The Bluegrass Billionaire Trilogy: An Alpha Billionaire Romance Box Set

by Alice Ward

  Liane was still weak, and the sunshine felt good to both of us. Hawk was hovering nearby. He and Worth were looking over the house plans and for the first time in decades, looked like father and son. They had, by all accounts, gone through a religious experience, even if it had been delivered by a very earthly, very angry vicar. Liane and Hawk had named the baby for him, adding the middle name for our beloved Bernie. Nothing could have been more appropriate.

  The holidays advanced upon us and this time, everyone, including Grandpa Ben, Hawk, Liane, and the baby joined us at Carlos Acres, making it the most special Christmas of my life. I still missed my dad and when I hung his special ornament on our tree, the ache for him was nearly unbearable.

  Brandon and Lily stopped by on Christmas Eve and Letty outdid herself with a very British Christmas meal, in honor of the vicar. She smiled at him often, and he seemed to enjoy the flirting. I looked at Worth, and he nodded. We would have to invite the vicar here more often.

  After the holidays, Worth and I flew to the condo for a couple of weeks and I learned what it was to be a wife again. Mark and Marga chose to stay behind and took up residence with Hawk, Liane and the baby while we were gone. Marga was turning into quite the helpful babysitter while Mark helped Hawk with the farm. Good therapy, he called it. In fact, the exercise was doing him a world of good.

  We’d left Lettie behind as well, giving her some much needed time off. I cooked, I cleaned, and Worth took care of the yacht and helped me when I needed it. We traipsed the towns along the coast, and I began to accumulate a collection of miniatures. I had always been fascinated with scale, and Worth had bought me a dollhouse for Christmas, which I was now enthusiastically decorating. “It’ll cost me a lot less for the architect,” he had teased, and I’d playfully slapped him.

  We Skyped with Hawk and Liane, and they’d hold baby Ben up to the camera so we could virtually pinch his cheeks. He was growing at a healthy, normal rate and couldn’t be more perfect.

  Worth and I made love almost every night. After the hunger of long abstinence was sated, we had settled into slow, luxurious and sensual sessions that left us both fulfilled and more in love each time. We learned about one another, one on one, without the interference of work or family drama. For me, it was like an extended second honeymoon.

  But when it was time to go home, we were ready.

  Time passed and Spring came, and before I knew it, it was Mark and Marga’s graduation. Because Mark had been so studious before the accident, he’d taken a number of honor’s courses as well as advanced placement. So even after missing a semester, he still had enough credits to graduate with his class. I still wonder sometimes if Worth had bribed the principal, but never got up the nerve to ask.

  As for Marga, she had blossomed further over the winter and was now quite an impressive young lady. Although we’d been concerned about her in the past, she’d done admirably and made us proud. Her grades had improved, and it was feasible that Worth may not have to bribe a college in France to take her in.

  At their commencement, we all cheered as Marga, then Mark walked across the stage. He still limped and his speech would most likely always have a stutter, but he stood tall and looked graceful to me.

  Brandon declared his candidacy to become state senator and Worth, under my raised brow, wrote out a very healthy contribution check. Lily had the best news. She was pregnant and would be welcoming their baby in the summer.

  When Hawk and Liane moved into their new house, we all helped them get settled. It was breathtaking. Ultra-modern and very spacious, I knew they would be entertaining regularly. Hawk had taken over management of the farm after Lily’s wedding. He had plans to add additional outbuildings and eco-areas. Liane was planning to create a zoo for exotic and endangered species. I applauded this whole-heartedly and thought what a magical place it would be for Ben as he grew up.

  It appeared as though our lives had finally stabilized. Everyone had made their peace and had something to look forward to. Even the vicar and Lettie. I’d caught them kissing in the kitchen.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

  Hawk

  Standing in the stirrups of my beloved Diablo, I gained a few precious inches to look down upon the rolling hillside of Carlos Acres.

  Home.

  My real home this time.

  I still couldn’t believe it.

  Nearly five years had passed since I stood on this same ridge, looking down upon the lush hillside, filled with the toxic venom of hate.

  “Look, Daddy! Bird!”

  I followed the little finger pointing to the sky and love pounded through my heart. Ben looked up at me with his bright green eyes, a huge smile splitting open his face.

  “See, Daddy?”

  I ruffled the hair of the little boy sitting in the saddle in front of me. “Yeah, Daddy sees it. It’s a hawk, looking for his dinner.”

