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

by Lauren Hawkeye

  “I have never seen Ms. Skyler this happy.” A sweet female voice said, and he looked over his shoulder to where Heather was sitting. “You are an incredible man.”

  He twisted around to face the pixy blonde. She was beautiful but not like her boss, he hasn’t seen any woman that came close to Evangeline’s beauty. “She needs what we all need, to be loved.” Heather’s eyes darkened and he wondered why, but the phone rang and she quickly answered it.

  “Angelo, we need to talk.” He knew that voice and he really didn’t want to deal with the other man that was clearly in love with the woman he was seeing. He wasn’t blind or stupid he saw the way Axel looked at Evangeline when she wasn’t paying attention.

  He turned around and found the other man glaring at him. “Sorry I can’t, I have a meeting I need to get to.” He had to figure out what he wanted because working for the newspaper wasn’t enough for him. At one time in his life he was running his family business and now he was a reporter.

  He knew what his boss wanted and he wouldn’t give it to him. He sought after a story that would make the CEO of Sky Tech look bad, and he would never do that to Evangeline. Even before he knew her and saw who she truly was he didn’t believe in making someone look bad. When his family was murdered the press made him look like a monster. His own little brother thought he paid someone to take out his wife and daughter and hasn’t talked to him in three years.

  Axel marched towards him and he didn’t look pleased, Angelo wondered if he always looked like that because every time he saw the driver he was never pleased. “Great, I need to go down to the main floor to chat with the new security team. We can take the same elevator.” Angelo nodded he knew that whatever Axel needed to say he would say it regardless if they weren’t alone. It was better to have this conversation with no one else around.

  Axel pressed the button for the elevator and the doors instantaneously opened. Great, now he would have to be trapped in a small space with someone that clearly despised him. The doors closed and Angelo kept his eyes looking forward at the elevator closed doors.

  “I have friends all over the world,” Axel started and Angelo turned his head to the side to look at him; Axel was already facing him. “Before Evangeline started to have sexual relations with a man I would run a complete and full background check on him. So just like I have done for her many times I contacted some of my law enforcement friends here and in Italy. You wouldn’t believe the fax I just received from Inspector Bertolazzi.”

  Angelo could guess what the fax said, because Carlo Bertolazzi loathed him and thought he was solely responsible for the death of his family. He tried to ruin Angelo but there wasn’t any evidence to convict him, plus he spent a lot of money on the best defense lawyer. As soon as his lawyer told him that all the charges were dropped he left his home country and came to America to have a fresh start. He should have known that his past would catch up with him eventually.

  “The fax said that you were the only suspect in your wife Maria’s and three year old daughter Angelina’s death. He sent over what he had on the case that is now cold because you paid someone above him to get you off of the suspect list.” Angelo kept his face blank of all emotions.

  “You shouldn’t believe everything you read.” Angelo said and Axel smiled mischievously.

  “I gave Evangeline a red folder that had part of your background check, most of it at least. There was a lot of red tape I had to get around, but I did. I will do everything in my power to get you out of her life.” Angelo wanted to know about the folder Evangeline had and if she had read it yet. The doors beeped as they opened but Axel pressed a button to close the doors. “We aren’t done talking.”

  Angelo was done, he didn’t need this. “Axel I know you are in love with Evangeline but she does not love you. If she did she would be in your bed every night not with me.” Axel narrowed his eyes and tightened his fist against his legs. “Now, I really have a meeting I need to get to. Have a good day Axel.” Angelo reached around the other man and pressed the button that opened the doors.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Evangeline rested her forehead on her desk. She had to stay late to fix things so she wouldn’t have to go to England. At this point in time she didn’t need to be there; Hayden could handle the office there. For once she wanted to spend time with her family for Thanksgiving. Groaning she lifted her head when she heard her cell phone ring. She glanced at the name and smiled.

  “Hey mom,” she said when she answered.

  “Eva, why didn’t you call me and tell me you were going to make it to Thanksgiving? I had to find out from Brad’s mother that you would be at your sister’s.”

  She had meant to call her mother but she had been so busy with Angelo and her new stalker. “I’m so sorry mom. I have been so busy I forgot to call you.”

  Her mother loved to gossip and hosted a book club to get all the information out of her friends. “And I was told you are seeing someone.” She wasn’t sure what to tell her mother about Angelo because she wasn’t sure what he truly meant to her. When she thought about the future she hoped he would be there but she had learned to never give your heart away to someone.

  “I kind of am, but I don’t know if—”

  “Does he make you happy?” her mother interrupted.

  “It’s not that simple.” It couldn’t be even if she wanted it to be.

  Her mother sighed noisily and Evangeline couldn’t help but to roll her eyes. “Sweetie, it can be that simple. I know what happened between you, Melissa and Brad. It broke something inside you. But you can’t go on with your life not living. You deserve to be happy sweetie, and if this new man does that, then keep him.”

  Evangeline had learned that arguing with her mother was a losing battle. “I want to keep him,” every time she thought of him her heart would race. “Is it crazy that I am falling for a man I barely know?”

