by Lori Foster
“I love their property,” Sahara stated with feeling. “It’s beautiful and private, the perfect place for a family to raise a son.”
It had been perfect, Brand realized. One of the few things Becky had ever done right was to give him to Ann and John to raise. He doubted he’d have so many great memories if she hadn’t.
He recalled how easily Sahara had fit into the setting with his parents. No matter what Scott thought, she could be happy anywhere because her life had more meaning than luxury and wealth. He believed that, but he didn’t want her getting the wrong impression. “So that we’re clear, I’m not poor. I’ve made a good living fighting and I’m smart with my money. I’ve socked away a healthy savings, and the rest is earning for me.”
“You’re still not in her league,” Scott said.
“On that we agree. I’m not sure any man could be good enough for her, but no one will ever love her more than I do.”
Sahara smiled happily. “You see? He loves me. That’s all that matters.”
“I’ll drive my own car,” Brand added. “If you want something fancier, that’s up to you. You won’t spend anything on me, though.”
The smile faded under a frown. “But—”
“I apologize for not appreciating your efforts with Becky.”
Sahara blinked at the topic switch. “You apologize?”
“Are you really that surprised?” Had he been that surly about it? “You were right, you know. Life will be easier if I let that old animosity go.”
Sahara rested a hand on his chest. “You have a right to your animosity. But if Becky is happy, she’ll be an easier burden to bear.”
Amazing that she’d understood when he hadn’t. “True. It just took me a little time to see it.” Already his heart felt lighter. “Don’t ever feel obligated, but do feel free to do what you want with her, okay?”
She drew in a breath. “Okay.”
“You should also know that I’m going to fight again. Not in Japan, but sometime after that.”
Her eyes widened, but she said, “If that’s what makes you happy, then—”
“After that fight, I’m retiring.”
“Oh.” Sahara bit her lip. “To do what?”
“I was thinking I’d be a bodyguard.”
Her eyes flared again. “Here?”
“I want to be close to you.”
Color flushed her cheeks as she struggled to repress a grin. “Anything else?”
He didn’t bother to look at Scott when he said, “If your brother can be polite, I’ll be polite. If not, he and I are going to have problems, because I’m done letting him insult you.”
Objecting to that, Scott said, “I wouldn’t!”
“You do,” Brand insisted. “Every time you act like a man would only be interested in her money, you do her a disservice. Every time you assume she’s not smart enough to make her own decisions, you underestimate her. Sahara is not only beautiful and business savvy, she’s also scary smart, clever, independent, resourceful—”
Scott laughed, saying in an aside to Sahara, “I’m starting to like him.”
Sahara grinned.
“You might’ve intimidated other guys,” Brand continued, “but that’s not me. She loves me, so that means I’m around for the long haul.”
Sahara said to her brother. “Can’t you see that he’s perfect for me?”
“Because he thinks you’re perfect?”
She actually blushed. “No, because he loves me as I am.”
Scott smiled at her. “Then that’s good enough for me. You don’t need my blessing, but you have it.”
Brand rolled his eyes, but since it obviously pleased Sahara, it also pleased him. “Then yes,” Brand said, smiling, “I’ll marry you.”
Before she could get too excited, Scott said, “There’s one more thing to discuss.”
Sahara quickly turned on her brother. “No, Scott, there isn’t. I already told you—”
“I don’t want Body Armor. You need to keep it.”
Brand stifled a laugh over her arrested expression. Maybe her brother was a smart guy, after all.
Floundering, Sahara whispered, “You...what?”
Scott took her hands. “You’ve done an amazing job here, sis. No one can deny that. I see you everywhere, in the new designs, in all the changes you’ve made. Before that, I might have run the place, but I was never a part of it, not the way you are. Does that makes sense?”
“It does,” Brand said.
Scott thanked him with a small nod, then continued to Sahara, “It’s yours now in a way that it was never mine. Taking it back wouldn’t feel right—to me, or to the people who work for you.”
“I don’t know what to say.”
He bent his knees to look into his sister’s eyes. “It’s not like you to be coy. I don’t want it, but I know you do. Admit it.”
“It does feel a part of me.” She huffed out a breath. “But what will you do?”
“I’ve given it a lot of thought and decided that I’d enjoy doing some charity work for a while. I met a lot of different people while I was hiding out, people in dire situations but without my means. I’m thinking I could help, maybe make a difference.”
And just like that, Brand’s animus toward Scott changed to respect.
“The suite, along with everything else at Body Armor, is yours, but I’m not sure I’ll keep the house. If you want it—”
She said quickly, “I don’t. I stayed there only because it made me feel closer to you.”
Since she’d been attacked there, Brand wondered if the house now held negative feelings for her. He should have punched Ross a few more times.
“Where will you go?” Sahara asked with concern.
