by Katie Kyler
“Well, girl, if you love him, go get him. Sometimes you’ve gotta take a chance, you know? I didn’t used to believe it, but now I know better.” A little smile crept across her face.
Just then, I heard a key turning in the lock, and the front door opened. “Ella, I got both red and white – I wasn’t sure what you’d want, and some of that chocolate drink for Noah,” a man’s voice said.
While carrying grocery bags, he walked through the door.
I immediately flipped into business mode as I wiped my eyes and stood.
“Mr. Jensen?” I asked incredulously, looking at Ella.
“Oh. Oh! Mrs. Gladden! I didn’t know you would be here…I…I…” He was stammering over his words.
Ella stood up and walked over to him. “It’s okay, Lars. She had to find out eventually. I know this isn’t how we planned to tell her, but that’s okay.”
His blue eyes looked upon her like she was a miraculous thing. I had never seen so much love in one look before.
“Grayce,” Ella said, “I’m so sorry – I should’ve told you sooner. It was unprofessional, but you know how complicated relationships are for me.”
I walked over and hugged her tight.
“Please call me Grayce,” I said to Mr. Jensen. “I’ve known Ella her whole life, and I can tell you she’s one of the best people I know. You’re lucky to have her.”
Creases appeared in the thick, blond beard at either side of his mouth as his cheeks became full with a wide smile. “I know, I’m very lucky,” he said, wrapping an arm around her. “And please, call me Lars.”
Ella quickly wiped a little tear from her cheek. Looking up at the handsome man, she said, “He’s not like anyone I’ve ever known before.”
Lars smiled. “So then, Grayce. You’ve known Ella her whole life? How do you get her to answer a question when she keeps putting you off, hmm? I cannot figure it out.”
Ella chuckled and rolled her eyes. “I told you, it’s a lot to think about!” She playfully elbowed him in the ribs. “He wants Noah and me to move in with him.”
“Well, then you should know, trying to get anything through her thick head takes quite a bit of work,” I said. “But Elle, don’t let fear keep you from being happy. In fact, I think I’m going to take my own advice, and go talk to Tyler.” I hugged her again, and patted Lars on the arm.
“Go get him, Grayce!” Ella said.
I drove back to the apartment to talk to Tyler. It was late afternoon, and I thought he would be back by then. When I got home, Tyler wasn’t there.
ME: Where are you?
TYLER: Needed to clear my head
I knew that could only mean one thing, but I was sure he hadn’t driven upstate so late in the day. He said there was a place in Queens he went sometimes with hiking trails, so I looked it up online and headed over there.
I saw Tyler’s SUV when I pulled into the parking lot. There was a trail map in the parking lot, and I followed it to the longer trail – the one with the pond. I was still in my suit from that morning, and as I began walking, I instantly regretted not having changed into flats, at least. I wasn’t walking for long before I saw Tyler coming up the trail toward the parking area.
“Grayce? What the hell?” He gave me a look that flashed from surprise to anger. “What are you doing here?”
“I had to find you – I need to talk to you,” I said.
“Don’t worry. If you want to go back to the asshole, I can find another place to stay.” He shook his head and walked past me.
“That’s not happening. Tyler, come back here,” I pleaded, hobbling after him, tentatively trying to navigate the path in my heels. He kept walking. “Tyler, stop! I was just listening – I never had any intention of getting back together with Carter. I’m in love with someone else.”
He stopped dead in his tracks.
Without turning around, he asked, “Who? Who are you in love with?”
I took several quick steps forward until I was just a few feet behind him. “You. I’m in love with you, Tyler. And if you don’t want me, I want to know it’s not just because you think there’s any chance I’d get back with Carter.”
He stood like a statue, taking in what I was saying.
“I turned down Carter’s money. I don’t want anything from him. I don’t want the memories or anything with his name attached to it,” I said. “I should never have told you I wanted to be friends. It was a lie. It’s you I want. I think it has been since the day you showed up on my doorstep.”
He turned and moved so quickly, he was holding me in a second. His jaw was set firm as he took my face in his hands. “Never lie to me again, Grayce. Promise me.” His hands were trembling ever so slightly as he said it. “You have to be honest with me, always.”
I put my hands on top of his. A tear breached my lashes and tumbled down my cheek. “Always, I promise.”
His lips crashed against mine as his strong arms engulfed me. My lips parted, allowing his tongue access to caress mine. He pulled his lips away and looked into my eyes. “Just you Grayce. You’re all I want…all I need is you.”
I smiled. “If you want me, you’ve got me.”
He took my hand and we started to walk back to our cars. After a minute of me hobbling along, he stopped and looked me up and down. “This is a great outfit, but ridiculous for hiking.”
He scooped me up and carried me the rest of the way back to the parking lot. I laughed and smiled, feeling like I was in the best place in the world—Tyler’s arms.
“I’ll see you at home in a few minutes,” he said, kissing me as he got into his Escape.
Back at the apartment, he pulled in right behind me. Neither of us said a word as we went upstairs. Once inside, he watched me as I pulled off my jacket and tossed it onto the sofa. I took him by the hand and led him to my bedroom.