  In her book it was, it was way too soon for these feelings to surface. She had pride herself with the thought of her being a strong independent woman but now she got weak every time a certain Italian came around.

  “No sweetie it isn’t crazy. I knew I loved your father after our first kiss, I knew I would spend the rest of my days with him.” Evangeline stood up and walked to her window, it was already dark and all of the other buildings lights were on.

  “But I never was the girl that gave her heart away easily. I always thought about everything before doing anything.”

  “You can’t make a pro and a con list when it comes to your heart, sweetie. Sometimes you just have to follow your heart and tell your mind to shut up.” She laughed because she had missed her mother. She hated that it had been so long since she had seen her.

  “Following my heart can be dangerous.” She didn’t think she could handle another broken heart. That was the reason why she never permitted anyone to get close to her again.

  “Evangeline, you never know until you allow your heart to open. I want to see you happy and in love again. It has been too long that I have seen either on you. I want to meet him.” She had thought about bringing him to Thanksgiving but she didn’t know if she wanted her family to question him all night.

  “Mom, I don’t—”

  “You have a choice, you bring him or I show up at your house.” She grinned as she rested her forehead against the cool glass. She knew her mother would show up if she didn’t agree to bring him.

  “Fine I will ask him if he wants to come. But I won’t force him.”

  “That is all I ask for sweetie. Now I need to go and fix dinner for your father. You know he would starve if I didn’t cook for him.” Her parents were getting older and she loathed herself for not being there for them. It had been a year since she had seen them.

  “I love you mom, kiss dad for me. And tell him I will see him at Thanksgiving.”

  “I will and I love you too sweetie.” Evangeline pressed the red phone on her screen to end the call. Since Brad had broken her heart all those years ago
she hadn’t cried. She refused to let herself care for anything or anyone enough that it would hurt her if it disappeared. Hayden and Axel were the first people she allowed to get close to her.

  Turning around she gazed at her office, she loved knowing that she created this business from her parent’s basement. To this day she still over saw every little detail in Sky Tech, when someone was hired she personally met them. She had hand-picked Heather to be her personal assistant when she needed someone to help her.

  She strolled back to her desk and seized her purse. She was used to staying late because she had nothing to go home to, but now she had Angelo waiting for her. That made her smile. She liked knowing she had someone waiting at home for her. Opening her purse to put her phone inside, the red folder caught her eye. She needed to throw it away, but right now all she wanted was to get home to Angelo.

  She wasn’t surprised that everyone had already left since it was after seven. She knew Axel was still here because he wouldn’t leave her right now. Normally he would leave at six every night unless she asked him to stay. He would be waiting down stairs at the security desk. She pressed the button to open the elevator and it opened. During the ride down her only thought was the man that was winning her over.

  The doors to the elevator beeped opened and she was met with a pissed off Axel. “Why in the fuck would you give Angelo a key to your house?” Of course, she had forgot to tell him that. “I am head of your security, I should know these kind of things.”

  She narrowed her eyes as she stepped out of the elevator. “First I am the boss, and what I do in my private life doesn’t concern you. Yes, you are the head of my security but that doesn’t mean you get to dictate what the hell I do. If you don’t stop trying to ruin what I am building with Angelo then I will have to look for a new driver and head of security.” She was getting really tired of him trying to come between her and Angelo. She understood that he had feelings for her and that he thought he was looking out for her.

  Axel’s smoldering blue eyes stared at her. “You would fire me?” his voice cracked.

  She rested her hand on his cheek and he closed his eyes. “I don’t want to, I really don’t. But you need to leave him alone, because if I get what I want he will be part of my life for a long time.”

  He opened his eyes and he looked miserable. “I will never trust him,” his smile didn’t reach his beautiful eyes. “But I will leave him and you alone.” She nodded and removed her hand from his rough cheek.

  “Thank you Axel,” she smiled at him and he took a step away from her.

  “Let’s get you home.” He turned away from her and walked towards the front door. She took a deep breath and followed him, he had looked destroyed when she told him she would fire him if he didn’t stop. But she couldn’t take him trying to come between her and Angelo. Yes, he was looking out for her but she knew in her heart Angelo wasn’t behind her new stalker.

  On the way home neither of them spoke, she just gazed out of the window. She couldn’t believe after all of this time she had made up with her sister and her husband. And for once in her life she was completely happy. Slowly she closed her eyes the stress of the day really wore her out. She would have to deal with Axel and Angelo in time but right now she just wanted to be in her Italian’s arms.

  “Ms. Skyler,” the way he said her formal name made her flinch awake. “You are home.” She nodded and sat up straighter as he parked the car.

  “Axel wait,” she said before he opened the door. He turned his head to the side to look at her. “I won’t keep lying to myself anymore. I think I have always had some feelings for you but we never acted on them for a reason.” He turned completely around and she had to look away from his eyes.

  “I never acted on my feelings because you are my boss. Do I need to remind you that you are the one that kissed me?” She would never forget the way his lips felt against hers.

  “Axel I shouldn’t have kissed you, it was a mis—”

  “Don’t you dare say our kiss was a mistake because it wasn’t.” She didn’t want to fight with him, and truthfully she didn’t think it was a mistake. It made her realize what she wanted.