“You know the lake property Mom and Dad left us? If you don’t object, I was thinking of making that my home base.”
“I think that sounds wonderful.”
“You’ll still visit there sometimes?”
She glanced at Brand, and when he nodded, she said, “We’d love to.”
Scott slowly smiled. “I guess everything has worked out.”
“I guess it has.” Sahara launched herself into her brother’s arms, but only for a second.
After giving Scott a tight squeeze, she pressed away and landed against Brand—and there she stayed.
He helped with that, keeping his arms tight around her.
* * *
THEY VISITED HIS parents together to give them the news. After a second of shocked silence, his mom screamed, danced around the kitchen, kissed John enthusiastically, then hugged Sahara until she squeaked.
Brand couldn’t stop grinning. It was a great feeling, seeing the people he loved most all together.
When Ann asked if they’d have a big wedding, Brand explained that with the arrests and her brother coming back from the dead, they had their hands full.
“You don’t live a dull life,” John remarked.
Brand knew it would never be dull with Sahara, but he looked forward to putting the danger behind them.
“We’ll have a small ceremony,” Sahara said, “as soon as I can get it arranged. Then later, maybe a year from now, we’ll have a wedding party.”
“A small ceremony?” Ann asked politely, trying to keep her expression contained.
“My brother and my friend Enoch, and of course, Brand’s friends and their wives.”
“They’re our friends, Sahara.”
Smiling over that, Sahara said to Ann, “I hope you’ll both join us.”
With exuberant relief, Ann hugged her again. “You couldn’t keep us away.” Cautiously, she glanced at Brand. “What about Becky?”
“I invited her.” He moved to sit by Ann. “You’re my mother in all the ways that matter, so I hope you don’t mind.”
&nb
sp; Ann put her palm to his face. “Oh, honey, I think we’re so blessed that we should only spread happiness, not bitterness.”
Damn, when it came to the women in his life, he’d struck gold. Brand smiled. “I figured you’d feel that way.”
“Becky gave John and me a very special gift when she handed you over.”
“She did,” John agreed. “We’re grateful to her.”
Since he felt the same, Brand nodded. “So am I.”
Understanding, supportive, always there for him... Ann’s voice broke when she said, “Becky might never realize what she missed, but having you for a son has been one of the greatest joys of my life.”
“Mom.” Brand brushed the tears off her cheek. “I love you.” He looked at his dad. “Both of you.”
Suddenly he heard Sahara sniff.
Surprised, Brand turned his head and saw the tears tracking down her cheeks. His heart softened and he reached for her.
Sahara quickly stood, saying in a brusque tone, “Show me that new gun you mentioned, John. Let’s do some shooting.”
His dad jumped up so quickly, it was like he’d had a spring on his butt.
Ann started to rise, too, but as Sahara swiped at her cheeks, she said, “No, you two stay and finish your chat. We won’t be long.”
“It’s a new Smith & Wesson 9 mm,” John enthused as he latched an arm through Sahara’s and led her away. “Got a good deal on it, including a rebate and some accessories.”
Brand grinned as he and his mom stood. “She’s bossy.”
Ann stared after her husband and Sahara. “In the most remarkable, loving way.”
He laughed. “Exactly.” Everything about Sahara was remarkable, and she was all his.
He’d been lucky as a boy, and now he was lucky as a man. That left no room in his life for resentment...only love.
EPILOGUE
THEY SAT AROUND a bonfire near the pond by the farm. Maxi and Miles had done an amazing job with the place since their wedding. The parklike setting made a perfect location for everyone to get together—and they routinely did.
Brand watched Justice and Fallon, newly married now, amused that Justice couldn’t keep his hands off her. He had Fallon in his lap, and he kept nuzzling her ear. Not that Fallon appeared to mind. In fact, given the way she encouraged him, no one would ever again call her shy or reserved.
Sitting cross-legged on the ground in front of Leese, leaning back against his legs, Catalina sketched the landscape highlighted by the crimson glow of a setting sun. She was two months pregnant, and it was almost like they were all becoming dads, everyone was so excited. Leese kept a perpetual smile on his face—and he was even more protective than usual.
Next to Brand, Sahara stroked a large cat while talking about the house they’d bought together.
A house that would become a real home.
“I’ve almost finished remodeling it,” she said. “Once we move out of the Body Armor suite, we’ll have a party so everyone can visit.”
“I want to see the bedroom,” Justice said with a grin. “Brand says you designed the whole thing to go around that one piece of art.”
Miles stepped back into the circle with Maxi, both of them carrying trays of sandwiches and drinks they’d just gotten from the house.
Maxi said, “I thought Catalina did a painting for you.”
“She did.” Sahara smiled. “It’s a stunning piece that now hangs in the dining room.”