He sat on the bed and watched me undress. I felt exposed, and sexy, and nervous all at the same time. As I stood before him, completely bare, he looked me up and down.
“You are the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen.” He stood and quickly undressed, then pulled me to the bed.
Our lips met as our bodies tangled together. His lips grazed my neck, then found my breasts, licking and sucking at my nipples as waves of pleasure poured over me at his every kiss and touch. As he moved from one breast to the other, he slid a hand down my belly and between my legs. He pressed a finger inside of me.
“You are so wet.” The words vibrated across my skin. “So damn sexy.”
He sucked harder on my breast and worked his hand across my clit. My body arched in response to his expert touch.
“I can’t wait, baby. I need to be inside of you,” he said.
He kissed my lips and reached for the box of condoms I kept at the side of the bed. I grabbed his arm.
“Wait,” I said. “Tyler, are you healthy? I mean, are you sure you’re healthy?”
“Yes, baby. I’m sure. I get checked regularly. A couple of weeks ago, in fact. What are you asking me?”
“I’m healthy too. And I’m on the pill,” I replied tentatively.
He pressed his lips hard against mine and moved his body above me. “Are you sure, baby?”
I nodded, and slid my legs further apart, granting him access. He thrust into me with one hard movement. I gasped from the sensation of being filled by him.
“Are you okay?” he asked, looking down at me.
“Perfect,” I said, pulling at his lips with mine.
My hips moved to meet his as he ground his body against mine. I wrapped my legs around him and he reached down, taking the crook of my knee in his elbow. As our bodies rocked together, I was lost in ecstasy and emotion. He was hard, and thick, and when he pushed inside, I could feel him everywhere. I kissed his neck, and as he thrust harder, I groaned into his skin, grazing my teeth across his flesh.
“Do that again and I’m going to lose it,” he whispered as he pushed deep inside me.
I moved to the other
side of his neck and bit him harder.
He straightened my leg and leaned it against his body, pounding into me, my body shaking as we crashed together.
“Yes,” I moaned. “Oh, Tyler, fuck, yes!”
With a groan, he pushed in me as far as he could go. His cock throbbed as I felt his juices filling me. My pussy squeezed around him, the sensations going off like fireworks in every cell of my body.
He started to move, and I stopped him. “Stay,” I said. “Stay with me for a little while.”
“Whatever you say.” He smiled and kissed me.
He was so wonderful, and so mine.
After a few minutes of lying together, still, satisfied, and content, he took my chin, and turned my face to his. “I love you, Grayce. I don’t think I knew what that was before I met you.”
I was too full of emotion. I couldn’t reply. Still, I knew this was the man I loved. One who truly loved me just as I was, and I was going to do everything I could to make him as happy as he made me.
Chapter 20
Tyler
I tried to focus on work the next day, but I couldn’t wipe the stupid grin off my face. All I could think about was Grayce, and how lucky I was to have her. Lying there last night, with her in my arms, I’d thought a lot about what I wanted to do.
I’d also thought a lot about what Shane had said, about becoming a counselor. I knew it was something I would find gratifying. I also knew that I needed something more solid. If I was going to be with a woman like Grayce – to be worthy of her – I wanted to do more with my life. I thought I had finally come up with a plan that would let me have a fulfilling career, and still let me be the man that she needed and the man she deserved.
After work, I went by my Uncle Joe’s house. I hadn’t seen him for a while, and I had to pick up a few things he had been storing for me in his garage. I told him about my plan to go back to school, and I told him about Grayce.
“She sounds great, Tyler,” he said. “Why don’t you bring her around for dinner on Sunday? I’ll get the whole family to come over. Sarah will make us a nice pot roast. What do you say?”
“That sounds great, Uncle Joe, thanks. I want to get this stuff put up before Grayce gets home,” I said, smiling at the idea of Grayce coming home to me.
“I know that look,” he said.
“What look is that?” I asked.
“That look on your face. I haven’t seen that look in thirty years.” He chuckled. “Last time I saw that expression was on a face a lot like yours. My brother’s, to be exact. We were at a carnival, playing games on the midway, and this girl hopped on the seat he was about to take at the horse racing game. He started to yell at her to get out of his seat when she turned around. His eyes met hers, and he got that same stupid look on his face that you’ve got now.”
“Hmpf,” I said, grinning. “Dad and Mom?”
“Nothing gets past you, does it?” He slapped me on the back. “They’d be so proud of the man you’ve become, Tyler.”
“Thanks, Uncle Joe. I’m going to do better. I’m going to make sure I am someone they could’ve been proud of. And I’m going to make sure I’m worthy of this amazing woman I’m lucky enough to have found. I don’t want to waste this chance.”
I headed back to the apartment and unloaded the suitcases into the living room. I was in the process of making some space in my bedroom for them when Grayce came home. She walked through the door with pizza and a bag that I could see contained beer.
As soon as she saw my stuff in the living room, she stopped cold. Her brow furrowed, and she said, tentatively, “You’re…you’re moving out?”
Her nose started to get red as her face filled with emotion.