  She smiled sadly at him. “Fine I won’t lie to you, but you know that will never happen again. Right?” His extraordinary grin was on his face she knew he wasn’t going to give up on her.

  “Never is a really long time, and you never know how things will work with you and the Italian. I will back off but don’t think I am throwing the towel in, because I am nowhere close to giving up.” She nodded because there was no point in quarrelling with him.

  “I will see you in the morning Axel.” She said before she opened the door.

  She noticed one of the new security guards standing outside her front door. “Are you going to be outside here all night?” She asked and he twisted head to look at her.

  “Yes, ma’am.” He said with no emotion causing her to arch her eyebrows.

  “You can come inside, it will be pretty cold tonight.” She caught a few minutes of the news in her office and the weather man said it might get down to freezing temperatures.

  She tried to remember this man’s name and he shook his head. “I will be fine Ms. Skyler. But thank you.” He smiled at her and she remembered his name was James.

  She smiled tenderly at him. “Stay warm James.” She thought she saw a little smile forming on his handsome face but he quickly recovered. He opened the door for her and she walked in to a bright warm house. Normally everything was dark and cold when she got home.

  She could get used to having someone waiting at home for her. Setting her purse down on the table by the door and walked towards the living room where she heard the TV soft murmurs. She stopped in the entryway to stare at her dark knight. He was watching something on the History channel but she didn’t think he was really paying attention. His fingers were rubbing his temples and his leg was bouncing.

  She didn’t like seeing him stressed out. Whatever was on his mind she would help him get through it. Quietly she strolled towards him and bent to wrap her arms around his neck and she rested her chin on his shoulder. He turned his head to the side and his lips softly kissed hers.

  “Hello Angel, I didn’t realize you were home.” She smiled at him because he had said home.

  “I just got home,” she removed her arms and walked around the couch to sit next to him. He reached down to take her legs and placed them on his lap. Slowly he pushed up the leg of her pants and started to rub her calf; she moaned…loudly. “Oh…that feels amazing.” She smiled as she leaned her head back on the couch.

  He removed her high heels and massaged her heel. “You had a long day,” he said and she lifted her head to stare at him. “Did you have dinner yet?” he asked and she shook her head.

  “I haven’t had any time to eat since you were in my office.” She licked her lips as her eyes drifted to his highly impressive manhood.

  He grinned as he winked at her. “Well, I guess I need to make sure you eat.” He removed her legs from his lap and stood up. “You stay here, I will bring my woman some food.” My woman, she enjoyed the sound of that.

  She turned her head to the side to watch him walk away. She never had noticed a man’s backside before, but Angelo’s was amazing. She loved to dig her nails into it when he was thrusting into her. She turned her attention back to the TV but her mind was elsewhere. She couldn’t stop thinking about what her mother said about following her heart and telling her mind to shut up.

  Angelo came back in with a box of pizza. “I hope you like super supreme.” He said as he handed her a piece of pizza.

  “You’ll learn fast that I’m not picky when it comes to food.” When she remembered to eat, she would eat anything.

  “What are you picky with?” she took her first bite and arched one eyebrow at him. She was picky in her life and who she allowed to surround her.

  “I’m still really hands on with Sky Tech because I am really particular. I want to make sur
e everything is perfect. And there is my life, I never let anyone get close to me…until you.” She couldn’t help her smile from forming, she was truly happy with her life.

  “I quit my job today,” Angelo announced shocking her.

  “Why?” she sat her pizza on top of the cardboard box.

  “Because my boss wanted a tell all about the mysterious Evangeline Skyler.” She felt sick, she hated being the reason why he lost his job. “No matter what I would never write something to hurt someone. Even if I wasn’t sleeping with the person.”

  She knew she could call the paper and demand for them to hire Angelo back, but she didn’t think he would like that. She reached for his hand and lightly squeezed it. “I’m sorry but if you need to write something about me, I understand. There has been so much crap said about me one more story wouldn’t hurt me. Most of the time I don’t read anything about me because I have learned my lesson.”

  His gorgeous chocolate eyes searched hers and she just smirked at him. “Angel, I could never do that.” He brought her hand to his incredible mouth and gently brushed his lips against her knuckles.

  “I’m going to take a shower,” she stood up and glanced at him over her shoulder. “You’re welcomed to join me.” His grin was infectious.

  “Let me straighten up before I join you.” He slapped her behind causing her to yelp and laugh. As she walked away she made sure she swayed her hips. She heard him groaning and she smiled.

  Angelo scrubbed his face as he watched her saunter way. She was sexy as sin and she knew how she affected him. He seized the pizza box and walked into the kitchen. He placed the pizza box in the refrigerator. He hadn’t told the whole truth when he said he quit. When he got to work he found his boss in his office and he had the same fax that Axel had.

  He wasn’t naïve, he knew where his boss got the fax. Axel wasn’t giving up on Evangeline and he didn’t blame the other man. She was an incredible woman that deserved the very best in life and that included to be loved unconditionally. He knew that some people would try to use her for her status and wealth. But he knew Axel wasn’t using Evangeline, because he truly loved her.