again. She was standing outside enjoying the fresh air.

  “Ms. Skyler?” someone asked behind her, and she turned around to see a bike messenger holding a small white box. He had a black small helmet on his head and tattoos up and down each of his arms.

  “Yes,” she said and glanced up at the camera she knew was watching her with Axel being the one making sure she was safe.

  “I have something for you, I was told to give this to you.” He shoved the box in her hands. “Have a good day.” He took off on his bike and she walked back into her tower. She couldn’t explain why her heart was pounding in her chest because she got a package, she got many of them for business each day.