by Judy Angelo
Before he could move, before he could even speak, she’d left her chair and was climbing onto his lap, the tears sliding down her cheeks to fall onto his bare chest. “I’m sorry, Ridge. It’s my fault we’re not speaking. All my fault.”
Ridge lifted his arms to gather her close but then the violin music and the ready-made audience got to him. He looked up at the men of music who were performing like mad even though their ears were obviously cocked to hear what would come next.
Ridge cleared his throat. “Thanks, guys,” he told them. “You’ve done a great job. You may go now.”
Abruptly, they stopped playing then one of them had the audacity to make his disappointment obvious. “Aaw,” he said, dropping his violin from where he’d hooked it on his shoulder. “We were just getting to the good part.”
Ridge couldn’t tell if he meant the good part of the musical piece or of the scene unfolding before his eyes. Whichever it was, the show was over. He jerked his chin toward the door. “Please show yourselves out.”
They couldn’t leave fast enough as far as Ridge was concerned. As soon as the door closed behind them he looked down at the woman in his arms. “What were you saying now, honey?”
Lani was calmer now and she snuggled in his lap and leaned her cheek against his chest. “I was telling you how awful I was.”
Ridge chuckled. “We both know that’s not true. You’re the sweetest girl in the world.”
Instead of thanking him for the compliment Lani gave him an irritated look and swatted him on the shoulder. “That sounded so corny,” she said crossly.
He shrugged. “What can I say? It’s true.”
She dropped her head back to his chest and wrapped her arms around his waist. “Anyway, I was telling you I was a stupid jerk for not telling you what really happened when Aurelio and I went on our hike.”
Ridge frowned, his arms tightening around her. “Something happened?”
She nodded, her hair rubbing against his skin as she moved her head. “I was too embarrassed to tell you. I was scared you’d get mad at me.”
“What happened out there, Lani?” Ridge’s heart was picking up pace. No matter that she was safe in his arms, just the thought that she might have been in danger made the hair on his arms stand on end.
Lani gave a sigh that made her sound exhausted. “We got lost. That’s why we got back to camp so late. We’d been walking in circles for hours. I was so scared to tell you. That’s why I played cool, like you were making a big deal out of nothing. But it really was a big deal. We could have been stuck out there all night.” She shivered and snuggled closer, like the memory had taken her back to that place and time when she’d been at the mercy of the wild jungle.
His heart going out to her, imagining the degree of her fear, he dipped his head to give her a reassuring kiss on the forehead. “Oh, honey, you should have told me. I would have understood. You don’t know how I almost went crazy, not knowing where you were. I was so relieved when you walked back into camp. You have no idea.”
Lani nodded. “I know you were worried. I could see that. I just…I guess the shock of it all just made me act crazy.” Then she pulled back from him and peered up into his face. “When we got back you weren’t in the tent. What were you doing in the bushes?”
“I was just setting off. I was going to look for you.”
Lani’s brows lifted. “You were going to head out into the jungle in the dark and trek eight miles with only one leg?”
He smiled. “One leg and a half.”
She did not look amused. “Are you crazy?”
His smile deepened. “Crazy for you, my love. Only for you.”
It seemed he’d said the perfect words because the pout on her lips disappeared and she smiled and sank back against him. “Do you know what I’m happiest about?” she asked.
“No,” he whispered in her ear. “What?”
“That you blackmailed me into marrying you. It’s the best thing that could have happened to me.” She gave a soft, contented sigh.
“Are you sure, my sweet? You don’t want to get me for playing that dirty trick on you?” Ridge was smiling but this time he was one hundred percent serious. He had to know – had his wife fallen in love with him? Had she fallen under the spell that had bewitched him from the first day he laid eyes on her?
“Oh, I’m going to get you, all right. I can’t let an inveterate trickster go unpunished.” Then, as if to soften the scare she’d just put in him, she pulled his head down and kissed the tip of his nose. “But don’t worry,” she said softly. “When I get you back it won’t hurt at all. You made me love you too much.” And then she cupped his face in her hands and drew him down until their lips touched and Lani gave him a kiss full of such promise that he knew it was going to be a long night.
And he didn’t mind at all.
EPILOGUE
“Oh, my dear. I’m so proud of you.” Marie had tears in her eyes as she leaned over to give Lani a kiss on the cheek.
“And so am I. Great work.” Her father patted her on the hand.
Lani smiled. “Thanks Mom, Dad.” But then she looked across the banquet table at the man who had made it all possible. “And thank you, Ridge,” she said, her voice loud and clear and trembling with pride, “for making this dream come true.”
Never one to make a big deal about all the good he was doing, Ridge just smiled back and gave her a wink. And she knew exactly what that meant. Later, when they were home and alone, she would have to pay him back, not in cash, but in kind – the kind of ‘kind’ she really, really liked.
But Lani had to kill that naughty thought because now she was being called to the platform. As her family and her colleagues from the scientific community warmed her spirit with their applause, she made her way to the front of the room and went to receive her award.
“Leilani Kent, in recognition of your stellar work and your contribution to research in the area of neurodegenerative diseases, we present you with the Antioch Award of Excellence."