Miles said to his wife, “The artwork in the bedroom is something unique.”
Catalina looked up. “Well, now I’m curious.”
Leese lifted his beer in a toast. “What do you get the woman who has everything?”
Sahara looked around at all their friends. “It was the most romantic gesture ever.” She sighed. “Brand had my shiv placed in a fancy open frame so that it fits with the expensive decor, but is accessible if I ever need to grab it.”
Now that he was a bodyguard, too, Sahara’s own personal bodyguard, she wouldn’t need her makeshift weapon—but he knew she liked it. The gesture might have come off as a joke, at least to everyone else. After all, the men were all grinning and the women laughed.
But Sahara knew the true meaning of his gift—a symbol that she’d impressed him, that he respected her ingenuity and capability and most of all that he loved her, everything about her, including her take-charge persona.
That’s why, even as she petted the cat one-handed, she leaned on his shoulder. “I do have everything,” she whispered in his ear, “now that I have you.”
Life didn’t get much better than this.
* * * * *
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Cooper's Charm
by Lori Foster
CHAPTER ONE
THE SUN SHONE brightly on that early mid-May morning. The crisp, cool air smelled of damp leaves, an earthy scent that wasn’t unappealing. A mist from the nearby lake blanketed the ground, swirling around her sneaker-covered feet.
Phoenix Rose stood at the high entrance to the resort and looked down at the neat rows of RVs in various sizes, as well as the numerous log cabins and the rustic tent grounds. All was quiet, as if no one had yet awakened.
She could have parked in the lower lot, closer to her destination, but she wanted the time to take in the view. Besides, after driving for a few hours, she’d enjoy stretching her legs.
Breathing deeply, she filled her lungs with fresh air while also filling her heart with hope.
It was such a beautiful morning that her clip-on sunglasses, worn over her regular glasses, only cut back the worst of the glare; she had to shade her eyes with a hand as she took in the many unique aspects of the Cooper’s Charm RV Park and Resort.
Before submitting her resume to the online wanted ad, she’d scoured all the info she could find. She’d also studied the map to familiarize herself with the design.
The website hadn’t done it justice.
It was more beautiful than she’d expected.
Dense woods bordered the property on one side and at the entrance, giving it a private, isolated feel. To the other side, a line of evergreens separated the park from an old-fashioned drive-in that offered nightly movies not only to the resort guests, but also to the residents in the surrounding small town of Woodbine, Ohio.
At the very back of the resort, a large lake—created from a quarry—wound in and around the land before fading into the sun-kissed mist, making it impossible to see the full size. Currently, large inflated slides and trampolines floated in and out of the mist, randomly catching the sunshine as they bobbed in the mostly placid water. Phoenix couldn’t imagine anyone getting into the frigid water, but the online brochure claimed the lake was already open, as was the heated inground pool.
She was to meet the owner near the lake, but she’d deliberately arrived fifteen minutes early, which gave her a chance to look around.
After she’d spent six months in hotel rooms, and a month familiarizing herself with the park, Cooper’s Charm already felt like home. She could be at peace here and that meant a lot, because for too long now, peace of mind had remained an elu
sive thing.
Knowing her sister was waiting, Phoenix pulled out her phone and took a pic of the beautiful scenery, then texted it to Ridley, typing in, Arrived.
Despite the early hour, Ridley immediately replied, Are you sure about this?
Positive, Phoenix responded. She hadn’t been this certain in ages. I just hope the interview goes well.
Loyal to the end, her sister sent back, He’ll take one look at you and fall in love.
Phoenix grinned as her heart swelled. Through thick and thin, Ridley was her backup, her support system, and the person she trusted most in the whole world. It didn’t matter that Ridley lived a very different lifestyle, or that their goals in life were miles apart.
Phoenix loved working with her hands, staying busy and took satisfaction from a job well done.
Ridley enjoyed seeing the world in nearly nonstop travel to posh destinations, had an exquisite flair for the latest fashions and detested being messy in any way.
Different, but still sisters through and through.
She knew Ridley was still worried, and that bothered her. Much as she appreciated her sister’s dedication, she wanted to portray an air of confidence and independence...just as she once had.
She didn’t like being weak, and she didn’t like allowing others to impact her life, yet both had happened. This was her chance to get back to being a strong, capable woman.
If all went well, today would be the start of reaching that goal.
Taking her time, Phoenix strode through the grounds, familiarizing herself on her way to the lake. She really wanted to explore the woods, and the small, quaint cabins where she would live.
More than that, though, she wanted to be at the lake when Cooper Cochran arrived. She wouldn’t be late, wouldn’t be nervous and wouldn’t screw up her fresh start.
Unfortunately, just as she rounded a play area filled with swings and slides, she saw the lone figure standing along the sandy shore, a fishing rod in hand.