  Ben looked up at me. “Hawk? Like you?”

  I laughed and leaned down to kiss each one of his fingers, ignoring the sticky ice cream that had melted on them long ago. “Yes, like me.”

  As we watched the predator sweep across the skies, searching for his prey, I wondered if I’d one day tell my son how my name came to be. Maybe. Maybe not. None of that was important anymore.

  At the sound of laughter, I turned in my saddle.

  That. What I saw there. That was important now.

  As if she knew I was watching her, Liane turned and looked our way, her hands cupping her swollen belly. There, she nestled our daughter who would be saying hello to the world in only a few weeks.

  Behind Liane was my family. Mom and Dad, Grampa Ben and Lettie, Mark and Marga. They all sat on blankets, enjoying a picnic lunch. Ben and Lettie had gotten married almost a year ago and were now settled in a cabin nearby. He’d retired from the church, but volunteered often. Mom and Dad never replaced Lettie. For some reason, Mom now enjoyed cooking, and she’d hired a pair of sisters to clean once a week.

  When Mark and Margo had turned eighteen, I deeded them both a third of the property that had been given to me. It seemed only right. It was our equal inheritance, after all. Marga could have cared less, she was too busy enjoying France. But Mark… Mark had turned into not only my brother, but my best friend. It had meant a great deal to him to be included.

  Loving my mother had been easy. My dad took a little longer, but I’ve not regretted letting him back into my heart. Finally, after so many years of damage, it looked as if the LaViere curse had been broken.

  “Mommy!” Ben yelled and waved madly at his mother. “Look. Hawk. Like Daddy!”

  Liane shielded her eyes and looked up, spotting the bird. My heart squeezed in my chest as she headed our way, her beautiful hair trailing behind her in waves.

  When she was close, I swung down from the saddle, keeping one hand on our son. “Have I told you how incredibly beautiful you are today?”

  Her smile grew wider. “Only a couple hundred times.”

  I kissed her nose, then her eyelids, then her mouth. “Well, I’m slacking. I’ll have to do better than that.”

  Between us, our daughter stirred, and I dropped my hand to her belly, feeling the movements, unsure if it was a little foot or hand. Liane groaned as she was kicked again, harder this time. “She’s been very active today. Sometimes I think she’s trying to climb out.”

  I smiled and turned us all to face the people sitting on the blankets, and it became hard to breathe for a second. “I don’t blame her,” I told my wife. “I bet she can’t wait to meet her family.”

  The End

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  THE BILLIONAIRE PRISONER - THE COMPLETE SERIES

  ALICE WARD & JESSICA BLAKE

  BOOK DESCRIPTION

  “The Billionaire Prisoner” is a five-part Hot Alpha Billionaire Romance Series by Alice Ward and Jessica Blake.

  This is the complete series box set containing all 5 parts with an HEA and no cliffhangers.

  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?

  What are you waiting for? The complete “The Billionaire Prisoner” series with no cliffhangers is now only one click away!

  This book is intended for a mature audience, 18+ only.

  THE BILLIONAIRE PRISONER

  ALICE WARD & JESSICA BLAKE

  PART 1

  BOOK DESCRIPTION

  This is Part 1 of “The Billionaire Prisoner” – a five part Hot Alpha Billionaire Romance Series by Alice Ward and Jessica Blake.

  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?

  This book is intended for a mature audience, 18+ only.

  CHAPTER 1

  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 to 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.

  “Good. There’s no bending of ethics then. I understand if both cases are too much of a caseload for you. Let’s talk soon about which one you’d like to engage.” She paused, then added, “Thanks for meeting with him. I know he’s innocent. Now, we just need to gather the evidence to prove it.”

  “Right. Thanks for the opportunity.” I dropped the call and growled as I pulled off the freeway and took the long way to my brother’s house. Now I just needed to pray like hell that Zek wouldn’t inform Lizzy of me denying him and walking out. Or, maybe that was the best way to handle it. Perhaps I’d hurt his feelings or defamed him enough with my subtle denial that he wouldn’t want me as his attorney.

  “Please let that be the case.” I pulled up to Clark’s house and sat in the driveway for a few minutes, trying to still my racing heart. Thinking about Zek put me into a place I never wanted to be in again. Desperation could belong to someone else. I was over needing or wanting anything a man could provide.