The applause rose and the crowd cheered and Lani felt the tears prick the corners of her eyes. She could not have been more proud. Like she was one of the winners at the Academy Awards she held her trophy high, her eyes glued on Ridge and then, as he nodded with pride, she blew him a kiss.
Later that night, as everyone gathered in the lobby to say their goodbyes, Lani drew her mother away from the crowd.
“I have something to tell you,” she whispered in Marie’s ear.
“What is it, dear? You’re not going away on another of your South America trips, are you?”
Lani shook her head. “No. Even better. I won’t be doing overseas trips for a while. And that’s what I want to tell you. You finally got your wish.”
“My wish? Whatever do you mean?”
“You’re going to be a grandmother. I’m having a baby.”
“Oh, oh!” Marie’s eyes grew wide and she slapped her hand over her heart. “You’re pregnant?”
Lani nodded. “Four months. Get yourself ready. You’ll soon have your hands full with Baby Kent.”
“Oh, oh.” Marie was clutching her chest now.
Startled by her mother’s gasps, Lani’s eyes widened and she grabbed Marie's arm. “Mom, are you all right?”
“Am I?” Marie said. “You’ve just made me the happiest woman in the world.”
Relief washing through her, Lani could only smile. Her mother couldn’t know it, but someone else had already seized that title. Because, Lani knew, no woman in the world could be happier than she.
But she wouldn’t tell her mother that. Why burst her bubble?
As happy as she was, it was a title Lani was more than willing to share.
Thank you for reading!
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BAD BOY BILLIONAIRES
Judy Angelo
Volume 1 - Tamed by the Billionaire
Volume 2 - Maid in the USA
Volume 3 - Billionaire's Island Bride
Volume 4 - Dangerous Deception
Volume 5 - To Tame a Tycoon
Volume 6 - Sweet Seduction
Volume 7 - Daddy by December
Volume 8 - To Catch a Man (in 30 Days or Less)
Volume 9 – Bedding Her Billionaire Boss
Volume 10 - Her Indecent Proposal
Volume 11 - So Much Trouble When She Walked In
Volume 12 – Married by Midnight
Volume 13 - The Billionaire Next Door
Volume 14 - Babies for the Billionaire
Volume 15 - Billionaire's Blackmail Bride
BAD BOY BILLIONAIRES, Coll. I - Vols. 1 - 4
BAD BOY BILLIONAIRES, Coll. II - Vols. 5 - 8
BAD BOY BILLIONAIRES, Coll. III - Vols. 9 - 12
*Purchase collections and save*
HOLIDAY EDITIONS
Novella - Rome for the Holidays
Novel - Rome for Always
The NAUGHTY AND NICE Series
Volume 1 - Naughty by Nature
COMING SOON
Volume 16 - Bossing the Billionaire
MEET THE BAD BOY BILLIONAIRES
FROM COLLECTION III
VOLUMES 9 - 12
BEDDING HER BILLIONAIRE BOSS - Vol. 9
Rockford St. Stephens - The owner of a newly acquired luxury vacation business who finds himself boss to an executive assistant who can't stand him...but who he finds impossible to resist.
HER INDECENT PROPOSAL -Vol. 10
Sloane Quest - The media mogul who's rocked back on his heels when his top competitor, the lovely Melanie Parker, makes him an offer he can't refuse.
SO MUCH TROUBLE WHEN SHE WALKED IN - Vol. 11
Maximillian Davidoff - The cosmetics giant turned NASCAR entrepreneur who's bowled over by the most ornery woman he's ever met.
MARRIED BY MIDNIGHT – Vol. 12
Reed Davidoff – The fashion mogul who gets caught up in a fairy tale romance that makes him wish he could reverse his past. After the mistakes he’s made, can he win the hand of the princess?
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BAD BOY BILLIONAIRES Collection III, Vols. 9 - 12
MEET THE BAD BOY BILLIONAIRES
FROM COLLECTION II
VOLUMES 5 - 8
TO TAME A TYCOON - Vol. 5
Enrico Megalos - A shipping tycoon with a big problem but one which 'lion tamer', Asia Miller, is determined to fix.
SWEET SEDUCTION - Vol. 6
Jake McKoy - Billionaire author, philanthropist and recluse - a man with a past that is tearing him apart. Will Samantha Fox be the woman to pull him out of his shell?
DADDY BY DECEMBER - Vol. 7
Drake Duncan - Billionaire investor and a man determined to win the love of his life: a woman who is just as determined...to stay the heck out of his way.
TO CATCH A MAN (IN 30 DAYS OR LESS) - Vol. 8
Stone Hudson - Owner of Hudson Broadcasting Corporation, Stone is thrown for a loop when he meets a woman gutsy enough to laugh at him. And then she turns into a temptress. How can he resist?
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BAD BOY BILLIONAIRES COLLECTION II, VOLS. 5 - 8
MEET THE BAD BOY BILLIONAIRES
FROM COLLECTION I
VOLUMES 1 - 4
TAMED BY THE BILLIONAIRE - Vol. 1
Roman Steele - The business tycoon who has the daunting task of taming the spoiled princess.
