Kiss Midnight Goodbye (Midnight Blue Beach Book 3)
Page 20
Chase chuckled. “He might have to get shot again. Isn’t that how this happened in the first place?”
Ellis shrug but Peyton could see his cheeks had turned a ruddy shade. “So I got bored during my recovery. The doctors wouldn’t let me go back to work for months.”
“No one is getting shot again,” Peyton stated firmly, reaching for her husband’s hand and feeling that familiar zing when they touched.
Ellis was looking at her with such love and adoration she thought her heart might explode in her chest. When she’d met him she had no idea that this man would be her destiny but she wouldn’t have it any other way. They were building a life and a family together.
Something she’d never had before.
A quiet knock pulled her attention away from the man she loved. The door opened slightly and Grant stuck his head in, a grin on his face. “Is it safe to come in?”
She smiled and beckoned him inside. “Sienna wants to meet her honorary uncle.”
Willow swiveled in her chair so Grant could see the baby. “I think it’s your turn to hold her too.”
Grant didn’t appear to have one ounce of trepidation about handling the precious bundle. Placing her on the shoulder of his expensive Italian suit, he patted her back and cooed softly as if he’d been holding and caring for newborns his entire life.
“You look pretty comfortable with her,” Bailey laughed. “Who knew millionaires also made great nannies.”
Grant’s brows shot up. “I’ve got mad skills in the baby department. Lots of cousins and they were all criers.” He paused next to Ellis. “Listen, take all the time you need, and I’m serious about that. This is a hell of a lot more important than anything going on in the office. Finn and Silas can handle anything that comes up.”
Finn and Silas were the two friends Grant had brought to the house that day ten months ago. The three men were like brothers and had managed to clean out most, if not all, of the rogue faction in Evandria but they never forgot to give credit where it was due. So much of what they’d been able to accomplish was a direct result of the efforts of Peyton and her friends.
Grant wanted a new kind of organization that wasn’t committed so much to power as service. The first thing the new president had done was lift the veil of secrecy in the group. Everyone was invited into The Clubhouse and the meetings were now open and even streamed online. Evil couldn’t hide in the bright light of day.
He’d also given Nigel a reprieve from the death sentence that surely awaited him. After the trial, Holmwood had been taken to a secure location where he would live out the rest of his days under prison conditions. Grant wanted to know everything Nigel knew about the rogue faction and its history.
After his recovery, Ellis had intended to return to his post as head detective back in Virginia and Peyton had even put her house on the market. Grant, however, made them an offer they couldn’t refuse. Ellis was put in charge of a revamped Arsenal now simply titled Evandria Security. He directed everything from cyber-security to new member background checks.
“That’s sweet, Grant,” Peyton said, accepting his kiss on her cheek. “Thank Finn and Silas too.”
“I will,” Grant agreed easily, his gaze on Sienna. “They wanted to be here but they both had business out of town. I do think they sent a few gifts to your home. I know I did.”
“I’m well aware,” Peyton groaned. “Jensen said that he’s getting a delivery about every five minutes. At this rate, we’re going to need a bigger house.”
Peyton might have inherited half of her family’s estate but she still didn’t want to live the privileged lifestyle. She and Ellis had a simple home in a good school district. Jensen, having been dumped by Amelia and now back in the States, was happy to manage most of the business although she kept an eye on things.
She’d managed to grow closer to her brother as they attended therapy together to deal with their painful family secrets and past. It had been Ellis’s idea and she’d been reluctant at first to tell her thoughts to a stranger but he’d been insistent that he couldn’t help her heal all alone.
Grant reluctantly relinquished Sienna to Bailey, who positively glowed when she held the baby. Peyton had a feeling that a child was in Chase and Bailey’s future and hopefully soon. It would be wonderful for the kids to grow up together. The couple had purchased a house not far from Peyton and Ellis.
The only thing that would make it even better? Josh and Willow close by.
“Josh, when will the sale of your practice be final?” Peyton asked. She was anxious to have all three of them together again. They had already talked about going back to that dive bar where they’d drank tequila shots that first night.
“End of the month,” he replied with a smile, his arm around Willow. “But the house won’t be finished for at least two.”
Willow had sold all of Alex’s car collection and bulldozed the warehouse. They were building a state of the art veterinary clinic, home, and animal rescue on the property instead.
Groaning, Willow rolled her eyes. “It’s a full time job outfitting the house and the business. When we’re done I’m going to sleep for a week.”
Josh snorted. “As if the dogs will let you.”
Peyton gave Ellis a meaningful look, one she hoped he’d understand. They’d talked about this when she’d gone into labor. At first he frowned but then his expression cleared and he smiled. He remembered.
“Hey guys,” he said, slapping Chase on the back. “Why don’t we give the women a moment?”
Josh’s brow wrinkled. “Why– Oh yeah. A minute. Got it.”
The men trailed out of the room, Ellis giving her a wink before he closed the door behind him. Willow and Bailey sat on the edge of Peyton’s bed, one on each side, and Peyton took her daughter into her waiting arms. The warm, squirming bundle was a heavenly weight against her chest. She pressed a kiss to Sienna’s forehead and vowed silently to be the best mother she could. This generation of the family would be different.
“I wanted to say something to you today.” Her throat tightening with emotion, Peyton had to pause for a moment. “I just wanted to say that meeting you both was the best thing that has ever happened to me. I was just going through the motions and now I have the most wonderful life I could ever imagine. You are the best friends anyone could ask for and I am so lucky that we ran into each other that night at the party.”
Willow’s brow quirked. “Are you sure about that? We almost got you killed.”
“We did get you drunk,” Bailey reminded her. “And we found out your late husband had another family. Those aren’t things you usually thank someone for.”
“Painful as hell,” Willow grimaced but it turned into a smile. “But I think you’re right. We’re a team, the three of us. We faced what the universe threw at us and survived.”
“The truth set me free.” Peyton shook her head as her fingers, feather light, traced her daughter’s petal soft cheek. “It set all of us free.”
No more secrets. No more danger.
Peyton had found the people she could trust. These friends. Her man.
A gift greater than any money or power. Friendship and love.
Thank you for reading Midnight Blue Beach – Kiss Midnight Goodbye
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About the Author
Olivia Jaymes is a wife, mother, lover of sexy romance, and caffeine addict. She lives with her husband and son in central Florida and spends her days with handsome alpha males and spunky heroines.
Look for Olivia’s new Contemporary Romance series The Hollywood Showmance Chronicles in the spring of 2017.
Visit Olivia Jaymes at
www.OliviaJaymes.com
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