“No, baby, no!” I rushed to her, set the food down on the hall table, and took her in my arms. “No, Grayce, I’m moving in. I got all my stuff out of storage at my Uncle Joe’s house and brought it over to unpack.” I kissed her sweet lips and rubbed her cheek with my thumb. “Come sit down, I want to tell you what I’ve been working on.”
She sniffed, and her pout turned into a smile. “Okay.”
She took my hand and we sat on the sofa.
“I went and got all my stuff from Uncle Joe’s because some of my psych books are in there from college. I want to go back through them. I signed up to start my master’s in psychology. I talked about being a counselor, but I’m going to go for it, and work toward becoming a psychologist.”
She was smiling.
“What do you think?” I asked, nervous despite her smile.
“I think I would love for you to pursue anything that makes you happy, and you’ve talked about this before.”
“I quit at Twist. I’ll keep my job at the gym and do the occasional modeling job as I can. I want to have a good career. I want to do something that we can both be proud of.”
She straddled my lap and threw her arms around me, burying her face in my neck. “Tyler, I’ll be proud of you no matter what. I love you, and I’m glad you’re moving your stuff in. You can put it in the guest room.”
“I think you mean our new office. I need a place to study, and you need a place to work from home when you need to.” I placed my lips on hers. “I love you, Grayce Gladden.”
“I have a surprise for you too,” she said. “I did the name change today. I’m Grayce Cooper now.”
As I looked into her beautiful, blue eyes, I saw a sparkle there. It was the same one I remembered seeing in my mom’s eyes when she would look at my dad. I missed them so much and wished they could meet this gorgeous woman I was going to share my life with.
As we sat with our arms wrapped around each other, it finally hit me. When I was with Grayce, I felt comfortable and safe. Wherever she was, for me, that was home.
Dear Reader,
Thank you for taking the time to read this latest book. As a HUGE thank you, I’ve included a copy of my first ever series as a bonus. Enjoy the bonus and I look forward to writing my steamy romance books for you to read.
Katie
The Edge Series
The Complete Collection
(An Alpha Billionaire Romance)
By
Ellie Danes
&
Katie Kyler
www.Ellie Danes.com
www.KatieKyler.com
Edge of Attraction
The Edge Series, Book One
(An Alpha Billionaire Romance)
By
Ellie Danes
&
Katie Kyler
www.Ellie Danes.com
www.KatieKyler.com
Copyright
First Edition, January 2017
Copyright © 2017 by Ellie Danes
This book is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is entirely coincidental. Names, characters, businesses, organizations, places, events and situations are the product of the author's imagination.
All rights reserved. No parts of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any means without written consent from the author.
Chapter 1
Allison
Friday: also known as the day every person in the office goes just a little insane with wanting the week to be over. Fridays made me antsy in general, but today I had a gift ready to give my boss, Joshua, and I didn’t know how I was going to give it to him. I wanted to hand it over in person, but I also wanted to avoid the awkward moment where he looked away, distracted, after barely acknowledging my existence.
I bounced up and down in my cushioned swivel chair, and tried not to get up for a third time to use the bathroom. I kicked my legs out in front of me, stopping every couple of seconds to look at my feet. Maybe I should have worn the black flats with these pants, instead of the brown ones. Maybe I should do some stretches, read an inspirational quote or two.
Maybe I should just give him the damn present already, go home early, and curl up with my cat.
It didn’t matter much what I did, or what I wore. N
obody really saw me behind the walls of my cubicle, and I wasn’t one of the pretentious girls who had to flaunt themselves in the office. Not that those girls bothered me. It just seemed kind of silly for them to be so obsessed with their looks. Or maybe I was just jealous because when it came to make-up skills, well. I didn’t have any.
I checked my desk drawer for the second time in five minutes to make sure the special gift was still there. Then I peeked around the edge of my cubicle and tried to catch a glimpse of Joshua. To seem less obvious, I pretended to rearrange the dried lavender sachets that I’d pinned to the wall. I’d made my little space as personal as I could, and Joshua had even complimented me on it one time. I could still remember when he asked me who the “big black fur ball” was in my picture. It was Bub, of course, the giant black cat I had rescued from a shelter five years ago. Joshua had glanced at a few of my other photos, too. He commented on how cute my niece Becky was, and how much my sister and I resembled each other.
So I wasn’t invisible; Joshua had even noticed me. Once.
His office door opened with a snick sound that I knew better than my favorite song, and I risked another peek over my wall. There he was, six manly feet of gorgeous alpha CEO, standing not twenty feet from me. He was deep in conversation with a brusque-looking woman I didn’t recognize, probably an advertiser interested in cashing in on Scintilla’s popularity. Technically it was Tolbert & Tolbert, but we all just called it Scintilla, after the matchmaking website that had taken off and was snowballing in popularity.
I could still remember the first time I saw Joshua. He’d been wearing a chambray jacket with a polo shirt underneath, and a pair of khakis. I couldn’t believe how handsome he was, and I knew that I was in love with him from that moment on. His dark, wavy hair always reminded me of a model, and his dark brown eyes looked like they could see right through me. In fact, they usually did see right through me. As if I wasn’t even there.