MAID IN THE U.S.A. -Vol. 2
Pierce D'Amato - The software billionaire who thinks he's in control but instead finds himself at the mercy of an angelic four year old and a dark-eyed French beauty who steals his heart.
BILLIONAIRE'S ISLAND BRIDE - Vol. 3
Dare DeSouza - The owner of a line of Caribbean resorts who tries to teach our beloved heroine a lesson she'll never forget...but then ends up learning the greatest lesson of his life.
DANGEROUS DECEPTION - Vol. 4
Storm Hunter - He loves motorcycles, fast cars and now he's got to add one more item to his list of loves: Danielle Swift. Dani has a charm he tries to resist but this committed bachelor is no match for this bold and independent woman who's like none he's met before.
Alpha males at their best - which one will you fall in love with?
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BAD BOY BILLIONAIRES COLLECTION I, VOLS 1 - 4
NOVELLA - ROME FOR THE HOLIDAYS
TALK ABOUT SEXY AS SIN...
Arie Angelis is floored when she lays eyes on the handsome hunk seated at the head table at the holiday event she's catering. She literally can't take her eyes off him. She's always prided herself on being the consummate professional, but not this time. But, attracted or not, when she finds out who he is she realizes he's way out of her reach. But you can't stop a girl from dreaming...
Rome Milano is used to getting what he wants but when he meets the hot and heavenly Arie Angelis he learns that he can't always have his way. He's used to calling the shots but, if the lady has her way, not this time...
Click on the link to get: Rome for the Holidays
HOLIDAY NOVEL - ROME FOR ALWAYS
(sequel to 'Rome for the Holidays)
SHE HAD ROME FOR THE HOLIDAYS, BUT WOULD SHE HAVE HIM FOR ALWAYS?
Arie Angelis is on top of the world. She's engaged to the man of her dreams, the super-handsome and successful CEO of Belitalia, Rome Milano. She could not believe it when he proposed on Christmas Day. Of course, she said yes! But then, only a month into their engagement there's a turn of events that threatens to steal her newfound happiness. In the past she'd made a life-altering choice. Now it's time to stand by that decision. The only question is, will Rome stand with her or will it send him running?
Rome Milano knows a good thing when he sees it and when he meets Arie he has no doubt that she's the one for him. He falls so swiftly in love with her that within weeks of meeting her he's proposing. He can't be any happier when she accepts.
But there's just one problem - how to convince the important people in his life that this is for real. Now that he's found happiness will he be forced to choose between love and loyalty?
It's decision time on both sides. Through it all, will love prevail?
Click on the link to get: ROME FOR ALWAYS
VOLUME 14 - BABIES for the BILLIONAIRE
Anya Petersen has always been described as gentle, understanding and quiet. The last thing she'd be called is a bully. But when a certain handsome stranger walks into her life her defense instincts go into overdrive and she does whatever it takes to protect her heart - by keeping him far away from her. Then he turns up in the last place she would expect - and that's when she knows, where the battle for her heart is concerned, she's already lost the fight.
Rafe Kent is so entranced by the German beauty he meets while touring Europe that he will do anything it takes to be with her, even if it means moving halfway across the world. But there's no way he could have known that getting close to the woman who's stolen his heart would mean he'd need a crash course in handling tiny tots...and fast!
Click on the link to get:
BABIES FOR THE BILLIONAIRE
VOLUME 13 - THE BILLIONAIRE NEXT DOOR
NEVER PIT AN ALPHA MAN AGAINST A FEISTY FEMALE
Soledad Felix doesn't take guff from anyone, not even if that someone is the tall, dark and gorgeous hunk who moves in next door. Since the day he moves in he's a royal pain in the rear, going out of his way to make himself a nuisance. But then, as fate would have it, her big, bad and bossy neighbor falls right into her hands. And with him at her mercy, it's time to make him pay...
Ransom Kent likes to mind his own business and lead a quiet life but tell tha
t to his crazy neighbor next door. From the first day they meet it's like she's got this thing against him, a crazy vendetta of her own making. And it doesn't help that she's both beautiful and bewitching, with a whole lot of hot sauce on top. It's an alluring combination that he just can't resist. But when he gives in to the temptation and hands her his heart on a platter, that's when he realizes she's nothing like the woman he thought she was.
The epic battle of fire and ice, and only one can be the victor...
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THE BILLIONAIRE NEXT DOOR
VOLUME 12 - MARRIED BY MIDNIGHT
A modern-day Cinderella Story
A PRINCE TO THE RESCUE?
Golden Browne is the victim of a fate that, while not worse than death, is almost more than a girl can bear. Having no way out, she resigns herself to her sad fate. And then she meets a man who is like a prince from a fairy tale, her knight in shining armor who will rescue her from the wicked wizard, A.K.A. Dunstan Manchester, the stepfather she just can’t stand. But just when Golden thinks her story will have a happy ending, fate takes a nasty turn and she finds out that the man she’d hoped would be her savior is not the man she thought he was.